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Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
JK Rowling hits back at Nicola Sturgeon's memoir — reopening Scotland's bitter gender self-ID fight; details of the row here
JK Rowling has hit back at Nicola Sturgeon's account of their long-standing dispute over gender reforms, after the former Scottish first minister revisited the row in her newly published memoir. Sturgeon claims she faced increased abuse following Rowling's public criticism, while Rowling maintains her intervention aimed to prompt tougher scrutiny of the policy. Memoir claims and Rowling's response In the memoir, Sturgeon recalls feeling 'more at risk of possible physical harm' after Rowling shared a photo in a T-shirt reading: 'Nicola Sturgeon, destroyer of women's rights.' Sturgeon told the BBC she respected Rowling's right to disagree but described the T-shirt as 'quite incendiary.'Rowling, in a review of the memoir on her website, accused Sturgeon of denying reality over transgender issues. She wrote that her intention was to encourage journalists to question the policy, which sought to make it easier to legally change gender. Legislative dispute and wider political context The Scottish Parliament passed the gender self-identification legislation, but Westminster blocked it over concerns it could affect UK-wide equality laws. Critics, including Rowling, argued the bill threatened women's safety by granting biological males access to female-only UK Supreme Court later ruled that, under the Equality Act 2010, 'woman' is defined by biological sex. Sturgeon stands by the principle of self-identification but admits she regrets not pausing the bill to seek compromise. Broader criticisms and political fallout Rowling accused Sturgeon of fostering a climate where women who disagreed with her policy were 'silenced, shamed, persecuted.' She also criticised omissions in the memoir, including the handling of Covid-related communications, education performance, ferry procurement delays, SNP finances, and Scotland's drug death defended her record, predicting Scottish independence within 20 years and highlighting policies aimed at reducing poverty. She noted she was cleared in a police inquiry into SNP finances, although her former husband Peter Murrell faces an embezzlement charge. The couple have since separated, and Sturgeon will step down as MSP next year. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
NZ Herald
3 days ago
- Business
- NZ Herald
Covid spending can be justified, despite Treasury report
Coverage of this report has focused on an implication that Treasury were opposed to much of the Covid-19 response and had sought to limit the extent of Government spending. Others have noted that the report does not say this directly, though the selective quotes from advice at different stages do not exactly discourage this reading. In the interests of full disclosure, I was an adviser to the Minister of Finance Grant Robertson from December 2020 onwards. Unsurprisingly, my perspective often differed from Treasury (which in some ways was a key required skill for that job), and readers may reasonably take that into account in the criticisms that follow. The risks highlighted in the report around the use of fiscal policy tend to underline the view that 'cyclical management should mostly be left to monetary policy run by an independent central bank'. This is not a new position – it is such an established aspect of economic orthodoxy that it is known as the 'consensus assignment'. Finance Minister Grant Robertson during the pandemic. Photo / Pool Why, then, would we use fiscal policy in response to a shock? Recent decades have seen very low interest rates, and therefore situations where central banks cannot cut rates to the level they believe necessary to support the economy. This issue is known as the 'effective lower bound' and was one of the major preoccupations of economic debates following the global financial crisis. However, it was clear that Treasury had done limited thinking on how fiscal policy should be used in a crisis. This was despite the fact that the official cash rate was just 1% as the pandemic approached. I recall my surprise at being briefed on a work programme to review Treasury's macro-economic framework – thinking that I would have assumed it had already taken place sometime in the previous decade. At different stages Covid-19 required spending to support overall economic activity (i.e. stimulus) as well as more targeted spending for workers and businesses directly affected by lockdowns. The LTIB notes that Treasury did support large-scale spending responses in the initial stages, but then 'advised shifting towards more targeted fiscal support and recommended against further stimulus from Budget 2022 onwards'. Covid-19-related supports had continued during this period, because large numbers of New Zealanders continued to be affected by Covid-19, most notably during the Auckland lockdowns. But the purpose of this spending was to support people and businesses during a time when normal economic activity was not possible, not to stimulate more economic activity. Despite the large initial cost of the wage subsidy scheme in 2019/20, the largest year for Covid-related spending was actually 2021/22, owing to the combination of business support programmes and the ramping up of the national health response. Former Beehive staffer Toby Moore. Photo / Supplied A further, separate category of spending is funding allocated through the Budget operating allowance, which is typically a mix of new spending and the increased cost of existing spending (cost pressures). In late 2021, the operating allowances for upcoming budgets were increased compared to what was previously signalled. Treasury has at times raised concerns that adjusting future allowances might undermine credibility; however, it was not an uncommon occurrence for parts of Treasury to