Public opinion

Global Times: China takes firm action against 'invisible overtime' and wage arrears, advancing the rule of law

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 31, 2024

The case caught great public attention and was hailed as a typical example of the country's judicial system showing initiative.

Key Points: 
  • The case caught great public attention and was hailed as a typical example of the country's judicial system showing initiative.
  • According to a report by the Beijing Daily, Li, working in a Beijing-based technology company, sued her employer for the overtime work she performed after work.
  • Based on this, the court ruled that the company should pay Li 30,000 yuan ($4,179) for overtime work.
  • Exploring interdepartmental linkage mechanisms is a new step to promote effective law enforcement and, in the long run, will accelerate the country's building of the rule of law, said Xu.

COMMUNITY FIRST BANCORPORATION ANNOUNCES ANNUAL AND FOURTH QUARTER FINANCIAL RESULTS

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 30, 2024

WALHALLA, S.C., Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Community First Bancorporation, Inc. (OTCQX: CFOK), parent company for Community First Bank, Inc. (the "Bank"), announced its unaudited financial results for 2023 and its fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023.

Key Points: 
  • WALHALLA, S.C., Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Community First Bancorporation, Inc. (OTCQX: CFOK), parent company for Community First Bank, Inc. (the "Bank"), announced its unaudited financial results for 2023 and its fourth quarter ended December 31, 2023.
  • The Company's total consolidated earnings were $885,000 for the fourth quarter of 2023 compared to $1,206,000 for the fourth quarter of 2022.
  • EPS for the fourth quarter of 2023 totaled $0.15 compared to $0.21 for the fourth quarter of 2022.
  • Liquidity risk could impair our ability to fund operations and jeopardize our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

BaiJiaYun released the new generation knowledge delivery tool "DuanXunBao"

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 30, 2024

BEIJING, Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In order to serve independent entrepreneurs, BaiJiaYun has released the new generation knowledge delivery tool "DuanXunBao", providing services such as personal IP monetization and knowledge-based payments.

Key Points: 
  • BEIJING, Jan. 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In order to serve independent entrepreneurs, BaiJiaYun has released the new generation knowledge delivery tool "DuanXunBao", providing services such as personal IP monetization and knowledge-based payments.
  • Targeting this societal demand, on January 30th, the U.S. stock exchange-listed company BaiJiaYun (stock code: RTC) officially announced the launch of the new generation knowledge delivery tool "DuanXunBao".
  • As a new generation knowledge delivery tool, "DuanXunBao" addresses the pain points of freelance entrepreneurship, personal IP monetization, and knowledge-based payments, making the management of education more efficient and simpler.
  • As a new generation knowledge delivery tool, BaiJiaYun's "DuanXunBao" is committed to continually exploring new industry application scenarios and innovative approaches.

Affirmative action policies to increase diversity are successful, but controversial, around the world

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Race-conscious admissions policies at American universities have a history that goes back to the 1960s civil rights movement.

Key Points: 
  • Race-conscious admissions policies at American universities have a history that goes back to the 1960s civil rights movement.
  • These policies aimed to increase the number of students from underrepresented groups and build more racially diverse student populations.
  • Affirmative action policies can include “soft” measures designed to increase minority representation in a candidate pool.

Differences around the world

  • In Great Britain, employers are allowed to take positive action that may involve “treating one group that shares a protected characteristic more favourably than others”.
  • Positive discrimination, such as hiring a less-qualified candidate because she is from an underrepresented group, is prohibited under the Equality Act.
  • This system “reserves” spots in government employment, governing bodies, and educational admissions for “scheduled castes and tribes” and other marginalised groups.
  • In India, faced with similar court rulings, a series of constitutional amendments have preserved reservations.

Does affirmative action work?

  • We found that 63% of the 194 studies we reviewed concluded that affirmative action programmes indeed served to improve outcomes for ethnic, religious or racial minorities.
  • In over half of the countries we studied, national protests and civic action emerged in support of or against the conduct of affirmative action policies.
  • And almost one in five saw violent incidents or riots directly linked to the introduction and implementation of affirmative action policies.
  • This suggests that the way forward may be to pursue soft over hard affirmative action measures – encouraging diversity without implementing quotas.


Rachel M Gisselquist receives funding from UNU-WIDER. Min J. Kim is a Visiting Assistant Professor at George Washington University.

A Victorian bookshop owner has called for ‘a substantial shift’ in ‘woke’ Australian publishing – but we still need diverse books

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Horman’s list of books we don’t need includes “hate against white Australians, socialist agenda, equity over equality, diversity and inclusion (READ AS anti-white exclusion), left wing govt propaganda”.

Key Points: 
  • Horman’s list of books we don’t need includes “hate against white Australians, socialist agenda, equity over equality, diversity and inclusion (READ AS anti-white exclusion), left wing govt propaganda”.
  • Robinsons has since made an official apology, claiming Horman’s comments had been “taken out of context” and “misrepresented”.
  • Ironically, her earlier call on social media for less diversity comes as many librarians are calling for more diverse books in Australian bookshops and libraries.
  • In relation to positive male lead characters, in April 2019, I examined the 100 bestselling picture books at Australian book retailer Dymocks.
  • There were only seven female-led books in the top 50, compared to 26 male-led books.

‘Traditional nuclear white family stories’

  • While Horman claimed “traditional nuclear white family stories” were “missing” from Robinsons’ bookshelves, such households are commonly portrayed in Australian picture books.
  • (Yes, more family types are now being explored, but white, two-parent families are far from missing.)
  • Australian booksellers’ peak industry body, Book People, posted on X yesterday: “We stand with bookshops that celebrate inclusivity”.
  • Read more:
    Empathy starts early: 5 Australian picture books that celebrate diversity

Not ‘missing from the mix’

  • Positive stories with men and boys as the hero are almost missing from the mix.
  • Neither Susanne Horman, nor Robinsons Bookshop are making a value judgement on this observation.
  • Susanne apologises if people have taken this comment as a negative reflection on an excellent range of diverse books.
  • Read more:
    White, female, and high rates of mental illness: new diversity research offers a snapshot of the publishing industry

Is the industry changing?

  • However, the Australian publishing industry is a long way off equitable representation.
  • Its workers remain “largely white”, which is reflected in its publishing output.
  • Australian picture books, for example, remain predominately white in representation, with people of colour making up approximately 12% of characters.


Sarah Mokrzycki does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

New Social Platform Granted VERACITY(R) Trademark to Combat Misinformation

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 17, 2024

MOXY citizen empowerment platform features official government data plus a broad-spectrum, qualified news feed

Key Points: 
  • Coral Gables, Florida--(Newsfile Corp. - January 17, 2024) - Epluribus LLC, creators of MOXY™ announced that the official registered trademark "Veracity" was granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
  • MOXY currently is a US-only platform and available for Android, iPhone and web browsers.
  • MOXY features a robust news feed that draws from thousands of publications across the ideological spectrum, including two thousand of the most popular news sites on social media.
  • Recent years have seen the spread of both misinformation and disinformation - both of which can be damaging to public opinion.

New Survey Sheds Light on European Acceptance of So-Called “Trophy” Hunting

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, January 24, 2024

A survey conducted by YouGov1 and commissioned by the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE) and partner organisations, has unveiled a significant acceptance of international hunting, often mislabelled as “trophy” hunting.

Key Points: 
  • A survey conducted by YouGov1 and commissioned by the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation (FACE) and partner organisations, has unveiled a significant acceptance of international hunting, often mislabelled as “trophy” hunting.
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240123042824/en/
    Infographic on Public Opinion on So-Called "Trophy" Hunting in Europe (Photo: FACE – the European Federation for Hunting and Conservation)
    The independent sample survey by YouGov2 of over 7000 Europeans from five countries, shows that a majority of EU citizens accept hunting.
  • Only 23% disagree with keeping animal parts, a practice often referred to as “trophy” hunting, whilst 77% either approve or are neutral.
  • The survey, conducted in November 2023, aimed to ascertain unbiased public opinion on the social acceptance of domestic and international hunting.

NewsNation to Debut a New Sunday Public Affairs Program The Hill Sunday with Chris Stirewalt

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 18, 2024

NewsNation, America’s fastest-growing cable news network, today announced the launch of a new Sunday public affairs program entitled, The Hill Sunday with Chris Stirewalt on Sunday, March 3rd at 10 a.m.

Key Points: 
  • NewsNation, America’s fastest-growing cable news network, today announced the launch of a new Sunday public affairs program entitled, The Hill Sunday with Chris Stirewalt on Sunday, March 3rd at 10 a.m.
  • Every Sunday, the program will feature a variety of politicians and newsmakers discussing the latest political news from the nation’s capital.
  • “I am proud to be part of NewsNation, where the promise of fair, honest, independent coverage has real meaning,” said Mr. Stirewalt.
  • Prior to NewsNation, Mr. Stirewalt served as political editor for FOX News Channel where he provided news and analysis on politics.

Dream Scenario: A Staggering 78% of Americans Are Looking to Improve Their Sleep in 2024, New Survey Reveals

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, January 25, 2024

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- How often do you get a good night's sleep? The latest study commissioned by Herbalife confirms what we may have suspected: Americans' sleep situation is far from ideal. A staggering 78% of Americans are trying to improve their sleep in 2024, with nearly half ranking this as their No. 1 priority in life right now. But what is standing in the way of Americans getting better-quality sleep?

Key Points: 
  • The latest study commissioned by Herbalife confirms what we may have suspected: Americans' sleep situation is far from ideal.
  • A staggering 78% of Americans are trying to improve their sleep in 2024, with nearly half ranking this as their No.
  • "The unfortunate truth is the blue light from TVs, phones, and digital devices unequivocally impairs sleep quality.
  • The survey also examined Americans' sleep habits and the undeniable havoc they can wreak on both sleep quality and overall health.

Public Affairs Council President Doug Pinkham to Retire at End of 2024

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, January 23, 2024

WASHINGTON, Jan. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Pinkham, who is only the third person to lead the Council since it was formed in 1954 as the Effective Citizens Organization, was hired in 1997 to expand Council services, increase the organization's membership and raise the profile of the public affairs profession in the U.S. and around the world. During his tenure, Pinkham has grown the Council to the organization it is today — the foremost public affairs membership organization in the world.

Key Points: 
  • The Public Affairs Council (the Council) announced today that President and CEO Douglas G. Pinkham, who has led the organization for the past 27 years, will retire at the end of 2024.
  • "Doug has been an effective and thoughtful leader of the Council for nearly three decades, and his efforts have greatly strengthened the role of the public affairs function," said Public Affairs Council Chair Roi L. Ewell.
  • Prior to joining the Public Affairs Council, Pinkham served as vice president of communications for the American Gas Association.
  • The Public Affairs Council plans to provide additional information regarding the search process for its next President in the coming months.