NewzIntel.com

Category: AM-NC

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: PM Luxon concludes successful China visit

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon has wrapped up his successful China visit by meeting with his Chinese counterpart Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

    “My first official visit to China allowed me to reconnect with Premier Li on the full scope of our bilateral relationship,” Mr Luxon says.

    Following their meeting, Mr Luxon and Premier Li issued a Joint Statement of Outcomes and witnessed the signing of 11 new government-to-government arrangements covering cooperation on climate change, cultural linkages, tourism and a range of practical initiatives to facilitate trade flows. 

    “These arrangements will help New Zealand exporters by opening up new trade and making existing trade faster, predictable and cheaper,” Mr Luxon says.  

    Mr Luxon reiterated the importance of leader-level dialogue to support the comprehensive bilateral relationship, including openly and consistently discussing areas of difference, such as human rights.  

    “I raised with Premier Li a number of issues that are important to New Zealand.  In particular, the need for engagement in the Pacific to take place in a manner which advances Pacific priorities,” Mr Luxon says.  

    “In an increasingly turbulent global environment, we also discussed a range of security, climate, and trade challenges.

    “The ongoing security and prosperity of the Indo Pacific region is vital to New Zealand interests, and I raised concerns with rising tensions in the Indo Pacific, including in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.” 

    Mr Luxon also had constructive discussions with President Xi Jinping and National People’s Congress Chairman Zhao Leji in Beijing and Party Secretary Chen Jining in Shanghai.

    “Chairman Zhao and I discussed the long history of Parliamentary exchanges between New Zealand and China, and the contribution this makes to the bilateral relationship,” Mr Luxon says.  

    During his three-day visit, Mr Luxon worked with a high calibre business delegation to promote New Zealand’s premium food and beverage, and health and wellbeing products. 

    “The visit has reinforced for me that New Zealand remains well-placed to meet the evolving needs of Chinese consumers, particularly in premium and niche categories that support higher-quality lifestyles,” Mr Luxon says.

    In Beijing, Mr Luxon also promoted New Zealand as a world class tourism and education destination and celebrated new and long-standing air connections that underpin these. 

    “Inbound tourists and students bring people together, build understanding, and support jobs across New Zealand,” Mr Luxon says. 

    “We’re committed to welcoming more Chinese visitors and students to New Zealand and strengthening the ties between our two countries.”

    Beijing marked the final stage of the Prime Minister’s visit to China. He now departs for Europe for a five-day programme.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Inflation at 1.9% in May

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Overall consumer prices rose 1.9% year on year in May, a slightly smaller increase than the 2% recorded in April, the Census & Statistics Department announced today.

    Netting out the effects of the Government’s one-off relief measures, underlying inflation was 1%, also smaller than that in April.

    Compared with a year before, price increases were recorded in May in the following categories: electricity, gas and water; housing; transport; miscellaneous services; meals out and takeaway food; miscellaneous goods; and alcoholic drinks and tobacco.

    Meanwhile, year-on-year decreases were logged in clothing and footwear; durable goods; and basic food.

    The Government said consumer price inflation has stayed modest in recent months, with price pressures on various major components being contained in general.

    It expects that overall inflation should remain modest in the near term, with pressures from domestic costs and external prices staying broadly in check. 

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: OSCE Mission and Ministry of Sports and Youth back stronger youth engagement

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: OSCE Mission and Ministry of Sports and Youth back stronger youth engagement

    Participants at the training aimed at strengthening local capacities to support youth participation, Bar, Montenegro, 18 June 2025. (OSCE/Irena Marunović) Photo details

    From 16 to 20 June, the OSCE Mission to Montenegro in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports and Youth organized a training session in Bar, aimed at strengthening local capacities to support youth participation. The participants (22 women and 11 men) gathered from 22 municipalities, including representatives from local governments, youth clubs, and the Ministry of Sports and Youth. The training was designed based on feedback from participants during the introductory session held in Podgorica on 29 April.
    The training equipped participants with practical tools and knowledge to improve youth work, aligning it with the standards of the Council of Europe, the European Union, and the specific context of Montenegro. Through interactive sessions, participants formulated action plans to implement the principle of meaningful youth participation in drafting and implementing local and national youth policies. They also gained a deeper understanding of the quality standards and competence frameworks essential for effective youth work. This comprehensive approach is expected to enhance the quality and inclusiveness of youth policies at both local and national levels.
    Training facilitators, Ajša Hadžibegović and Aleksandra Gligorović, emphasized the importance of fostering collaboration among local actors and establishing a network of practitioners to share experiences and build a supportive community for youth development. They highlighted that co-operation among stakeholders is critical to addressing local youth needs effectively and ensuring youth work plays a central role in decision-making processes.
    Irena Marunović, the Mission’s Youth Focal Point, emphasized the importance of giving participants the opportunity to analyze and provide feedback on key youth policies and frameworks. This feedback will directly inform ongoing efforts to amend the Law on Youth. The Ministry of Sports and Youth’s participation in the event ensures that these insights are integrated into the work of the expert and working group tasked with supporting the legal revision.
    Participants expressed strong satisfaction with the training programme and underscored the importance of continuing to build on the knowledge and skills gained in the coming period.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: ‘The Mattei Plan for Africa and the Global Gateway: A common effort with the African Continent’ Summit

    Source: Government of Italy (English)

    20 Giugno 2025

    ‘The Mattei Plan for Africa and the Global Gateway: A common effort with the African Continent’ Summit is being held at Villa Doria Pamphilj, in Rome, today, co-chaired by the President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen.

    [Welcome ceremony, family photo and opening addresses – Italian audio]

    [Opening addresses – Original audio]

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Key takeaways from 2nd China-Central Asia Summit in Astana

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese President Xi Jinping, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev pose for a group photo in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi)

    Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded on Wednesday his three-day trip to Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, where he attended the second China-Central Asia Summit.

    The summit produced a raft of consensuses across areas ranging from security and trade to regional development. Officials and analysts, who spoke to Xinhua, highlighted key themes of the summit, including Belt and Road cooperation and the deepening of China-Central Asia ties.

    CHINA-CENTRAL ASIA SPIRIT

    In his keynote speech at the summit, Xi proposed a China-Central Asia Spirit of “mutual respect, mutual trust, mutual benefit and mutual assistance for the joint pursuit of modernization through high-quality development.”

    “We practice mutual respect and treat each other as equals. All countries, big or small, are equal,” Xi said. “We handle issues through consultation and make decisions by consensus.”

    On elaborating mutual trust, Xi said, “We firmly support each other in safeguarding independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national dignity.”

    “We do not do anything harmful to the core interests of any party,” he added.

    When talking about mutual benefit, Xi said, “We view each other as priority partners, and share development opportunities together.”

    On mutual assistance, he stressed, “We help each other in time of need and stand together through thick and thin,” adding that “we work together to address various risks and challenges, and uphold regional security and stability.”

    The China-Central Asia Spirit deeply reflects the essence of relations between China and the Central Asian countries, said Alikbek Dzhekshenkulov, former foreign minister of Kyrgyzstan.

    This spirit will become a powerful driving force for future cooperation between China and Central Asian countries, helping to forge a closer community with a shared future, said Dzhekshenkulov.

    NEW COOPERATION CENTERS

    One of the key outcomes of the Astana summit is the inauguration of three cooperation centers and a cooperation platform on smooth trade within the China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism.

    The institutions include the China-Central Asia poverty reduction cooperation center, the China-Central Asia education exchange cooperation center, the China-Central Asia desertification control cooperation center, as well as the China-Central Asia smooth trade cooperation platform.

    “China is ready to share with Central Asian countries development experience and latest technological advances, promote connectivity in digital infrastructure, enhance cooperation on artificial intelligence, and foster new quality productive forces,” Xi said at the summit.

    These initiatives are “very important to each of us,” said Tajik Foreign Minister Sirojiddin Muhriddin outside the summit venue. “We hope that in a very short time, we will achieve a big success.”

    Muhriddin also said the second China-Central Asia Summit marks “a historic event” and opened a new chapter for a time-tested regional partnership.

    Chinese President Xi Jinping, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev witness inauguration of the China-Central Asia poverty reduction cooperation center, the China-Central Asia education exchange cooperation center, the China-Central Asia desertification control cooperation center and the China-Central Asia trade facilitation cooperation platform in Astana, Kazakhstan, June 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

    BELT AND ROAD COOPERATION

    At the summit, Xi called on China and Central Asian countries to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

    On the sidelines of the summit, Xi also held separate bilateral meetings with the leaders of the five Central Asian countries, with a focus on the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

    In talks with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Xi emphasized the importance of advancing the high-quality construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, a project launched last year.

