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  • MIL-OSI China: Guirassy double as Dortmund down Monterrey to reach Club World Cup quarters

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

    Serhou Guirassy scored two first-half goals as Borussia Dortmund beat Monterrey 2-1 on Tuesday to reach the FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinals.

    German Berterame pulled one back early in the second half but the Mexican side failed to capitalize on several late chances.

    The result means Dortmund will face Real Madrid in New Jersey on Saturday for a place in the last four while Monterrey bows out.

    Borussia Dortmund’s Niklas Suele (R) vies with CF Monterrey’s Jesus Corona during the round of 16 match between Borussia Dortmund of Germany and CF Monterrey of Mexico at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, the United States, July 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

    Monterrey had the first scoring opportunity of the match when Colombian midfielder Nelson Deossa fired a speculative long-range effort straight at goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

    But most of the early attacking was done by Dortmund, whose fluid passing was causing problems for Monterrey’s defense.

    Guirassy opened the Bundesliga club’s account in the 14th minute when he played a slick one-two with Karim Adeyemi before side-footing a low effort that beat Argentine goalkeeper Esteban Andrada at his near post.

    The goal spurred Monterrey into action. Jesus Corona almost put his side on level terms when he miscued his cross from the left flank and instead hit the woodwork. Moments later, Deossa aimed a 25-yard rocket straight at Kobel.

    But the Liga MX side was undone once more by the Adeyemi-Guirassy combination in the 24th minute as the Guinea international striker caressed a first-time shot past Andrada after Adeyemi’s layoff.

    Deossa again tried his luck from distance, forcing a sharp save from Kobel, but most of the chances were at the other end as Dortmund maintained the pressure.

    Guirassy continued to trouble Monterrey’s defense and squandered the chance for a first-half hat-trick when he slid Jobe Bellingham’s cross wide. He then saw another attempt blocked by Andrada.

    Monterrey returned from the halftime interval with fresh urgency, reducing the deficit in the 48th minute through Berterame, who nodded in from close range after Daniel Svensson’s defensive header deflected off Erick Aguirre and into the path of the Mexico international.

    The Rayados pushed forward in search of an equalizer and Jesus Corona drew a reflex save from Kobel after Sergio Canales’ deft through ball.

    Corona then fired over after dribbling into the box, and Oliver Torres forced another stop with a clever volley.

    Former Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos had a gilt-edged chance to equalize in the 91st-minute but headed inches wide from Aguirre’s cross. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Delivering convenience of modern life to doorsteps of Tibetan farmers, herders

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

    Aerial photo taken on Nov. 5, 2020 shows villagers’ new houses in Pumaqangtang Township in Shannan, southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan)

    When Ngawang Chophel ordered a down jacket online, he knew better than to expect it to arrive the next day. In his remote village in southwest China’s Xizang Autonomous Region, delayed deliveries are the norm, unlike the speedy service enjoyed by those who live in the country’s more accessible regions.

    Yet, the delivery system across Xizang today has improved significantly from the past, when parcels could take weeks to arrive in remote areas, with the last mile — or more — usually done by the receiving party rather than the courier service.

    “It used to take half a month for a parcel to reach us. It was both costly and time-consuming,” said Ngawang Chophel, who hails from Pumaqangtang Township, in Nanggarze County, Shannan City of Xizang.

    In the past, people from his village, located at an altitude of 5,373 meters, faced a two-day journey across the sparsely populated plateau to the county seat, which is more than 100 kilometers away, just to collect their mail and parcels. The gasoline bill for one such trip easily came to a hefty 100 yuan (approximately 14 U.S. dollars).

    Shannan, covering a total area of 80,000 square kilometers, has a relatively small population of just 354,000. For a long time, the eight market-based courier providers operating in the city only delivered packages to the county seat, and at best, to a few townships.

    To improve the situation, Shannan set out to overhaul its mail delivery system. It started by integrating the private courier services into the publicly funded postal network, so that the two systems worked better together.

    By September 2024, the city had established a three-tier postal and courier system comprising 12 county-level digitalized hubs and 701 village or community-level service stations at both ends, with township-level posts functioning as bridges between.

    To improve village-level logistics service hubs, the city allocated 10,000 yuan in subsidies to each station last year. In addition, it reinforced rural roads and attracted branded courier providers to operate in Shannan.

    Thanks to the reform, parcels are now delivered directly to residents’ doorsteps in all 577 administrative villages across Shannan. “Our township, Pumaqangtang, is the highest in China, and now we can receive delivery packages without any obstacles, which has greatly improved our lives,” said Ngawang Chophel as he unpacked his down jacket, a package reaching him much faster than before.

    More efficient deliveries not only make residents happy. “The ‘last mile’ of parcel delivery in and out of villages is crucial for enhancing consumption, promoting rural e-commerce, and supporting broader rural revitalization efforts,” said Gyangkar, the vice mayor of Shannan.

    China, the world’s largest express delivery market, handled over 175 billion parcels in 2024, a 21.5 percent increase from the previous year. As China boasts a highly efficient courier sector, individual localities find it essential to keep up with the flow to stay economically competitive.

    No longer bothered by the arduous commute required to pick up their packages, villagers in Shannan are more inclined to shop online. Official statistics indicate that the total volume of online purchases in the city surpassed 1.45 billion yuan in 2024.

    Local businesses have been integrated into the national production and supply chain thanks to the revamped express delivery system, noted an official in Shannan. For instance, the Xizang Hongnong agricultural development company, which operates the largest modern chicken farm in Xizang, previously had to suspend construction due to delayed packages. It’s no longer the case.

    Furthermore, local agricultural products now have an easier path to reach buyers in other parts of the country due to the reform. Tashi Lhamo, an influencer with four million followers, sells local specialty food ranging from Tibetan butter to tsampa through livestreaming.

    She is pleased to see that the establishment of a logistics service station in her village in Qonggyai County has greatly supported her livestreaming business.

    As of the end of last year, nearly 600,000 courier packages had been delivered to villagers’ doorsteps as a result of the reform, benefiting over 230,000 farmers and herders.

    “This has made residents happier, and the flow of goods between urban and rural areas more efficient,” Gyangkar remarked.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: NRRP: payment request for eighth instalment, equal to EUR 12.8 billion, sent to European Commission

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    The payment request for the eighth instalment of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP), equal to EUR 12.8 billion, was sent to the European Commission today.

    The request was submitted following the NRRP steering committee meeting held on 24 June, which verified the achievement of the 40 required objectives (28 targets and 12 milestones), including reforms and investments that are strategic for Italy’s economic and social growth. With the payment request for the eighth instalment, Italy has consolidated its leading position in Europe in terms of implementation of its NRRP, which will enable it to exceed EUR 153 billion over the coming months, corresponding to approximately 79% of the Plan’s total resources. 

    The measures implemented as part of the eighth instalment include: digitalisation of the Guardia di Finanza [Italian Finance Police], with innovative IT systems to fight economic crime; more than 1,000 language and methodology courses for school teachers; the launch of projects to update school curricula in over 8,000 schools and guide students towards STEM skills; implementation of culture and tourism enhancement projects by supporting approximately 2,000 small and medium-sized enterprises; redevelopment of around 50 historical parks and gardens. Furthermore, 1,400 km of rail infrastructure have been equipped with the European Rail Traffic Management System (ERTMS); an advanced and integrated monitoring and forecasting system has been created to identify hydrogeological risks in Italy’s southern regions; marine habitat protection and coastal observation work has been carried out; improvements to the energy efficiency of public housing have been planned; with regard to universities, 5,000 research projects of national interest have been funded, approximately 2,300 new researchers have been hired, more than 550 research grants have been allocated, and financing has been provided for research programmes and projects on rare and severely debilitating diseases. 

    In addition to these investments, there are also important reforms to boost the economic competitiveness of companies, including the reform to reduce payment delays by central and local government authorities, regional authorities, autonomous provinces and national health service bodies, and the reform to launch simplification and streamlining for business incentives.

    In line with the previous payment requests, the eighth instalment will be disbursed upon completion of the standard assessment process provided for by European procedures, the aim of which is to verify that all required milestones and targets have been met.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: President Meloni attends ceremony for display case dedicated to Paolo Borsellino

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    30 Giugno 2025

    The President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, delivered a speech at today’s ceremony at the Chamber of Deputies for the presentation of a display case dedicated to Paolo Borsellino.

    [This video is available in Italian only]

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New online appeals service launching for all local planning authorities

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    New online appeals service launching for all local planning authorities

    The Planning Inspectorate’s new digital appeals service is being rolled out nationally following successful pilot with five London boroughs.

    National rollout begins 

    We’re pleased to announce the national rollout of our new online appeals service following its successful pilot phase. This represents a significant milestone in our digital transformation programme. 

    The service has been thoroughly tested with five London boroughs (Barnet, Greenwich, Havering, Richmond upon Thames, and Bromley) who have been handling both householder appeals (fast-track cases) and section 78 (full planning) appeals through the system. 

    Phased rollout approach 

    We’re using a phased approach to roll out the service: 

    • Cohort 1: Two local planning authorities have recently joined the pilot – Gloucestershire County Council and Gosport Borough Council. 
    • Cohort 2: We will increase the number of authorities joining towards the end of July.
    • National rollout: All authorities in England will join the service by December 2025. We will be sharing more details after the summer. 

