Latest news with #taskForce
The Independent
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
How one Australian state has responded to a synagogue arson attack
Victoria, Australia, is establishing an anti-hate task force, comprising the premier, police minister, and Melbourne mayor, to address violent protests and a rise in antisemitism. The formation of the task force follows an arson attack on a synagogue in East Melbourne, where 20 worshippers inside escaped unharmed. Police have arrested and charged a 34-year-old man in connection with the synagogue fire and are investigating whether the incident was an act of terrorism. The Victorian government is drafting new legislation to ban face masks, the display of terror symbols, and devices used by protesters to attach themselves to objects. Antisemitic incidents across Australia have escalated since October 2023, prompting the country to pass new anti-hate crime laws in February, including mandatory jail sentences for offences like giving a Nazi salute.
Bloomberg
02-07-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Taiwan Sets Up Task Force to Help Companies Manage Currency Risk
Taiwan has formed a task force to help exporters and small- and medium-sized enterprises mitigate the impact of the local dollar's sharp appreciation, reflecting growing concern about a surging currency. 'We hope to assist SMEs in coping with exchange rate fluctuations through government support and help them explore the available hedging tools in the current financial environment,' deputy minister Ho Chin-tsang of the Ministry of Economic Affairs said at a briefing Wednesday.
South China Morning Post
08-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Spark Deep Dive: Developing Hong Kong's ‘silver economy'
Deep Dive delves into hot issues in Hong Kong and mainland China. Our easy-to-read articles provide context to grasp what's happening, while our questions help you craft informed responses. Check sample answers at the end of the page. News: Hong Kong's plan to tap into the silver economy People aged 65 and over will make up more than a third of the population by 2043 Authorities have set up a task force to boost elderly spending and encourage them to work Hong Kong authorities have announced a wide range of measures to tap into the multibillion-dollar silver economy. These include steps to boost spending and develop tailor-made products for the elderly. They also want to strengthen insurance protections to encourage older residents to re-enter the job market. Deputy Chief Secretary Warner Cheuk Wing-hing is the leader of a new working group aimed at harnessing the economic benefits of the city's ageing population. 'The amount of spending by people aged 60 and above reached about HK$342 billion in 2024, about 11 per cent of the city's GDP. Economic advisers estimate the figure will reach HK$496 billion by 2034,' he said. 'The elderly make up a large proportion of Hong Kong's population and have certain economic conditions and purchasing power. They are a huge consumer group that cannot be ignored, and they create a huge demand for products and services related to the silver economy.' He said the plan could boost Hong Kong's economy and drive overall economic development. Promoting high-quality 'silver products' and services could also help the elderly enjoy the results of Hong Kong's development. Cheuk said the measures would cover spending by the elderly and developing the 'silver industry' and related financial products. They would also take steps to welcome residents aged 50 and above back into the labour market. Older people in Hong Kong, with their savings, greater awareness of quality of life and willingness to spend on themselves, are increasingly recognised as an emerging consumer market. According to official estimates, people aged 65 and over will make up more than a third of the population by 2043. The government will promote products targeting the elderly at major exhibitions. Restaurants would also be encouraged to offer discounts and special meals for senior citizens in the third quarter of the year. Authorities will encourage the elderly to rejoin the job market by launching dedicated retraining courses. They will also review cash and award incentives for older workers and the companies that hire them. Lawmaker Frankie Ngan Man-yu welcomed the government's efforts but urged authorities to repurpose some job centres to focus on elderly employment. Ngan said Hong Kong's labour force participation rate for people aged 55 to 64 was estimated at 58.6 per cent. This is lower than that of other advanced economies. Staff writers Question prompts 1. According to the news, which of the following statements are true? (1) The Hong Kong government plans to develop specialised products and strengthen insurance protection to support the elderly. (2) The amount of spending by people aged 60 and above accounted for about 11 per cent of Hong Kong's GDP in 2024. (3) The silver economy plan does not include measures to encourage elderly residents to rejoin the workforce. (4) Dedicated retraining courses and incentive reviews are part of the government's strategy to help older residents re-enter the job market. A. (1), (2) only B. (2), (4) only C. (1), (3) only D. (3), (4) only 2. List TWO reasons why the ageing population in Hong Kong is being recognised as an emerging consumer market. 3. To what extent do you agree these new measures could help senior citizens re-enter the job market? Explain using the news, glossary and your own knowledge. Photo People shop on the last day of the Hong Kong Brands and Products Expo in Causeway Bay on January 6, 2025. Photo: Sam Tsang 1. What is being shown in the photo? How does it relate to the information presented in the news? 2. Do you think the government's measures to encourage elderly spending will be effective? Why or why not? Explain using the news, glossary and your own knowledge. Glossary silver economy: economic activities, products and services designed to meet the needs of older people. According to estimates by the Hong Kong government, by 2043, people aged 65 and over would make up more than a third of the city's population, meaning there is great potential to make money by catering to this market. GDP: stands for gross domestic product. It measures the monetary value of final goods and services produced within a country or territory during a specified period. purchasing power: the ability of individuals to buy goods and services with their income. Sample answers News 1. B 2. Older people in Hong Kong have substantial savings and purchasing power, with those aged 60 and above spending HK$342 billion in 2024. They also have a greater awareness of quality of life and a willingness to spend money on themselves. (accept all reasonable answers) 3. The new measures could significantly help senior citizens re-enter the job market; however, their effectiveness will depend on their implementation. According to the news, the government plans to launch retraining courses and review incentives for older workers and companies that hire them. These steps directly address skill gaps and motivate both seniors and employers. Ageism and outdated skill sets are common obstacles that older job seekers face. Suppose the retraining programmes are aligned with market needs, for example. In that case, digital literacy, part-time or flexible roles, and public attitudes shifting to value older workers' experience could have a meaningful impact. However, without proper follow-through, some initiatives might not achieve their full potential. (accept all reasonable answers) Photo 1. The photo shows elderly Hongkongers shopping for products, which relates to the information in the news about the government's plans to encourage spending by this age group. 2. Introducing new products and services for the elderly may be an effective way to encourage them to spend. However, the simple fact is that many of them may not have money to spend in the first place. Hong Kong aims to encourage more seniors to return to the workforce, which would give them more disposable income, but it will need to address issues such as poor health and outdated skills. Retraining programmes could help some elderly Hongkongers gain new skills, but it remains to be seen whether these programmes will be effective. There are also other issues to address, such as workplace ageism. While the government is off to a strong start, continued evaluation and expansion of support systems are needed to ensure real, long-term improvements in elderly employment. (accept all reasonable answers)
Daily Mail
05-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE New search for Madeleine McCann enters final hours as police hunting rundown buildings prepare to call off the hunt tonight
These are the buildings searched by police in a last-ditch attempt to find evidence linking prime Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner to her disappearance. A collection of sinister, ramshackle derelict barns and cottages on scrubland covering more than eight square miles, covered with thick vegetation. With crumbling walls and covered in obscure graffiti the half dozen locations are being systematically examined by a task force of German and Portuguese police. Searches started on Tuesday and are expected to finish by Friday as police frantically try and find some evidence to link Brueckner to Madeleine's 2007 disappearance. She vanished from the Ocean Club holiday complex in the Algarve resort of Praia da Luz and German police are adamant convicted rapist and paedophile Brueckner did it. The search area is scrubland at Atalaia, around 3.5 miles from Praia da Luz and just a mile from where the German drifter lived. Locals say the area – which is crisscrossed by footpaths and on a popular coastal walk known as the Fisherman's Trail was popular with wild campers, hippies and drifters. There is evidence of rough sleeping in many of the buildings with empty wine bottles, beer cans and food tins strewn on the floor. Brueckner is thought to have parked his VW camper van close by and used the scrubland as a rat run to get to and from Praia da Luz. He was sensationally named by German authorities in June 2020 as the man responsible for Madeleine's abduction and murder, but he has not been charged – and the sands of time are running out. In three months, he could walk out of jail and that is why detectives are desperately looking for something concrete to link him to her disappearance to go with the circumstantial evidence they have. His mobile phone places him in the area when then three-year-old Madeleine vanished and his profile as a conceited rapist and paedophile fits the bill. Plus, a key witness has told authorities Brueckner told him a year after she vanished that 'Maddie didn't scream' when he took her. Police have spent the last few days clearing away rubble and debris from inside the buildings using a backhoe and piles of dust covered debris have been piled outside. Once a working area has been cleared, officers wearing masks to prevent their identity being revealed have gone in using spades and pickaxes to level off the ground. Some have been seen carrying away soil in plastic boxes to blue tent that has been set up closeby, and any evidence recovered will be sent back to Germany. The roofs of the eerie buildings being searched have all caved in and some have wooden posts holding up exterior walls – meaning search teams have to wear hard hats. Ground penetrating equipment has been brought in for the search and this was used extensively at least two buildings and is expected to be used on the other sites. There are also several wells on the scrubland and firefighters have been drafted in to drain off the water so they can be examined. Publicly Portuguese police are keen to stress they are happy working jointly with their German counterparts but privately many are sceptical. When one local policeman was asked what they expected to find he rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders before saying:' You tell me.' It is not clear what led to the police investigation whether it was a hard tip off to German investigators. Or whether it was meta data obtained from vile child porn images found on a USB stick Brueckner had buried in an old warehouse he lived in back in Germany. What is clear though is that as Brueckner nears the end of a seven-year sentence for raping an elderly American woman in Praia da Luz in 2005 police need to move fast. His earliest possible release date is September 17 however that is unlikely as he will have to pay 1500 Euro in outstanding fines from a series of motor offences to do so. Gerry, left, and Kate McCann, parents of four-year old Madeleine McCann, present a picture of their daughter during a press conference in Berlin, Wednesday, June 6, 2007 But his legal team say he is broke and so a release date of January 6 looks more likely, but he has already admitted he will 'probably leave the country' which means police will have a nightmare to bring him back if charged. Last October he was cleared of a series of unrelated sex attacks that took place in the Algarve between 2000 and 2017. Two years ago police also searched a dam close by for evidence but after a week-long operation nothing was found and Brueckner continues to deny any involvement with Madeleine's disappearance.
Bloomberg
03-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Paraguay Pitches Argentina, Brazil on Natural Gas Pipeline Plan
Paraguay is lobbying Argentina and Brazil to sign agreements signaling their political support for a proposed natural gas pipeline linking the three countries, according to a senior official in the landlocked South American nation. Mauricio Bejarano, deputy minister of mines and energy, is optimistic that memorandums of understanding can be signed this year and a task force created to formally study Paraguay's plan for a 1,050-kilometer (652 mile) conduit.
