Headline: Panasonic HD develops “SparseVLM” technology that doubles the processing speed of Vision-Language Model
Figure 1: Comparison of “SparseVLM” and existing sparsification methods (quoted from the accepted paper)
Osaka, Japan, July 4, 2025 – Panasonic R&D Company of America (PRDCA) and Panasonic Holdings Co., Ltd. (Panasonic HD), in collaboration with researchers from Peking University, Fudan University, University of California, Berkeley, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, have developed “SparseVLM,” a technology that speeds up Vision-Language Models (VLMs), AI models that can understand and process both visual data such as images and videos, and text data.In recent years, VLMs have seen rapid development. These models can process visual and textual information simultaneously and can answer questions about visual content. However, handling a large amount of data, especially high-resolution images and long videos, leads to longer inference times and higher computational complexity for the AI model. “SparseVLM” adopts a novel approach by focusing solely on the visual information relevant to the input prompt (Figure 1), significantly reducing inference time and computational complexity while maintaining high accuracy in answering questions about images.This research has been accepted for presentation at the 42nd International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML2025), one of the premier conferences for AI and machine learning research. The conference will take place in Vancouver, Canada from July 13 to July 19, 2025.
Headline: Panasonic HD develops “SparseVLM” technology that doubles the processing speed of Vision-Language Model
Figure 1: Comparison of “SparseVLM” and existing sparsification methods (quoted from the accepted paper)
Osaka, Japan, July 4, 2025 – Panasonic R&D Company of America (PRDCA) and Panasonic Holdings Co., Ltd. (Panasonic HD), in collaboration with researchers from Peking University, Fudan University, University of California, Berkeley, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, have developed “SparseVLM,” a technology that speeds up Vision-Language Models (VLMs), AI models that can understand and process both visual data such as images and videos, and text data.In recent years, VLMs have seen rapid development. These models can process visual and textual information simultaneously and can answer questions about visual content. However, handling a large amount of data, especially high-resolution images and long videos, leads to longer inference times and higher computational complexity for the AI model. “SparseVLM” adopts a novel approach by focusing solely on the visual information relevant to the input prompt (Figure 1), significantly reducing inference time and computational complexity while maintaining high accuracy in answering questions about images.This research has been accepted for presentation at the 42nd International Conference on Machine Learning (ICML2025), one of the premier conferences for AI and machine learning research. The conference will take place in Vancouver, Canada from July 13 to July 19, 2025.
Two men have now been charged over a drive-by shooting at a North Plympton barber shop in February.
Just before 9.30pm on Thursday 20 February police were called to a business on Hawson Avenue after five shots were fired at the building.
Fortunately, no one was inside the building at the time and there were no reports of injuries.
Southern District Detectives and Crime Scene investigators attended to examine the scene.
Following investigations, this morning (Friday 4 July) Serious and Organised Crime Branch detectives arrested two men over the matter.
A 24-year-old Croydon Park man was charged with discharge a firearm to damage property, contravene a Firearms Prohibition Order and possess a firearm without a licence.
A 49-year-old Fulham man, who was initially arrested in February, but charges were not pursued, was rearrested and charged with assisting an offender in connection with this incident.
They were both refused police bail and will appear in the Adelaide Magistrates Court later today.
Anyone with information about illegal firearms in the community is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperssa.com.au
Orica’s Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub is set to receive up to $432 million in grant funding as the second recipient of ARENA’s Hydrogen Headstart Program.
Orica’s Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub (HVHH) will produce renewable hydrogen using a 50-megawatt electrolyser powered by renewable electricity. This hydrogen will replace natural gas in Orica’s ammonia production process, helping to reduce carbon emissions.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said that hydrogen has an important role to play in decarbonising heavy industry, particularly where electrification isn’t possible or where other alternatives are limited or don’t exist.
“Renewable hydrogen is an important decarbonisation lever for applications like ammonia production where hydrogen has traditionally been produced with fossil fuels.”
“By replacing natural gas-derived hydrogen with clean, renewable alternatives, projects like Orica’s are helping to decarbonise core industrial processes while preserving domestic manufacturing and unlocking new export opportunities,” said Mr Miller.
“ARENA’s Hydrogen Headstart program is designed to fast-track Australia’s renewable hydrogen industry by supporting large-scale projects that are finding ways to reduce emissions, strengthen industrial competitiveness and position the nation as a global leader in clean energy exports. Orica’s project is a great example of what’s possible.”
The project represents a major step in decarbonising Orica’s existing Kooragang Island Ammonia Manufacturing Facility and producing low-carbon ammonia and ammonium nitrate for domestic use across mining, agriculture and industrial sectors.
As part of the funding process, Orica must now work with ARENA to satisfy a number of conditions and demonstrate its ability to meet a range of contractual milestones before the funding is released. Funding under this program is paid based on actual production volumes over a 10-year operating period.
Orica’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Sanjeev Gandhi said: “We’re grateful for this crucial support, which brings us closer to realising the Hunter Valley Hydrogen Hub and advancing the decarbonisation of our Kooragang Island facility – a site we’ve proudly operated for over fifty years. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with ARENA and other Federal and State government agencies to support the transition of Orica’s Kooragang Island manufacturing facility and help shape a cleaner, more resilient future for the Hunter region.”
This project follows the announcement of the first recipient of Hydrogen Headstart, with $814 million allocated to Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners’ (CIP) 1,500 MW Murchison Green Hydrogen Project in Western Australia. With both projects now announced, Hydrogen Headstart Round 1 has now concluded.
To date, ARENA has allocated $370 million to 65 renewable hydrogen projects from early-stage research to deployment.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (USVI)
For Immediate Release Contact: Tionee Scotland July 3, 2025 202-808-6129
PRESS RELEASE
PLASKETT AND MOYLAN INTRODUCE BIPARTISAN BILL TO ESTABLISH CONGRESSIONAL TASK FORCE ON TERRITORY VOTING RIGHTS
Washington, DC – Today—July 3, 2025—Congresswoman Stacey E. Plaskett (D-U.S. Virgin Islands) and Congressman James Moylan (R-Guam), introduced bipartisan legislation to establish a fifteen-member Congressional Task Force to develop a report on a path for Voting Rights for United States Citizen Residents of Territories, which will be terminated upon issuing its report to Congress. The announcement comes on Emancipation Day in the U.S. Virgin Islands, underscoring the historical significance of expanding democratic participation for all Americans.
This legislation builds upon the framework established by House Democrats in the 116th and 117th Congresses in the For the People Act – when the Task Force provision received broad bipartisan support. The Task Force is structured to maintain bipartisan representation from both the House of Representatives and the United States Senate.
