Latest news with #AQA
Scoop
29-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Roadblocks Removed For Quarry Sector
Press Release – Aggregate and Quarry Association NZ Aggregate and Quarry Association (AQA) CEO Wayne Scott says hes relieved to see today, the Governments package of proposed amendments to RMA instruments include several targeted at the extractive sector. The quarry sector is pleased its concerns have been heard about existing RMA national directions stymying access to the rock and sand resources needed to build homes and roads. Aggregate and Quarry Association (AQA) CEO Wayne Scott says he's relieved to see today, the Government's package of proposed amendments to RMA instruments include several targeted at the extractive sector. 'We have been saying to this and the previous Government that changes were needed to existing National Policy Statements on Highly Productive Land, Freshwater Management and Indigenous Biodiversity. 'While the changes were mostly minor, some existing wording was leading to bizarre outcomes such as quarries being told it could extract aggregate but not remove any of the overburden above it.' Wayne Scott says what the Government is now proposing will also allow for net positive environment outcomes and deserves to be welcomed. 'Currently, quarries sometimes seek consent applications such as where a piece of bush is needed for an extension but they have to be declined even when offering to plant several times the amount of affected land.' He says his sector has not sought to reduce environmental outcomes. 'Through the Fast-track Approvals legislation and these amendments, we have stressed we are after certainty and speed not environmental degradation. 'Our industry has worked for years to improve our environmental credentials and relations with our communities. We see these latest changes as helping both the environment and those communities who want the resources provided for their homes and roads.' He says on average one kilogram an hour of aggregate, rock and sand is accessed for every New Zealander.
Scoop
29-05-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Roadblocks Removed For Quarry Sector
The quarry sector is pleased its concerns have been heard about existing RMA national directions stymying access to the rock and sand resources needed to build homes and roads. Aggregate and Quarry Association (AQA) CEO Wayne Scott says he's relieved to see today, the Government's package of proposed amendments to RMA instruments include several targeted at the extractive sector. "We have been saying to this and the previous Government that changes were needed to existing National Policy Statements on Highly Productive Land, Freshwater Management and Indigenous Biodiversity. "While the changes were mostly minor, some existing wording was leading to bizarre outcomes such as quarries being told it could extract aggregate but not remove any of the overburden above it." Wayne Scott says what the Government is now proposing will also allow for net positive environment outcomes and deserves to be welcomed. "Currently, quarries sometimes seek consent applications such as where a piece of bush is needed for an extension but they have to be declined even when offering to plant several times the amount of affected land." He says his sector has not sought to reduce environmental outcomes. "Through the Fast-track Approvals legislation and these amendments, we have stressed we are after certainty and speed not environmental degradation. "Our industry has worked for years to improve our environmental credentials and relations with our communities. We see these latest changes as helping both the environment and those communities who want the resources provided for their homes and roads." He says on average one kilogram an hour of aggregate, rock and sand is accessed for every New Zealander.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UK government urged to introduce GCSE in Ukrainian for child refugees
The children's commissioner has joined Kyiv in lobbying the UK government to introduce a new GCSE in Ukrainian to help child refugees cope with the 'immense upheaval' of fleeing war in their country. In December, the Guardian revealed that Ukraine was 'deeply concerned' to discover many Ukrainian teenagers are being pressed into learning Russian in British schools because no GSCE in Ukrainian is available. Since then Ukraine's education minister, Oksen Lisovyi, has met the UK education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, to underline his government's fear that being taught Russian is retraumatising Ukrainian teenagers who have fled Vladimir Putin's invasion. Vitalii, now 18, who fled to London from Ukraine in April 2022, said: 'Why should I study Russian – I'm Ukrainian and I want to show it. The language is paramount for all us.' Since the meeting with Lisovyi, Phillipson confirmed on Instagram this week that she has written to exam boards urging them to reintroduce an exam that was scrapped in 1995 owing to a lack of demand. The Department for Education (DfE) has also set up a working group to help implement the move. One of the exam boards, AQA, said it was carefully considering reintroducing the qualification. But education sector insiders are sceptical about the practicalities of the move. It has also emerged the children's commissioner, Rachel de Souza, has been urging the government to reintroduce a GCSE in Ukrainain. She intervened after visiting St Mary's, a network of 13 Ukrainian language schools in the UK, founded at the trust's headquarters in west London. De Souza said: 'I've seen for myself the great work St Mary's Ukrainian School is doing with the children who attend. It has become a sanctuary for families, helping displaced children reach their goals and aspirations in spite of the immense upheaval they've experienced.' De Souza said she was encouraged by the DfE's decision to take up the issue with exam boards. She said: 'I have long called for the DfE to consider making qualifications available in Ukrainian for these children, who rightly want an opportunity to feel proud of their culture and their language, so I am really pleased to see this. 