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  • MIL-OSI Video: The fourth Ukraine Recovery Conference: Rome 2025

    Source: European Commission (video statements)

    On 10 and 11 July 2025 takes place the fourth Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2025) in Rome, continuing the annual series of high-level political events dedicated to the swift recovery and long-term reconstruction of Ukraine.

    Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will give a speech during the Plenary Session, together with:

    Volodymyr ZELENSKYY, President of Ukraine
    Friedrich MERZ, German Federal Chancellor
    Donald TUSK, Polish Prime Minister
    Lars Løkke RASMUSSEN., Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark
    Olena ZELENSKA, Spouse of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine

    Follow live events and access media content here:
    https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/

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    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bmGYzvC6vU

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI China: ‘Superman’ promo event soars into Beijing ahead of global release

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    “Superman” kicked off its promotional activities in China with a dazzling event at Beijing’s Taikoo Li Sanlitun on July 4, ahead of the film’s worldwide release on July 11. 

    A promotional event for the upcoming “Superman” film at the entrance to Taikoo Li Sanlitun in Beijing, July 8, 2025. [Photo by Liu Ziying/China.org.cn]

    The entrance of the popular shopping complex was transformed into an immersive Superman experience, featuring giant LED posters, life-size cutouts and live-streamed behind-the-scenes footage. The display drew large crowds of fans and curious shoppers, many of whom posed with Superman sculptures and participated in interactive activities. 

    “Superman” is directed and written by James Gunn, with Gunn and Peter Safran producing for DC Studios in association with Warner Bros. Pictures. The film is the first live-action installment of DC Studios’ “Chapter One: Gods and Monsters,” a new slate of movies and series intended to launch the next phase of the DC cinematic universe.

    A promotional event for the upcoming “Superman” film at the entrance to Taikoo Li Sanlitun in Beijing, July 8, 2025. [Photo by Liu Ziying/China.org.cn]

    David Corenswet stars as Superman, with Rachel Brosnahan as Lois Lane and Nicholas Hoult as Lex Luthor. Gunn has described the movie as a story grounded in hope and kindness, highlighting Superman’s immigrant roots and moral resolve.

    A promotional event for the upcoming “Superman” film at the entrance to Taikoo Li Sanlitun in Beijing, July 8, 2025. [Photo by Liu Ziying/China.org.cn]

    Far from being a typical reboot, “Superman” serves as a tonal reset for the franchise, with Gunn aiming to connect with modern audiences, particularly young people seeking heroes who embody compassion and conviction.

    The film launches DC Studios’ ambitious new chapter, which began with the animated “Creature Commandos” in 2024 and will continue with “Supergirl” and “Clayface” in 2026.

    With its global rollout, “Superman” aims to revive DC’s cinematic legacy and reach new audiences around the world.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with the ROK reviews progress of cooperation

    Source: ASEAN

    The ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with the Republic of Korea (ROK) was held in Kuala Lumpur today. The Meeting reviewed the progress of ASEAN-ROK cooperation and discuss its future direction. The Ministers adopted the new ASEAN-ROK Plan of Action (2026–2030), which aims at further advancing the ASEAN-ROK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The Ministers also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest and concern. The Meeting was attended by the ASEAN Foreign Ministers or their representatives, the 1st Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea, H.E. Park Yoonjoo, and Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political-Security Community, Dato’ Astanah Abdul Aziz. Timor-Leste attended as Observer.
     

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • Rivers in southwest China breach warning levels, with thousands evacuated

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The levels of 25 rivers in southwestern China exceeded safe levels on Thursday, state media said, after more than 10,000 people were evacuated as the remnants of former typhoon Danas converged with East Asian monsoon rains.

    Extreme rainfall and severe flooding, which meteorologists link to climate change, increasingly pose major challenges as they threaten to overwhelm ageing flood defences, displace millions and wreak havoc on a $2.8-trillion agricultural sector.

    Heavy rains also hit the capital, Beijing, with one area in the sprawling Chaoyang district receiving 68.2 mm (2.7 inches) of rain in a single hour on Thursday morning, the state-run Beijing Daily said.

    Ten southwestern rivers, including the Longyan, which flows through the densely populated region of Chongqing, could burst their embankments and levees at any time, broadcaster CCTV warned, citing the water resources ministry.

    The remaining 15 had exceeded levels at which they could burst their banks, but posed less of a risk, it added.

    More than 24 hours of torrential rain took levels in the Chishui River of Guizhou province to their highest since records began in 1953, the broadcaster said, while the Xiaocao River in Sichuan province stood at its highest in 29 years.

    More than 10,000 people were evacuated on Wednesday from cities in the provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan, state media said, as the East Asian monsoon rains pushed north from India.

    One county in Yunnan recorded 227.8 mm (9 inches) of rainfall in 24 hours, for its highest total in a single day since records began in 1958.

    Beijing health authorities warned that the combination of frequent downpours, high temperatures and humidity swells the risk of water and food contamination.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Burkina Faso Economic Update: Energy for Economic Growth

    Source: APO


    .

    According to the World Bank’s April 2025 Burkina Faso Economic Update, the country’s economy grew by 4.9% in 2024 compared to 3.0% in 2023. Real per capita GDP growth also increased from 0.7% to 2.5% over the same period.

    This acceleration is attributed mainly to the performance of services and agriculture, supported by an improved security situation, favorable weather conditions, and increased government support to the agriculture sector.

    However, inflation increased in 2024 to 4.2% from 0.7% in 2023, driven by the spike in food prices, caused by market speculation linked to a late start to the rainy season. Despite this, the strong growth in the agriculture and services sectors in 2024 reduced the extreme poverty rate by 3 points to 23.2%, with a sharper decline in rural areas. Despite this, the absolute number of people living in poverty remains high, exceeding 5.5 million.

    The report also notes a decline in the twin deficits (fiscal and current account) in 2024. The fiscal deficit improved in 2024 from 6.5% to 5.6% of GDP, thanks to better control of public spending and increased revenue mobilization. At the same time, the current account deficit also improved from 8.0% of GDP in 2023 to 6.4% in 2024, due to the rise in gold prices which boosted the value of exports. However, the financing of this deficit largely relied on regional markets, in an environment of high interest rates.

    The report highlights that the short- and medium-term outlook remains positive but is subject to multiple risks such as insecurity, climate shocks, debt refinancing, and challenges in the financial sector. Assuming these risks abate, growth is expected to strengthen to 5% over the medium term, driven by buoyant services, an expected recovery of industry, notably through improved energy access, and favorable average weather conditions for agriculture.

    Inflation, meanwhile, is expected to gradually stabilize within the WAEMU target range. This outlook, combined with continued fiscal consolidation, is expected to enable a continued but moderate reduction in poverty estimated at about 1 percentage point per year.

    Regarding the economy, Daniel Pajank and Ibrahim Nana, co-authors of the report, call for “Strengthening the mobilization and efficiency of public resources, including through the continuous modernization of the tax administration, the broadening of the tax base and the optimization of public spending, while improving debt management and mobilizing more concessional financing.”

    The Special Chapter on Energy for Economic Growth provides an assessment of the electricity sector in Burkina Faso and concrete recommendations to achieve the objectives set in the National Electrification Strategy. It highlights the key role of energy in the country’s economic transformation. According to Hamoud Abdel Wedoud Kamil, World Bank Country Manager for Burkina Faso, “Affordable, reliable, and sustainable electricity is essential to improve productivity in agriculture, support the growth of services, and revive the industrial sector.”

    Despite the efforts made, access to electricity remains limited in Burkina Faso, with a rate well below the regional average. This situation constitutes a major obstacle to inclusive growth and reduces economic opportunities for a large part of the population, particularly in rural areas.

    The co-authors of the chapter dedicated to the energy sector, Regina Nesiama Miller and Adwoa Asantewaa, emphasize that “An ambitious reform of the sector, including pricing based on the cost of electricity production and the expansion of off-grid access, would be essential to reduce vulnerabilities and ensure inclusive growth.“

    Finally, the report recommends tackling the structural constraints to the country’s economic transformation, particularly in the electricity sector, which remains characterized by some of the region’s highest generation costs and heavy reliance on imported fuels. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI China: English-dubbed ‘Ne Zha 2’ featuring Michelle Yeoh to debut in August

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    A new English-language version of “Ne Zha 2,” already the world’s highest-grossing animated film, is set to open in cinemas in the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand from Aug. 22, with Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh joining the English voice cast.

    A still from “Ne Zha 2.” [Image courtesy of CMC Pictures]

    A24 and CMC Pictures will distribute the English-language version, the companies announced Wednesday. The film will be released in IMAX, 3D and other premium large formats.