“Today, on Emancipation Day in the U.S. Virgin Islands, we take a critical step toward addressing one of the most glaring inequities in our democracy. The timing of this announcement honors the historic significance of July 3, 1848, when enslaved people in the Danish West Indies—now the U.S. Virgin Islands—gained their freedom, marking a pivotal moment in the fight for equal rights and representation.” said Congresswoman Plaskett.
“More than 3.5 million Americans living in U.S. territories are denied the fundamental right to vote for President and lack full representation in Congress. The last five territories of the United States remain in a perpetual limbo status with no path to full inclusion for residents. Congress has a constitutional responsibility for the territories, and this legislation will provide an avenue for Congress to examine access to the ballot for its residents and address this democratic deficit,” Plaskett continued.
“Territories proudly send their sons and daughters in harm’s way to serve in our Armed Forces at higher rates than the States. Yet, we cannot vote for our Commander-in-Chief, nor vote in the House of Representatives, nor have our voices heard in the Senate,” Congressman Moylan stated. “The task force we are seeking to establish would study the long-term effects that this has and what barriers there are to voting representations. It is important that we look at how we can guarantee American citizens in the Territories have a seat at the table.”
“As Congressman Moylan shared, residents of our territories serve in the armed forces in disproportionate numbers but cannot vote for their Commander in Chief. This Task Force takes vital steps to address the inclusion of residents of the U.S. Territories, where millions of Americans currently lack equal representation and equal voting power. We cannot continue to accept second-class citizenship for Americans based solely on their geographic location.” Plaskett emphasized.
“I would like to thank Congressman Moylan for his partnership in co-leading this legislation and invite my colleagues to join us in our fight for fundamental fairness and ensuring that all Americans have a voice in their government, regardless of which territory or state they call home,” Plaskett concluded.
Background
The fifteen-member Congressional Task Force will be appointed by congressional leadership from both parties to ensure bipartisan representation. The Task Force is required to provide a status update to Congress 180 days after enactment and submit a comprehensive report within one year examining impediments to voting rights in territories and recommended changes for full and equal representation. The Task Force has authority to hold hearings, consult with territorial governments, and utilize existing congressional resources before terminating upon submitting its final report.
SANTA RITA, Guam — The U.S. Coast Guard, in close collaboration with the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, safely towed the 47-foot motor vessel Lucky Harvest to Agana Boat Basin on July 1 after the vessel’s crew experienced an engine failure due to a coolant leak.
SANTA RITA, Guam — The U.S. Coast Guard, in close collaboration with the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, safely towed the 47-foot motor vessel Lucky Harvest to Agana Boat Basin on July 1 after the vessel’s crew experienced an engine failure due to a coolant leak.
SANTA RITA, Guam — The U.S. Coast Guard, in close collaboration with the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency, safely towed the 47-foot motor vessel Lucky Harvest to Agana Boat Basin on July 1 after the vessel’s crew experienced an engine failure due to a coolant leak.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, July 3 — This year’s World Internet Conference (WIC) Digital Silk Road Development Forum will be held on July 24 in the city of Quanzhou, east China’s Fujian Province, according to a WIC press conference on Thursday.
The forum will feature discussions on a variety of topics, such as inclusive cooperation on digital trade under the Belt and Road Initiative, AI empowerment for high-quality development of the private economy, and digital-intelligent transformation and sustainable development of international logistics, according to the WIC.
At the press conference, Ren Xianliang, secretary-general of the WIC, said the forum will also feature discussions on AI development and governance, studies on innovation in and development of the digital economy, and digital presentation of traditional Chinese culture, among others.
Located on the narrow plains along the Fujian coastline, Quanzhou was one of the largest ports along the historic Maritime Silk Road, particularly during China’s Song Dynasty (960-1279) and Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). In 2021, the city won UNESCO World Cultural Heritage status.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China urges the United States to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, and stop advancing the so-called Taiwan-related act, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Thursday.
Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a regular press briefing when asked to comment on the adoption of the so-called “Taiwan Non-Discrimination Act” by the U.S. House of Representatives, requiring the U.S. government to support China’s Taiwan region in joining the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Mao stressed that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China’s territory. The government of the People’s Republic of China is the sole legitimate government representing the whole of China.
Taiwan has no basis, reason or right to participate in the United Nations or other international organizations, whose membership is confined to sovereign states, Mao noted.
China urges the United States to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, observe the international law and the basic norms governing international relations, stop advancing the so-called Taiwan-related act, stop using the Taiwan question to interfere in China’s internal affairs, and stop sending wrong signals to “Taiwan independence” separatist forces.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday that the European Union (EU) is “ready for a deal” with the United States to resolve ongoing tariff disputes. However, she emphasized that the bloc is also preparing for the possibility of no satisfactory agreement being reached to defend Europe’s interests.
Von der Leyen made the remarks during a visit to Aarhus. Noting that the deadline is July 9, she pointed out that trade between the EU and the United States amounts to 1.5 trillion euros (1.77 trillion U.S. dollars). “It’s a huge task,” she was quoted as saying in a statement issued by the Commission.
Emphasizing that the goal is to reach “an agreement in principle,” von der Leyen acknowledged that it would be impossible to finalize a detailed deal within such a timeframe due to the vast scale of trade between the two sides.
She warned that if the talks fail, the EU would not hesitate to implement retaliatory measures. “We want a negotiated solution,” she said, “But you all know that at the same time, we are preparing for the possibility that no satisfactory agreement is reached.”
“All the instruments are on the table,” She added.
European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security Maros Sefcovic is currently in Washington, holding discussions with U.S. trade representatives in an effort to secure a deal.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz also urged both sides to strike “a quick and simple agreement,” stressing such a deal is vital for key sectors, including pharmaceuticals, engineering, and automotive manufacturing.
Currently, the United States imposes a 25 percent tariff on EU cars and auto parts, and a 50 percent tariff on steel and aluminum products. The United States is also considering expanding tariffs to cover timber, aerospace components, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and critical minerals. (1 euro = 1.18 U.S. dollars)
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Customers apply for trade-in subsidy from the government at a cashier in Fuyang, Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang Province, Oct. 31, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
China’s electric bicycle trade-in program has driven a boom in both production and sales, played an active role in expanding consumption, benefited livelihoods and promoted safety, according to the Ministry of Commerce on Thursday.
In the first six months of 2025, on average, sales of electric bicycles through the trade-in program across the country increased by 113.5 percent month on month, He Yongqian, spokesperson for the ministry, told a press conference.
