Podcasts about standing committee

Lindsay Dentlinger from EWN joins Crystal Orderson to unpack the latest from Parliament, where the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) is being briefed by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Hawks. The session focuses on high-stakes corruption cases referred by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU), spanning multiple government departments, public entities, municipalities, and other prominent institutions. Presenter John Maytham is an actor and author-turned-talk radio veteran and seasoned journalist. His show serves a round-up of local and international news coupled with the latest in business, sport, traffic and weather. The host’s eclectic interests mean the program often surprises the audience with intriguing book reviews and inspiring interviews profiling artists. A daily highlight is Rapid Fire, just after 5:30pm. CapeTalk fans call in, to stump the presenter with their general knowledge questions. Another firm favourite is the humorous Thursday crossing with award-winning journalist Rebecca Davis, called “Plan B”. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Afternoon Drive with John Maytham Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays from 15:00 and 18:00 (SA Time) to Afternoon Drive with John Maytham broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/BSFy4Cn or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/n8nWt4x Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media: CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalk567 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Doc 1: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, A Student Demonstration of Sorts in Tiananmen Square (11/21/85) Doc 2: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, Government Arrests Student Demonstrators (11/25/85) Doc 3: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, More Student Demonstrations (12/23/85) Doc 4: From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, Student Demonstrations Update (12/24/86) Doc 5: IPAC Daily Intelligence Summary 1-87, China: Student Demonstrations (01/02/87) Doc 6: IPAC Daily Intelligence Summary 10-87, China: Hu Yaobang Resigns (01/17/87) Doc 7: Memorandum of Conversation, [George Bush] Meeting with Wan Li, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and Member of the Politburo, People's Republic of China (05/23/89) Doc 8: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/0289, China: Stalemate Continues Doc 9: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/03/89, China: Police Use Tear Gas on Crowds Doc 10: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 27: Martial Law with Chinese Characteristics (06/03/89) Doc 11: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 28: Ten to Fifteen Thousand Armed Troops Stopped at City Perimeter by Human and Bus Barricades (06/03/89) Doc 12: Cable, From: Department of State, Wash DC, To: U.S. Embassy Beijing, and All Diplomatic and Consular Posts, TFCHO1: SITREP 1, 1700 EDT (06/03/89) Doc 13: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/04/89, China: Troops Open Fire Doc 14: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 32 (06/04/89) Doc 15: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 33 (06/04/89) Doc 16: Cable, From: Department of State, Wash DC, To: U.S. Embassy Beijing, China Task Force Situation Report No. 3 (06/04/89) Doc 17: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/05/89, China: After the Bloodbath Doc 18: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 35 (06/05/89) Doc 19: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/06/89, China: Descent into Chaos Doc 20: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, TFCH01--SITREP No. 37 (06/06/89) Doc 21: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/07/89, China: Tense Standoff Continues Doc 22: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, TFCH01--SITREP No. 38 (06/07/89) Doc 23: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/9/89, China: Uneasy Calm Doc 24: Department of State Intelligence Brief, "Current Situation in China: Background and Prospects" (Ca. 06/10/89) Doc 25: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/10/89, China: Mixed Signals on Purge Doc 26: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 49, (06/11/89) Doc 27: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/14/89, China: Back to Business, But Crackdown Continues Doc 28: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/15/89, China: Accusation over Fang Lizhi Doc 29: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/21/89, China: Swift Justice Doc 30: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, Eyewitness Account of June 4 PLA Tank Crushing 11 Students and Related Early Morning Events in Tiananmen Square (06/22/89) Doc 31: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, What Happened on the Night of June 3/4? (06/22/89) Doc 32: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, TFCH01: SITREP No. 65 (06/27/89) Doc 33: State Department document entitled "Themes" (06/29/89) Doc 34: State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research, "Status Report on Situation in China as of 07/ 26/89" Doc 35: State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research, "China: Aftermath of the Crisis" (07/27/89) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Road Accident Fund chief executive, Collins Letsoalo, has been placed on special leave. Letsoalo appeared before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) this morning, was suspended allegedly with full pay. This emerged before the Standing Committee on Public Accounts when RAF was updating the committee on investigations conducted by the Special Investigating Unit. Lets hear from MP, Mkhuleko Hlenga Speaking on this matter. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SABC Parliamentary Correspondent, Lulama Mayta

The ANC say it is anticipating a budget that balances fiscal constraints with pro-growth and pro-poor initiatives. Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana will table the third National Budget today, following the agreement to reverse the VAT increase and explore alternative revenue sources. Elvis Presslin spoke to Dr. Joe Maswanganyi, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance

The Democratic Alliance (DA) says it has written to the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance, Dr Joseph Maswanganyi, to request an urgent hearing on the financial and ethical crisis at Daybreak Foods. This comes as the Public Investment Corporation (PIC) on Friday injected a further R74 million into the embattled farming establishment in a bid to pay for outstanding salaries for April, buy chicken feed supplies, and for specific essential operational expenses. Sakina Kamwendo spoke to DA's MP and Deputy Spokesperson on Appropriations Andrew Bateman

The Communications and Digital Technologies Department has lauded the current SABC board for its efforts towards stabilising the institution. The department, SABC executives and board members are currently briefing parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts, on the public broadcaster's audit outcomes and financial performance. The department's Deputy Minister, Mondli Gungubele earlier said that since the introduction of the current board, the SABC has shown a significant improvement in its governance. Speaking on what the entity has spent its R3.2 billion bail out on, SABC Board Member, Phathiswa Magopeni says it is important to note that the majority of funds have gone into keeping the entity afloat.

Bongani Bingwa speaks with Songezo Zibi, National Leader of RISE Mzansi and Chairperson of Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA), about the country's fiscal future. Zibi warns that the state is on the verge of collapse unless political leaders move beyond grandstanding and confront the tough fiscal realities ahead. 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station. Bongani makes sense of the news, interviews the key newsmakers of the day, and holds those in power to account on your behalf. The team bring you all you need to know to start your day Thank you for listening to a podcast from 702 Breakfast with Bongani Bingwa Find all the catch-up podcasts here https://www.primediaplus.com/702/702-breakfast-with-bongani-bingwa/audio-podcasts/702-breakfast-with-bongani-bingwa/ Listen live - 702 Breakfast is broadcast weekdays between 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) https://www.primediaplus.com/station/702 Subscribe to the 702 daily and weekly newsletters https://www.primediaplus.com/competitions/newsletter-subscription/  Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702   702 on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702  702 on Instagram: www.instagram.com/talkradio702  702 on X: www.x.com/Radio702  702 on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@radio702  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

China is likely to announce additional stimulus policies, including extra fiscal support, targeted monetary easing and stronger consumption-boosting initiatives, to put its economic growth on a more solid footing, as the country's top leadership usually convenes a high-level meeting centered on economic issues around the end of April, analysts said.分析人士表示，中国有望宣布更多刺激政策，包括增加财政支持、定向货币宽松以及更有力的促消费举措，以进一步夯实经济增长基础。中国最高领导层通常会在4月底左右召开一次以经济问题为中心的高层会议。The tone-setting meeting would be an important occasion for China's policymakers to reassess the fast-paced developments in the trade war initiated by Washington against Beijing over the past month, and to formulate offsetting policies in response, they added.他们补充道，此次定调会议将成为中国政策制定者重新评估过去一个月华盛顿对北京发起的贸易战快速发展态势，并制定相应政策的重要契机。"While the 5.4 percent GDP growth rate in the first quarter is a good start, key indicators like the consumer price index and producer price index suggest that weakness in domestic demand still persists," said Xiong Yuan, chief economist at Guosheng Securities.国盛证券首席经济学家熊园表示：“虽然第一季度GDP增长率达到5.4%是一个良好的开端，但消费者价格指数和生产者价格指数等关键指标表明，国内需求仍然疲软。”The impact of the tariffs by the United States, which is expected to materialize more visibly in the second quarter, further underscores the urgency for policymakers to ramp up supportive efforts, Xiong said.熊园表示，预计美国加征关税的影响将在第二季度更加明显，这进一步凸显了政策制定者加大支持力度的紧迫性。China's top leadership has suggested on various occasions that the country has ample capability to roll out new policy measures as needed, to address the rising uncertainties in the external environment.中国高层领导已多次表示，中国有足够的能力根据需要推出新的政策措施，以应对外部环境中日益增加的不确定性。Premier Li Qiang said on April 17 during a study session held by the State Council—the country's Cabinet—that at critical moments, the government must act swiftly to deploy policy tools across various fronts in order to generate positive market expectations.4月17日，李强总理在国务院举行的一次学习会议上表示，在关键时刻，政府必须迅速行动，综合运用各种政策工具，以创造积极的市场预期。Analysts expect that the end-April meeting is poised to introduce significant fiscal stimulus measures, potentially exceeding 1 trillion yuan ($137 billion) in scale.分析人士预计，4月底的会议将推出重大财政刺激措施，规模可能超过1万亿元人民币（1370亿美元）。"We expect incremental funds of 1.5 trillion yuan, or 1 percent of GDP, on top of the budget approved earlier this year. End-demand, especially consumption, should be more a focus than investment this time, given the nature of the tariff shock," Citi analysts said in a report on Monday.花旗分析师周一在一份报告中表示：“我们预计，在年初批准的预算基础上，新增资金将达到1.5万亿元人民币，占GDP的1%。鉴于关税冲击的性质，此次应该更多地关注终端需求，尤其是消费，而非投资。”China Galaxy Securities also said on Sunday in a report that the size of the new fiscal stimulus measures could be around 1.5 to 2 trillion yuan, with a particular emphasis on further strengthening policies to stimulate consumption.中国银河证券周日也在一份报告中表示，新的财政刺激措施规模可能在1.5万亿至2万亿元人民币左右，尤其强调进一步加强刺激消费的政策。In particular, with the goal of better offsetting the slowdown in external demand, the overall fiscal budget for consumption-boosting measures this year might be increased from the initially planned 300 billion yuan to a range of 700 billion yuan to 1 trillion yuan, said Feng Lin, executive director of the research and development department at Golden Credit Rating International.东方金诚国际信用评估有限公司研究发展部执行总监冯琳表示，为了更好地抵消外部需求放缓的影响，今年用于刺激消费措施的财政总预算可能会从最初计划的3000亿元人民币增加到7000亿至1万亿元人民币。China's annual exports to the US have been around $500 billion in recent years, which is equivalent to 7-8 percent of the China's domestic consumer goods consumption, according to Feng.冯琳表示，近年来，中国对美年出口额约为5000亿美元，相当于中国国内消费品消费的7%至8%。"This means that as long as domestic consumption is effectively stimulated, China is capable of absorbing the decline in exports to the US. Before the pandemic, the normal growth rate of the country's total retail sales of consumer goods was between 8 and 9 percent," Feng said.“这意味着，只要有效刺激国内消费，中国就有能力消化对美出口的下滑。疫情爆发前，中国社会消费品零售总额的正常增长率在8%到9%之间，”冯琳表示。Notably, any major fiscal policy in China requires going through legislative procedures. The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, which has the power to approve budget adjustments, is scheduled to meet in Beijing from Sunday to Wednesday.值得注意的是，中国任何重大财政政策都需要经过立法程序。拥有预算调整审批权的全国人大常委会计划于本周日到周三在北京召开会议。"If any fiscal resolution indicated by the upcoming meeting is approved by the NPC Standing Committee, it would buttress Beijing's determination to achieve growth despite the trade hardships," Citi said.花旗银行表示：“如果即将召开的全国人大常委会会议中提出的任何财政决议获得批准，这将坚定中国政府在贸易摩擦中实现增长的决心。”Even if the upcoming meeting and the NPC Standing Committee session greenlight new fiscal stimulus measures, analysts said the details and timeline of the rollouts would be determined in a flexible manner, depending on the evolving economic dynamics.分析人士表示，即使即将召开的全国人大常委会会议和全国人大常委会会议批准新的财政刺激措施，这些措施的具体细节和时间表也将根据不断变化的经济形势灵活确定。For the previously announced government bonds in March, the country is expected to accelerate their issuance in the second quarter, and expedite the utilization of these funds to support concrete projects, said Zhang Jun, chief economist at China Galaxy Securities.中国银河证券首席经济学家章俊表示，对于此前宣布的3月份国债发行，预计国家将在第二季度加快发行，并加快资金用于支持具体项目。The anticipated introduction of the extra fiscal stimulus measures and accelerated implementation of the existing ones would "create a window of opportunity" for a corresponding level of liquidity support from the monetary policy side, Zhang said.章俊表示，预期中的额外财政刺激措施将出台，现有措施也将加快落实，这将为货币政策层面提供相应流动性支持“创造机会窗口”。China's central bank is expected to employ a combination of both quantitative and structural policy tools, with a reserve requirement ratio cut of around 20 basis points likely to be implemented on the heels of the end-April meeting, followed by a potential interest rate reduction around June. The government is also expected to introduce a range of structural monetary policies aimed at providing targeted relief to the foreign trade sector, as well as bolstering consumer demand and technological innovation, Zhang added.预计中国央行将结合运用数量型和结构性政策工具，在4月底会议后可能实施约20个基点的降准，随后可能在6月左右再度降息。章俊补充道，预计政府还将推出一系列结构性货币政策，旨在为外贸行业提供定向纾困，并提振消费需求和技术创新。Citi said in its report that, "Finding patience to play the long game, the end-April meeting will stick to the policy framework of 'high-quality development' and will not take an all-out approach."花旗在其报告中表示：“4月底的会议将秉持耐心，着眼长远，坚持‘高质量发展'的政策框架，不会采取全面举措。”stimulus/ˈstɪmjələs/n.刺激（措施）；促进因素reassess/ˌriːəˈses/v.重新评估；重新考虑buttress/ˈbʌtrəs/v.支持；加强liquidity/lɪˈkwɪdəti/n.流动性；资产变现能力