    Benefits for local planning authorities 

    The new service offers several important improvements: 

    • streamlined submission and management of appeals, making the process more efficient 
    • a user-friendly LPA dashboard for reviewing and monitoring cases, following GOV.UK design principles 
    • improved communication between all parties, reducing paper-based processes 
    • continuous improvement of the system based on user feedback  

    Show and tell for LPAs 

    Last week, we ran a ‘show and tell’ attended by around 800 people from over 230 local planning authorities to showcase the new service and outline the changes. Recording of the session is below: 

    Appeal a planning decision service Show and tell 

    We received a wealth of excellent questions during the session and, while we managed to answer some of them live, we weren’t able to address all of them in the time available. We’re currently working through these questions and will aim to provide comprehensive responses as soon as possible. 

    Thank you 

    We want to thank our pilot local planning authorities for their valuable feedback and collaboration, which has been crucial in refining the service. We’re also grateful to our project team, casework teams and inspectors for their hard work in developing this system. 

    Further information 

    To stay updated on developments, follow the Planning Inspectorate on LinkedIn or sign up for email alerts via our subscription form.

    Updates to this page

    Published 2 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council working with local accommodation providers to explore ways to support and manage effects tourism

    Source: City of Oxford

    Wednesday, 2 July 2025

    Oxford City Council is facilitating work with accommodation providers – including hotels and colleges – to explore how the city can better manage the effects of tourism while ensuring it remains a vibrant and popular place for residents and visitors.  

    Following an initial feasibility study and an independent report from The Mosaic Partnership in 2024, the Council now plans to appoint a consultant to help set up two task groups to explore the different options for the sector.  

    Supporting the next stage of this work could help identify projects and potential funding streams, including whether an Accommodation Business Improvement District (ABID) is appropriate and supported.  

    An ABID is not a tourist tax. Unlike models used in other countries, an ABID is a business-led initiative where accommodation providers decide whether to establish it and how the funds are spent. The levy is collected under Business Improvement District legislation, and funds would be controlled by the ABID board, not Oxford City Council or any other statutory or government body. 

    Initial research suggests that an ABID could unlock up to £10 million for additional projects, depending on criteria set by the task groups. 

    The Council will facilitate the next stage of the project with funding from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF), however it will have no say in whether any option is pursued, the final decision or how any money could be spent. 

    Comment  

    “Oxford’s accommodation sector plays a vital role in our city’s economy. Supporting the next stage of this project will give them the opportunity to shape projects and funding streams that work for them. 

    “This is a business-led initiative, and ultimately it will be up to accommodation providers whether to move forward or not, but it has the potential to unlock a lot of money to support them and make improvements that will benefit everyone.” 

    Councillor Alex Hollingsworth, Cabinet Member for Planning and Culture  

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Conference Continues General Debate as It Enters Third Day

    Source: United Nations General Assembly and Security Council

    Meetings Coverage

    Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development,

    5th & 6th Meetings (AM & PM)

    Heads of State and Government, ministers and other senior officials from around the world will address the Conference as its general debate continues.

    …

    Development

    For information media. Not an official record.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI: Virtune AB (Publ) (“Virtune”) has completed the monthly rebalancing for June 2025 of its Virtune Crypto Altcoin Index ETP

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Stockholm, 2nd of July 2025 – Virtune AB (Publ) (“Virtune”) today announces that it has completed the monthly rebalancing of the Virtune Crypto Altcoin Index ETP, listed on Nasdaq Stockholm and Nasdaq Helsinki (ISIN code SE0023260716).

    In addition to the Virtune Crypto Altcoin Index ETP, Virtune’s product portfolio includes:

    Virtune Stellar ETP
    Virtune Staked Solana
    Virtune Staked Polkadot ETP
    Virtune XRP ETP
    Virtune Avalanche ETP
    Virtune Litecoin ETP
    Virtune Chainlink ETP
    Virtune Arbitrum ETP
    Virtune Polygon ETP
    Virtune Staked Cardano ETP
    Virtune Crypto Top 10 Index ETP
    Virtune Bitcoin Prime ETP
    Virtune Coinbase 50 Index ETP

    Index allocation as of 30th June (before rebalancing):

    Uniswap: 17.00%
    XRP: 12.82%
    Litecoin: 12.67%
    Solana: 12.49%
    Chainlink: 11.79%
    Stellar Lumen: 11.56%
    Avalanche: 11.13%
    Cardano: 10.55%

    Index allocation as of 30th June (after rebalancing):

    Solana: 12.50%
    XRP: 12.50%
    Cardano: 12.50%
    Avalanche: 12.50%
    Chainlink: 12.50%
    Litecoin: 12.50%
    Stellar: 12.50%
    Uniswap: 12.50%

    In connection with this month’s rebalancing, no change was made to the composition of the index.

    The performance of the Virtune Crypto Altcoin Index ETP for June was -4.60%.

    The rebalancing is carried out according to the index that the ETP tracks, the Virtune Crypto Altcoin Index. The purpose of the monthly rebalancing is to reset the weights of each crypto asset to provide equal-weighted exposure to altcoins.

    In June, crypto markets were mixed. Uniswap led with a 17.8% gain, followed by XRP at 2.95%. Solana and Litecoin slipped slightly, while Chainlink fell 4.25%. Avalanche and Cardano saw the sharpest drops at -13.7% and -16.6%, making them the month’s weakest performers.

    Performance of the crypto assets in the Virtune Crypto Altcoin Index ETP during June:

    Uniswap: +17.8%
    XRP: +2.95%
    Solana: -1.08%
    Litecoin: -1.12%
    Chainlink: -4.25%
    Avalanche: -13.7%
    Cardano: -16.6%

    Virtune Crypto Altcoin Index ETP is the first of its kind in the Nordic region. It includes up to 10 leading alternative crypto assets (altcoins), excluding Bitcoin and Ethereum, that are part of the Nasdaq Crypto Index. Each altcoin is equally weighted to promote diversification; this structure allows investors to gain broad exposure to crypto assets beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum without being heavily concentrated in any single crypto asset.

    If you, as an (institutional) investor, are interested in meeting with Virtune to explore how our ETPs can support your asset management strategy or to learn more about Virtune and our product offering, please feel free to contact us at hello@virtune.com. You can also visit www.virtune.com to learn more and subscribe to our newsletter for updates on upcoming ETP launches and other news related to digital assets.

    Press contact
     Christopher Kock, CEO Virtune AB (Publ)
    christopher@virtune.com
    +46 70 073 45 64

    Virtune, headquartered in Stockholm, is a regulated Swedish digital asset manager and issuer of crypto exchange traded products listed on regulated European exchanges. Through regulatory compliance, strategic partnerships with leading industry players, and our experienced team, we empower global investors to access innovative and sophisticated investment solutions aligned with the evolving landscape of the global crypto market.

    Cryptocurrency investments are associated with high risk. Virtune does not provide investment advice. Investments are made at your own risk. Securities June increase or decrease in value, and there is no guarantee that you will recover your invested capital. Please read the prospectus, KID, terms at www.virtune.com.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Video: ECB Forum on Central Banking 2025 – Day 2

    Source: European Central Bank (video statements)

    The ECB Forum on Central Banking – the Sintra Forum – is an annual event organised by the European Central Bank and is held in Sintra, Portugal.

    It brings together central bank governors, academics, financial market representatives, journalists and others to exchange views on current policy issues and discuss the Forum’s key topic from a longer-term perspective.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lILvc719yNs

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UN Human Rights Council 58: UK Statement on the Human Rights Situation in the Central African Republic

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    UN Human Rights Council 58: UK Statement on the Human Rights Situation in the Central African Republic

    UK Statement for the High-level Dialogue on the Human Rights Situation in the Central African Republic. This statement was delivered on 1 April 2025 during the 58th session of the HRC in Geneva.

    Thank you, Mr President.

    We welcome the Central African Republic’s continued cooperation with the Independent Expert. We also welcome recent steps that the country has taken to strengthen its human rights framework, including strengthened judicial independence, the adoption of legislation to protect human rights defenders, and progress on reforming the criminal code.

    However, we remain alarmed at the increasing atrocities committed by Wagner group-trained militias, a key driver of the 26% increase of victims of human rights incidents recorded in the Secretary General‘s latest report. We urge the Central African Republic to investigate these reports and incorporate these militias into the formal disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration programme to prevent a resurgence in insecurity.

    Mr President, as we stated in the Security Council in February, proxies directed by the Russian state plan to interfere with the country’s elections. We encourage authorities to address these malign threats and ensure elections are free, fair, and inclusive.

    Mr. Agbetse, implementing the provisions of the 2019 political agreement is the only way to promote sustainable peace. How can the Central African Republic expand state authority while ensuring the inclusion of the signatories of the political agreement?

    Thank you.

    Updates to this page

    Published 2 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New river legacy project in York

    Source: City of York

    Published Tuesday, 1 July 2025

    Ousewem has launched a new flagship initiative in York, designed to reconnect residents with their rivers and neighbourhoods, whilst inspiring action on flood resilience and climate change.