    While meeting with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, Xi said that both sides should effectively implement the strategic alignment between the Belt and Road Initiative and Turkmenistan’s development strategy to revive the Great Silk Road.

    Xi also told Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Monday that high-quality Belt and Road cooperation should be used to improve cooperation between China and Kazakhstan.

    In 2013, Xi first laid out his vision for building the Silk Road Economic Belt — a key component of the initiative in Astana when delivering a landmark speech at Nazarbayev University.

    Over the past decade, the BRI has grown from an aspiring vision into a high-quality platform for cooperation, encompassing daily logistics, trade and infrastructure development across the Eurasian continent, said Din Mukhamed Konakbayev, general manager of the Kazakh-Chinese trade and logistics company (Almaty) Ltd.

    He noted that BRI infrastructure projects are driving more balanced regional development in Kazakhstan, particularly in the northern, western and southern regions, which previously had limited access to global logistics networks.

    TREATY ON ETERNAL GOOD-NEIGHBORLINESS, FRIENDSHIP AND COOPERATION

    Xi and the leaders of the five Central Asian nations signed the treaty on eternal good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation.

    According to the treaty, the six countries reaffirmed their firm support for each country’s independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity as well as the principles of sovereign equality and the inviolability of borders.

    All parties reiterated that they will not use force or threaten to use force, and will resolve disputes peacefully, said the treaty.

    The signing of the treaty is to “enshrine the principle of everlasting friendship in the form of law,” Xi said in his speech at the summit. “China consistently takes Central Asia as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy,” he noted.

    “This is a new landmark in the history of the relations between our six countries and a pioneering initiative in China’s diplomatic engagement with its neighbors,” Xi added.

    An international freight train pulls out of the China-Kazakhstan (Lianyungang) Logistics Cooperation Base in Lianyungang, east China’s Jiangsu Province on June 26, 2024. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

    NO WINNER IN TARIFF WARS

    “There is no winner in tariff wars or trade wars,” Xi said in his speech at the summit. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said he agrees with it.

    “Unilateralism, protectionism and hegemonism will surely backfire while hurting others,” Xi said. “I always maintain that history should move forward, not backward; and the world should be united, not divided.”

    “Humanity must not regress to the law of the jungle. Instead, we should build a community with a shared future for mankind,” Xi added.

    SECURITY ON AGENDA

    The six countries issued the Astana Declaration as an outcome of the summit. They agreed to jointly combat terrorism, separatism and extremism and strongly condemn all forms of the three forces.

    The countries also pledged to battle threats such as cross-border infiltration of terrorist forces, drug smuggling, transnational organized crime and cyber crime, to ensure smooth and stable progress of cooperation projects and jointly respond to security threats, said the document.

    In his talks with Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Xi stressed that China and Tajikistan should further strengthen law enforcement and security cooperation and step up efforts to crack down on terrorism, separatism and extremism.

    China and the five Central Asian countries also cooperate on security issues within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). China is set to host this year’s SCO summit.

    Xi also touched on the situation in the Middle East while holding talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. He said China is ready to work with all parties to play a constructive role in restoring peace and stability in the region.

    Xi said all related parties should work to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East as soon as possible and avoid further escalation.

    CHINA-CENTRAL ASIA MECHANISM

    It was decided at the summit that China will host the third China-Central Asia Summit in 2027.

    The meeting of heads of state under the China-Central Asia cooperation mechanism was launched in May 2023 with the inaugural summit held in Xi’an, a historic city in northwest China. At that gathering, leaders agreed to convene the summit every two years, alternating between China and Central Asian countries.

    The mechanism was further institutionalized last year with the establishment of a secretariat in Xi’an.

    The second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana marked the first time the gathering was held in a Central Asian country.

    The Central Asia-China cooperation mechanism is a strategic platform aimed at strengthening cooperation between China and the five Central Asian countries, said Afzal Artikov, chief researcher at the Center for Economic Research and Reforms under the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

    Since its launch, he said, it has become an important vehicle for advancing cooperation across multiple fields and deepening political, economic and cultural ties between Central Asian nations and China.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: NHC minister meets with UNFPA executive director

    Source: People’s Republic of China Ministry of Health

    Lei Haichao, minister of China’s National Health Commission, met with Natalia Kanem, executive director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in Beijing on June 12 to discuss deepening bilateral cooperation.

    Lei said that China has maintained a fruitful cooperation with the UNFPA. In response to new situation in population development, the Chinese central government has made important arrangements to improve the fertility support policy system and incentive mechanisms and foster a fertility-friendly society to support Chinese modernization with high-quality population development, he added.

    Amid the current challenges of unilateralism to the global governance system, China remains steadfast in its support for multilateralism, he said. China is ready to deepen collaboration with the UNFPA in various forms, strengthen South-South cooperation and jointly advance the implementation of the Programme of Action adopted at the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development and the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, so as to build a community with a shared future for mankind, he added.

    Kanem praised China’s achievements in population development, adding that China’s development experience holds significant reference value for many developing countries and expressing gratitude for China’s long-standing and steadfast support to the UNFPA.

    Both parties agreed to enhance cooperation and exchanges in areas such as population and development, aging and reproductive health.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China-South Asia Expo provides new opportunities to bolster trade and cooperation

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

    China-South Asia Expo provides new opportunities to bolster trade and cooperation

    This photo taken on June 19, 2025 shows the site of the opening ceremony of the 9th China-South Asia Expo in Kunming, southwest China’s Yunnan Province. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

    Senior officials from multiple countries attending the opening ceremony of the 9th China-South Asia Expo on Thursday highly praised the event for providing new opportunities to boost trade and regional cooperation.

    The expo in the southwestern Chinese city of Kunming has drawn representatives from over 70 countries, regions and international organizations, as well as over 2,500 enterprises.

    “The China-South Asia Expo is a great platform for strengthening exchanges and cooperation among China and South Asian countries … The expo has, over the years, connected China with the South Asian countries much closer,” said Wasantha Samarasinghe, Sri Lanka’s minister of trade, commerce, food security and cooperative development.

    As the theme country for this year’s expo, Sri Lanka will take this valuable opportunity to leverage the full potential for trade, investment, tourism and cultural exchange opportunities in the lucrative Chinese market, the minister added.

    Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha stated that the expo symbolizes shared opportunities among the economies of China, South Asia, and ASEAN, aiming for harmonious, sustainable, and inclusive common development.

    Lao Deputy Prime Minister Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune said that the expo has created opportunities for enterprises and business people from various countries, including his own, to engage in exchanges and cooperation on trade, investment, business operation and market connectivity.

    He expressed confidence that the expo will foster friendly relations based on mutual understanding and trust among regional countries, enabling governments and private enterprises to collaborate for a bright and sustainable future.

    “From the perspective of Myanmar’s business community, the expo offers a unique opportunity to engage with regional products in a single venue, facilitate direct connections between Myanmar’s products and Chinese consumers, and open doors for collaboration with South Asian and ASEAN countries,” said Tin Aung San, Myanmar’s deputy prime minister and union minister at the prime minister’s office.

    “I strongly believe that this expo will serve as an important platform to foster partnerships in trade and investment among China, Myanmar, South Asia, and Southeast Asia, ultimately benefiting the people of the nations,” he added.

    Mawlawi Abdul Salam Hanafi, an acting deputy prime minister of Afghanistan’s interim government, described the expo as a key platform for trade exchange, investment promotion and economic dialogue in the region.

    “It plays a vital role in developing regional partnerships and strengthening economic ties between South Asian countries,” Hanafi said.

    “Let’s use this platform to spark new partnerships, share bold ideas, and build a region that’s not just prosperous but a model of peace and cooperation for the world,” said Ahmed Nazim, deputy speaker of the People’s Majlis of the Maldives. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • Axiom Mission 4 launch postponed again; NASA to announce new date

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The launch of Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), the fourth private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS), has been delayed once again as NASA and its partners continue technical assessments. A new launch date is expected to be announced in the coming days.
     
    Originally scheduled for May 29 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the mission has faced multiple postponements—first to June 8, then June 10, 11, and 19. The latest delay follows ongoing evaluations of repair work on the aft section of the Russian Zvezda service module aboard the ISS.
     
    The mission is a collaborative effort involving NASA, Axiom Space, and SpaceX. The launch was most recently set for Sunday, June 22. “@NASA, @Axiom_Space, and @SpaceX continue reviewing launch opportunities for Axiom Mission 4… will target a new launch date in the coming days,” the International Space Station said in a post on X.
     
