CN Logistics Newly Launched Air-charter Flight Service Empowers China-Italy Airfreight Connectivity

January 22, 2025

Source: Media Outreach

HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 22 January 2025 – CN Express, a subsidiary of CN Logistics International, a listed company and a subsidiary of Cargo Services Group, has launched its first regular air-charter flight service between Ezhou, to the east of Wuhan, and Milan in Italy. The inaugural flight took place in the afternoon of January 19, 2025.

Ezhou is fast becoming an airfreight hub in China, with a huge cargo catchment area from Shanghai in the east, Chengdu in the west, Xian in the north and Changsha in the south of the country.

Italy has been the major airfreight station of CN Logistics International for many years, with a significant import of garments from China to well-known brands in Italy.

Italy and Europe are the key markets for China. An air service to Milan will have a big cargo catchment area in Europe, both for imports and exports, including France, Switzerland and Germany.

This newly-launched air-charter service will have three flights a week to satisfy the needs of the trade between these two regions. It is a strategic partnership between CN Express and Wuhan Financial Holdings and Hubei International Logistics, two major corporations in Hubei, the centre of China, with a business scope spanning from reefer products, high-tech electronics, general merchandise ( both B2B and B2C ), industrial products, minerals and cereals.

It is the vision of the partnership to expand the co-operation to the U.K., the Iberian, the Middle East and Africa in the coming years.

Mr. Lau Shek Yau, Chairman of CN Logistics, said “We are very pleased to have this opportunity to collaborate with Wuhan Financial Holdings and Hubei International Logistics to promote an airfreight service between the centre of China and Italy of the European Union. We appreciate the professionalism of the Ezhou airport which is manifested by the fast turnaround of the inaugural flight of a Boeing 767 which completed loading of 60 M/T ( chargeable weight ) of cargoes, refueling and supplies and Customs clearance within 3 hours. The efficiency of the Ezhou airport and the service will be well-liked by the eCommerce operators of China with substantial B2C business in Western Europe. Similar efficiency was achieved at the destination in Malpensa airport in Milan. With the support of the parent company of Cargo Services Group, DP World, in Europe, we will see the two-way trade between China and Italy to take a big stride forward with this new Ezhou – Milan air-corridor to be operated by CN Express. We will start planning for other air-routes with our partners to turn Ezhou into a major air-hub in the country.

Hashtag: #CNLogistics #Logistics

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Two new appointments to Film Commission Board

LiveNews Publisher

January 22, 2025

Source: New Zealand Government

Jon Kroll and Aimee McCammon have been appointed to the New Zealand Film Commission Board, Arts Minister Paul Goldsmith says.
“I am delighted to appoint these two new board members who will bring a wealth of industry, governance, and commercial experience to the Film Commission.
“Jon Kroll has been an Emmy-winning producer, director and writer of both film and TV for more than 30 years. He recently completed work on the fourth season of ‘Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted,’ a show he has run for National Geographic since its inception.
“Aimee McCammon has 12 years’ governance experience and 18 years’ senior leadership experience. She is currently the CEO of Pic’s Peanut Butter and has executive experience in the industry including at Augusto Group, Park Road Post Production and serving on the Arts Foundation and Boosted boards.
“I’d like to thank the outgoing board member Pania Gray for her service to support New Zealand’s film industry.”

MIL OSI

IHC applauds research on barriers to banking for disabled people

LiveNews Publisher

January 22, 2025

Source: IHC

IHC welcomes Westpac’s research highlighting the barriers disabled people face in accessing banking services. These challenges, which IHC has raised repeatedly over the past decade, underscore the urgent need for systemic changes to promote financial inclusion for disabled communities.

As a member of the New Zealand Banking Association Older and Disabled People Focus Group, IHC has long advocated for fair and accessible banking practices. A particular area of concern is the disproportionate impact of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) legislation and Know Your Customer (KYC) standards on intellectually disabled people in residential care.

“These regulations, while essential to combat financial crime, have created significant barriers for a marginalised group, limiting their ability to access and manage banking services,” says Tania Thomas, Director of Advocacy at IHC.