    “I’m honored to be part of ‘Ne Zha 2,’ a landmark in Chinese animation and a powerful reminder of how universal our stories can be,” Yeoh said in a statement. “Sharing this with audiences in English is such a joy, and I can’t wait for everyone to experience the wonder, heart, spectacular artistry, and magic of this film on the big screen.”

    The announcement did not say which character Yeoh will voice or disclose other members of the English cast.

    Directed by Yang Yu, better known as Jiaozi, the film follows mythological figures Ne Zha and Ao Bing, who are reborn in lotus-formed bodies after a catastrophe and must unite against vengeful dragon kings and a scheming god. 

    The film combines traditional Chinese mythology with action, humor and advanced visual effects. The production took five years, with a crew of 4,000 and the involvement of 138 Chinese animation and special effects companies.

    “Ne Zha 2” has emerged as a box office sensation since its release earlier this year, ending its China run on June 30 with 15.45 billion yuan ($2.13 billion) to become the highest-grossing Chinese film ever.

    Its worldwide total has reached $2.19 billion, making it the top-grossing animated film globally, the highest-grossing non-English-language film and the fifth highest-grossing film of all time, trailing only “Avatar,” “Avengers: Endgame,” “Avatar: The Way of Water” and “Titanic.”

    The film is the highest-rated animated feature of 2025, earning a 96% approval rating from critics and a 99% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes. It also ranks among the top-rated releases on Letterboxd. Critics have called it “animated cinema on a scale rarely seen” and “a technical marvel that demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible.”

    CMC Pictures, the film division of CMC Inc., released a Chinese-dubbed, English-subtitled version of “Ne Zha 2” overseas in February, grossing more than $20 million in North America. The English-dubbed version is expected to further boost the film’s global box office.

    Chinese Malaysian actor Michelle Yeoh at an Olympic event in 2023. [File photo/Xinhua]

    “Children, teenagers and families in international markets rarely watch subtitled foreign-language films, and the language barrier remains a key distribution challenge,” said Catherine Ying, vice president of CMC Inc. and president of CMC Pictures. “The English-dubbed version of ‘Ne Zha 2’ is aimed at reaching mainstream audiences and building long-term franchise potential.”

    CMC Pictures has operated internationally since 2016, handling film development, production, investment and distribution in 100 countries.

    A24, the entertainment company behind Oscar-winning films such as “Moonlight” and “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and the series “Euphoria,” has a catalogue of more than 150 films and 50 television series, with 21 Academy Awards, 18 Golden Globes and 18 Emmys. CMC Pictures said the partnership aims to expand the franchise’s global reach, promote Chinese culture and attract a broader international audience.

    Wang Changtian, chairman of Beijing Enlight Media and producer of “Ne Zha 2,” said at a forum during the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival on June 15 that he expects the film’s final international box office receipts to exceed $100 million.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China edges Dominican Republic in five-set thriller in women’s VNL

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    Players of China celebrate during the match between Dominican Republic and China at the Women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) 2025 in Arlington, the United States, July 9, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China came from behind to edge the Dominican Republic in a five-set thriller on Wednesday in a women’s Volleyball Nations League (VNL) match.

    Wu Mengjie scored 25 points and Gong Xiangyu added 18 as China secured a 25-22, 17-25, 22-25, 25-22, 15-13 victory, improving their overall record to 6-3 in the preliminary round.

    Nineteen-year-old middle blocker Chen Houyu sealed the match with a decisive block in the tie-breaker. She finished with 12 points from five kills, four blocks and three aces. Zhuang Yushan was also in double figures with 14 points.

    China’s head coach Zhao Yong credited the win to his team’s fighting spirit.

    “The four matches in Arlington are very important for us [to qualify for the Finals] and this time we fought until the end,” said Zhao. “Under pressure, our young players never gave up.”

    “Their serves were very aggressive, but we were able to make adjustment accordingly quick enough,” Chinese captain Gong added. “We were very determined in our receiving, especially in the fifth set.”

    Brayelin Elizabeth Martinez tallied a match-high 33 points, but the Dominican Republic slipped to a 4-5 record after being outblocked 15-10 by China.

    “I think if we look at the numbers, maybe the Dominican Republic had a better powerful attack than China, but China was better than us in blocking,” said Cristobal Marte Hoffiz, president of the Dominican Republic Volleyball Federation.

    Also on Wednesday, Germany outlasted Canada 24-26, 25-20, 23-25, 25-23, 15-13, while the United States defeated Thailand 28-26, 21-25, 27-25, 25-15.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: International journalists explore development of China’s Xinjiang

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    A total of 24 journalists from 23 countries have participated in a media tour of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, focusing on its role as the core zone of the Silk Road Economic Belt.

    Organized by China’s State Council Information Office, the delegation visited communities, businesses, cultural venues and religious sites in the cities of Urumqi, Turpan and Kashgar from June 30 to July 8, gaining firsthand insight into the harmonious lives of Xinjiang’s residents of various ethnic groups, the region’s economic growth driven by innovation and its vibrant cultural heritage.

    After watching a documentary on counter-terrorism and visiting an exhibition highlighting Xinjiang’s efforts in this field, Zabeirou Souley, president of Times newspaper in Niger, noted that his country faces similar challenges and can learn from China’s experience.

    Citing visits to the Id Kah Mosque in Kashgar and the Xinjiang Islamic Institute, he said that people in Xinjiang fully enjoy freedom of religious belief.

    As a historic hub along the ancient Silk Road, Xinjiang is now experiencing renewed vitality in economic, trade and cultural exchanges under the Belt and Road Initiative.

    During the tour, journalists were impressed by Xinjiang’s advancements in modern agriculture and high-tech industries.

    Toshimichi Kitafuji, a reporter from Japan’s Kyodo News, showed interest in the region’s innovative applications, such as automotive testing under extreme heat, salt-tolerant rice cultivation, drone-assisted cotton farming and AI-driven automated production in cotton processing.

    “As a key hub of the Silk Road Economic Belt, Xinjiang holds immense potential for future growth,” he said.

    Xinjiang’s rich cultural diversity also captivated the foreign visitors.

    Samia Boulahlib, a reporter from Algeria’s El Moudjahid, expressed admiration for the traditional performances in the ancient city of Kashgar, which showcased the city’s deep historical and cultural roots.

    At an exhibition hall in Jiashi County, Abdiqani Abdullahi Ahmed from the Somalia National News Agency learned about local residents’ decades-long struggle for clean drinking water — one of the projects exemplifying China’s historic feat of shaking off absolute poverty.

    “I saw these with my own eyes. Everyone here has something to do and they live happily,” he said. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: SCIO organizes media trip to exhibition marking 80th anniversary of victory against Japanese aggression, fascism

    Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News

    SCIO organizes media trip to exhibition marking 80th anniversary of victory against Japanese aggression, fascism

    China SCIO | July 10, 2025

    The State Council Information Office (SCIO) organized a media trip on Tuesday to the Museum of the War of Chinese People’s Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in Beijing. The participating journalists included foreign correspondents from the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Russia, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Iraq. The group visited a themed exhibition in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

    Lai Shengliang, deputy curator of the Museum of the War of Chinese People’s Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, introduces the exhibition to reporters in Beijing, July 8, 2025. [Photo by Liu Jian/China SCIO]

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Annual Report 2024

    Source: Bank of Botswana

    The Bank of Botswana has released the 2024 Annual Report. The report includes the statutory report on the Bank’s operations during 2024 and audited financial statements. It also includes an economic review section providing an extensive range of economic and financial data. The economic review covers both recent developments in the Botswana economy and a theme section that looks in detail at the topic ‘Next Generation Payment Systems, Innovation And Financial Technologies – Opportunities For Botswana’.

    Annual Report 2024.pdf

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Treasury allocates emergency funding of R750m towards HIV and TB after US funding cuts

    Source: Government of South Africa

    National Treasury has allocated R753 million to the Department of Health — under Section 16 of the Public Finance Management Act (PFMA) — to help bridge the shortfall caused by the United States’ decision to cut HIV and tuberculosis (TB) grants.

    Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi made the announcement on Wednesday during the Budget Vote presentation in Parliament.

    According to the Minister, R590 million of the total of R753 million will be allocated for service delivery in the provinces, distributed through the comprehensive HIV/Aids component of the District Health Programme Grant.

    In addition, R32.1 million will be given to the National Department of Health to support the Central Chronic Medicine Dispensing and Distribution (CCMDD) Programme, as well as pharmaceutical supply chain management.

    Furthermore, R132 million will be transferred to the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) to enhance health research across the country.

    “This is how it is going to work: the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust have pledged R100 million each. 

    “They put a condition that each R100 million they contribute be matched by R200 million from our own Treasury, and that money be given to researchers. Treasury duly agreed.” 

    This means South Africa will receive a total of R600 million allocated to researchers, even though the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has withdrawn support. 

