The Life News Singapore. March 16, 2022 by The Life News

News from World, Worldwide readership. Vol. 04 Issue 70 March. 16, 2022

$800 million offered to Ukraine as help during meeting with Congress

Courtesy: UPI TL Bureau, Washington D.C. U.S. President Joe Biden reported one more $800 million in military guide for Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelensky made an interesting interest for help before a joint meeting of Congress on Wednesday. Biden said the tactical help will incorporate 800 enemy of airplane frameworks, 9,000 enemy of reinforcement frameworks, 7,000 little arms, drones and other hardware. “This could be a long and troublesome fight,” Biden said in a location from the South Court Auditorium of the White House. “However, the American public will be relentless in our help of individuals of Ukraine even with [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s corrupt, dishonest assaults on regular citizen populaces. “We are joined in our loathing of Putin’s corrupted invasion. What’s more, we will keep on having them covered as they battle for their opportunity, their majority rules system, their actual endurance.” Biden’s declaration came hours after Zelensky made a location before a cooperative meeting of Congress and pushed desperation in finding ways to counter Russia’s intrusion - - particularly banning them from the skies over Ukraine.

At least 1 dead, dozens injured as M7.4 quake hits north-eastern Japan

TL Bureau, Tokyo A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake hit off north-eastern Japan late Wednesday, leaving at least one person dead and dozens injured and causing a highspeed shinkansen train to derail, Kyodo cited Japan Meteorological Agency as reporting. The 11:36 p.m. quake also prompted the Japan Meteorological Agency to issue a 1-meter tsunami warning to the Pacific coast of Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures, but the warning was lifted Thursday morning after only relatively small tsunami waves were observed. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters early Thursday that there have so far been no abnormalities found at nuclear plants in affected areas after the big quake. The temblor, which was preceded by a magnitude 6.1 quake by two minutes, registered an upper 6 on Japan’s seismic intensity scale of 7 in parts of Miyagi and Fukushima, the agency said. At an intensity of upper 6, many people find it impossible to remain standing or move without crawling. The jolts are strong enough

Courtesy: WOIN

to toss people through the air, according to the agency. The M7.4 quake, which occurred in waters off Fukushima at a depth of about 57 kilometres, was also felt across a wide swath of the country, including eastern, central and western Japan. The agency is warning of quakes of a similar scale in hard-hit areas for the next week or so. A Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train with about 100 passengers on board derailed between Fukushima Station in Fukushima and Shiroishizao Station in Miyagi, but no injuries were reported, according to East Japan Railway Co.

Vol. 02 Issue 30 March. 16, 2022

$800 million offered to Ukraine as help during meeting with Congress

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At least 1 dead, dozens injured as M7.4 quake hits north-eastern Japan

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News from World, Worldwide readership. Vol. 03 Issue 66 March. 16, 2022

$800 million offered to Ukraine as help during meeting with Congress

At least 1 dead, dozens injured as M7.4 quake hits north-eastern Japan

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OCLC 1101190095

News from World, Worldwide readership. Vol. 03 Issue 56 March. 16, 2022

$800 million offered to Ukraine as help during meeting with Congress

At least 1 dead, dozens injured as M7.4 quake hits north-eastern Japan

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News from World, Worldwide readership. Vol. 02 Issue 37 March. 16, 2022

$800 million offered to Ukraine as help during meeting with Congress

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At least 1 dead, dozens injured as M7.4 quake hits north-eastern Japan

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n an incredibly interesting occasion on Wednesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a location before a cooperative meeting of Congress and pushed desperation in finding a way ways to counter Russia’s attack - - particularly banishing them from the skies over Ukraine. Zelensky encouraged legislators to do more to assist Ukraine with fighting off Russian advances, which are near entering their fourth week. He said that right now is Ukraine’s “haziest time” and more limitations are expected to overcome Russia and President Vladimir Putin. “Russia has transformed the Ukrainian sky into a wellspring of death for large number of individuals,” he said, introducing a video that showed realistic film on the ground in Ukraine. “To make a restricted air space over Ukraine, to save individuals, is this an excessive amount to inquire? Compassionate, restricted air space, something that Russia wouldn’t have the option to threaten our free urban communities. “Assuming that this is a lot to ask, we offer another option. You know what sort of protection frameworks we really want, like 300 and comparative different frameworks. You realize how much relies upon the combat zone, on the capacity to utilize airplane. Strong, solid flying to safeguard our kin.” The Ukrainian chief additionally encouraged more financial discipline for Russia. “All American organizations should leave Russia from their market, leave their market quickly in light of the fact that it is overflowed with our blood,” he said. “Lovely people, individuals from Congress, kindly start to lead the pack, assuming that you have organizations in your locale who finance the Russian military machine leaving the business in Russia, you should put pressure. I’m requesting to ensure that the Russians don’t get a solitary penny that they use to obliterate individuals in Ukraine.” Zelensky distinctly asked U.S. President Joe Biden for greater inclusion. “I wish you to be the head of

Ukraine addresses American Congress

the world,” he said. “Being the head of the world means to be the head of harmony.” Zelensky got an overwhelming applause when his location. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi presented him with a serenade signifying “greatness to Ukraine” in Ukrainian. Zelensky’s requests came as moderators continued harmony chats on Wednesday. Zelensky said before in a broadcast address that conversations are showing up leisurely and that they’re starting to “sound more practical.” Biden has promised critical degrees of help for Ukraine since the battling started on Feb. 24. On Tuesday, he marked a $1.5 trillion spending charge that incorporates nearly $14 billion for Ukraine that incorporates subsidizing for protective military gear, preparing and help for a large number of Ukrainian exiles. “With this new security subsidizing and the drawdown experts in this bill, we’re moving further to expand backing to the fearless individuals of Ukraine as they safeguard their country,” Biden said at the marking. Zelensky made a comparable location on Tuesday before Canadian Parliament, during which he likewise encouraged forerunners in that country to help shutting the airspace over Ukraine. Recently, he referred to NATO as “frail” for neglecting to make a restricted air space over Ukraine. Russian airstrikes have been dangerous across Ukraine and have designated regular citizen regions, like high rises in the capital Kyiv. Zelensky has likewise been solid in his allures for totally disconnecting Moscow monetarily - - and

approached British legislators to perceive Russia as a psychological oppressor state. Zelensky has made a trip a strange way to turn into the venerated pioneer that he is today. At age 17, he began a vocation in diversion as a feature of a Russian satire program and tracked down progress during the last part of the 1990s and mid 2000s. In 2008, he featured in the Russian film Love in the Big City and its continuations in 2010 and 2014, as well as a modest bunch of different movies. In a bizarre episode of workmanship mimicking life, Zelensky turned into the star of the Ukrainian TV series Servant of the People in 2015 - - in which he played the leader of Ukraine who wins political decision through a successful web-based entertainment crusade against debasement. On New Year’s Eve 2018, Zelensky entered legislative issues for genuine when he reported his office for Ukraine’s official

editorial

political race in 2019 after a few surveys showed that he was the unmistakable leader. Zelensky prevailed upon the political race in an avalanche officeholder President Petro Poroshenko with over 70% of the vote. He won as an individual from the Servant of the People Party, named after the TV series in which he’d recently assumed the part. He stays an individual from the moderate ideological group right up ‘til the present time. Months after his political decision, Zelensky turned into a global commonly recognized name when he was essential for a significant political outrage in the United States that eventually prompted President Donald Trump’s first prosecution. Trump, looking forward to re-appointment in 2020, had requested that Zelensky research and upbraid Democrat and previous Vice President Joe Biden in return for getting $400 million in military guide that had proactively been appropriated and approved by the U.S. Congress. Trump additionally looked for an examination of Biden’s child Hunter, who’d recently been a board part for a Ukrainian gas organization. “Anything that you can do with the principal legal officer [to explore Hunter Biden] would be incredible,” Trump told Zelensky in a call. Trump hindered the tactical guide to Ukraine and just delivered it once an informant in the U.S. knowledge local area revealed the call with Zelensky.

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world

WHO: Global Coronavirus PM to warn of ‘far reaching Cases Climbing Again consequences’ of Russian

TL Bureau, Geneva

The number of Covid-19 infections reported weekly across the globe has increased for the first time since the end of January, dpa cited the World Health Organization as saying. In the second week of March, reported infections were 8 per cent higher than in the preceding week. More than 11 million new coronavirus cases and 43,000 deaths from or with Covid-19 were counted in the week of March 7 to 13. Climbing case numbers

were noted particularly in the western Pacific and Africa regions compared to the previous week, with increases of 29 per cent and 12 per cent respectively. In Europe there was a weekly increase of 2 per cent. Cases dropped in the eastern Mediterranean, south-east Asia and North and South America. The total number of global coronavirus infections confirmed since the pandemic began has reached 455 million, while 6 million deaths have been reported.

2022 Turkmenistan Presidential Election

TL Bureau, Washington D.C.

Ned Price, Department Spokesperson The United States reaffirms our commitment to the people of Turkmenistan and their right to choose their leaders through free and fair elections and in a transparent manner. We concur with the concerns described in the recent needs assessment conducted by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) of the Organization for Security and Co-Operation in Europe. The ODIHR assessment noted that Turkmenistan has not proved its election processes

to be free, fair, or competitive. We call on the Government of Turkmenistan to implement ODIHR recommendations in order to align its electoral system with the standards described in the needs assessment. The growing partnership between the United States and Turkmenistan is based on respect for Turkmenistan’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and shared objectives for security and prosperity in the Central Asia region. We will continue to encourage political participation for the people of Turkmenistan, bolstering the role of civil society, and strengthening our shared interests.

invasion on Gulf visit

Prime Minister Boris Johnson will meet leaders in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh today.

TL Bureau, London

Prime Minister to travel to the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia today One-day visit is part of UK efforts to ensure coordinated international action on Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine PM will also discuss energy security in the region, as Saudi alfanar group confirms £1bn investment in Teesside green aviation fuel project The Prime Minister will meet leaders in Abu Dhabi and Riyadh today [Wednesday 16th] for talks on energy, regional security and humanitarian relief, as he galvanises global action on the crisis in Ukraine. He will meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed in the United Arab Emirates before travelling to Saudi Arabia to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The Prime Minister will discuss the importance of allies working together to increase the diplomatic and economic pressure on President Putin’s regime and minimise the global fallout from the conflict. The leaders are expected to discuss efforts to improve energy security and reduce volatility in energy and food prices, which is affecting businesses and consumers in the UK as well as regional stability in the Middle East. In addition to potential further measures to increase oil production, the Prime Minister is focused on diversifying the UK’s

Additional Humanitarian Assistance for the People of Ukraine

TL Bureau, Washington D.C.

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State The United States is providing over $186 million in additional humanitarian assistance to support internally displaced persons and the more than three million refugees affected by Russia’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified war in Ukraine. This will provide further support for humanitarian organizations responding to the crisis and complement the generosity of the neighboring countries that are welcoming and supporting refugees. We call for an immediate end to Russia’s continuing war against Ukraine and for Russia to facilitate unhindered humanitarian access in Ukraine and safe passage for those who seek to leave the cities where

they are trapped. Humanitarian aid deliveries must be allowed to continue without interference, and humanitarian workers must have safe passage to deliver aid and assistance to those in need. The United States is the largest single-country donor of humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, including providing nearly $293 million in humanitarian assistance both inside Ukraine and in the region since late February. Our funding to-date amounts to nearly $644 million to vulnerable communities in the region since Russia first invaded Ukraine eight years ago. Our humanitarian assistance flows through independent humanitarian organizations that deliver needs-based assistance with impartiality, humanity, neutrality, and independence. The additional

humanitarian assistance for refugees in Ukraine’s neighboring countries supports the provision of food, safe drinking water, protection, accessible shelter, and emergency health care through the support of our international and non-governmental partners. This funding will also help victims of this conflict maintain contact with family members who have been separated and promote family reunification when possible. The United States commends the hospitality of the neighboring countries that are hosting those fleeing Ukraine. As with any refugee situation, we call on the international community to respond to the needs of those seeking protection in a way that is consistent with the principle of non-refoulement and states’ respective obligations under international law.

energy supply and working with international partners to ramp up renewables. Saudi Arabia, for example, is the third largest supplier of diesel to the UK, but the Kingdom also committed to net zero by 2060 ahead of COP26 and is investing heavily in green technology at home and in the UK. As part of today’s visit, Saudi Arabia’s alfanar group will confirm a new £1 billion investment in the Lighthouse Green Fuels Project in Teesside, aiming to be the first company to produce sustainable aviation fuel from waste at scale in the UK. The project is expected to create more than 700 jobs during construction starting next year and around 240 full-time jobs once it is fully operational. Aviation fuel generated by the plant has the potential to produce 80 percent less greenhouse gas than its fossil fuel equivalent. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: The brutal and unprovoked assault President Putin has unleashed on Ukraine will have far-reaching consequences for the world, well beyond Europe’s borders. The UK is building an international coalition to deal with the new reality we face. The world must wean itself off Russian hydrocarbons and starve Putin’s addiction to oil and gas. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are key international partners in that effort. We will

work with them to ensure regional security, support the humanitarian relief effort and stabilise global energy markets for the longer term. Today’s funding announcement follows a commitment last year by Saudi firm SABIC to invest up to an additional £850 million to reopen their hydrocarbons ‘cracker’ at Wilton and decarbonise their operations in the north-east of England. The Prime Minister is expected to visit SABIC’s innovation centre in Riyadh and meet representatives from the alfanar group. Through our Sovereign Investment Partnership, since 2021 the UAE has already invested in excess of £3bn across life sciences, technology, infrastructure in the UK – as well as a multi-billion pound investment from BP and ADNOC in clean hydrogen hubs. The Prime Minister will also discuss shared strategic priorities with the leaders of the UAE and Saudi Arabia, including the situation in Iran and Yemen, increased security cooperation, trade and investment and supporting human rights and civil society. The UAE and Saudi Arabia are the UK’s two largest economic partners in the Middle East, with bilateral trade worth £12.2bn and £10.4bn in 2020 respectively. The UK is preparing for negotiations on a trade deal with the wider Gulf Cooperation Council, which will boost our trade and investment with the whole region.