Key issues impacting intellectually disabled people

Know your client documentation requirements
Many people with intellectual disabilities lack the necessary photo identification or address verification documents required by KYC standards. Additionally, frequent changes in disability support staff complicate the verification process for those assisting account holders.

Banking decisions on capacity
Banks often require legal authority, such as appointing a welfare guardian, for someone to manage an account if they deem the account holder incapable. The process of appointing welfare guardians is cumbersome, costly and infringes on the disabled person’s rights to manage their own finances.

“We have seen many cases where intellectually disabled people have their accounts frozen by the bank, sometimes for considerable periods,” says Tania. “Many intellectually disabled people are already financially very precarious so even freezing an account for one day can cause significant harm and distress for the person.”

The call for action

IHC is advocating for the formation of a government-led taskforce, recently writing to the Minister of Justice and the Banking Ombudsman about these issues. This group would work to identify practical, sustainable solutions, including:

Clarifying and expanding the legal authority of disability service providers to manage bank accounts.
Exempting intellectually disabled individuals in residential care from certain AML/KYC requirements.
Funding for financial management as part of disability support assessments.

“This issue is about fairness and dignity,” Tania emphasises. “No one should face discrimination or financial exclusion because of unnecessary barriers. We need swift action to ensure disabled people have equal access to essential financial services.”

MIL OSI

Too early for a victory lap, but hope is on its way

LiveNews Publisher

January 22, 2025

Source: ACT Party

Responding to new data confirming inflation is sitting at 2.2 per cent, within the official target range, ACT Leader David Seymour says:

“At the height of Labour’s lock-down and spend-up reign, inflation hit 7.2 per cent. When our Government was elected it was still 5.6 per cent. Getting spending under control is a long hard slog, and we still have work to do.

“Non-tradeable inflation was 4.5 per cent for the year, the lowest since 2021. Encouragingly, non-tradeable inflation was only 0.7 per cent for the quarter, suggesting it is slowing down fast.

“Continued discipline by Government and Councils will be essential to get local inflation under control, we cannot rely on low oil prices to control inflation in our troubled world.

“ACT remains ever vigilant of the inflation monster. The Government needs to forge ahead in its work to cancel spending programmes that are not making New Zealand richer.

“As mortgages come up for renewal, households will see real relief, and savings will be passed on to local businesses who can in turn invest and employ. That’s how we return to real prosperity and real hope.

“Perhaps the most important thing we can do to win the war on inflation is to grow the economy. I’ll be addressing this challenge in my State of the Nation speech on Friday.

“We also need an upgrade in how we get inflation data. The Stats NZ figure of 2.2 is for the months of October-December last year, implying a midpoint of November. Real time figures from GDP Live’s inflation tracker, based on continuous data from business, suggest the figure is now 2.06 per cent.

“It is time to make better use of this world-leading data source, inflation is likely even more under control than official figures suggest.”

MIL OSI

Government spin won’t pay the rent

LiveNews Publisher

January 22, 2025

Source: Green Party

The latest Consumer Price Index figures show rents rising almost twice as fast as general inflation.

“Christopher Luxon tells New Zealanders one thing while doing another,” says Green Party co-leader and spokesperson for Finance Chlöe Swarbrick.

“He says he is rebuilding the economy, when in reality, his Government’s decisions have helped create rent inflation double the rate of general inflation and driven more people into poverty while deepening and lengthening the recession. Those are consciously made choices, with clear consequences that the Government was warned about.

“We can build an economy that works for people and planet, instead of one which exhausts and exploits both. That requires decisions that prioritise the wellbeing of all, instead of lining the pockets of those at the top.

“The Government is either deeply economically illiterate, taking New Zealanders for chumps, or both.

“Cutting taxes for landlords, paid for by chopping public spending on essential services right through the bone, is not only deeply unfair, but deeply unproductive. It hurts the poorest most, and all of us in the long run.

“The only thing that’s trickling down is more cost for regular people, while Government decisions secure profits for the wealthiest.

“The climate crisis and infrastructure deficit are not going away. Instead of confronting them and investing in solutions, Luxon’s Government is digging its head in the coal and supporting corporate profiteering over New Zealanders’ wellbeing.