    The United States government’s withdrawal of funding to key health initiatives, including PEPFAR, which was established by former President George W Bush in 2003, led to a loss of R7.9 billion spent on HIV/Aids programmes annually.

    “Hence, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust will together immediately release R200 million. On the other hand, the matching R400 million by Treasury will be released over three years, hence the first tranche of R132 million I have mentioned.“

    According to the Minister, these funds are meant to address the most urgent needs, with the possibility of additional allocations being considered later.

    This week, he stated that the South African Medical Research Council , along with researchers from various institutions and universities, are discussing how they will distribute funds, which will be transferred to the SAMRC.

    “We are determined more than ever before to end the scourge of HIV/Aids as a public health threat. Today is a historic day in this regard. As I am speaking to you now, the Global Fund in Geneva is announcing… that it has signed an access agreement with Gilead Sciences to procure lenacapavir,” the Minister said. 

    The Minister has referred to lenacapavir, a long-acting injection for HIV prevention, as one of the most significant advancements in HIV prevention in decades. 

    This is the first long-acting injectable treatment for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), administered twice a year. 

    According to the Minister, lenacapavir significantly expands the options available for HIV prevention, offering the most choices ever.

    “For South Africa, we regard this as a game changer in our fight against HIV/Aids.

    “As such, as South Africa, we have agreed to be one of the first countries in the starting blocks for lenacapavir.” 

    According to the Minister, the first shipment is expected to arrive in at least one African country by the end of 2025.

    “We intend to be such a country, and we have already started putting the plan together. We plan to offer lenacapavir to young women and everyone at risk to stay HIV-free.

    “We all know that for far too long, women and girls in our country have carried the greatest burden of this epidemic.” – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: City of Polokwane granted level two accreditation for housing

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Thursday, July 10, 2025

    Human Settlements Minister Thembisile Simelane will on Thursday attend the official launch of the City of Polokwane’s level two accreditation for housing.

    On 1 February 2024, the provincial Department of Cooperative Governance, Human Settlements and Traditional Affairs accorded the Polokwane Local Municipality level two housing accreditation. 

    This means the city was given the authority to plan, budget, appoint an implementing agent, and manage housing projects.

    The launch coincides with the start of construction for 404 low-cost houses.

    The houses will cover 21 wards within the municipality, while 254 of the units will be built in rural areas and 150 will be built in urban areas.

    “As part of the City of Polokwane’s obligation to increase the number of households with access to basic electricity, Polokwane Extension 133 will be connected to the electricity grid in phases; 251 houses are already connected to the electricity and 235 will be linked on the day of the launch,” said the department.

    Simelane will be accompanied by the Mayor of Polokwane, John Mpe. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK The story behind the despatch boxes

    Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)

    Frontbench members speak at the despatch boxes during business in the chamber, but what exactly is a despatch box? Curator of the Historic Furniture and Decorative Arts Collection, Eloise, explains.

    Catch-up on House of Lords business:

    Watch live events: https://parliamentlive.tv/Lords
    Read the latest news: https://www.parliament.uk/lords/

    Stay up to date with the House of Lords on social media:

    • X: https://twitter.com/UKHouseofLords
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    #HouseOfLords #UKParliament

    https://www.youtube.com/shorts/mKJERk2Fe2I

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: SAPS warns young women of drug trafficking syndicates

    Source: Government of South Africa

    Thursday, July 10, 2025

    The South African Police Service (SAPS) has warned young women not to fall prey to drug trafficking syndicates, as this can have dire consequences. 

    This follows the sentencing of a 30-year-old female Namibian drug mule by the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court. She was sentenced to eight years direct imprisonment for drug dealing, of which three years were wholly suspended.

    Pauline Mbangula was arrested on 22 September 2024 shortly after landing at OR Tambo International Airport from São Paulo, Brazil.

    At the time, she was found to have swallowed at least 68 bullets – packets filled with cocaine. A medical examination confirmed that there were drugs in her stomach, which she was later made to release.

    “At the time of her arrest, she claimed that she was taken to Brazil by a man she recently met under false pretenses that they were going on holiday,” the South African Police Service said in a statement. 

    Upon arrival in Brazil, she was forced to swallow the drugs and traffic them to South Africa. 

    More than 22 drug mules have been arrested by police at OR Tambo International Airport in the past year. 

    “The regular arrests of drug mules at the OR Tambo International Airport should send a stern warning that police in South Africa, and in particular at this port of entry, are always on high alert to clamp down on criminality,” the police said. – SAnews.gov.za

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Edinburgh to launch Bloomberg Philanthropies innovation team to reduce poverty and reach net zero

    Source: Scotland – City of Edinburgh

    View of Edinburgh from Arthur Seat – a Getty image

    Edinburgh is one of 19 new local authorities joining the international Bloomberg Philanthropies i-team initiative, which provides support and expertise to tackle pressing local challenges.

    The City of Edinburgh Council today announced plans for an Innovation Team which will work towards tackling the city’s ambitions of reaching net zero and ending poverty.

    The ‘i-team’, supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies, will include three specialised staff charged with helping the Council and civic and community-based partners design and implement services that improve people’s lives. They will receive technical assistance from regional and global specialists, and benefit from learnings from peers in local authorities across the region and around the world.  

    City of Edinburgh Council Leader Jane Meagher said:

    Edinburgh is one of the most successful cities in the world and yet we face unprecedented pressures. Our population growth, and appeal as a fantastic place to live and visit, makes it challenging to provide the best quality housing and support to residents who need it most. Likewise, Edinburgh’s world-famous environment, both built and natural, needs to be managed sustainably and protected from the effects of climate change.

    The support from Bloomberg Philanthropies’ international i-team initiative will provide a huge boost towards our aims of tackling poverty and hitting net zero, by helping us to establish a brand-new innovation team within the Council. I look forward to working with this team, and all our partners, as we work to deliver a fairer and stronger capital city.

    James Anderson, who leads the Government Innovation program at Bloomberg Philanthropies, said:

    Realising efficient, effective government is an inside job—and the Innovation Teams we support around the world are critical to building that engine within the city halls they serve. We are glad to expand this model to 19 new municipal teams in Europe, who will join the growing number of public officials working locally, creatively, and ambitiously to break down silos, break through problems, and deliver results residents see and feel.

    To date, the Bloomberg Philanthropies i-team initiative has reached over 100 cities across 16 countries and four continents—representing more than 100 million residents—and inspired hundreds of other local governments to embrace innovation systems and practices.

    Published: July 10th 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Ambitious strategy to help nature recover and thrive launches

    Source: City of Leicester

    A BOLD new strategy making space for nature across Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland has been officially launched.

    The Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) has been developed by Leicestershire County Council and partners to protect nature and allow it to recover by conserving and improving habitats and biodiversity.

    The launch, at Brooksby College in Melton on Tuesday 8 July, marks a major milestone in the commitment to nature recovery, bringing together a wide range of stakeholders in a collective effort to restore and protect the natural environment.  

    These include farmers, landowners, conservation groups, community organisations and representatives from local authorities – all involved in helping to shape the future of nature and make the vision of the LNRS a reality.

    It sets out practical actions to boost the area’s wildlife and natural spaces including:

    • Tackling habitat loss and shrinking species population – by expanding woodland cover, connecting rivers to their floodplains and controlling invasive plant species
    • Identifying habitats and species that need urgent attention – including barbastelle bats, hazel dormice, adders, palmate newts, European eels and water voles.
    • Building a healthier, more connected natural environment – by protecting existing hedgerows and new native hedgerows and creating wildlife-friendly road verges with native wildflowers and grasses.

    Assistant city mayor for environment, Cllr Geoff Whittle, said: “This strategy and the action plan that will follow are very important to Leicester. They will support the recovery of nature, improve people’s access to it, and help to bring about improvements in health and wellbeing for people.

    “They also support the city’s response to climate change by identifying opportunities for nature-based solutions to the problems we face.”

    Cllr Adam Tilbury, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for Environment and Flooding, said: “This is about taking positive, practical action to recover nature in every corner of Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland – from our rivers and woodlands to our farmlands and towns.

    “The strong support we’ve received shows that the people of Leicestershire. Leicester and Rutland care deeply about the environment and are ready to work together for a greener, healthier future.”

    Cllr Virge Richichi, cabinet member for communities and rural issues, said: “Nature recovery is not something we can do alone – and that’s why this strategy is built on partnership. Everyone in Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland has a role to play. Together, we can deliver real change for people, wildlife, and the places we all cherish.”

    Penny Sharp, Strategic Director for Places at Rutland County Council, said: “We know many people in Leicestershire and Rutland feel a strong connection to nature and the rural landscape, which form part of the area’s unique character and identity. This goes hand in hand with an appreciation of climate issues and a desire to protect the environment.