By the end of June, a total of about 8.47 million new electric bicycles had been sold to replace old ones across the country, which is 6.1 times that of 2024. Sales in Jiangsu, Hebei and Zhejiang provinces all exceeded 1 million units, while in each of 16 other provincial-level regions including Anhui and Shandong, sales exceeded 100,000 units, He said.
During the same period, the total sales value reached about 24.77 billion yuan (about 3.46 billion U.S. dollars), 6.6 times that of last year. About 8.4 million buyers across the country enjoyed subsidies under the favorable policy, according to the spokesperson.
The ministry’s data also shows that the industry benefits from robust production and sales under the trade-in program. In the first half of this year, the output of the top 10 brands of electric bicycles increased by 27.6 percent year on year.
Meanwhile, a total of 82,000 sales stores participated in the trade-in program, most of which were small and micro enterprises and individual merchants. On average, it increased the sales of each store by 302,000 yuan, according to the industry.
The program, which sees old electric bicycles traded in for new ones, has also ensured the safety of electric bicycle industries and consumers, according to the spokesperson.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
A drone photo taken on July 3, 2025 shows gantry cranes loading containers onto a freight train in Qinzhou railway container center station in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. [Photo/Xinhua]
Cargo volume on the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor surged 76.9 percent year on year to 746,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in the first six months of this year, according to the China Railway Nanning Group.
Cargo flow along the corridor hit a new record by reaching the 700,000 TEU mark on June 20, 125 days earlier than it did last year. As an important project under the Belt and Road Initiative, it has been playing a key role in connecting China’s landlocked western regions to global markets.
A new intermodal transport model was introduced on March 25, when a freight train carrying 200 vehicles from southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality arrived at Qinzhou Port in south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region for direct transfer to an ocean vessel bound for Dubai’s Jebel Ali Port. This first-time use of a “JSQ-type freight train combining a roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) vessel” solution created a new export path for vehicles from Chongqing.
The corridor also launched integrated rail-sea logistics packages this year, reducing shippers’ need to coordinate separately with multiple carriers across different transport segments, and enabling full cargo tracking to boost efficiency and lower costs.
The corridor now operates 14 fixed train routes connecting Beibu Gulf Port in Guangxi and Zhanjiang Port in neighboring Guangdong Province to major inland hubs including Chongqing, Chengdu, Guiyang, Lanzhou, Huaihua and Xi’an. Goods transported through the trade corridor via intermodal rail-sea service now cover 1,236 categories, 79 more than a year earlier, spanning electronics, vehicles and auto parts, machinery, household appliances, and food.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China will replicate 77 pilot measures from the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (FTZ) in other FTZs and across the country, among efforts to align with high-standard international economic and trade rules and advance high-level institutional opening-up, according to a State Council circular released on Thursday.
The measures span seven key areas: services trade, goods trade, digital trade, intellectual property protection, government procurement reform, behind-the-border management systems reform, and risk prevention and control.
Of the overall package, 34 measures will be extended to other FTZs across the country, including those related to innovation in digital-yuan application scenarios, optimized cross-border fund management for multinational corporations, and data-export negative list mechanisms.
The remaining 43 measures will be implemented nationwide, covering cross-border electronic payment applications, commercial encryption certification recognition, data security management certification, government data transparency, and digital government procurement platforms.
The initiative builds on a November 2023 plan that positioned the Shanghai pilot FTZ as a pioneer in aligning with high-standard international economic and trade rules, establishing it as a national demonstration zone for institutional opening-up.
After more than a year of pilot testing, Shanghai has developed leading and landmark institutional innovations and valuable best practices, the circular said.
Authorities are instructed to implement these measures based on local conditions, prioritizing those most urgently needed by businesses and the public, with the aim of extending the benefits of institutional innovation to broader areas.
The circular emphasized that these efforts support China’s strategy of leveraging high-level institutional opening-up to drive deeper reforms and high-quality development.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
La Liga side Villarreal has signed central defender Rafa Marin on loan from Serie A champions Napoli for the coming season in which Marcelino Garcia Toral’s side will play in the Champions League.
The 23-year-old Spaniard returns to his homeland after just a year in Italy, with Villarreal having the option to make the loan deal permanent at the end of next season.
Marin’s arrival helps to cover for the retirement of veteran stopper Raul Albiol and the departure of Eric Bailly, who was released by the club when his contract expired in June.
Marin came through Sevilla’s youth system before moving to Real Madrid and making 65 appearances for the club’s B-team.
He enjoyed a successful 2023-24 season on loan with Alaves and also became a regular in the Spain Under-21 side, although his move to Napoli last summer has not been a success, with just six appearances for the Italian side.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The International Boxing Association has demanded the Olympic governing body to apologize to athletes unfairly affected by its decision allowing controversial pugilist Imane Khelif to box at Paris 2024.
Among those deserving an apology from the International Olympic Committee, according to IBA, is Chinese boxer Yang Liu, who was overpowered by Khelif in a lop-sided Olympic final on Aug 9 to lose the women’s 66kg gold medal to the Algerian at the Paris Games.
Yang Liu (in blue) of China competes against Imane Khelif of Algeria during the women’s boxing 66kg final at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France, Aug. 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao)
IBA President Umar Kremlev, speaking at a news conference in Istanbul on Wednesday, reiterated his stance against the IOC’s permission on Khelif’s Olympic eligibility, hitting out at former Olympic chief Thomas Bach for ignoring the IBA’s pre-Games warning of Khelif’s abnormal gender test results.
“We informed the IOC and provided them the documents (of the test results), but they broke those rules,” Kremlev, a Russian sports administrator, said through an interpreter at the conference, which was held to launch the IBA Golden Era development projects.
“In my opinion, not giving back the medal, but to protect our female sport, we require them to apologize to female boxers publicly.
“Thomas Bach and his team have to apologize to female boxers and then take their responsibility.
“Leave the medals to the true sportswomen that deserved it,” said Kremlev, who had urged the IOC to strip Khelif’s medal and return it to the “real owner” in an earlier interview.
Kremlev made the remarks amid renewed debates over gender regulations in elite sport, and ongoing disagreement between the IBA and IOC in defining athletes’ eligibility to compete in women’s divisions.
At the center of the controversy are Khelif and another boxer Lin Yu-ting of Chinese Taipei, who were both disqualified from IBA-sanctioned events after two rounds of gender testing reportedly found them possessing XY chromosomes.
They were allowed to compete in Paris, though, by the IOC, which prioritizes legal documentation, such as passport sex designation, over biological findings with its own gender identification rules.
Lin also won gold in Paris, defeating Poland’s Julia Szeremeta to bag the women’s 57kg title one day after Khelif’s win.