“It would appear the only people unwilling to see the devastating reality of this Government’s decisions is the Government itself,” says Chlöe Swarbrick.

MIL OSI

Proposed bylaw changes won’t affect how cemeteries run

LiveNews Publisher

January 22, 2025

Source: Auckland Council

You can now have your say on proposed updates to Auckland Council’s Cemetery and Crematoria Bylaw. These changes follow a statutory review of the bylaw and will not impact the day-to-day running of Auckland’s public cemeteries.

Auckland Council looks after more than 50 cemeteries in Tāmaki Makaurau, including North Shore Memorial Park, Waikumete Cemetery and Manukau Memorial Gardens. Each offers a peaceful place to honour and remember loved ones, while catering to the customs and traditions of the diverse communities of Tāmaki Makaurau.

Councillor Josephine Bartley, chair of the Regulatory and Safety Committee explains a bylaw is one tool the council uses to help keep public cemeteries and crematoria safe and serving Aucklanders effectively.

“Our cemeteries are special places, and they deserve to be treated with care and respect. That’s why we have a bylaw in place and a dedicated, thoughtful team managing them,” she says.

The Cemeteries and Crematoria Bylaw sets out how our cemeteries operate on a daily basis, taking into consideration the cultural, physical and social needs of those who use them. It is supported by a code of practice.

Like all bylaws, there is a legal requirement to review it every few years to ensure it continues to work for Aucklanders.

Following our statutory review, council staff recommend keeping the rules we have now. This means there are no changes proposed to how Auckland’s cemeteries run on a day-to-day basis, and no change to the rules for Aucklanders.

However, the review found some duplicated and outdated information in the code of practice. To make the bylaw clearer and easier to understand, we propose to move most rules in the code of practice to the bylaw, so they are in one place.

These proposed changes will not impact the rules for Aucklanders, they will just tidy up the bylaw so it is clearer. Changes like this can only be made through a statutory review of the bylaw.

“Council staff carried out the legally required review of this bylaw in 2024 and found it to be working well. Therefore, we propose for the rules to stay the same,” says Cr Bartley.

“While the changes being proposed are administrative, we want to hear from Aucklanders whenever we make changes to our bylaws – no matter how small. It’s important these local rules work for our communities, and now is the perfect time to share your thoughts if this matters to you” she says.

You can have your say on the proposed changes to the Cemeteries and Crematoria Bylaw on the Have Your Say website. The consultation closes on Sunday 23 February.

MIL OSI

Annual inflation at 2.2 percent in December 2024 – Stats NZ media and information release – Consumers price index: December 2024 quarter

LiveNews Publisher

January 22, 2025

Source: Statistics New Zealand

Annual inflation at 2.2 percent in December 2024 – 22 January 2025 – New Zealand’s consumers price index (CPI) increased 2.2 percent in the December 2024 quarter, compared with the December 2023 quarter, according to figures released by Stats NZ today.

The 2.2 percent annual increase follows a 2.2 percent annual increase in the September 2024 quarter.

“This is the second consecutive quarter that the annual inflation rate has been within the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s target band of 1 to 3 percent,” prices and deflators spokesperson Nicola Growden said.

Files:

MIL OSI

Working people will pay for static inflation

LiveNews Publisher

January 22, 2025

Source: Council of Trade Unions – CTU

Data released by Statistics New Zealand today showed that inflation remains unchanged at 2.2%, defying expectations of further declines, said NZCTU Te Kauae Kaimahi Economist Craig Renney.

“While inflation holding steady might sound like good news, the reality is that prices for the basics—like rent, energy, and insurance—are still rising. The removal of the Auckland Regional Fuel Tax helped ease petrol prices, but without that reduction, inflation could have gone even higher. Workers and families are still struggling with rising costs for everyday essentials,” said Renney.

“The recent drops in inflation have been helped by falls in the price of vehicle fuels – with the average price of 91 falling from $2.81 to $2.55. If we remove petrol from the CPI the overall inflation rose by 2.7%.

“Tradable inflation overall also turned, falling by less than last quarter. Tradeable inflation tends to lead the overall direction of inflation in the future”.