    “Development of this strategy has been welcomed by local communities, who also understand that nature plays a key role in our quality of life and the health of our rural economy. We now have a clear set of priorities that reflect the views of our residents and can support action to bring about positive change.”

    Now, Leicestershire County Council will work with partners to create a delivery plan to:

    • Provide support for farmers delivering nature friendly farming practices and habitat creation.
    • Protect communities from flooding using solutions such as tree planting, re-meandering rivers and connecting rivers to their floodplains.
    • Expand woodland cover and maintain wildlife corridors linking woodlands with other habitats.
    • Safeguard and enhance natural spaces in existing and future urban areas.
    • Create ‘nature corridors’ along historic rail lines and canals allowing wildflower verges, trees, and hedgerows to thrive.
    • Manage grasslands to increase their species richness, providing homes for pollinators, reptiles and rare plants.
    • Deliver tailored management plans to save threatened priority species from extinction.
    • Educate everyone on the importance of local nature recovery and how they can get involved.

    Just under 1,200 responses were received during a consultation held earlier this year with 97 per cent of participants supported the strategy’s aims. Feedback helped to shape the final version of the LNRS, ensuring it reflects local priorities and ideas.

    The most popular suggestions for action were the creation of new habitats, the restoration or expansion of existing habitats and the need to make space for nature in housing, industrial and other developments.

    For more information and to read the strategy, visit www.leicestershire.gov.uk/what-is-a-lnrs

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Grant Award for Brewery

    Source: Scotland – City of Dundee

    Dundee City Council is helping to draw up new opportunities for a local brewery with a grant award. 

    The local authority allocated Holy Goat Brewing a £10,500 Business Growth and Innovation Grant to assist the firm. 

    Councillor Siobhan Tolland visited Holy Goat’s base in the city to see how the funds are making a difference. 

    The firm is using the award to: 

    Councillor Tolland, who is the depute convener of the Fair Work, Economic Growth and Infrastructure Committee said: “I was delighted to see the premises of Holy Goat Brewing and hear the inside story of this local company. 

    “I hope the assistance that has been provided will assist in their endeavours in UK and international markets. 

    “It is encouraging for the future of the city to see how our businesses are working hard to grow in innovative ways.”  

    James Scanlan, of Holy Goat, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Dundee City Council for their support, which has allowed us to invest in new fermenters and expand our production capacity. With the increased capacity, we’re able to bring more variety to our range and meet growing demand for our beers both in the UK and in export markets. The support played a big part in giving us the confidence and initial resources to move forward with expansion plans. It’s encouraging to know there are opportunities like this available for other small businesses looking to showcase local talent and create jobs.”

    The city council’s Economic Growth Team has worked closely with Business Gateway Tayside to manage the Business Growth and Innovation Grant. This phase was funded with legacy monies from Scottish Govt funded Local Authority Economic Development Recovery Fund (LACER),  

    You can find out more about Holy Goat brewing on their website here  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Consultation on the Code of Practice for Unsealed Radioactive Material: ORS C11 2020

    Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

    Publication date:

    The Director for Radiation Safety (the Director) intends to review the Code of Practice for Unsealed Radioactive Material: ORS C11 2020 (ORS C11 2020). The review will be conducted in accordance with section 90 of the Radiation Safety Act 2016 (the Act).  

    The Director is appointed under section 76 of the Act.

    About the review

    The purpose of the review is to enable the Director to decide whether changes are required to improve ORS C11 2020. The review will consider information on the operation, technical accuracy and clarity of the code of practice.

    Call for public submissions

    Before reviewing the code of practice, the Director invites public submissions on the review question: 
    ‘Are changes required to improve the Code of Practice for Unsealed Radioactive Material: ORS C11 2020’?

    To make a submission, please email ors.codes@health.govt.nz by 5pm, Tuesday 22 July 2025. It will be helpful if you use the subject line: Submission on the review of ORS C11 2020.

    About ORS C11 2020

    ORS C11 2020 was issued under section 86 of the Act. The purpose of the code of practice is to specify the technical requirements that a person who deals with a radiation source that is subject to the scope of the code of practice must comply with in order to comply with the fundamental requirements of the Act (see sections 9-12 of the Act). The code of practice was also issued to be appropriate to the level of risk posed by the radiation sources and their use.

    The scope of the code of practice is set out in the Code of Practice for Unsealed Radioactive Material: ORS C11 2020. 

    After the review is complete

    If the review indicates that changes are required to improve ORS C11 2020, a further public consultation on the proposed changes will be conducted. Information on the review’s findings will be published on this webpage following the completion of the review and this information will indicate the ‘next steps’.

    For further information, please contact ors.codes@health.govt.nz.  

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Consultation on the Code of Practice for Irradiating Apparatus: ORS C10 2020

    Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

    Publication date:

    The Director for Radiation Safety (the Director) intends to review the Code of Practice for Irradiating Apparatus: ORS C10 2020 (ORS C10 2020).  The review will be conducted in accordance with section 90 of the Radiation Safety Act 2016 (the Act).  

    The Director is appointed under section 76 of the Act.

    About the review

    The purpose of the review is to enable the Director to decide whether changes are required to improve ORS C10 2020. The review will consider information on the operation, technical accuracy and clarity of the code of practice.

    Call for public submissions

    Before reviewing the code of practice, the Director invites public submissions on the review question: 
    ‘Are changes required to improve the Code of Practice for Irradiating Apparatus: ORS C10 2020’?

    To make a submission, please email ors.codes@health.govt.nz by 5pm, Friday 18 July 2025. It will be helpful if you use the subject line: Submission on the review of ORS C10 2020.

    About ORS C10 2020

    ORS C10 2020 was issued under section 86 of the Act. The purpose of the code of practice is to specify the technical requirements that a person who deals with a radiation source that is subject to the scope of the code of practice must comply with in order to comply with the fundamental requirements of the Act (see sections 9-12 of the Act). The code of practice was also issued to be appropriate to the level of risk posed by the radiation sources and their use.

    The scope of the code of practice is set out in the Code of Practice for Irradiating Apparatus: ORS C10 2020. 

    After the review is complete

    If the review indicates that changes are required to improve ORS C10 2020, a further public consultation on the proposed changes will be conducted. Information on the review’s findings will be published on this webpage following the completion of the review and this information will indicate the ‘next steps’.

    For further information, please contact ors.codes@health.govt.nz.  
     

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Maximum Contribution Applying in Each Region From 1 July 2025

    Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

    Publication date:

    Background

    Under section 53 of the Residential Care and Disability Support Services Act 2018, the Director-General of Health has determined the maximum contribution that applies in each region for long-term aged residential care.

    The maximum contribution is the maximum weekly amount (inclusive of GST) that a resident assessed as requiring long-term residential care (through a needs assessment and service coordination agency) is required to pay for contracted care services provided to them in the region in which their rest home or continuing care hospital is located.

    The maximum contribution is the same for all residents regardless of the type of contracted care services they receive. It is equivalent to the rest home contract price applying to residential care facilities in each region.

    The maximum contribution set by this notice applies from 1 July 2025 and replaces the previous maximum contribution notice published in the New Zealand Gazette, 1 September 2024, Notice No. 2024-go4265.

    Description of Regions

    The appendix of this notice sets out the maximum contribution rates. The appendix contains two parts:

    • Part 1, which sets out the rates that apply within Territorial Local Authority (TLA) boundaries; and
    • Part 2, which sets out the rates that apply within specific Statistical Areas, which are smaller subregions within the TLA boundaries specified in Part 1.

    The rate specified for the relevant region in Part 1 applies unless the facility is in a statistical area region set out in Part 2, in which case the rate specified in Part 2 applies. This reflects that a higher maximum contribution rate applies in the isolated rural localities represented by the Statistical Area Regions in Part 2 of the Table.

    Statistics New Zealand has a geographic boundary viewer that displays the TLA areas and statistical areas in the appendix on a map of New Zealand. See here for more information: Geographic Boundary Viewer.

    Health New Zealand will notify residences of the maximum contribution rate that applies to their facility. The facility will inform residents.

    Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) Agencies, Specialised Processing Services, the Ministry of Social Development and residential care providers will also be able to advise the maximum contribution rate for a facility.

    Dated at Wellington this 18th day of June 2025.

    Audrey Sonerson, Director-General of Health.