    Building on the success of Natural Flood Management (NFM) projects across the Swale, Ure, Nidd and Upper Ouse catchments, this new riverside route will tell the story of how communities, landscapes and local leadership are coming together to shape a more climate-resilient future.

    The project, will be co-designed with residents, schools and stakeholders, is being delivered in partnership with Innovate Educate – a creative consultancy known for embedding research, participation and place-based learning into every stage of their work.

    Councillor Jenny Kent, Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency at City of York Council, added:

    This project shows our commitment to working with York communities in visible and lasting ways.

    “By telling the story of our rivers and the actions being taken to reduce flooding, we are helping people understand the value of nature-based solutions – not just in the countryside but here in the heart of the city.”

    Karen Merrifield, Director of Innovate Educate, said:

    We believe creativity is a core part of climate resilience -not an afterthought.

    “This project is about more than signage or information, it is about co-creating something that belongs to York’s communities. From schoolchildren to heritage professionals, everyone has a part to play in imagining a future shaped by care, connection and the river itself.”

    The route will feature creative elements and educational resources, helping residents and visitors of all ages explore how nature-based solutions, land use and local action are shaping a safer, greener future for York. It will also act as a platform for partnerships that connect climate resilience with the region’s rich cultural assets – from libraries and archives to heritage schools and local artists.

    Opportunities for sponsorship may also be explored, supporting further investment in climate resilience and nature recovery across York and North Yorkshire. Just as rivers connect places upstream and downstream, this project links people across the catchment – from rural landowners to city residents – in a shared effort to live better with water.

    Early engagement will begin this summer, with schools, community groups and partners invited to shape how the story of York’s rivers is shared.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Vilo the puppy rescued from tenement destroyed in fire

    Source: Scotland – City of Perth

    The puppy called Vilo, which means “to live” or “to thrive and flourish” in Slovakian, was feared killed in the Scott Street fire which occurred in the early hours of Saturday 14 June.

    However, the chihuahua was later spotted in the window of the building by nearby residents. Perth and Kinross Council reached out to charity Missing Pets Perth and Kinross for advice.

    Once restrictions over the site of the fire were removed the charity’s volunteers flew a drone over the tenement and used thermal imaging to pinpoint its location.

    They then provided traps for demolition workers to put out each night containing food and water. Cameras inside showed Vilo taking enough to survive – but not venturing far enough inside to set the traps off.

    It was only when clothes belonging to her owners were placed in the crates that the rescue team were able to bring Vilo back down to ground level on Friday, 27 June, almost two weeks after the fire.

    Katie McCandless from the charity said: “This is a little bit of hope in some dark times.

    “Perth and Kinross Council contacted us for some help and advice about what the best thing to do was. I’ve been running this charity for 14 years but this is the first type of case like this I’ve ever been involved in.

    “We knew it was a delicate situation and had to be handled sensitively, a lot of residents have lost everything.”

    Following Vilo’s rescue, she was taken to a vet for a check over and, remarkably, is suffering no ill effects.

    It also emerged Vilo had also managed to make herself a bed in a wardrobe, where she escaped the noise and disruption of the demolition work going on around her during the day.

    Katie said: “She does not have a single mark on her and her paw pads are completely fine. She smells a bit of smoke but had minimal smoke inhalation. She really is a miracle dog”

    The dog belongs to the Ridaj family, who stayed in the top-floor of the tenement. Dad Maros said:  “We are very happy that the dog is safe and has been returned to us.”

    Councillor Eric Drysdale, deputy leader of Perth and Kinross Council and ward member for Perth City Centre, said: “This really is a remarkable story.

    “I would like to thank everyone who helped return Vilo to her family safely -, the neighbouring family who reported seeing her, Missing Pets Perth and Kinross, Council staff who supported the rescue and, of course, the team from Reigart Contracts who assisted while carrying out dangerous and urgent demolition work.

    “We know there are people still grieving after the fire because of the loss of loved ones, the loss of their homes and the impact on businesses nearby.

    “But this amazing rescues is emblematic of the kindness people have shown in the wake of the tragedy – and the extra mile people have been willing to go to help others affected by this awful situation.”

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ14: The Joint Office for Investigation of Water Seepage Complaints

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ14: The Joint Office for Investigation of Water Seepage Complaints 
    Question:
     
    It is mentioned in the website of the Joint Office for Investigation of Water Seepage Complaints (JO) that “under normal circumstances, seepage caused by the penetration of rainwater through roofs, flat roofs, balconies, external walls or windows of a building or from leaking water pipes will not have public health implications and is not nuisance actionable by the Regional Joint Office under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132)”. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the number of requests for assistance relating to water seepage received by JO in each year since 2022 and, among them, the number of those in which the seepage was caused by the penetration of rainwater through roofs, flat roofs, balconies, external walls or windows of a building or from leaking water pipes, and thus could not be handled by JO;
     
    (2) as there are views that JO currently carries out water seepage investigations by issuing nuisance notices or orders under Cap. 132, the scope of which is confined to the wilful damage to drains, cesspools, wells or nuisance to any sanitary convenience, but the existing mechanism fails to effectively address the predicament faced by members of the public who have long been suffering from water seepage caused by defective waterproofing layers on rooftops, whether the authorities will consider amending Cap. 132 to gradually include important water seepage problems (e.g. rooftop leakage) in the definition of “nuisance”, so as to expand the enforcement responsibilities of JO, such that the affected members of the public will be provided with assistance; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
     
    (3) given that under section 34H of the Building Management Ordinance (Cap. 344) concerning the “duty to maintain property”, “where a person who owns any part of a building, has the right to the exclusive possession of any part of a building or has the exclusive right to the use, occupation or enjoyment of that part, as the case may be, but the deed of mutual covenant in respect of the building does not impose an obligation on that person to maintain the part in good repair and condition, that person shall maintain that part in good repair and condition”, whether the authorities will consider amending the relevant provisions to stipulate that all the owners or owners’ corporations owe an obligation to undertake maintenance works to keep the property in “good repair and condition”, and at the same time expanding the powers of JO to issue warnings to and impose penalties on defaulters; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
    Proper management and maintenance of private property is the responsibility of property owners. If water seepage occurs in private buildings, the owners concerned may first co-operate among themselves to engage professionals or consultancy firms for carrying out water seepage investigation to identify the source of seepage and conducting necessary repair works to fulfill owners’ responsibility of proper management, maintenance and repair of buildings. Consultancy firms or professionals are also available in the market to provide services for investigating and handling water seepage problems. A list of consultancy firms and experts providing professional advice and services on water seepage problems has been uploaded onto the websites of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) and the Buildings Department (BD) for public reference. When the water seepage condition concerned has caused health nuisance, risk to structural safety of the building or water waste, the Government will take enforcement action in accordance with the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance (Cap. 132) (PHMSO), the Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123) (BO) and the Waterworks Ordinance (Cap. 102) respectively.
     
    If owners are unable to resolve water seepage problems in consultation with their neighbours, they can seek assistance from the Joint Office (JO) jointly set up by the FEHD and the BD. Through inter-departmental co-ordination, the JO seeks to identify the source of water seepage using one-stop and systematic testing methods and requires the owners concerned to carry out repair works by exercising the powers conferred by the law, leveraging the expertise of relevant departments and with co-operation of the owners or occupants concerned.
       
    Having consulted the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB), the FEHD and the Home Affairs Department, the replies to the various parts of the question are as follows:

    (1) If the water seepage constitutes a health nuisance, the JO will follow up on the case in accordance with the PHMSO and take criminal prosecution action as appropriate. If rainwater seepage through rooftops, podiums, balconies, external walls or windows of buildings poses building safety risks (e.g. concrete spalling from ceilings, corrosion of reinforcement), or if the seepage is related to defective drainage pipes such as rainwater pipes or foul water pipes of the buildings, the JO will refer the case to the BD for action in accordance with the BO. If water supply pipes are found to be defective and resulting in wastage of water supply, the JO will refer the case to the Water Supplies Department (WSD) for action under the Waterworks Ordinance. 
    For rooftop water seepage, the JO will refer the case to the BD under the aforementioned mechanism. Based on the investigation results, the BD will issue an advisory letter to the owner concerned to carry out water seepage investigations and follow-up actions as soon as possible. If the seepage is found to constitute building structural safety risk, the BD may issue a building repair order, an investigation order or a drainage repair order in accordance with the BO as appropriate. With regard to defective buildings or drains, a person is liable to an offence for failing to comply with a statutory order served under the law to carry out remedial works.
     