Finnish and Swedish ministers to discuss bilateral cooperation and changes

TL Bureau, Helsinki

Minister of the Interior Krista Mikkonen and Sweden’s Minister for Justice and Home Affairs Morgan Johansson will meet in Finland on 16 March to discuss the countries’ cooperation in civil preparedness, rescue services and the implementation of the police cooperation agreement. The discussions will also touch upon cooperation between the national coast guards. “We are facing complex global challenges to our security. Finland and Sweden are preparing for these challenges in close

cooperation at both political and public official level. The challenges include not only changes in the security environment but also climate change and vulnerabilities of the increasingly digital society”, says Minister of the Interior Mikkonen. “Our societies are facing many different threats that we must address. The pandemic has posed a challenge for both of our countries, and the climate crisis is a global challenge. And now the security situation in our neighbouring areas is weakening,” says Minister for Justice and Home Affairs Johansson.

world

Japan posts 668-billion-yen trade deficit in February

TL Bureau, Tokyo

Japan posted a merchandise trade deficit of 668.3 billion yen (5.6 billion dollars) in February, the Ministry of Finance said on Wednesday, dpa reported. The figures marked Japan’s seventh month in a row of trade deficits. They also missed expectations for a deficit of 112.6

billion yen. Exports climbed 19.1 per cent on year to 7.190 trillion yen, shy of forecasts for an increase of 21 per cent but still up from the 9.6 per cent gain in the previous month. Imports rose by 34 per cent year on year, compared to expectations for an increase of 28 per cent following a 38.7 percent increase a month earlier, revised down from an original 39.6 percent.

Secretary Blinken’s Call with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kuleba

TL Bureau, Washington D.C.

Office of the Spokesperson The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke by phone today with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba to reiterate the United States’ ironclad commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty

and territorial integrity and our resolve to provide security, economic, and humanitarian support to the people of Ukraine. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Kuleba discussed ongoing diplomatic efforts to stop President Putin’s war of choice. They shared deep concern regarding increasingly significant damage to infrastructure and buildings and

resulting civilian deaths and injuries. The Secretary provided an update on the most recent U.S. and global efforts to hold Putin accountable for his unprovoked and brutal war. He commended the bravery and determination of the Ukrainian people in the fight for their country in the face of the Russian forces’ callous disregard for civilian life.

TL Bureau, Washington D.C.

Office of the Spokesperson The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Secretary Blinken emphasized the continuing importance of the U.S.-Azerbaijani bilateral partnership and the U.S. commitment to promoting a peaceful, democratic, and prosperous future for the South Caucasus region. Noting recent reports of escalation between

Armenian and Azerbaijani forces, the Secretary called for the sides to show restraint and intensify diplomatic engagement to find comprehensive solutions to all outstanding issues. He also stressed the importance of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in Azerbaijan. The Secretary highlighted the U.S. commitment, alongside other partners, to continue to hold Moscow and its supporters, including the Lukashenka regime in Belarus, accountable for the Kremlin’s unprovoked and unjustified war against Ukraine.

TL Bureau, Washington D.C. Office of the Spokesperson The below is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke today with Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic. Secretary Blinken reaffirmed U.S. support for Ukraine in the face of President Putin’s continued war against Ukraine. The Secretary expressed his deep appreciation for the strong support of Prime Minister Plenkovic and his government for Ukraine, including providing

security assistance and accepting refugees, and for Croatia’s active role in NATO. Secretary Blinken and Prime Minister Plenkovic also discussed the March 10 drone crash in Zagreb. The Secretary noted Croatia’s critical role in securing the European future of the entire Western Balkans, including Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Secretary also welcomed the March 17 U.S.Croatia Strategic Dialogue, which will bring together senior-level interagency teams to review joint efforts to advance shared priorities.

Secretary Blinken’s Call with Joint Statement on the Occasion of the 11Azerbaijani President Aliyev year Anniversary of the Syrian Uprising

TL Bureau, Washington D.C. The following statement was released by France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America on the occasion of the 11-year anniversary of the Syrian uprising: Begin Text: Today marks 11 years since the Syrian people courageously and peacefully took to the streets to demand freedom, political reform, and a government that respects and upholds human rights. The Assad regime met those demands with a brutal assault that continues today against the Syrian people. After 11 years of death and suffering, it is past time for the regime and its enablers, including Russia and Iran, to halt their ruthless attack on the Syrian people. The coincidence of this year’s anniversary with the appalling Russian aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a breach of exceptional gravity to international law and the UN Charter, highlights Russia’s brutal and destructive behavior in both conflicts. After more than a decade of conflict, the Syrian economic and humanitarian situation is bleak and millions of Syrian refugees hosted generously by Syria’s neighbors, as well as those internally displaced, cannot yet return home in line with UN standards, and without

Deputy Secretary Sherman’s Call with French Foreign Ministry Secretary General Delattre TL Bureau, Washington D.C. Office of the Spokesperson The following is attributable to Spokesperson Ned Price: Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman spoke today with French Foreign Ministry Secretary General François Delattre. The Deputy Secretary and Secretary General Delattre reiterated their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of Putin’s war of choice. They agreed on the need for continued support for Ukraine and committed to continue to impose costs on Russia for its aggression.

fear of violence, arbitrary arrest, and torture. Continued conflict has also led to space for terrorists, particularly Daesh (ISIS), to exploit. Preventing Daesh’s resurgence remains a priority. We continue to support the UNfacilitated, Syrian-led process outlined within UN Security Council Resolution 2254. We will continue to call for a nationwide ceasefire, respect for international humanitarian law, and unhindered aid access through all modalities, including through the continued authorization of the cross-border mechanism by the UN Security Council. We additionally urge the immediate release of those arbitrarily detained and clarification of the fate and whereabouts of those who remain missing. We do not support efforts to normalize relations with the Assad regime and will not normalize relations ourselves, nor lift sanctions or fund reconstruction until there is irreversible progress towards a political solution. We encourage all parties, especially the Syrian regime, to participate in the March 21 meeting of the Constitutional Committee in good faith and call for the Committee to deliver on its mandate. Impunity remains unacceptable. We will therefore continue to actively promote accountability, including through support to the Commission of

Inquiry, the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism, and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). This also includes supporting organizations, many of which are Syrian-led, in collecting evidence and documenting the atrocities and serious violations of international law committed in Syria, including the use of chemical weapons. The OPCW’s Investigation and Identification Team’s (IIT) efforts continue to attribute responsibility for the abhorrent use of chemical weapons in Syria. Despite Syria’s lack of cooperation, the IIT has already confirmed the responsibility of the Assad regime in multiple chemical weapons attacks on the Syrian people. Those responsible for this disregard for the global norm against the use of chemical weapons must be held to account. We welcome ongoing efforts by national courts to investigate and prosecute crimes within their jurisdiction committed in Syria and encourage increased support for these prosecutions. As their harrowing testimonies show, justice for victims and their families is long overdue. Pursuing accountability and justice is essential to building confidence in the political process called for in UNSCR 2254 and securing the stable, just, and enduring peace that Syrians need and deserve.

Secretary Blinken’s Call with Croatian Prime Minister Plenkovic

Government proposes possibility of reintroducing ID checks on buses, trains and passenger ships

As a consequence of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, Europe is facing the greatest and fastest-growing refugee crisis since the Second World War. The Government sees a need to be able to reintroduce ID checks for travel to Sweden. TL Bureau, Helsinki “We must be able to ensure that order can be maintained, and it is important that the Government has the tools needed to receive people coming to Sweden in an orderly way,” says Minister for Infrastructure Tomas Eneroth. The Government’s assessment is that the situation may become so serious that it might be necessary to take immediate measures to maintain law and order and safeguard national security.

The Act that enabled ID checks during the 2015 refugee crisis was a temporary act that no longer applies. The Ministry of Infrastructure will therefore refer a proposal on a new temporary act with corresponding provisions. A new temporary act would allow the Government, in the event of serious danger to public order or domestic security, to introduce ID checks for travel by bus, train or passenger ship to Sweden from abroad in order to maintain law and order or safeguard national security. It is proposed that the act be temporary for a

period of three years from entry into force and empower the Government to adopt an ordinance on ID checks with a maximum validity of six months. In the referral, the Government proposes that the act enter into force on 8 April and include exemptions for travel from or via Norway. “The Government understands that a reintroduction of ID checks affects the individual traveller and commuter. It is therefore important that these checks are not used to a greater extent or for longer than necessary,” says Mr Eneroth.

australia

Supercharging critical minerals manufacturing TL Bureau, Canberra

Australia’s critical minerals sector and the job-creating industries that rely on it are being supercharged under the Morrison Government’s $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative. The Government has today announced over $243 million in support for four projects under the Collaboration Stream of the Modern Manufacturing Initiative, which will create over 3,400 jobs over time and cement Australia’s place in the rapidly growing critical minerals, electric vehicle and battery markets. This includes: $119.6 million for Pure Battery Technologies’ $399 million Western Australian pCAM Hub, in partnership with Poseidon Nickel, will build an integrated nickel manganese cobalt battery material refinery hub in the

Kalgoorlie region. The site will become home to a growing workforce with 380 construction jobs and 175 initial permanent jobs from 2023. $49 million for a $367 million project led by Australian Vanadium, to process high-grade vanadium from its Meekatharra mine in WA and transported to its Tenindewa plant powered by clean hydrogen from partner ATCO Australia. This highly sought-after critical mineral will then be transformed into energy-storing batteries to fuel the growing domestic and overseas market, with more than 740 jobs to be supported. $30 million for Arafura Resources’ flagship Nolans Project near Aileron, in Central Australia, the first of its kind rare earth separation plant in Australia and only the second outside China. The $90.8 million project, located in the Northern Territory, will leverage

Australia’s mineral processing expertise to develop rare earth separation technology not currently available here now, creating 650 jobs at the peak of construction and new high-value export opportunities. $45 million for Alpha HPA’s $330 million project with Orica to construct a high purity alumina production facility near Gladstone that will help meet the rapidly expanding demand for lithium-ion batteries and LED lights, with more than 300 jobs to be created from this year.Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the projects were key to securing manufacturing in Australia and the thousands of jobs that come with those industries. “Projects like these make for a stronger economy and a stronger future for Australia,” the Prime Minister said. “These projects are about manufacturing the products and materials Australians need and the world needs, by making

them right here at home. “We’re helping grow the local critical minerals processing and clean energy industries and locking in the future of those industries by backing manufacturing projects in Australia. “The $1.3 billion Modern Manufacturing Initiative is a key part of my Government’s plan for a stronger economy and a stronger future for our country.” Minister for Industry, Energy and Emissions Reduction Angus Taylor said these projects would help us capture even more parts of the global supply chain, while at the same time helping us power our lives here at home. “The things we use every day like our smartphones, computers and rechargeable batteries need to be made with critical minerals. They are also needed to make solar panels, electric cars, defence technology and many other high-tech applications,” Minister Taylor said.

“Australia is lucky to have some of the largest reserves of the critical minerals and metals which drive the modern global economy. But China currently dominates around 70 to 80 per cent of global critical minerals production and continues to consolidate its hold over these supply chains. This initiative is designed to address that dominance. “These projects are not only game-changers for the local region with the creation of new jobs, they will also open up incredible export opportunities.” Australia is a global leader in resources technology and can build greater capacity in critical minerals processing by leveraging our vast natural resources, huge investments in R&D and proximity to the growing global market. Under our Modern Manufacturing Strategy, Australia’s regional manufacturers are playing an important role in seizing this opportunity.

Remarks, Multicultural Community Q&A, Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA Awards Murrabooka, WA

TL Bureau, Canberra

Prime Minister: Thank you very much, Vince. Can I acknowledge you, of course. Can I acknowledge my colleagues who are here with me today, the Attorney-General Michaelia Cash, or MC as I call her. Senator Dean Smith, it’s wonderful to be back with you here in Cowan. Now, I’ve been to Cowan many times and I’ve met many of you before. And usually when we meet you are more less constrained because of COVID rules. And it is usually quite a flourish and there’s a lot of activity and there’s a lot of movement. But you don’t need to convince me of all that because I’ve seen it before and I know the passion that is in this community, and I particularly want to thank you Dean for the great work you’ve been doing in Cowan, and teaming up with Vince now. I am so thrilled Vince is standing for our candidate for Cowan after having done such an extraordinary job as the member for Stirling, which he continues to do now. Can I acknowledge the Indigenous owners of the land on which we meet and thank you Len for your very warm Welcome to Country. Can I also acknowledge any veterans who are with us here today, and serving men and women of our Defence Forces. I’ve just been over with the SAS Regiment to lay a wreath there and had a chat to the team there and thank them for the tremendous job they do on behalf of our country. And

just how much we respect and honour their service. The SAS Regiment is a great credit to our country and a great credit to Western Australia too and I know people feel very strongly about that all around the country. But one such veteran is, of course, Vince himself, and I really want to thank Vince for the way he has conducted himself as a Member of Parliament. And that is what presents him so well to be the next Member for Cowan. The reason for that is Vince is 100 per cent hard and he is 100 per cent determination. He’s also been incredibly [inaudible], he’s been able to draw on his experience in so many different walks of life, and his passion for supporting the ongoing care of veterans in this country is second to none. And I know he will seek to continue to serve out that area of passion as the Member for Cowan. But I tell you the other thing, he’s also been a great champion of multicultural communities, not only in his current role, but also I know he is very familiar with the community here as well and the great work Dean has always done, particularly amongst the Burmese community. And I want to acknowledge the community down there and particularly the challenges they have been facing in Myanmar. We have all been seeing what is occurring in the Ukraine, with the invasion by Russia. Sometimes you can allow to pass with our gaze the many other troubled parts of the world. Australia has not allowed that to happen in

terms of our gaze and what’s occurring in Myanmar, and the terrible events that have occurred there, and we will continue to do everything we can to support the people of Myanmar. I know that must be terribly devastating to the Burmese community here in Australia. You have dealt with so much, and you have built such a wonderful life here in Australia, and this is your home, as you know, but your homeland is also something you will always feel a deep connection to. You have family there as well and I know you will be concerned. In speaking, though, also about Ukraine, whenever something happens in the world, there is always a community here in Australia that is directly touched by it. There are some 40,000 Australians with Ukrainian descent in Australia. In Perth, in Sydney, Melbourne and so many other parts of the country. But this is also true when we saw the terrible blast in Beirut in Lebanon - tens of thousands of Australians, indeed living overseas in Lebanon, and also the enormous Lebanese community across Australia was touched by those events. And this occurs without exception as we see terrible events that often play around the world, and they will link back and they will touch a community here in Australia. And Australia I believe is the most successful multicultural and immigration nation in the world. Not arguably, it is. And the reason for that is because of how Australia embraces community.