    Appendix: 2025-26 Maximum Contribution rates

    Part 1: Territorial Local Authority Region Maximum Contribution Weekly $ (GST Inclusive)
    Far North District $1,460.27
    Whangarei District $1,491.84
    Kaipara District $1,502.48
    Rodney District $1,527.33
    North Shore City $1,566.32
    Waitakere City $1,535.24
    Auckland City $1,571.57
    Manukau City $1,555.96
    Papakura District $1,527.33
    Franklin District $1,487.85
    Thames-Coromandel District $1,508.08
    Hauraki District $1,465.87
    Waikato District $1,465.87
    Matamata-Piako District $1,465.87
    Hamilton City $1,502.55
    Waipa District $1,465.87
    Otorohanga District $1,497.37
    South Waikato District $1,455.16
    Waitomo District $1,502.55
    Taupo District $1,491.84
    Western Bay of Plenty District $1,487.85
    Tauranga City $1,509.97
    Rotorua District $1,491.84
    Whakatane District $1,481.34
    Kawerau District $1,502.48
    Opotiki District $1,502.48
    Gisborne District $1,463.28
    Wairoa District $1,528.73
    Hastings District $1,486.52
    Napier City $1,486.52
    Central Hawke’s Bay District $1,486.52
    New Plymouth District $1,486.52
    Stratford District $1,460.27
    South Taranaki District $1,465.87
    Ruapehu District $1,502.55
    Wanganui District $1,465.87
    Rangitikei District $1,502.48
    Manawatu District $1,460.27
    Palmerston North City $1,481.34
    Tararua District $1,460.27
    Horowhenua District $1,460.27
    Kapiti Coast District $1,491.84
    Porirua City $1,491.84
    Upper Hutt City $1,481.34
    Lower Hutt City $1,512.28
    Wellington City $1,535.66
    Masterton District $1,463.28
    Carterton District $1,460.27
    South Wairarapa District $1,460.27
    Tasman District $1,517.95
    Nelson City $1,517.95
    Marlborough District $1,481.34
    Kaikoura District $1,487.85
    Buller District $1,497.37
    Grey District $1,455.16
    Westland District $1,497.37
    Hurunui District $1,508.08
    Waimakariri District $1,487.85
    Christchurch City $1,496.88
    Banks Peninsula District $1,539.09
    Selwyn District $1,530.06
    Ashburton District $1,470.98
    Timaru District $1,465.87
    Waimate District $1,455.16
    Waitaki District $1,455.16
    Central Otago District $1,460.27
    Queenstown-Lakes District $1,512.91
    Dunedin City $1,481.34
    Clutha District $1,455.16
    Southland District $1,497.37
    Gore District $1,455.16
    Invercargill City $1,460.27
    Part 2: Statistical Area Region Statistical Area code 2 2023 Maximum Contribution Weekly $ (GST Inclusive)
    Kaeo 101900 $1,502.48
    Kaitaia 100800 $1,502.48
    Hokianga South 102100 $1,502.48
    Kaikohe 103501 $1,502.48
    Wellsford 110501 $1,569.54
    Cape Rodney 110400 $1,569.54
    Glenbrook 162400 $1,530.06
    Te Kauwhata East 171101 $1,508.08
    Raglan 171601 $1,508.08
    Matarawa 186400 $1,497.37
    Athenree 190400 $1,530.06
    Tokomaru 205000 $1,505.49
    Opunake 220700 $1,508.08
    Te Roti-Moeroa 221201 $1,508.08
    Pātea 222201 $1,508.08
    Pahiatua 233600 $1,502.48
    Tākaka 300500 $1,560.09
    Waitohi (Marlborough District) 306801 $1,523.48
    Oxford 313200 $1,530.06
    Methven 336901 $1,513.12
    Danseys Pass 343300 $1,497.37
    Palmerston 344700 $1,497.37
    Alexandra North 345500 $1,502.48
    Teviot Valley 345800 $1,502.48
    Lindis-Nevis Valleys 344800 $1,502.48
    Cromwell West 344900 $1,502.48
    Wānaka West 346800 $1,555.12
    Wānaka Central 347000 $1,555.12
    Balclutha South 356500 $1,497.37
    Balclutha North 356600 $1,497.37
    West Otago 355800 $1,497.37
    Milton 356400 $1,497.37

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Consultation on the Code of Practice for Sealed Radioactive Material: ORS C12 2020

    Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

    Publication date:

    The Director for Radiation Safety (the Director) intends to review the Code of Practice for Sealed Radioactive Material: ORS C12 2020 (ORS C12 2020). The review will be conducted in accordance with section 90 of the Radiation Safety Act 2016 (the Act).  

    The Director is appointed under section 76 of the Act.

    About the review 

    The purpose of the review is to enable the Director to decide whether changes are required to improve ORS C12 2020. The review will consider information on the operation, technical accuracy and clarity of the code of practice.

    Call for public submissions 

    Before reviewing the code of practice, the Director invites public submissions on the review question: 
    ‘Are changes required to improve the Code of Practice for Sealed Radioactive Material: ORS C12 2020’?

    To make a submission, please email ors.codes@health.govt.nz by 5pm, Friday 25 July 2025. It will be helpful if you use the subject line: Submission on the review of ORS C12 2020.

    About ORS C12 2020

    ORS C12 2020 was issued under section 86 of the Act. The purpose of the code of practice is to specify the technical requirements that a person who deals with a radiation source that is subject to the scope of the code of practice must comply with in order to comply with the fundamental requirements of the Act (see sections 9-12 of the Act). The code of practice was also issued to be appropriate to the level of risk posed by the radiation sources and their use.

    The scope of the code of practice is set out in the Code of Practice for Sealed Radioactive Material: ORS C12 2020.

    After the review is complete 

    If the review indicates that changes are required to improve ORS C12 2020, a further public consultation on the proposed changes will be conducted. Information on the review’s findings will be published on this webpage following the completion of the review and this information will indicate the ‘next steps’.

    For further information, please contact ors.codes@health.govt.nz.  
     

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Funding to Māori Health Providers 2019/20 to 2023/24

    Source: New Zealand Ministry of Health

    Publication date:

    This report shows information on funding to Māori health providers by the Ministry of Health, Health New Zealand, and the disestablished Māori Health Authority for the period 2019/20 to 2023/24. This report follows on from our reports in 2017 and every year from 2021, on the same topic. These reports are part of our monitoring of Whakamaua: Māori Health Action Plan 2020-2053 and the proposed Māori Health Strategy.

    Highlights include:

    • funding to Māori health providers increased from $529.8 million in 2019/20 to $999.8 million in 2023/24, an increase of $469.9 million or 88.7% (see Table 3)
    • although funding to Māori health providers is increasing, it remains a small but increasing part of Vote Health. It has increased from 3.0% in 2019/20 to 4.4% in 2023/24.
    • This report differs from previous reports as it now includes data broken down by major service groups. This enables us to see in which areas funding has increased. The top five of 33 major service groups are reported on. These five groups accounted for 81.7% of total funding to Māori health providers in 2023/24.

    The top five major service groups reported on are: mental health, Hauora Māori, Primary Health Organisations (PHOs), Public health, and Other community services.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government posts notices of land resumption and acquisition for Development of San Tin Technopole (Phase 1) (First Batch) and Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park (First Phase)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Lands Department (LandsD) today (July 10) posted land resumption notices and acquisition notices for the developments of San Tin Technopole (STT) (Phase 1) (First Batch) and Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park (SPS WCP) (First Phase), in accordance with relevant ordinances.

    Section 4 of the Lands Resumption Ordinance (Chapter 124) and section 4 of the Land Acquisition (Possessory Title) Ordinance (Chapter 130) will be invoked.

    For STT (Phase 1) (First Batch), 1 309 private lots with an area of about 62 hectares will be resumed by the Government. Government land occupied by 20 graves and 42 urns, as well as 25 fishponds of about 700 square metres and about 7.5 hectares respectively, will also be acquired. In addition, for the establishment of SPS WCP (First Phase), about 85.2 hectares of government land occupied by 110 fishponds will be acquired by the Government. The land will revert to and vest in the Government upon the expiry of a period of three months from the date of affixing the notices (i.e. October 11, 2025).

    The abovementioned land reversion date and land vesting date are not the departure deadlines for the affected households and business undertakings. The LandsD will post notices in relevant areas about three months before the departure deadlines for the affected parties. According to the project programmes, the affected parties are scheduled to depart in batches. The estimated departure date for STT Phase 1 Stage 1 works will be in batches mainly from the first quarter of 2026 to the second quarter of 2027, whereas the estimated departure date for SPS WCP (First Phase) will be in batches mainly from the fourth quarter of 2026 to 2027. The LandsD and its appointed Community Liaison Service Team will closely liaise with the affected parties to handle compensation and rehousing matters.

    The STT (excluding the Loop), with an area of about 540 hectares, will be developed in two phases, with Phase 1 development of about 365 hectares. The works for Phase 1 development are subdivided into two stages, with an area of about 158 hectares for Stage 1 works and about 207 hectares for Stage 2 works. The Stage 1 works commenced late last year. As previously stated publicly, the Government will not carry out pond filling works before commencing works for SPS WCP in 2026/2027. Upon full development, the STT will provide about 50 000 residential flats, accommodating a new population of more than 150 000. It will also create about 160 000 employment opportunities. The first population intake of about 18 000 under Phase 1 Stage 1 development will start progressively from 2031 onwards.