    Since the aforesaid mechanism for handling rooftop water seepage has been serving its purpose, the EEB considers that currently it is not necessary to amend the PHMSO. 
    The Public Health and Municipal Services (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 (the Amendment Ordinance) was passed by the Legislative Council and will come into operation on August 17, 2025. To expedite the handling of public health nuisances such as water seepage in buildings, the Amendment Ordinance will extend the hours during which public officers are allowed to enter premises from the existing 7am to 7pm to 7am to 10pm, and non-compliance with the Notice of Intended Entry will be an offence punishable by a fine up to level 2 (i.e. $5,000). To enhance the deterrent effect, the penalty for non-compliance with Nuisance Notices and Orders will be increased from a fine at Level 3 to Level 4 (i.e. $10,000 to $25,000) and from a fine at Level 4 to a fine at Level 5 (i.e. $25,000 to $50,000).
    Issued at HKT 16:01

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Appointments of Under Secretary for Health, as well as Chairman and Chief Executive of Hospital Authority (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Government announced today (July 2) the following appointments:
     
     (1) Dr Cecilia Fan Yuen-man has been appointed as the Under Secretary for Health and will assume office on July 14, 2025;
     (2) Dr Libby Lee Ha-yun has been appointed as the Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority (HA) with effect from August 1, 2025, for a term of three years; and
     (3) Mr Henry Fan Hung-ling, the incumbent Chairman of the HA, has been reappointed for a term of one year with effect from December 1, 2025.
     
         The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, has appointed Dr Cecilia Fan as the Under Secretary for Health to succeed Dr Libby Lee.  Dr Lee has tendered her resignation and will leave her post on July 14, and Dr Fan will assume the post of Under Secretary for Health on the same day.
     
         The HA Board commenced open recruitment of its Chief Executive this January to succeed Dr Tony Ko, who will not seek reappointment upon completion of his contract at the end of July this year. The Selection Board was led by the HA Chairman and, after a global recruitment process and prudent consideration, recommended the appointment of Dr Lee as the Chief Executive of the HA. The appointment has been endorsed by the HA Board and approved by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
     
         Dr Lee will join the HA to assume the post of Chief Executive on August 1. Advice from the Advisory Committee on Post-office Employment for Former Chief Executives and Politically Appointed Officials has been sought on the appointment.
     
         The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, welcomed the newly appointed Under Secretary for Health, Dr Fan, to the Health Bureau, and looked forward to jointly promoting healthcare reform and innovation in the HKSAR as well as improving and protecting public health with her. “Dr Fan has extensive experience in public health management, and participated in the co-ordination of anti-epidemic and disaster relief efforts on multiple occasions, receiving commendations from the Chief Executive and the National Health Commission and demonstrating the leadership and adaptability skills necessary to promote reform,” he said.
     
         Professor Lo also thanked Dr Lee, who will soon leave the post of the Under Secretary for Health and take up the post of the Chief Executive of the HA, and said, “Dr Lee joined the HA after graduation from medical school and had long been serving in the public healthcare system until she took up the post of the Under Secretary in 2022. Dr Lee has served as the Under Secretary for almost three years and has showcased her excellent leadership, presentation and interpersonal skills. She also has a thorough understanding of the challenges faced by the healthcare system and the strategies on a macro level and will surely lead, in her new capacity, the HA to drive reform and innovation, enhancing public healthcare services.
     
         “As the cornerstone of the healthcare system, the governance of the HA is the most important part of the deepening of the healthcare system reform. I am thankful to Mr Fan for continuing to serve as the Chairman and supporting the reform pursued by the Government. I trust that the HA, under the leadership of Mr Fan and Dr Lee, will further take forward the relevant work in the future to ensure that the public healthcare system will provide the public with healthcare services of higher quality, safety and effectiveness.
     
         “I would also like to take this opportunity to express once again my appreciation for Dr Ko, who most earnestly made significant contributions to the development of the public healthcare system over the years. I wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”
     
         Following are the biographical notes on the appointed Under Secretary for Health and Chief Executive of the HA:
     
    Dr Cecilia Fan Yuen-man
    �����
         Aged 57, Dr Cecilia Fan is currently Consultant Family Medicine (Elderly Health Service) of the Department of Health (DH).
     
         Dr Fan joined the DH in 1992 and has served therein for over 30 years.  Apart from family medicine and elderly health services, she co-ordinated and participated in work in various areas, including the Professional Development and Quality Assurance Service. She also took part in co-ordination work at medical posts of quarantine centres during multiple epidemics, including outbreaks of the severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2003, human swine influenza in 2009, and COVID-19during 2020-2022. In February 2023, Dr Fan led the DH’s medical team to join the HKSAR search and rescue team in frontline search and rescue work at the quake-stricken areas in Türkiye. She was the only person from the SAR who received the National Outstanding Individuals in the Foreign Medical Aid commendation by the National Health Commission.
     
         Dr Fan holds a medical degree from the University of Hong Kong and a master’s degree in public health from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, as well as a number of professional qualifications. She is trained as a family physician.

    Dr Libby Lee Ha-yun
    �����
         Aged 53, Dr Libby Lee has been the Under Secretary for Health since July 2022.
     
         Dr Lee joined the executive team of the HA in 2008 and was promoted to Director of Strategy and Planning in 2016.  During her tenure as the Director of Strategy and Planning, she oversaw the formulation of strategies and operational plans, the co-ordination of community and primary care services, and the planning and implementation of capital works projects in relation to the HA’s provision of healthcare services. Her duties at that post also included conducting studies and analyses in relation to demographic changes and challenges faced by the HA and projecting corresponding resource requirements. Dr Lee has served on various professional bodies including as Council Member for the Hong Kong College of Anaesthesiologists and the Hong Kong College of Community Medicine.
     
         Dr Lee holds a medical degree and a master’s degree in public health from the University of Hong Kong as well as a number of professional qualifications. She is trained as an anaesthesiologist and a practitioner in administrative medicine.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Post-office employment for Dr Libby Lee Ha-yun

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Post-office employment for Dr Libby Lee Ha-yun 
    Mr Simon Ip Sik-on (Chairman)
    Mrs Margaret Leung Ko May-yee
    Mr Cheng Yan-kee
    Ms Lo Wing-sze
    Dr Miranda Lou Lai-wah
    Issued at HKT 16:08

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • Indian pharma exports strong at $4.9 billion in April-May, says Pharmexcil

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Pharmaceutical exports in India stood strong at $4.9 billion in April-May FY26, according to the latest update by the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil).

    Pharmexcil is an authorised export promotion agency under the Commerce and Industry Ministry.

    The data showed that the sector has made a 7.38 per cent expansion compared with the same period last year. This indicates that the industry is continuing with its upward trajectory and marking a significant presence globally.

    This growth is due to “strategic initiatives focused on sustainable manufacturing, expanded global market presence, and digital innovation,” Pharmexcil said, adding that the efforts may bolster India’s ambitious goal of achieving a trillion-dollar trade target for its pharma industry.

    “India’s pharmaceutical exports continue to demonstrate a steady year-over-year growth, with drug formulations and biologicals continuing to dominate the export category,” Namit Joshi, chairman of Pharmexcil, was quoted as saying in a media report.

    “We attribute this growth to rising global demand, streamlined regulatory approvals, technological innovations, strategic partnerships, and economic stability,” Joshi added.

    Notably, formulations and biologicals accounted for 75.74 per cent of the total of the pharma exports. Bulk drugs and drug intermediates also expanded by 4.40 per cent in May.

    Vaccine exports saw a 13.64 per cent increase and reached $190.13 million, while surgical items (up 8.58 per cent) and Ayush and herbal products (up 7.36 per cent) also saw healthy growth.

    According to Pharmexcil, about 76 per cent of India’s pharmaceutical export destinations include the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) region, as well as Europe, Africa, and Latin America.

    However, the US remains the top destination. In May, exports to the country were valued at $1.7 billion in May — representing 34.5 per cent of total pharma exports and a 1.5 per cent expansion.

    While Europe and Africa saw moderate growth, the ASEAN region emerged as a newly contracted area.

    According to Joshi, the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) discussions showed it will significantly enhance supply chains and improve access to affordable medicines. It will also attract foreign direct investment, particularly in contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) and joint research.

    (IANS)

  • Indian pharma exports strong at $4.9 billion in April-May, says Pharmexcil

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Pharmaceutical exports in India stood strong at $4.9 billion in April-May FY26, according to the latest update by the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil).

    Pharmexcil is an authorised export promotion agency under the Commerce and Industry Ministry.

    The data showed that the sector has made a 7.38 per cent expansion compared with the same period last year. This indicates that the industry is continuing with its upward trajectory and marking a significant presence globally.

    This growth is due to “strategic initiatives focused on sustainable manufacturing, expanded global market presence, and digital innovation,” Pharmexcil said, adding that the efforts may bolster India’s ambitious goal of achieving a trillion-dollar trade target for its pharma industry.

    “India’s pharmaceutical exports continue to demonstrate a steady year-over-year growth, with drug formulations and biologicals continuing to dominate the export category,” Namit Joshi, chairman of Pharmexcil, was quoted as saying in a media report.

    “We attribute this growth to rising global demand, streamlined regulatory approvals, technological innovations, strategic partnerships, and economic stability,” Joshi added.

    Notably, formulations and biologicals accounted for 75.74 per cent of the total of the pharma exports. Bulk drugs and drug intermediates also expanded by 4.40 per cent in May.

    Vaccine exports saw a 13.64 per cent increase and reached $190.13 million, while surgical items (up 8.58 per cent) and Ayush and herbal products (up 7.36 per cent) also saw healthy growth.

    According to Pharmexcil, about 76 per cent of India’s pharmaceutical export destinations include the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) region, as well as Europe, Africa, and Latin America.

