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Scoop
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
King's Birthday Honours – ‘This Belongs To The Samoan Community'
Former National MP Anae Lupematasila Lima Arthur John Anae has received a King's Service Medal in the King's Birthday Honours. Anae Arthur Anae has been honoured for services to the Samoan community. 'On behalf of our community, I'm thrilled for it, because this isn't me. This is not mine,' Anae said. 'This belongs to the Samoan community who stood behind and joined the battle to get justice that belonged to us, and the recognition belongs to all of us, because we've all had to hold hands and and fight this for a long time.' Read more: Anae has been part of the push for the Samoa Citizenship Bill, which restores a pathway for citizenship for a group of Samoans who had their right to it removed. He led the Mau o Samoa I le Sitiseni committee from 1997, keeping awareness of the issue alive and supporting the activism of transitional Samoans, which culminated in 24,500 Select Committee submissions on the Bill before its passing. Anae was a list MP from 1996 to 2002, initiating several Pacific initiatives during this time. He was a Manukau city councillor from 2004 to 2010 and an Auckland councillor from 2010 to 2016, chairing the Economic Forum for both councils. Besides politics, Anae is an elder of the Pacific Islanders Presbyterian Church and has chaired its development committee. Hailing from the villages of Falelatai, Apia, Si'umu, and Safotulafai in Samoa, Anae reflects on his parents' journey and their challenges after moving to Aotearoa from Samoa. He said he dedicates the King's Service Medal to his parents, who moved to New Zealand in 1951 when he was five years old. 'All our parents, not just my parents… came out here in the 50s for one reason, to give their children an education, an opportunity. 'We tend to overlook, these days, the people who paved the way for us, and our parents had to sacrifice themselves on factory floors to give their children opportunities for tomorrow, and those opportunities are what we're reaping today. 'I was asked the question the other day, well, who's going to run the mantle after you're gone? I said, there's an army of young Pacific people behind me, highly educated, and they won't be drawn back by the fa'a'aloalo [respect] which has always held us back. 'Palangis (Pākehā) have always said – treated us – our fa'a'aloalo and respect is a sign of weakness. They've got a hell of a lot to learn.' The advocating doesn't end here for Anae, who is currently working on getting one million signatures for a petition on visa-free travel for Pacific countries. 'I'm still battling on two things, and that is the recognition of the woman married to these people or the men as well. 'I still believe in my heart that New Zealand owes these people 50 percent of their pension if they stay in Samoa, where they want to stay, and have the freedom to travel backwards and forward as they want. And these are two issues that I will continue to fight with them, because I believe in it and they're things that are right and should be done.' Asked about the future generations looking at awards like this, he said: 'My only advice for all our people is, whatever we do in life, you do it with a clean heart. 'You don't look at any rewards or anything that might come – they never come. 'Your thinking is based on what you're trying to achieve for people, from your heart, that's what you do; win or lose, you do it.'
Scoop
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
King's Birthday Honours - 'This Belongs To The Samoan Community'
Former National MP Anae Lupematasila Lima Arthur John Anae has received a King's Service Medal in the King's Birthday Honours. Anae Arthur Anae has been honoured for services to the Samoan community. "On behalf of our community, I'm thrilled for it, because this isn't me. This is not mine," Anae said. "This belongs to the Samoan community who stood behind and joined the battle to get justice that belonged to us, and the recognition belongs to all of us, because we've all had to hold hands and and fight this for a long time." Anae has been part of the push for the Samoa Citizenship Bill, which restores a pathway for citizenship for a group of Samoans who had their right to it removed. He led the Mau o Samoa I le Sitiseni committee from 1997, keeping awareness of the issue alive and supporting the activism of transitional Samoans, which culminated in 24,500 Select Committee submissions on the Bill before its passing. Anae was a list MP from 1996 to 2002, initiating several Pacific initiatives during this time. He was a Manukau city councillor from 2004 to 2010 and an Auckland councillor from 2010 to 2016, chairing the Economic Forum for both councils. Besides politics, Anae is an elder of the Pacific Islanders Presbyterian Church and has chaired its development committee. Hailing from the villages of Falelatai, Apia, Si'umu, and Safotulafai in Samoa, Anae reflects on his parents' journey and their challenges after moving to Aotearoa from Samoa. He said he dedicates the King's Service Medal to his parents, who moved to New Zealand in 1951 when he was five years old. "All our parents, not just my parents... came out here in the 50s for one reason, to give their children an education, an opportunity. "We tend to overlook, these days, the people who paved the way for us, and our parents had to sacrifice themselves on factory floors to give their children opportunities for tomorrow, and those opportunities are what we're reaping today. "I was asked the question the other day, well, who's going to run the mantle after you're gone? I said, there's an army of young Pacific people behind me, highly educated, and they won't be drawn back by the fa'a'aloalo [respect] which has always held us back. "Palangis (Pākehā) have always said - treated us - our fa'a'aloalo and respect is a sign of weakness. They've got a hell of a lot to learn." The advocating doesn't end here for Anae, who is currently working on getting one million signatures for a petition on visa-free travel for Pacific countries. "I'm still battling on two things, and that is the recognition of the woman married to these people or the men as well. "I still believe in my heart that New Zealand owes these people 50 percent of their pension if they stay in Samoa, where they want to stay, and have the freedom to travel backwards and forward as they want. And these are two issues that I will continue to fight with them, because I believe in it and they're things that are right and should be done." Asked about the future generations looking at awards like this, he said: "My only advice for all our people is, whatever we do in life, you do it with a clean heart. "You don't look at any rewards or anything that might come - they never come. "Your thinking is based on what you're trying to achieve for people, from your heart, that's what you do; win or lose, you do it."