    SPS WCP, spanning over 300 hectares, will also be developed in two phases. The works of SPS WCP (First Phase) covering an area of about 150 hectares will commence in 2026/2027 (including the abovementioned proposed acquisition of land of about 85.2 hectares) for completion in 2031. The park serves multi-functions to conserve the Deep Bay wetlands, facilitate the modernisation of the aquaculture industry, as well as create environmental capacity and compensate for the impact on ecology and fisheries resources. The entire park is expected to be completed by 2039 to align with the estimated time for full operation of the STT.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government posts notices of land resumption and acquisition for Development of San Tin Technopole (Phase 1) (First Batch) and Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park (First Phase)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Lands Department (LandsD) today (July 10) posted land resumption notices and acquisition notices for the developments of San Tin Technopole (STT) (Phase 1) (First Batch) and Sam Po Shue Wetland Conservation Park (SPS WCP) (First Phase), in accordance with relevant ordinances.

    Section 4 of the Lands Resumption Ordinance (Chapter 124) and section 4 of the Land Acquisition (Possessory Title) Ordinance (Chapter 130) will be invoked.

    For STT (Phase 1) (First Batch), 1 309 private lots with an area of about 62 hectares will be resumed by the Government. Government land occupied by 20 graves and 42 urns, as well as 25 fishponds of about 700 square metres and about 7.5 hectares respectively, will also be acquired. In addition, for the establishment of SPS WCP (First Phase), about 85.2 hectares of government land occupied by 110 fishponds will be acquired by the Government. The land will revert to and vest in the Government upon the expiry of a period of three months from the date of affixing the notices (i.e. October 11, 2025).

    The abovementioned land reversion date and land vesting date are not the departure deadlines for the affected households and business undertakings. The LandsD will post notices in relevant areas about three months before the departure deadlines for the affected parties. According to the project programmes, the affected parties are scheduled to depart in batches. The estimated departure date for STT Phase 1 Stage 1 works will be in batches mainly from the first quarter of 2026 to the second quarter of 2027, whereas the estimated departure date for SPS WCP (First Phase) will be in batches mainly from the fourth quarter of 2026 to 2027. The LandsD and its appointed Community Liaison Service Team will closely liaise with the affected parties to handle compensation and rehousing matters.

    The STT (excluding the Loop), with an area of about 540 hectares, will be developed in two phases, with Phase 1 development of about 365 hectares. The works for Phase 1 development are subdivided into two stages, with an area of about 158 hectares for Stage 1 works and about 207 hectares for Stage 2 works. The Stage 1 works commenced late last year. As previously stated publicly, the Government will not carry out pond filling works before commencing works for SPS WCP in 2026/2027. Upon full development, the STT will provide about 50 000 residential flats, accommodating a new population of more than 150 000. It will also create about 160 000 employment opportunities. The first population intake of about 18 000 under Phase 1 Stage 1 development will start progressively from 2031 onwards.

    SPS WCP, spanning over 300 hectares, will also be developed in two phases. The works of SPS WCP (First Phase) covering an area of about 150 hectares will commence in 2026/2027 (including the abovementioned proposed acquisition of land of about 85.2 hectares) for completion in 2031. The park serves multi-functions to conserve the Deep Bay wetlands, facilitate the modernisation of the aquaculture industry, as well as create environmental capacity and compensate for the impact on ecology and fisheries resources. The entire park is expected to be completed by 2039 to align with the estimated time for full operation of the STT.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Docker Brings Agentic Apps to Life with New Compose Support, Cloud Offload, and Partner Integrations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BERLIN, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Docker, Inc.®, a provider of cloud-native and AI-native development tools, infrastructure, and services, today announced major new capabilities that make it dramatically easier for developers to build, run, and scale intelligent, agentic applications. By extending Docker Compose to support agents and AI models, introducing Docker Offload for cloud-scale execution, and collaborating with cloud providers like Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure and AI SDKs like CrewAI, Embabel, LangGraph, Sema4.ai, Spring AI, and Vercel AI SDK, Docker is delivering on its mission to simplify complex technology and empower developers.

    “Agentic applications are rapidly evolving, but building production-grade agentic systems is still too hard,” said Tushar Jain, EVP of Engineering, Docker, Inc. “Just like Docker democratized microservices a decade ago, we’re now making agentic apps accessible to every developer by making agent-based development as easy, secure, and repeatable as container-based app development has always been. The next wave of software is powered by intelligent agents, and Docker makes it easy to turn that potential into real, running applications.”

    These advancements are more than just new tools. They help solve one of the biggest challenges facing developers today, which is moving agentic applications from local prototypes to secure and scalable production environments.

    Docker Compose Enters the Agent Era

    For over a decade, Docker Compose has been the go-to tool used by millions of developers for defining and running multi-container applications. Now, Docker is extending Compose into the agent era, enabling developers to define intelligent agent architectures consisting of models and tools in the same simple YAML files they already use for microservices and take those agents to production.

    With the new Compose capabilities, developers can:

    • Define agents, models, and tools as services in a single Compose file
    • Run agentic workloads locally or deploy seamlessly to cloud services like Google Cloud Run or Azure Container Apps
    • Integrate with Docker’s open source Model Context Protocol (MCP) Gateway for secure tool discovery and communication
    • Share, version, and deploy agentic stacks across environments without rewriting infrastructure code

    This approach brings powerful agent orchestration into familiar workflows with no new languages or tools required.

    “Making it just as straightforward for developers to take AI apps from prototype into production as it already is for regular code—that’s the next big thing in app development,” said Torsten Volk, Principal Analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group. “Expanding Docker Compose to give developers the same familiar, simple experience for AI deployments as they have for traditional apps is exactly what we need. Plus, the new capability to run AI models directly in the cloud—without clogging up your laptop—is another major step forward. This should make a real difference in how quickly enterprises can start adopting AI at scale.”

    Introducing Docker Offload: Cloud Power, Local Simplicity
    As agentic applications demand more GPU power for complex AI tasks, local machines frequently fall short of the necessary capacity, which has become a significant pain point for developers. To solve this, Docker today unveiled Docker Offload (Beta), a new capability that enables developers to offload AI and GPU-intensive workloads to the cloud without disrupting their existing workflows.

    With Docker Offload, developers can:

    • Maintain local development speed while accessing cloud-scale compute and GPUs
    • Run large models and multi-agent systems in high-performance cloud environments
    • Choose where and when to offload workloads for privacy, cost, and performance optimization
    • Keep data and workloads within specific regions to meet sovereignty requirements and ensure data does not leave designated zones across the globe.

    Docker Offload integrates directly into Docker Desktop, preserving the familiar docker compose up experience while delivering cloud horsepower under the hood.

    Built on a Thriving Ecosystem
    Docker’s agentic capabilities are launching alongside new integrations with leading cloud and AI platforms. Key partnerships include:

    • Google Cloud: Deploy agentic applications to production via serverless environments with the new gcloud compose up command
    • Microsoft Azure: Seamless deployments via Azure Container Apps, arriving soon
    • Popular agent frameworks: Compose integrations now support CrewAI, Embabel, Google’s ADK, LangGraph, Spring AI, and Vercel AI SDK, and more.

    Steren Giannini, Director of Product Management, Google Cloud Run
    “With Compose Spec support in Cloud Run, we’re making it dramatically simpler to move sophisticated AI apps from local development straight to production. This collaboration brings the best of both worlds: Docker’s local dev power combined with Cloud Run’s serverless scale and reliability, all with one simple command.”

    Scott Hunter, Vice President Director of Product, Azure Developer Experience
    “Microsoft has been collaborating with Docker for many years, and we’re pleased to see Docker extend the Compose Spec to support agent-based application development.
    We’re working together to make agentic app deployment seamless on Microsoft Azure Container Apps—helping developers easily build and scale AI applications and agents from local dev to the cloud. These integrations help ensure developers can easily adopt Docker’s agentic tooling alongside the frameworks they already use.”

    Ram Venkatesh, CTO and Co-founder of Sema4.ai
    “Agent-based systems represent a transformative leap in how software interacts with the world: autonomous, goal-driven, and contextual. Docker’s direction supporting agentic architectures is a major unlock for developers, making it radically easier to compose, scale, and iterate on multi-agent systems without compromising security or reinventing infrastructure. This is the kind of pragmatic innovation that accelerates agentic adoption for real-world use cases.”

    Craig McLuckie, CEO and Founder of Stacklok and Co-Creator of Kubernetes “Enterprises that want to lift up their knowledge workers and create powerful new customer experiences need to connect the right data to AI models at the right times, and that requires use of MCP. Docker has a critical role to play in facilitating adoption of MCP through familiar constructs like containers and Docker Compose. By working together, in the open, we can bring simplicity and security to MCP that will unlock real enterprise adoption.”