TL Bureau, Canberra

AARON MOREY, CHIEF ECONOMIST, CCIWA: Prime Minister, it is great to have you back here in this glorious kingdom that is Western Australia. We are really excited to have you here and the message from you today is really clear, you want to partner with the WA business community and we don’t think you could choose any better partner. I mean a faithful, hardworking, mutual respect, maybe not physical affection but nonetheless just about every trait you’d want to see in a partner we’ve got it here for you. So it’s great you’ve got that vote of confidence in the WA business community. Because CCIWA are certainly very passionate about the ability of the WA business community. Last year we comprised 60 per cent of national exports, largely thanks to Rio Tinto and its peers and the legion of SMEs that support them. Let’s just go to your announcements today, and indeed yesterday, so significant announcements in defence, supply chain resilience, advanced manufacturing. Most of the questions coming through on Slido does relate to that geopolitical situation, Prime Minister and in particular, China. You mentioned wheat, you mentioned rock lobster, these are sectors, I mean rock lobster, 95 per cent of our exports go to China. What’s the endgame here Prime Minister? Many of these men and women will be wondering, do they continue to invest in those relationships and in that country going forward? What can you tell them about our prospects for maintaining a

trading relationship with China or are they wasting their time? PRIME MINISTER: Very important question. Australia has to be resilient in a different world, and no business, I think, seeks to put all of its eggs in one basket. A conscious strategy and risk diversification is a sound one and there have been significant opportunities in the Chinese market in the past. But the China we’re dealing with today is very different to the one that John Howard dealt with, and many of my predecessors did. It has taken on a very different tone. And most distressingly, we’ve seen that in the course of this outrageous invasion of Ukraine. I was the first to call out, frankly, the lack of response from China in relation to what’s happening in the Ukraine, and I’ll continue to do that. And the reports that we see reported in the media are very concerning and the United States have been very clear about their position. If there’s any suggestion of Chinese military support for Russia and our view is exactly the same, we are in lockstep with our allies and partners when it comes to that issue. The sheer fact that there would be even a suggestion of that is deeply concerning. Now I say that in answer to your question, because I think the context is important and I’d be encouraging businesses not just here in Western Australia, but right across the country, to bear in mind that as they manage their risk, what markets they’re in. And I’d love to tell you that there will be a massive change in that relationship in the next few years. But, I can’t do that, and that’s not because of Australia.

Singapore

Virtual Court Excellence Singapore Customs arrests a man and seizes Conference explores how courts more than 1,000 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes around the world can pursue court excellence in challenging times TL Bureau, Singapore City

TL Bureau, Singapore Virtual Court Excellence Conference explores how courts around the world can pursue court excellence in challenging times 1. More than 1,600 judicial officers, court administrators, policy makers and experts from the related fields across 43 countries attended the virtual International Consortium for Court Excellence (ICCE) Conference, to explore how courts in Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and the Pacific Islands have embraced new modes of operations in the new endemic world, and addressed

their implications on the court workforce, court management practices, and public trust and confidence. 2. The virtual conference – held over two days on 15 and 16 March 2022 – is organised by the Consortium members, and the current chair of the Consortium is held by the State Courts under the Deputy Presiding Judge of the State Courts, Ms Jennifer Marie. 3. Participants at the Conference included speakers and delegates from Australia, Dubai, Indonesia, New Zealand, Palau, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Netherlands and the United States.

MINISTER GAN KIM YONG ATTENDS 28th ASEAN ECONOMIC MINISTERS’ RETREAT

TL Bureau Singapore City Minister for Trade and Industry Gan Kim Yong attended the 28th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Ministers’ (AEM) Retreat from 16 March 2022, hosted by ASEAN Chair Cambodia via video conference. At the Retreat, Mr. Gan proposed three key areas where ASEAN could work together to drive economic recovery. First, the importance of continued unity and open, rules-based regional economic integration as ASEAN Member States (AMS) navigate economic uncertainties such as inflationary pressures and economic disruptions arising from geopolitical complexities and the global pandemic. Second, the need for ASEAN to band together and act swiftly in response to current challenges, including through strengthening regional supply chains and upgrading ASEAN’s Free Trade Agreements (FTAs). Third, for ASEAN to position itself as a progressive and dynamic regional bloc through cooperation in emerging areas such as the digital and green economies. To bolster economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and respond to supply chain disruptions, AMS agreed to explore further ways to strengthen supply chains in the region. To this end, ASEAN is currently working to extend the validity of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Implementation of NTMs on Essential Goods to November 2024 and further expand the accompanying List of Essential

Goods, in consultation with businesses, to include staple food items and products pertinent to the manufacturing and distribution of vaccines. The Meeting also called for accelerating the safe resumption of cross-border travel in the region. ASEAN also launched the ASEAN Trade in Goods Agreement (ATIGA) upgrade negotiations, to maximise the potential of intraASEAN trade and deepen economic integration. The ATIGA upgrade negotiations aims to facilitate trade through addressing non-tariff barriers, promoting transparency, facilitating AMS’ participation in global and regional supply chains, and responding to emerging issues such a digitalisation and the green economy, amongst others. The Meeting also affirmed its commitment towards a rulesbased regional order through enhancing the ASEAN Plus One FTAs, such as the ongoing ASEAN-AustraliaNew Zealand FTA (AANZFTA) Upgrade negotiations. Recognising the importance of positioning the region for the future, the Meeting called for deeper cooperation in the digital and green economies. To this end, the Meeting discussed advancing work on an array of digital initiatives under the Bandar Seri Begawan Roadmap on Digital Transformation endorsed in 2021. These include foundational initiatives such as further expanding the ASEAN Single Window (ASW) to ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners, establishing an ASEAN-wide Unique Business Identification Number Network (UBIN), and the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), amongst others.

Singapore Customs arrested a 29-year-old male Malaysian and seized more than 1,000 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes in an operation on 12 March 2022. Case information During an operation conducted in the wee hours of 12 March 2022 at the vicinity of Tuas South Walk, Singapore Customs officers spotted a Malaysia-registered prime mover attached with a trailer and a Singapore-registered truck parked back-to-back along the roadside. Officers moved in to conduct a check and found 1,020 cartons of duty-unpaid cigarettes in the truck. A Malaysian man, who was the driver of the lorry, was arrested. Investigations revealed that the duty-unpaid cigarettes in the truck were retrieved from a modified compartment in the floorboard of the trailer. The duty-unpaid cigarettes and the two vehicles were seized. The total duty and Goods and Services tax (GST) evaded amounted to about $87,100 and $6,930 respectively. Court proceedings against the man are ongoing. Buying, selling, conveying, delivering, storing, keeping, possessing or dealing with dutyunpaid goods are serious offences under the Customs Act and the GST Act. Offenders can be fined up to 40 times the amount of duty and GST evaded and/or jailed for up to six years. Vehicles used in the commission of such offences are liable to be forfeited.

SINGAPORE AND FRANCE SIGN PARTNERSHIP ON DIGITAL AND GREEN ECONOMY COOPERATION

TL Bureau, Singapore City

Minister-in-charge of Trade Relations S Iswaran and French Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness Franck Riester signed the FranceSingapore Digital and Green Partnership (DGP) today at a virtual signing ceremony. They also issued a Joint Ministerial Statement (Annex A) outlining the DGP’s strategic value and purpose. The DGP provides a structured platform for France and Singapore to cooperate on a wide range of digital and green issues. Under the initiative, Singapore and France will develop a workplan comprising cooperative projects with clear and tangible outcomes in various sectors, such as smart transport, smart cities, cyber, financial innovation, agri-food technologies,

MedTech and EduTech. The intent is to support public-private partnerships and private sector- led approaches that harness digital and green technologies to enhance the competitiveness of our economies and create good jobs for our people in a sustainable manner. Both sides will also establish a Joint Working Group comprising France and Singapore officials to oversee the DGP’s implementation. Mr Iswaran said, “The FranceSingapore Digital and Green Partnership is part of Singapore’s larger strategy to build a network of international partnerships that enable our companies, especially SMEs, to seize growth opportunities in the fast-growing digital and green economies. It is also the latest in a series of initiatives to continuously update and strengthen the robust economic partnership between France and Singapore – two like-

minded nations which have always placed innovation at the heart of our national strategies for growth and prosperity. At the strategic level, the Partnership will contribute to and complement existing multilateral, regional and bilateral discussions, including ongoing efforts with the EU to develop the EU-Singapore Digital Partnership.” Singapore and France enjoy strong bilateral trade and investment relations, underpinned by the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership signed in 2012, the Joint Declaration on Innovation signed in 2017, the France- Singapore Year of Innovation in 2018, the EUSingapore Free Trade Agreement which entered into force in 2019, and the Joint Ministerial Statement to maintain open and connected supply chains for essential food supplies that was issued in June 2020.

USA

Secretary Antony J. Blinken With Steve Assistant Secretary Inskeep of NPR’s Morning Edition Sison’s Travel to

TL Bureau, Washington D.C.

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State QUESTION: You said – and I’ll just read this – “we have to be prepared, unfortunately, tragically, for this to go one for some time,” meaning the Russian invasion of Ukraine. I want to explore some of the implications of that. Do we need to be prepared for the reality of the continued destruction of Ukrainian cities? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Steve, I’m afraid that we do. We’ve seen the brutality that Vladimir Putin has brought to this. We know his track record in Chechnya. We know the track record of what he’s aided and abetted in Syria. I think we have to expect the same. And part of the reason we have to expect the same is that this has not gone according to Putin’s plan. It’s – he anticipated that somehow they would go into Ukraine, the Ukrainians would either somehow welcome them or, at least, fold their tents and move out, and of course, exactly the opposite has happened. You’ve got more than 40 million Ukrainians who are standing strong in opposition to Putin, to Russia, and who will never be subjugated to Russia.

QUESTION: But we’re talking about this now going on for some time, watching this ongoing destruction for some time. How hard is it going to be to watch that destruction and continue saying no to some of the kinds of aid that President Zelenskyy is asking for? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, let’s focus on what we’re saying yes to, because it’s been extraordinary. The support that we’ve provided, other countries have provided in coordination with us in terms of security assistance – the stuff that is actually working, that is getting into Ukrainian hands, that’s making all the difference in them being able to defend themselves, being able to shoot down Russian planes and take out Russian tanks – that’s been an extraordinary effort, and as I said, it’s ongoing. We’re about, thanks to Congress, to get another $13.5 billion, a big chunk of which will go to that effort. We’re coordinating efforts around the world to get this kind of assistance in, and that’s happening, and that’s working.Second, we’re exerting extraordinary pressure on Putin and Russia itself. One of the reasons that President Biden is going to Europe next week, going to NATO and meeting with other European leaders, is to

sustain that effort, sustain the effort for Ukraine and against Russia. QUESTION: Are you prepared to send more kinds of armaments, such as longer-range anti-aircraft missiles, like the old Soviet S-300s? SECRETARY BLINKEN: In short, we’re looking at everything that we believe can be effective, and that’s the main thing. We want to make sure that what we’re providing, what others are providing can get there, get into Ukrainian hands, and be used effectively. QUESTION: You mentioned, Secretary Blinken, the sanctions against Russia. Of course, if the war goes on for some time, the sanctions go on for some time. They begin to feel permanent. How is the world likely to be a different place if Russia is permanently unplugged from the global economy? SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, Steve, two things. First, sanctions in and of themselves are not designed to be permanent. They’re a tool, and if you get the result that you’re trying to achieve, the sanctions go away. And so my strong hope would be that this war gets brought to an end, that Putin stops the aggression, and then the sanctions ultimately stop.

Bamako, Mali and Paris, France

TL Bureau, Washington D.C.

Office of the Spokesperson Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs Michele J. Sison will travel to Bamako, Mali and Paris, France, March 15-22. While in Bamako, Assistant Secretary Sison will meet with senior officials from the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and other key stakeholders to assess the ongoing peace and security challenges facing Mali and MINUSMA’s efforts to promote the stability of Mali and the region. MINUSMA remains a vitally important peacekeeping mission, mandated by the United Nations Security Council to

support the implementation of the Agreement on Peace and Reconciliation in Mali and the political transition and to protect civilians, reduce intercommunal violence, and reestablish State presence and authority. The Assistant Secretary will meet with officials from the transition government and a wide range of United Nations relief and development agencies. In Paris, the Assistant Secretary will meet with counterparts in the French government and other diplomatic colleagues to discuss, among other issues, continued close coordination at the United Nations and across the multilateral system regarding the Russian Federation’s premeditated, unprovoked, and unjustified war against Ukraine.

