Latest news with #Circular
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Changing nature of political careers' behind board wait time cut, Cook says
WA Premier Roger Cook has defended his decision to halve the wait time for former members of parliament to be remunerated on state government boards due to the 'changing nature of political careers'. It was revealed on Tuesday the government had reduced the cooling-off period for retired MPs to be paid for lucrative or influential taxpayer-funded roles from 12 months to six months. It allowed former colleagues like Labor heavyweight Sue Ellery and one-term MP Lara Dalton to net an additional $30,000 each more than they would otherwise have been entitled to. The change drew accusations of 'jobs for mates' from across the political divide and from independent think tanks, who take aim at Labor for not announcing the rule change. However, in a statement, the premier told 9News Perth and WAtoday appointments to state government boards and committees had been published online. 'We have been completely transparent,' the statement read. 'The decision to reduce the wait time for board remuneration for former members of Parliament to six months came after considerations over the changing nature of political careers. 'These days, former MPs often continue their working lives at the end of their terms, which has not always been the case. Many feel they have more to give back to their community and their state.' The change was made through a Premier's Circular, regulatory reviews made after each state election. The updated Circular was uploaded to the state government website but was not announced to media or the public.
The Age
2 days ago
- Business
- The Age
‘Changing nature of political careers' behind board wait time cut, Cook says
WA Premier Roger Cook has defended his decision to halve the wait time for former members of parliament to be remunerated on state government boards due to the 'changing nature of political careers'. It was revealed on Tuesday the government had reduced the cooling-off period for retired MPs to be paid for lucrative or influential taxpayer-funded roles from 12 months to six months. It allowed former colleagues like Labor heavyweight Sue Ellery and one-term MP Lara Dalton to net an additional $30,000 each more than they would otherwise have been entitled to. The change drew accusations of 'jobs for mates' from across the political divide and from independent think tanks, who take aim at Labor for not announcing the rule change. However, in a statement, the premier told 9News Perth and WAtoday appointments to state government boards and committees had been published online. 'We have been completely transparent,' the statement read. 'The decision to reduce the wait time for board remuneration for former members of Parliament to six months came after considerations over the changing nature of political careers. 'These days, former MPs often continue their working lives at the end of their terms, which has not always been the case. Many feel they have more to give back to their community and their state.' The change was made through a Premier's Circular, regulatory reviews made after each state election. The updated Circular was uploaded to the state government website but was not announced to media or the public.
The Star
7 days ago
- General
- The Star
Expert: Treat safety in schools as a public health matter
A worrisome problem: A file photo showing SJK(C) Pei Hwa in Kampung Kemang, Kota Tinggi, Johor, hit by floods which rose as high as the school's fence early last year. PETALING JAYA: Fire and flood safety in schools must be recognised as a public health priority, not merely a safety concern, says Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Faculty of Medicine Assoc Prof Dr Rosnah Ismail. Dr Rosnah, who is also a public health medicine specialist, said achieving meaningful preparedness requires a whole-of-community approach, starting with the parent-teacher association (PTA). ALSO READ: Ramping up disaster response 'To institutionalise a safety culture, every PTA meeting should include a dedicated agenda item on school health and safety, ensuring that risk management remains a top priority. 'In emergencies, PTA members must be prepared to act according to the evacuation plan. Their involvement is essential in bridging the immediate response gap, protecting lives and reinforcing community resilience,' she said. Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia chairman Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim urged policymakers to treat disaster preparedness in schools not as an occasional awareness campaign but as a systemic reform agenda – interwoven with education quality, equity and sustainability. 'Emergency preparedness must be proactive, inclusive and student-centred. Schools are not isolated institutions – they are often the heart of the community. 'By equipping them with the knowledge, tools and resources to withstand and respond to natural hazards, we are protecting not just educational continuity, but lives,' she said. Since 2002, all schools, said the Education Ministry, must conduct self-assessment ratings on student activity management; school infrastructure safety management; social management; crisis or disaster management; risk management; and school security guard service management to ensure a safe learning environment. 'The self-assessment information will be verified by the State Education Departments and District Education Offices before further action is taken by the relevant authorities,' it said, calling on all principals and headmasters to take proactive measures to prevent fire incidents in schools. These include measures outlined in Circular No. 7/2000: Fire Prevention in Schools such as conducting fire drills, organising fire extinguisher demonstrations and preparing fire safety plans. Noting that one of the known causes of school fires is short circuits caused by ageing electrical wiring, the ministry said schools are required to report building conditions, including electrical wiring, in the School Safety Rating System. 'If there are issues related to wiring, the Public Works Department will be consulted before further action is taken.'