“Many working people aren’t feeling the benefits of lower inflation. Rental inflation was nearly twice general inflation at 4.2%, showing that landlord tax breaks aren’t leading to lower rental prices.

“While stable overall inflation is welcome, the prices for things that people can’t avoid are rising more quickly. Insurance prices rose by 11.2% annually. Local authority rates rose 12%. Household energy costs are rising by 5%. These are all eating into already tight household budgets.

“Last month the government agreed to increase the minimum wage by 1.5% in April. Inflation is currently at 2.2% and seems to have reached its floor. For workers on the minimum wage this looks increasingly like another year in which they will take real terms pay cuts. The Government needs to respond to this data by lifting the minimum wage in real terms,” said Renney.

MIL OSI

Drop in domestic inflation hailed

LiveNews Publisher

January 22, 2025

Source: New Zealand Government

Finance Minister Nicola Willis has hailed a drop in the domestic component of inflation, saying it increases the prospect of mortgage rate reductions and a lower cost of living for Kiwi households.

Stats NZ reported today that inflation was 2.2 per cent in the year to December, the second consecutive quarter that the annual rate has been within the Reserve Bank’s target band of 1-3 per cent.

“The domestic component of that inflation – non-tradables – declined from 4.9 per cent in the year to September to 4.5 per cent in the year to December.

“Decisions about the Official Cash Rate are a matter for the Reserve Bank but the decline in domestic inflation is good news for people with mortgages.

“Together with other recent economic data showing there is spare capacity in the economy, it suggests there is scope for further rate reductions in the coming months.

“It also shows the steps the Government has taken to reduce inflationary pressures by restoring discipline to public expenditure are working.

“Lower inflation and interest rates set the foundations for economic growth, and the investment, jobs and incomes it creates.

“The benefits of restoring discipline to public spending are starting to flow through to people’s bank accounts. Recent data published by the Reserve Bank shows the average interest rate paid on residential mortgages fell in November for the first time since September 2021.

“Further drops in coming months will reduce cost of living pressures on households, free up cash to be spent in local businesses and encourage investment and growth.”

MIL OSI

Cyanobacteria health warning lifted from Lake Rotoroa (Hamilton Lake)

LiveNews Publisher

January 22, 2025

Source: Waikato District Health Board

The public health warning issued for Lake Rotoroa (Hamilton Lake) in February 2024 has been lifted today by National Public Health Service (NPHS), after subsequent tests showed that cyanobacterial levels are below the warning level.

Lakes Waikare, and Whangape continue to have cyanobacterial health warnings in place, with an ‘extreme risk’ health warning at Lake Ngā Roto.

“People should avoid any activity in or near these lakes that could lead to skin contact with the affected water, or the water being swallowed,” says Medical Officer of Health Dr Richard Vipond.

“Toxins released by cyanobacteria can trigger asthma and hayfever symptoms, skin rashes, stomach upsets, and neurological effects such as tingling around the mouth, headaches, breathing difficulties and visual problems.”

The symptoms may not appear until sometime after contact with affected water.

“If you do come into contact with water at lakes with health warnings or where there were visible changes in water colour, shower and change your clothing as soon as possible afterwards, even if you do not have symptoms,” adds Dr Vipond.

“If you feel unwell after coming in contact with the lake you should seek health advice from your doctor or by calling Healthline on 0800 611 116. Please also report it to the NPHS Waikato office on (07) 838 2569.”

Scums formed by algal blooms are a particular risk because they contain a high level of toxins. If contact with scum does occur, skin should be rinsed clean and clothing changed as soon as possible.

“It’s particularly important for parents to keep an eye on children if you’re down at the water as these scums can form at the edge of the lake and children will sometimes play with them.”

Dog owners should prevent their dogs from drinking or swimming in the water, or eating algal bloom scum as dogs are particularly sensitive to cyanobacteria and could become seriously ill.

To check if recreational water spots near you are safe for swimming and playing in visit https://www.lawa.org.nz/explore-data/waikato-region/. Information is also available from Waikato Regional Council at https://www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/environment/water/algal-blooms/

MIL OSI

1...934935936...1,033 Page 935 of 1,033