Briefing with Senior Administration Officials on the U.S. Humanitarian Assistance Response to Russia’s Further Invasion of Ukraine TL Bureau, Washington D.C. Office of the Spokesperson Via Teleconference MODERATOR: Thank you, Ryan, and thank you, everyone, for joining us this afternoon for this briefing on the U.S. humanitarian assistance response to Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine. Here at the top, before we get started, I would like to remind everyone that this briefing is on background with attribution to senior administration officials, and that the contents of this call are embargoed until the end of the briefing. For the purposes of your reporting, you can refer to our briefers as Senior Administration Official Number One, Senior Administration Official Number Two, and Senior Administration Official Number Three. Now, for your information but not for your reporting, I’m going to go ahead and let you know who our briefers are this afternoon. I’m very glad to have with us ; be Senior Administration Official Number One. ; be Senior Administration Official Number Two. And third, , or Senior Administration Official Number Three. Okay, we’re going to start our briefing today just with some brief remarks from each of our speakers and then we’ll take a few of your

questions. Again, let me just say that this briefing this afternoon is on the U.S. humanitarian assistance in response to Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine. I would like to go ahead and ask folks to please limit your questions to that topic. We’ve already had excellent briefings today from Press Secretary Jen Psaki over at the White House and Spokesperson Ned Price here at State covering the full gamut of issues with regard to Russia and its invasion of Ukraine, so we’ll ask you again to limit your questions to humanitarian assistance and our response in that regard. Okay. And with that, I’m going to go ahead and turn it over to to get us started. ? SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL NUMBER ONE: Thank you and good afternoon, everyone. I appreciate the opportunity to speak with you today about USAID’s humanitarian response to the crisis in Ukraine following Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified invasion. Since this senseless campaign of unprovoked violence has begun, 4.7 million people have been displaced in and out of Ukraine. That’s over 10 percent of Ukraine’s population, but one that the UN thinks the real figures may be significantly higher. Putin’s war has turned nearly 3 million Ukrainians into refugees,

including 1 million children, some of whom are forced to flee without their parents. Nearly 2 million people are displaced inside of Ukraine. We are hearing distressing reports from our partners in cities like Mariupol, where people remain in dire conditions and lack safe drinking water, food, fuel, and electricity. The extensive damage we are seeing also means that shelter may be inadequate at a time when people face cold weather. All of this is compounded by the terror of living under bombardment. As the war continues into its third week, as just one of the many examples of the horrors civilians face, we are seeing Russian forces target schools and hospitals with a campaign of terror that has interrupted the cancer treatment for 1,500 children who are now forced to flee as bombs rain down on them while crossing into foreign countries with compromised immune systems during a pandemic with only the supplies they can carry. We call for an immediate end to this needless war of aggression. Short of that, the United States strongly supports the United Nations’ call for the establishment of safe passage of civilians out of areas under Russian attack and safe passage for aid workers attempting to provide humanitarian and medical supplies. Russia must negotiate in good faith

on these issues immediately. In the face of this catastrophic toll on the people of Ukraine, you are seeing the U.S. stand united with our allies to aid those who are suffering. USAID’s Disaster Assistance Response Team, or DART, has been in the region since the early days of Russia’s unprovoked war, making upto-the-minute assessments of humanitarian needs and quickly ramping up assistance in Ukraine. Over the past week alone, USAID has rapidly deployed four planeloads of lifesaving supplies from our warehouse in Dubai and mobilized our partners to immediately stand up surge support. This includes blankets, high energy biscuits, kitchen sets, water treatment supplies, which USAID partner International Organization for Migration, or IOM, will distribute to vulnerable Ukrainians. We’ve also worked with our partner the World Health Organization to provide emergency health kits with vital medicines and medical supplies, as well as trauma and emergency surgery kits to support emergency surgeries. These supplies, which serve upwards of 100,000 people, are directly supporting the Government of Ukraine’s health care system, which has been badly damaged since the war began. USAID partner the UN World

Food Program also transported 500 metric tons of wheat flour, enough to provide bread for 500,000 people for a week, to Kyiv. A WFP-contracted bakery also delivered nearly 15 metric tons of bread – sent to meet the needs of 60,000 people – to hospitals in Kharkiv. Through our partners, we also continue to provide critical psychosocial support to children, people with disabilities, and older people, operating mobile medical units and protection teams to reach remote, displaced, or homebound communities and conducting minerisk education activities to minimize protection risk. In total, the United States has provided nearly 293 million in additional humanitarian assistance in just the last two weeks, including nearly 81 million from USAID. We will continue to stand with the Ukrainian people during this crisis and work to meet their needs. However, despite this project – progress, the situation on the ground in Ukraine is rapidly getting worse. Russian bombardment and shelling continues to damage the infrastructure needed to get aid to people, destroying roads, bridges, and railroads, and making it difficult for aid workers to reach people in need. In the absence of a ceasefire, humanitarian safe passage must be assured in order to allow aid workers to reach those in need.

Secretary of State announces additional funding for International Fund for Ireland The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Rt Hon Brandon Lewis CBE MP, has today announced that the UK Government will contribute £4m over four years to support the ongoing work of the International Fund for Ireland (IFI).

Retirement calculator

GAD has developed a retirement calculator designed to help public sector pension scheme members understand benefits options information in their pensions more clearly.

TL Bureau, London The announcement comes during his visit to the United States for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. The Secretary of State will meet with IFI Chair, Paddy Harte, and participants on the IFI’s AMBIT capacity building programme, as part of his programme of wider engagement with key US stakeholders who share an interest in Northern Ireland’s peace and prosperity. Along with other international partners, the United States has been a strong supporter of the IFI since its establishment by the Irish Government and the UK Government in 1986. The UK contribution will assist the Fund in its work to tackle the causes of division in Northern Ireland, support dialogue, and promote reconciliation, and will help communities as they continue to emerge from the challenges created by the Covid-19 pandemic. The contribution is part of a wider UK Government commitment of

over £3.5 billion through the New Deal for NI, City Deals, PEACE Plus and the financial package laid out in the New Decade, New Approach agreement, in addition to funding schemes to drive forward the economy and offer new opportunities for further investment in people, communities and infrastructure. Announcing the funding contribution, The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Rt Hon Brandon Lewis CBE MP said: “I’m proud that we will continue

to support the work of the International Fund for Ireland, which works tirelessly to promote reconciliation and integration between and within communities across Northern Ireland and in the border areas of Ireland. “It is a clear demonstration of the UK Government’s commitment to supporting community and reconciliation initiatives that bring people together to build a safer, more secure and more prosperous society.”

Work to reduce flood risk in Bishopthorpe now complete

TL Bureau, London

Completed flood defence wall in Bishopthorpe Work on the scheme started in May 2021 to construct a 180 metre flood defence wall running along Chantry Lane and the boundary of the Bishopthorpe Palace grounds, incorporating a six metre-deep steel barrier underground; a floodgate across the bottom of Chantry Lane and water flow mechanism to prevent river water from backing up into the drainage system. Flood gate being installed at Bishopthorpe The scheme also protects properties on Main Street, therefore helping to protect access for residents in the village. In addition, 50 trees have been planted locally, with plans in place for over a hundred more and hedging to compensate for the 18 trees which had to be removed to build the flood wall. Chris Ashcroft at the Environment Agency said: The recent flooding in Yorkshire highlights the importance of projects like this one in Bishopthorpe, which will help make York more resilient to climate change and better protect 2,000 homes and businesses from flooding. We would like to thank residents for their patience and cooperation while we have been building these vital community flood defences. This work forms part of the £45 million York Flood

The Environment Agency has completed work on a £3.4m project in the village of Bishopthorpe in York, better protecting 198 properties from the risk of flooding.

TL Bureau, London Piggy Bank and Calculator GAD’s member-based innovation The Government Actuary’s Department (GAD) has developed an online tool that provides benefits options information to public sector pension scheme members. The retirement calculator is designed to help people understand their pensions more clearly. We developed the retirement calculator to help people understand their pension implications following the McCloud legal ruling. The judgment means some pension scheme members have a choice between 2 different types of benefits. The choice is between legacy schemes (typically final salary schemes) and reformed schemes (typically career average revalued earnings schemes.) Working it out The retirement calculator uses projections to illustrate what people will get at their chosen retirement age for both options. Once people add in basic details, this new calculator takes pay rises and working patterns into account. The resulting information then helps scheme members to understand the different benefits

they may be eligible for during the remedy period. Budget Calculator Spreadsheet Understanding benefits The idea was developed by GAD actuary John Bayliss. He said: “This is really about helping members understand their benefits and putting this into context. We expect this will sit along with other member information on pension portals. Once people answer some quick questions, the system will determine if they will be affected. It then refers pension scheme members to the retirement calculator. “This is new for GAD and over the course of the last year we’ve had to learn some elements of how to do this from scratch. We intend to apply this learning in different areas such as live interactive reporting which we’ve not been able to do before.” Member-focused GAD used web programming and software to make the retirement calculator more responsive and interactive. This is so that it leads to a better experience for clients and pension scheme members. The first retirement calculator is set to go live in March and will be rolled out to several clients across the public sector throughout the UK in the coming financial year.

Four new members appointed to Homes England’s Board

TL Bureau, London

Alleviation Scheme, which is made up of 18 smaller ‘cells’ like this one. Last year, a record £5.2 billion government investment to create

around 2,000 new flood and coastal defences and better protect 336,000 properties across England was announced.

The Secretary of State has announced four new non-executive directors to join the Board of Homes England, the Government’s housing and regeneration agency. All four members bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Board and will strengthen its capability and resilience. Housing Secretary Rt Hon Michael Gove MP said: Our Levelling Up White Paper sets out our plan to spread opportunity throughout the country and regenerating our towns and cities is an essential part of this. Homes England have been given a hugely important role in this work -

spearheading the transformation of towns and cities across the country to create vibrant and thriving communities on previously derelict sites. Strengthening the leadership at Homes England is an important step on our mission to deliver these ambitious projects and I warmly welcome these new appointments. Peter Freeman CBE, the Chair of the Homes England Board, said of the appointments: With a renewed focus on regeneration for Homes England, it is an incredibly exciting time to be joining the agency and I am thrilled that Patricia, Lesley-Ann, Ian and Mark have been appointed to the Board.

SOUTH AFRICA

SA salutes social workers SA forges ahead with

TL Bureau, Cape Town

The Department of Social Development has expressed its gratitude and appreciation to social workers across the country. Today marks World Social Work Day, which is commemorated under the theme, ‘Co-building a New Eco-Social World: Leaving No One Behind’. The day is observed every year on the third Tuesday of March. The department said it supports the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) initiative of raising awareness on how climate change impacts the quality of life and livelihoods. “Our country has experienced devastating effects of changing weather patterns, as evidenced by droughts, wildfires and floods, which… [have] destroyed homes and displaced people. “Social workers and social auxiliary workers are always at the forefront, responding to the needs of communities. “Let us support social work practitioners in their [endeavours to… contribute] to the new ‘EcoSocial World’ we all aspire to

live in,” said Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu. World Social Work Day affords key stakeholders an opportunity to recognise social work as an essential profession for the efficient delivery of quality social welfare services. South Africa is grappling with multiple social problems, ranging from teenage pregnancy, alcohol and drug abuse, as well as the second pandemic of gender-based violence, which negatively affects the most vulnerable women and children. “Many households, especially those who are hardest hit by COVID-19, also depend largely on social workers for counselling, psychosocial support, and other varied interventions,” said the department. The department said it recognises that the social work profession

More state funds will be recovered - SIU

TL Bureau, Cape Town

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) says it is awaiting Special Tribunal adjudication on cases that could recover at least R2 billion which has been looted from public coffers. This after the Special Tribunal ordered software company SAP to pay back at least R413 million to the Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) after a licensing and support agreement between the two parties was declared unconstitutional and invalid. According to SIU spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, the judgement serves as a warning for errant public servants and private companies. “The SIU and DWS welcome the Special Tribunal order as it sends strong message to officials and companies doing business with the state that collusion and unethical business practice will not be rewarded. “The outcome of the Special Tribunal order is a continuation

of implementation of the SIU investigation outcomes and consequence management to recover financial losses suffered by state institutions. There are other matters enrolled in the Special Tribunal which are still awaiting adjudication to the combined value of R2.1 billion and will result in further recoveries for the state,” he said. Kganyago added that department officials that were involved in the dodgy SAP contracts will not escape scrutiny. “[The] SIU made disciplinary referrals to DWS against two senior officials. The SIU was informed that DC against one senior official has been concluded and judgment is expected within this week, while the DWS is considering disciplinary action against the other official. “The SIU has also referred evidence pointing towards criminality to the National Prosecuting Authority, Asset Forfeiture Unit and South African Revenue Service,” Kganyago said.

is still a critical skill required by the sector to implement key legislative frameworks and interventions on a variety of social ills and vulnerabilities. To further improve the image of the social work profession and instil moral support for social workers and social auxiliary workers, the department recommitted itself to engage networks and professional associations and professionals to promote the integration of eco-social work practice in the education and practice of the profession. Such an approach, the department said, will be pursued with anticipation that social workers across the country will be equipped to respond to community needs emanating from the impact of climate and environmental changes on the quality of life and functioning of communities in the country and the world. “Such an awareness strengthens interventions for the social wellbeing of individuals, families, communities, and society at large,” the department said.

North West recommits to reduce housing backlog TL Bureau, Cape Town The North West Human Settlements department has reiterated its commitment to reduce the housing backlog and fast track the process of delivering houses to legible beneficiaries across the province. The commitment was part of the resolutions taken during the recent strategic retreat session held in Rustenburg, where the department undertook to up the momentum and deliver on its mandate to close the gap that was created in the past three years. Departmental Acting Head, James Mashigo, said the department has, in the past few weeks crisscrossed the province introducing over 30 contractors to municipalities, to start on new housing projects or to unblock blocked projects.

CoGTA committee votes against proposed Disaster Management Amendment Bill

TL Bureau , Cape Town By majority vote, the Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (COGTA) has decided not to accept a motion of desirability on the proposed Disaster

Management Amendment Bill.This was a Private Member’s Bill sponsored by Dr PJ Groenewald of the Freedom Front Plus, which the Speaker had referred to the committee on 10 February 2021. The Bill sought to constrain the perceived power of the executive

in relation to the duration of a state of disaster by means of affording Parliament, provincial legislatures and municipal councils the exclusive power to extend the duration of a national, provincial and local state of disaster respectively.

infrastructure plan

TL Bureau, Cape Town Public Works and Infrastructure Minister, Patricia de Lille, says construction has begun on many of the 62 projects of the National Infrastructure Plan (NIP). The projects, the Minister said in a briefing in Pretoria on Wednesday, have been gazetted as Strategic Integrated Projects (SIPS), in terms of the Infrastructure Development Act. This is to ensure that these projects follow an expedited path to implementation. “Many of these projects are already under construction, providing much needed jobs for our people, helping to revive the struggling construction sector,” De Lille said. In approving the Infrastructure Investment Plan in May 2020, Cabinet also approved the establishment of Infrastructure South Africa (ISA), which is responsible for raising additional funding for the projects, and driving efforts to ensure that implementation is expedited and projects are completed. ISA, which is headed by Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has over the past few months diligently worked on a long-term plan for infrastructure development across the country -- the National Infrastructure Plan (NIP) 2050. About R6.224 trillion is estimated to be needed in infrastructure finance between 2016 and 2040. De Lille said the NIP 2050 aims to ensure that there is a long-term overview regarding infrastructure, in order to drive economic and social transformation to achieve NDP goals and beyond. “There is a pressing need for a shared long-term vision and a robust institutional platform to enable sustained and continuous improvement in public infrastructure delivery.” De Lille said some of the most important requirements of the NIP 2050 are already being implemented. Buy-in from the sector On 4 August 2021, Cabinet approved the gazetting of the National Infrastructure Plan 2050 for public comment. The NIP 2050 was subsequently gazetted for

public comment on 10 August 2021, with the closing date for submission of written comments set for 17 September 2021. De Lille said to complement the process of written comments, Infrastructure South Africa held a series of public consultation sessions with various stakeholders in the infrastructure sector. Following these engagements, there was a need to consult more broadly with additional stakeholders. A total of 85 written comments were received from departments, State-owned enterprises, implementing agents, advisory bodies, civil society organisations, institutes of higher learning, research organisations and professional bodies, including Business Unity South Africa and Business Leadership South Africa. “There is huge support in terms of the development of a longterm infrastructure planning framework. Inputs made to NIP 2050 were aimed to strengthen and enhance the plan,” De Lille said. Ramokgopa said the NIP 2050 targets the provision of energy, water, transport and digital communications. “The NDP sets a target that more than 90% of the population should enjoy access to grid-connected or off-grid electricity by 2030. “To realise this vision, South Africa’s energy system will be supported by effective policies, institutions, governance systems, regulation and where appropriate, competitive markets. “The NDP envisages a freight transport sector that facilitates domestic and crossborder movement across supply chains to enable industrialisation, diversification and trade and development.” Ramokgopa said the South African government aims to expand infrastructure investment in support of economic and social objectives. “This move is also meant to act as an economic stimulus. Since 2019, several initiatives have been launched to improve infrastructure investment, in support of economic and social objectives, and to stimulate the economy,” he said.

MALAYSIA & NEARBY

Notice

by MRT Corp TEMPORARY RIGHT LANE CLOSURE AT JALAN IPOH (KEPONG BOUND) FROM SEKOLAH MENENGAH KEBANGSAAN (P) JALAN IPOH TO WISMA KAH MOTOR Date: 18 March 2022 – 20 March 2022 Time: 24 hours CONTINUATION OF OFF-PEAK RIGHT LANE CLOSURE AT JALAN IPOH IN FRONT OF MUTIARA COMPLEX (KL-BOUND & KEPONGBOUND) AND LEFT LANE CLOSURE (KL-BOUND) NEAR SANG SURIA CONDOMINIUM Date: 16 March 2022 – 30 April 2022 Time: 9:00am – 4:30pm

NZ AND OTHER OCEANIA

More Māori households to benefit Pharmac deal good news from low-cost clean energy fund for New Zealanders

TL Bureau, Wellington

Final round opens of the Māori Housing Renewable Energy Fund Part of a suite of government initiatives aimed at reducing energy hardship and creating warmer, more energy-efficient homes. Projects to be proof of concept to design future energy solutions Larger-scale projects will enable trials that serve bigger communities Eligible organisations can now apply for funding in the final round of the Government’s Māori Housing Renewable Energy Fund, which for the first time is opening the door to larger-scale projects, Energy and Resources Minister Megan Woods has announced. “It’s part of the Government’s focus on creating cheaper power, warmer, and drier, more energyefficient homes for Māori and public housing,” says Megan Woods.“This is the third and final round for this approximately $14 million fund, which has already seen 15 smaller-scale solar power initiatives funded, providing clean and cheap power to more than

TL Bureau, Wellington

200 households. “With the Round 1 projects nearly completed, and those funded from Round 2 soon to be announced, I’m excited to open Round 3, which has about $9 million of funding available,” Megan Woods said. Approximately $3 million is available for several smaller-scale projects and about $6 million for three to five larger-scale projects. Proposals for feasibility studies are not being considered in this round. The fund is open to Māori organisations and organisations working on behalf of Māori to fund renewable energy solutions in residential housing. “We have seen from the completed projects that the Māori Housing Renewable Energy Fund can make a huge difference for whānau, especially those with tamariki, kaumātua, and kuia, who now have warmer, healthier and more energy efficient homes,” says Associate Minister of Māori Housing Peeni Henare. “With a clean and cheap source of power on their doorstep, they’re more able to keep their homes

warm and healthy in winter and don’t have to compromise on essentials to pay their energy bills. I’m looking forward to seeing the next funding rounds help even more households. “While the projects are demonstrating the benefits of locally generated and distributed clean energy, we don’t have all the answers on how this can best be done, so we’re looking for even more innovative solutions in this round,” says Megan Woods. “All projects supported by this Fund will provide valuable information on the costs, and benefits of new design and technology solutions. Information from the larger-scale projects funded in this round will be especially valuable for informing any future trials of technologies that serve bigger communities,” Megan Woods said. This fund is one half of the $28 million Māori and Public Housing Renewable Energy Fund. It is part of a suite of government initiatives aimed at reducing energy hardship and creating warmer and more energy-efficient homes.

growing sectors, with the sector’s exports forecast to reach $6.9 billion this financial year and expected to grow further. “We have been investing significantly in partnership with the sector in new technology and increasing sustainability. For a young person that means exciting career opportunities. “These range from practical jobs like planting and harvesting, through to roles in biodiversity and sustainability, green and digital technologies, engineering, sales and marketing, research and science, and manufacturing and logistics.”

The Akongoue: Pasifika Horticulture Programme is a collaboration between the Ministry for Primary Industries, the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, Tongan Youth Trust, the Sector Workforce Engagement Programme (MBIE), and training organisation New Zealand Sports Turf Institute (NZSTI). Aupito William Sio said the programme will broaden horizons and reward young Pacific people. “There is huge potential for our Pacific youth to build lifelong, fulfilling careers in horticulture. This programme is the first step,” Aupito William Sio said.

learning services can opt-in to receive a supply of tests,” Chris Hipkins said. “The goal is to keep schools and early learning centres open, and the advice and feedback I have received from the education sector is that greater access to rapid antigen testing could help them to do that. “I know this is an uncertain time for a lot of us and we want young people and children to stay healthy and well. But we also want schools and early learning centres to stay open so that learning can continue in person, young people can see their teachers and friends and parents and caregivers can continue to go to work,” Chris Hipkins said.

Early learning centres will also be able to access rapid antigen tests for reassurance testing, so that parents can have confidence in their centre to stay open and for their children to continue to attend. Those centres that opt-in will receive enough tests for staff to do twice-weekly testing. “Staff at specialist schools and special needs units will also be able to access rapid antigen testing for this purpose and will be prioritised for distribution, as will staff at school hostels,” Chris Hipkins said. “This is a voluntary, short term measure while we get through the peak of the Omicron outbreak. It will be reviewed again in a few weeks’ time.”

New programme launched to attract Pacific youth into horticulture careers

TL Bureau, Wellington

A new programme launched today in Mangere aims to introduce Pacific youth to fruitful careers in New Zealand’s horticulture sector, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor and Pacific Peoples Minister Aupito William Sio announced today. “The Akongoue: Pasifika Horticulture Programme will introduce our Pacific youth to the wide range of career options across the horticulture sector supply chain,” Damien O’Connor said. “In terms of exports, horticulture is one of New Zealand’s fastest

The Government is welcoming news the national drug-funding agency Pharmac has secured an agreement for medicines that will help New Zealanders with lung cancer, ovarian cancer and severe asthma. “The Government has increased Pharmac funding by 25 percent over the past four years in order to make deals for new medicines like this possible,” Health Minister Andrew Little said. “The agreement with AstraZeneca includes new discounts on three medicines Pharmac already funds, the extension of a medicine for ovarian cancer to more people and, importantly, the purchase of new medicines to treat people with a severe form of asthma and with stage-three lung cancer “The lung-cancer treatment is particularly significant because it offers people with lung cancer the potential to extend their lives more than what is possibly now, especially when combined with what might come out of a multimillion dollar research programme about to get under way.” Every year, about 1800 New Zealanders die from lung cancer. “It’s the biggest cause of cancerrelated death in this country and often it isn’t diagnosed until it’s too late to treat it,” Andrew Little said. “It can be difficult for patients and doctors to recognise the symptoms for what they are, and getting access to scans or biopsies for a timely diagnosis may not be easy.” One of the goals of a new research project being funded by Te Aho o Te Kahu, the Health Research Council and the Ministry of Health is finding effective and equitable ways of detecting lung cancers sooner, so people can be treated with medicines like durvalumab, which is part of the bundle Pharmac has secured from AstraZeneca. “This is what a joined-up health service looks like – health agencies

working together to identify problems and find and implement solutions,” Andrew Little said. “We’ve increased Pharmac’s budget to $1.1 billion but what’s just as important is making sure our system of supplying medicines is working with other parts of the health system. That’s what our health reforms are about.” Notes: Lung cancer is the biggest cause of cancer-related deaths in New Zealand, with about 1800 people dying from it each year. Most is non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Māori are three times more likely than New Zealand Europeans to develop lung cancer and to die from it. People are more likely to survive if they are diagnosed early, because treatments like surgery are available. Eight out of 10 people diagnosed early are still alive five years later, but fewer than one in 10 who are diagnosed with late-stage cancer live for five years. Survival ate is even worse for Māori. The reasons people are diagnosed late include: Low awareness – among the public and primary-care health professions – of the symptoms of lung cancer. Often coughing and tiredness are attributed to something else. Difficulty getting diagnostic tests, like scans and biopsies. The other medicines in the AstraZeneca bundle purchased by Pharmac are: benralizumab for treating several eosinophilic asthma widened access to olaparib, a firstline treatment for some types of ovarian cancer. Discounts on budesonide (the Symbiocort Tubuhaler for asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), fulvestrant (Faslodex, for treating a type of breast cancer) and gefitinib (Iressa, for treating a type of cancer called epidermal growth factor receptor awaiting explanation of this)

Rapid antigen tests more widely available in schools and early learning TL Bureau, Wellington Nearly a million more rapid antigen tests are being made available and easier to access in schools and early learning centres, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced today. Schools, kura and early learning centres will now be provided with rapid antigen tests to give to symptomatic children, young people and staff, and the people in their households. “The Ministry of Education currently has several hundred thousand tests to hand and will receive nearly a million more over the next week to be distributed through its regional offices. Schools, kura and early

All results must be recorded on My COVID Record and if a person tests positive, they and their household contacts must complete seven days in isolation. The Close Contact Exemption Scheme remains available if needed, to enable household contacts with no symptoms to continue going to work as long as they return a negative rapid antigen test each day. “As our rapid antigen test numbers grow we have more options. People will now be able to access rapid antigen tests through their child’s school or early learning centre if they are symptomatic, rather than having to go to a community testing centre,” Chris Hipkins said.

“Schools and early learning centres already have very good protections in place with all staff required to be vaccinated, mask use in year 4 and up and good ventilation. “In fact portable air cleaners are already being sent to schools to be used in classrooms, staffrooms and other spaces where there is a need to supplement natural ventilation. “State and state-integrated schools have been using their CO2 monitors to help identify where improvements are needed, and the government is ensuring those improvements can be made either through property interventions, and temporarily using portable air cleaners if the fix is going to take longer.

BUSINESS

IFC, Dhaka Stock Exchange, and United Nations Push for Greater Participation of Women in Leadership Roles

TL Bureau, Dhaka

Celebrating International Women’s Day, IFC partnered with the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), UN Women, and United Nations Global Compact for the seventh consecutive year to ‘Ring the Bell for Gender Equality.’ While emphasizing women’s role in shaping a more equal future, the annual event highlights how greater participation of women in the economy can spur sustainable and inclusive growth. The commemoration event came as new figures showed there was an increase in the percentage of women who are independent directors on listed companies from five percent in 2020 to six percent, despite the impact of COVID-19, which has disproportionately affected women. A 2020 IFC-DSE study showed at the time around 18 percent of listed company board directors were women, that has remained the same. In terms of women on boards of listed companies, Bangladesh still tops the South Asia region.

Speaking at the event, H.E. Ms. Nathalie Chuard, the Ambassador of Switzerland to Bangladesh said, “As Bangladesh embarks upon its graduation from the LDC category, ensuring gender equality is all the more critical for a sustainable transition that leaves no one behind. As a committed and longstanding bilateral partner, Switzerland gives particular importance to gender equality and social inclusion in all of its engagements in Bangladesh.” Tarique Amin Bhuiyan, Managing Director, Dhaka Stock Exchange Limited, Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission said the Dhaka Stock Exchange remained fully committed to closing the gender gap and promoting women’s role in leadership, particularly in listed companies. “Advancing womens’ roles in companies will not only create a more diverse leadership team, but will also serve to help private sector companies create value, bring new ideas, boost transparency and promote inclusive growth,” he said. Meanwhile in a new joint report

on, “How Exchanges Can Advance Gender Equality: Updated Guidance and Best Practice,” the UN Sustainable Stock Exchanges (SSE) initiative and IFC identify three broad areas where exchanges can play a role in advancing gender equality. These include the promotion of gender-focused and/or gender-aware products and services, strengthening of market performance on gender equality and leading by example. ‘Investing in women’s economic empowerment is both the right thing to do and the smart thing to do as it sets a direct path towards gender equality, poverty eradication and inclusive economic growth,” said Gitanjali Singh, Head of Office, a.i. UN Women Bangladesh. The report offers guidance on implementing gender-responsive action plans, such as supporting the listing of gender-focused financial instruments, addressing barriers to gender equality on boards and senior management, promoting increased transparency on gender performance through expanded environmental, social,

IFC Unveils New Initiative to Drive Investments for Women Entrepreneurs in Armenia TL Bureau, Yerevan

To help women entrepreneurs grow their businesses, attract funding, and generate more revenue, IFC, in partnership with the government of Japan, has launched a new initiative in Armenia. The program will help improve access to finance for women-owned businesses, unlocking their full potential and enabling greater participation of women in the country’s economy. Access to finance is one of the biggest challenges in Armenia, especially for micro, small, and medium businesses, a majority of which are women-owned, according to IFC’s Women Entrepreneurship Study 2021. In response, IFC has developed a new initiative to help women-owned firms attract investments by improving their business skills and access to business networks, thereby addressing one of the key obstacles women entrepreneurs face. Over the next 11 months the IFC Investment Readiness Program for Women-Owned Firms in Armenia program will provide women-owned firms with a mix of individual and group mentoring, coaching, and advice. The aim is to help them improve their investment readiness and soft skills, which are key for business

negotiations and boosting confidence.Fukushima Masanori, Ambassador of Japan to Armenia, said, “The government of Japan is convinced this extremely important project is in line with the times, as the role of women in business is growing every day in Armenia and around the world. We expect this project to provide women with increased opportunities to feel confident as entrepreneurs and in business, and we look forward to seeing many important outcomes by the completion of the project.” Ivana Fernandes Duarte, IFC Regional Manager for the South Caucasus, said, “Though women play a critical role in economies as entrepreneurs, the obstacles they face often prevent them from unlocking their full potential. In Armenia, IFC’s advisory work aims to provide women entrepreneurs with the tools and resources they need to enhance their confidence and capacity, while driving inclusive growth.” The program will include a series of networking events, aimed at expanding womenowned business linkages through new business networks. The focus will be on connecting small and medium enterprises with financial institutions to address

limited access to finance. The advisory support will also aim to help large firms integrate women into supply chains, improving their access to business networks. The program is expected to help women entrepreneurs create more jobs in Armenia. IFC’s program will be implemented by Enterprise Incubator Foundation and Granatus Ventures, in partnership with Gyumri Technology Center and Vanadzor Technology Center, in Yerevan, Shirak, and the Lori region of Armenia. About IFC IFC—a member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work in more than 100 countries, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in developing countries. In fiscal year 2021, IFC committed a record $31.5 billion to private companies and financial institutions in developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity as economies grapple with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. For more information, visit www. ifc.org.

and governance (ESG) disclosure, and setting gender targets for listed companies. IFC’s commitment to Ring the Bell initiative is part of its strong focus on gender equality, which includes leveraging relationships with financial institutions to expand access to finance for female entrepreneurs and increase the number of women in leadership roles. “IFC has long been engaged in efforts at the capital markets level to support women as economic actors,” said Martin Holtmann, IFC Country Manager for Bangladesh, Bhutan and Nepal. “We are well aware that having more women in leadership positions makes economic sense for companies and is also linked to better environmental, social and corporate governance standards and practices. It’s why IFC has been working with multiple stakeholders in Bangladesh including the stock exchange, regulators, and companies.” Earlier in March, IFC and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) also announced a new program

that included Bangladesh to spur private sector investment in developing countries by leveraging sound environmental and social and governance (ESG) practices. The Women’s Day event included a panel discussion on the business case for gender diversity on boards. Participants included Zareen Mahmud Hosein, FCA, Partner Snehasish Mahmud & Co., Melita Mehjabeen, Associate, Professor, IBA, University of Dhaka and Shamarukh Fakhruddin, Director, Urmi Group. The discussion was moderated by Shahamin Zaman, Executive Director, Global Compact Network Bangladesh (GCNB) and Md. Eunusur Rahman, Chairman, Dhaka Stock Exchange Limited provided closing remarks. The global partnership with Sustainable Stock Exchange, IFC UN Women, UN Global Compact, began in 2015 to Ring the Bell for Gender Equality and this year more than 120 stock exchanges have been taking part in events around the world to raise awareness for gender equality.

Jairo Gonzalez makes tour at the headquarters of the New Ideas Party

Harvest Trading Cap meets with Xavier Zablah Bukele, current president of the political party Nuevas Ideas TL Bureau, Miami The CEO of Harvest Trading Cap, Jairo González MA, visited this March 4, 2022, the main headquarters of the political party Nuevas Ideas, where he was received by the politician Xavier Zablah Bukele, currently president of the party. It is worth mentioning that the aforementioned is a cousin of the current president of El Salvador Nayib Bukele, who has shown great interest and contributions in the advances and evolution of New Financial Technologies in El Salvador. The visit of Jairo Gonzalez and his team to El Salvador has been with a specific purpose (to contribute to the economic, educational and social welfare) of the country,

which has been fulfilled in each of the meetings and meetings that Harvest Trading Cap and his entourage have had with each entity that has met. In the meeting with Xavier Zablah Bukele, the most important topics and focus for Harvest Trading Cap executives were discussed. They talked about the training to the population through the Jerusalem Foundation with academic scholarships offered by Harvest Trading Cap Academy; Jairo Gonzalez also mentioned about the basic course of trading and knowledge of new technologies, ecosystem of Harvest Trading Cap in the use of new technologies, multiplication of Bitcoin state, NFT technology and social projects.

ePac Flexible Packaging Set to Accelerate Growth

TL Bureau, Austin, Texas

Established in 2016, and just 6 years old, ePac Flexible Packaging is doubling down on the aggressive growth strategy it has deployed since the company’s creation. ePac will continue to focus on helping small and medium brands achieve big brand presence, recognizing the importance of this sector in driving economic growth in all corners of the globe. 2021 was a strong year for the company, again seeing sales growth in excess of 50% YoY, and

an increase in production capacity of over 30%. In North America new plants were successfully opened in Portland, Toronto, and Kansas City, and internationally in the UK, France, Poland, and Australia. ePac now operates 17 plants in North America and 6 more in Europe and Asia Pacific. Looking forward into 2022-2023, ePac will continue expansion in North America, adding plants in the Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, Southwest, and a second location in the Mountain region.

FEATURE

Increased Risk of Partner2Connect Trafficking in Persons for rallies commitments for connectivity People Fleeing Ukraine

ITU launches the P2C Online Pledging Platform and Focus Areas Action Framework to advance connectivity globally

TL Bureau, New York

Tens of thousands of people including Third Country Nationals escaping the war in Ukraine are crossing the Palanca border crossing point in Moldova. IOM/Safa Msehli TL Bureau, Geneva The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is worried about the risk of trafficking in persons as well as sexual exploitation and abuse in Ukraine and the region as the number of vulnerable people fleeing the war continues to rise. Over three million people have fled Ukraine, including 162,000 third country nationals (TCNs). The deteriorating humanitarian situation and resulting large scale and complex movements correlate with an increase in threat to personal safety, putting people on the move at heightened risk of exploitation. While cases of human trafficking are less likely to be identified in the immediate aftermath of mass displacement, initial reports from within and outside of Ukraine indicate the potential for traffickers to exploit the vulnerabilities of those fleeing the war. Instances of sexual violence have already been reported and among the individuals promising onward transportation or services, there have been indications of potential exploitation. Individuals and community members providing transportation and accommodation assistance should do so in coordination with local protection agencies and should facilitate registration and share contact details, transportation routes, and accommodation locations to enable appropriate oversight and safeguarding. “IOM reports show that people fleeing Ukraine are predominately from singleheaded households including women, children and older persons – some of whom are unaccompanied and separated –and third country nationals,” says IOM Director General António Vitorino. “These groups can be especially vulnerable to the risk of trafficking as they leave their homes unexpectedly and might have their usual family

networks and financial security seriously disrupted.” In 2021, IOM in Ukraine identified and assisted over 1,000 victims of trafficking. In response to the war in Ukraine, the Organization has scaled up its efforts to establish resources and interventions to prevent trafficking in persons both in Ukraine and among those on the move throughout the region. IOM is collaborating with border agencies and government partners to implement trafficking prevention mechanisms such as dissemination and inclusion of protection messaging, providing verified and safe information and raising awareness to empower refugees and third country nationals to make informed decisions and be aware of risks. The Organization has also reinforced regional hotlines to equip people on the move with important safety and resource information. IOM in Ukraine, Romania, and Moldova have developed online materials related to safe migration and counter-trafficking, which connect people fleeing Ukraine with vital accommodation, transportation, and trafficking reporting resources. We encourage States to receive arrivals from Ukraine in a non-discriminatory, gender-sensitive, and culturally sensitive manner, without bias based on nationality, ethnicity, or status of documentation. We stress the need for a collective response in terms of capacity building, appropriately collecting evidence, providing technical guidance, and above all, direct assistance to all victims and those vulnerable to violence, exploitation, and abuse. IOM also strongly recommends that third country nationals are granted protection and have access facilitated to their respective consular authorities. The Organization and is ready to support efforts to ensure the protection and safety of all those fleeing the war.

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) today announced its Partner2Connect pledging platform and an action framework to advance universal connectivity and digital transformation. ITU’s Partner2Connect (P2C) Online Pledging Platform will help mobilize resources to transform societies, promote sustainable digital technology uptake, and ensure meaningful connectivity for everyone. Today, an estimated 2.9 billion people – 37 per cent of the world’s population – have never used the Internet. An estimated 96 per cent of them live in developing countries – despite a global surge in connectivity surge the past two years. “In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, ITU has redoubled its efforts to help countries around the world expand connectivity, to reach communities where connectivity remains too fragmented or unreliable to offer meaningful benefits,” said Houlin Zhao, ITU SecretaryGeneral. “The Partner2Connect Coalition reflects these efforts, helping put new and emerging technologies truly at the service of humanity and sustainable development.” Collecting commitments The P2C Online Pledging Platform is set to receive pledges and commitments from across the government, business, civil society, and academic sectors to drive digital transformation all over the world. The P2C Online Platform serves as a key place for leaders to declare their organizations’ commitment to close the digital divide and as a “marketplace” to catalyse new partnerships and collaboration. The 16 March kick-off featured highprofile statements of support from multiple governments and an initial set of pledges from the German development agency GIZ, and global technology and communications firms Microsoft and Vodafone. Doreen Bogdan-Martin, Director of the ITU Telecommunication Development Bureau, said: “The international community needs to find new ways to move the needle on connecting the unconnected, to overcome chronic connectivity barriers, to dramatically level-up affordable access to technology, to empower people with digital skills, and to foster thriving local digital ecosystems. As the UN specialized agency for ICTs with a mission to connect the world, the P2C platform will re-energize global and regional connectivity efforts through broader commitments and a holistic approach to advance universal and meaningful connectivity, so that everyone, everywhere, has access to life-changing, enabling, digital platforms and services.” Partner2Connect addresses four key priorities to ensure a sustainable global digital transformation: Access: Connecting people everywhere Adoption: Empowering communities Value creation: Building digital ecosystems Accelerate: Incentivizing investments Companies, governments, and other stakeholders can register single-organization

or joint pledges spanning financial, policy, advocacy, and programmatic support. The P2C Online Platform will allow those who pledge to self-report progress and showcase best practices. The P2C Secretariat will produce an annual report. Connecting partners ITU last year launched an alliance of public and private partners, the P2C Digital Coalition, in close cooperation with the Office of the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology and the UN Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UNOHRLLS). The Coalition builds on the UN Secretary General’s Roadmap for Digital Cooperation in fostering meaningful connectivity globally, with a particular focus on helping hardestto-connect communities in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). “The benefits of being online are not shared equally,” observed Heidi Schroderus-Fox, Acting High Representative at the UN’s Office of the High Representative for the LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS. “The Least Developed Countries struggle most to use technology to drive innovation, growth, and the delivery of services. As a crucial milestone in the realization of the Doha Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries, the Partner2Connect Digital Coalition will help bring about meaningful change in the countries that need it most.” The P2C Platform aims to strengthen global digital cooperation and support efforts towards the UN Global Digital Compact and the 2023 Summit of the Future. Maria Francesca Spatolisano, Assistant Secretary General of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs and Acting Envoy on Technology at the Office of the UN’s Secretary-General Technology Envoy, reiterated that “global connectivity is the foundation of the Secretary-General’s vision of an open, free and secure digital future for all” and “that the action-oriented approach taken by Partner2Connect will be critical in pushing this forward.” Building an inclusive Action Framework The accompanying Focus Areas Action Framework – developed by P2C Working Groups, Focus Area Leaders and with Boston Consulting Group (BCG) as a P2C’s knowledge partner – builds on extensive, inclusive consultations with a wide array of digital and socio-economic stakeholders. The framework summarizes key prerequisites, including who, what, why and how, to achieve universal, meaningful connectivity and digital transformation for all. “Digital inclusion is a pivotal concern as more and more aspects of life require connectivity,” said Maikel Wilms, Partner & Director of BCG. “The Partner2Connect Digital Coalition and its Platform provide a clear pathway for private players, civil society, and governments to come together in partnership to connect all people around the world.

Council agrees on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM)

TL Bureau, Brussels

Today, the Council reached agreement (general approach) on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) regulation, which is one of the key elements of the European Union’s ‘Fit for 55’ package. The main objective of this environmental measure is to avoid carbon leakage. It will also encourage partner countries to establish carbon pricing policies to fight climate change. For that purpose, CBAM targets imports of carbon-intensive products, in full compliance with international trade rules, to prevent offsetting the EU’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction efforts through imports of products manufactured in non-EU countries, where climate change policies are less ambitious than in the European Union. It will also help prevent the relocation of the production or the import of carbon-intensive products. The products of the following sectors will be covered by CBAM: cement, aluminium, fertilisers, electric energy production, iron and steel. “The agreement in the Council on the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism is a victory for European climate policy. It will give us a tool to speed up the decarbonisation of our industry, while protecting it from companies from countries with less ambitious climate goals. It will also incentivize other countries to become more sustainable and emit less. Finally, this mechanism responds to our European ambitious strategy that is to accelerate Europe’s energy independence.” Bruno Le Maire, French Minister for Economic Affairs, Finance and Recovery

CBAM is designed to function in parallel with the EU’s Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), to mirror and complement its functioning on imported goods. It will gradually replace the existing European Union mechanisms to address the risk of carbon leakage, in particular the free allowances of EU ETS allowances. Compared to the initial proposal by the Commission, the Council opted for a greater centralisation of the CBAM governance, where it makes sense and contributes to greater efficiency. For example, the new registry of CBAM declarants (importers) is to be centralised at EU level. The Council also foresees a minimum thresholdwhich exempts from the CBAM obligations consignments with a value of less than €150. This measure would reduce administrative complexity, as around one third of consignments to the Union would fall under that category, and their aggregate value and quantity represents a negligible part of greenhouse gas emissions of total imports of such products into the Union. Next steps The Council still has to make sufficient progress on a number of issues which are closely related to CBAM, but are not part of the draft legal text of the CBAM regulation. This concerns in particular the phase-out of the free allowances allocated to industry sectors covered by the CBAM, established by the EU ETS directive, and appropriate solutions on the issue of limiting potential carbon leakage from exports, so that economic efficiency, environmental integrity and WTO compatibility of the CBAM are ensured.

Two other issues will continue to be followed: the proposals by the Commission for own resources, based, inter alia, on revenues from the sale of CBAM certificates, which are under consideration for deliberation by 1 July 2022, in accordance with the inter-institutional agreement of 16 December 2020; the Council noted the importance of greater international cooperation with third countries, including through the establishment, in parallel to the CBAM, of a climate club where carbon pricing policies can be discussed and encouraged. Once sufficient progress will have been achieved at the Council, the Council will start negotiations with the European Parliament, after the latter has agreed its position. Background The Commission presented its proposal for a regulation establishing a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism on 14 July 2021. It aims to address the risk of carbon leakage caused by asymmetrical climate policies of non-EU countries (where policies applied to fight climate change are less ambitious than those of the EU). Application of the CBAM would prevent the emissions reduction efforts of the Union being offset by increasing emissions outside the Union due to the relocation of production to nonEU countries or increased imports of carbon-intensive products. Technical work on the proposal takes places in an Ad Hoc Working Party on CBAM, which the Council specifically established for negotiations on this proposal. At its meeting on 7 December 2021, the ECOFIN Council took note of a progress report by the Presidency.

4 in Finland. Additionally, a local remix of the song was released in Finland and reached number one. The last artist performing in Swedish to reach top five in our neighbouring country to the east was the band Kent. To emphasise his Nordic-based globalism, A36 also made a Scandinavian remix of the song with Danish rapper Branco and Norwegian hip-hop artist Kamelen. ABBA It is not every day that the BBC reschedules a news broadcast to premiere a new pop song. But that is exactly what happened when ABBA released new songs for the first time in 40 years. Suddenly, some of history’s greatest pop artists were back. ABBA’s album Voyage was not only one of the greatest, most surprising and acclaimed

comebacks in pop history, it also broke new records. The LP reached number 1 in 18 countries, the quartet topped the album chart in the United States, and it was the best-selling album in Germany. They were most successful in the UK. Only the Beatles and six other artists have reached number 1 more than the 10 times that ABBA reached in autumn 2021. Voyage became the fastest-selling album ever in the 21st century in the UK. In just three days, the group’s upcoming, much-discussed and spectacular avatar-based show in London sold a quarter of a million tickets. The show will premiere in spring 2022. It has been 50 years since ABBA was founded, and they have sold over 400 million albums. What Agnetha, Björn, Benny and AnniFrid started in 1972 became a

life and real estate

Innovation, Education and Rural Development: UNWTO Strengthens Partnership with Saudi Arabia TL Bureau, Madrid UNWTO and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have agreed on the next steps they will jointly take to establish tourism as a driver of growth, opportunity and development across the Middle East and beyond. Less than a year after the official opening of the Regional Office for the Middle East in Riyadh, plans for a range of projects to be run out of the hub have been further advanced, signalling the ever closer cooperation between UNWTO and the Kingdom.

A range of projects is being designed to establish UNWTO’s Regional Office as a leader in tourism for rural development while also making the opportunities of tourism available to everyone through a range of education initiatives. Meeting in Madrid this week, UNWTO SecretaryGeneral Pololikashvili and Saudi Minister for Tourism HE Ahmed Aqeel AlKhateeb agreed to further advance their shared vision and committed to working closely together to fulfil the sector’s potential across the region.

WHO announces Film Festival shortlist and jury, including Sharon Stone, Emilia Clarke, Mia Maestro, Anita Abada, Eddie Ndopu and Dr Eckart von Hirschhausen More than 1000 film makers from over 110 countries have submitted short films for the 3rd edition of the WHO Health for All Film Festival (HAFF), on themes ranging from the trauma of war to living with COVID-19. Some 70 films have been chosen for the shortlist, which will be reviewed by international actors and development leaders, before the announcement of the winners in mid-May 2022. This large participation from patients, health workers, health activists, NGOs, students, public institutions, as well as from professional film makers, demonstrates the potential of the Festival to contribute to health promotion and education. Including the submissions received in 2022, almost 3500 films have been registered by the festival since its

launch in 2020, many specifically made for the initiative. “The success of the WHO Health for All Film Festival mirrors the great interest and heightened awareness globally in the importance of health and ensuring people are able to attain the highest levels of physical and mental well-being,” said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “The wide range of subjects featured in this year’s submissions, and the high calibre of judges, underscores the growing importance of the festival as a platform to bring urgent health issues to the public’s attention.” The following distinguished professionals, artists and activists, joined by three WHO senior experts, comprise this year’s festival jury: Sharon Stone (actor from the USA); Emilia Clarke (actor from the UK); Mia Maestro (actor from Argentina).

massive first step in the success of Swedish music worldwide. Julia Karlsson & Anton Rundberg The songwriting duo Julia Karlsson and Anton Rundberg released one of the biggest hits of 2021: The Business with Dutch DJ and artist Tiësto. The song was nominated for a Grammy and has been streamed close to 800 million times on Spotify alone. The song underlines how the duo from Vimmerby (Julia) and Lidköping (Anton) have gone straight to the top since they began collaborating while studying on the Musikmakarna songwriting programme in Örnsköldsvik. In 2015, Karlsson and Rundberg were recognised by the industry for the first time when they won the Rookie Songwriter/Producer award at the Denniz Pop Awards, primarily due to them having co-

composed Swedish artist Galantis’s Grammy-nominated international hit Runaway (U&I) the year before. After that, Karlsson & Rundberg who are based in Stockholm and Los Angeles respectively, have reached a global audience by producing the song On My Way by Alan Walker and Sabrina Carpenter and Party for One by Carly Rae Jepsen. In 2021, the American music magazine Billboard listed the Swedish duo as the third best songwriters in the world within the genre dance/electronic. NEIKED The Swedish music collective NEIKED have achieved global success with the song Sexual, and their latest catchy dance hit from 2021, Better Days with British pop artist Mae Muller and Polo G, a rapper from Chicago.

TL Bureau, Geneva

ABBA, A36, NEIKED and Julia Karlsson & Anton Rundberg nominated for the Government’s Music Export Prize

TL Bureau, Helsinki

A36 With his Swedish lyrics, the rapper A36 has, despite his French-inspired hip-hop, a theoretically limited audience. In 2021, he utilised these frameworks to the max. A36, whose real name is Geivar Hasado Shlaimon, achieved widespread success in the Nordic countries with the song Samma gamla vanliga. The single was released in April, and thanks to, among other things, going viral on TikTok, it was number one in the Swedish charts for six weeks during the summer. After that, it was the rest of the Nordic countries’ turn to fall for the Swedish-Assyrian rapper from Partille. Samma gamla vanliga reached number 3 in Norway, number 12 in Denmark and number

NFL Announces 39 Compensatory Draft Choices to 16 Clubs

TL Bureau, California

Round

A total of 39 compensatory draft selections in the 2022 NFL Draft have been awarded to 16 teams, the NFL announced today. Under the rules for compensatory draft selections, a team losing more or better compensatory free agents (“CFA”) than it acquires in the previous year is eligible to receive compensatory draft picks. The compensatory picks will be positioned within the third through seventh rounds based on the value of the compensatory free agents lost. Compensatory free agents are determined by a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors. The formula was developed by the NFL management council. Not every free agent lost or signed by a club is covered by this formula. No club may receive more than four compensatory picks in any one year. If a club qualifies for more than four compensatory picks after offsetting each CFA lost by each CFA gained of an equal or higher value, the four highest remaining selections will be awarded to the club. The Collective Bargaining Agreement limits the number of compensatory selections to the number of clubs then in the League (32). This year, one club, the Kansas City Chiefs, qualified for a compensatory selection under the net loss formula but will not receive that pick because the final numerical value of the CFA who was lost ranked 33rd among the final numerical values of all compensatory selections. Kansas City will receive a compensatory selection for one other CFA lost whose final numerical value ranked within the top 32. In addition to the 32 compensatory selections awarded under the net loss formula, seven special compensatory selections were awarded to six clubs: the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Ravens, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers (two special compensatory selections), Kansas

3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7

Round Choice/ Team Overall Selection 33-97 Detroit 34-98 New Orleans 35-99* Cleveland 36-100* Baltimore 37-101* New Orleans 38-102* San Francisco 39-103* Kansas City 40-104* Los Angeles Rams 41-105* San Francisco 33-138 Pittsburgh 34-139 Baltimore 35-140 Green Bay 36-141 Baltimore 37-142 Los Angeles Rams 38-143 Tennessee 33-176 Dallas 34-177 Detroit 35-178 Dallas 36-179 Indianapolis 33-211 Los Angeles Rams 34-212 Los Angeles Rams 35-213 Atlanta 36-214 Los Angeles Chargers 37-215 Arizona 38-216 Indianapolis 39-217 Detroit 40-218 Los Angeles Rams 41-219 Tennessee 42-220 San Francisco 43-221 San Francisco 33-254 Los Angeles Chargers 34-255 Los Angeles Chargers 35-256 Arizona 36-257 Arizona 37-258 Green Bay 38-259 Kansas City 39-260 Los Angeles Chargers 40-261 Tampa Bay 41-262 San Francisco

City Chiefs, and Los Angeles Rams under a 2020 amendment to the League’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, which was agreed upon by the NFL and the NFLPA to promote equal employment opportunities and an inclusive workforce within NFL clubs. This initiative provides that the prior employer-club of a minority employee who has been hired by another club as its head coach or primary football executive (general manager) will

receive compensation in the form of a special compensatory draft selection in the third round of each of the next two drafts, or in each of the next three drafts if two minority employees from the employer-club are hired for these positions by another club or clubs. Special compensatory selections are awarded in draft selection order after all other compensatory selections in round three and are denoted with an asterisk in the following table.

Diamond Spirit program to continue improving lives due to new partnership

TL Bureau, Fitzroy

Netball Queensland’s Diamond Spirit program is set to benefit considerably from a new multiyear partnership with Health and Wellbeing Queensland (HWQld), announced today as part of Netball Queensland’s acknowledgement of Close the Gap Day. This partnership will see close to half a million dollars invested into the program over the next two years. The Diamond Spirit program uses

netball to engage, empower and educate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls in remote and regional communities across Queensland. Netball Queensland CEO Kate Davies said she is looking forward to seeing more lives be transformed with the help of the partnership. “Diamond Spirit is an amazing program and the tangible community benefits are shaping lives across Queensland. It is wonderful to know they will be able to continue to do so for years

to come,” Davies said. “It is also great to partner with an incredible and innovative organisation like Health and Wellbeing Queensland to make this happen.” Health and Wellbeing Queensland Chief Executive, Dr Robyn Littlewood echoed Davies’ thoughts, confident the ‘significant investment’ of $400,000 over two years would help Diamond Spirit grow its footprint in remote and regional Queensland.

SPORTS

BMW M Motorsport teams with a fourstrong BMW M4 GT3 contingent at the Sebring 12 Hour endurance classic. The 70th staging of the 12 Hours of Sebring (USA) this weekend represents the next endurance classic in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The BMW M Motorsport teams compete with a strong contingent of four new BMW M4 GT3s.

TL Bureau, Munich. The 70th staging of the 12 Hours of Sebring (USA) this weekend represents the next endurance classic in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship. The BMW M Motorsport teams compete with a strong contingent of four new BMW M4 GT3s. BMW M Team RLL will field two cars in the GTD-PRO class. As well as Turner Motorsport, Paul Miller Racing will also run BMW M Motorsport’s new GT3 flagship in the GTD class. The #24 MOTUL BMW M4 GT3 of BMW M Team RLL will be driven by Philipp Eng (AUT), Marco Wittmann (GER) and Nick Yelloly (GBR) at Sebring. Sharing the driving duties in the #25 MOTUL BMW M4 GT3 will be John Edwards (USA), Connor De Phillippi (USA) and Augusto Farfus (BRA). BMW M Team RLL has a successful past in Sebring; Bobby Rahal’s (USA) team took victory in the GTLM class in 2011 and 2012. In the 2018 race, BMW M Team RLL claimed the first pole position and the first podium result for the BMW M8 GTE. For Turner Motorsport driver Bill Auberlen (USA), the 12-hour Sebring race brings up a very special milestone, the 500th race with BMW for the record IMSA winner. The Californian has been part of the BMW M Motorsport family since 1996. During this quarter of a century, Auberlen has won many races with every BMW race car he has driven. At Sebring, he races alongside Robby Foley and Michael Dinan (both USA) in the #96 Turner Motorsport BMW M4 GT3. At the same time, BMW M Motorsport will also welcome a new family member in Sebring: Paul Miller Racing. The New Jersey team, which has enjoyed IMSA success for several years, will run the BMW M4 GT3 in the GTD class. Alternating at the wheel of the #1 car are Madison Snow, Bryan Sellers (both USA) and Erik Johansson (SWE). The 70th staging of the 12 Hours of Sebring gets underway at 10:10 local time (15:10 CET) on Saturday 19th March. As early as the Thursday, the BMW M Motorsport teams will

field the BMW M4 GT4 in a twohour race in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge. Turner Motorsport competes with two cars, driven by Auberlen and Dillon Machavern (USA) in the #95 car, and Foley and Vincent Barletta (USA) in the #96 BMW M4 GT4. Stephen Cameron Racing will run the #43 BMW M4 GT4, with Sean Quinlan and Gregory Liefooghe (both USA) at the wheel. Quotes ahead of the Sebring 12 Hours: Andreas Roos (Head of BMW M Motorsport): “The 12 Hours of Sebring is the second highlight of the IMSA season and the next test for the new BMW M4 GT3. We have precisely analysed and now understand the problems we had at Daytona. We expect a significant step forward in terms of reliability and performance. The BMW M4 GT3 has great potential, and we are working hard to exploit that potential better from race to race. For me personally, it is the first race I am attending as Head of BMW M Motorsport. I am really looking forward to working with the engineers, teams and drivers. I am particularly pleased that we have three teams on the grid with the BMW M4 GT3, in BMW M Team RLL, Turner Motorsport and Paul Miller Racing.” Bobby Rahal (Team Principal BMW M Team RLL): “Over the years we have seen good success at Sebring. We have had two GTLM victories and last year, we had the heartbreak of being taken out of the probable victory just before the chequered flag waved. Sebring is such a historic race. There are not that many races older. I am always excited to go to Sebring because of that history.” Nick Yelloly (BMW M Team RLL, #24 MOTUL BMW M4 GT3): “I am very excited to be back in the US with BMW M Team RLL for the second race of the season. I was fortunate enough to do Sebring in 2020 with Turner Motorsport, so I have done the race before in the GTD class and have a bit of experience. It looks like we have made some good progress with our BMW M4 GT3 with the testing over in Europe so I am looking forward to getting the new baby on track and at the sharp end of the field.