    However, the US remains the top destination. In May, exports to the country were valued at $1.7 billion in May — representing 34.5 per cent of total pharma exports and a 1.5 per cent expansion.

    While Europe and Africa saw moderate growth, the ASEAN region emerged as a newly contracted area.

    According to Joshi, the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) discussions showed it will significantly enhance supply chains and improve access to affordable medicines. It will also attract foreign direct investment, particularly in contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) and joint research.

    (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The project of students of SPbGASU was recognized as the best in the student nomination at the competition “Center of Historical Memory in the Village of Zaitsevo”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – From left to right: Yulia Yankovskaya, Kristina Zaika, Ekaterina Zlotnikova, Valeria Dmitrieva and Elizaveta Doroshenko

    The project “Center of Historical Memory in the Village of Zaitsevo” by second-year students of the Department of Urban Development of SPbGASU was recognized as the best among student works submitted to the competition “Concept of Spatial Development of Municipalities of the Leningrad Region” in the nomination “Concept of Spatial Development of the Public Exhibition Center “Center of Historical Memory”. It was developed by Ekaterina Zlotnikova, Kristina Zaika, Elizaveta Doroshenko and Valeria Dmitrieva under the supervision of the head of the Department of Urban Development Yulia Yankovskaya for the territory of the Memorial Complex to the Civilians of the Soviet Union Who Died During the Great Patriotic War and the improvement of the territory in the village of Zaitsevo in the Gatchina Municipal District of the Leningrad Region.

    “Participation and especially victory in such professional competitions are very important both in professional development and in patriotic education of students. The students studied historical materials related to this place with great interest and attention, analyzed domestic and foreign experience in designing memorial complexes, gave an original compositional and figurative interpretation of the museum object and proposed a concept for the improvement of the territory,” noted Yulia Yankovskaya.

    According to her, the project is interesting for a number of ideas. Thus, a new landscaping solution has been given on the territory of the complex with the placement of a number of thematic areas focused on tactile, sound, color and light presentation of the events of the Great Patriotic War. The historical memory center itself is designed in modern dynamic forms, the “memory ribbon” covers the volume of the building from all sides.

    In accordance with the task, the functional filling includes a universal auditorium, a memorial and exhibition space, and a cultural and educational space with a small conference hall. The composition of the object is built on triangular shapes in plan, symbolizing fragments, the breakdown of people’s lives. In contrast to them, the “memory tape” connects the disparate volumes and fills them with a new peaceful life. Two atrium spaces adjoin the central part of the building with an entrance group, a foyer, and a hall on both sides: on the right – with an exhibition of objects related to military themes, on the left – a green space related to peaceful life. The interior of the building uses the works of monumental artists, students of the I. E. Repin Academy of Arts Ekaterina Okisheva and Xu Zhoke.

    “I would like to emphasize that this complex and multifaceted project with the development of a concept for the improvement, landscaping of the complex, a number of pavilions and thematic areas, as well as a rather complex public exhibition center, was completed by second-year students (of course, under the guidance of their teacher). Success speaks of both their good professional training and creative activity. The inspiration for this work was Ekaterina Zlotnikova. Last year, she took third place in the “Environment” nomination of the international competition “Form-Illusion”. I am glad that with her desire to actively participate in competitions and exhibitions, she encourages other students to be creative. Both the department and I, as the head of the workshop, do our utmost to reveal the creative potential of students and support their desire to develop their professional skills in creative professional competitions, not limited to student ones,” said Yulia Yankovskaya.

    The concept of the Center of Historical Memory “History Tape”

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Active citizens” are invited to test their knowledge of the “Summer in Moscow” project

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Project “Active Citizen” and the capital Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovative Development invite citizens to join quiz, dedicated to the bright objects of the project “Summer in Moscow”.

    This season, the city streets were decorated not only fresh flowers, but also unique art pavilions project “Made in Moscow”. Residents and visitors of the city can visit 12 points and “Green Market” on Bolotnaya Square, where products from Moscow brands are presented. For example, fashionable clothes, cosmetics, desserts from Moscow confectioners, pet products and much more. In addition, you can try ice cream with an exclusive flavor created for the summer season in Moscow.

    The Made in Moscow project summed up the first days of work of art pavilions and the Green Market

    There are eight questions in the quiz. Each question has five possible answers, only one of which is correct. Thus, “active citizens” will need to remember what famous samovar the object on Arbat is made in. Voters will also learn what is taught at master classes in the Raketa art pavilion on Rozhdestvenka Street. And also – what is the name of the art pavilion with Moscow cosmetics and the space where they sell ice cream and soft drinks.

    For correct answers, participants are awarded points in the city loyalty program “A Million Prizes”. They can be used to receive goods and services from partner organizations of the program, discounts in cafes and restaurants, as well as to top up the Troika transport card and parking account in the Parking of Russia application. In addition, points can be donated to charity.

    “Made in Moscow” — a project to promote local brands. There are already more than seven thousand of them, and the site contains over 34 thousand products created in the capital. Entrepreneurs receive free support measures, including information, and the opportunity to participate in major city events.

    Project “Summer in Moscow” — the main event of the season. It unites the most vibrant events of the capital. Every day in all districts of the city there are charity, cultural and sports programs, most of which are free. The Summer in Moscow project is being held for the second time, and the new season will be more eventful: new, original and colorful festivals and events will be added to the traditional ones.

    Project “Active Citizen” has been operating since 2014. During this time, more than seven million people have joined it, and over seven thousand votes have been held. Every month, the city implements 30 to 40 decisions made by Muscovites. The project is being developed by the State Institution “New Management Technologies” and the Moscow Department of Information Technology.

    The creation, development and operation of the e-government infrastructure, including the provision of mass socially significant services, as well as other services in electronic form, correspond to the objectives of the national project “Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State” and the regional project of the city of Moscow “Digital Public Administration”.

    Get the latest news quickly official telegram channelthe city of Moscow.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/156122073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Belgium and China vow to deepen ties and strengthen mutual trust

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BRUSSELS, July 2 (Xinhua) — Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, here on Tuesday, vowing to deepen exchanges and strengthen mutual trust with China.

    B. De Wever noted that Belgium and China have a long history of exchanges, and Belgium plays an important role in cooperation between Europe and China.

    Recalling his many visits to China, De Wever said he was deeply impressed by China’s development achievements. Despite differences in views, he stressed the importance of expanding exchanges and strengthening mutual trust in the current complex geopolitical environment.

    Moreover, he reaffirmed Belgium’s commitment to multilateralism and to promoting the autonomy of Europe, expressing hope that the upcoming meeting of EU and Chinese leaders would bring positive results.

    B. De Wever also stressed that Belgium firmly adheres to the one-China policy and this position will not change.

    Wang Yi stressed Belgium’s unique role in the European integration process and China-EU relations as a founding member of the EU and the host country of the EU.

    Wang Yi said China appreciates the rational and pragmatic China policy pursued by the new Belgian government and is willing to cooperate with it to further strengthen the traditional friendship and comprehensive partnership.

    According to the Chinese diplomat, China remains committed to high-quality development and high-level opening-up, welcomes more Belgian enterprises in China, and hopes that Belgium will also provide Chinese companies investing in Belgium with a fair, safe and predictable business environment.

    Wang Yi also noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, which is of great significance for the connection between the past and the future. He added that the half-century of interaction between China and the EU has fully demonstrated that the two sides can achieve mutual respect and win-win cooperation.

    In the complex and unstable international environment, China and the EU, as the two major powers, markets and civilizations in the world, should uphold the position of partners and the core idea of win-win cooperation, strengthen ties, deepen understanding and consolidate mutual trust, so as to jointly safeguard multilateralism and the free trade system. Together, they should serve as an “anchor of stability” in the world and act as reliable and strong partners that support and empower each other, Wang said.

    The parties also exchanged views on issues, including Ukraine. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: US to deport nearly 4,000 illegal migrants from Ecuador in first half of 2025

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    QUITO, July 2 (Xinhua) — The United States has deported 3,977 illegal Ecuadorian migrants in the first half of 2025, the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

    That number includes 38 Ecuadorians who arrived in the coastal city of Guayaquil on Monday on a U.S. Air Force plane. The U.S. Embassy said on its social media account that it was enforcing the country’s immigration laws and deporting illegal migrants.

    According to the agency, by June 30, 3,939 Ecuadorians had been deported from the United States on 46 flights, not counting the latest arrivals.

    The Ecuadorian government offers repatriates a monthly stipend of US$470 for the first three months of their return. Additional support measures include vocational training, educational opportunities and scholarship programs. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Pakistan to expand Gwadar port to facilitate maritime trade, regional connectivity

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    ISLAMABAD, July 2 (Xinhua) — Pakistan’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs on Tuesday announced a comprehensive plan to expand operations at Gwadar Port by establishing new shipping lines and introducing ferry services to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the ministry said in a statement.

    Chairing the meeting, Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said the initiative was part of a larger strategy to strengthen regional connectivity, expand Pakistan’s maritime trade and make Gwadar a major transhipment and logistics hub in the Arabian Sea.

    The minister added that the expansion would facilitate growing trade with Central Asia and the Middle East, while positioning Gwadar as a central hub in regional supply chains.

    As part of this initiative, the Ministry also plans to launch ferry services from Gwadar to the GCC countries to provide affordable and direct sea transportation for passengers and cargo.

    Located in the southwestern province of Balochistan, the port is a key component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

    Launched in 2013, the flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative links the port of Gwadar with Kashgar in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Beijing’s largest airport expects passenger traffic to rise in summer months

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) — Beijing Daxing International Airport, the largest airport in the Chinese capital, expects passenger traffic to rise to over 9.52 million in July and August, the peak summer holiday period.

    From July 1 to August 31, Daxing Airport is expected to handle 60,400 flights, receiving and sending 9.52 million passenger times, up 4.18 percent and 4.41 percent, respectively, compared to a year earlier. The peak of traffic is expected on August 5, when up to 1,031 flights will pass through the airport, and the passenger flow will amount to 170,500 passenger times.

    The surge is driven by a mix of students, tourists and relatives visiting, with destinations such as the relatively cooler cities in China’s northeast and southwest, Southeast Asian countries and some European cities including London, Moscow and Amsterdam becoming particularly popular.

    The simplified visa procedures are helping to boost cross-border tourism. In July and August, the peak summer holiday season, the Daxing Airport checkpoint is expected to handle an average of 100 international flights per day, with an inbound and outbound passenger flow of 17,000 people. Since the beginning of this year, the airport’s total inbound and outbound passenger flow has exceeded 2.7 million people. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ12: Attracting Mainland and overseas residents to visit Hong Kong

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ12: Attracting Mainland and overseas residents to visit Hong Kong 
    Question:
     
    It has been reported that in recent years, our country has continued to expand the scope of its visa-free policy by, apart from expanding its unilateral visa-free policy to 47 countries, implementing a visa-free transit policy for 55 countries, thereby facilitating overseas visitors’ travel to the Mainland. For Hong Kong, the Central Government added 10 Mainland cities (such cities) eligible for travelling to Hong Kong under the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) in March and May last year, and resumed and expanded the multiple-entry IVS for Shenzhen residents to visit Hong Kong in December. Regarding efforts to attract Mainland and overseas residents to visit Hong Kong, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of, each month since June last year, (i) the number of overseas travelers entering the Mainland via Hong Kong, (ii) the number of overseas travelers leaving the Mainland via Hong Kong, (iii) such travelers’ average length of stay in Hong Kong, and (iv) their nationalities (i.e. the top 10 nationalities with the highest number of visitors);
     
    (2) in light of our country’s relaxation of its visa-free transit policy for overseas travelers and extension of their maximum stay on the Mainland to 240 hours, whether the authorities have sought from the Central Government the inclusion of all Hong Kong checkpoints into the scope of the aforesaid national policy to further enhance Hong Kong’s role as a tourism hub, thereby attracting more overseas travelers to enter and leave the Mainland via Hong Kong, and to travel around and consume in Hong Kong;
     
    (3) of the monthly number of visitors from such cities to Hong Kong and their average length of stay in Hong Kong during the period from May last year to May this year;
     
    (4) of the measures taken by the authorities (including publicity and promotional campaigns, encouraging airlines to increase flights between Hong Kong and such cities, and promoting co-operation between the tourism industries of Hong Kong and such cities) to attract more visitors from such cities to Hong Kong;
     
    (5) since the resumption and expansion of the multiple-entry IVS for Shenzhen residents in December last year, of the monthly number of Shenzhen permanent residents and Shenzhen non-permanent residents holding residence permits visiting Hong Kong and their average length of stay in Hong Kong; and
     
    (6) whether the authorities has discussed with the Central Government and sought to open up the multiple-entry IVS for residents of Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai to visit Hong Kong, with the aim of promoting trade and business exchanges and attracting more overnight visitors to Hong Kong; if so, of the details and the results of the discussions; if not, the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
    The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) expressed gratitude to the Central Government for the high regard and care for the development of Hong Kong’s tourism industry as well as rolling out a number of measures benefiting Hong Kong’s tourism industry in 2024, including the optimisation of the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) to cover all provincial capitals in our country, and the resumption and expansion of the multiple-entry IVS for Shenzhen. The HKSARG will continue to make good use of the Central Government’s measures benefitting Hong Kong to reinforce the Mainland visitor source market, and continue to liaise with the Mainland on facilitating international visitors’ entry arrangements to the Mainland via Hong Kong, thereby underpinning Hong Kong’s role as the international gateway to our country.
     
    In consultation with the Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB), the Security Bureau and the Immigration Department (ImmD), the consolidated reply to the question raised by Hon Yiu Pak-leung is as follows:

    (1) and (2) According to the statistics provided by the ImmD, from June 2024 to May 2025, the number of overseas visitor arrivals entering and leaving the Mainland via Hong Kong is tabulated below by month:
     

    Month 
    The ImmD does not maintain information on the average length of stay of the above visitors in Hong Kong. According to the information provided by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), amongst the inbound non-Mainland visitors from June 2024 to May 2025, 7.62 million arrivals were overnight visitors and their average length of stay in Hong Kong was 3.2 days.

    According to the statistics provided by the ImmD, from June 2024 to May 2025, the top 10 nationalities of overseas visitors entering the Mainland via Hong Kong are tabulated below by month:
     

    Month/ Ranking2024202420252025According to the statistics provided by the ImmD, from June 2024 to May 2025, the top 10 nationalities of overseas visitors leaving the Mainland via Hong Kong are tabulated below by month:
     

    Month/ Ranking20242024202520252025Hong Kong has long been the gateway for overseas visitors to enter the Mainland, as well as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” linking up the Mainland with the rest of the world. The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) has been committed to strengthening Hong Kong’s position as an international tourism hub, and has been closely monitoring the visa-free policies introduced by our country. The CSTB will, on the basis of the existing 144-hour visa-free policy for Guangdong province, continue to discuss with the relevant ministries of the Central Government the arrangements to facilitate international visitors to enter the Mainland via Hong Kong, with a view to attracting more international visitors to take Hong Kong as their first stop or transit point in their multi-destination travel itineraries to our country, leveraging Hong Kong’s role as a connector.

    (3) to (6) The The IVS was expanded to Xi’an and Qingdao on March 6, 2024, and further expanded to Taiyuan, Hohhot, Harbin, Lhasa, Lanzhou, Xining, Yinchuan and Urumqi on May 27, 2024. For the period from May 2024 to May 2025, the number of Mainland visitor arrivals from the aforesaid 10 newly added cities is tabulated below by month:
     

    MonthThe number of visitor arrivals to Hong Kong holding the multiple-entry IVS since its resumption and expansion in Shenzhen on December 1, 2024, is tabulated below by month:
     

    MonthThe ImmD does not maintain information on the average length of stay of the above visitors in Hong Kong. According to the information provided by the HKTB, of the inbound Mainland visitors from May 2024 to May 2025, overnight visitors and same-day visitors were 16.11 million and 21.94 million respectively, and the average length of stay of overnight Mainland visitors in Hong Kong was 3.1 days.

    To attract more residents from the 10 cities to visit Hong Kong, the CSTB, in collaboration with the HKTB, have rolled out a series of promotional activities.  After the expansion of the IVS to Xi’an and Qingdao in March 2024, the CSTB and the HKTB led a delegation to visit the two cities, and launched large-scale advertisements in local commercial districts, achieving a total exposure of 23.8 million views. After the expansion of the IVS to all provincial capitals, trade representatives from the eight newly added IVS cities, including Taiyuan, Hohhot, Harbin and others, were invited for a familiarisation trip to Hong Kong in June 2024 to have an in-depth exploration of Hong Kong’s local culture.
     
    Starting from April 2024, the HKTB has distributed over 40 000 sets of discount vouchers, each valued at HK$200, to visitors from the 10 newly added IVS cities through travel agents and airlines, stimulating visitor spending in Hong Kong.
     
    Moreover, the TLB has been working closely with the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) to strategically attract both local and non-local airlines to open new routes and increase flight frequencies through outreach teams, incentive schemes and policy facilitation measures, thereby further strengthening the air connectivity between Hong Kong and Mainland cities. Notably, the AA launched in June last year the Air Network Development Programme, which has so far attracted 29 airlines to open 60 new routes and increase flight frequencies to 14 destinations, including passenger flights to Xi’an, Qingdao, Lhasa, Lanzhou, and Urumqi. The current passenger flight services between the Mainland and Hong Kong have completely covered the 10 newly added the IVS cities last year. Compared to the period before the expansion of the IVS, the total number of flights to and from these cities has increased by 80 per cent.
     
    Regarding the promotion of trade collaboration, the CSTB provided funding support to the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong to organise trade visits to Harbin and Taiyuan in February and June 2025 respectively and will visit Xi’an in October 2025.  Through business exchanges with the representatives from the cultural and tourism departments and trade organisations of those cities, we foster business co-operation between the tourism trade of Hong Kong and those cities, facilitating exchange of visitors and developing business opportunities.
     
    In terms of suggestions to orderly optimise the IVS, namely the expansion of the multiple-entry IVS to other Mainland cities, the CSTB will continue to discuss with relevant ministries of the Mainland, with a view to enabling Mainland visitors to visit Hong Kong in a more convenient and flexible manner, thereby fostering the development of the tourism-related industries.
    Issued at HKT 15:50

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Bitwise Lists NEAR Staking ETP on Xetra, Broadening Suite of Index-Based Staking Strategies

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • Bitwise NEAR Staking ETP is the latest addition to Bitwise’s European index-linked staking ETP suite — aiming to offer investors efficient, regulated exposure to NEAR, the Blockchain for AI.
    • NEAR Protocol: A high-performance, energy-efficient, layer-11blockchain built for the AI era—powering cross-chain interoperability and AI-native applications through fast, user-friendly infrastructure.
    • Staking: The Bitwise NEAR Staking ETP will seek to stake the NEAR tokens held by the product, with the objective of generating additional returns of approximately 5.5% net of fees and TER, while providing investors with daily liquidity on the stock exchange.

    02 July 2025. Frankfurt: Bitwise today announced the launch of the Bitwise NEAR Staking ETP (Ticker NEAR; ISIN DE000A4A5GV2) on Deutsche Börse Xetra. NEAR Protocol is a blockchain platform known for its approach to scalability, low-cost performance, and a user-first vision of decentralization – powering 45M+ monthly active users and 8M daily transactions2.

    The Bitwise NEAR Staking ETP is designed for both institutional and retail investors who are familiar with digital assets and seeking to diversify their portfolios. The launch marks another milestone in a series of product innovations designed to broaden investment access to the crypto market, provide high-quality investment solutions and timely market insights, and promote transparency and accountability in what is shaping up to be a landmark year for the crypto industry.

    The ETP is fully backed and issued in Germany, designed with the objective to deliver efficient staking returns, low total cost of ownership, and superior performance compared to other NEAR staking ETP solutions currently on the market. Staking yields accumulate daily in the ETP seeking to enhance performance. Using a robust and transparent benchmark, the CF NEAR Staked Return Index, investors can accurately track the performance of the ETP after costs and fees compared to the market standard NEAR staking return.

    The Biwise NEAR Staking ETP is the fourth to be launched as part of Bitwise’s European Total Return product suite including the Bitwise Ethereum Staking ETP (Ticker: ET32 | ISIN DE000A3G90G9), which recently surpassed €200 million in assets under management.

    Bradley Duke, Head of Europe at Bitwise, said: “We are so pleased to launch this new ETP in partnership with NEAR. There is a lot of noise in the world of crypto and we are excited to partner with a genuine innovator in both blockchain and AI. The Bitwise NEAR Staking ETP gives investors exposure to price movements in the NEAR token as well as compounded return from staking rewards all with Bitwise’s best-in-class ETP structure.”

    Illia  Polosukhin, Co-Founder NEAR Foundation: “NEAR was built to power a new kind of internet—one where AI serves people, not platforms. This ETP brings that vision closer to investors worldwide. By making NEAR more accessible through Bitwise’s trusted products, we’re accelerating mainstream adoption of user-owned AI infrastructure.”

    NEAR Protocol – a layer-1 blockchain designed for usability and scalability

    NEAR Protocol is a blockchain platform designed to make advanced technologies like artificial intelligence more accessible and useful. Launched in 2020, NEAR addresses common challenges in blockchain—like slow speeds and high costs—by using a technology called sharding to process many transactions at once.

    What sets NEAR apart is its focus on real-world usability: it lets people access apps and services with usernames—similar to email addresses—rather than traditional Web3 wallet codes. It also operates across different blockchains, aiming to simplify the transfer of assets and data between platforms. NEAR is already being used to power AI tools, digital wallets, and applications that give users greater control over their data and digital identity. Its architecture is particularly well-suited for AI, providing the speed, scalability, and data privacy required to support AI-powered applications and autonomous agents.

    In Q2 2025, NEAR ranked #2 among the most-used blockchain platforms in terms of monthly active users, just after Solana3. This growth is driven in part by NEAR’s chain abstraction technology, which makes it easier for people to use apps across different blockchains without needing multiple wallets or tokens. With chain signatures, users can access and control accounts on other blockchains directly through their NEAR account, making cross-chain activity simple and intuitive.

    Developers also benefit from NEAR’s infrastructure. Its customizable smart contracts support multichain financial applications using secure cryptographic tools—without the need for bridges or wrapped tokens, which can introduce risk and complexity.

    Staking NEAR

    Staking is a way to generate income for crypto asset owners, and is a key feature for NEAR. On the NEAR Protocol, staking allows token holders to help validate transactions on the network, contributing to its security and reliability. In return, they earn additional tokens – so called staking rewards—similar to how dividends work in traditional equities.

    For investors, the Bitwise NEAR Staking ETP may offer a streamlined way to gain exposure to staking rewards without managing the technical aspects of staking or token custody directly. While direct NEAR holders can stake through wallets or validators, the ETP offers distinct benefits—particularly daily liquidity, as it is traded on regulated stock exchanges and involves no lock-up periods or manual delegation. Additionally, the underlying NEAR tokens are held in secure cold storage by a professional institutional custodian, which offers an added layer of asset protection.

    Key Product Details

    ETP Name Bitwise NEAR Staking ETP
    Primary Ticker NEAR
    ISIN / WKN DE000A4A5GV2 / A4A5GV
    Index Benchmark CF NEAR Staked Return Index
    Expected NET Staking Reward 5.5%*
    TER 0.85% p.a.

    *The Net Staking Reward reflects the staking return after all fees (Staking Service Fee and TER) have been deducted, on a per-ETP unit basis. This figure represents the return the ETP is expected to deliver, expressed in annualised, non-compounded % terms. Note: The rate is subject to change based on network and market dynamics. The Net Staking Rewards are accumulated daily within the ETP, seeking to enhance performance. This mechanism increases the cryptocurrency entitlement per ETP unit at the end of each trading day, meaning that the amount of NEAR backing each ETP share adjusts upward over time. You can view the current entitlement per ETP unit in the Cryptocurrency Entitlement Table available on the product page at www.bitwiseinvestments.eu/products.

    – Ends –

    About NEAR Foundation

    NEAR Protocol is the blockchain for AI. A high-performance, AI-native platform built to power the next generation of decentralized applications and intelligent agents. It provides the infrastructure AI needs to transact, operate, and interact across Web2 and Web3. NEAR combines three core elements: User-Owned AI, which ensures agents act in users’ best interests; Intents and Chain Abstraction, which eliminate blockchain complexity for seamless, goal-driven transactions across chains; and a sharded blockchain architecture that delivers the scalability, speed, and low-cost execution needed for real-world AI and Web3 use. This integrated stack makes NEAR the foundation for building secure, user-owned, AI-native applications at internet scale.

    About Bitwise

    Bitwise is one of the world’s leading crypto specialist asset managers. Thousands of financial advisors, family offices, and institutional investors across the globe have partnered with us to understand and access the opportunities in crypto. Since 2017, Bitwise has established a track record of excellence, managing a broad suite of index and active solutions across ETPs, separately managed accounts, private funds, and hedge fund strategies – spanning both the U.S. and Europe.

    In Europe, for the past five years Bitwise (formerly ETC Group) has developed an extensive and innovative suite of crypto ETPs, including Europe’s most traded bitcoin ETP, or the first diversified Crypto Basket ETP replicating an MSCI digital assets index.

    This family of crypto ETPs is domiciled in Germany and issued under a base prospectus approved by BaFin. We exclusively partner with reputable entities from the traditional financial industry, ensuring that 100% of the assets are securely stored offline (cold storage) through regulated custodians.

    Our European products comprise a collection of carefully designed financial instruments that seamlessly integrate into any professional portfolio, providing comprehensive exposure to crypto as an asset class. Access is straightforward via major European stock exchanges, with primary listings on Xetra, the most liquid exchange for ETF trading in Europe. Retail investors benefit from easy access through numerous DIY/online brokers, coupled with our robust and secure physical ETP structure, which includes a redemption feature. For more information, visit http://www.bitwiseinvestments.eu

    Media contacts:

    JEA Associates
    John McLeod
    00 44 7886 920436
    john@jeaassociates.com

    Important information  
    This press release does not constitute investment advice, opinions are those of Bitwise and do not constitute an offer or solicitation to buy financial products. This press release is issued by Bitwise Europe GmbH (“BEU”), a limited company domiciled in Germany, for information only and in accordance with all applicable laws and regulations. BEU gives no explicit or implicit assurance or guarantee regarding the fairness, accuracy, completeness, or correctness of this article or the opinions contained therein. It is advised not to rely on the fairness, accuracy, completeness, or correctness of this article or the opinions contained therein. Please note that this article is neither investment advice nor an offer or solicitation to acquire financial products or cryptocurrencies.  
      
    Before investing in crypto Exchange Traded Products (“ETPs”), potential investors should consider the following:  
    Potential investors should seek independent advice and consider relevant information contained in the base prospectus and the final terms for the ETPs, especially the risk factors. Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against a loss. ETPs issued by BEU are suitable only for persons experienced in investing in cryptocurrencies and risks of investing can be found in the prospectus and final terms available on www.bitwiseinvestments.com./eu. The invested capital is at risk, and losses up to the amount invested are possible. ETPs backed by cryptocurrencies are highly volatile assets and performance is unpredictable. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance. The market price of ETPs will vary and they do not offer a fixed income or match precisely the performance of the underlying cryptocurrency.  Investing in ETPs involves numerous risks including general market risks relating to underlying, adverse price movements, currency, liquidity, operational, legal and regulatory risks. 

    1 Source: NEAR Foundation
    2 Source: Bitwise Europe Research; NEAR Foundation
    3 Source: Artemis, Bitwise Europe; https://app.artemisanalytics.com/chains

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Cases of unauthorised deposit-taking from the public on the rise in the Czech Republic, CNB to tighten sanctions

    Source: Czech National Bank

    Only banks or entities with the relevant authorisation are permitted to take deposits from the public in the Czech Republic. However, the Czech National Bank (CNB) is currently recording an increase in cases where other entities are doing so without authorisation. This constitutes very serious unlawful conduct, for which the CNB has already imposed fines amounting to tens of millions of Czech korunas this year. In an effort to protect the public’s money, the central bank is to further tighten its sanctioning policy in this area.

    Obtaining money from the public is subject to strict regulation in the financial market, primarily in order to protect clients and their funds. An important element of this protection is deposit insurance, which in the Czech Republic is provided by the Deposit Insurance Fund and is mandatory for all banks and credit unions.

    However, there is a growing number of cases where entities without due authorisation are unlawfully taking deposits from the public. This very often happens on the basis of loan agreements concluded with members of the public, which these entities use to circumvent the rules. Funds collected in this manner are not covered by deposit insurance or by the well-developed system of financial market supervision in the Czech Republic, and the activity of collecting such funds is not subject to strict legal regulation.

    The CNB is therefore warning the public against cooperating with illegal providers of such financial services. If an individual entrusts their money to an unauthorised entity, they face a serious risk of losing all their funds.

    To protect depositors’ funds, the Act on Banks deems the unauthorised taking of deposits from the public to be very serious unlawful conduct. This is reflected in the sanctions the CNB may impose for violations of the law.

    The CNB has so far imposed fines ranging from a few million to tens of millions of korunas as punishment for this unlawful conduct. In 2025, for example, it imposed fines of CZK 12 million and CZK 15 million.

    Given the increasing frequency of such activity, it is evident that the fines imposed so far have not sufficiently fulfilled one of the primary functions of administrative penalties – general prevention. For this reason, the CNB will continue to tighten its sanctioning policy in this area.

    Jakub Holas
    Director, CNB Communications Division

    Related links

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Foreign Minister holds closed meeting with Egyptian counterpart in Cairo


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    Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi held a closed meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, on the sidelines of the 16th session of the Omani-Egyptian Joint Committee in Cairo.

    The meeting, reaffirmed the close cooperation between the Sultanate of Oman and the Arab Republic of Egypt and their shared commitment to developing it strategically across various fields, in a manner that deepens mutual interests and brings greater shared benefits to both brotherly countries.

    The two Ministers also discussed a number of regional issues and developments of mutual political and security concern.

    They underlined the importance of maintaining coordination, aligning their visions and combining efforts to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy in addressing challenges, defusing tensions and tackling the root causes of conflict, in the interest of the region as a whole.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Foreign Ministry of Oman.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Oman Egypt Joint Committee meets in Cairo


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    The 16th session of the Omani-Egyptian Joint Committee was held in Cairo at the level of the two countries’ foreign ministers.

    The Omani delegation was chaired by Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, Foreign Minister while the Egyptian side was chaired by Dr Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

    In his speech during the opening session, Sayyid Badr expressed his deep gratitude to the Egyptian delegation for their warm welcome and hospitality. He emphasised the profound historical ties and enduring bonds between Oman and Egypt, adding: “This session of the Omani-Egyptian Joint Committee is yet another blessed addition to the record of our positive cooperation, reinforcing the deep-rooted ties that have been shaped and distinguished throughout history. Today, we reap the fruits of these relations for the benefit of our two brotherly nations.”

    The Minister highlighted the significant progress in economic relations between the two countries, stressing the importance of enhancing investment partnerships in real estate, tourism, renewable energy, manufacturing, logistics, food security, and pharmaceutical industries.

    He called for activating the role of the Omani-Egyptian Business Council and the private sector, as well as focusing on startups, digital transformation, and innovation, affirming that “this would enhance economic sustainability and keep pace with global developments.”

    On regional issues, the Foreign Minister reiterated Oman’s full support for Egypt’s efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, firmly rejecting plans to displace the Palestinian people and endorsing the Arab initiative for Gaza’s reconstruction. He reaffirmed Oman’s steadfast stance in supporting the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the  borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative.

    He also emphasised that “Arab national security is indivisible,” expressing Oman’s support for Egypt’s rights to the Nile River waters based on international law and the principle of fair and equitable use, fostering cooperation through mutual understanding and peaceful solutions.

    Sayyid Badr stressed Oman’s commitment to contributing to regional stability and shielding the peoples of the region from obstacles to development. He underscored the importance of resuming efforts to reach a just and lasting agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue, based on international law and the Non-Proliferation Treaty, while rejecting solutions imposed by force, which only lead to destruction and instability. He affirmed that dialogue and negotiation remain the only path to resolving disputes and mitigating risks.

    He praised the efforts of senior officials from both Oman and Egypt in preparing for the session, expressing hope that its outcomes would “serve as a qualitative addition to strengthening cooperation and fulfilling the aspirations of the two countries’ leaderships and peoples.”

    Dr Badr Abdelatty commended the depth of Egyptian-Omani relations and their tangible progress under the guidance of both countries’ leaderships, who seek to elevate cooperation to wider horizons.

    He noted that the current session reflects the shared commitment to building on the outcomes of the mutual visits by the two countries’ leaders. He pointed out that discussions with his Omani counterpart explored ways to enhance economic, trade, and investment relations. Politically, he praised the depth and alignment of views on regional issues and their peaceful resolution.

    The session included the signing of several memoranda of understanding and executive programmes in investment, labour, training, media cooperation, food safety, endowments, mineral resources, and human capital development, along with the minutes of the 16th session of the Omani-Egyptian Joint Committee.

    The session concluded with both sides stressing the importance of continued coordination and consultation across various fields, strengthening the Omani-Egyptian partnership for the mutual benefit of the two nations and their peoples, and contributing to regional security, stability, and development.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Foreign Ministry of Oman.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Oman and Egypt hold joint press conference


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    Oman’s Foreign Minister, Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, Foreign Minister and Dr Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, held a joint press conference  marking the conclusion of the 16th session of the Omani-Egyptian Joint Committee in Cairo.

    During the press conference, Sayyid Badr expressed full alignment with his Egyptian counterpart regarding Omani-Egyptian cooperation matters and both countries’ positions on regional issues. He noted both countries’ commitment to enhancing trade, strengthening the role of the Business Council, and increasing mutual investments, while praising the contributions of the Egyptian community to Oman’s development.

    On regional matters, he emphasised Oman’s support for Egypt’s efforts to halt the aggression on Gaza, reject forced displacement attempts, and adhere to the two-state solution leading to an independent Palestinian state.

    Sayyid Badr reiterated Oman’s support for Egypt’s position on the Renaissance Dam issue, stressing the importance of respecting Arab states’ sovereignty and territorial integrity while rejecting all forms of foreign interference in their internal affairs.

    He also stated that resuming negotiations on the Iranian nuclear issue is essential for regional stability, underscoring the importance of confidence-building measures to avoid escalation and to reach a fair, consensual solution to this issue while focusing efforts on regional development and cooperation.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Foreign Ministry of Oman.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation Discusses Developments in Joint Relations with United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Secretary-General and Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) Director


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    H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, met with Ms. Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and Professor Sabina Alkire, Director of the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI).

    This was part of her ongoing participation in the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Spain from June 29 to July 3, 2025, as a member of the Egyptian delegation headed by H.E. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, on behalf of H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic of Egypt.

    H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat discussed with the UNCTAD’s Secretary-General the joint relations between Egypt and UNCTAD, reviewing ways to elevate cooperation in the fields of economic development and investment.

    H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat expressed appreciation for the joint efforts with UNCTAD in issuing the Global Investment Report 2024, which monitors the most prominent trends in foreign direct investment worldwide. She highlighted the importance of this report in shedding light on Egypt’s position among the most attractive countries for investments, in light of the economic reforms implemented by the Egyptian government.

    The meeting also touched on the joint relations between Egypt and UNCTAD, underscoring the significance of cooperation in economic development and promoting foreign investments, in addition to utilizing the organization’s tools to measure the impact of development policies and enhance trade and investment strategies.

    In another context, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat met with Professor Sabina Alkire, Director of the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), an economist and professor in the Department of International Development at Oxford University, to discuss endeavors to promote investment in human capital.

    The two sides reviewed human development efforts and increasing investment in human capital to improve living standards and foster inclusive and sustainable economic development.

    The meeting also highlighted the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, reaffirming that it represents an annual international measure of acute multidimensional poverty, covering over 100 developing countries. This index is a key tool for measuring the severity of poverty through 7 main dimensions: education, health, basic services, employment, social protection, and food security.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation – Egypt.

    MIL OSI Africa –