Android Authority
30-07-2025
- Health
- Android Authority
Watch and learn, Samsung: This Galaxy Ring competitor now predicts your chances of falling sick
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority TL;DR Circular's smart ring is getting a new Immunity Index that measures your defense against diseases. It accounts for your vitals and gives you a rating on a scale of 0–8. The feature is rolling out to the companion app for the first-gen Circular Ring and will be available for the Ring 2, which is expected to be available soon. Even though the smart ring market is still niche, the entry of big players like Samsung with its Galaxy Ring has set it into motion. Besides already established brands like Oura and (relatively) new entrants like Samsung, a host of smaller brands are looking to benefit from this momentum. Circular, one of these brands, is making noise with unusual (for a smart ring) features such as blood pressure and non-invasive sugar level monitoring right from your finger. While we await its newer generation, Circular's existing model is gaining new insights that predict before you fall sick. The first-generation Circular Ring now takes into account vital health metrics, including HRV or Heart Rate Variability, resting heart rate, irregular breathing patterns during sleep, and variations in skin temperature. This data is consolidated into an Immunity Index, which, Circular says, is designed to indicate a user's 'readiness to fight off diseases.' Based on continuous reading of these metrics, the Immunity Index gives a rating out of eight to quantify users' immunity. It will also warn users of their chances of falling sick, similar to what the Apple Watch does through its Vitals app. My colleague Rita El Khoury also discovered a similar feature worked well on her Oura Ring, which notified her before she fell sick. However, both Galaxy Watch and Pixel Watch currently lack features to detect signs of illness. If you're wondering why Circular chose a rating out of eight instead of ten, it is because it has five tiers based on definite ratings, rather than a more descriptive scale. Continuous details these ratings as follows: 8/8: All Clear, where all your metrics lie in the safe zone 6/8: Slightly vulnerable, indicating one of the metrics may be off 4/8: Vulnerable, where multiple factors could indicate stress or lack of rest 2/8: Advanced risk, for multiple factors off the charts 0/8: Major risk, which indicates the requirement of medical attention The brand is also updating its app to allow tracking of potential symptoms. These features will roll out to all users of the Circular Ring and are promised to be available on the Ring 2, which was announced earlier this year and is up for pre-ordering via Kickstarter. Notably, Continuous has amassed pre-orders worth almost $4 million, which is 400 times the initial target. The campaign page says the sizing kits have already started to be shipped to backers, and delivery of the rings is expected to begin very soon. Follow
Arab Times
20-07-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Employer Delaying Your Exit Permit? File A Complaint Now
KUWAIT CITY, July 20: Under Circular No. 2/2025 issued recently by First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Fahad Al-Yousuf requiring expatriate workers in the private sector to obtain exit permits from their registered employers before leaving the country (effective from the beginning of this month), more than 100,000 exit permits have been issued to private sector expatriate workers since the implementation of the decision. Sources said the exit permits are processed through the automated systems of PAM, Ashal platform, and Sahel app, indicating the total number of issued permits is expected to double in the coming days as the travel season gains momentum. Sources disclosed that in order to streamline the process and ensure faster completion of travel procedures, the authority completed an automated link with the Ports Directorate General at the Ministry of Interior, thereby ensuring the immediate sharing of exit permit data. Sources added PAM recommends that workers print a hard copy of the permit before traveling, in case it is requested by the airlines. Sources also affirmed that only a small number of complaints regarding permit issuance have been received so far -- mostly concerning employer delays or refusal, which were promptly addressed and resolved. Sources clarified that in cases where an employer is unreasonably withholding or delaying approval, the affected worker is advised to visit the Labor Relations Unit corresponding to their company's file to lodge a formal complaint, under legal procedures. They reiterated that approval from the employer remains a requirement for the permit to be issued. Sources also quoted PAM as saying there is no limit to the number of exit permits that can be issued annually per worker, as long as the employer approves, adding that the system remains open and unrestricted in this regard. Sources explained that the time needed to obtain a permit ( especially in emergencies) depends primarily on the speed of employer approval. 'Therefore, workers are advised to submit their requests well in advance of their travel dates and to coordinate directly with their employers in urgent situations to expedite the process,' sources elaborated. Sources pointed out that workers can either print the approved permit or present it through the Sahel Individuals app to port authorities. They said the Sahel Individuals app enables workers to submit electronic exit permit requests, while the Sahel Business app allows employers to review and approve these requests quickly and conveniently.