    Ax-4 is seen as a key step in the ongoing commercialisation of human spaceflight, with a focus on international cooperation and private-sector innovation. The crew is set to launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A.
     
    The mission will be led by Peggy Whitson, a veteran NASA astronaut and the current Director of Human Spaceflight at Axiom Space. The crew includes Shubhanshu Shukla of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), who will serve as pilot, and mission specialists Sławosz Uznanski-Wisniewski from Poland and Tibor Kapu from Hungary—both flying under the European Space Agency (ESA).
     
    During their stay aboard the ISS, the crew will conduct various scientific experiments. Shukla will lead research in space food and nutrition, under a joint initiative of ISRO, the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), and NASA. The project aims to contribute to sustainable life-support systems, a critical area for future long-duration space missions.
     
    -IANS

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Feedback helps shape future of pharmacy services in York and North Yorkshire

    Source: City of York

    Residents in York and North Yorkshire have helped to shape the future of pharmacy services across the county.

    Public health teams from City of York Council and North Yorkshire Council are thanking residents and partner organisations who earlier this year shared their views on whether the locations, accessibility and services provided by pharmacies are adequate.

    Plans have since been drawn up to develop the services in the future using feedback from the consultation, which was incorporated into the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA). Now A further 60-day consultation gets underway from tomorrow, asking for views on the final proposals.  

    Have your say here between Friday 20 June and Tuesday 19 August 2025.

    Following this consultation, the Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) will decide how pharmacy services are commissioned across York and North Yorkshire.

    All Health and Wellbeing Boards are required to produce a at least every three years to ensure the best decisions about pharmacy services are made for communities.

    The feedback received so far has helped to influence decisions on the location of pharmacies, their opening hours and the services provided, ranging from dispensing prescriptions to providing medication counselling.

    Cllr Lucy Steels-Walshaw, executive member for health, wellbeing and adult social care at City of York Council, said:

    “We’d like to thank everyone for having their say. Pharmacies are an integral part of healthcare provision across our communities, so we really wanted to understand if current services are meeting the needs of all York residents.

    “The findings from the survey have helped us to understand where pharmacies are already performing well and identify potential gaps in services, as well as those services that need improvement. This will help the NHS consider the public’s views in making sure everyone can get access to the right pharmacy services in the right places.”

    North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for health and adult services, Cllr Michael Harrison, said:

    “Pharmacy services play a vital role in supporting health and wellbeing with pharmacies themselves often found in the heart of our communities.

    “Good access to the right services at the right time is so important in helping to address health inequalities.”

    The questionnaire is anonymous and confidential and should only take 10 to 15 minutes to complete.

    North Yorkshire Council’s director of public health, Louise Wallace, and City of York Council’s director of public health, Peter Roderick, said:

    “Local pharmacies play a pivotal role in our county by providing healthcare and support to individuals, families and carers of all ages.

    “All of the feedback, combined with the expertise of health professionals, has really helped the research shape the futures of pharmacies used by residents in York and North Yorkshire.

    “Please consider reviewing the final documents and completing the survey which can be found on our website.”

    The survey can be accessed at www.york.gov.uk/Consultations

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Recommendations from gender inequality and poverty study to be reviewed

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    The findings and recommendations of the Scottish Women’s Budget Group Study on Gender Inequality and Poverty in Aberdeen are to be reviewed after the results were discussed at last week’s (11 June) Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee.

    The Scottish Women’s Budget Group were commissioned by the committee to explore the impact of poverty and gender inequality on women and their families and subsequently identify solutions that could address these issues.

    Heather Williams, Training Lead, Scottish Women’s Budget Group said: “Many of the challenges identified highlight interlinked structural barriers that women face. Caring responsibilities, social security, work, transport, health and housing were all highlighted as significant issues for women in Aberdeen these impact on the choices and options available to them and cause gender inequality.

    “We look forward to seeing what action Aberdeen City Council will take to address the issues highlighted.”

    Aberdeen City Council Co-Leader Councillor Christian Allard said: “The Scottish Women’s Budget Group should be commended for their work on this study and I wish to thank them and all those who participated in the research project.

    “The Council will now look at the comprehensive findings and recommendations and hope to implement solutions to some of the issues with gender inequality and poverty that women across Aberdeen are currently facing.”

    Anti-Poverty and Inequality Vice-Convener Councillor Desmond Buchanan said: “The recommendations and findings from this study will go a long way in helping to shape future policies and decision making processes across the Council and is a great example of partnership working that will make a difference.”

    The project included a number of different research methods to enable researchers to hear a range of views from those who have experience of living on a low income, those who work in organisations that provide support, as well as those who have experienced both.

    The methods included:

    • Steering Group – 9 women from a wide range of backgrounds met nine times during the study to discuss a number of different topics.
    • Online survey – circulated online during November and December 2024.
    • Focus groups – worked with a number of community organisations to run small focus groups that targeted specific groups.
    • Community events – events organised to engage directly with women.

    The report presents 116 recommendations across four themes: care and caring (childcare and unpaid care), Safety (violence against women/community safety), welfare/benefits and health and wellbeing (accessing support and health).

    Of the 116 recommendations, 96 are to Aberdeen City Council and the other 19 are to the Aberdeen Health and Social Care Partnership, Scottish and UK Government, Police Scotland and the Financial Services Ombudsman.

    A response to the findings and recommendations of the Scottish Women’s Budget Group study will be brought to the Anti-Poverty and Inequality Committee meeting on 26th November 2025.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Canterbury bags first look at new national exhibition celebrating stories of migration 

    Source: City of Canterbury

    Home  »  Latest News   »   Canterbury bags first look at new national exhibition celebrating stories of migration 
    Image: Dame Zaha Hadid by Michael Craig-Martin © National Portrait Gallery, London

    A brand-new exhibition by the National Portrait Gallery (NPG) exploring the experiences and contributions of people who moved to Britain and made it their permanent or temporary home is set to open for the first time at The Beaney. 

    The Lives in Motion exhibition features 51 stories of migration from the NPG collection, ranging from the 11th century through to the present day, and will kick start its national tour in Canterbury on Saturday 28 June. 

    The display looks at the different reasons people move and explores how leaving home, and finding a new one, presents opportunities but also challenges around personal identity and a sense of belonging.  

    Spanning nearly a thousand years of history, stories are told through a range of vibrant paintings, sculptures, photography, prints, and digital art, including contemporary commissions by NPG.   

    A newly acquired bust of Mary Seacole, a British-Jamaican nurse who cared for wounded soldiers in the Crimean War, will also be on show for the first time in this exhibition since its acquisition by NPG.   

    Local groups including St Peters Methodist Primary School, Kent Refugee Action Network and The Beaney’s Sensing Culture Group for blind and partially sighted people have also helped develop additional interpretation materials for the display. 

    Cllr Charlotte Cornell, Cabinet Member for Culture and Heritage, said: “The stories told in this exhibition are so inspiring and act as an important reminder of what makes Britain such a brilliantly diverse place today.  

    “It’s also exciting to be the first stop of the exhibition’s tour! 

    “Getting the first look at some intriguing new items from the National Portrait Gallery’s collection – that our residents would otherwise have to travel to London to see – is a real privilege, and we’re grateful to the gallery for their continued partnership.” 

    Visitors can find the exhibition in The Beaney’s Special Exhibition Room until Sunday 5 October 2025 (closed Mondays). 

    Admission is free, with donations encouraged. 

    The display was curated by Octavia Tam, an Art Fund Vivmar curatorial trainee, hosted by NPG and Nottingham City Museums and Galleries and organised by the NPG as part of their National Touring Programme. 

    Find out more about the exhibition on The Beaney’s website. 

    Notes to editors 

    National Portrait Gallery   

    Founded in 1856, the National Portrait Gallery tells the story of Britain through portraits, using art to bring history to life and explore living today. From global icons, to unsung heroes, our Collection is filled with the stories that have shaped, and continue to shape a nation. We celebrate the power of portraiture and offer encounters with some of the world’s greatest and most exciting new artists, promoting engagement with portraiture in all media to a wide-ranging public by conserving, growing and sharing the world’s largest collection of portraits.  

    www.npg.org.uk   

    Art Fund  

    Art Fund is the UK’s independent charity for art, helping museums and people to share in great art and culture for 120 years. Art Fund raises millions of pounds every year to help the UK’s museums, galleries and historic houses. The charity funds art, enabling the UK’s museums to buy and share exciting works, connect with their communities, and inspire the next generation. It builds audiences with its National Art Pass opening doors to great culture; and it amplifies the museum sector through the world’s largest museum prize, Art Fund Museum of the Year, and creative events that bring the UK’s museums together. Art Fund is people-powered by 135,000 members who buy a National Art Pass, and the donors, trusts and foundations who support the charity.

    The National Art Pass provides free or discounted entry to over 400 museums, galleries and historic places, 50% off major exhibitions, and Art Quarterly magazine.  

    www.artfund.org 

    Published: 20 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Greater Norwich Local Plan Wins Top Regional Planning Award

    Source: City of Norwich

    The Greater Norwich Local Plan (GNLP) has been named Local Plan of the Year at the prestigious Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) East of England Awards, held this week.

    The accolade recognises the plan’s outstanding contribution to shaping a sustainable and prosperous future for the sub-region.

    In a further celebration of local planning excellence, the Planning Team at South Norfolk and Broadland District Councils received a Highly Commended award in the Planning Team of the Year category—highlighting their innovation, dedication, and collaborative approach.

    This regional success follows national recognition just last week, when the GNLP was Highly Commended at the Planning Awards 2025, cementing its reputation as a leading example of strategic, community-focused planning.

    Both awards celebrate excellence in planning and placemaking, honouring projects that demonstrate innovation, impact, and strong cross-sector collaboration.

    Councillor Daniel Elmer, Chair of the Greater Norwich Development Partnership and Leader of South Norfolk Council, said: “An enormous amount of hard work went into creating this plan, and the teams across all of the councils involved should feel incredibly proud. Being recognised in these awards is a remarkable achievement—and a clear testament to the strength of our partnership. Congratulations to all of our planners who are helping shape the future of Greater Norwich.”

    Adopted in March 2024, the GNLP was developed by the Greater Norwich Development Partnership, comprising Broadland District Council, Norwich City Council, and South Norfolk Council, with support from Norfolk County Council and the Broads Authority.

    The plan sets out a bold and strategic vision for growth across Broadland, Norwich, and South Norfolk—aligning housing delivery with low-carbon economic development, environmental stewardship, infrastructure investment, and climate resilience.

    For nearly two decades, this voluntary partnership has provided a stable and trusted platform for delivering joined-up, strategic planning—making the GNLP a model for sub-regional plan-making in line with the government’s emphasis on collaborative planning.

    The GNLP will now be put forward for the RTPI national final, with finalists announced later this year.

    For more information about the Greater Norwich Local Plan and the partnership, please visit gnlp.org.uk

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Leeds launches the pioneering Aire Resilience Company to tackle flood risk and the climate emergency

    Source: City of Leeds

    On Tuesday, leaders from businesses and institutions across Yorkshire gathered to mark the launch of the Aire Resilience Company (ARC), a new Community Interest Company (CIC) facilitating the delivery of long-term natural flood management (NFM) interventions in the Aire Valley.  

    ARC was created through a collaboration between Leeds City Council, Yorkshire Water, the Environment Agency and the Rivers Trust as a direct response to the threat of climate change and increasing flood risk. It will focus on delivering upstream interventions that work with nature to slow the flow of water, reduce pressure on Leeds’ existing flood defences, and bring wider environmental benefits to communities across Leeds and the Aire Valley. 

    By establishing a long-term, sustainable model for funding and maintenance, ARC will ensure these natural interventions continue to protect communities for many decades. 

    ARC’s work will complement and enhance the recently completed £200million Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme which protects the city and surrounding areas from extreme flooding as experienced following Storm Eva at Christmas 2015. 

    The Leeds Natural Flood Management project, delivered by the Environment Agency in partnership with a wide range of organisations, is an integral part of this scheme. This innovative programme has an ambition to provide climate change resilience to the scheme by providing a 5% reduction in peak flows on the River Aire in Leeds up to 2069. 

    ARC will further progress this work and will fund and deliver NFM interventions upstream in the Aire Valley. This includes creating woodlands, wetlands, soil restoration, and other interventions designed to slow and hold water upstream, protecting communities downstream. These nature-based solutions also enhance biodiversity and improve water quality, contributing to a healthier and more resilient environment for both people and wildlife. 

    ARC receives funding through a consortium of local businesses who recognise the importance of acting now to prevent the impacts of climate change. This funding enables NFM delivery partners to collaborate with farmers and landowners in the mid and upper Aire catchment to install and maintain NFM works. 

    Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s deputy leader and executive member for economy, transport, and sustainable development, said: 

     “Leeds City Council is committed to building long-term resilience to the impacts of climate change, and the launch of the Aire Resilience Company is an important step forward. Flood risk remains one of the most immediate challenges our communities face, and it is essential that we take action now to protect people, homes, and businesses across the city and the wider Aire Valley. 

    “By supporting nature-based solutions alongside our major flood defence schemes, we are not only strengthening flood resilience but also contributing to our wider environmental and net zero ambitions. This collaborative approach will help ensure that Leeds remains a safe, sustainable, and thriving place for generations to come.” 

    Nicola Shaw, CEO of Yorkshire Water, said:  

    “We firmly believe that localised partnerships are the best way to deliver what our region needs. We are delighted to be a lead partner for this innovative and forward-thinking initiative. Climate change affects almost every aspect of how we operate, and it is vitally important that we take action to prepare for the challenges ahead, as well as those we are already facing. 

     “By working with Aire Resilience Company to harness the power of nature, we’re not only building climate resilience in our own business, but also helping to generate new jobs, support nature-friendly farming, and improve water quality and soil health across the catchment of the Aire. The Aire Resilience Company offers a prime example of how working together can unlock sustainable value, build climate resilience, and future-proof Leeds as a place to live and work for many years to come.” 

    Mark Lloyd, CEO of the Rivers Trust, said: 

     “Most human activity in the past few centuries has accelerated water through the landscape with drainage, straightened rivers, deforestation, impermeable surfaces and compacted soils. We need to reverse this process by slowing the flow to make use of this precious resource for people and nature and protect communities and businesses from flooding. 

    “This means taking action at scale throughout the landscape to store and absorb water by restoring natural processes. ARC is a shining example of a community coming together to make space for water and I hope it will be replicated throughout the country.” 

    Jenny Cooke, Flood Risk Manager for the Environment Agency in West Yorkshire, said:  

    “The Environment Agency, alongside a wide range of organisations, have delivered one of the largest NFM programmes in the country, covering an area of around 700km2 across the Upper Aire Catchment. This included planting woodland equivalent to the size of 650 football pitches and managing soil and land management improvements over an area the size of 1200 football pitches, to slow the flow of water and mitigate the impacts of climate change. 

    “This not only helps reduce the risk of flooding but provides wider benefits; from supporting biodiversity and enhanced habitats and improved water quality, to richer soil health. 

    “The Aire Resilience Company will continue to maintain the partnerships we have built to carry out this work and allow the initiative to flourish – we’re excited to see what the future holds! 

    “As always, we encourage everyone across Yorkshire to know their flood risk and sign up to flood warnings via Prepare for flooding: Protect yourself from future flooding – GOV.UK.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Derby City Council secures funding to create over 330 new childcare places

    Source: City of Derby

    Derby City Council is delighted to announce a significant boost to its early years childcare provision, following the allocation of childcare expansion capital grant funding from the Department for Education (DfE). This funding will support the creation of 337 new childcare places across the city by August 2025, addressing the increasing demand generated by the Government’s new expanded childcare offer.

    Derby City Council launched the Early Years Capital Grant application process in Spring 2024. The process was transparent, allowing childcare providers to submit Expressions of Interest (EOIs). From these, 16 applications were advanced, representing various types of providers. An approval panel reviewed the applications and granted funding based on evidence of demand.

    The total cost of projects was £1,410,333 with the council’s contribution of £475,002. The investment will create additional places across the city, significantly enhancing accessibility to quality childcare for families.

    By 31 August, the following additional places will have been created across city wards: 

    • Darley: 86 places
    • Mickleover: 90 places
    • Alvaston South: 11 places
    • Sinfin & Osmaston: 6 places
    • Chaddesden East: 25 placesArboretum: 51 places
    • Normanton: 38 places
    • Chellaston & Shelton Lock: 30 places

    Examples of how these grants have been used include:

    The Early Years Academy: Utilised their grant to construct a ‘Hygge Hut,’ an outdoor retreat designed for comfort, calm, and connection. This space has improved accessibility and inclusion, particularly for a child with high sensory sensitivity whose confidence has transformed through calmer transitions into nursery life.

    Little Angels Nursery: Redeveloped an old dining room into a new six-place baby room, investing in high-quality furniture, bedding, resources, and staff training. The grant also funded a sectioned garden area with various play equipment, allowing parents with older children at the nursery to now access care for their baby siblings within the same setting.