Clement Manyathela speaks to Sinawo Thambo, EFF Member of Parliament and Mmusi Maimane, the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Appropriations about the postponed adoption of the 2025 division of revenue bill. The Clement Manyathela Show is broadcast on 702, a Johannesburg based talk radio station, weekdays from 09:00 to 12:00 (SA Time). Clement Manyathela starts his show each weekday on 702 at 9 am taking your calls and voice notes on his Open Line. In the second hour of his show, he unpacks, explains, and makes sense of the news of the day. Clement has several features in his third hour from 11 am that provide you with information to help and guide you through your daily life. As your morning friend, he tackles the serious as well as the light-hearted, on your behalf. Thank you for listening to a podcast from The Clement Manyathela Show. Listen live – The Clement Manyathela Show is broadcast weekdays between 09:00 and 12:00 (SA Time) on 702 https://www.primediaplus.com/station/702 Find all the catch-up podcasts here https://www.primediaplus.com/702/the-clement-manyathela-show/audio-podcasts/the-clement-manyathela-show/ Subscribe to the 702 daily and weekly newsletters https://www.primediaplus.com/competitions/newsletter-subscription/  Follow us on social media: 702 on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/TalkRadio702   702 on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@talkradio702  702 on Instagram: www.instagram.com/talkradio702  702 on X: www.x.com/Radio702  702 on YouTube: www.youtube.com/@radio702  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Standing Committee on Public Accounts (SCOPA) plays a critical role in parliament by overseeing the financial management of all departments and state institutions which have been riddled by corruption and lack of accountability. As we conclude the water month ,we reflect on the Oversight work of SCOPA in the Eastern Cape relating to water Infrastructure and supply to the communities.

The Japan Branch of Disabled Peoples' International (DPI) has announced that Shoji Nakanishi, a former Chair and long‑serving Standing Committee member of DPI Japan, died on March 26, 2025. Nakanishi founded Japan's first ‘Independent Living Centre' in 1986. Episode Notes: ‘Shoji Nakanishi, Founder of Japan's First Independent Living Centre, Dies Aged 80': https://barrierfreejapan.com/2025/04/06/shoji-nakanishi-founder-of-japans-first-independent-living-centre-dies-aged-80/

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has accused ActionSA of working with ANC to push through a 1% VAT increase over the next two years. ActionSA, however, has refuted this, asserting that the ANC has instead backed their 2025 Budget amendments, which block a proposed 0.5% VAT rise and secure income tax relief by addressing "bracket creep". Yesterday, Parliament's Standing Committee on Finance adopted its report on the fiscal framework, tabled earlier this month by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana. This framework originally proposed a 0.5 percentage point VAT increase over two financial years. Elvis Presslin spoke to Karabo Khakhau, DA National Spokesperson

Parliament's Standing Committee on Finance has adopted its report on the fiscal framework that was tabled in Parliament by the Finance minister, Enoch Godongwana, earlier this month. The budget includes a zero-point-five percentage point VAT increase over the next two financial years. The committee adopted the report with recommendations proposed by ActionSA - which includes that Treasury must be given 30 days to come up with alternatives to tax hikes, while scrapping the VAT hike and to adjust personal income tax brackets. The majority of the members of the committee - 6 out of 11 - voted in favor of this. However, other members cautioned that the laws governing the adoption of the budget do not make provision for a 30 day window period. Zalene Merrington filed this report and Sakina Kamwendo spoke to policy writer, researcher, and political analyst, Tara Roos

Clement Manyathela speaks to Dr Joe Maswanganyi who is the Parliamentary Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Finance, Mdumiseni Ntuli, the Chief Whip of the ANC and Tshidi Madia, EWN Associate and Editor as they the discuss the budget ongoing discussion and the budget related bills that MPs will need to vote on.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textIn this episode Etobicoke Centre MP Yvan Baker discusses gun control in Canada and the US. Baker says government regulation is important in controlling firearms, but the debate is ongoing. Baker explains that Canada has traditionally had more restrictive gun laws than the US, but there is a growing desire for stronger action to prevent serious gun crimes. He mentions recent measures such as the banning of about 1500 models of assault-style firearms and the introduction of red flag and yellow flag laws, which allow citizens to report concerns about gun owners. He also discusses the challenges of gun smuggling from the US and the need for more resources and technology at the border. The conversation also touches on the potential for mass tort litigation against gun manufacturers.Guest Yvan Baker, MP Etobicoke CentreYvan is a member of the Standing Committee on Finance. He is the Chair of the Canada-Ukraine Parliamentary Friendship Group and an executive member of the Canadian NATO Parliamentary Association. In recognition of his service to the community, Yvan was awarded the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal. Yvan holds an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College and a BBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University.Facebook | X | InstagramContact UsGardiner Roberts website | Gavin email | Stephen email

In this episode, we honor Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Senator from Alaska and Vice Chair of the Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region, as she receives the 2024 Arctic Circle Prize for her leadership in Arctic affairs in the United States and globally. As one of the foremost experts on Arctic policy in the U.S. Congress, she plays a key role in shaping national policies and fostering international cooperation to maintain the Arctic as a peaceful and sustainable region.The Arctic Circle Prize recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to securing a sustainable and prosperous future for the Arctic. Join us as we discuss Senator Murkowski's impact and ongoing efforts in this critical region.The 2024 Arctic Circle Prize was awarded during the 2024 Arctic Circle Assembly.Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks, environmental associations, Indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a nonprofit and nonpartisan organization. Learn more about Arctic Circle at www.ArcticCircle.org or contact us at secretariat@arcticcircle.orgTWITTER:@_Arctic_CircleFACEBOOK:The Arctic CircleINSTAGRAM:arctic_circle_org

Taking a people-centered approach, national lawmakers were urged to unite and gather efforts to implement whole-process people's democracy and to strive unremittingly to advance the building of a strong nation and the great rejuvenation of China.Li Hongzhong, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress, called for uniting the wisdom and strength of the broad masses of the people, adhering to the principle of "everything for the people and everything relying on the people" and continuously meeting the people's aspirations for a better life, as the country's top legislative body wrapped up its annual session on Tuesday.Entrusted by the presidium of the third session of the 14th NPC, Li presided over the closing meeting and made the remarks.President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and other leaders attended the meeting, which was held at the Great Hall of the People."We must unswervingly follow the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics, focusing intently on our own tasks, implementing strategic decisions step by step, and turning our work plans into reality," Li said, calling on NPC deputies to further promote Chinese modernization.At the closing meeting, deputies voted to approve resolutions on the Government Work Report as well as the national economic and social development plan for 2025 and the central budget for 2025.They also adopted resolutions on the work reports of the NPC Standing Committee, the Supreme People's Court and the Supreme People's Procuratorate, and a decision to amend the Law on Deputies to the National People's Congress and to the Local People's Congresses at Various Levels.Zhao Zhao, an NPC deputy from Henan province, praised the amended law, saying that "the amendment was necessary and timely"."The revised law standardizes our behavior and protects our rights as deputies. It will greatly help us fulfill our duties," said Zhao, an entrepreneur in Nanzhao county.Li Dexiang, an NPC deputy from Guizhou province, regarded the amended law as his legal safeguard, noting that it provided clear guidelines on how to better serve the people.He said that the streamlining of the process of handling deputies' suggestions in the revised law would improve the quality and efficiency of their work, enabling them to perform their duties more effectively.By Saturday noon, the third session's secretariat had received 269 motions and more than 8,000 suggestions from NPC deputies.The suggestions mainly focused on legislation in key, emerging and foreign-related sectors, while the suggestions primarily addressed boosting consumption and investment, driving the integrated development of technological and industrial innovation, and promoting high-quality growth through artificial intelligence.