    Availability

    • Docker Compose enhancements for agentic applications are available today
    • Docker Offload is available in closed beta for developers who request access.
    • Google Cloud Run integration is live; Azure Container Apps support is coming soon
    • MCP Gateway and Docker Hub MCP Server are open source and ready for use

    Resources

    About Docker
    Docker drives modern software development by making it easy to adopt container technology to radically boost productivity, security, testing, and collaboration at every step of the developer experience, including emerging AI workflows. Embraced by over 20 million developers worldwide, Docker’s unmatched flexibility and choice make it the preferred tool for developers seeking efficiency and innovation for creating modern applications. Learn more about Docker at www.docker.com.

    A video accompanying this announcement is available at: 
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/972c3a61-d15d-40cf-a719-ad54e0a73fc2

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Docker Brings Agentic Apps to Life with New Compose Support, Cloud Offload, and Partner Integrations

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BERLIN, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Docker, Inc.®, a provider of cloud-native and AI-native development tools, infrastructure, and services, today announced major new capabilities that make it dramatically easier for developers to build, run, and scale intelligent, agentic applications. By extending Docker Compose to support agents and AI models, introducing Docker Offload for cloud-scale execution, and collaborating with cloud providers like Google Cloud and Microsoft Azure and AI SDKs like CrewAI, Embabel, LangGraph, Sema4.ai, Spring AI, and Vercel AI SDK, Docker is delivering on its mission to simplify complex technology and empower developers.

    “Agentic applications are rapidly evolving, but building production-grade agentic systems is still too hard,” said Tushar Jain, EVP of Engineering, Docker, Inc. “Just like Docker democratized microservices a decade ago, we’re now making agentic apps accessible to every developer by making agent-based development as easy, secure, and repeatable as container-based app development has always been. The next wave of software is powered by intelligent agents, and Docker makes it easy to turn that potential into real, running applications.”

    These advancements are more than just new tools. They help solve one of the biggest challenges facing developers today, which is moving agentic applications from local prototypes to secure and scalable production environments.

    Docker Compose Enters the Agent Era

    For over a decade, Docker Compose has been the go-to tool used by millions of developers for defining and running multi-container applications. Now, Docker is extending Compose into the agent era, enabling developers to define intelligent agent architectures consisting of models and tools in the same simple YAML files they already use for microservices and take those agents to production.

    With the new Compose capabilities, developers can:

    • Define agents, models, and tools as services in a single Compose file
    • Run agentic workloads locally or deploy seamlessly to cloud services like Google Cloud Run or Azure Container Apps
    • Integrate with Docker’s open source Model Context Protocol (MCP) Gateway for secure tool discovery and communication
    • Share, version, and deploy agentic stacks across environments without rewriting infrastructure code

    This approach brings powerful agent orchestration into familiar workflows with no new languages or tools required.

    “Making it just as straightforward for developers to take AI apps from prototype into production as it already is for regular code—that’s the next big thing in app development,” said Torsten Volk, Principal Analyst at Enterprise Strategy Group. “Expanding Docker Compose to give developers the same familiar, simple experience for AI deployments as they have for traditional apps is exactly what we need. Plus, the new capability to run AI models directly in the cloud—without clogging up your laptop—is another major step forward. This should make a real difference in how quickly enterprises can start adopting AI at scale.”

    Introducing Docker Offload: Cloud Power, Local Simplicity
    As agentic applications demand more GPU power for complex AI tasks, local machines frequently fall short of the necessary capacity, which has become a significant pain point for developers. To solve this, Docker today unveiled Docker Offload (Beta), a new capability that enables developers to offload AI and GPU-intensive workloads to the cloud without disrupting their existing workflows.

    With Docker Offload, developers can:

    • Maintain local development speed while accessing cloud-scale compute and GPUs
    • Run large models and multi-agent systems in high-performance cloud environments
    • Choose where and when to offload workloads for privacy, cost, and performance optimization
    • Keep data and workloads within specific regions to meet sovereignty requirements and ensure data does not leave designated zones across the globe.

    Docker Offload integrates directly into Docker Desktop, preserving the familiar docker compose up experience while delivering cloud horsepower under the hood.

    Built on a Thriving Ecosystem
    Docker’s agentic capabilities are launching alongside new integrations with leading cloud and AI platforms. Key partnerships include:

    • Google Cloud: Deploy agentic applications to production via serverless environments with the new gcloud compose up command
    • Microsoft Azure: Seamless deployments via Azure Container Apps, arriving soon
    • Popular agent frameworks: Compose integrations now support CrewAI, Embabel, Google’s ADK, LangGraph, Spring AI, and Vercel AI SDK, and more.

    Steren Giannini, Director of Product Management, Google Cloud Run
    “With Compose Spec support in Cloud Run, we’re making it dramatically simpler to move sophisticated AI apps from local development straight to production. This collaboration brings the best of both worlds: Docker’s local dev power combined with Cloud Run’s serverless scale and reliability, all with one simple command.”

    Scott Hunter, Vice President Director of Product, Azure Developer Experience
    “Microsoft has been collaborating with Docker for many years, and we’re pleased to see Docker extend the Compose Spec to support agent-based application development.
    We’re working together to make agentic app deployment seamless on Microsoft Azure Container Apps—helping developers easily build and scale AI applications and agents from local dev to the cloud. These integrations help ensure developers can easily adopt Docker’s agentic tooling alongside the frameworks they already use.”

    Ram Venkatesh, CTO and Co-founder of Sema4.ai
    “Agent-based systems represent a transformative leap in how software interacts with the world: autonomous, goal-driven, and contextual. Docker’s direction supporting agentic architectures is a major unlock for developers, making it radically easier to compose, scale, and iterate on multi-agent systems without compromising security or reinventing infrastructure. This is the kind of pragmatic innovation that accelerates agentic adoption for real-world use cases.”

    Craig McLuckie, CEO and Founder of Stacklok and Co-Creator of Kubernetes “Enterprises that want to lift up their knowledge workers and create powerful new customer experiences need to connect the right data to AI models at the right times, and that requires use of MCP. Docker has a critical role to play in facilitating adoption of MCP through familiar constructs like containers and Docker Compose. By working together, in the open, we can bring simplicity and security to MCP that will unlock real enterprise adoption.”

    Availability

    • Docker Compose enhancements for agentic applications are available today
    • Docker Offload is available in closed beta for developers who request access.
    • Google Cloud Run integration is live; Azure Container Apps support is coming soon
    • MCP Gateway and Docker Hub MCP Server are open source and ready for use

    Resources

    About Docker
    Docker drives modern software development by making it easy to adopt container technology to radically boost productivity, security, testing, and collaboration at every step of the developer experience, including emerging AI workflows. Embraced by over 20 million developers worldwide, Docker’s unmatched flexibility and choice make it the preferred tool for developers seeking efficiency and innovation for creating modern applications. Learn more about Docker at www.docker.com.

    A video accompanying this announcement is available at: 
    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/972c3a61-d15d-40cf-a719-ad54e0a73fc2

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitdu Launches Largest-Ever Global Trading Challenge with Over $50 Million in Rewards

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitdu, a next-generation global cryptocurrency exchange, has officially announced the launch of its most ambitious event to date: the “Battle of the Peak” Global Trading Challenge. With a total prize pool exceeding $50 million in cash and platform tokens, the competition marks the largest trading event in Bitdu’s history and one of the most lucrative challenges in the digital asset industry.

    The competition will run from July 10 to August 10, 2025 (UTC), and is open to verified traders worldwide. With a participation cap of 10,000 users, the event requires a minimum entry fund of $10,000 and supports major assets including USDT, USDC, BTC, and ETH. Traders can compete using spot trading only, and withdrawals during the contest will be treated as a forfeit.

    Participants will be ranked by net profit, calculated as the difference between final account value and total funds invested (including any top-ups). Rankings will be updated daily, with the top 100 traders published publicly and the top 10 receiving high-visibility visual leaderboards.

    The event will be strictly monitored by Bitdu’s dual-layered compliance system, combining AI-based behavioral tracking and manual reviews. The top 100 winners will undergo deep audits post-competition. Any form of market manipulation, multi-accounting, or abnormal transfers will result in disqualification and profit reset.

    “Bitdu is committed to creating a competitive yet fair environment where the best traders can rise to the top,” said a Bitdu spokesperson. “This event is not only about the size of the prize pool, but about setting a new standard in transparent, compliant, and rewarding trading competitions.”

    About Bitdu
    Bitdu is a globally regulated cryptocurrency exchange offering spot, futures, and staking services to millions of users. The platform holds MSB licenses in the U.S. and Canada, is registered as a VASP in the EU, and operates with DCE approval in Australia. Bitdu is committed to building a secure, compliant, and high-performance trading ecosystem.