Two rounds of blood analysis of the two boxers, first carried out during the 2022 IBA Women’s World Championships in Istanbul, followed by a second taken before the 2023 worlds in New Delhi, returned with identical results that did not match the eligibility criteria for IBA women’s events, according to the association.
Trying to re-establish its prestige as the rightful international body of boxing, the IBA launched a series of development programs, including an esports initiative, a brand-new bare-knuckle league and the IBA Gym project, at the Istanbul event, aiming to enhance the sport’s appeal at both the amateur and professional levels.
Its new professional boxing format, the IBA.Pro, separated from its continental and world championships system, made a strong impression on Wednesday with seven bouts, including two bare-knuckle fights, leaving the crowd in odds and adds for an adrenaline-rushing boxing show at the Rixos Tersane Istanbul.
In the main event on the card, British underdog James Dickens delivered a huge upset on the IBA.Pro Champions Night after he knocked out defending WBA interim and IBA Pro super-featherweight world title holder Albert Batyrgaziev of Russia in the fourth round.
Former unified world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury of Britain, American boxing legend Roy Jones Jr, his compatriot and multiple world title holder Terence Crawford, and supermodel Naomi Campbell, were among guests and celebrities attending the IBA event in Istanbul.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner and 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic both cruised into the men’s singles third round at the Wimbledon Championships on Thursday.
Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a return during the men’s singles second round match between Daniel Evans of Britain and Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Britain, July 3, 2025. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)
Sinner, 23, faced little trouble as he beat Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic 6-1, 6-1, 6-3. The Italian needed just one hour and 40 minutes to wrap up the final match on Center Court and set up a third-round clash with Spaniard Pedro Martinez.
Earlier, Djokovic also enjoyed a swift win as the 38-year-old Serbian defeated British player Daniel Evans 6-3, 6-2, 6-0.
“I’m very, very pleased with the performance,” said Djokovic, who spent seven more minutes on court than Sinner. “From the very first point of the get-go, I was really sharp. I didn’t really want to give Dan a chance to come back to the match. I really tried to pressure him constantly from the back of the court.”
“If I play like today, I feel like I have a very good chance against anybody,” added the seven-time Wimbledon champion, who has reached six finals in the last six editions of the tournament. He won four titles consecutively before being beaten by Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz in the past two years.
In the women’s singles, Polish star Iga Swiatek came from a set down to beat American Caty McNally 5-7, 6-2, 6-1, while former Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan breezed past Greece’s Maria Sakkari 6-3, 6-1.
China’s Wang Xinyu, who knocked out 15th seed Karolina Muchova in the first round, lost to Turkey’s Zeynep Sonmez 7-5, 7-5 in the second round.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
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As the digital economy reshapes societies, a critical question emerges: how can its benefits move beyond privileged tech hubs to empower cities everywhere?
At the 2025 Global Digital Economy Conference in Beijing, more than 40 partner cities spanning Europe, North America, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and Latin America answered by launching the Global Digital Economy Cities Alliance (DEC40) — a landmark effort to democratize digital processes.
While 5G and artificial intelligence (AI) advance rapidly, infrastructure gaps and governance challenges exclude billions, especially in developing nations. DEC40 directly tackles it by institutionalizing multilateral cooperation on cross-border data rules, ethical AI and smart city solutions — frameworks essential for inclusive growth.
This photo taken on July 2, 2025 shows a sign of the Global Digital Economy Conference 2025 in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)
CHINA’S ROLE AS CATALYST
“Technologies from industry and academia need multilateral platforms to become true ‘digital public goods,’” stressed Zhao Houlin, former secretary-general of the International Telecommunication Union, at the conference running from Wednesday to Saturday.
China’s practical models, showcased through DEC40, offer scalable blueprints: The digital governance platform of the city of Beijing streamlines administrations, serving 500,000 civil servants. Its Level-4 autonomous vehicles logged 170 million km, a replicable testbed for global urban mobility.
“Urban development in the digital era requires not just technological breakthroughs, but also new ideas for governance and stronger international cooperation,” said Jiang Guangzhi, director of the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Economy and Information Technology. “We are ready to share our practice and provide a ‘Beijing Solution.’”
“These innovations will be shared through the DEC40 platform to help other cities, especially in developing countries, adopt adaptable technology solutions,” Jiang added.
Under DEC40, Beijing has a preliminary plan to implement three major initiatives. Over the next three years, the Chinese capital aims to provide digital infrastructure planning and consulting services to 100 cities in developing countries, train 100 city-level digital governance officers, and jointly build 10 demonstration projects in smart agriculture and digital healthcare.
Beijing has already established connections with cities in countries such as Angola and Tajikistan, and the first training course for 50 officials is expected to be launched this year.
Looking ahead, Rakhimova Durdona Shukurrullayevna, deputy mayor of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, believed that cooperation with Beijing will help ensure every resident shares in digital dividends.
This photo taken on April 17, 2025 shows a China-developed WeRide Robobus (front) operating at an airport in Zurich, Switzerland. (Xinhua)
PRIVATE SECTOR’S CROSS-BORDER IMPACT
Beyond government-led efforts, Chinese private companies are also expanding their global footprint in the digital economy and taking their digital expertise to the world stage.
Chinese autonomous driving leaders like Pony.ai and WeRide now operate across more than eight countries, from Paris to Riyadh, contributing to local job creation in operations and tech support.
“Our expansion attracts global suppliers to invest locally, building industrial clusters,” said Peng Jun, Pony.ai co-founder and chief executive officer.
And benefits go beyond factories. According to Zhang Yuxue, WeRide’s director of PR and marketing, local partnerships have also led to job creation in areas such as fleet management and technical support.
As Chinese autonomous driving firms gain global traction, collaboration with global players is deepening. Uber, for instance, has teamed up with WeRide and Pony.ai to integrate Chinese-developed autonomous driving technologies into its ride-hailing platform, starting with pilot operations in the Middle East.
“It’s clear that the future of mobility will be increasingly shared, electric and autonomous,” said Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi. “We look forward to working with Chinese leading autonomous vehicle companies to help bring the benefits of autonomous technology to cities around the world.”
Co-organized with the UN Development Program, the Global Digital Economy Conference signals that “digital inclusion is now a shared governance imperative.” As Beate Trankmann, resident representative of the United Nations Development Program in China, underscored, collective action turns tech potential into “tangible human benefits.”
Winter began on a mild and soggy note across much of New Zealand, according to Earth Sciences New Zealand’s (formerly NIWA) latest monthly climate summary for June 2025.