Bongani Bingwa in conversation with Mmusi Maimane, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Appropriations & leader of Build One SA and Songezo Zibi, Chairperson Standing Committee on Public Accounts & Rise Mzansi Leader in response to the budget speech. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lester Kiewit speaks to Songezo Zibi, leader of Rise Mzansi and chair of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts about we should not be distracted by fears of a VAT increase and lose sight of other critical aspects of the Budget to be presented on Wednesday by the Finance Minister.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

National political advisers have been urged to serve the country's major tasks and work to improve people's livelihoods through high-quality consultation and suggestions, in order to further promote China's modernization drive.Wang Huning, chairman of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body, made the remarks while delivering a speech to around 2,100 national political advisers at the closing meeting of its third session in Beijing on Monday.President Xi Jinping, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, and other leaders attended the meeting, which was held at the Great Hall of the People.National political advisers should focus on key and difficult issues in deepening reform, promoting high-quality development, ensuring and improving people's livelihoods, and maintaining social stability in carrying out surveys and making suggestions and proposals, Wang said.The CPPCC should strengthen the mechanism for reflecting public opinion, connecting with the people, and serving the people, enhancing the unity of Chinese people at home and abroad, he added.A resolution on the work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee, a resolution on a report on how the proposals from political advisers have been handled since the previous annual session, a report on the examination of new proposals, and a political resolution on the third session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee were approved at the meeting.Samuel Yung Wing-ki, a member of the CPPCC National Committee from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said, "At this meeting, I have gained a deep understanding of the country's major policies and development direction, and I have also felt the country's emphasis on Hong Kong."Hong Kong should leverage its advantages in international exchanges and the "one country, two systems" policy to attract more talent to develop in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, he said.Jin Hua, a national political adviser from Qinghai province, said that at this year's two sessions she wore the traditional attire of the Mongolian ethnic group that she had got married in, as she considered the meeting to be a major event for the country."I am most proud that I can use my platform to bring the livelihood-related facts of the ethnic group to the national level. Then I can deliver good policies to our ethnic minority areas," she said.Yang Yuni, another national political adviser and a post-1995 member of the Hani ethnic group, said that she will make efforts to combine artificial intelligence with ethnic minority songs and dances to attract more young people to the protection of intangible cultural heritage, thereby assisting in vitalizing rural areas.

China's national lawmakers have deliberated a work report of the National People's Congress Standing Committee.

The third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference is set to open at 3 pm on Tuesday at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and will conclude on the morning of March 10, lasting for six days, a senior official announced on Monday.中国人民政治协商会议第十四届全国委员会第三次会议将于周二下午3时在北京人民大会堂开幕，并于3月10日上午闭幕，会期六天。Liu Jieyi, spokesman for the third session of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC, the nation's top political advisory body, briefed the media one day ahead of its opening. The main agenda includes listening to and deliberating on a work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee and a report on the proposals from its members, according to Liu.中国最高政治咨询机构——中国人民政治协商会议第十四届全国委员会第三次会议新闻发言人刘结一在开幕前一天向媒体介绍了会议情况。刘结一介绍，会议主要议程包括听取和审议全国政协常委会工作报告和提案工作情况报告The CPPCC National Committee members will also attend the third session of the 14th National People's Congress to hear and discuss the government work report and other relevant reports, he said.全国政协委员将列席十四届全国人大三次会议，听取并讨论政府工作报告以及其他有关报告During the conference, there will be an opening and closing ceremony, two plenary sessions, and group meetings. Foreign diplomats will be invited to attend the opening and closing ceremonies, he added.他表示，大会期间，将安排开幕会、闭幕会以及2次大会发言和界别小组会议。开幕会、闭幕会邀请外国驻华使节旁听。

The main agenda proposed for the upcoming third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), China's top political advisory body, was unveiled Saturday.中国最高政治咨询机构——中国人民政治协商会议（简称全国政协）第十四届全国委员会第三次会议的主要议程于3月1日公布。The third session of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC will open on March 4 in Beijing, according to a decision made at a meeting of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee on Saturday.据3月1日召开的全国政协常务委员会会议决定，中国人民政治协商会议第十四届全国委员会第三次会议将于3月4日在北京召开。The proposed agenda for the session includes hearing and deliberating a work report of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee and a report on how the proposals from political advisors have been handled since the previous session of the CPPCC National Committee.会议议程包括听取和审议中国人民政治协商会议全国委员会常务委员会工作报告和全国政协十四届二次会议以来提案工作情况的报告。Members of the CPPCC National Committee will sit in on the third session of the 14th National People's Congress to hear and discuss documents including the government work report, according to the proposed agenda.全国政协委员将列席中华人民共和国第十四届全国人民代表大会第三次会议，听取并讨论政府工作报告及其他有关报告。agenda [əˈdʒendə] 名词，议程unveil [ʌnˈveɪl] 动词，公布，透露deliberate [dɪˈlɪbəreɪt] 动词，仔细考虑，审议sit in on 短语，列席

ActionSA has strongly condemned the recent criticism of SARS Commissioner Edward Kieswetter by Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana, labeling it a "parochial political attack". This criticism comes after Commissioner Kieswetter expressed opposition to tax hikes and advocated for proper resourcing of SARS. Elvis Presslin spoke to Alan Beesley, ActionSA Member of Parliament and Member of the Standing Committee on Finance, to discuss the implications of this incident

The ACDP has expressed concerns about South Africa's budget deficit. The party expects it to reach 5% of GDP in the 2024/25 financial year, resulting in a gross loan debt of 75.5% of GDP by 2025/26. This fiscal slippage could lead to escalating debt service costs, crowding out essential budget items. To discuss this further, Elvis Presslin spoke to ACDP MP, Parliamentary Whip and Member of Parliament's Standing Committee on Finance, Steve Swart

President Xi Jinping has reiterated China's commitment to boosting the private sector through concrete efforts to implement supportive policies and measures.Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks on Monday in Beijing at a symposium on private enterprises. The gathering of high-profile participants came years after the previous such symposium was presided over by Xi in 2018.Among the attendees were Huawei's Ren Zhengfei, BYD's Wang Chuanfu, New Hope's Liu Yonghao, Will Semiconductor's Yu Renrong, Unitree Robotics' Wang Xingxing and Xiaomi's Lei Jun. The six business leaders put forward their opinions and advice on the development of the private sector.Speaking to a roomful of senior officials and private entrepreneurs, Xi said the government's basic principles and policies concerning the development of the private economy have been incorporated into the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics and will consistently be upheld and fulfilled."They cannot and will not be changed," he said, noting that obstacles should be removed in order to facilitate private enterprises' equal access to factors of production and market opportunities in accordance with the law.Xi said that as the world's second-largest economy further reforms and opens up, the enormous market with a population of over 1.4 billion will bring new opportunities for the greater development of private enterprises."On the new journey in the new era, the prospects for the development of the private economy are broad and promising. It is a prime time for private enterprises and entrepreneurs to give full play to their capabilities," he said.As of the end of September last year, China had over 55 million registered private companies, accounting for 92.3 percent of all businesses. They contribute more than half of the country's tax revenue, over 60 percent of GDP and over 80 percent of urban employment.Regarding the difficulties and challenges currently facing the private sector's development, Xi said that these have generally emerged during the process of reform and development and industrial transformation."They are partial rather than general, temporary rather than long-term, and surmountable rather than unsolvable," Xi said, stressing the need to stay focused on growth, maintain confidence in development and face up to the challenges with optimism.Since the 18th National Congress of the CPC in 2012, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council have rolled out a series of policies and measures to spur the growth of the private sector.China is also moving closer to its first basic legislation specifically focused on the development of the private sector, as the draft law was submitted to the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress for deliberation in December.During the symposium, Xi also called for continuous efforts to see that the competitive areas of infrastructure are open to market entities in a fair manner, to resolve the difficulties private enterprises face in accessing affordable financing, and to resolve overdue payments to private enterprises.The government will earnestly protect the legitimate rights and interests of private businesses and entrepreneurs in accordance with the law, Xi said.But he noted that China is a socialist country ruled by law, and no type of illegal activities by enterprises, despite their form of ownership, can avoid investigation and punishment.Xi also stressed the role of private enterprises in advancing China's broader goals in terms of technological innovation, promoting rural vitalization and improving people's well-being. He urged entrepreneurs to focus on high-quality development, invest in their main businesses, strengthen their capacities for innovation, and increase their core competitiveness.It is hoped that the vast number of private enterprises and entrepreneurs will take the lead in promoting common prosperity, thus making new and greater contributions to advancing Chinese modernization, he said.reiterate /riˈɪtəˌreɪt/(v.)—— 重申commitment /kəˈmɪtmənt/(n.)—— 承诺，坚定支持boost /buːst/(v.)—— 促进，推动implement /ˈɪmplɪˌmɛnt/(v.)—— 贯彻，实施supportive /səˈpɔːrtɪv/(adj.)—— 支持的，鼓励的

Rise Mzansi leader and Chair of Parliament’s Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa), Songezo Zibi, joins John Maytham to discuss the state of Eskom, financial oversight, and his reflections on leading Scopa. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Special Investigating Unit says an investigation into procurement fraud at Eskom has revealed that thousands of the Power Utility's workers have over the years failed to comply with the company's conflict of interest policy. Addressing Parliament's Standing Committee on Public Accounts, SIU officials say Eskom employees are linked to numerous entities serving as Eskom's vendors, contractor's and supplies which have accumulated Billions of rands over a period of nearly two decades. For a brief overview of some of these investigations, Sakina Kamwendo spoke to SIU spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago.

About the Guest: Nikole Nelson is the founding CEO of Frontline Justice and former Executive Director of the Alaska Legal Services Corporation. She has dedicated 25 years to enhancing access to justice, especially in rural communities, by developing innovative legal aid solutions that are community-led and people-centered. Nikole was instrumental in launching the Partnering for Native Health initiative, a medical-legal partnership that received the 2019 World Justice Challenge Award. She has also driven significant reforms, including changes to unauthorized practice of law regulations that benefit justice workers in Alaska. Nikole is actively involved as a member of the American Bar Association's Standing Committee on Legal Aid and Indigenous Defense (SCLAID) and the Legal Services Corporation's Rural Justice Task Force. Episode Summary: In this episode, Linda Odermott, host of the Paralegal Real Talk series, introduces Nikole Nelson, a pioneering advocate in the field of legal aid. Nikole shares insights into the development and success of Alaska's groundbreaking Community Justice Worker (CJW) project. Alaska's unique challenges, with vast remote areas and limited legal resources, led to innovative solutions that leveraged local community structures in bridging the justice gap. Nikole discusses how collaborations with the healthcare sector inspired strategies that train non-attorneys to deliver vital legal aid. The episode dives deeply into how these efforts first began with the establishment of the Partnering for Native Health project — a collaboration with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium — and how this initiative achieved remarkable success by extending legal assistance through trained community justice workers. This innovative model of delivering legal aid has not only enhanced accessibility in underserved regions but also set a precedent across multiple states now looking to emulate Alaska's success. Nikole passionately describes the vision of Frontline Justice to expand this approach nationwide, ensuring that every community receives the legal care they need. Key Takeaways: Alaska's Community Justice Worker project aims to bridge the justice gap by training non-attorney community members to provide essential legal services in rural and underserved areas. The success of this program leaned significantly on partnerships with existing healthcare infrastructures, demonstrating the power of cross-sector collaboration. Nikole Nelson emphasizes the importance of starting pragmatic, incremental steps in addressing legal needs rather than attempting to solve all complex legal problems at once. The program has enabled millions in SNAP benefits to be accessed and has seen a 100% success rate in the cases it has taken on. The discussion expands into the national landscape, where Frontline Justice is helping other states look to adopt similar community-led justice initiatives. Get more free paralegal resources:  https://paralegal-bootcamp.com/paralegal-resources 

