https://www.rnz.co.nz/assets/news_crops/87205/eight_col_124052003_l.jpg?1567996412 The manufacturing sector has roared back to life, with new orders and production levels leaping into growth mode. Photo: 123rf The BNZ-Business New Zealand Performance of Manufacturing Index (PMI) for January rose 9.2 points to 57.5. The reading above 50 points – which indicates growth – is a far cry from its December reading when it slumped 6 points into contraction territory and the strongest monthly read since July last year. BNZ senior economist Craig Ebert said indications from firms was that “bigger was better”. “By firm size, there was a very clear message of the bigger the better – traversing an unadjusted 49.4 for micro firms to 65.3 for large firms.” Components within the measure also told a positive story, with new orders jumping to a very strong 62.4, after nearly stalling in December. Production lifted to 59.1, and the employment index was also positive coming in at ...

https://www.beehive.govt.nz/sites/default/files/2017-11/beehive-red-og_0.png Greetings I’ve gotten to know many of you over the past three years as Finance Minister. I have really valued the engagement and connections with local government, especially on infrastructure because we know that with the right investments we really will make a difference for New Zealanders. Would like to introduce myself in my new Cabinet role – Infrastructure Minister. The Prime Minister has given me clear instructions as Finance Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, to lead the economic group of Ministers and to accelerate our recovery and rebuild. In that context it makes sense for me to take on the Infrastructure portfolio.  We all know how critical the right mix and level of infrastructure investment will be to our recovery. In fact the role of infrastructure in delivering our wellbeing agenda is not always well appreciated.  In all four capitals of our Living Standards Framework quality infrastructure is ...

https://www.elanka.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Mary-Wilson.jpg Mary Wilson Legends of Rock’N Roll 1989 Concert Melbourne Australia   Vocalist Mary Wilson,  (1944 – 2021) who co-founded the Supremes as a 15-year-old in a Detroit housing project and stayed with the fabled, hit making Motown Records trio until its dissolution in 1977, died on Monday night at her home in Las Vegas. She was 76. Wilson’s long-time publicist, Jay Schwartz, reported that she died suddenly. I was extremely shocked and saddened to hear of the passing of a major member of the Motown family, Mary Wilson of the Supreme,” said Berry Gordy in a statement Monday night. “The Supremes were always known as the sweethearts of Motown.’  Mary, along with Diana Ross and Florence Ballard, came to Motown in the early 1960s. After an unprecedented string of No. 1 hits, television and nightclub bookings, they opened doors for themselves, the other Motown acts, and many, many others. ...

https://www.rnz.co.nz/assets/news_crops/114960/eight_col_Post-Cab_7Dec-2.jpg?1607905879 Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is to give an update on the Covid-19 vaccination situation in New Zealand. Watch the media conference due to start shortly: Also due to be at the briefing are Director-General of Health Ashley Bloomfield, Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins, Health Minister Andrew Little and Associate Finance Minister Megan Wood. On Wednesday, it was announced that New Zealand authorities had given formal approval for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, to be administered to those 16 years and older once stocks arrive in the country. The authorisation by Cabinet ministers came after the vaccine was given provisional approval by Medsafe last week. An expert panel has since made recommendations on who should be eligible for the jab. Hipkins said Medsafe was also considering applications from AstraZeneca and Janssen and had begun engagement with Novavax. Source link ...

https://www.rnz.co.nz/assets/news_crops/108999/eight_col_200504_SKY-TV-5.jpg?1599687154 Sky Television has signed a multi-year deal with global production giant ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group to show its content on its platforms. Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook The agreement means Sky and Neon customers will be able to watch content from CBS and have exclusive access to its Showtime programmes. Sky chief executive Sophie Moloney said the deal was signed with its customers in front of its mind. “We’ve utilised customer insights including our 25,000 strong Sky Nation panel and, in doing so, we’ve secured our customers the content that they love and value. “From binge-able premium drama to the ever-popular top tier crime series, we believe the depth and breadth of quality content will delight our customers.” The new deal comes after Sky signed a long-term contract with ViacomCBS to continue showing popular channels MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon. Source link ...

https://www.elanka.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Victor-Melder-Portrait-2.jpg An unique library on Sri Lanka, perhaps the only one of its kind overseas, exists in Melbourne, Australia. This library was begun by Victor Melder in 1968, when he migrated to Australia. Victor, who had only one book with him then, has today accumulated over 5,00 books, 2000 magazines and journals  and a collection of video and audio tapes all on Sri Lanka. Victor, who grew up in a village in Peradeniya, states he has savoured village life to its fullest and attributes this to be the cause of his unpretentious love for his motherland. This love, admiration and respect for this beautiful island is something he wishes to share with everyone alike in Australia. This is what gave birth to the ‘Victor Melder Sri Lanka Library’, which today is used by many Australiawide, as a primary source of reference on Sri Lanka. In 1968, Victor states many Australians ...

https://www.rnz.co.nz/assets/news_crops/117223/eight_col_075_widak-covid19v210201_npE0Y.jpg?1612694648 The World Health Organisation recommends using the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca even in countries tackling new variants of coronavirus. Photo: NurPhoto via AFP Some new forms of the virus appear to make vaccines less effective. The WHO also says the vaccine can be used in people aged over 65, which some countries have advised against. Spacing out the two doses, as is happening in the UK, makes the vaccine more effective, it advises. The Oxford vaccine is seen as the “vaccine for the world” as it is cheap, can be mass produced and is stored in a standard fridge. However, it has attracted controversy about its effectiveness against new variants, whether it should be used in the elderly and how far apart the doses should be given, due to a lack of data. The WHO’s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, known as ...

https://www.rnz.co.nz/assets/news/255245/eight_col_Avid_AML_founders_1610.jpg?1613005108 An Auckland start-up has its eyes set on reducing the cost of anti-money laundering (AML) compliance in emerging markets. Avid AML founders Daniel Rogers and Andrew Weston. Photo: Supplied Avid AML was founded in 2019 and provides compliance software for small to medium sized businesses to monitor transactions, verify customers identities and detect any anomalies. The company had a presence in New Zealand and Australia but was targeting Pakistan, South East Asia and North Africa because the AML compliance markets there had not yet matured, it said. “What we want to be able to do is provide a service to regions where technical skills as well as staffing skills aren’t readily available,” Avid AML co-founder Daniel Rogers said. “If we’re going to make sure that the market is complying or coming up the curve on AML, we need to make sure that’s the whole market.” He said its clients ...

https://www.elanka.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Villa-Venezia.jpg Source:Island I wonder how many are yet around to share my memories of the wonderful library of Villa Venezia that brightened our undergraduate years in the University before it fled Thurstan Road to Peradeniya. It was, probably, Jennings’ predecessor Marrs, who picked on the exotic Villa Venezia to house the University Library. I have not yet come across any photograph, or drawing, of this miniature Venetian palazzo built for an imaginative, but long forgotten, Colonial grandee amidst the lush greenery of Cinnamon Gardens. The Villa was a baroque two-storied pink building flanked by elegantly twisted columns, and overhung by an ornate balcony that would have enthralled Romeo. A large ground floor room charmed its readers by walls frescoed by scenes from Greek and Roman mythology, closely copied from Venetian originals. The top floor housed the library proper and the spacious reading room. This was an era long before the ...