    Whitecross Nursery: Used their grant to develop new provision for two-year-olds, creating eight places that accommodate 17 different children throughout the working week, complete with age-appropriate furnishings and facilities.

    Councillor Paul Hezelgrave, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Skills, said:

    With this vital funding, we’re building a stronger foundation for families in our city. We’re proud to be creating 337 much-needed new childcare places, demonstrating our commitment to meeting rising demand and making quality childcare accessible to everyone.

    More information about early learning childcare provision in Derby, eligibility criteria for funded places, and how to apply, is available on the Derby City Council website. Information on the Government’s new working parent entitlement offer is available on the Government’s Childcare Choices website.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by CE at HKEX 25th Anniversary Celebrations (English only) (with video)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Speech by CE at HKEX 25th Anniversary Celebrations (English only) (with video) 
    Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
     
    I’m delighted to speak to you in celebrating the 25th anniversary of HKEX.
     
    What a grand day this is for HKEX, the fast-beating heart of the financial community that has been instrumental in powering Hong Kong’s rise these past 25 years. With the resounding support of our country, our financial community, which also includes our world-class regulators and the financial and professional services sector, helps to cement Hong Kong’s place as one of the world’s top three international financial centres.
     
    For HKEX – for all of us – it’s been a remarkable journey. Since HKEX’s listing in 2000, Hong Kong has emerged as a premier global listings destination, with the number of listed companies here rising from 790 to more than 2 600 today.
     
    A few more telling numbers. Over the past quarter of a century, our total market capitalisation has soared six times, while the average daily turnover has increased nine times.
     
    Over the years, Hong Kong has become known, worldwide, as a preferred destination for a great many large and high-profile initial public offerings (IPOs).
     
    This year has been particularly rewarding. Last month, we welcomed the largest global IPO of the year to date. And Hong Kong leads the world in IPO fundraising, with 29 listings and raising nearly US$10 billion in the first five months of the year. That, ladies and gentlemen, is a seven-time growth, year-on-year.
     
    That remarkable surge in IPOs and market turnover also manifests strong global confidence in our financial ecosystem. 
     
    HKEX plays a crucial role, too, in facilitating Hong Kong’s rise as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” between our country and the world at large. This past year, it added Abu Dhabi and Dubai to its list of recognised stock exchanges, which now total 20.
     
    And then there’s the mutual access programmes linking up the markets between Hong Kong and the Mainland, from the expansion of eligible ETFs (exchange-traded funds) under Stock Connect, and the enhancement of mutual recognition of funds arrangement, to the improvement measures for Bond Connect trading, and the recent announcement of plans to expand products under Swap Connect. 
     
    Together, these initiatives have realised deeper, more interconnected financial ties between the Mainland and Hong Kong markets.
     
    Despite today’s global challenges, and the economic chaos they’re creating, the Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government is resolutely committed to working with HKEX and our regulators to boost market liquidity.
     
    I am grateful to HKEX for its unwavering support of the Government’s policy priorities. In the past year, HKEX has adopted a variety of initiatives, including enhancing the specialist technology listing regime, narrowing the trading spread and launching its technology enterprises channel.
     
    Those measures also include maintaining trading under severe weather conditions. That enables investors to manage their portfolios and minimise market risks.
     
    Earlier this year, I am pleased to note, the London Metal Exchange, a wholly-owned subsidiary of HKEX, added Hong Kong as an approved delivery point in its global warehousing network. 
     
    The approval of seven new warehouses here in just a few months is a clear and compelling statement of Hong Kong’s status as an international financial, shipping and trade centre. It will go a long way to supporting our building of a vibrant commodity trading ecosystem in Hong Kong, and attracting more companies to establish a presence here.
     
    Once again, my heartfelt congratulations to HKEX on your silver jubilee – a quarter of a century of outstanding service. Working together, I’m confident we will ensure Hong Kong’s continuing success as one of the world’s surpassing financial centres.
     
    Thank you.
    Issued at HKT 17:45

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: IPPA Best Book Award for “A Government of Insiders” by William Genieys

    Source: Universities – Science Po in English

    William Genieys, CNRS Research Professor at the Centre for European Studies and Comparative Politics, has been awarded a Best Book Award by the International Public Policy Association (IPPA) for his latest book: A Government of Insiders. The People Who Made the Affordable Care Act Possible (John Hopkins University Press, 2024). This book is the culmination of his theorization of the role of unelected governmental elites in liberal democracy. 

    The jury noted that the book “presents an impressive, ambitious, and engaging long-term account of the social backgrounds of US elites, backed by considerable research to quantify their number and profile. Genieys offers an original interpretation of Obama’s healthcare reform as an alternative to the mainstream ‘political bargain‘ interpretation and of Heclo’s ‘government of strangers’, explaining the role played in the reform process by senior bureaucrats in the US administration.”

    William Genieys told us about this book in a video interview last year:

    The IPPA Best Book Award is awarded biennially and given to a single- or co-authored monograph that makes an original and significant theoretical, methodological and/or empirical contribution to the field of Public Policy and/or Public Administration. 

    William Genieys is the first political scientist from France to receive the award, that will be presented during the Gala dinner of the 7th International Conference on Public Policy on July 3rd (in Chiang Mai, Thailand).

    In addition to this award, William Genieys has been granted a Book Tour scholarship from Sciences Po’s Transatlantic Research Fund, that will allow him to present his book in several US universities. 

    More information:

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Improving mental health nursing care

    Source: Scottish Government

    Review recommendations will benefit patients, staff and students.

    People affected by mental health issues can expect higher and more consistent standards of care following the publication of Scotland’s Mental Health Nursing Review.

    The Review outlines ways to enhance and further support the mental health nursing profession. The paper was developed by mental health nurses and students, academics, with support from carers and people accessing mental health nursing care.

    The Review makes a total of 24 recommendations including:

    • ensuring people accessing services have meaningful involvement in their mental health nursing care
    • improving support for newly qualified mental health nurses and sharing best practice
    • considering specific education needs for rural and island settings
    • improving access to post-registration learning for mental health nurses across all sectors

    A new Mental Health Nursing Review Implementation Group will be established to ensure effective collaboration, delivery, monitoring and evaluation of the Review actions.

    Mental Wellbeing Minister Tom Arthur said:

    “Through their expert care, compassion and dedication, mental health nursing staff make a significant and positive impact to people’s health and wellbeing every day.

    “The Review focuses on their unique role, and it will ensure the profession is supported and empowered to drive the enhancement of mental health and wellbeing services now, and in the future.

    “I want to thank all the mental health nursing staff and students, academics, carers and those people accessing care who engaged with and supported this work.

    “I am looking forward to working collaboratively to deliver the ambition of ensuring Scotland is the best place for mental health nursing to flourish and where people live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives.”

    Chair of Scotland’s first Mental Health Nursing Review, former Chief Nursing Officer, Professor Alex McMahon said:

    “It has been an honour as a mental health nurse to have chaired the review and to have heard from mental health nurses and those that represent people who use services across Scotland. The report and its recommendations, mean that patients and mental health nurses who deliver services now and, in the future, will benefit from the reforms.

    “It will be important to ensure these recommendations are implemented, and one aspiration I and others share is that we will attract and retain even more people into undergraduate nursing degree programmes. I believe being a mental health nurse, is one of the best and most fulfilling careers you can chose.”

    Mark Richards, Associate Chief Nursing Officer said:

    “Our Mental Health Nursing Review highlights the vital role mental health nurses play in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of the people of Scotland. During our work on the Review, we heard that mental health nurses are at the heart of care delivery and that their relational expertise often has a transformational impact on people’s lives. Mental health nurses told us they are proud of the work they do. They strive every day to deliver compassionate, high-quality care, and to work with people who need expert support to enable recovery and promote wellbeing.  

    “This Review is important in advancing the contribution of mental health nurses and will help ensure we have a profession that is skilled, well supported and sustainable – now and for many years to come. It was collectively produced by our mental health nurses in Scotland, and I look forward to us working together to deliver our ambitions.”  

    Darren Fullarton, Associate Nurse Director for NHS Ayrshire and Arran and Chair of the Mental Health Nurse Leads Group for Scotland, said:

    “The national review of mental health nursing recognises and celebrates the important role that mental health nurses play in their support and compassionate care for people experiencing mental health issues. 

    “The National Mental Health Nurse Lead Group are delighted to have had the opportunity to support this significant piece of work which captures views from those with lived experience, families and carers and from mental health nurses themselves to develop an ambitious vision for mental health nurses that exemplifies our commitment to care, compassion and connection.”

    Background

    The Mental Health Nursing Review commenced in 2024 and was a key action within the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy’s  Workforce Action plan.

    Mental health and wellbeing strategy – delivery plan and workforce action plan: progress update and next steps – gov.scot

    Mental health and wellbeing strategy – gov.scot

    Mental health and wellbeing : workforce action plan 2023-2025 – gov.scot

    1. The Ministerial Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce – Ministerial Scottish Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce: report and recommended actions – gov.scot

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Preston City Council commissions research to unlock opportunities for local food producers

    Source: City of Preston

    Preston City Council has funded two new research projects to help better understand the region’s local food supply chain – who produces food in Lancashire, what they produce, and how they can be better supported to access public sector contracts. 

    The research, recommended by the Preston Climate Jury and discussed by the Central Lancashire Procurement Practitioners group, will help map the local food supply system. 

    Researchers from Edge Hill University and Social Research Consultancy, Sustainable Solutions, will lead the work. They will carry out surveys and in-depth interviews with farmers, producers, buyers and public sector organisations.

    The aim is to identify business opportunities, supply chain gaps and procurement challenges across Lancashire. 

    Councillor Sarwar, Cabinet Member for Climate Change at Preston City Council said: 

    ”Food systems are a main driver of climate change in the UK, and I am delighted to see Preston City Council moving forward with the People’s Climate Jury recommendation to increase access to locally produced food. This is a practical step towards a more local, low-carbon food system, and is also about fairness and supporting our farmers to thrive.” 

    Councillor Wise, Cabinet Member for Community Wealth Building at Preston City Council said: 

    ”Preston has long been a leader in Community Wealth Building, this work exploring access to contracts for local food producers will be another area in which Preston is a forerunner.” 

    The findings will support Preston City Council, local anchor institutions and other public sector buyers to improve access for small producers, contributing to climate goals and the council’s Community Wealth Building strategy. 

    Sven Batke, Chair of the Greenhouse Innovation Consortium and one of the founders of EcoEdge at Edge Hill University said:  

    “To support food producers and create pragmatic, tangible outcomes that deliver net benefits for our local economy, it is essential that we work collectively and adopt data-driven approaches that are effective. This initial work will help us better understand key challenges and identify opportunities for the food sector in Lancashire.” 

    John Whitton from Sustainable Solutions said:  

    ”Farmers and growers in Lancashire are keen to support local and sustainable food initiatives that support access to public sector contracts. How to do this in practice remains elusive and is the focus of this project.” 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Three people missing in underground parking lot after heavy rains in central China

    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

    CHANGSHA, June 20 (Xinhua) — Heavy rains have caused severe flooding in Longshan County of central China’s Hunan Province, leaving three people missing after they were trapped in an underground parking lot, local authorities said Friday.

    According to the propaganda department of the CPC Longshan County Committee, the water level of the Guoli River in the county has risen sharply after several days of heavy rain, causing the worst flooding in history and backflow of water into an underground garage in a local community.

    Four locals were reported to have broken into the garage on Thursday, attempting to move their cars. One of them was rescued early Friday morning at 4:35 a.m. and is now in a stable condition. Firefighters are currently continuing search and rescue efforts for the others.

    Recall that heavy rains have hit Longshan County since Wednesday evening, flooding several residential complexes. Local authorities raised their flood emergency response to the second-highest level at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Russian-Chinese Literary Salon “With a Book Through Time”

    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

    On June 19, 2025, the Russian-Chinese literary salon “With a Book Through Time” was held at the Russian Cultural Center in Beijing, organized by the RCC jointly with the English-language version of the Global Times newspaper.

    The event, held as part of the “China-Russia Year of Culture,” aimed to create a new platform for humanitarian exchange between the two countries through literary dialogue.

    At the opening of the salon, the Minister-Counselor of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in the People’s Republic of China, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the Secretariat of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, Natalia Stepkina, delivered a welcoming speech, emphasizing that the partnership between China and Russia is actively developing in all areas, and humanitarian cooperation is becoming increasingly large-scale.

    Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Global Times newspaper Bai Long noted in his welcoming speech that literary exchange between China and Russia is always a broad road, full of life and mutual aspirations. Today, more and more translations of Russian literature are being published in China, and the best modern Chinese works find their readers in Russia.

    Within the framework of the salon, the director of the Russian Cultural Center in Beijing Tatyana Urzhumtseva, the famous Chinese poet, former vice-chairman of the Union of Chinese Writers and chairman of the poetry committee Jidi Madzia, the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Capital Pedagogical University and foreign member of the Russian Academy of Sciences Liu Wenfei and the director of the ANO Institute of Translation Evgeny Reznicenko spoke with reports on Russian-Chinese literary relations.

    The salon also included a round table, during which guests animatedly discussed issues of literary influence, modern methods of distribution, and spiritual connections.

    The literary salon ended with Anna Esparza’s exhibition “Russian Literature. History and Modernity.”

    The atmosphere in the hall was filled with the spirit of literature, and many participants noted that the interethnic literary dialogue not only demonstrated the rich cultural heritage of the two countries, but also opened up new horizons for humanitarian cooperation.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: BOC expels Philippine vessel from Chinese territorial waters around Huangyan Dao Island

    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

    BEIJING, June 20 (Xinhua) — The China Coast Guard (CCG) on Friday expelled Philippine service vessel No. 3006 from China’s territorial waters around Huangyan Island in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, said BCG spokesperson Liu Dejun.

    The Philippine vessel ignored repeated dissuasions and warnings from the Chinese side, insisting on approaching and invading China’s territorial waters around Huangyan Island, Liu Dejun said.

    The BOC took progressively stricter measures, including verbal warnings, tracking, monitoring and expulsion, and water cannon warning shots to drive away the Philippine vessel. All actions taken on the spot were professional, standardized and legal, Liu Dejun said.

    The Philippine vessel’s actions seriously violate China’s sovereignty and constitute a gross violation of international law and relevant provisions of Chinese law, he added, stressing that the Philippines’ frequent provocations and harassment cannot change the fact that Huangyan Dao Island belongs to China.

    The BOC will take all necessary measures in accordance with the law to resolutely protect the territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests of the state, Liu Dejun concluded. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s UN envoy calls for addressing root causes of conflicts through development

    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

    UNITED NATIONS, June 20 (Xinhua) — China’s permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong on Thursday stressed the need to address the root causes of conflicts from a development perspective.

    Poverty and underdevelopment are among the most important root causes of conflicts, and many pressing issues remain unresolved for a long time and require comprehensive solutions, he said during an open debate in the UN Security Council on poverty, underdevelopment and conflict.

    The diplomat pointed to the need to help developing countries catch up in development. The global community must return development to the center of the international agenda, invest in poverty reduction, education, employment and capacity building, and ensure that no country or person is left behind, he said.

    Fu Cong called for strengthening global development partnerships and improving global governance.

    Developed countries should faithfully honour their official development assistance commitments and increase financial and technical support to developing countries, the Permanent Representative said.

    It is necessary to advance the reform of the international financial architecture so that it better reflects changes in the global economic landscape, and to strengthen the representation and voice of developing countries, the diplomat added.

    Fu Cong called on countries to promote inclusive and mutually beneficial economic globalization. According to him, countries should advocate for mutually beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, jointly support the multilateral trading system, build an open world economy, and oppose unilateralism, protectionism, and the practice of putting one’s own interests above those of others.

    China has always been a builder of world peace and a defender of international order, contributing to global development, the diplomat noted.

    He said the China-proposed Global Security Initiative advocates common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security.

    Fu Cong also stressed China’s active role in global development efforts, “aiming to jointly implement the Global Development Initiative and high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative for common development.”

    The Permanent Representative also spoke about China’s domestic policy on these issues.

    China aims to become a more powerful country and realize the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in all areas through modernization, Fu Cong noted. According to him, China has successfully paved the way for modernization that suits national conditions.

    “With our achievements, we have given other developing countries more confidence in their pursuit of modernization and provided broad opportunities for modernization for all countries in the world,” the diplomat said, adding that China stands ready to work with the international community to build a world of peaceful development, win-win cooperation and common prosperity. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Statistics of Stored Value Facilities Schemes issued by SVF Licensees

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Statistics of Stored Value Facilities Schemes issued by SVF Licensees 
    As compared with the end of Q1/2024, the total number of SVF accounts in use at the end of Q1/2025 was up by 9.9 per cent, and the total float and SVF deposit was up by 11.6 per cent. The total number and value of SVF transactions during Q1/2025 were up by 5.4 per cent and 43.3 per cent respectively year-on-year. 
    Note 2: “Total number of SVF accounts in use” refers to the total number of SVF accounts that can be used as at the end of the reporting period. Issued at HKT 17:30

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Statistics of payment cards issued in Hong Kong for first quarter 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Statistics of payment cards issued in Hong Kong for first quarter 2025 
    The payment card statistics (see Annex) include quarterly data on credit and debit cards issued in Hong Kong under the credit and/or debit card schemes of the eight payment card scheme operators (Note 1). The HKMA began to publish the payment card statistics on a quarterly basis in June 2010 to enhance transparency of the payment card industry in Hong Kong, in line with international practice.
     
    According to the quarterly statistics, the total number of credit cards in circulation (Note 2) was 21.88 million by the end of Q1/2025. The figure represents a 4.5 per cent increase from the previous quarter and a 9.5 per cent increase from the previous year. The number and value of credit card transactions (including retail sales and cash advances) (Note 3) are susceptible to seasonal factors and the general economic environment, making the trends more prone to fluctuation. The total number of credit card transactions was 332.44 million for Q1/2025, representing a 2.0 per cent decrease from the previous quarter and a 10.0 per cent increase from the same period in 2024. The total value of credit card transactions was HK$274.1 billion for Q1/2025, representing a 1.0 per cent increase from the previous quarter and a 8.4 per cent increase from the same period in 2024. Of the total transaction value, HK$186.1 billion (67.9 per cent) was related to retail spending in Hong Kong, HK$79.0 billion (28.8 per cent) in retail spending overseas and HK$9.0 billion (3.3 per cent) in cash advances.
     
    The total number of debit cards in circulation is not available due to overlapping of debit card brands in a single card. Like the number and value of credit card transactions, the number and value of debit card transactions in relation to retail sales and bills payments (Note 4) are also affected by seasonal factors. On a quarterly basis, the total number of debit card transactions in relation to retail sales and bills payments decreased by 1.8 per cent to 54.48 million while the total value increased by 1.1 per cent to HK$73.8 billion in Q1/2025. When compared to the same period in 2024, the total number increased by 12.8 per cent and the total value dropped by 2.0 per cent in Q1/2025.Issued at HKT 17:30

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Composite Interest Rate: End of May 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Composite Interest Rate: End of May 2025 
    The composite interest rate, which is a measure of the average cost of funds of banks, decreased by 41 basis points to 1.61 per cent at the end of May 2025, from 2.02 per cent at the end of April 2025 (see Chart 1 in the Annex). The decrease in composite interest rate reflected the decreases in the weighted funding cost for deposits and interbank funds during the month (see Chart 2 in the Annex) (Note 2).
     
    The historical data of the composite interest rate from the end of the fourth quarter of 2003 to the end of May 2025 are available in the Monthly Statistical Bulletin on the HKMA website (www.hkma.gov.hkIssued at HKT 17:30

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  • MIL-OSI Europe: The EBA reviews standardised terminology in relation to payment accounts and concludes it remains fit-for-purpose

    Source: European Banking Authority

    The European Banking Authority (EBA) today published a report, in which it reviewed the standardised terms for the most common services related to payment accounts, as mandated by the Payment Accounts Directive (PAD). These standardised terms, which the EBA had issued in 2018, aim at making it easier for consumers to make informed choices by being able to compare payment accounts fees and offers, including on a cross-border basis. The review finds that the standardised terms remain fit-for-purpose across the European Union.

    The standardised terms are set out in Regulatory Technical Standards (RTS) developed by the EBA in line with the requirements in the PAD. The EBA is required to regularly review those standardised terms. The EBA carried out its review in the first half of 2025 using a methodology that involved assessing recent EU payments laws, collecting information from National Competent Authorities (NCAs), consulting with relevant stakeholders such as the EBA Banking Stakeholder Group (BSG), and analysing internal data from recently published EBA reports.

    The findings of the review indicate that the current list of standardised terms remains suitable and does not require immediate changes. In the review process, the EBA acknowledged that there would be potential benefit for the standardised terms to be amended to include instant credit transfers, due to their increasing prevalence following the implementation of the Instant Payment Regulation (IPR). However, the EBA is of the opinion that the benefit is outweighed by the costs involved, for NCAs and for the industry as a result of the need to make available amended disclosure documents to all of their customers and NCAs. The EBA, therefore, concluded not to amend the RTS and instead to revisit the findings in four years’ time or when significant other market or legislative developments occur to ensure the terminology remains relevant and effective.

    Background and legal basis

    Article 3(4) of the Payment Accounts Directive (PAD) mandates the EBA to draft RTS setting out the Union standardised terminology for those services that are common to at least a majority of Member States. Article 3(6) of the PAD requires the EBA to review and, where necessary, update the standardised terminology.

    The PAD mandates the EBA to regularly review if the standardised terminology in the RTS remains fit-for-purpose and provides clarity and consistency for consumers and stakeholders.

    The RTS adopted by the European Commission as a Delegated Regulation are available here.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Community support boosts Angola’s cholera response

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

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    In the heart of Boa Vista, a neighbourhood in Angola’s capital, Luanda, 48-year-old mother of three Maria Teresa da Silva is joining other community members to spread awareness of the ongoing cholera outbreak. When the first cases were reported in her community in mid-January 2025, she joined a group of concerned women eager to contribute to the response.

    With support from local authorities, they began educating neighbours, distributing hygiene products and promoting cholera prevention practices. “We live in a community,” she says. “We must find time and support each other to protect our health and save lives.”

    Community involvement in this low-income urban neighbourhood has helped to curb the outbreak: no new cholera cases have been reported for four consecutive weeks, since 19 May.

    “At first, many families didn’t seek health services. Lack of information was the biggest challenge,” says the municipal administrator of Ingombota, Mika Kaquesse. Local authorities organized 800 community awareness sessions, built water tanks, distributed hygiene products and implemented sanitation sensitization campaigns.

    “We know that prevention is key in cholera control ‒ clean water, sanitation and information,” says Dr Genoveva Mafu, clinical coordinator at the Boa Vista cholera treatment centre. “It was frightening at first, but teamwork and partner support made all the difference.”

    The Ministry of Health in Angola, with support from World Health Organization (WHO), has trained more than 8000 community mobilizers to support the response and around 4450 community leaders in early detection, oral rehydration solution preparation and household water treatment.

    Health authorities have conducted sensitization campaigns with community and religious leaders, community listening sessions, and engaged with multiple sectors such as environment, fisheries, water and energy, youth and the military to ensure a coordinated and culturally appropriate response. This has resulted in more than 8 million people reached with messages on cholera prevention.

    “Community-based activities have increased public trust in health services and strengthened local epidemiological surveillance,” says Mateus Mariano Miguel, president of the Boa Vista Residents Committee. “The community responded massively. We continue working, even without new cases, because we know prevention must never stop.”

    Health authorities have also trained 1000 health workers and activated almost 140 surveillance teams conducting case management, active case finding, and infection prevention and control. Nationwide, 166 rapid response teams have been deployed and 180 cholera treatment centres have been established to manage and treat cases.

    In just over five months, Angola has recorded over 26 000 cases and nearly 750 deaths. This marks the worst cholera outbreak in the country in almost two decades. Thanks to a multisectoral and multipronged approach, the past two weeks have shown encouraging trends. As of 14 June 2025, the number of new weekly cases has dropped to 826 – the lowest levels since March. Weekly deaths have decreased to the lowest levels since January and the weekly case fatality rate has declined to 1.5% from a high of 8.8% in January 2025.

    “While the situation remains serious, these improvements demonstrate the impact of the ongoing response and provide hope that the outbreak can be brought under control soon. We must continue to reinforce collaboration because when communities are empowered and engaged, lives can be saved and dignity restored,” says Dr Indrajit Hazarika, WHO Representative in Angola.

    – on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: African Energy Week (AEW) 2025 Upstream E&P Track to Foster Dialogue and Deals Amid African Exploration Surge

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    Amid Africa’s ongoing exploration and production surge, this year’s African Energy Week (AEW): Invest in African Energies conference will host a dedicated Upstream E&P Track. The track – taking place as part of the main conference agenda from September 29 to October 3 – will tackle the most pressing challenges and opportunities across the upstream oil and gas sector, delving into topics such as deepwater development, onshore prospects, the role of independent firms and balancing African priorities with global supply dynamics. As the largest event of its kind on the continent, AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 represents the platform of choice for Africa’s upstream sector.  

    Africa’s upstream oil and gas sector is on the precipice of significant growth, boosted by a $54 billion capital expenditure drive expected by 2030. Across the continent, both established oil and gas markets and frontier players are seeking capital to bolster production while unlocking new basins in deepwater and onshore basins. The continent’s exploration surge is further supported by growing demand in African markets as well as a rise in global gas imports. The AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 Upstream E&P Track will explore these shifting dynamics, offering a platform for new exploration and production deals to be signed.  

    AEW: Invest in African Energies is the platform of choice for project operators, financiers, technology providers and government, and has emerged as the official place to sign deals in African energy. Visit http://www.AECWeek.com for more information about this exciting event. 

    To entice greater spending across the upstream sector, many African countries are laying the foundation for new investments by both majors and independent energy companies. A string of licensing rounds is being launched in 2025, offering exploration opportunities across a variety of acreage. Licensing rounds are planned in Angola, the Republic of Congo, Tanzania, Mauritania and South Africa, while Libya, Nigeria, Algeria and Liberia have already launched their respective bid rounds. The Upstream E&P Track will explore the impact of these rounds. Sessions include What’s Next for African Upstream in 2026; Exploration Hotspots; and Basins Without Borders: Unlocking the Full Potential of Cross-Border Basins in the Transform Margin. Additionally, panel discussions will examine emerging prospects in frontier basins, with sessions taking place on Frontier Plays Within Africa’s Mature Basins; Offshore and Deepwater Plays; and Unlocking Africa’s Onshore and Shallow-Water Potential. 

    While global energy majors expand their portfolios in Africa, independent oil and gas firms are taking on a more prominent role in exploration and production. International oil company divestment has opened-up new pathways for African independents, and as such, more companies are taking the lead on asset development. AEW: Invest in African Energies will host panel discussions on The Making of an African Independent; Technology and Innovation: Rethinking Asset Development to Accelerate Upstream Success; as well as Crude Value Benchmarking with Ever-Changing Light, Heavy Balance, exploring opportunities for independents in Africa.  

    Meanwhile, with global gas demand projected to increase 10% between 2021 and 2030, African countries are strategically positioned to accelerate exploration and play a more central role in global supply chains. With over 620 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves on the continent – most of which remains under-developed – Africa has a unique opportunity to leverage its resources to produce low-carbon, cost-effective fuel. Panel discussions on Decarbonizing Pathways for African Oil and Gas; The Outlook for Global LNG; and The Role of African LNG in a Dynamic Export Market will address these opportunities, while a session on Beyond Exports: Developing Commercially Viable Domestic Gas Markets, will examine how the continent can leverage its resources for domestic growth.  

    The track will also feature panel discussions on strategic oil and gas markets in Africa, including Algeria, Equatorial Guinea, Angola, and more. These sessions are geared towards companies seeking growth opportunities in proven markets and are expected to unlock new deal-signing and partnerships prospects. Beyond panel discussions, the Upstream E&P Track will feature a series of fireside chats, with participating companies including Renaissance Africa Energy, Northern Ocean, Seplat Energy and more.  

    “Africa’s upstream oil and gas market is witnessing a surge of investment, as operators seek to expand their portfolios and governments target near-term production. Amid this growth, strategic financing gaps have emerged. The AEW: Invest in African Energies 2025 Upstream E&P Track seeks to address these challenges by bringing together major players from the market to engage and sign deals,” says Oré Onagbesan, AEW: Invest in African Energies Program Director. 

    – on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

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  • MIL-OSI Africa: Mobile clinics enhance access to health care services in Niger

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

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    In Niger, West Africa’s largest country by land surface, access to health care services is a major challenge. Just one in two people has access to health services. One of the ways to bridge the gap is through mobile clinics in remote areas and deploying medical teams from health districts to villages. 

    Among the main beneficiaries of the initiative are pregnant women. They are now able to receive emergency assistance and care for timely detection of any complications. Mariama, 42, who suffered complications after a fall, is grateful to have received care thanks to a mobile clinic. Ordinarily, she would have had to travel for a whole day to the nearest district health facility in Dosso town from her home in the southwest of Niger. 

    “As I was preparing to make the trip, I was informed of a mobile clinic in our area, and I went there the very next day. The team midwife consulted me and discovered that I had premature rupture of membranes,” she recounts. 

    Under the initiative “mobile clinic teams visit villages that are hard to reach for health care in general and reproductive health services for women and children in particular,” says Nafissatou Salifou Panga, midwife and Reproductive Health Focal Point for Dosso health district. “It is a huge relief that pregnant women are able to benefit from care that detects risks in time and provides them with appropriate care.” 

    Thanks to the care and follow-up she received, Mariama gave birth safely. Like Mariama, 267 pregnant women in Dosso and Filingué districts benefited from mobile clinic consultations in 2024. In all, almost 28 000 people were consulted and 3767 women received reproductive health services. Around 16 000 women were sensitized by community outreach teams on reproductive, maternal and neonatal health in the two districts. In Mariama’s case, the community health teams shared awareness messages that enabled her to be informed in time of the arrival of the mobile clinic.

    By reaching populations far from health centres, the mobile clinic initiative also helps to improve health coverage at district and national levels. For example, the maternal mortality ratio fell from 441 per 100 000 live births in 2017 to 350 in 2023, according to World Bank data. 

    Dr Aissatou Laouali, in charge of the reproductive health programme with World Health Organization (WHO) in Niger, says the initiative helping to accelerate efforts towards health for all. “For vulnerable populations, rapid access to quality health care is vital. Through these initiatives, we hope to move forward in solving the challenges particularly faced by mothers and children living in remote areas.”
    To ensure service quality, the district, in collaboration with WHO, organizes planning meetings and field supervision trips and supports the Ministry of Health and Public Hygiene in improving maternal and child health, in particular by providing technical guidelines, standards and protocols for reproductive, maternal and child health. 

    Other support includes training health workers and improving the facilities in mother-and-child health centres, regional and district hospitals, and integrated health centres. WHO also supports training of health providers to ensure quality of care and health surveillance to curb maternal mortality.  

    Niger has maintained the mobile clinics introduced earlier. In 2024, with support from WHO and donor financing, operational and medical equipment and supply needs of the mobile clinics were catered for. Additionally, 56 health workers and community outreach officers were trained in reproductive health in Dosso and Filingué districts.

    “I was very satisfied with the care provided … I encourage the women in my community to come to the mobile clinic for any health problem,” says Mariama. “If I hadn’t gone to the centre after the incident, I would have had an infection with the risk of losing my baby.”

    – on behalf of WHO Regional Office for Africa.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Côte d’Ivoire Prime Minister Robert Beugré Mambé Opens 16th African Union of Broadcasting (AUB) General Assembly in Abidjan

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    Abidjan hosted the opening of the 16th General Assembly of the African Union of Broadcasting (AUB) (http://www.UAR-AUB.org) on June 19, 2025. The ceremony, held under the high patronage of Mr. Robert Beugré Mambé, Prime Minister of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, brought together a plethora of distinguished guests, including ambassadors, directors-general, ministers, academics, media professionals, students, and civil society members from around the world.

    Under the impactful theme “Developing Media: Strategies for Financial and Technological Resilience, and Innovative Content,“ this assembly promises crucial discussions for the future of the African media landscape.

    In his inaugural speech, Prime Minister Mambé highlighted the essential role of media in societal transformation: “Media represents a true opportunity for our country. We are counting on you to preserve and strengthen this asset, through the consultation framework offered to you. It is from this dialogue that the right answers to our questions will emerge.” This was a clear call for collaboration and the search for collective solutions.

    For Cléophas Barore, President of the AUB Executive Council, the funding challenge is omnipresent: “The financing of production and broadcasting remains a daily struggle. These challenges are marked by resource scarcity, fierce competition from new media, information multinationals, and many others.” This observation underscores the urgent need for innovation in a constantly evolving media environment.

    Amadou Coulibaly, Minister of Communication and Government Spokesperson, for his part, urged broadcasters to embrace new media to better capture the African audience. “With the AUB, your Union, I urge you to work tirelessly to sustainably retain the African audience, in its diversity, by notably taking into account new communication and broadcasting channels such as social media, streaming, OTT, and podcasts, by innovating and valuing local content, our historical, cultural, tourist, and socio-economic values. I commit you to this!” he affirmed, emphasizing the importance of innovation and the promotion of local content in the face of information globalization.

    The productive first day also featured a visit to the exhibition stands, offering participants the opportunity to discover the latest innovations in content creation and to forge partnerships.

    The 16th AUB General Assembly continues on June 20, 2025, with the Union’s statutory proceedings and the Awards ceremony.

    Grégoire NDJAKA
    Director General

    – on behalf of African Union of Broadcasting (AUB).

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    MIL OSI Africa –