tech/auto

Lamborghini Polo Storico at Rétromobile Paris 2022. A year dedicated to the history of the V12 engine gets underway with a display of two iconic legends: the Countach LP 500 and Miura SV

TL Bureau, Sant’Agata Bolognese/ Paris From 15 to 20 March, Lamborghini Polo Storico will be at the Rétromobile classic car show in Paris. The Sant’Agata Bolognese company’s participation in the event is officially kicking off a year of tributes to its legendary 12-cylinder engine’s history, before the hybridization process begins in 2023 with the launch of the first hybrid production model. Displayed on its stand will be a reconstruction of the first Countach (the LP 500 prototype from 1971) and the body of a Miura P400 SV that is being restored by the Polo Storico team in Sant’Agata Bolognese. Among those present at the preview evening was Stephan Winkelmann, Chairman and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini. “The V12 engine is at the heart of icons from the brand’s history, from the Miura and the Countach to the Aventador Ultimae, which this year brings down the curtain on the unforgettable story of our internal combustion engine,” said Winkelmann. “Enthusiasts of automotive culture will be able to join us at Rétromobile, where we are paying tribute to our cherished heritage and the vast engineering expertise of our past and present technicians. From next year, Lamborghini will step into an electrified future: the heir to the Aventador will be presented with hybrid technology in the first phase of our Direzione Cor Tauri plan, which maps out the path to 2030. It sets targets with the aim of reducing our environmental impact by

taking a holistic and socially responsible approach.” The Countach LP 500 is on display in its original “Giallo Fly Speciale” shade of yellow. It is a reconstruction of the legendary car that was presented in March 1971 at Geneva Motor Show and destroyed in a crash test carried out for type approval purposes in March 1974. The reconstruction work was carried out by Lamborghini Polo Storico for a collector, taking approximately 25,000 hours. A crucial contribution was made by Lamborghini’s Centro Stile, which oversaw the outlining of the bodywork and ensured that everything matched the original style. The mechanical components are all either restored components from the

era or reconstructions of parts that are no longer available or were made specifically for the car. The bodywork and chassis were entirely rebuilt by expert panel beaters, who shaped and beat them by hand. Pirelli came on board to remake the tires. Through its Foundation, it provided all of the historic materials required, produced tires whose design and dimensions were in keeping with those from the period, and had them approved for road use. Also on display on the stand is the body of a Miura P400 SV owned by a collector who has asked Lamborghini Polo Storico to restore it for conservation purposes. It will be repainted in its original “Arancio Miura” shade of orange, then the interior and

the mechanical components – which are being restored at present – will be put back in place. Opened in 2015, Lamborghini Polo Storico is an Automobili Lamborghini department dedicated to preserving the historic identity of the company.

Its main tasks are certifying and restoring all Lamborghini cars produced up to 2001. To this end, Polo Storico oversees the preservation and acquisition of new sources for the company archives, thus making it possible to bring out the best of all classic Lamborghinis.

race cars’ track performance, and to supply auxiliary power to the Jaguar pit garage. The testing and validation of the Off Grid BatteryESS by Jaguar TCS Racing is demonstration of race-to-road-to-race cyclical technology transfer. Learnings from Jaguar TCS Racing have previously informed a softwareover-the-air (SOTA) update for I-PACE customers that delivered a real-world range increase of up to 20km – and now further use cases for the Off Grid Battery ESS around the racing team’s programme are being assessed. The lights go green

for rounds four and five of the Formula E World Championship in Rome on 09 and 10 April. The flagship ESS system has a capacity of up to 125kWh – more than enough to fully charge Jaguar’s multi-award-winning all-electric I-PACE performance SUV, or to power a regular family home for a week*. Charged from solar panels, the unit is a self-contained solution that consists of a battery system linked to a bi-directional converter and the associated control management systems. Available for commercial hire, the units are fitted with Type 2 Electric Vehicle (EV)

charge connections with dynamic control and rated at up to 22kW AC to allow electric vehicle charging. Finding a second life for batteries after they have been removed from vehicles can avoid premature recycling and help create a secure supply of rare materials. The state-of-the-art 90kWh Lithiumion battery in the Jaguar I-PACE delivers up to 470km/ 292 miles range (WLTP cycle), and with 400PS and 696Nm of instant torque enables acceleration from 0-60mph in just 4.5 seconds (0100km/h in 4.8s). The battery was also developed for the durability to

match its outstanding performance and efficiency, and I-PACE customers benefit from a battery warranty of 8-years or 100,000miles (160,000km), during which it must maintain at least 70 per cent State of Health. This advanced engineering makes the I-PACE battery perfect for second-life, and even thirdlife, applications in low-energy situations once battery health falls below the stringent requirements of an electric vehicle. Once the battery does finally come to the end of its usable life, it is 95 per cent recyclable.

SECOND LIFE: JAGUAR I-PACE BATTERIES POWER ZERO-EMISSION ENERGY STORAGE UNIT

TL Bureau, Whitley

Called the Off Grid Battery Energy Storage System (ESS), Pramac’s technology – which features lithium-ion cells from one-anda-half second-life Jaguar I-PACE batteries, supplies zero-emission power where access to the mains supply is limited or unavailable. To showcase its capability, the unit helped Jaguar TCS Racing prepare for the 2022 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship during testing in the UK and Spain, where it was used to run the team’s cutting-edge diagnostic equipment analysing the

world

Governor General to travel to the Middle East

TL Bureau, Ottawa

The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that the Governor General of Canada, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, will travel to the Middle East for working visits from March 17 to 23, 2022. The Governor General will visit the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, and Kuwait. In each of these three countries, she will meet with Canada’s ambassadors, Canadian Armed Forces members deployed to the region, as well as heads of state and other senior leaders of the three countries to strengthen our bilateral relations. In these times of uncertainty around the world, bolstering relationships between countries is of utmost priority. While in the UAE, the Governor General will represent Canada and be a guest of honour at Canada’s National Day at Expo 2020, in Dubai. Her Excellency’s attendance at Expo 2020 will help

promote Canadian leadership, innovation, and opportunities throughout all sectors of society while highlighting the importance of collaboration across countries and cultures. During her visits, Her Excellency will take the opportunity to thank the governments of the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait for their pivotal role in evacuating Canadians and Afghans from Kabul since August, as part of global evacuation efforts from Afghanistan. While in Kuwait, in her capacity as Commander-inChief of Canada, she will also tour Camp Canada at the Ali Al Salem Air Base, where she will meet with members of the Canadian Armed Forces stationed in the country in support of Operation IMPACT. In Qatar, Her Excellency will meet with Canadian Armed Forces personnel stationed at the Al-Udeid Air Base. This will be Her Excellency’s second visit abroad since becoming Governor General of Canada.

In total, 597 individuals are being treated in hospital due to symptomatic COVID-19

TL Bureau, Tallinn

As of the morning of 16 March, hospital treatment is being provided to 597 individuals who have been infected with COVID-19. A total of 244 patients who have COVID-19 are currently receiving hospital treatment after having developed severe symptoms, including 152 patients or 62.3% of the overall figure who have not been vaccinated, and 92 patients or 37.7% who have been fully vaccinated. The average hospitalisation rate for the last seven days for every 100,000 members of the country’s vaccinated population is 1.5 people a day, while for the unvaccinated population the figure is five. Seventyfour new COVID-19 cases have been opened by hospitals within the past 24 hours; in 26 of those cases, the patients required hospitalisation due to symptomatic COVID-19. On average within the past ten days, 24.6 new patients each day who exhibit signs of symptomatic

COVID-19 infection have been hospitalised. Four deaths have been added of individuals who were infected by COVID-19, involving an 84 year-old man, an 87 year-old woman, an 88 year-old man, and also a one hundred year-old woman. Two of those individuals had not been vaccinated. The last 24 hours have also seen 5,149 tests being analysed in Estonia in relation to coronavirus, of which the results of 2,137 were positive. The average infection rate for the last seven days for every 100,000 members of the country’s vaccinated population is 134, while for the unvaccinated population the figure is 154. A total of 661 vaccine doses have been administered over the past 24 hours, with 59 individuals receiving their first injections. As of this morning, 438,778 individuals had received their additional or booster doses. Of the total population in Estonia, 63.3% have received two vaccine doses.

FC - Ukraine: Federal Council tightens sanctions against Belarus

TL Bureau, Bern

On 16 March, the Federal Council approved the total revision of the Ordinance on Measures against Belarus.

The newly adopted measures concern goods and financial services in particular. Due consideration is being given to humanitarian activitiesGet Outlook for iOS

Slovenia – U.S. Strategic Dialogue Joint Statement

TL Bureau, Washington D.C.

Office of the Spokesperson The following is the text of a joint statement by the Governments of Slovenia and the United States of America. The Governments of Slovenia and the United States held the second session of the SloveniaU.S. Strategic Dialogue in Ljubljana on March 14, 2022. The dialogue was led by Political Director Jernej Müller, Slovenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Deputy Assistant Secretary Robin Dunnigan, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, U.S. Department of State. Slovenia and the United States are linked by historical friendship, shared values, strategic partnership, and the NATO Alliance. Both countries exchanged substantive dialogue on key issues of common interest in December 2020 during the visit of Anže Logar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, to Washington, D.C. where the inaugural Strategic Dialogue between Slovenia and the United States was held. This dialogue provides the main framework for discussion on strategic global and regional issues and areas of bilateral cooperation. The two countries exchanged views on the latest developments in Eastern Europe and its neighborhood, including their joint condemnation of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unjustified, unprovoked war against Ukraine. Both countries reaffirmed their unfaltering support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the need for

countries to respect their obligations under international law. The second session took place at a time replete with global challenges, including Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic. The dialogue highlighted the importance both countries attach to bilateral cooperation and cooperation in multilateral fora in addressing issues that impact the security, prosperity, and resilience of both countries. The dialogue covered three main topics: global and regional security issues, including Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, cybersecurity, energy security, and countering disinformation; multilateral cooperation; and cooperation on economic issues, the climate challenge, and support for our shared democratic values. On global and regional security issues, aside from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the discussion focused on the Western Balkans region, including the importance of maintaining positive momentum on EU integration for aspirants that qualify, the shared commitment to BiH’s stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity; advancing the ongoing dialogue between Belgrade and Pristina; and new regional economic integration initiatives. The discussion included reaffirmation of our commitment to mutual defense as members of the NATO Alliance, the premier forum for Transatlantic cooperation and Euro-Atlantic security, and the importance of building the Alliance’s tools and capabilities to tackle shared security challenges.

Slovenia and the United States enjoy close partnerships within international organizations, with the views of the two countries well aligned on a wide range of issues. The countries reaffirmed their excellent cooperation on human rights issues, the fight against corruption, the preservation of democratic values, and the commitment to maintain a rulesbased international order. Slovenia presented its approach to addressing challenges to international peace and security in the context of its candidature for a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council for the 2024-2025 term. The discussion on other substantive issues also revealed a common understanding of challenges and opportunities, particularly in the areas of improving cybersecurity and resilience, countering disinformation, and combatting climate change. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the framework of responsible state behavior in cyberspace and shared interest in holding accountable states that act contrary to this framework and engage in disruptive, destructive, or otherwise destabilizing behavior in cyberspace. Additionally, the two sides agreed the Three Seas Initiative could play an important geopolitical, economic, and developmental role in the region. Ample opportunities remain to strengthen our cooperation on economic issues, including on energy security. The parties decided the next Strategic Dialogue would take place in Washington.

(USAID) and more than $23 million from the State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM). This funding will enable our humanitarian partners to reach approximately 17 million people, including internally displaced and conflict-affected Yemenis, as well as refugees and asylum seekers in Yemen. Our assistance helps reduce the risk of famine, prevent and treat severe malnutrition, stem the spread of disease, provide shelter to those in need, ensure children have access to education, provide families with access to clean water and sanitation, and support families to earn an income and rebuild their livelihoods. The United States remains committed to delivering aid to the most vulnerable in Yemen, and we commend the generous pledges made by other donors at today’s event. However, more aid is desperately needed. Funding gaps have forced significant cuts to life-saving humanitarian programs,

depriving millions of Yemenis of the support they need. As this conflict pushes Yemen deeper into crisis, we urgently call on donors to fulfill pledges quickly and to rapidly scale up assistance. We also urge those who have not yet pledged to do so. Additionally, this assistance is vital to saving lives and reducing suffering, but it must be able to reach the people who need it most. We again call on all parties to cease interference in aid operations to ensure assistance is reaching its intended recipients. Humanitarian assistance alone cannot address the roots of this crisis; we urge the parties to the conflict to halt hostilities to make way for a durable, inclusive political solution to this conflict for the sake of the people. We welcome the launch of inclusive consultations by UN Special Envoy Hans Grunberg, and we call on all parties to participate fully in these consultations, which will inform a new, comprehensive UN framework for the peace process.

United States Announces Additional Humanitarian Assistance for the People of Yemen

TL Bureau, Washington D.C.

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State During today’s 2022 High-Level Pledging Event for the Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen, I announced nearly $585 million in humanitarian assistance from the United States to the people of Yemen. With this funding, the United States has provided nearly $4.5 billion to the Yemeni people since the crisis began more than seven years ago. Amid all the humanitarian crises in the world, the generosity of the American people remains unwavering. In keeping with the President’s commitment to help alleviate this suffering, today’s announcement is the largest single U.S. contribution to-date for the humanitarian response in Yemen. This announcement also reflects the scale of the crisis facing the Yemeni people. The assistance includes more than $561 million from the U.S. Agency for International Development