'Ukrainian children living here in the UK are the future of their country and will play a vital role in its recovery, so we must match their level of ambition and make sure they receive all the support possible to thrive in their education.' An AQA spokesperson said: 'We've every sympathy with Ukrainian students who, through no fault of their own, find themselves many miles from home and want to gain formal accreditation of their language. 'As an education charity, we stand ready to do what we can to support Ukrainian students. We have received a letter from the education secretary about developing a GCSE in the Ukrainian language and are considering it carefully.' But an education industry source said: 'Realistically it takes two years to develop a qualification, it takes another two years to teach it. So a GCSE is not going to help students who are currently here who have fled Ukraine.' St Mary's has proposed becoming a hub for both GCSE and A-level qualifications in Ukrainian. In a letter to Phillipson, Ukraine's ministry of education backed this suggestion. It said: 'Establishing a Ukrainian GCSE centre will provide these children with opportunities to take Ukrainian GCSE and A-level exams, supporting their educational and professional goals.' Related: 'They can really fly': how to teach a refugee child It also pointed out that demand for the qualification has soared owing to the number of children that have fled to the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme. It said: 'As of now, the number of potential students of Ukrainian descent interested in pursuing Ukrainian GCSE is at an all-time high: about 27,000 displaced Ukrainian children and around 7,000 diaspora children.' It added: 'Maintaining proficiency in Ukrainian is crucial for displaced children's transition back to Ukraine, especially as many families may decide to reunite when it is safe.' A DfE spokesperson said: 'This government has set out our decisive support for our Ukrainian friends. That's why we have, last week, asked exam boards to consider introducing a Ukrainian GCSE – giving these young people the chance to celebrate their heritage and their native language.'
Associated Press
10-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
AQA to Launch IDO on Spores Network, Kommunitas, and Kingdomstarter, Starting April 11/12
Pioneering a Borderless Digital Economy Through Blockchain, DeFi, and Community-Driven Innovation New York, NY, United States, April 10, 2025 -- AQA, the forward-thinking blockchain project transforming decentralized finance (DeFi) and RWA (Real World Asset), is proud to announce the official launch of its IDO on April 11/12, 2025. The IDO will take place across three major launchpads - Spores Network, Kommunitas, and Kingdomstarter - marking a significant milestone in AQA's mission to build a vibrant and inclusive digital city ecosystem integrated with real world assets. AQA Digital City Residency Program: The Odyssey Comes to a Close The IDO comes on the heels of the successful conclusion of the AQA Digital City Residency Program, affectionately known as the 'Odyssey,' which ended on April 7. Over the past few weeks, the Odyssey served as a dynamic, interactive campaign designed to inspire, engage, and reward early community members. Participants completed tasks across social engagements, ecosystem exploration, NFT usage, and community building - all while interacting with the SocialFi features that form the backbone of the AQA Digital City. Tens of thousands of participants joined from around the world, showcasing not just enthusiasm but a shared vision for a decentralized urban digital future. The program also enabled early testing of the AQA Citizenship NFT ( a soul bound ID that grants holders access to various on-chain and off-chain benefits in the AQA ecosystem. As the Odyssey drew to a close, AQA captured a snapshot of eligible wallet addresses. This snapshot will be used to determine reward distribution for early supporters and participants who met key engagement criteria. Snapshot-based incentives include airdrops, priority whitelisting, exclusive access to partner events, and more. The IDO Launch: A Global Call to Action The upcoming IDO on April 11/12 signals the start of a new chapter for AQA. By launching across three well-respected IDO platforms - Spores Network, Kommunitas, and Kingdomstarter - AQA is opening the gates for decentralized participation from a global community of crypto users, builders, and investors. IDO Details: · IDO Platforms: Spores Network (April 11~) Kingdomstarter (April 11~) Kommunitas (April 12~) · Eligibility: Participants must meet each platform's specific KYC and staking requirements (where applicable). · Participation Guide: Visit each platform's announcement page for detailed timelines, allocation sizes, and purchase instructions. This multi-platform approach reflects AQA's commitment to inclusivity, interoperability, and decentralization. By tapping into distinct user bases and regional markets, the IDO will ensure broad accessibility and strong community onboarding. Introducing AQA Digital City: An Ecosystem Beyond Tokens At the core of AQA lies AQA Digital City - an on-chain, modular ecosystem that reimagines what a city can be in the Web3 era. This digital metropolis combines elements of entertainment, finance, commerce, art, and community - all powered by the AQA token. Inspired by real-world asset systems and informed by blockchain architecture, AQA Digital City offers a platform where users can engage with decentralized applications (dApps), participate in local DAO-style decisions, mint identity NFTs, and even earn rewards for contributing to digital public goods. AQA Token Utility: Powering the Digital City Far more than a tradable asset, the AQA token is the lifeblood of the AQA Digital City. It enables access, incentivizes participation, and aligns stakeholders across a wide range of applications. Its utility includes: 1. Payments & Microtransactions: AQA tokens can be used to pay for services within the digital city, including access to events, digital real estate, tools, and exclusive content. 2. DeFi Participation: Users can stake AQA tokens or provide liquidity in future pools to earn passive income and governance rights. The DeFi layer will also support yield strategies tied to real-world metrics and city-based KPIs. 3. NFT Ecosystem & Citizenship: AQA enables the minting and trading of Citizenship IDs, as well as collectibles tied to city engagement, culture, and public initiatives. These NFTs unlock utility and identity within the broader ecosystem. 4. Discounts and Perks in Real Life: In collaboration with real-world partners - cafés, co-working spaces, retailers - AQA token holders will enjoy access to discounts, loyalty rewards, and IRL benefits, especially in pilot cities in Japan and around Asia. 5. Creator Economy Support: Creators can earn AQA tokens through content contributions, event organization, and community leadership initiatives. A grant system is in development to support early builders. Roadmap & Future Vision: What Comes Next Following the IDO, AQA is committed to accelerating the development of its ecosystem through the following key initiatives: · Ecosystem Expansion: AQA plans to integrate with Layer 2 networks, cross-chain bridges, and DePIN projects to ensure scalability and lower costs for users globally. · Pilot Projects in Real Cities: The AQA team is working closely with several municipalities starting from Seto Inland Sea area of Japan to test digital currency adoption, smart infrastructure, and real world asset data solutions. · SocialFi Amplification: The launch of AQA Forum will serve as the coordination hub for the ecosystem. SocialFi tools will allow users to earn reputation and tokens based on contributions. · Educational Programs: AQA will continue to educate users through residencies, hackathons, and gamified learning modules - especially targeting students, SMEs, and entrepreneurs. A New Era of Digital Urban Innovation The AQA IDO is not just a token sale - it's the gateway into a new model of human coordination, digital identity, and economic participation. As the traditional structures of cities, finance, and lifestyle evolve, AQA offers a fresh blueprint: one where communities govern themselves, currencies are programmable, and innovation knows no borders. As AQA steps confidently into this next phase, the team remains committed to transparency, long-term sustainability, and inclusive growth. Backed by a diverse community of developers, designers, and urban changemakers, AQA is more than just a token project - it's a cultural and technological movement redefining the future of lifestyles. Whether you're a DeFi enthusiast, DAO member, civic hacker, or digital nomad, AQA welcomes you to co-create the next great city on-chain. Social Links Telegram: Contact Info: Name: Media Relations Email: Send Email Organization: AQA Disclaimer: This press release is for informational purposes only. Information verification has been done to the best of our ability. Still, due to the speculative nature of the blockchain (cryptocurrency, NFT, mining, etc.) sector as a whole, complete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed. You are advised to conduct your own research and exercise caution. Investments in these fields are inherently risky and should be approached with due diligence. Release ID: 89157256 In case of identifying any problems, concerns, or inaccuracies in the content shared in this press release, or if a press release needs to be taken down, we urge you to notify us immediately by contacting [email protected] (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our dedicated team will be readily accessible to address your concerns and take swift action within 8 hours to rectify any issues identified or assist with the removal process. We are committed to delivering high-quality content and ensuring accuracy for our valued readers.