CTV News
29-05-2025
- Health
- CTV News
Kids under 14 should be banned from social media unless parents consent, Quebec committee says
Youth under the age of 14 should not be able to open social media accounts without their parents' consent, a cross-party committee at Quebec's National Assembly has recommended. The Select Committee on the Impacts of Screens and Social Media on Young People's Health and Development has been studying the effects of screens on young people over the past year. On Thursday, the committee submitted a lengthy final report to the National Assembly, containing no fewer than 56 recommendations. The report makes broad appeals to parents, who should, in particular: set a good example when it comes to screen time, avoid exposing their children to screens before bedtime, and avoid using screens to calm or distract their children. As indicated in its interim report submitted last April, the committee also recommends banning cellphones throughout the school, including on school grounds, starting in September. Education Minister Bernard Drainville welcomed this recommendation with 'great openness and interest.' The government has already banned cellphones and other mobile devices in classrooms since January 2024. This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 27, 2025. By Caroline Plante, The Canadian Press
Indian Express
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
May 19, 1985, Forty Years Ago: Anti Terror Bill
The government has introduced the Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Bill, which seeks to provide deterrent provisions, including the death sentence, to combat the menace of terrorism in the country. The bill also seeks to confer on the central government adequate powers to make rules necessary to deal with terrorists. The introduction of the bill was preceded by noisy protests from members of the Opposition who argued that they did not have time to go through its provisions. Madhu Dandavate of the Janata Party argued that the introduction of the bill should be deferred by a few days. Alternatively, he suggested, the bill could be referred to a Select Committee. Gujarat Violence One person was killed and two injured in police firing in Baroda, while in Ahmedabad, where peace seemed to be returning a day earlier, one man was stabbed to death. Meanwhile, Gujarat CM Madhavsinh Solanki has offered to hold a fresh round of talks with leaders of the three-month-long anti-reservation agitation. The CM said he and his colleagues have never refused any proposal to hold talks on the issue. A group of 11 Opposition leaders is arriving in the state on May 19 to take stock of the situation. Gas Victims Rally Police teargassed a rally by victims of the Bhopal Gas tragedy. The protestors also included noted cultural figures like painter J Swaminathan, eminent dramatist B V Karanth and Hindi writer Vijay Mohan Singh. The incident is likely to embarrass the Madhya Pradesh government because the three are among the leading figures in its cultural showpiece, Bharat Bhavan, the prestigious multi-arts centre. Goenka Awards The B D Goenka awards for excellence in journalism will be given away by Justice H R Khanna on May 19. The 1984 awards have gone to Prem Bhati, editor in chief of The Tribune, Chandigarh and Raj Kumar Keswani, a journalist from Madhya Pradesh.
IOL News
15-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Government departments instructed to prioritise job creation as calls grow for major intervention
South Africa's unemployment rate has risen to 32.9%. Image: File Government departments reporting to the Select Committee on Economic Development and Trade have been instructed to prioritise job creation as a matter of urgency. This followed the announcement by Statistics South Africa on Thursday that the country's unemployment rate grew to 32.9% during the first quarter of 2025, from 31.9% in the previous quarter. This means 8.2 million people are now classified as unemployed in South Africa. Select Committee Chairperson Sonja Boshoff called on the relevant government departments to prioritise initiatives aimed at addressing this crisis. 'The foremost priority of this committee is that every portfolio under our oversight decisively focuses on job creation. This aligns with the core objectives of the Government of National Unity (GNU), and we will continue to insist on this across all engagements,' Boshoff said. She said the slow pace in reducing red tape, which continues to hamper economic development and government effectiveness, was a huge point of concern. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'Reducing bureaucratic hurdles must become a top priority. Continued delays only frustrate our efforts to build an inclusive and productive economy. Where implementation is possible, we must act swiftly to support the objectives of the GNU,' Boshoff added. Economists and other experts have also called for decisive action on the part of government in reducing the unemployment rate. Volker von Widdern, Risk Principal at Riskonet Africa, has called for a national risk mitigation intervention in order to prevent future risks to economic stability and social cohesion. 'South Africa's rising unemployment rate is more than a labour market issue, it is a strategic risk event unfolding in plain sight,' Von Widdern said. He said the time for half-measures and static policy was over. 'In economic terms, standing still means going backwards for employment,' he said. 'When growth stalls, businesses either optimise through efficiency and automation, or shut their doors entirely. In both cases, jobs are lost and opportunity for employment contracts,' Von Widdern added. 'If we continue to tolerate national budgets and economic policies that deliver subpar growth, we are compounding a long-term national threat.' The current youth unemployment rate of 46 percent is not just a social challenge, but an embedded economic risk. With slow economic growth, a growing population cannot be absorbed into the labour market, leading to a gradual growth in unemployment figures. 'What makes the current situation more perilous is that South Africa has normalised economic underperformance. Instead of pushing for high-impact investment and industrialisation, state spending is being crowded out by social relief programmes and public sector employment,' Von Widdern said. 'This might delay short-term social instability, but it accelerates long-term economic fragility. Fiscal space is shrinking, investor sentiment is eroding, and the spectre of forced investments in prescribed assets and inflation-driven instability looms ever closer.' The risk manager said there were a number of possible interventions, from third-party managed public-private partnerships to incentives linked to factory development and skills localisation. 'We need a 'Marshall Plan' for investment. We need to use Special Economic Zones not just as geographical labels, but as engines of new industrial capacity, reduced red tape, and labour flexibility. And we need to treat employment not as a by-product of growth, but as a targeted outcome backed by risk-mitigated strategy,' Von Widdern concluded. Get your news on the go, click here to join the IOL News WhatsApp channel IOL