China is prioritizing protecting the rights of elderly workers and respecting their willingness to work as it began gradually raising the statutory retirement age on Wednesday.从2025年1月1日起，中国开始渐进式延迟法定退休年龄。在此过程中，中国优先保障老年职工的权益，并尊重他们的工作意愿。The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the Organization Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, and the Ministry of Finance jointly issued an interim guideline outlining operational measures for workers to choose their retirement age.人力资源社会保障部、中央组织部、财政部三部门联合发布《实施弹性退休制度暂行办法》（以下简称《办法》），概述了职工选择退休年龄的操作措施。The new policy stems from a decision approved by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress in September to raise the statutory retirement age for men to 63 and for women to either 55 or 58, depending on their occupation.该新政策源于9月《全国人民代表大会常务委员会关于实施渐进式延迟法定退休年龄的决定》（以下简称《决定》）。《决定》提出，依据职业性质，将男职工的法定退休年龄延迟到63周岁，将女职工的法定退休年龄延迟到55周岁、58周岁。According to that decision, from Wednesday, male workers age 60 and female workers age 55 can ask for their retirement age to be extended one month every four months. Female workers who are 50 years old can ask for a one-month retirement extension every two months. By doing so, the retirement ages will increase to 63 for men and 55 or 58 for women in 15 years.根据《决定》，从2025年1月1日起，60周岁男职工和55周岁女职工可每4个月申请延长退休年龄1个月。50周岁女职工可每2个月申请延长退休年龄1个月。这样一来，15年后，男职工退休年龄将延迟至63周岁，女职工将延迟至55周岁、58周岁。The guideline excludes those who reached the previous statutory retirement age before Tuesday.2024年12月31日前已经达到原法定退休年龄的人员，不适用本《办法》。Once the age increase is fully implemented, workers will be able to voluntarily retire up to three years earlier than the new statutory age, provided they have met the minimum pension contribution requirement, which is currently 15 years but will gradually rise to 20 years by 2030.一旦延迟退休政策全面实施，职工达到养老金最低缴费年限（目前为15年，从2030起将逐步提高至20年），可以自愿选择比新法定退休年龄提前3年退休。However, workers cannot retire before the previous statutory retirement age, which is 50 or 55 for women and 60 for men.但是，职工退休年龄不得低于原法定退休年龄，即女职工50周岁、55周岁，男职工60周岁。Those who choose early retirement must notify their employers in writing at least three months before their chosen retirement age.职工自愿选择提前退休的，至少在本人选择的退休时间前3个月以书面形式告知所在单位。Workers wishing to delay retirement once they reach the statutory ages must agree with their employers in writing at least one month in advance, with a limit of a three-year postponement.职工达到法定退休年龄后希望延迟退休的，至少提前1个月与所在单位达成书面协议，且延迟退休时间不得超过3年。Civil servants, senior executives in State-owned enterprises and government officials must retire once they reach the new statutory retirement age, according to the guideline.《办法》规定，公务员、国有企事业单位领导人员及其他管理人员，达到新的法定退休年龄时应当及时办理退休手续。Employers are required to maintain the same rights and benefits for workers who postpone retirement, including social insurance and labor relations. Workers can reverse their decision to postpone if they come to an agreement with their employers.用人单位需保证延迟退休的职工享有相同的权益和福利，包括社会保险和劳动关系。职工与所在单位协商一致，可以终止延迟退休。The guideline underscores the importance of respecting individuals' working preferences and ensuring that retirement decisions are voluntary. It prohibits employers from pressuring workers into retirement decisions against their wishes.《办法》强调，要充分尊重职工意愿，确保其退休决定出于自愿，并禁止用人单位强制职工做出违背自身意愿的退休决定。Experts have welcomed the guideline. Zhao Zhong, dean of the School of Labor and Human Resources at the Renmin University of China in Beijing, said the specific measures included in the guideline will help the public and employers understand and implement the nation's policy on raising the retirement age.专家对《办法》的实施表示欢迎。北京中国人民大学劳动人事学院院长赵忠表示，《办法》中的具体措施将有助于公众和用人单位理解并执行国家关于延迟退休年龄的政策。"It has very detailed rules and measures on how to retire in advance or postpone retirement, which is a positive response to people's concerns about labor relations and working rights protections related to postponing retirement, showing greater respect for people's working willingness and rights," he said.他说：“《办法》对于如何提前或延迟退休制定了非常详细的规则和措施，积极回应了人们关于保障与延迟退休相关的劳动关系和工作权益的关注，体现了对人们工作意愿和权利的更大尊重。”Li Chang'an, a professor from the Academy of China Open Economy Studies at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, said the guideline is an explanation of the retirement decision made by the Standing Committee of the NPC in September, which highlights the "voluntary and flexible" principles of the retirement policy.北京对外经济贸易大学国家对外开放研究院教授李长安表示，《办法》是对9月《全国人民代表大会常务委员会关于实施渐进式延迟法定退休年龄的决定》的解释，突出了退休政策的“自愿和灵活”原则。He added that postponing the retirement age progressively is a result of socioeconomic development and changes in demographic structure, which allows for better use of human resources and eases the burdens on social and pension funds.他补充道，渐进式延迟退休年龄是社会经济发展和人口结构变化的结果，能够更好地利用人力资源，并减轻社会和养老金基金的负担。Figures from the Ministry of Civil Affairs show that China's elderly population—people 60 years old and above—accounted for more than one-fifth of the nation's total population in 2023.民政部数据显示，2023年中国60周岁及以上老年人口占全国总人口比重超过五分之一。interimadj.暂时的，过渡时期的

Substantial grants for panchayati raj institutions unused in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, a report by Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayat Raj has revealed.----more----https://theprint.in/india/governance/parliamentary-panel-flags-lapses-in-managing-central-grants-for-village-development-unused-diverted/2417738/

#cuttheclutter In report tabled in Parliament Tuesday, Standing Committee on Defence looked at crashes involving Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft that occurred between 2017 and 2022. In Episode 1577 of #CutTheClutter, ThePrint Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta unpacks key takeaways from the report, focusing on shortage of fighters, pilots; Army spending & defence budget. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To read full Parliament Report : file:///Users/video-team-03/Desktop/DNDMahira_/CTC%201577/files/PDF.pdf ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------   @arvindmenswear66  This Season, Embrace Royalty & Legacy with our New Season Launch of Luxury Primante Collection Fabrics. Discover our latest showcase featuring the esteemed People's Prince, Dr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar. Own your day, visit your nearest Arvind Store and craft your perfect look. #TheArvindStore #OwnYourLegacy #OwnTheMoment https://tinyurl.com/3wa2zatn

A former Gagetown soldier, who's seeking an independent public inquiry into the use of Agent Orange and other chemical defoliants at the New Brunswick military base decades ago, has renewed hope, thanks to a series of meetings being held by the Standing Committee on National Defence.

The Indian government fixes a Minimum Support Price or MSP for 22 crops - paddy, wheat, several pulses, oilseeds and millets are a part of this list. The objective of declaring MSP is to help farmers get a good price for their produce and to procure food grains for public distribution. However, recent data shows that the cost of production is rising.   A recent report by Infomerics Ratings notes that the value of MSP for paddy has increased over time, reflecting the rising overall cost of production. However, it also notes that the input costs have also increased drastically.  It also notes that there are significant disparities between States when it comes to production and procurement. This has a big impact on farmer incomes. There is also an increasing demand for a legally binding MSP.   In fact, the Standing Committee on Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Food Processing in its report on 'Demands for Grants (2024-25)' of the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare on the 17th December 2024, noted that the implementation of MSP is a focal point in the dialogue surrounding agricultural reform and farmers welfare in India.   It goes on to note that, "Since the Committee believe that implementing a robust and legally binding MSP in the country could play a crucial role in reducing farmer suicides in India by providing financial stability, protecting against market volatility & alleviating debt burdens, they recommended implementation of the same."  We speak to Dr. Manoranjan Sharma, Chief Economist at Infomerics Ratings, about rice production in the country, how MSP is calculated, and about the health of the rural economy.  Guest: Dr. Manoranjan Sharma, Chief Economist at Infomerics Ratings  Host: Nivedita V  Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian 

President Xi Jinping called on Monday for constant efforts to achieve new accomplishments that will stand the test of history and time and fulfill the expectations of the people, amid China's drive to build a strong country and advance national rejuvenation.Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while addressing a meeting held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to mark the 100th anniversary of the birth of late top legislator Qiao Shi.Xi praised Qiao's outstanding contributions to the Party and the country, and called for learning from his revolutionary spirit and noble character.Qiao was a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee. He served as head of the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection from 1987 to 1992, promoting the building of a clean Party and improving anti-corruption laws and rules.Widely known as a champion of rule of law, Qiao served as chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, from 1993 to 1998. He supervised revisions to the Constitution, which saw the theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics written into the Constitution as a guiding principle. He also oversaw legislative work on a series of economic laws so that the legal framework of the socialist market economy could take shape.In his speech on Monday, Xi said that generations of outstanding communists have emerged in the great process of China's revolution, construction and reform, and he stressed that Qiao was one of them.Xi said that commemorating Qiao is for the purpose of learning from him in maintaining a noble character of upholding firm beliefs and ideals, promoting better Party conduct with strict Party discipline, serving the people with the original aspiration in mind, and carrying out bold reforms with great political courage.He also emphasized the need to learn from Qiao's unwavering pursuit of respecting and enforcing the rule of law and his practical and realistic work style.While highlighting the need to firm up the communist ideal, Xi urged upholding the overall leadership of the Party as well as the centralized and unified leadership of the CPC Central Committee.It is important to steadfastly exercise full and rigorous governance over the Party, vigorously improve conduct and combat corruption in strengthening the Party, in order to maintain the Party's advanced nature and integrity, he said.Xi also underscored the necessity to always adhere to the fundamental purpose of wholeheartedly serving the people, uphold people-centered development, effectively safeguard the fundamental interests of the people and ensure that the achievements of modernization benefit all the people more fairly.He called for further deepening comprehensive reform and advancing high-level opening-up, and emphasized the need to build a modern socialist country on the track of rule of law.It is crucial to resolutely oppose formalism and bureaucratism, focus on promoting development and take solid steps to advance Chinese modernization, Xi added.

Bongani Bingwa speaks to Songezo Zibi, Chairperson of The Standing Committee on Public Accounts (Scopa) and Rise Mzansi Leader reflects on the Government of National Unity and its challenges.    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John Maytham is joined in studio by Wendy Kaizer-Philander, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Social Development to highlighted the importance of the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence Against Women and Children Campaign as a critical call to action in a province heavily affected by gender-based violence (GBVSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Benedicta van Minnen, chairperson of the Standing Committee on the Premier and Constitutional Matters weighs in on efforts to revive the Western Cape Constitution amendment bill.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Xi Jinping and Finnish President Alexander Stubb lauded the development of the China-Finland relationship over decades during their talks in Beijing on Tuesday, and agreed to deepen practical cooperation as well as expand people-to-people exchanges for greater progress in bilateral ties.Stubb, who took office in March, started his four-day state visit to China on Monday, which marked the 74th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.Finland was one of the first Western countries to establish diplomatic ties with China and the first Western country to sign an intergovernmental trade agreement with China.Xi said that China and Finland have respected and trusted each other over the years, setting a fine example of state-to-state relations that transcend historical, cultural and institutional differences.The economic ties between China and Finland are robust, with Finland currently being China's third-largest Nordic trade partner and China being Finland's largest trade partner in Asia for several consecutive years. Last year, the two-way trade volume reached $8.2 billion.Xi told Stubb that China welcomes Finland to actively participate in China's modernization drive and to expand cooperation in emerging industries such as green transition, the digital economy and new energy.He also announced China's decision to implement a unilateral visa-free policy for Finland, saying that more Finnish friends are welcome to start businesses, travel and study in China.Noting that both China and Finland are peace-loving nations that advocate multilateralism and free trade, Xi called on the two countries to jointly address issues such as climate change and the governance of artificial intelligence, in order to promote an equal and orderly multipolar world.Recalling his meeting with Xi in 2009, Stubb said the world was a very different place back then, and China has grown in the past 15 years in a way that was unimaginable for many.The Finnish president said his country adheres to the one-China principle and values China's important influence and its stabilizing and constructive role in international affairs.Noting that China and the European Union are closely interconnected in terms of economy, Stubb said the "decoupling and disruption of industrial and supply chains" or a new Cold War would not serve the interests of any party.Finland is willing to play an active role in promoting the smooth development of EU-China relations, he added.The two leaders also exchanged in-depth views on issues including the Ukraine crisis and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Xi said that China is ready to make joint efforts with Finland and other relevant parties to continue working for a peaceful settlement.After their talks, Xi and Stubb witnessed the signing of multiple cooperation documents covering areas such as education, environmental protection and the circular economy, and issued a joint working plan to advance the China-Finland future-oriented new-type cooperative partnership.Wang Yiwei, a professor at Renmin University of China's School of International Studies and director of the university's Institute of International Affairs, said this is the first time that a Finnish president is visiting China since the Nordic country officially became a NATO member last year.Wang noted that Finland and some European countries are looking forward to learning from China's experience in green transition and the digital economy, given the country's remarkable achievements in recent years."The two sides enjoy great potential for cooperation in environmental protection and climate response," he said.On Tuesday, Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, also met separately with Stubb in Beijing.Vice-President Han Zheng and the Finnish president attended the 5th China-Finland Committee for Innovative Business Cooperation Meeting in Beijing, along with more than 100 government and business representatives from the two countries.During his trip, Stubb will make a stop in Shanghai, where he will visit Fudan University and attend a business summit, among other things.The last time a Finnish president visited China was five years ago. In 2019, then president of Finland Sauli Niinisto led a Finnish delegation to Beijing.

On this episode of Appointed, Kim speaks with criminal defence lawyer Theresa Donkor about guaranteed livable basic income, the mass incarceration of Black, Indigenous and BIPOC Canadians, and Ms Donkor's analysis of how poverty and systemic racism contribute to the over-criminalization and imprisonment of her clients. Theresa Donkor is a criminal defence lawyer and the Advocacy Director for the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL). She advocates with a focus on racial justice, and in this episode discusses the intersectional benefits of guaranteed livable basic income. The conversation also includes her expert testimony before Standing Senate Committees, most recently before the Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs regarding a new car theft provision introduced in the Criminal Code via 2024 budget implementation legislation ––––––––––––––––––––––––––Information Materials re: Facts about Guaranteed Liveable Basic Income can be read hereAbout Theresa Donkor hereAbout the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers here

Dr. Sarah Elizabeth Lewis has one of the most illustrious resumés of all the guests on Pulling the Thread—and I think we're the same age. Lewis is the John L. Loeb Associate Professor of the Humanities and Associate Professor of African and African American Studies at Harvard University where she serves on the Standing Committee on American Studies and Standing Committee on Women, Gender, and Sexuality. It was at Harvard that Lewis pioneered the course Vision and Justice: The Art of Race and American Citizenship, which she continues to teach and is now part of the University's core curriculum—as it were, Lewis is the founder of Vision & Justice, which means that she is the organizer of the landmark Vision & Justice Convening, and co-editor of the Vision & Justice Book Series, launched in partnership with Aperture. Before joining the faculty at Harvard, she held curatorial positions at The Museum of Modern Art, New York and the Tate Modern, London. She also served as a Critic at Yale University School of Art. I'm not done—in fact, I could go on and on. She's the author of The Rise: Creativity, the Gift of Failure, and the Search for Mastery, a book on Carrie Mae Weems, and innumerable important academic papers. Today, we talk about The Rise and how it dovetails in interesting ways with her brand-new book, The Unseen Truth: When Race Changed Sight in America, which is about the insidious idea that white people are from the Caucasus, a.k.a. Caucasian—an idea that took root in the culture and helped determine the way we see race today.  MORE FROM SARAH ELIZABETH LEWIS, PhD: The Unseen Truth: When Race Changed Sight in America The Rise: Creativity, the Gift of Failure, and the Search for Mastery Carrie Mae Weems Sarah Lewis's Website Vision & Justice Follow Sarah on Instagram To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

his is the Catchup on 3 Things by The Indian Express and I'm Ichha Sharma.Today is the 16th of September and here are the headlines.Highly placed sources told The Indian Express that Congress managed to get chairs for three committees in the Lok Sabha and one in the Rajya Sabha as negotiations for the Parliamentary Standing Committees between the government and the Opposition came to end. In the Lok Sabha, the Congress will get chairs for the External Affairs Standing Committee, Standing Committee on Agriculture and the Standing Committee on Rural Development. While, in the Rajya Sabha, the Opposition party will get the Standing Committee for Education.Meanwhile, days after walking out of Tihar jail following a nearly six-month stint in custody in connection with the excise policy case, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday announced he would step down from the post in two days. Calling for early polls, Kejriwal also said someone from the AAP will take his place until polls are held. While AAP sources say ministers Atishi, Gopal Rai and Kailash Gahlot are being named as potential successors, Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia among other AAP leaders of its Political Affairs Committee will meet this evening to finalise the name of the interim CM. Rallies and demonstrations demanding justice over the rape-murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital swept through the city on Sunday. The state government once again called junior doctors for a meeting at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Kalighat residence. Chief Secretary Manoj Panth sent an email to junior doctors to join the meeting scheduled at 5 pm today and it was communicated that quote, “this is the fifth and final time we are reaching out”, and “there will be no live streaming or videography of the meeting… Instead, the minutes of the meeting will be recorded and signed by both parties”, unquote.Speaking to The Indian Express in an exclusive interview, newly appointed Israeli ambassador Reuven Azar said it's for India to decide the extent to which it wants to be involved in resolving the Gaza war. This is the first time that Israel has sought New Delhi's assistance in the construction sector, and the decision comes in the wake of the ban on Palestinian workers following the Hamas attack last October.On the global front, two months after former president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was shot at in a rally, the FBI foiled what appeared to be a second assassination attempt on Sunday while Trump was golfing on his course in West Palm Beach, Florida. According to the Secret Service, agents spotted a person with a firearm near the golf club and immediately opened fire. CNN, Fox News and The New York Times have identified the suspect as Ryan Wesley Row-th of Hawaii, citing unnamed law enforcement officials.This was the Catch Up on 3 Things by The Indian Express

Chinese lawmakers on Friday voted to adopt a decision on gradually raising the statutory retirement age in the country, marking the first adjustment in the arrangement since 1950s.9月13日，全国人大常委会会议表决通过了关于实施渐进式延迟法定退休年龄的决定，这是自20世纪50年代以来对这一规定的首次调整。According to the decision adopted at the 11th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress, the statutory retirement age for men will be gradually raised from 60 to 63 in the course of 15 years starting 2025, while that for women cadres and women blue-collar workers will be raised from 55 to 58 and from 50 to 55, respectively.根据在第十四届全国人民代表大会常务委员会第十一次会议通过的决定，从2025年期，我国将用15年时间，逐步将男职工的法定退休年龄从原60周岁延迟到63周岁，将女职工和女性蓝领工人的法定退休年龄从原50周岁、55周岁，分别延迟到55周岁、58周岁。Starting 2030, the minimum year of basic pension contributions required to receive monthly benefits will be gradually raised from 15 years to 20 years at the pace of an increase of six months annually.从2030年开始，领取月度福利所需的最低基本养老金缴费年限将逐步从15年提高到20年，每年增加半年。Meanwhile, people will be allowed to voluntarily retire by no more than three years in advance after reaching the minimum year of pension contributions. But it is not allowed to retire earlier than the previous statutory age.同时，达到最低养老金缴费年限后，人们可以选择自愿提前退休，但提前退休的时间不得超过三年。但是，不能在达到原定的法定退休年龄之前退休。The new policies will also allow individuals to postpone retirement to an even later date if they reach an agreement with employers, but such a delay should be no more than three years.新政策还将允许个人在与雇主达成协议后推迟退休，但延迟期限不得超过三年。The decision also specifies measures to refine the old-age insurance incentive mechanism, implement the employment-first strategy, ensure the basic rights and interests of workers who have passed their statutory retirement age, and improve elderly care and childcare services.该决定还明确了完善养老保险激励机制、实施就业优先战略、保障已过法定退休年龄工人的基本权益以及改善老年人护理和儿童保育服务的措施。The document includes specific provisions on welfare for unemployed old-age workers and on earlier retirement for those in special professions.文件中还包含了对失业老年工人福利和特殊职业提前退休的具体规定。The 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee made clear arrangements on gradually raising the statutory retirement age in the country.中国共产党第二十次全国代表大会和第二十届中央委员会第三次全体会议明确了逐步提高法定退休年龄的安排。The plan passed by lawmakers on Friday was formulated on the basis of a comprehensive assessment of the average life expectancy, health conditions, the population structure, the level of education and workforce supply in China. 在全面评估中国的平均预期寿命、健康状况、人口结构、教育水平和劳动力供应的基础上，会议代表于13日通过了该决议。 Cadresn.（尤指共产党的）党务工作者，干部Provisionsn.法律协议的条纹，条款，规定Postponev.推迟；延期

China is set to enhance its ability to monitor new types of money laundering risks as emerging technologies have made detecting these activities more difficult, a senior legislator said on Monday.9月9日，资深立法者表示，由于各种新技术、新业态发展迅速，准确辨别洗钱活动难度加大。Wang Xiang, an official with the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the country's top legislature, said at a news conference that a draft amendment to the Anti-Money Laundering Law aims to address the growing challenges posed by new technologies and sectors.全国人大常委会法工委发言人王翔9日在记者会上表示：“魔高一尺，道高一丈。” 反洗钱法修订草案二次审议稿将加强反洗钱监测分析水平，提高对新型洗钱风险的监测分析能力。"The revision seeks to tackle the difficulties in detecting and addressing money laundering activities in an era where new technologies and emerging businesses are booming," Wang said.王翔表示：“修订旨在解决在新技术、新业态蓬勃发展的时代发现和处理洗钱活动的困难。”The draft amendment requires government agencies to issue timely guidelines to monitor money laundering risks in emerging industries. It also mandates that anti-money laundering departments enhance monitoring and analysis systems, with suspicious transactions flagged for authorities.为此，修订草案二次审议稿作了以下修改：一是增加规定反洗钱工作应当依法进行，确保反洗钱措施与洗钱风险相适应，保障资金流转和金融服务正常进行，维护单位和个人的合法权益。Financial institutions will be required to assess money laundering crimes associated with new sectors and take proportionate measures to mitigate them, Wang added. He stressed, however, that actions should be "proportionate to the risks to ensure normal financial flows and services."王翔表示，金融机构开展客户尽职调查、采取洗钱风险管理措施等涉及单位和个人的权益，需要处理好管理洗钱风险与优化金融服务的关系。他强调，行动应“与风险相称，以确保正常的资金流动和服务。”The amendment will also tighten regulations on the use of anti-money laundering information, with a focus on data security and privacy protection.该修正案还明确要求反洗钱服务机构及其工作人员对提供服务获得的数据、信息，应当依法妥善处理，确保数据、信息安全。The NPC Standing Committee is set to review the draft during its session in Beijing this week.十四届全国人大常委会第十一次会议将于9月10日至13日在北京举行，届时，反洗钱法修订草案将提请本次会议二审。China has increasingly prioritized efforts to combat money laundering, especially crimes facilitated through digital platforms. Data from the Supreme People's Court shows that 861 money laundering cases were concluded last year, up from 499 cases in 2021. In the first half of the year, 573 people were penalized for the crime.我国越发重视打击洗钱等相关行为，特别是通过数字平台进行的犯罪。最高人民法院的数据显示，去年结案洗钱案件861起，高于2021年的499起。今年上半年，有573人因洗钱罪被处罚。Virtual currencies, livestreaming platforms and online game currencies have become new channels for money laundering, complicating efforts to detect and combat the crime, according to the court.据最高人民法院称，虚拟货币、直播平台和网络游戏货币已成为洗钱的新渠道，使侦查和打击犯罪的变得更加复杂。Separately, Wang addressed public concerns about the falsification of statistics, which he said has "seriously undermined the authenticity and accuracy of statistical data". He noted that a draft amendment to the Statistics Law will impose harsher penalties for fabricating or manipulating data.另外，王翔还谈到了公众对统计数据造假的担忧，他说这“严重损害了统计数据的真实性和准确性”。他指出，修正案草案将对伪造或操纵数据的行为施加更严厉的惩罚。In addition to these revisions, lawmakers will also review proposed changes to the National Defense Education Law, the Supervision Law and the Law on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases.除这些修订之外，立法者还将审议对《国防教育法》、《监察法》和《传染病防治法》的拟议修改。Other items on the legislative agenda include a draft energy law, a draft public health emergency response law and a draft national park law. Lawmakers are also expected to consider a draft decision on conferring national medals and honorary titles to mark the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.立法议程上还包括审议能源法草案、公共卫生应急法草案和国家公园法草案。预计立法者还将审议关于授予中华人民共和国成立75周年国家勋章和荣誉称号的决定草案。anti-money launderingn.反洗钱

Last time we spoke about the creation of the September Government. On August 12, 1927, Chiang Kai-Shek shocked everyone by agreeing to step down as the NRA faced decisive defeats and fled south of the Yangtze River. Despite attempts at reconciliation, the KMT remained fragmented, and many of Chiang Kai-Shek's supporters followed him into exile. Meanwhile, the NRA tried to regroup as they lost territory, and the NPA, led by Sun Chuanfang, launched attacks. The KMT factions eventually formed a temporary coalition, the "September Government," but struggled with internal divisions and external threats from the NPA and CCP insurgents. This time it was Wang Jingwei who walked away. After Sun Chuanfang's defeat, Tang Shengchih resisted the coalition, leading to more conflict. By late 1927, the NRA began to make advances but faced fierce resistance from NPA forces fortified by Zhang Zongchang. The KMT's instability persisted, with Wang Jingwei attempting to rebuild his power base in Guangdong amidst a CCP coup that was quickly suppressed.   #116 The Northern Expedition Part 7: The Return of the Generalissimo  Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. Wang Jingwei yet again boarded a ship bound for France. With him gone, the KMT now shifted their attention back to Chiang Kai-Shek. Everyone agreed, no other figurehead could wield the unruly NRA confederacy into a coordinated fighting force. For all of his banter about the dangers of the CCP, well he had been right. While in exile, Chiang Kai-Shek had married the sister of T.V Soong, Soong Meiling in early December. Since T.V Soon was the finance Minister of the KMT, it was a given that if Chiang Kai-Shek came back he was guaranteed support from the bankers and industrialists. On December 20th, General Ho Yingqing telegraphed Nanking from the northern front line calling for an all-KMT assembly and for the Generalissimo to return as Commander in Chief, the NRA simply needed him. The Shanghai branch of the KMT began petitioning for Chiang Kai-Shek to return, then most of Nanking began petitioning. Finally on January 1st of 1928, the KTM government invited Chiang Kai-Shek by telegraph to take back the chain of command. As early as December of 1927, Chiang Kai-Shek knew the KMT would be inviting him back over. He had been working behind the scenes to make sure of that. In late December he had dispatched Lu Hosheng into northern China as a secret agent, trying to persuade some warlord leaders and their lesser subordinates to defect to the NRA from the NPA. Lu Hosheng used foreign concessions as bases of operations in numerous ports, the most significant one being Tianjin. Meanwhile Chiang Kai-Shek had also been promoting a new Central Military Academy at Nanking, whose graduates might replenish the absolutely battered ranks of the NRA corps. The academy, similar to Whampoa would be indoctrinated in KMT ideology. It was Chiang Kai-Sheks hope in the future when China was reunified to create academies in all the provinces, so the nation could have a real modern military.  Once back Chiang Kai-Shek worked to reconstruct the party. It was the repeated process of smoothing things over with specific groups within the KMT. On January 4th the former Wuhan clique Sun Fo was named Minister of Construction; T.V Soon resumed his role as finance minister and the old Guangdong base reverted to the control of Li Jishen and Huang Shaoxiung. On January 7th a lot of reshuffling occurred. The Central Political council was restored and its members included Hu Hanmin, Tan Yenkai, Qu Peiteh, CC Wu, Sun Fo, T.V Soong, Chiang Kai-Shek, Yi Peichi and Yu Yujen. A new Standing Committee was created consisting of Chiang Kai-Shek, Tan Yenkai. Yu Yujen, Tai Chitao and Ting Weifen. Tan Yenkai became the chairman of the National Government Committee. Chiang Kai-Shek regained his chairmanship over the now 73 man military council with their highest ranking member being Generals Li Zongren, Li Jishen, Bai Congxi, Qu Peiteh, Cheng Chen, Ho Yingqin, Tan Yenkai, Feng Yuxiang, Yan Xishan and Admiral Yang Shuchuang.  Along with the reconstruction came a process of centralizing power. Chiang Kai-Shek began providing financial support to the conglomeration of armies vowing loyalty to Nanking. Early on at Guangzhou, the Central Bank under T.V Soong had managed to attract generals and their troops, the same was being done at Nanking, just on a larger scale. Revenue control was something looked over with a fine-toothed comb. The first provinces to be investigated were Zhejiang and Jiangsu. On the 7th T.V Soong announced both provinces would see a monthly revenue of 10 million. After January's intense governmental restructure, Chiang finally felt secure enough to concentrate on the Northern Expedition. On February 9th, Chiang Kai-Shek got aboard a train with his general staff to inspect the frontlines near Xuzhou. Together they inspected the lines and prepared for a major spring campaign. The lines had been fairly stationary since mid December as the snow and cold took over the terrain of northern china. On February 11th, they received a message from the national government ordering them to complete plans for a final campaign to take all of northern china. The plans for such a campaign would see a rapid seizure of the north from Jiangsu to Beijing in 3 months. From Xuzhou Chiang Kai-Shek and his team traveled over the Lunghai railay to meet Feng Yuxiang at his HQ in Kaifeng. On the 16th Chiang Kai-Shek and Feng Yuxiang discussed how they would cooperate during the final campaign. Chiang Kai-Shek would also have to discuss matters with Yan Xishan, both he and Feng Yuxiang were regional commanders outside the KMT whom held considerable autonomy and status. Both also controlled highly defensible bases; the Guominjun territory ran from Shaanxi and Yan Xishan held the Shanxi…yeah that gets confusing a bit. Chiang Kai-Shek always needed to make sure their forces were content, for if they broke off from the NRA to join the NPA it would really put a damper on the northern expedition. Even if they simply became neutral it would have a profound effect. To compromise, Nanking offered nominal subordination and cooperation. Feng Yuxiang and Yan Xishan would gain material aid and status almost equal to Chiang Kai-Shek. There was also a new military restructure as the NRA had grown by a lot. The NRA had grown to nearly a million men and would now be divided into 4 collective armies. Chiang Kai-Shek was commander in chief with He Yingqin as his chief of staff. The first collective army consisted mostly of the 40 original NRA army corps that began the northern expedition. The second collective army would be led by Feng Yuxiang controlling Shaanxi and Honan. The 3rd collective army was led by Yan Xishan, controlling the north china plain. The 4th collective army was led by Li Zongren and would control Guangxi, Hunan and Hubei. Although the 4 commands were relatively equal, Chiang Kai-Shek and the Nanking government held the purse strings, which essentially made them suzerain.  Chiang Kai-Shek believed if properly coordinated the 4 collective armies would be able to perform a lightning fast campaign to take the north china plain. By 1928 the KMT was the largest political force in China. With his status and influence amongst the leadership in the KMT, Chiang Kai-Shek sought a position where he would not become dependent on some clique within the KMT, as was the case with the Wuhan situation. Thus on March 7th, he managed to get the party to appoint him as chairman. After that was settled the political council then divided up political authority amongst the other 4 commanders based on the regions they controlled. Li Jishen became the chairman of Guangzhou; Li Zongren over Wuhan; Feng Yuxiang over Kaifeng and Yan Xishan over Taiyuan. Since Chiang Kai-Shek had to focus on the northern expedition he had Tan Yenkai appointed as chairman of the Political council to manage stuff. By late March, the 1st collective Army was assembling to resume their advance after the mid-winter halt. On the other side of the east-west Lunhai railway stood a well rested and reinforced NPA. Zhang Zuolin, Zhang Zongchang and Sun Chuanfang coordinated their efforts into northern Shandong. Yet alongside them was another enemy even more dangerous, the Japanese. Going back in time somewhat, in March of 1927 when the NRA was taking over Nanking and Hankou later in April, many foreign concessions and consulates were attacked by NRA soldiers and Chinese civilians. These became known as the Nanking and Hankou incidents. Following the incidents Chiang Kai-Shek made repeated statements trying to juggle between appeasing the foreign powers and looking anti-imperialistic to the people of China. Despite all of the assurances, the foreign powers, one being the Empire of Japan, remained very concerned about the safety of their people, economic and political interests within China. Many of these foreign powers resolved not to let another Nanking incident occur again.  Now back in 1927 as the NRA were approaching Shandong the first time, the Japanese had sprung into action. Japan saw Shandong province, ever since the 21 demands debacle, as their sphere of influence. They deployed 4000 troops from the Kwangtung army over to the cities of Qingdao and Jinan, calling them the First Shandong Expeditionary forces. Their justification for this was to protect Japanese civilians against potential NRA attacks. Chiang Kai-Shek was well aware of the severe danger provoking the Japanese would provide, so he wanted to keep his forces as far away from Jinan as possible. Japanese prime minister Tanaka Giichi knew the deployment of such forces could result in another conflict with China, ironically endangering the very citizens they were trying to protect. Then all of a sudden Japan found out the split between Wuhan and Nanjing was resolved and Chiang Kai-Shek had stepped down. It was quite a surprise to the Japanese who withdrew their forces from Jinan. In his exile, Chiang Kai-Shek went to Japan and would meet on multiple occasions with prime minister Tanaka Giichi. During some of these meetings, Tanaka suggested Japan was fully willing to support Chiang Kai-Shek and not interfere in Chinese domestic affairs. Chiang Kai-Shek responded that he understood Japan's interests in China. Tanak then suggested the KMT focus on consolidating their power within the territories they already controlled, rather than advancing further north, especially not towards the Fengtian clique territory, which of course the Japanese saw as their sphere of influence. Chiang Kai-Shek had to reply that that was simply impossible. Thus their little meetings ended rather inconclusively. It put the KMT and Japanese into a sort of limbo. On one hand Chiang Kai-Shek was literally running on a platform promising to end foreign encroachment into China. On the other hand, he was not an idiot and knew he had to avoid conflict with foreign powers like Japan. By April of 1928 Feng Yuxiangs 2nd collective army and Yan Xishan's 3rd had began to battle the NPA along the Honan-Shandong border and along the Beijing-Suiyuan railway line. For Chiang Kai-Shek's 1st collective army, the northern expedition officially kicked back off on April 7th. With Feng Yuxiang and Yan Xishan softened up the NPA, Chiang Kai-Shek easily drove into Shandong along the Tianjin- Pukou railway, capturing Tengzhou by the 16th. Meanwhile Feng Yuxiangs forces pushed east, capturing Jiaxiang on the 15th. Sun Chuanfang attempted a two-pronged counter offensive against the 1st and 2nd collective NRA armies, managing to push the first back to the Longhai railway, but his attack against the 2nd failed utterly. By the 21st the combined NRA forces pushed his NPA forces from Jining towards Jinan.According to an American eye witness of Sun Chuanfangs retreat, “the great majority of the troops in this retreat literally walked the soles off their shoes, and this, combined with the scarcity of food and total lack of shelter left the vast horde without any idea of further resistance" When the Japanese learned of Sun Chuanfangs utter defeat and failure to defend the Shandong border, they yet again deployed troops. This time Japan sent the 6th IJA division on the 19th, calling them the second Shandong expeditionary force. Tanaka was actually very hesitant about sending the force but his platform had been running on protecting nationals, thus he was hamstrung. Even before he gave the order to dispatch forces, General Fukuda Hikosuke had been arriving in Jinan via the Qingdao-Jinan railway as early as April 10th. This of course was a classic example of insubordination by IJA officers in China during the late 1920's to late 1930s period. If you are interested I recommend my podcast series on General Ishiwara Kanji found over at the Pacific War Channel on Youtube or all podcast platforms. Basically Ishiwara was the number one example of insubordination leading to insane outcomes. Regardless the first group of 475 troops began to arrive by the 20th and would be followed up by 4000 more over the next few days. Now it just so happened the Japanese began arriving exactly at the same time the NPA forces were withdrawing to Jinan. To the public it looked like the NPA called upon the Japanese to come. The KMT immediately used this as propaganda against the NPA. Both the Nanking and Beiyang governments began protesting against the Japanese intervention, which never stopped the Japanese ever. Sun Chuanfang had established a second line of defense strung along the mountainous backbone of the Shandong peninsula. To the north was the railway from Jinan heading for Qingdao. As the first collective army advancing towards the line on the 27th they performed a pincer maneuver against the Lunshan railway station. After a 2 day battle around Lunshan, Chen Tiaoyuan and the 26th NRA army managed to cut the NPA off from the railway line. Again using their better mobility and speed, the NRA evaded the enemy's railway artillery by simply sweeping around behind and cutting the railway communications. After this the NRA advanced west along the railway towards the Yellow River bridge just before arriving at Jinan. This would effectively see the NPA forces around the capital region becoming isolated on the south bank of the river. To prevent the NPA's retreat out onto the peninsula along the railway, a battalion of engineers sabotaged the railway line with explosives. Within a frantic rush to escape Lungshan, Sun Chuanfang had left behind 30 boxcars full of food, ammunition and 300 soldiers. Now the first NRA units to advance into Shandong had done so along the Tianjin-Pukou railway, avoiding the main pass between Taian and Jinan. Instead they advanced up the adjoining mountains capturing some elevated points where they could deploy artillery to hit the NPA from. Although the NRA was weaker in heavy artillery, taking such heights to deploy what they had compensated that, with added flanking maneuvers. Once the NRA had blocked the NPA from retreating via rail onto the Shandong peninsula, the yellow rail bridge remained their last avenue of escape. The NPA elected to evacuate to the north bank, crossing the bridge on the 19th, yet all order soon collapsed in a mayhem of men running for it under fire. Back over in Jinan, violence and looting erupted as NPA troops grabbed what they could and fled north. Defending the barricaded perimeter of the Japanese concession area, the Kwantung army prepared to fight anyone who dared come near them.  On the 30th, the Chinese media began reporting scuffles breaking out at Jinan between Japanese and Chinese, specifically mentioning some Chinese were stabbed. Since the NRA engineers had sabotaged the railway to Qingdao on the 28th, they most likely had come into contact with Japanese patrols. As more and more Japanese landed at Qingdao enroute to Jinan, the Chinese public assumed this was a pretext for an invasion of Shandong, similar to what had occurred during WW1. There was wide scale public outcry over the supposed invasion. By this time 3000 crack Kwangtung troops with heavy artillery pieces were guarding 2000 Japanese civilians as another 2000 Japanese troops patrolling the railway to Qingdao.  The first NRA units to enter Jinan were wearing civilian clothing, encouraging civilian cooperation and gathering intelligence. On May 1st the NRA vanguard began securing a bridgehead over the north bank of the yellow river after fighting some NPA at Sangtzutien. As the main bulk of the collective first army approached Jinan they did so with extreme precaution. On the 2nd day as the NRA secured the area, Chiang Kai-Shek proclaimed order would be maintained in Jinan. That day Chiang Kai-Shek began negotiating with the Japanese to withdraw their troops, giving assurance to Major General Ryu Saito, everything would be secured in Jinan as he would have his NRA forces simply advance past Jinan further north in haste. After their talks Saito elected to begin preparing for a withdrawal and said he would entrust Jinan to Chiang Kai-Shek. General Fukuda authorized the decision and Japanese forces began withdrawing that night. However the morning of May 3rd erupted in conflict. The exact story as to what happened is a he said she said situation. The Japanese began destroying a Chinese wireless station after a clash had broken out. This left the Japanese with the only working line of communication out of Jinan, forcing all foreign media to depend on the Japanese accounts. Yes a large hmmmmm moment. According to a report given by General Fukuda, a group of Chinese soldiers, allegedly Guominjun under the command of General He Yaozu who were also responsible for the Nanking incident, broke into the Manshu Nippo newspaper office and assaulted its owner at 9:30am. A group of Japanese soldiers led by Captain Yoshiharu Kumekawa rushed to the scene and were fired upon by the Chinese soldiers. The Chinese version of what happened, had it that a sick Chinese soldier had attempted to seek treatment at a local Christian hospital with the help of a local worker, but was blocked from going down a street to the hospital by Japanese soldiers. They began shouting at another until the Japanese shot and killed both Chinese. I would like to note, after all the Pacific War is kind of my thing. There would be other famous incidents quite similar to the one in Jinan, for example the Huanggutun incident and Mukden incident, both instigated by the Kwantung army trying to perform false flag operations. It would seem very likely what occurred at Jinan was an early attempt by the Kwantung army to force an invasion of China.  Regardless from this small clash a full scale conflict broke out between the NRA and Japanese. The Japanese media reported the NRA then began destroying property and massacring Japanese civilians. A British consul general reported seeing dead Japanese corpses allegedly with their penises cut off. The Japanese eventually stormed a office that was to be a point of negotiation between the two sides. Chinese diplomat Cai Gongshi, 8 staff members, 7 NRA soldiers and a cook were killed. What went down there is contested. The Japanese would claim they were attacked from the upper floors and had no idea the office was being used for negotiations. The chinese state the building had been marked, and that Cai Gongshi's nose, ears and tongue were cut out, his eyes were gouged out, all occurring before he was executed. The other staff members were stripped naked, whipped, dragged out back over the lawn and executed with machine guns. In response to those graphic reports, Major General Ryu Saito wrote it off as Chinese propaganda, stating Cai Gongshi was simply shot in a firefight and that one cannot cut off ears, noses and such with a bayonet. I admit the Chinese account does reek of propaganda, hell they wrote such account ever since the first sino-japanese war.  Negotiations to halt the violence began quickly thereafter. Chiang Kai-Shek and General Fukuda agreed to a truce and came to an agreement very fast. The Japanese would withdraw, leaving just a small detachment to keep order and the NRA would advance north to continue their expedition. Then on the 4th the Japanese reported their chief negotiator, Colonel Sasaki Toichi was robbed and beaten nearly to death, only saved by one of Chiang Kai-Shek's officers. Chiang Kai-Shek had promised his troops would be removed by this time, thus the Japanese accused him of lying. The Japanese were outraged at what happened to Sasaki, Major General Tatekawa Yoshitsugu stated “that it was necessary for Japan to chastise the lawless Chinese soldiers in order to maintain Japan's national and military prestige". Because of this incident, General Fukuda asked prime minister tanaka to despatch reinforcements from Korea and Manchuria, which would be known as the third shandong expedition. They began arriving to Jinan on the 7th of May. With more force in Jinan, General Fukuda began issuing demands of the Chinese to be met within 12 hours. His demands were as follows: Punishment of responsible Chinese officers; the disarming of responsible Chinese troops before the Japanese army; evacuation of two military barracks near Jinan; prohibition of all anti-Japanese propaganda, and withdrawal of all Chinese troops beyond 20 li on both sides of the Qingdao–Jinan railway The Japanese knew these demands were impossible to fulfill within 12 hours. It was basically a show of force, orchestrated to humiliate the Chinese. In response Chiang Kai-Shek who had already departed the area, sent a courier to the Japanese garrison stating they would meet some of their demands, but not all. General Fukuda proclaimed their demands had not been met and launched a full scale attack upon the Chinese in Jinan beginning in the afternoon of May 8th. The fighting became quite fierce over the next two days. The Japanese used heavy artillery against the old walled city where NRA troops were desperately using as defense. The civilian population of the old parts of Jinan had not been warned about the bombardment and thus heavy casualties were incurred. By May 11th the last Chinese troops evacuated the city as the Japanese took full control over Jinan. The city would be occupied by Japan until March of 1929, whence an agreement was reached. The Chinese and Japanese would share responsibility for the Jinan Incident and all Japanese troops would be withdrawn from Shandong. The Chinese would report the Japanese occupation of Jinan to be full of murder, rape, looting and other debauchery. Chiang Kai-Shek was forced to issue an apology on May 10th and he removed a local commander, He Yaozu from his post. Its alleged after the Jinan incident Chiang Kai-Shek would begin writing in his diary each day “one way to kill the Japanese”. Henceforth Chiang Kai-Shek would note the Japanese were China's greatest enemy and that China only backed down at Jinan because "before one can settle scores, one must be strong". The Jinan incident did not only hurt the NRA, but also the NPA. Zhang Zuolin, who had always been labeled a Japanese puppet was forced to take dramatic steps to distance himself from the Japanese henceforth. In fact its alleged he even began urging the KMT to drop the war against him and unite the north and south against Japan. On May 9th he issued a public telegram stating “… in view of the situation I have ordered my troops to cease hostilities to save the country.” Now because I am the Pacific War guy I do want to mention, the Jinan Incident was one of the first events that showcased the weak nature of the Japanese chain of command. In particular that of the Kwantung army, which happened to be made up of many junior officers who would go on to join the Kodoha faction. As pointed out by historian Akira Iriye, the weak chain of command combined with the powerlessness of the Japanese civilian government would basically allow these types of junior officers to run amok on the mainland. For much of the 1930's this podcast will have to explain many developments in the Japanese military, for example I mentioned the Kodoha faction. I won't get into it here, but this radical faction would have a profound effect in the early 1930's and would push junior officers of the Kwantung army to perform numerous false flag operations trying to entice a war with China. A lot of this was the brainchild of General Kanji Ishiwara, who I really have to say is not spoken about a lot despite him arguably being a single individual who changed the world dramatically. Literally one could argue Kanji Ishiwara began WW2. Its quite a rabbit hole to explain that statement, but if you are interested I did a long 4 part series on his insane story. The man had an incredible foresight into military history and actually predicted a lot that would happen during WW2. For example he believed just after WW1 that warfare would change to heavy bombing campaigns that would wipe out entire cities, little errie. Again if its of interest to you check it out at the Pacific War Channe on Youtube or on all major podcast platforms. Now back to the war, on May 1st, the NRA vanguard had secured the north bank of the Yellow River around Santzutien. There they halted to allow the main body to catch up. To avoid Jinan and the much feared Japanese heavy artillery. Chiang Kai-Shek had first ordered the men to detour south of the city and then advance upstream to some fording points. The largest of these points was Tunga. As the NRA regrouped on the north bank, the NPA set up a new defensive line south of Tehchou and Xunteh. The first week of May say the Beiyang government toss some peace feelers. Wu Zhihui declared that rather than join the Fengtian Clique “the Northern Expedition will be continued and completed in the shortest possible time.” I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. The Generalissimo was back, the Northern Expedition was back on track and the NPA was running for their lives heading north. However the Jinan incident with the Japanese struck a major nerve in China, one that would come back to haunt them in the form of a 15 year long war. Yet until then, there was a grand march to be made in the direction of Beijing.

On this episode of Defence Deconstructed, David Perry speaks to The Hon. John McKay about the House of Commons' National Defence Committee report on defence procurement. Then (34:28), David Perry moderates a panel on Canada's continental defence capabilities with Cmdre Jason Armstrong, David Hazen, then BGen Chris McKenna, and Peter Saunders Guests' bios: The Hon. John McKay is Chair of the House of Commons' Standing Committee on National Defence Peter Saunders is the Director General, NORAD-Continental Defence Modernization Office Cmdre Jason Armstrong is the Director General, Naval Force Development for the Royal Canadian Navy At the time of recording, Chris McKenna held the rank of BGen and was Director General Air and Space Force Development at the Royal Canadian Air Force David Hazen is the Director General R&D Programs for Defence Research & Development Canada Host biography Dr. David Perry is the President and CEO of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute Read NDDN's report: https://www.ourcommons.ca/DocumentViewer/en/44-1/NDDN/report-12/ Recording Date: 6 August and 1 May 2024 Follow the Canadian Global Affairs Institute on Facebook, Twitter (@CAGlobalAffairs), or on LinkedIn. Head over to our website at www.cgai.ca for more commentary. Produced by Charlotte Duval-Lantoine. Music credits to Drew Phillips

Dr. Rajan Bhattarai serves as both a distinguished Member of the Standing Committee and the Chief of the Department of Foreign Affairs for CPN(UML). His considerable expertise in international relations is further highlighted by his previous role as a foreign affairs advisor to the Prime Minister of Nepal. Join us on On Air with Dr. Rajan Bhattarai as he explores his early political journey and provides insights into Nepal's foreign policy, the India-Nepal relationship, China's influence, the debt trap, and the EU connection. Don't miss this essential discussion on Nepal's current challenges and international dynamics!

President Xi Jinping has urged all-out rescue and relief efforts to safeguard people's lives and property after the collapse of a highway bridge in Shaanxi province.习近平主席对陕西商洛市柞水县境内一高速公路桥梁发生垮塌作出重要指示，要求全力抢险救援，强化巡查排险。Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the instruction after the bridge, located in Zhashui county in the city of Shangluo, collapsed at around 8:40 pm on Friday due to flash floods caused by heavy rain.7月19日20时40分许，陕西商洛市柞水县境内一高速公路桥梁因山洪暴发发生垮塌。灾害发生后，中共中央总书记、国家主席、中央军委主席习近平高度重视并作出重要指示，According to a preliminary estimate, 17 cars and eight trucks had fallen into the river. As of 7 pm on Sunday, rescue workers had recovered 15 bodies, China Central Television quoted the National Fire and Rescue Administration as saying. Efforts were underway to locate the remaining missing people, according to the administration.据CCTV报道，国家消防救援局初步估计，有17辆汽车和8辆卡车坠河。截至7月21日晚7时，救援人员已经找到了15具尸体，目前正在努力搜寻其余失踪人员。Xi said in the instruction that the immediate priority is to carry out rescue operations, make every effort to search for the missing, and minimize casualties. He also called for efforts to assist the families of those affected by the collapse.习近平主席强调，当务之急是全力抢险救援，千方百计搜救失联人员，最大限度减少人员伤亡，并妥善做好家属安抚等善后工作。Xi emphasized the importance of well-planned rescue efforts and the prevention of secondary disasters.要注意科学施救，细致排查周边安全隐患，严防次生灾害。He said that as the critical period of flood control approaches, it is imperative for regions and relevant departments to be extra vigilant, fulfill their duties diligently, improve monitoring systems and early warning mechanisms, strengthen inspections, and implement various measures meticulously to guarantee the safety of people's lives and property.习近平强调，当前正值“七下八上”防汛关键期，各地区和有关部门要高度重视、压实责任，加强监测预警，强化巡查排险，落实落细各项措施，切实保障人民群众生命财产安全。Premier Li Qiang, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, has given instructions to spare no effort in searching for and rescuing the missing people, investigate the cause promptly, and take measures to prevent secondary disasters.中共中央政治局常委、国务院总理李强作出批示，要尽一切努力搜救失联人员，尽快查明原因，妥善做好善后工作，并抓紧排查处置险情，严防次生灾害。Vice-Premier Zhang Guoqing, who also is a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, has led a working team to the site to guide rescue efforts.中共中央政治局委员、国务院副总理张国清率有关部门负责同志赶赴现场指导救援处置工作。

Attorney well-being continues to be a hot topic in the legal community.  While the most severe effects of the pandemic are now behind us, mental health continues to be a significant issue in our profession. But there is a lot being done to address these challenges. To provide some context, several years ago, the Report of the Task Force on Lawyer Well-Being, issued by the American Bar Association, Conference of Chief Judges, and other legal organizations, called well-being an essential element of a lawyer's duty of competence. In Massachusetts, Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers plays a vital role in supporting attorneys, and the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts has established a Standing Committee on Lawyer Well-Being to enhance the well-being of lawyers, judges, and law students in the Commonwealth. In this episode, my former colleague, Amy Levine discusses the many initiatives going on in Massachusetts and around the country.  Amy is the Director of Programs and Volunteers at Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers (LCL) of Massachusetts. Amy has over 20 years of experience in the legal industry.  She has worked in in marketing, human resources, and legal recruiting and has a background in social work.   In 2018, Amy was one of the first guests on this podcast where she talked about interviewing. At LCL, Amy creates programs for the Massachusetts legal community and provides customized educational programming for various legal organizations. She also recruits and manages LCL's volunteers, who assist in running recovery groups, provide peer monitoring services, and act as ambassadors for the organization. We discuss the critical role of Lawyers Assistance Programs around the country, the extensive range of services offered by LCL, and the impact these programs have on lawyer well-being.

Doc 1: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, A Student Demonstration of Sorts in Tiananmen Square (11/21/85) Doc 2: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, Government Arrests Student Demonstrators (11/25/85) Doc 3: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, More Student Demonstrations (12/23/85) Doc 4: From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, Student Demonstrations Update (12/24/86) Doc 5: IPAC Daily Intelligence Summary 1-87, China: Student Demonstrations (01/02/87) Doc 6: IPAC Daily Intelligence Summary 10-87, China: Hu Yaobang Resigns (01/17/87) Doc 7: Memorandum of Conversation, [George Bush] Meeting with Wan Li, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and Member of the Politburo, People's Republic of China (05/23/89) Doc 8: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/0289, China: Stalemate Continues Doc 9: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/03/89, China: Police Use Tear Gas on Crowds Doc 10: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 27: Martial Law with Chinese Characteristics (06/03/89) Doc 11: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 28: Ten to Fifteen Thousand Armed Troops Stopped at City Perimeter by Human and Bus Barricades (06/03/89) Doc 12: Cable, From: Department of State, Wash DC, To: U.S. Embassy Beijing, and All Diplomatic and Consular Posts, TFCHO1: SITREP 1, 1700 EDT (06/03/89) Doc 13: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/04/89, China: Troops Open Fire Doc 14: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 32 (06/04/89) Doc 15: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 33 (06/04/89) Doc 16: Cable, From: Department of State, Wash DC, To: U.S. Embassy Beijing, China Task Force Situation Report No. 3 (06/04/89) Doc 17: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/05/89, China: After the Bloodbath Doc 18: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 35 (06/05/89) Doc 19: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/06/89, China: Descent into Chaos Doc 20: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, TFCH01--SITREP No. 37 (06/06/89) Doc 21: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/07/89, China: Tense Standoff Continues Doc 22: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, TFCH01--SITREP No. 38 (06/07/89) Doc 23: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/9/89, China: Uneasy Calm Doc 24: Department of State Intelligence Brief, "Current Situation in China: Background and Prospects" (Ca. 06/10/89) Doc 25: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/10/89, China: Mixed Signals on Purge Doc 26: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, SITREP No. 49, (06/11/89) Doc 27: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/14/89, China: Back to Business, But Crackdown Continues Doc 28: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/15/89, China: Accusation over Fang Lizhi Doc 29: Secretary of State's Morning Summary for 06/21/89, China: Swift Justice Doc 30: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, Eyewitness Account of June 4 PLA Tank Crushing 11 Students and Related Early Morning Events in Tiananmen Square (06/22/89) Doc 31: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, What Happened on the Night of June 3/4? (06/22/89) Doc 32: Cable, From: U.S. Embassy Beijing, To: Department of State, Wash DC, TFCH01: SITREP No. 65 (06/27/89) Doc 33: State Department document entitled "Themes" (06/29/89) Doc 34: State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research, "Status Report on Situation in China as of 07/ 26/89" Doc 35: State Department Bureau of Intelligence and Research, "China: Aftermath of the Crisis" (07/27/89) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices