Introduction
Trigger finger, medically known as stenosing tenosynovitis, is a condition characterized by the inflammation of the tendons in the fingers, causing pain, stiffness, and difficulty in straightening or flexing the affected digit. While conventional treatments like splinting, medication, and surgery have proven effective, there are alternative approaches that can complement or even replace these methods. In this article, we will delve into alternative treatments and remedies for trigger finger, offering a range of options to consider for those seeking relief from this condition.

Physical Therapy and Hand Exercises
Physical therapy can be a highly effective alternative trigger finger alternative treatment. Certified hand therapists can provide personalized exercises and stretches to improve finger flexibility and strength. These exercises may include gentle massaging, range-of-motion exercises, and specialized stretches. Regular practice can help alleviate the symptoms and restore normal finger function.

Heat and Cold Therapy
Applying heat or cold to the affected finger can provide relief from pain and inflammation associated with trigger finger. Warm compresses or soaking the hand in warm water can help relax the tendons, while cold compresses can reduce swelling and discomfort. It's important to alternate between hot and cold trigger finger remedy for optimal results.

Diet and Nutritional Supplements
A balanced diet rich in anti-inflammatory foods can play a crucial role in managing trigger finger. Incorporating foods like fatty fish (such as salmon and mackerel), leafy greens, berries, and nuts can help reduce inflammation. Additionally, certain supplements like Omega-3 fatty acids, turmeric, and glucosamine may provide relief from joint and tendon-related issues.

Acupuncture and Acupressure
Traditional Chinese medicine offers acupuncture and acupressure as alternative treatments for trigger finger. By stimulating specific points on the body, these practices aim to restore the flow of vital energy, or "qi," and promote healing. Many individuals have reported significant improvement in symptoms after undergoing acupuncture or acupressure sessions.

Herbal Remedies
Certain herbs possess anti-inflammatory properties that can aid in the management of trigger finger. Devil's claw, ginger, and turmeric are examples of natural remedies known for their potential to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. It is important to consult a healthcare professional before starting any herbal treatments to ensure safety and effectiveness.

Topical Applications
Topical cures for trigger finger can offer localized relief for trigger finger symptoms. Creams or ointments containing anti-inflammatory ingredients like arnica, menthol, or capsaicin can be applied directly to the affected area. These formulations can help soothe pain and reduce swelling..

Ultrasound Therapy
Ultrasound therapy involves the use of high-frequency sound waves to stimulate healing in affected tissues. In the context of trigger finger, ultrasound therapy can target the inflamed tendons and promote their recovery. This non-invasive approach has shown promise in reducing pain and increasing range of motion.

Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic adjustments and manipulations may be beneficial for individuals with trigger finger, especially if the condition is related to joint misalignment or muscle tension. Skilled chiropractors can perform adjustments to improve joint mobility and alleviate pressure on affected tendons.

Alternative Medicine Practices
Other alternative medicine practices like homeopathy, Ayurveda, and naturopathy offer unique approaches to managing trigger finger. These systems of medicine focus on holistic healing, addressing the root causes of the condition and promoting overall well-being.

Conclusion
While conventional treatments for trigger finger have proven effective, alternative approaches can offer valuable options for those seeking relief from this condition. It's important to consult a healthcare professional before starting any alternative treatment to ensure safety and effectiveness. Additionally, individual responses to treatments may vary, so a personalized approach based on specific symptoms and circumstances is essential. By exploring these alternative treatments and remedies, individuals with trigger finger can find solutions that best suit their needs and preferences. view all

Is trigger finger pain resisting your daily activities? Or are you fed up with using the same traditional home remedies to reduce trigger finger pain? Nothing to worry about, as we’ve got you back. Discover the healing potential of therapeutic water soaks at home as we present a comprehensive step-by-step guide for relieving Trigger Finger discomfort. From selecting the ideal water temperature to incorporating soothing ingredients, this comprehensive guide provides practical insights and techniques to harness the power of water therapy for enhanced pain relief and improved hand mobility.

Table of Contents:
Understanding Trigger Finger: 
The Science Behind Therapeutic Water Soaks:
2.1 Buoyancy 
2.2 Hydrostatic Pressure
How to Perform Therapeutic Water Soaks?
Step 1: Selecting the Perfect Water Temperature
Step 2: Ingredients
Step 3: Immersing Your Hands in Healing Waters
Benefits of Therapeutic Water Soaks:
Wrapping Up:

Understanding Trigger Finger:
Trigger finger is a clinical condition where the tendon sheath beneath the skin gets irritated, resulting in severe finger pain and swelling. Usually, trigger finger pain seems normal at an early stage, but its situation worsens over time. The leading causes of the trigger finger are repetitive hand movements, overuse of fingers, aging, and direct injury to the finger.

The Science Behind Therapeutic Water Soaks:
A Therapeutic water soak is a treatment method that involves immersing a specific body part, such as a finger or leg, in warm water infused with therapeutic additives. This method is widely used to alleviate body pain and reduce inflammation. This treatment works on two basic concepts of science.
 
2.1 Buoyancy:
It can be referred to as an upward force exerted by a liquid fluid, such as water, on an object immersed in it. That’s why objects submerged in water appear to be lighter than their weight outside. In context with therapeutic water soaks, water’s buoyancy reduces the impact of gravity on the body, allowing submerged body parts to experience less stress.

2.2 Hydrostatic Pressure:
It is the pressure a fluid (water) exerts on an immersed object. The more the immersion depth, the more pressure will be exerted on an object, which would be beneficial for treating many problems.

How to Perform Therapeutic Water Soaks? 
Step 1: Selecting the Perfect Water Temperature
The primary step to creating a therapeutic water soak is choosing an ideal temperature for warm water. Usually, it is best to set the water temperature between 38°C to 42°C (100°F to 108°F).

Step 2: Ingredients
The effectiveness of your water soak will depend upon your ingredients.
Mix 1-2 Cups of Epsom Salt as it contains magnesium sulfate, known for offering muscle-relaxing benefits.Add herbal infusions like chamomile, calendula, or arnica flowers, which contain anti-inflammatory properties.To enhance the aromatic experience, you can add a few drops of calming essential oils like lavender.

Step 3: Immersing Your Hands in Healing Waters
Immerse your hand gently in prepared water. Make sure to submerge your hand thoroughly.Soak for about 15-20 minutes, and use this time to perform essential finger stretching exercises.

Benefits of Therapeutic Water Soaks:
The therapeutic water soaks benefits include:
Alleviate pain and stiffness in the affected fingerReduce muscle tension and swellingPromotes greater flexibility and range of motionEnhancing blood flow in submerged hand

Wrapping Up:
In conclusion, therapeutic water soaks effects offer a holistic and effective approach to relieving Trigger Finger pain. By harnessing the science of buoyancy and hydrostatic pressure, warm water infused with healing ingredients promotes relaxation, reduces inflammation, and improves hand mobility. Embrace the soothing power of water therapy to reclaim comfort and ease in your daily activities.  view all

First, let's discuss the purpose of marriage. Marriage is a long-term partnership that begins with love. This partnership can be between two individuals or two families. Without feeling attracted to each other's appearance and physique, it is difficult to establish initial trust. If there is only love and no practical considerations, the relationship may not be managed well. Since marriage requires management, both parties need to have common goals. These goals could include raising two children, helping them grow into mature individuals, and growing old together. Alternatively, the goals could involve supporting each other in their respective careers to achieve success. Unclear or too easy goals, or unstable goals, can all lead to a relationship not lasting.
Time reveals a person's true nature. It takes at least a year to have a preliminary understanding of the other person's character. Therefore, during the first year, do not let love cloud your judgment and rush into marriage.Wait until both you and your partner are mentally mature before getting married. One measure of this maturity is the ability to take care of yourself independently and not suffer from social anxiety. This includes getting along well with colleagues and superiors, handling social interactions with friends and relatives, renting your own place, traveling alone, and going to the hospital by yourself when needed.Having good life skills is a significant advantage for a marriage! Don't think that because modern life provides material abundance, you can buy everything you need. Sometimes, being able to handle things yourself or having your partner help you can greatly improve efficiency in terms of time, energy, and money.Compatibility in social background and family background is important. This ensures that both parties have similar values and approaches to handling things. I have seen several childhood sweethearts around me who have successful marriages, with their parents also getting along well.Rushing into marriage during a financially unstable period can lead to various problems. So, wait until either you or both partners have a stable career before getting married.The decision to have children should be made early or after achieving career stability. These two points are somewhat contradictory. It's essential to strike a balance. Raising children requires a lot of physical and mental energy, so it's better to do it while young when you have the energy and it won't significantly affect your work efficiency. After the age of 35, staying up late with a child and then having to deal with important work matters can be overwhelming.Nobody is perfect, and no personality is perfect. There are only people and personalities suitable for specific situations. Different people excel at handling different kinds of things. view all

Due to some SMS restrictions in Singapore, you might experience delays in receiving our messages. For faster and more secure communications, please make sure to add our WhatsApp (+639665493704) and Telegram (+60103185411). Also, you may join our Telegram Channel click the link: (https://t.me/+Upgzr4z_HCB3ALbS) so you can be updated with all news, announcements, and promotions in real-time. Subscribed now and get $18! This special offer will be until Jan 31, 2023, only. Visit: https://sg88win.info/
 
 
  view all

A ten-year-old freight company with warehouses from China to Southeast Asia, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Our company provides free services:
1. Free package collection
2. Free storage service
3. Free unpacking and packing
4. Free photo verification
5. Free System Tracking
One-stop door-to-door delivery with double-clearance tax package, stable timeliness~~~
Pl WeChat contact 13535254007 view all

Buy 100 wechat accounts
1. Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia,, Laos, Hong Kong. Macau, Korea, Japan. any others country  need aactive account
2. Requirements: registration time 1-5 years, private active wechat, more than 30 friends, friend circle within the last 6 months to have 30 friend circle.
3. Rule: wechat needs to be able to change phone numbers. Wechat has not logged in to the new device in the recent week. We provide you with a phone number to change your wechat phone number. Our test account has no problem after logging into the mobile phone. Payment will be made within five minutes.
4. Before consultation, please refer to the following three pictures that meet the requirements. If wechat meets the requirements, please give me a screenshot. If your wechat does not meet the requirements, please do not send me a private message. To avoid wasting your time.

contact Me on Telegram:       +639658135341

contact me on whatssapp #     +447432782024

contact me on wechat :        amz-associate

1year+ 15 usdt 
2year+ 20 usdt 
3year+ 25 usdt 
4year+ 30 usdt 
5year+ 35 usdt
  view all

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has warned the Chinese government to learn the lessons of Russia’s “strategic failure” in Ukraine, as he heads to Europe for a meeting of NATO leaders.

In an interview with the Australian Financial Review, conducted en route to Spain for the NATO meeting, Albanese said the Ukraine invasion had brought democratic nations together, “whether they be members of NATO, or non-members such as Australia.”

When asked what message the Chinese government should take from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, particularly for its ambitions toward Taiwan, Albanese said the war “had shown attempts to impose change by force on a sovereign country meet resistance.” view all

it would be interesting to compare the current falls in New Zealand housing prices with those of the U.S housing crash from the time America entered recession in Dec 2007. Price falls nationally Ex-Auckland are actually pretty similar. Auckland/Wellington much faster.
  view all

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Arden leaving the offices of BlackRock. Absolutely nothing to see here whatsoever.
 

  view all

WeChat telegram group for foreigners who wanna sign up wechat account.

I thought to create a group where we can help each other out as Foreigners for this wechat app. A lot of us are getting QR code verification for various reasons where we have no control over and it is almost impossible to get it back unless you have friends who also have WeChat accounts.

I made a Telegram group so if I can get people in here as friends, we can help each other to get our account verified.

https://t.me/+gjYHhzWl7PYyY2I0



P.S. I also have a wechat account. There will be ABSOLUTELY no money transactions here, this is a group where I hope that we can assist each other and not asking money. This Wechat account Verification Telegram Group is for verifying wechat account for free.Don't ask money for wechat verification . Post your latest wechaht sign up  QR code in this group. Let's help each other. view all

Universities in Australia without IELTS in 2022 
 1. The University of South Australia 
2. Macquarie University 
3. The University of Adelaide 
4. The University of Queensland 
5. Bond University 
6. The University of Southern Queensland 
PS: Australia has tons of scholarships! view all

What an extraordinary map of Melbourne from the Sunday Age. The Liberal Party all but wiped out。
 

 
  view all

Marcos Jr is in Naarm/Melbourne, Australia. We are out here waiting for him to tell him that he's not welcome here. Join us! Oppose the Marcos-Duterte tandem!
 

 
  view all

This is what’s wrong with football in this country.

15 year old kid falls over the fence after a goal is scored and this is the treatment. Fucking Pathetic
 

  view all

John Howard has launched a scathing election attack on Labor leader Anthony Albanese, saying “nobody has gone to an election so policy-light as this bloke.” Read the full interview here: https://bit.ly/39M90Xd
  view all

University of Adelaide Australian Government Scholarship 2022. 
 
Details Here: https://bit.ly/3LQwoRh 
 
Benefits: 
[1] A living allowance of AUD28,854 per annum 
[2] Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) World care policy 
[2] Relocation and publication expenses. 
 
Deadline : 5 June 2022.
  view all

Scientists have glued themselves to Santos HQ in Adelaide. They're also glued to Flinders street blocking traffic in front of Santos. They're demanding an immediate halt to all new oil and gas exploration, mining and production. It's time to listen to the experts!
 

  view all

Senator Amanda Stoker, the federal government’s assistant minister for women, promoted her stand against abortions to around 1000 people at a pro-life rally in Brisbane on Saturday.
 
Senator Amanda Stoker, the federal government’s assistant minister for women, promoted her stand against abortions to around 1000 people at a pro-life rally in Brisbane on Saturday.

“It really does baffle me why there are some people who have questioned whether it is appropriate for a person like me to serve as assistant minister for women because I am pro-life,” Stoker said. “They suggest there is some sort of conflict between those two roles.

 
“But in my mind, there is absolutely no conflict possible between supporting women and supporting the most vulnerable people in our community.”

Stoker said it was clear that some women faced conflicts in their pregnancies and were forced to terminate them.

“But we should be providing care and support for those women, so they know that terminating their pregnancy is not their only option,” she said.

Stoker was one of three Queensland senators to speak at the now annual pro-life rally in Brisbane: fellow LNP senator Matt Canavan and One Nation senator Malcolm Roberts also spoke. Retiring Dawson MP George Christensen was invited by Cherish Life Queensland.
 
Police said about 1000 people crowded into Speakers’ Corner outside Parliament House in George Street before marching around the inner city.

Cherish Life Queensland claims to be non-political, but people at the rally were encouraged to place Labor and The Greens last when they vote at the May 21 federal elections.

In an outspoken address, Stoker described as “madness” the skilled training given to doctors – “so they might heal” – for them to subsequently end pregnancies in hospitals.

“It is just wrong that our society seems to be more ready to condemn cruelty against a dog or a cat than it is a human child, even one that is old enough to be capable of life outside the womb.”

National Party senator Canavan, who is a member of Cherish Life Queensland, told reporters last week the federal government’s net zero carbon emission policy was “dead”, only to be severely rebuked by senior Nationals and Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

Canavan said Christians “rose up” at the 2019 federal election against moves by former ALP leader Bill Shorten.

“He would have been prime minister if it wasn’t for a lot of us [Christians],” he said.

“Christians and other faith members got up and voted against the Labor Party in droves. Now the Labor Party is a little bit wary of Christians. They are a little bit scared of us.”

Canavan said he would introduce a private member’s bill to prohibit the Medicare rebate for abortions where a person decides to end a pregnancy after learning the gender of the unborn child is not what they wished.
 
  view all

That Australia could now be listed as a problem country in the global corruption perceptions index of Transparency International is appalling. Successive Australian federal govts, Labor and Liberal, ran clean governments.That has now changed under Morrison
 
1. AUSTRALIA

Australia (CPI score: 73) is one of the world’s most significant decliners, having dropped 12 points since 2012 to hit a record low this year. Its deteriorating score indicates systemic failings in tackling public sector corruption. Despite public calls and previous promises, last year Australia missed a landmark opportunity to establish a national anti-corruption agency with broad powers to investigate corruption.

And like many other top-scoring countries on the CPI, Australia needs to do much more to end its complicity in transnational corruption, which is not measured by the Index.

The Pandora Papers investigations in 2021 showed that, thanks to persistent opacity in real estate ownership, Australia’s property market is an easy target for corrupt individuals from abroad.

Enforcement remains weak against companies paying bribes to secure contracts abroad. This shortcoming creates major corruption risks in other Pacific countries too. Many businesses working in the Pacific, particularly in the extractives sector, are registered in Australia – a sector which most people surveyed by the 2021 Global Corruption Barometer believe is tainted with corruption.

As Australia heads into a federal election, anti-corruption commitments – and a firm resolution to follow through on them – will matter more than ever. The establishment of a strong anti-corruption commission, which is long overdue, should be a top priority.

 


2. AUSTRIA

With a score of 74, Austria is at risk of losing ground at the top of the Index. After some years of progress, the country’s slow decline – while not yet statistically significant – sends a warning signal to established democracies about the dangers of neglecting anti-corruption efforts.
 
The government has delayed implementing the national anti-corruption strategy under cover of the COVID-19 pandemic, while politicians have attacked the judiciary and investigative authorities.

In 2021, now-former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz became the target of two inquiries. In May, anti-corruption prosecutors started to investigate whether Kurz lied about a 2019 Ibiza corruption case when testifying to a parliamentary commission. In October, a separate corruption investigation was opened to examine allegations that he misused public funds during his time as foreign minister in 2016.

The Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption has also noted Austria’s lack of anti-corruption efforts and recently found that government had satisfactorily dealt with only two of its 17 recommendations made in 2017. As investigations continue into Kurz and his allies, the new chancellor must rebuild trust in the government and drive forward the country’s neglected anti-corruption strategy.

3. EL SALVADOR

In 2022, El Salvador (34) could establish itself as a dictatorship if authorities there continue to undermine democracy, harass critics and restrict civil and political rights.

The country has increasingly restricted access to information and shown a severe lack of transparency in the spending of public funds. Senior government officials are alleged to have engaged in multi-million dollar corruption schemes in their management of the COVID-19 crisis and as part of local elections.
 
Last year, several officials from both the current and previous governments were included in the so-called Engel List released by the United States government over accusations of corruption and assaults on democracy in El Salvador.

There is also concern over steps taken by the government to weaken the independence of justice institutions and close down civic space. In 2021, the newly elected Legislative Assembly dismissed and replaced all five judges of the Supreme Court’s Constitutional Chamber and the Attorney General without due process, while publicly attacking and promoting laws that threaten civil society organisations, human rights defenders, and independent media.

4. KAZAKHSTAN

Kazakhstan (37) was rocked by civil unrest at the start of 2022. What started as a protest over a spike in fuel price quickly turned into countrywide demonstrations over corruption and inequality. The wealth that the country’s political elite allegedly amassed through corruption was a particular concern during protests.
 
In 2021, the Pandora Papers investigation included reports that a woman with close ties to former president Nursultan Nazarbayev received a suspicious payment of US$30 million from shell companies that journalists have linked to two Kazakh oligarchs. Prior to that, a 2019 investigation uncovered offshore properties – reportedly worth US$785 million – that allegedly belong to Nazarbayev’s relatives. These disclosures were ignored by authorities, even as they pursued several other high-profile corruption cases. However, convicted senior officials have usually been pardoned or released early.

Reporting directly to the president, the Anti-Corruption Agency of Kazakhstan has focused on sectors like agriculture and healthcare. The largest industries – including oil and gas, finance and construction – remain beyond its attention, as guided by the 2022-2026 draft anti-corruption policy.

The tragic 5 January events that ensued in Almaty underscore the dangers of ignoring corruption in priority areas, but Kazakhstan has an opportunity to turn the tide. So that policies and decisions benefit the common good – not just a privileged few – the way forward should also include meaningful opportunities for civil society participation.

5. LEBANON

In Lebanon (24), high levels of political corruption have caused multiple crises, including the disastrous explosion in the capital’s port in 2020. Even before this tragedy, continuous protests since October 2019 were calling for systemic reforms. In the wake of the Beirut blast, Lebanon sunk into economic collapse and political instability, going without a government for a 13-month period. Widespread protests by Lebanese citizens against political corruption and the economic meltdown were met with persecution and harsh suppression of basic rights by the authorities, even as politicians failed to address the unfolding crises. Unsurprisingly, Lebanon has declined on the CPI, dropping 6 points (from 30) since 2012.
 
Several laws passed in the last two years are nowhere near being enforced. Lebanon also has major deficiencies in public procurement processes and financial transparency. In June 2021, attempting to restore confidence in the government after the Beirut blast, the parliament adopted a new public procurement law. It has disturbing loopholes that allow important information, conflicts of interests and company owners to remain hidden, among other gaps such as not accounting for the role of civil society organisations.

Of all the offshore companies revealed in the Pandora Papers leaks, Lebanese politicians and businesspeople owned the greatest number of them – a whopping 346 companies. Although the leaks named several public and politically exposed figures, no investigation has been undertaken by the Lebanese authorities.


6. MOZAMBIQUE

Although not statistically significant, Mozambique (26) has dropped 5 points (from 31) on the CPI since 2012. The country is still grappling with the fallout of the “hidden debt” corruption scandal, exposed in 2016. In this scheme, senior officials in Mozambique reportedly conspired with bankers in Europe and business people based in the Middle East to arrange a US$2 billion loan to the country. These funds were then allegedly misappropriated, including through bribes and kickbacks.
 
The ensuing financial crisis has meant that the Mozambican state is unable to fulfil its obligations, including protecting the rights of people displaced by the Cabo Delgado conflict. Individuals accused of orchestrating the hidden debt scheme went on trial in late 2021.

The scandal and its aftermath exemplify the dangers of executive overreach and a lack of effective checks and balances – weak parliamentary oversight, in particular. The ongoing high-profile case offers hope, but also serves as an accountability test. What happens next should be closely watched.

7. RUSSIA

In Russia (29), the “foreign agent law” has made reporting on corruption even more dangerous. Authorities raided the homes and offices of journalists and activists investigating government corruption and declared them “foreign agents” subject to burdensome financial reporting and publishing constraints.
 
The Russian authorities sent another clear signal to critics when they jailed opposition leader and anti-corruption activist Alexey Navalny upon his return from Germany, where he was recovering from nerve agent poisoning. At the same time, Navalny’s team released a bombshell investigation into a secret luxury estate on the Black Sea coast, allegedly owned by President Putin’s inner circle.

Authorities used the pandemic as a pretext to ban all mass gatherings and apply restrictions to so-called “single pickets”, or one-person protests. Corruption and abuse also disproportionally affects people already facing discrimination, such as LGBTQIA+ communities.

This dire situation was brought to worldwide attention when the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize was jointly awarded to Dmitry Muratov, editor of the independent paper Novaya Gazeta, and Filipino investigative journalist Maria Ressa, "for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace." During Muratov's time at the Novaya Gazeta, six of its journalists have been murdered.

8. SENEGAL

From 2012 to 2016, Senegal’s performance on the CPI significantly improved (from 36 to 43). Advancements during this period include the creation of the Office for the Fight against Fraud and Corruption (OFNAC) and passage of the asset declaration law, among other reforms. But progress halted there, with Senegal’s 2021 score dropping 2 points compared to last year.
 
In 2020, a national anti-corruption strategy was adopted, but its prospects are unclear, as resourcing and implementation remain a challenge. In recent years, the work of anti-corruption institutions – such as OFNAC – has lacked rigour, and numerous denunciations by the public about mismanagement of public funds and natural resources have not been adequately investigated.

Patchy enforcement of anti-corruption legislation is also a major concern. Freedom House recently downgraded Senegal’s rating from “free” to “partly free”, citing politically motivated corruption prosecutions of opposition leaders.

In 2019, previously unknown details surfaced surrounding the 2012 sale of concession rights for two offshore oil blocks, implicating President Macky Sall and his brother Aliou Sall in possible foreign bribery. In response to public pressure, Aliou Sall resigned from public office, but rejected claims that he received secret payments. Eventually, an investigation into his role was dismissed. Last year, Transparency International filed complaints in six countries that have jurisdiction over the case.


9. SLOVENIA

With a score of 57, Slovenia has reached a historical low. Following the establishment of a relatively solid anti-corruption framework, the government has not enforced existing rules to uphold transparency and integrity in public procurement during the pandemic.
 
Simultaneously, there has been pressure on independent oversight bodies, threats to freedom of peaceful assembly and disproportionate limitations on the right to protest – recently intensified through a lawsuit against an organiser of anti-government protests. The Slovenian government has engaged in a smear campaign against the country’s public media outlets and restricted payments to the Slovenian Press Agency, bringing it to the brink of collapse. Most recently, the announcement of fundamental changes in the news and political programming of public broadcaster TV Slovenia has raised concerns among journalists and the public about political influence on management.

As Slovenia enters a super election year, clear anti-corruption commitments are needed from across the political spectrum. To prevent further losses on the CPI and to address public distrust in the government, Slovenia needs to embed citizen participation and consultation into all levels of decision-making, transpose the EU whistleblowing directive in line with civil society recommendations and international best practice, strengthen its independent ethics and oversight bodies and update its Resolution on the Prevention of Corruption. view all

Australia.....know your screws! Only one of these will screw the whole country. Can you pick the one?
  view all

VICTORIAN TEACHERS RALLY AGAINST MANDATES 
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA 
PARLIAMENT STEPS@12PM 
30/04/2022 
END ALL MANDATES 
  view all

New Zealand needs to be energy independent. The closure of the Marsden Point oil refinery signals the end of New Zealand’s only oil refinery after sixty years. The refinery is capable of processing enough oil to meet a majority of domestic demand (MBIE). Instead, we will imp...
 

 

 
Import huge amounts of oil. NZ needs fuel security and energy independence in the time of uncertainty and price increases rather than relying on imports in the name of being 'green'
  view all

Choosing the right house shifting services in Chandigarh can be a very tiring task. Therefore, we have made it short for you. JD Movers and Packers offer the best shifting services in Tricity area and for the outskirts also. we offer a vast range of services to make your shifting much easier and smoother. are the best in town when it comes to relocation. Get in touch with us to know more about our services and plans. We take complete care of your goods and return them to you as they were the last time you saw them. 
Visit: https://jdmoversandpackers.com/
Phone Number: (981) 3796-966 view all

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was left reeling on Friday after a High Court ruled that her vaccine mandate represented a “gross violation of human rights” for New Zealanders.
 
Justice Francis Cooke ruled that ordering frontline police officers and Defence staff to be vaccinated or face losing their job was not a “reasonably justified” breach of the Bill of Rights.

Nzherald.co.nz reports: The lawyer for the police and Defence staff at the centre of the claim is now calling for the suspended workers to return to their jobs immediately, saying many have given decades of service to their community and are still committed to their jobs.

The challenge, put forward by a group of Defence force and police employees, questioned the legality of making an order under the Covid-19 Public Health Response Act to require vaccination for frontline employees.

The challenge was supported by a group of 37 employees affected by the mandate, who submitted written affidavits to the court.

Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety Michael Wood, Deputy Police Commissioner Tania Kura and NZDF Chief People Officer Brigadier Matthew Weston filed affidavits defending the mandate.

As it stands, 164 of the overall police workforce of nearly 15,700 were affected by the mandate after choosing not to be vaccinated. For NZDF, the mandate affected 115 of its 15,500 staff.

The group relied on two aspects of the Bill of Rights – the right to decline a medical procedure and the right to religious freedom.

On the religious freedom argument, a number of those who made submissions referred to their fundamental objection to taking the Pfizer vaccine, given that it was tested on the cells that were derived from a human foetus.

Justice Cooke agreed with the claim, saying that “an obligation to receive the vaccine which a person objects to because it has been tested on cells derived from a human foetus, potentially an aborted foetus, does involve a limitation on the manifestation of a religious belief.”

However, Justice Cooke disagreed with the claimants’ broader claims that requiring vaccination is inconsistent with holding religious beliefs more generally.

“I do not accept that a belief in an individual’s bodily integrity and personal autonomy is a religious belief or practice. Rather it seems to me, in the circumstances of this case, to be a belief in the secular concept referred to in section 11 of the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act.”

Justice Cooke also agreed with the claim that the mandate impinged on the right to decline a medical procedure.

The judge said that while it’s clear the government isn’t forcing Police and NZDF employees to get vaccinated against their will and they still have the right to refuse vaccination, the mandate presents an element of pressure.

“The associated pressure to surrender employment involves a limit on the right to retain that employment, which the above principles suggest can be thought of as an important right or interest recognised not only in domestic law, but in the international instruments,” Justice Cooke stated.

But in considering the two claims, Justice Cooke also considered whether or not the mandate fell within the definitions laid out in the Covid-19 Public Health Response Act.

The court accepted that vaccination has a significant beneficial effect in limiting serious illness, hospitalisation, and death, including with the Omicron variant. However, it was less effective in reducing infection and transmission of Omicron than had been the case with other variants of Covid-19.

“In essence, the order mandating vaccinations for police and NZDF staff was imposed to ensure the continuity of the public services, and to promote public confidence in those services, rather than to stop the spread of Covid-19. Indeed health advice provided to the government was that further mandates were not required to restrict the spread of Covid-19. I am not satisfied that continuity of these services is materially advanced by the order,” the Judge said.

“Covid-19 clearly involves a threat to the continuity of police and NZDF services. That is because the Omicron variant in particular is so transmissible. But that threat exists for both vaccinated and unvaccinated staff. I am not satisfied that the order makes a material difference, including because of the expert evidence before the court on the effects of vaccination on Covid-19 including the Delta and Omicron variants.”

An additional claim that the mandate would disproportionately affect Māori was dismissed by Justice Cooke.
 
  view all

New Zealand will send more than 50 soldiers to Europe to help distribute aid to Ukraine. A majority of them will help transport an enormous amount of military equipment being donated for the war effort. view all

Another death is being blamed on ramping – the sixth this month – as the ambulance union continues to highlight problems in the system regardless of the change of government.

The Ambulance Employees Association says a man aged in his 60s died after being ramped at Flinders Medical Centre for five hours on Tuesday afternoon.

The union says the man went into cardiac arrest and died despite efforts by paramedics and hospital emergency staff to resuscitate him.

“Tragically we have seen another death in our ramping crisis,” the union announced on social media.

It says the man was a Covid patient but it is understood he had been cleared after an earlier diagnosis.

The death came on the same day new Premier Peter Malinauskas confirmed Labor health spokesman Chris Picton – who had relentlessly highlighted ramping as an issue – would be the new health and wellbeing minister.
 
It followed another high-pressure night on the health system with major metropolitan hospital emergency departments operating above capacity at various times.

At 9am on Wednesday there were 102 patients who had been treated in metropolitan EDs but were waiting for a bed or suitable accommodation, including 14 who had been waiting for more than 24 hours.

While demand had eased by morning, the logjam had caused long waits to be treated overnight and at 9am there was still a 291-minute average wait to be seen at the Lyell McEwin Hospital.

The death is the sixth to be linked to ramping this month by the union, although full investigations are still continuing.

On March 15 the union said there had been two deaths overnight linked to delays in ambulances arriving – the next day it linked another death to delays.
 
 
 
  view all

Prosecutors have dropped their application to have a northern suburbs shopping centre frozen after one of its directors was charged with trafficking in large amounts of cannabis.

Dante Martire, 46, of Payneham South is charged along with three other people with crimes alleged to have occurred in Mount Barker.

On Wednesday, the Director of Public Prosecutions sought to have Mr Martire’s shares in Martins Plaza Shopping Centre frozen while court proceedings continue.

The move was a reversal of a previous application heard earlier this month to have the actual Parafield Gardens shopping centre restrained by the courts.

The order would not have meant the shopping centre would have been shuttered – but that its owners would not have been able to sell it, borrow against it or diminish its value while court proceedings continued.

Judge Karen Thomas ordered that the company be removed as a respondent from the DPP’s application and instead placed as an interested party who would be allowed a voice in the continuing lawsuit.

The move represented a backing down from the DPP’s prior position that they could prove that Mr Martire had a controlling interest in the company.

Instead it was his seven shares in the company out of a total of 35 which were frozen.
 
Steven Hagivassillis, for St Martin Plaza Shopping Centre, said the DPP had pursued the application without officially notifying his client.

“It was disappointing that my client was initially named as a respondent, especially given the paucity of evidence regarding effective control,” Mr Hagivassillis said.

“It appears that the application was pushed at the last proceeding without my clients being served.”

Judge Thomas said it was for the company to take up with the DPP and ordered the shares be seized.

Prosecutors are also trying to have Mr Martire’s interest in another company – Savmar – which they claim he has a controlling interest in.

During the hearing earlier this month Judge Thomas froze a million-dollar Payneham South house and a Beulah Park property that last sold for $650,000, and which belongs to Mr Martire.

She also ordered a silver Ford ute, a blue 1968 Holden sedan be restrained and $410,955 in Mr Martire’s account be frozen.

Documents released by the Adelaide Magistrates Court show police allege Mr Martire, along with Anthony Canova, 46, Rebecca Canova, 43 and Ivan Marotti, 65, cultivated and trafficked cannabis on January 5, 2022.
 
Ms Canova is also charged with trafficking cannabis in McLaren Vale on January 6.

Under the current legislation a large commercial quantity of cannabis is more than 2.5kg or 100 plants. view all

The man accused of bombing the National Crime Authority in Adelaide has been found guilty of assaulting police.
Officers had been called to the Adelaide Remand Centre in 2018 following reports Domenic Perre, the key suspect in the 1994 blast, had been assaulted.
As the investigator approached Perre inside his cell in 2018, he turned and spat on him. Perre did not testify at his trial but did deny it happened.

 
His lawyers argued there was no forensic evidence and the officer's recollection was coloured by 63-year-old Perre's notoriety.
However, the magistrate ruled today the responding officer was acting properly within his duties and found Perre guilty.

He was not in court for the verdict because he is unwell and may have contracted COVID-19, his lawyer said.

Perre will be sentenced for the police assault at the end of March.

He is also on trial over the 1994 NCA bombing, accused of murdering a federal police officer.

That case is with a Supreme Court justice and a date for the verdict has not been set yet.
  view all