raise such concerns and for other parts of Treasury to put advice to the Minister suggesting that allowance should increase. It is important to understand that budget allowances are not an end in themselves. Adhering to previously planned allowances come what may does not amount to a sensible fiscal strategy, and governments tend to put more focus on whether those allowances are contributing to them keeping debt or deficit levels in line with their intended objectives. The operating allowance for Budget 2022 was large, at $6 billion. But based on forecasts at the time, that level of spending was consistent with Government debt peaking at a much lower level than earlier forecasts, and the Government's books returning to surplus much earlier, in 2023/24. At the point Treasury states that they were not advising further stimulus, this was very much the Government's view as well. Economic and fiscal forecasts were looking much different from mid-2022 onward, and the economy continued to slow as the Reserve Bank tightened interest rates in response to rising inflation of the sort that was experienced around the world. While larger proportions of budget spending during this period were trying to maintain existing public services in the face of high levels of inflation, the other side of this story is the fact that forecast tax revenue has continually failed to eventuate. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during the pandemic. Photo / Mark Tantrum Ahead of Budget 2024, Nicola Willis alluded to a further downgrade in economic and fiscal forecasts, saying 'Sadly, I've learned to dread what comes out of the forecasters' mouths when they come into my office'. If nothing else, this is a sentiment shared across successive offices of the Minister of Finance. Repeated downward revisions of the tax-to-GDP ratio over time means that Budget 2025 forecasts for the current fiscal year are a full 3.3% of GDP lower than what forecasts in mid-2022 had anticipated. This has contributed to OBEGAL surplus getting pushed further out in the forecast period (and more recently, only showing surpluses on the Government's self-invented measure, OBEGALx). If decision-makers had cared only about inflation and nothing else, fiscal policy could potentially have done a lot more to reduce economic activity. With the Government not willing to resort to tax increases, more contractionary fiscal policy would have meant absorbing more of the burden of constraining demand through deteriorating public services, with the Reserve Bank having to do less through the OCR. Given the ongoing pressure on the health system today, we should be glad this was not the path that was taken. But far from being critical of this Budget spending, Treasury was also raising concerns that spending was not high enough. In the half-year update in 2022, Treasury expressed concern about what it described as the largest fall in real government consumption since 1987. As late as October 2022 Treasury was advising the Minister of Finance to increase the allowance for the next Budget from $4.5 billion to $5b. This incongruous array of advice was not a matter of mutinous radicals seizing control of the Government's lead economic adviser. Treasury was trying to tread the same narrow path that the Government was. The economy as a whole was hitting up against its capacity, and vulnerable New Zealanders needed targeted support towards the cost of living. Every dollar of additional spending risked adding to inflation and every dollar of spending that was withheld meant that rising costs would hit core government services or households directly. It is appropriate that we try to learn lessons from the experience of Covid-19. It is reasonable for people to disagree with some aspects of the fiscal response and it is highly unlikely that every decision taken was the right one. But the economic response was overwhelmingly guided by officials' advice rather than contrary to it. There may now be unease among some public servants about the level of debt that New Zealand assumed or the spending pressures that it is facing. But the other side of that debt is the businesses that are still operating, the people who were kept in work and the loss of friends and family members that were avoided because NZ chose to support each other through that most complex and challenging time. Toby Moore is a doctoral candidate at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington and was previously a senior adviser to former Finance Minister Grant Robertson. He is also on the Labour Party's policy council, though the views here are his own
Time of India
05-08-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Covid cases rise in Aizawl, 10 patients test positive in 1 day
Aizawl: As many as 10 people tested Covid-19 positive in Aizawl in the last 24 hours, raising the total number of active cases in the state to 21, officials from the integrated disease aurveillance programme said on Tuesday. An upsurge in cases has been observed since Friday, when 5 out of 7 samples tested positive. On Saturday, all 9 samples returned positive results. No samples were tested on Sunday and Monday, officials added. The latest 10 cases, like the previous ones, are from Aizawl district, with most tests conducted at Zoram Medical College & Hospital in Falkawn near Aizawl. Since mid-May — when the first case of the year was detected — Mizoram has recorded 38 Covid-19 infections. Officials said 73 cases were reported in 2024, with no positive case recorded between Oct last year and mid-May this year. During the pandemic years (March 2020 to Oct 2024), Mizoram recorded 734 Covid-related deaths, with the highest toll of 538 in 2021. Eight deaths each occurred in 2020 and 2023, while 180 were reported in 2022. Since early 2020, a total of 19,97,882 samples have been tested in the state, of which 2,39,673 were confirmed positive. Of these, 2,38,918 patients have been discharged.