Temperatures were above or well above average for most of the country, especially across the North Island, Tasman, Otago, eastern Southland, and Fiordland, says Earth Sciences New Zealand climate scientist Gregor Macara. “The nationwide average temperature of 9.4°C was 0.7°C above the June normal, making it the 16th-warmest June on record since 1909.”
Rainfall was well above normal in many regions including Auckland, Bay of Plenty, Waikato, Taranaki, Wellington, and much of the South Island. In contrast, dry conditions persisted in northern Northland, eastern Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay, and Wairarapa.
Soil moisture levels reflected the rainfall pattern, says Macara. “Drier-than-normal soils remained in Hawke’s Bay, while soils were wetter than normal across much of eastern South Island, from Marlborough to Dunedin.”
The highest temperature in June was 23.2°C at Whakatu in the Hawke’s Bay, while Aoraki Mt Cook Airport recorded the lowest temperature of -12.9°C. Milford Sound took the title for the highest one-day rainfall in June with 151 mm on 25 June (that’s more than halfway up a Redband gumboot), while another regular in climate summaries, east coast headland Cape Turnagain, between Hawke’s Bay and Cook Strait, recorded the strongest wind gust at 191 km/h on the 1st of June.
Among the main centres, Auckland was the warmest, Tauranga the wettest and sunniest, Christchurch the coolest and driest, and Dunedin the least sunny.
The sunniest four locations in 2025 so far are Taranaki, Bay of Plenty, Auckland, and wider Nelson.
On 1 July, GNS and NIWA merged to become Earth Sciences New Zealand.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, July 4 (Xinhua) — At the recently concluded 31st Beijing International Book Fair held in the Chinese capital, the Russian national stand showcased about 800 of the best new releases from the Russian publishing market, covering various literary genres. Classic works of Russian literature that have had a profound impact on Chinese society, such as “War and Peace,” “Crime and Punishment,” and “How the Steel Was Tempered,” are now creating a new reading landscape for the Chinese audience along with works by contemporary Russian authors.
THE ETERNAL RELEVANCE OF CLASSICS
Over the past 100-odd years, a huge number of classic works of Russian literature have been translated and introduced to China. The works of literary titans such as Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Alexander Pushkin, Anton Chekhov have had a lasting and profound influence on Chinese literary circles. Classic works such as How the Steel Was Tempered, War and Peace, and The Seagull were once widely known in China, but their mass recognition has noticeably weakened in our days.
In Chinese literary studies, the prevailing opinion is that the end of the era of total reception of Russian literature in modern China does not indicate its decline, but rather a transition to a phase of deep artistic reflection, where the aesthetic value of the text dominates over utilitarian functions.
Speaking about the main readers of Russian classical literature in today’s China, the winner of the international translation prize “Read Russia”, professor of the Capital Normal University Liu Wenfei in an interview with a correspondent of the Xinhua news agency noted that teachers and students of the humanities and Russian language departments are the most devoted readers of Russian classics in China.
In addition, older Chinese writers and literary scholars have a particular fondness for the realism of the 19th-century “golden age,” while younger poets and prose writers have a clear preference for the modernist literature of the Silver Age—the works of Marina Tsvetaeva, Anna Akhmatova, and other outstanding authors. “It is unlikely that you will find a poet in China today who is not familiar with their legacy,” Liu Wenfei said. According to his observations, these groups form the main readership of Russian classics in the country.
“But the readership of Russian classics in China is by no means limited to the groups mentioned. Otherwise, it would be difficult to explain the phenomenon of multiple reprints of translations – it is enough to mention that Leo Tolstoy’s novel Anna Karenina has been translated into Chinese at least fifty times, while the works of Fyodor Dostoevsky are constantly present in publishing plans,” emphasized Liu Wenfei, a professor of Russian studies who has been involved in literary translation since the early 1980s.
THE FLOURISH OF RUSSIAN LITNISHES
Modern Russian literature is also translated quite fully in China, although classic works such as Tolstoy’s War and Peace, whose reader demand consistently exceeds that of 21st century authors, retain absolute dominance in book retail.
Contemporary Russian literature is in a phase of dynamic development, which excludes premature final assessments. This context is due to the transformation of reading practices, says Wang Xiaoyu, a junior research fellow at the Institute of World Literature of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
However, according to her, compared to other languages, the spread of modern Russian literature in China should be recognized as significant – based on the volume of translations into Chinese and the awards received in recent years.
For example, Renmin Wenxue Chubanshe Publishing House launched the project “Mutual Translations of Chinese and Foreign Authors on a Single Theme”. The Chinese magazine “October” regularly publishes works by contemporary Russian writers first. In 2022, Professor Chen Fang from Renmin University of China received the Lu Xun Prize in the Best Literary Translation category for her translation work on Guzel Yakhina’s novel “My Children”, which contributes to the promotion of contemporary Russian literature in China.
Thus, Chinese youth born after the 1990s have begun to pay more attention to the works of contemporary Russian authors. As demonstrated by the activities of Russian language clubs in Beijing universities in recent years, Chinese youth interest in contemporary Russian literature has evolved from “exoticization” to “analytical discourse” – as evidenced by the academic debate on postmodern narratology in the novels of Viktor Pelevin. And the number of participants in the “Russian-Language Literature” group on the Douban review platform increased by 46 percent in the 2023 annual report.
DETLIT-REVANCE
A significant place in the exposition of the Russian stand at the 31st PMCF was given to children’s books, which clearly demonstrates the desire to strengthen the position of Russian children’s publishers in close cooperation with Chinese partners.
Let us recall that the 1950s were the “golden age” for the introduction and translation of Russian children’s literature in China. Such outstanding works as Pushkin’s fairy tale poem “The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish”, Bianki’s “Forest Newspaper”, Gaidar’s “Distant Countries” and “Chuk and Gek”, and many other wonderful examples of Russian children’s literature were translated and published in China.
However, in recent decades, attention to contemporary Russian children’s literature has noticeably weakened. “This is a serious and unacceptable omission,” says Zhu Ziqiang, director of the Xingyuan Institute at the Ocean University of China.
This omission is now being actively corrected. In order to introduce outstanding Russian children’s books of recent decades to Chinese readers on a large scale, the Chinese publishing house “Jely” initiated and released the series “Golden Russian Children’s Books”. According to information, as of the end of June 2024, 11 titles with a total circulation of 147 thousand copies have been published within this series, including novels, fairy tales, prose and other works.
