Latest news with #Liaison
Scoop
05-06-2025
- Scoop
New Urban Liaison Officers Boost Safety In Wellington CBD
Wellington's central business district has received a significant boost in safety this week as a dedicated team of Urban Liaison Officers (ULOs) start working to reduce harm and provide support on our streets. 'The deployment of our new Urban Liaison Officers reflects our proactive approach to community safety. This team will be an asset to our city, working with hospitality, assisting people experiencing homelessness, and being a friendly face for anyone requiring assistance in our CBD,' says Mayor Tory Whanau. 'A dedicated Safety Hub, which will serve as a central point for collaboration and support, will be operational very soon to further bolster our efforts to make our streets safer and more welcoming,' adds Mayor Whanau. Councillor Teri O'Neill, Chair of Wellington City Council's Kōrau Mātinitini Social, Cultural & Economic Committee, says: 'Whether it's a student heading home after a late shift, a business owner dealing with antisocial behaviour, or someone sleeping rough that needs support – this team is here to help. 'This is about meeting people where they're at, not waiting for things to go wrong. A true boots-on-the-ground response, built with the people of Pōneke.' A fresh initiative from the City Safety and Wellbeing Plan, Urban Liaison Officers will work with businesses, police, social services and other organisations and the wider City Safety team on initiatives to reduce harm where possible. The team will be out and about in our city from today and, starting in July, they will provide support from Thursday to Saturday evenings as well. The Council's City Safety and Wellbeing Senior Responsible Officer, Sehai Orgad, says the team is just one of a raft of initiatives stemming from the City Safety and Wellbeing Plan. 'They'll be trained in first-aid and emergency management procedures, and they'll be proactive and engaged with our community and businesses. 'The team will be out on the streets every day to support the community, keep a close eye on what's happening, and step in when needed. Whether it's assisting the public, working alongside Police at night, or checking in with retailers and hospitality staff, they're here to help keep the city safe and welcoming. They regularly assess risks in real-time with CCTV teams, report hazards or graffiti, and coordinate with social services and other partners to look after the wellbeing of everyone in our city.' The new Safety Hub will be in the Te Pokapū Hapori site at 105 Manners Street, which has been a community centre run by the Y since 2022. Sehai says the Y has done an excellent job running the centre, and the Council is grateful for the mahi they've done. From 1 July work will begin developing it into the Safety Hub, which will provide a space for City Safety teams like Urban Liaison Officers, and other groups like the police beat team, and community patrols. It will also be a space for safety training for initiatives like Safer Venues training, and the Eyes On initiative. The Hub will be open at times that support the City Safety team, and to support different initiatives operating on the ground. The City Safety and Wellbeing Plan outlines collaborative, adaptable actions designed to address the evolving needs of the city, and enhance the experience of everyone who lives, works, and plays in Pōneke. It focuses on targeted interventions that deliver meaningful results and is dynamic and designed to adapt to the changing needs of our city. The plan is built on strong existing partnerships between the Council, Police, local businesses, community organisations, and residents in our inner-city neighbourhood.
Forbes
23-04-2025
- Science
- Forbes
These Are The Meteor Showers Not To Miss In 2025 — By An Expert
In 2025, stargazers can look forward to five noteworthy meteor showers, despite some challenges ... More posed by moonlight. With the peak of the Lyrid meteor shower last night, shooting star season has begun. For stargazers, it's a big deal. Sure, you can see shooting stars any night of the week that comes as a surprise, but that's blind luck. To see them on purpose requires planning. Major meteor showers tend to come on softly, build to a crescendo on one particular night, and then fade out again. However, many of the major meteor showers in 2025 will be non-events, with strong moonlight rendering all but exceptionally bright shooting stars invisible (for example, August's Perseids will be washed out by an 84%-lit moon). Here are the five major meteor showers of 2025 to plan for — taking into account the maximum expected rates on peak night and the moon phase — the first of which is about to commence. Peak night: Monday-Tuesday, May 4-5, 2025 Named after a star in the constellation Aquarius, from which its shooting stars appear to emanate, the Eta Aquarids are caused by Halley's Comet, peaking in the early hours of Monday, May 5. The Southern Hemisphere will have the best views, with up to 60 meteors per hour streaking across the sky, while the Northern Hemisphere will see about half as many. The event will peak at about midnight, but strong moonlight means the best window is about 3:30 a.m. through 5:00 a.m.— set your alarm! Peak night: Tuesday-Wednesday, July 29-30, 2025 Though less famous than August's Perseids, the Southern Delta Aquariids may offer 2025's best summer meteor display, thanks to a 27%-lit waxing crescent moon that sets shortly after sunset. That leaves midnight to dawn perfectly dark for viewing its expected 15-20 meteors per hour. As a bonus, the same night sees the peak of the Alpha Capricornids, which will add another 5-10 meteors per hour, but with an important twist: they're well known for fireballs — slow, brilliant meteors that can outshine Venus. 385552 01: Halley's Comet in 1986. (Photo by Liaison) Peak night: Wednesday-Thursday, October 22-23, 2025 The second meteor shower created by Halley's Comet, the Orionids are fast and often leave persistent glowing trails. In 2025, they peak with a waning crescent moon just 2% illuminated, rising well after dawn. This means dark skies all night long, ideal for catching up to 20 meteors per hour. Peak night: Saturday-Sunday, November 16-17, 2025 The Leonids are famous for occasional meteor storms, though none are predicted in 2025. Still, their meteors are the fastest of any annual shower, streaking in at 160,000 mph (257,000 km/h). A waning crescent moon just 9%-lit will rise during shortly before dawn, but not interfere with the Leonids. Peak viewing will be after midnight, when observers should expect 10–20 meteors per hour — with a few spectacular fireballs possible. Peak night: Friday-Saturday, December 12-13, 2025 If you only watch one meteor shower in 2025, make it the Geminids. With up to 150 meteors per hour, they're the most prolific of the year, and their bright, slow-moving and even multi-colored meteors make them easy to see — and even photograph. In 2025, a waning crescent moon rising around 2:00 a.m. means dark skies for most of the night, particularly the prime hours between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. Expect bold fireballs. Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.
National News
14-03-2025
- Health
- National News
Saturday, March 15, 2025
NNA - Time Topic 1:00 pm Press conference by the Lebanese Pharmacists Syndicate, in collaboration with JAD Association and participants of Miss Natural Beauty, to launch an awareness campaign on the dangers of drug abuse. The event will include an oath-taking ceremony for new pharmacists and the distribution of appreciation certificates to participants. 1:45 pm The Iranian Embassy launches its annual Ramadan food basket initiative for Palestinian refugees in Lebanon's camps. The event will take place at the Iranian Consulate courtyard in Bir Hassan (former embassy building). 4:00 pm Unveiling ceremony of the artwork "Liaison," created by designers Pierre and Cedric Kokajian, hosted by Bikfaya-Mhaydseh Municipality at the public garden on the main street of Bikfaya. 6:00 pm Mass celebrating the Feast of Saint Joseph and the anniversary of the Notre Dame - Frères Furn El Chebbak Alumni Association, held at the school's church.
Japan Times
08-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Times
Slowly but surely, Osaka emerges from Kyoto's fine-dining shadow
A single clam and lotus croquette crowned with a halo of crisp lotus root sits poised in a pool of delicate cream. A drizzle of emerald parsley sauce harmonizes the dish with its freshness and earthiness. Both visual and textural perfection, the dish is part of a course at Liaison, a Michelin-starred establishment in Osaka, and served up by chef Yuji Tsuji, who was working his second to last night on the job in late October. After joining the high-end restaurant in 2021, he helped it earn it one Michelin star three years in a row, a distinction reflected in his creative dishes such as a pillowy soft steamed rabbit — a bold choice in Japan — with spaghetti squash and carrot sauce, which makes distinctive use of cumin foam, and a pan-fried foie gras and anago (conger eel) married with the deep umami of matsutake and richly spiced wagyu consomme. It's a setting that stands very much in contrast with the stereotypical image of Osaka's food scene dominated by okonomiyaki (savory pancake), kushikatsu (breaded skewers), takoyaki (octopus dumplings) and other examples of so-called B-kyū (B-grade) cuisine, the Japanese term for cheap yet delicious comfort foods. An exit survey of visitors at Kansai airport in December 2024 showed that 80.5% reported B-grade cuisine as one of the activities they enjoyed when staying in Osaka, far outstripping what they pursued when staying in other towns and regions.