TimesLIVE
30-07-2025
- Health
- TimesLIVE
Department trains ECD practitioners to 'rescue' foundation-phase learning
The department of basic education (DBE) says it has trained 2,670 early childhood development (ECD) practitioners in the 2024/2025 financial year on the national curriculum framework (NCF) for children aged birth to four. It said this is part of efforts to strengthen foundational learning across the country. Responding to a parliamentary question from MP Delmaine Chelsey Christians, the department revealed it has significantly scaled up training since the ECD function shift from the department of social development to basic education in April 2022. In addition to the 2,670 practitioners trained in 2024/2025, the department said: 20,027 were trained in 2023/24; 11,681 in 2022/23; 930 in 2021/22; 1,752 in 2020/21; and 14,008 in 2019/20. Regarding qualifications aligned to the national qualifications framework (NQF) level 4, the department reported training: 2,374 practitioners this year; 3,140 trained in 2023/24; 1,345 in 2022/23; 3,239 in 2021/22; and 4,905 in 2019/20. The 2020/21 year saw no training due to Covid-related disruptions. 'Since the ECD function shift in April 2022, the department of basic education and provincial education departments have prioritised the professional development of ECD practitioners to improve the quality of foundational learning,' it said.
Herald Sun
30-07-2025
- Business
- Herald Sun
Air New Zealand appoints Nikhil Ravishankar to replace Greg Foran as CEO
Air New Zealand has promoted its chief digital officer Nikhil Ravishankar as its new chief executive as the board seeks 'a new generation of leadership'. Mr Ravishankar will officially take over the top job from Greg Foran from October 20, four years after joining Air New Zealand from technology company Vector. The airline was Mr Ravishankar's first job in aviation, after an early career spent in telecommunications, tech and on boards including the Auteur influencer network. Air New Zealand chair Dame Therese Walsh said Mr Ravishankar's promotion marked the beginning of the next chapter for the airline, and reflected 'a new generation of leadership for the future'. 'Nikhil brings the mindset and contemporary leadership we need to build on our strong foundations and focus on the future,' said Dame Therese. 'The board undertook an extensive international search and were delighted to see Nikhil come through the process so strongly. His ambition for the airline's future and his people leadership skills, coupled with his pursuit of excellence, digital literacy, global outlook and relationships, and his deep care for the airline and New Zealand shone through.' She said airlines would continue to face 'immense challenges' whether that was 'climate change, customer expectations, technology, cost pressures of geopolitics'. 'Nikhil brings a fresh perspective that is grounded in New Zealand values and a deep knowledge of the airline and critical infrastructure across different sectors,' said Dame Therese. 'He's not afraid to challenge how things are done and ask questions.' Mr Ravishankar said he was 'both thrilled and humbled' to be given the opportunity to lead Air New Zealand, which he described as an 'institution with a deep legacy and a fantastic future'. 'It's a privilege to step into the CEO role and take on that responsibility for our people, our customers, and our country,' said Mr Ravishankar. 'Our airline is among the very best, and I'm excited to help shape what this next stage of Air New Zealand looks like.' Mr Foran will leave in October after a handover to Ravishankar, but as yet the former US Walmart CEO has not revealed his next move. When he joined Air New Zealand in February 2020, Mr Foran faced crisis after crisis, with Covid-related border closures all but shutting down the airline completely within five weeks of his appointment. Since the pandemic, the airline has continued to face challenges, the biggest of which concerned shortages in engine components, resulting in the grounding of up to 11 aircraft. Full year guidance issued in April, indicated Air New Zealand expected to take a substantial hit from the groundings with earnings before tax in the range of NZ$150m and NZ$190m (AU$137m to AU$173m). The 63-year-old said it was entirely his decision to leave, adding the 'board was very keen for him to stay' but he felt he 'had another itch to scratch'. 'I'm not too sure what that would be, but I'm excited, and, you know, I've worked and lived in five different countries now, and enjoy it, enjoy going to work, enjoy difficult challenges and this has been one of those,' he told The Australian in May. His legacy to the airline will be a new cabin layout for the fleet of Boeing 787s, intended to help Air New Zealand remain competitive on trans-Pacific routes. Next year, the carrier will take delivery of two new 787s fitted with the innovative Skynest feature — offering economy passengers the chance of a lie-down on ultra-long-haul flights. The six-bed stack which will replace two middle rows of economy seats, follows the success of the airline's 'Skycouch'. Mr Ravishankar is the second new airline CEO in the region this year, following Virgin Australia's promotion of Dave Emerson this year after the departure of Jayne Hrdlicka. Originally published as Air New Zealand taps insider Nikhil Ravishankar to replace CEO Greg Foran Read related topics: Climate Change