These books have firmly gained recognition in the Chinese children’s and adolescent literature market. Some of them, including “Visiting the Polar Bear” by Oleg Bundur, “Theo, the Theater Captain” by Nina Dashevskaya, were included in the reading list recommended by teachers of a Chinese school for students. “Theo teaches us that even a small role is important. Now I also want to create a puppet theater in the classroom – like Theo!” wrote an 11-year-old schoolboy surnamed Li from Beijing in a review of the book he read “Theo, the Theater Captain”, which became one of the “Top 10 Best Children’s Books of 2023” at the “Reading Month” festival in the city of Shenzhen, Guangdong Province /South China/.
At the Shanghai International Children’s Literature Fair held in November 2024, the China Literary Authors’ Society (CLAS) and the Association of Writers’ and Publishers’ Unions of Russia agreed to cooperate in acquiring numerous rights to Russian children’s publications.
According to KLAO, as of June 2024, over the past decade, Chinese publishers have translated more than 700 books from Russia, and about 400 Chinese books have been translated in Russia. Literary exchange between the two countries is gradually moving from “one-way borrowing” to “two-way exchange”. In the future, with the deep introduction of digital technology and the involvement of young people, Russian literature will continue to write new pages in China’s cultural landscape.
As a WorkSafe prosecution comes to a close, two workers overcome by fumes from a toxic gas pit have for the first time told of their experience of narrowly dodging death.
The men were doing an excavation, to try to fix the smell of rotting plasterboard at the Taylorville Resource Park near Greymouth in August 2023. The smell was hydrogen sulphide and the workers were not told of dangerously high levels of the toxic, colourless gas measured weeks before at the contaminated waste facility.
The excavator operator went into the pit to clear a pump blockage but as he was climbing out fell unconscious and face down into black liquid at the base of the pit, known as leachate. His supervisor saw this from above and twice fell unconscious while trying to rescue him. He eventually managed to climb out and call for help.
The pit at Taylorville Resource Park where two men were overcome by hydrogen sulphide.
WorkSafe found inadequate risk assessment and planning for the excavation work, workers not being advised of the risks of hydrogen sulphide, and no gas monitors available on site. Two companies were prosecuted for health and safety failures and have now been sentenced in the Greymouth District Court.
Both survivors have permanent name suppression. The supervisor suffered from toxic gas exposure and now lives with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
“Every night for the first six months after the incident and now once a week, I wake up suffering flashbacks thinking I am still in the pit, not being able to breathe, and thinking I am going to die,” says the 64-year-old who has not been able to work since.
Although the man has been left “in a dark financial situation” he says there have been other losses too.
“My entire social circle consisted solely of my workmates so when I lost my job, I suddenly lost my social network and became socially isolated and alone… losing my social circle has probably been my biggest loss.”
“This incident has taken away my life, all my goals and aspirations can no longer be achieved. The mental, physical, and financial impacts have had a profound impact in every area of my life and will continue to do so for a long time.”
The operator suffered chemical burns to his eyes, chemical pneumonitis, atrial fibrillation, and seizures. He is now 38 and has returned to work. He has no memory of the incident, although he says he “feels bad for what happened” to his colleague “and the stress he had to go through when he pulled me out of the leachate”.
WorkSafe’s role is to influence businesses to meet their responsibilities and keep people healthy and safe.
“We salute the courage it has taken for these two survivors to stay strong throughout our investigation and prosecution,” says WorkSafe’s Inspectorate Head, Rob Pope.
“The experience these men have gone through was both terrifying and completely avoidable. It’s only by sheer luck that both survived. Businesses must manage their health and safety risks, and when they do not we will hold them to account.”
Taylorville Resource Park Limited and Paul Smith Earthmoving 2002 Ltd were sentenced at Greymouth District Court on 4 July 2025.
Taylorville Resource Park was fined $302,500 and Paul Smith Earthmoving $272,250. Reparations of $81,256 were also ordered.
Both entities were charged under sections 48(1) and (2)(c) and s 36(1)(a) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015
Being a PCBU having a duty to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers who work for the PCBU, while the workers were at work in the business or undertaking, namely carrying out the excavation and associated work to access the base of Cell C (the excavation work), did fail to comply with that duty, and that failure exposed workers to a risk of death or serious injury.
The maximum penalty is a fine not exceeding $1.5 million.
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Two members of Outlaws Motorcycle Club charged with drug offences
Friday, 4 July 2025 – 11:00 am.
Detectives from Tasmania Police have charged two members of the Outlaws Motorcycle Club, including a senior club official, with serious drug offences following an ongoing investigation into organised criminal activity in the state’s North West. A 36-year-old man and 51-year-old man were arrested and have been formally charged with multiple drug-related offences, including trafficking in a controlled substance and dealing with proceeds of crime. The arrests were made as part of a targeted police operation aimed at disrupting the distribution of illicit drugs and dismantling the criminal networks facilitating their supply. Search warrants were executed at multiple properties in the Devonport area, resulting in the seizure of a quantity of amphetamine, methylamphetamine, steroids, drug paraphernalia, and a significant amount of cash suspected to be the proceeds of crime. “These arrests demonstrate Tasmania Police’s ongoing commitment to targeting outlaw motorcycle gangs and reducing the harm they cause in our communities through drug distribution and organised criminal activity,” said Detective Inspector Michelle Elmer. Both men will appear in the Devonport Magistrates Court at a later date. Investigations remain ongoing, and police urge anyone with information about illegal drug activity to contact police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers anonymously on 1800 333 000 or online at www.crimestopperstas.com.au.
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa J. Whop, Associate Director of Research and Senior Fellow, Yardhura Walani, National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research, Australian National University
It aims to reduce the number of people dying from lung cancer by offering regular low-dose CT scans to people who smoke, and those who have quit. The aim is to detect and treat cancer early before it has spread.
But the program’s design may further disadvantage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who are disproportionately affected by lung cancer.
So Australia’s first new cancer screening program in almost 20 years risks entrenching health inequities rather than addressing them.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are 2.1 times more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer, and 1.8 times likely to die from it, compared with non-Indigenous Australians.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are also more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer at a younger age than non-Indigenous Australians.
Understanding the broader context of lung cancer risk among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is crucial.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been paid in tobacco rations rather than wages up until the 1960s, excluded from economic and health systems, and targeted by tobacco industry marketing.
However, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples face major barriers to lung cancer screening. This is particularly in rural and remote areas where access to GPs, radiology services and culturally safe care is limited.
Lung cancer screening should account for this
Initially, the lung cancer screening program was designed with a lower screening age for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – 50 years compared with 55 years for non-Indigenous Australians. This made sense in the face of the earlier and higher risk of lung cancer.
However, the Medical Services Advisory Committee, the body responsible for assessing applications for public funding, removed this risk-based distinction. Now there’s a general age eligibility of 50-70 years.
This is a shift from equity (fairness) to equality (sameness). In health, treating everyone equally deepens inequities.
By contrast, many public health programs strive for equity and reflect the differing needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. For instance, heart health checks and many vaccines are offered to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at a younger age.
There are also possible consequences of lowering the screening age for non-Indigenous Australians from 55 (as originally intended) to 50. Cancer Australia’s report warned this would not provide a favourable balance of benefits and harms, nor would it be cost-effective.
In this lower-risk population, this could increase the likelihood of detecting slow-growing lung nodules unlikely to cause harm. This can lead to unnecessary tests and procedures, anxiety, psychological distress, overtreatment and even harm.
While Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can also experience these potential harms, the higher risk of lung cancer earlier means the potential benefit from early detection outweighs these risks.
Let’s call it for what it is – structural racism
So current eligibility criteria expands the eligibility for lower risk groups. Yet it ignores Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ higher risk and cumulative impacts of remoteness, limited access to health services and other health conditions.
This decision significantly increases the number of people accessing the program. While this may appear equal on the surface, it risks a misallocation of limited health system resources, particularly in an already overstretched health system.
That’s a clear example of structural racism – when policies that seem neutral actually uphold longstanding inequities, and reinforce disadvantages.
This has parallels with concerns raised in the United States. Screening guidelines there have been criticised for failing to account for higher rates of lung cancer in African Americans.
We must revisit who’s eligible for screening and how eligibility is determined. This may mean not only considering age and smoking history, but other factors such as a family history of cancer.
It might also mean predicting lung cancer risk using models such as the PLCOm2012 risk prediction model. However, this particular model has not been validated in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, which needs to be a priority.
Instead, the Medical Services Advisory Committee has prioritised the same screening age for all – administrative simplicity over this more sensitive way of assessing risk.
We must prioritise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on screening waitlists and follow-up, and strengthen the cultural safety of services.
We must ensure robust data collection and reporting to evaluate the screening program. Evaluation needs to assess if the program delivers equitable access and outcomes, as well as delivering on effectiveness, safety and cost.
All these actions are essential to address the higher burden of lung cancer among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and uphold equity and the right to health over administrative simplicity.
This is the final article in our ‘Finding lung cancer’ series, which explores Australia’s first new cancer screening program in almost 20 years. Read other articles in the series.
Lisa J. Whop has received funding from Australian government National Health and Medical Research Council, Cancer Australia, and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Whop is the Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group of Cancer Australia and has been an investigator on lung cancer screening consultation projects funded by Cancer Australia. The views in this article are their own.
Alison Brown has been a co-investigator on lung cancer screening consultation projects funded by Cancer Australia.
Raglan Maddox has received funding from Australian government National Health and Medical Research Council, Cancer Australia, and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Maddox has been an investigator on lung cancer screening consultation projects funded by Cancer Australia. The views in this article are their own.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa J. Whop, Associate Director of Research and Senior Fellow, Yardhura Walani, National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research, Australian National University
It aims to reduce the number of people dying from lung cancer by offering regular low-dose CT scans to people who smoke, and those who have quit. The aim is to detect and treat cancer early before it has spread.
But the program’s design may further disadvantage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, who are disproportionately affected by lung cancer.
So Australia’s first new cancer screening program in almost 20 years risks entrenching health inequities rather than addressing them.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are 2.1 times more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer, and 1.8 times likely to die from it, compared with non-Indigenous Australians.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are also more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer at a younger age than non-Indigenous Australians.
Understanding the broader context of lung cancer risk among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is crucial.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have been paid in tobacco rations rather than wages up until the 1960s, excluded from economic and health systems, and targeted by tobacco industry marketing.
However, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples face major barriers to lung cancer screening. This is particularly in rural and remote areas where access to GPs, radiology services and culturally safe care is limited.
Lung cancer screening should account for this
Initially, the lung cancer screening program was designed with a lower screening age for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples – 50 years compared with 55 years for non-Indigenous Australians. This made sense in the face of the earlier and higher risk of lung cancer.
However, the Medical Services Advisory Committee, the body responsible for assessing applications for public funding, removed this risk-based distinction. Now there’s a general age eligibility of 50-70 years.
This is a shift from equity (fairness) to equality (sameness). In health, treating everyone equally deepens inequities.
By contrast, many public health programs strive for equity and reflect the differing needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. For instance, heart health checks and many vaccines are offered to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at a younger age.
There are also possible consequences of lowering the screening age for non-Indigenous Australians from 55 (as originally intended) to 50. Cancer Australia’s report warned this would not provide a favourable balance of benefits and harms, nor would it be cost-effective.
In this lower-risk population, this could increase the likelihood of detecting slow-growing lung nodules unlikely to cause harm. This can lead to unnecessary tests and procedures, anxiety, psychological distress, overtreatment and even harm.
While Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples can also experience these potential harms, the higher risk of lung cancer earlier means the potential benefit from early detection outweighs these risks.
Let’s call it for what it is – structural racism
So current eligibility criteria expands the eligibility for lower risk groups. Yet it ignores Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ higher risk and cumulative impacts of remoteness, limited access to health services and other health conditions.
This decision significantly increases the number of people accessing the program. While this may appear equal on the surface, it risks a misallocation of limited health system resources, particularly in an already overstretched health system.
That’s a clear example of structural racism – when policies that seem neutral actually uphold longstanding inequities, and reinforce disadvantages.
This has parallels with concerns raised in the United States. Screening guidelines there have been criticised for failing to account for higher rates of lung cancer in African Americans.
We must revisit who’s eligible for screening and how eligibility is determined. This may mean not only considering age and smoking history, but other factors such as a family history of cancer.
It might also mean predicting lung cancer risk using models such as the PLCOm2012 risk prediction model. However, this particular model has not been validated in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, which needs to be a priority.
Instead, the Medical Services Advisory Committee has prioritised the same screening age for all – administrative simplicity over this more sensitive way of assessing risk.
We must prioritise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on screening waitlists and follow-up, and strengthen the cultural safety of services.
We must ensure robust data collection and reporting to evaluate the screening program. Evaluation needs to assess if the program delivers equitable access and outcomes, as well as delivering on effectiveness, safety and cost.
All these actions are essential to address the higher burden of lung cancer among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and uphold equity and the right to health over administrative simplicity.
This is the final article in our ‘Finding lung cancer’ series, which explores Australia’s first new cancer screening program in almost 20 years. Read other articles in the series.
Lisa J. Whop has received funding from Australian government National Health and Medical Research Council, Cancer Australia, and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Whop is the Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Group of Cancer Australia and has been an investigator on lung cancer screening consultation projects funded by Cancer Australia. The views in this article are their own.
Alison Brown has been a co-investigator on lung cancer screening consultation projects funded by Cancer Australia.
Raglan Maddox has received funding from Australian government National Health and Medical Research Council, Cancer Australia, and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Maddox has been an investigator on lung cancer screening consultation projects funded by Cancer Australia. The views in this article are their own.
Responding to the Hong Kong government proposing a registration system that would recognize same-sex partnerships formed overseas and grant such couples more rights, Amnesty International’s China Director Sarah Brooks said:
“The Hong Kong government’s proposal does not go nearly far enough in its claim to recognize the rights of same-sex couples in the city.
“For unmarried same-sex couples in Hong Kong, where it is not legal for them to marry, this proposal provides precisely nothing. They are still denied both recognition of their union and the full array of rights enjoyed by opposite-sex couples.
“While this proposal affords limited additional rights to couples who have married or registered as civil partners overseas, this falls far short of the CFA’s instruction to establish a framework of recognition in Hong Kong.”
Expo 2025 is held in Osaka, Kansai, Japan from 13 April 2025 to 13 October 2025 with the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” The UN Pavilion at Expo 2025 brings 35 United Nations entities and 15 offices together under the theme “United for a Better Future”.
Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today released a statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed President Trump’s One, Big, Beautiful Bill that included Cassidy’s Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA). The bill is now headed to President Trump’s desk to be signed into law.
“Parents should decide where their kids go to school. This bill helps them do that,” said Dr. Cassidy. “I am grateful to see President Trump sign the first federal school choice bill into law as a part of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill.”
“Passage of ECCA is a historic moment for educational freedom and parents’ ability to choose the best option for their children. Students deserve the opportunity to succeed in the setting which best meets their needs, and this investment will open new doors for millions of American families. It has been a privilege to work so diligently with Rep. Owens, Sen. Cassidy, and Sen. Scott to accomplish this historic legislation, and I look forward to continuing our work supporting American families as the Treasury Department implements this legislation,” said Representative Adrian Smith (NE-03).
In January, Cassidy and U.S. Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) led their colleagues in introducing ECCA to expand educational freedom and opportunity for students. Specifically, it provides a charitable donation incentive for individuals and businesses to fund scholarship awards for students to cover expenses related to K-12 public and private education. ECCA will be the first federal school choice legislation to be signed into law in American history.
Cassidy was joined by U.S. Senators Tim Scott (R-SC), John Thune (R-SD), John Cornyn (R-TX), Steve Daines (R-MT), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Ted Budd (R-NC), Tom Cotton (R-AR), John Kennedy (R-LA), Tommy Tubberville (R-AL), Jim Justice (R-WV), James Risch (R-ID), John Barrasso (R-WY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Todd Young (R-IN), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Katie Britt (R-AL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Dave McCormick (R-PA), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Jon Husted (R-OH), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Jim Banks (R-IN), Bernie Moreno (R-OH), John Boozman (R-AR), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), and Ashley Moody (R-FL).
Headline: Global Topic: Panasonic awarded Best Brand in Customer Experience at Oman CX Forum 2025
Panasonic recognized for its leading approach to customer engagement, personalization and innovation in delivering smooth digital and in-person experiences
Muscat, Oman – Panasonic Marketing Middle East and Africa FZE (PMMAF) announced that it has been awarded as the Best Brand in Customer Experience at the prestigious Oman CX Forum 2025. The recognition celebrates Panasonic’s unwavering commitment to set new benchmarks in providing exceptional customer service through its leading approach to customer engagement, personalization and continuous innovation in delivering smooth digital and in-person experiences across the region.
Held recently in Muscat, the Oman CX Forum 2025 brought together over 200 influential regional leaders and dedicated customer experience professionals. The event, presented by Infoline and organised by Muscat Media Group, served as a pivotal platform for discussing the latest digital customer experience trends, exploring groundbreaking innovations, and dissecting customer-centric strategies shaping the future of industries. The forum’s key highlight was the awards ceremonies, which featured 25 categories selected through nationwide consumer voting. Among the top plums of the event’s recognition was the distinguished “Best Brand in Customer Experience” award.
Panasonic’s strong customer-first approach has been pivotal to its continued success and esteemed reputation as a premium trusted brand across the region. The special accolade validates the company’s commitment to forward-thinking initiatives in order to foster meaningful customer connections. Furthermore, it is a testament to Panasonic’s consistent efforts to deeply understand its customers’ needs, behavior and preferences in delivering seamless digital and in-person experiences, characterized by exceptional engagement and thoughtful personalization.
Hiroyuki Shibutani, CEO, PMMAF, commented: “We are incredibly honored to receive the ‘Best Brand in Customer Experience’ award at the Oman CX Forum 2025. It marks a significant point in our journey and speaks to the standards we’ve maintained through the years. This recognition is a powerful affirmation of our dedication to placing the customer at the heart of everything we do. It reflects the hard work and relentless pursuit of excellence by our teams who are committed to understanding and exceeding customer expectations at every touchpoint.”
John Hardy, COO, PMMAF, added: “As businesses embrace innovation to stay relevant in a changing world, we at Panasonic remain focused on shaping what future-ready technology looks like. This recognition not only reinforces the trust our customers place in us, but, equally important, it also motivates us to further invest in strategies that drive us forward and ensure our customers receive unparalleled service.”
Truly focused on refining and enhancing its top-tier customer experience, Panasonic consistently strives to make an even bigger impact with its customers. In recent years, the company introduced the SMART CARE App, a digital platform which allows customers, dealers, and service centers to seamlessly communicate all service-related matters and claim warranties at the touch of a button. Panasonic is the first appliances brand in the region to launch this kind of paperless warranty system—a testament to its continuing efforts to enhance customer experience through digital excellence.
Also in April of this year, Panasonic established the Digital Studio at its Digital Repair Training Center in Dubai, UAE with the aim of revolutionizing technical training and ultimately deliver efficient service to its customers. With this new platform, optimized technical knowledge transfer is achieved, ensuring that Panasonic engineers and technicians stay updated with the latest product insights and troubleshooting techniques.
Panasonic Marketing Middle East and Africa FZE (PMMAF) are the regional Headquarters, all functions related to Sales and Marketing, Supply chain and Customer service solutions, and Advertising functions under the brand name Panasonic are handled by PMMAF. The vision at PMMAF is to be the No 1 Customer-centric Company and No 1 Customer-preferred brand in the Middle East and Africa region.