    Company: Bitdu UAB
    Contact Person: Yvonne Bennett, Global Communications Manager
    Email: bitdu@bitdu.com
    Website: www.bitdu.com
    Telephone: 447933919784
    City: London

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/97510e64-9885-4182-b98d-0112eb1ee59c

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/36bd0d00-3168-4e0e-a3cd-71e735388e4a

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0446bcce-6dc6-4c9d-96d1-393d2aa2daeb

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitdu Launches Largest-Ever Global Trading Challenge with Over $50 Million in Rewards

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, July 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitdu, a next-generation global cryptocurrency exchange, has officially announced the launch of its most ambitious event to date: the “Battle of the Peak” Global Trading Challenge. With a total prize pool exceeding $50 million in cash and platform tokens, the competition marks the largest trading event in Bitdu’s history and one of the most lucrative challenges in the digital asset industry.

    The competition will run from July 10 to August 10, 2025 (UTC), and is open to verified traders worldwide. With a participation cap of 10,000 users, the event requires a minimum entry fund of $10,000 and supports major assets including USDT, USDC, BTC, and ETH. Traders can compete using spot trading only, and withdrawals during the contest will be treated as a forfeit.

    Participants will be ranked by net profit, calculated as the difference between final account value and total funds invested (including any top-ups). Rankings will be updated daily, with the top 100 traders published publicly and the top 10 receiving high-visibility visual leaderboards.

    The event will be strictly monitored by Bitdu’s dual-layered compliance system, combining AI-based behavioral tracking and manual reviews. The top 100 winners will undergo deep audits post-competition. Any form of market manipulation, multi-accounting, or abnormal transfers will result in disqualification and profit reset.

    “Bitdu is committed to creating a competitive yet fair environment where the best traders can rise to the top,” said a Bitdu spokesperson. “This event is not only about the size of the prize pool, but about setting a new standard in transparent, compliant, and rewarding trading competitions.”

    About Bitdu
    Bitdu is a globally regulated cryptocurrency exchange offering spot, futures, and staking services to millions of users. The platform holds MSB licenses in the U.S. and Canada, is registered as a VASP in the EU, and operates with DCE approval in Australia. Bitdu is committed to building a secure, compliant, and high-performance trading ecosystem.

    Company: Bitdu UAB
    Contact Person: Yvonne Bennett, Global Communications Manager
    Email: bitdu@bitdu.com
    Website: www.bitdu.com
    Telephone: 447933919784
    City: London

    Photos accompanying this announcement are available at

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/97510e64-9885-4182-b98d-0112eb1ee59c

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/36bd0d00-3168-4e0e-a3cd-71e735388e4a

    https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0446bcce-6dc6-4c9d-96d1-393d2aa2daeb

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Andrew Bailey: The meaning of reserve currency

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    It is a great pleasure to have the opportunity to make some remarks this afternoon. This is not just to be able to follow a fascinating and timely lecture, but also because I worked for Andrew Crockett at the Bank of England nearly 40 years ago. Andrew was inspiring to work for, one of the deepest thinkers about international economic policy and central banking. He also had a quite incautious side too. He was a practitioner of one of his favourite phrases – “if you have never missed a plane, you obviously arrive at airports too early”. Andrew was also the creator of the Financial Stability Forum, and its first chair.

    I want to spend my time developing a theme that has run though Maury’s lecture, namely what has been the meaning of the term reserve currency, and what does it mean today. My conclusion is that it is best to think of the term as one that has evolved with the times, and continues to do so. Thinking of it as a constant term does not help to understand its meaning.

    I will start with the nineteenth century meaning of the term. The monetary regime was the classical gold standard, and convertibility of domestic currency into gold at a fixed price was the nominal anchor of the system. The term reserve therefore referred to the gold reserves that were held to enable convertibility and the promise thereof.

    The nineteenth century Bank of England spent time managing that reserve balance to create confidence in the promise of convertibility. Today, our banknotes still carry the words “I promise to pay the bearer on demand, the sum of”. Nowadays, it means that someone can have another banknote, but under the gold standard it meant much more. This system did not put as much emphasis on financial stability, with the consequence that when crises occurred (as they did in that time), they were managed with a certain degree of adhocery. Hence, Walter Bagehot wrote his famous critique of the Bank.

    There was rather more to the concept of reserve currency in this period. Sterling was the premier currency of international trade, built on trade with the British Empire, but extending further over time to the countries of the so-called Sterling Area. It is one of the questions in central bank Trivial Pursuit to name countries in the Sterling Area.

    The collapse of this system between the wars led to the Bretton Woods system coming into existence and its heyday once full convertibility was restored. This system had the joint dollar-gold anchor in the form of a fixed dollar-gold rate and pegging of the major currencies. The consequence was a substantial growth of official dollar reserves, and the further emergence thus of the dollar as the reserve currency.

    The system therefore had a joint anchor. Because Bretton Woods solved the so-called Trilemma by restricting capital flows, the threat of countries exhausting reserves was limited, but not sufficiently so to prevent difficult devaluations at times. Moreover, I tend to think of the Triffin Dilemma as posing the question – what if the bluff of the dollar-gold tie had been called, and what would be the consequence?

    From the early 1970s that system broke down. Countries moved to free float, with periodic attempts at management, and a lifting of restrictions on capital controls. Alongside this was the emergence of the domestic anchor of monetary policy, usually an inflation target. The dollar had become the predominant currency of international trade and payments.

    The role and nature of reserves had changed. No longer were they a nineteenth century description of the central bank’s balance sheet and its liquidity under the classical gold standard. Rather, they became a description of so-called official reserves typically, but not always, held by governments, though often managed by central banks. Their role was different, reflecting the changes to the solution of the Trilemma. As foreign exchange intervention to influence exchange rates came to an end, the role of reserves in many countries was to act as a bulwark against pressures from capital flows, as seen in the Asian crisis of the late 1990s.

    A few numbers help here. The stock of FX reserves relative to global GDP increased from 3% to 11% between 1976 and last year.

    During that period, foreign currency reserves as a proportion of global reserve assets including gold increased from 50% to 90%, while the dollar’s share of foreign currency reserves declined from 80% to 57%. I take four points from these figures: the total stock of FX reserves has increased; the share of gold fell; the dollar’s share fell as it moved from being the anchor currency to the largest currency; and the evidence further supports the view that the meaning of the term reserve currency has changed over time.

    Today, with domestic monetary anchors, financial stability has become the focus of international co-ordination, the opposite of the gold standard arrangements. The meaning of reserve currency has changed again as a consequence. I would point to two important features of today’s system.

    First, the concept of reserve currency has a lot more to do with the supply and denomination of safe assets which act as security in the financial system, and are increasingly at the heart of it. This version of the concept of reserve currency has as much to do with the role of US Treasuries as a safe asset, that is present not just in official reserves but also to provide security and collateral in financial markets.

    Second, these arrangements are backed up by the provision of contingent liquidity insurance in the form of central bank swaps and a repo facility. These arrangements underpin the role and primacy of the reserve currency.

    I will end with two points which strike me as unfinished or emerging. First, at least for the large economies, it could be asked today, what is the point of official reserves? My view is that today their use is more to do with preserving financial stability in the event of stress. They may be needed to support financial system liquidity in situations of extreme stress.

    My second point, as BIS colleagues have emphasised, is that we need to watch carefully the evolution of payments forms and whether innovation here introduces fragility into what I would call the “money system”.

    If, for instance, stablecoins emerge as a new form of money, we have to decide how to ensure the singleness of money and therefore trust in money in this world, and what role the notion of reserve currency should play here.

    To finish, thank you Maury for such a stimulating lecture. You pushed me to think further about the meaning of reserve currency. The conclusion I draw was that we need to emphasise more its adaptable nature, but thereby be very clear what it means in the world of today and tomorrow.

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Andrew Hauser: What has Australian macroeconomic thought achieved in the past century – and where can it contribute in the next?

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Introduction

    It is a great honour to address you on the 100th anniversary of the Economics Society of Australia.

    It’s an honour because, over that past century, Australian thinkers have helped develop some of the most important building blocks in open economy macroeconomics – the branch of economics that seeks to understand how the global trading economy works.

    Those were significant – sometimes world-leading – intellectual achievements.

    But they were more than just that. Because they also shaped the policies and institutions that helped Australia navigate the global economy of that period so successfully, delivering wealth and stability for its citizens.

    Indeed Australian macroeconomic research has pulled that trick off twice. First, powering the ideas that lifted the country out of the Great Depression to flourish after the Second World War. And, second, helping to design a reform program that rescued the country from the slump of the 1970s, and led to more than a quarter century of recession-free growth.

    Two Golden Ages, marshalling thought into action.

    But to thrive in the next 100 years, Australia’s researchers will need to go for the hat-trick.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –