The Buss family is entering an agreement to sell a majority stake in the Los Angeles Lakers, ESPN reported on Wednesday, marking the end of an era for one of the NBA’s most influential owners.
Mark Walter, the CEO and chairman of holding company TWG Global, is set to take the majority ownership under the agreement which values the Lakers at $10 billion, ESPN reported, making it the largest-ever sale of a professional sports team.
The Boston Celtics had become the latest NBA franchise to change ownership in March, closing a $6.05 billion sale to an investment group led by Bill Chisholm, a record figure for the league at the time.
Walter, already an established figure in Los Angeles sports, has existing shares in MLB team Los Angeles Dodgers and WNBA franchise Los Angeles Sparks.
The Lakers did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The late Jerry Buss purchased the Lakers in 1979 and turned it into one of the most popular franchises in all of professional sports, winning five championships during their now-iconic “Showtime” era in the 1980s.
His daughter, Jeanie Buss, took over as principal owner after Jerry died in 2013, making her one of the most powerful women in sports.
Jeanie Buss will stay on as governor after the sale, according to the ESPN report.
Lakers Hall of Fame point guard Earvin “Magic” Johnson – a former player, coach, and executive with the team during the Buss family’s tenure — congratulated both parties on reaching the agreement.
“Laker fans should be ecstatic. A few things I can tell you about Mark – he is driven by winning, excellence, and doing everything the right way,” Johnson, who is also a co-owner of the Dodgers alongside Walter, said in a post on X.
“He will put in the resources needed to win! I can understand why Jeanie sold the team to Mark Walter because they are just alike.
“Job well done to my sister Jeanie Buss for striking an incredible deal and picking the right person to carry on the Lakers legacy and tradition of winning… Mark Walter is the best choice and will be the best caretaker of the Laker brand.”
European foreign ministers are set to meet their Iranian counterpart on Friday aiming to create a pathway back to diplomacy over its contested nuclear programme despite the U.S. considering joining Israeli strikes against Iran.
Ministers from Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3, as well as the European Union’s foreign policy chief spoke to Abbas Araqchi earlier this week and have been coordinating with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
In a rare call, they pressed upon Araqchi the need to return to the negotiating table and avoid further escalation. At Iran’s suggestion, the two sides agreed to meet face-to-face.
The talks will be held in Geneva, where an initial accord between Iran and world powers to curb its nuclear programme in return for sanctions lifting was struck in 2013 before a comprehensive deal in 2015. They come after negotiations between Iran and the United States collapsed when Israel launched what it called Operation Rising Lion against Iran’s nuclear facilities and ballistic capabilities on June 12.
“The Iranians can’t sit down with the Americans whereas we can,” said a European diplomat. “We will tell them to come back to the table to discuss the nuclear issue before the worst-case scenario, while raising our concerns over its ballistic missiles, support to Russia and detention of our citizens.”
The European powers, who were not part of Iran’s nuclear negotiations with the United States, had grown increasingly frustrated by the U.S. negotiating strategy in the talks. They deemed some of the demands unrealistic, while fearing the possibility of a weak initial political framework that would lead to open-ended negotiations.
Two diplomats said there were no great expectations for a breakthrough in Geneva, where the European Union’s foreign policy chief will also attend.
But they said it was vital to engage with Iran because once the war stopped, Iran’s nuclear programme would still remain unresolved given that it would be impossible to eradicate the know-how acquired, leaving it potentially able to clandestinely rebuild its programme.
An Iranian official said Tehran has always welcomed diplomacy, but urged the E3 to use all available means to pressure Israel to halt its attacks on Iran.
“Iran remains committed to diplomacy as the only path to resolving disputes — but diplomacy is under attack,” the official said.
Speaking after holding talks in Washington with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said there was a window for diplomacy.
“We discussed how a deal could avoid a deepening conflict. A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution,” he said on X, referring to the White House saying on Thursday that President Donald Trump would give two weeks before deciding whether to join Israeli strikes.
Prior to Israel’s strikes, the E3 and U.S. put forward a resolution that was approved by the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency, a U.N. watchdog, which declared Iran in breach of its nuclear non-proliferation obligations.
As part of last week’s IAEA resolution, European officials had said they could refer Iran to the United Nations Security Council later in the summer to add pressure on Iran if there was no progress in the nuclear talks.
That would be separate to them reimposing UN sanctions, known as the snapback mechanism, before October 18 when the 2015 accord expires.
The Europeans are the only ones who can launch the snapback mechanism, with diplomats saying the three countries had looked to set a final deadline at the end of August to launch it.
“Iran has repeatedly stated that triggering snapback will have serious consequences,” the Iranian official said.
Separatist and jihadist militants on the Pakistan-Iran border could take advantage of any collapse of authority in Iran, fears that Pakistan’s army chief pressed in a meeting this week with the U.S. President Donald Trump.
Anti-Iranian and anti-Pakistan outfits operate on both sides of the 560-mile (900km) long border. As Israel bombs Iran’s nuclear program, its officials have repeatedly indicated that they are seeking to destabilize the Iranian government or see it toppled.
As well as worrying about chaos spilling over from Iran, Pakistan is concerned about the precedent set by Israel of attacking the nuclear installations of another country. Nuclear-armed rivals Pakistan and India fought a four-day conflict in May.
Following a Wednesday lunch at the White House with Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, Trump said: “They’re not happy about anything”, referring to Pakistan’s views on the Israel-Iran conflict.
Pakistan’s military said on Thursday that the two had discussed Iran,“with both leaders emphasizing the importance of resolution of the conflict”.
Pakistan has condemned Israel’s attack on Iran as a violation of international law.
“This is for us a very serious issue what is happening in our brotherly country of Iran,” Shafqat Ali Khan, spokesman for Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Thursday. “It imperils the entire regional security structures, it impacts us deeply.”
Some of the militant groups on the border have welcomed the upheaval.
Jaish al-Adl (JaA), an Iranian jihadist group formed from ethnic Baluch and Sunni Muslim minorities and which operates from Pakistan, said Israel’s conflict with Iran was a great opportunity.
“Jaish al-Adl extends the hand of brotherhood and friendship to all the people of Iran and calls on all people, especially the people of Baluchistan, as well as the armed forces, to join the ranks of the Resistance,” the group said in a statement on June 13.
Conversely, Pakistan fears that separatist militants from its own Baluch minority, which are based in Iran, will also seek to step up attacks.
“There’s a fear of ungoverned spaces, which would be fertile ground for terrorist groups,” said Maleeha Lodhi, a former Pakistani ambassador to Washington.
Pakistan has unstable borders with Taliban-run Afghanistan and arch-rival India. It does not want to add another volatile frontier on its long border with Iran.
The Iran-Pakistan border region is populated with ethnic Baluch, a minority in both countries who have long complained about discrimination and launched separatist movements. On Pakistan’s side, the region is a province called Balochistan and in Iran it is Sistan-Baluchistan.
Until Israel’s bombing of Iran, Tehran was closer to Pakistan’s arch-rival India. Pakistan and Iran had even traded air strikes last year, accusing each other of harboring Baluch militants. But the attack on Iran has upended alliances, as India has not condemned Israel’s bombing campaign.
China has also said that it is deeply concerned about the security situation in Balochistan, with the area being a focus of Beijing’s multi-billion dollar infrastructure investment program in Pakistan, centred on the new Chinese-run port of Gwadar. Baluch militant groups in Pakistan have previously targeted Chinese personnel and projects.
On Iranian side of the border, Tehran has at different times accused Pakistan, Gulf nations, Israel and the United States of backing the anti-Iran Baluch groups.
Simbal Khan, an analyst based in Islamabad, said the different Baluch groups could morph into a “greater Baluchistan” movement which seeks to carve out a new nation from the Baluch areas of Pakistan and Iran.
“They’re all going to fight together if this blows up,” said Khan.
Headline: Panasonic Industry Announces Personnel Changes of Audit & Supervisory Board Members
The content in this website is accurate at the time of publication but may be subject to change without notice.Please note therefore that these documents may not always contain the most up-to-date information.Please note that German, French and Chinese versions are machine translations, so the quality and accuracy may vary.
Headline: Panasonic Industry Announces Personnel Changes of Audit & Supervisory Board Members
The content in this website is accurate at the time of publication but may be subject to change without notice.Please note therefore that these documents may not always contain the most up-to-date information.Please note that German, French and Chinese versions are machine translations, so the quality and accuracy may vary.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Moscow, June 20 /Xinhua/ — The possible entry of the United States into the conflict between Israel and Iran will only lead to a new round of confrontation and increased tension in the region, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov said on Sky News.
Asked what Russia’s reaction would be to the possibility of a US strike on Iran, he said “the situation is extremely tense and poses a danger not only to the region but to the world.”
“The expansion of the geography of the conflict, the expansion of the number of participants in the conflict is potentially even more dangerous. This is our position. This will only lead to a new round of confrontation and increased tension in the region. In principle, this is extremely dangerous,” noted D. Peskov. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
CANBERRA, June 20 (Xinhua) — The Australian government has suspended operations at its embassy in Iran and ordered its staff to leave the country amid an escalation of military conflict in the region.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Friday that authorities had ordered the departure of all Australian embassy staff and their families from Iran and suspended the diplomatic mission in Tehran amid reports of deteriorating security conditions.
She said Australia’s ambassador to Iran would remain in the region to support the government’s response to the crisis, while consular staff from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade would be deployed to Azerbaijan to assist Australians leaving Iran.
“We urge Australians who can leave Iran to do so now if it is safe to do so. Those who cannot or do not want to leave are advised to shelter in place,” Ms Wong said.
As of Friday, more than 2,000 Australian citizens had registered for assistance leaving Iran. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
WASHINGTON, June 20 (Xinhua) — Mutual benefit “has always been the defining feature” of China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation, Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng said Wednesday at the 2025 U.S.-China Business Council (USCBC) Gala Dinner.
Speaking at a ceremony themed “Seeking a New Path for US-China Relations,” the Chinese diplomat said the growing trade and economic cooperation between China and the US over the years has benefited not only both countries but also the whole world.
With global economic growth remaining sluggish, cooperation is the only way out, the ambassador said. Protectionism is like “quenching one’s thirst with poison,” and China’s development is an opportunity for the world.
Xie Feng noted that China-US relations are at a critical stage, and both sides are faced with a choice between win-win cooperation and mutual loss.
He stressed the importance of following the strategic instructions of the two heads of state and faithfully implementing the important consensus reached between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump during their telephone conversation.
Xie Feng stressed China’s sincerity in cooperation and its principles, stressing that China’s sovereignty, security and development interests are the red line that must not be crossed, and mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation are the principles that must be upheld. –0–
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Outreach Music Interest Courses open for applications Introductory courses available include classical vocal singing, classical guitar, ukulele, little harp, keyboard and musicianship. Instrumental enrichment courses include erhu, zheng, yangqin, dizi, violin, cello, flute, clarinet and saxophone. There are also ensemble training for Chinese and Western music, music theory (Grades 1 and 2) and aural training. The course fees range from $320 to $1,350.
Other Chinese and Western musical instrument foundation classes will cover erhu, liuqin, pipa, zhongruan, zheng, yangqin, dizi, xiao, violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet and percussion (glockenspiel and practice pad). The course fee is $1,440 each.
In a new course of OMICs, “Introduction to ‘Pure Data’ Music Programming”, participants will learn to use “Pure Data”, a free graphical programming software, for sound design and music creation. The course welcomes adults that have passed Grade 5 or above in music theory. Participants should bring their own laptop computer and other necessary equipment to class. The fee of this course is $760.
In addition, the “Keyboard Playing (Numbered Musical Notation)” course, which covers numbered musical notation reading, melody-playing techniques and simple chord applications, welcomes adults who have completed the “Introduction to Keyboard Playing (Foundation I)” course organised by the Music Office, or those who have acquired basic skills in playing the keyboard with both hands. The course fee is $650.
All OMICs are conducted in Cantonese. The courses will be held at different venues across the territory, namely Hong Kong Cultural Centre, Tsuen Wan Town Hall, Tuen Mun Town Hall, North District Town Hall, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, Sai Wan Ho Civic Centre, Tai Po Civic Centre, Ngau Chi Wan Civic Centre, Kwai Tsing Theatre, Yuen Long Theatre, Ko Shan Theatre, Hong Kong Central Library and the Music Office’s music centres in Wan Chai, Mong Kok, Kwun Tong, Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan. Participants of the online course “ABCs of Musicianship” are required to prepare their own electronic device equipped with a wireless or broadband data connection, a webcam and the software Zoom in advance.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Government announced today (June 20) the appointment of Miss Hotchandani Mamta Chandiram and Miss Waverly Yeung Yuk-mui to the Women’s Commission (WoC) through the Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth (MSSY) for a term from July 15, 2025, to January 14, 2027.
Since its establishment in 2001, the WoC has spared no effort in promoting the well-being and interests of women in Hong Kong and advising the Government on policies and initiatives on women’s affairs.
The Government regularly recruits young persons aged between 18 and 35 who are eager to serve the community to join the Government’s advisory committees through the MSSY with a view to providing more opportunities for young people to participate in policy discussions.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Government announced today (June 20) the appointment of three new non-official members and the reappointment of 10 serving non-official members to the Green Technology and Finance Development Committee for a period of two years from June 23, 2025, to June 22, 2027.
The membership list in the new term is as follows:
Chairman ——- Financial Secretary
Non-official members (in alphabetical order of surnames) ————————- Ms Clara Chan Yuen-shan Dr Vincent Cheng Sai-yau Dr Dai Fan (newly appointed) Ms Loretta Fong Wan-huen Professor Gong Peng (newly appointed) Professor Alex Jen Kwan-yue Ms Poman Lo Mr Lu Jiahui (newly appointed) Dr Ma Jun Mr Philip Ng Kim-lam Dr Conrad Wong Tin-cheung Miss Vriko Yu Pik-fan Dr Martin Zhu Yihao
Official members ——————- Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury Secretary for Environment and Ecology Secretary for Housing Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry Permanent Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury (Financial Services) Deputy Secretary for Transport and Logistics 1 Head of Project Strategy and Governance Office, Development Bureau Chairman, Council for Carbon Neutrality and Sustainable Development Chief Executive Officer, Securities and Futures Commission Chief Executive Officer, Insurance Authority Deputy Chief Executive, Hong Kong Monetary Authority Group Chief Sustainability Officer, Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited Chief Executive Officer, Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation
A Government spokesman said, “Since its establishment in June 2023, the Committee has provided valuable insights across various areas, including fostering the creation of a green technology ecosystem, developing green finance, green transportation and green buildings, as well as promoting and highlighting Hong Kong’s strengths in these areas. We firmly believe that, with the extensive market experience and professional expertise of the Committee members, their invaluable advice will further advance the development of green technology and finance in Hong Kong.
“We express our gratitude to the outgoing members, Mr Wang Hongbo, Dr George Lam, and Mr Jonathan Drew for their contributions to the work of the Committee during their tenure.”
The Committee was established on June 23, 2023, to assist in the formation of an action agenda for promoting the development of Hong Kong into an international green technology and financial centre. Members of the Committee include representatives from relevant policy bureaux, departments and financial regulators, as well as non-official members from the finance, technology, academic, professional services sectors, etc.
Construction of the proposed 7km-long rapid transit line will commence once the scheme – which is in accordance with the Railways Ordinance – is authorised, and the work is expected to be completed by 2033 or earlier.
The system comprises nine stations. Its two termini will be connected to Choi Hung MTR Station and Yau Tong MTR Station respectively, with the line passing through Choi Wan, Shun Lee, Shun On, Sau Mau Ping, Po Tat, Ma Yau Tong and Lam Tin North. It will serve more than over 300,000 residents in Kwun Tong’s uphill areas.
The Government said the system will provide convenient transport feeder services to these areas, improving access to Choi Hung MTR Station and Yau Tong MTR Station and unleashing the development potential of East Kowloon.
The estimated journey time from Po Tat to Yau Tong or Choi Hung under the new scheme will be around ten to 15 minutes, which is about half of the journey time using road-based transport during peak hours.
Under the Railways Ordinance, members of the public have the chance to object to the scheme, and can register their objections from today until August 19. Those with compensable interests can claim compensation.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China has reaffirmed its support for the national consumer goods trade-in program, ensuring continued funding to sustain the government subsidy payment throughout 2025.
The program, a key part of the country’s broader strategy to stimulate domestic consumption, encourages consumers to replace outdated products — such as home appliances and vehicles — with newer, more efficient models.
The central government has earmarked 300 billion yuan (41.84 billion U.S. dollars) in treasury bonds to support local authorities in implementing the program in 2025, doubling that of last year. Two tranches of the central funding, totaling 162 billion yuan, were issued in January and April to support first-half implementation, with further allocations planned for July and October to cover the third and fourth quarters of the year.
“Currently, about half of the annual subsidy budget has been utilized, a pace well within expectations,” said an official with the National Development and Reform Commission.
Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –
Today is not an ordinary Friday, because the State University of Management congratulates the director of the Institute of Distance Education, corresponding member of the Academy of Military Sciences, candidate of legal sciences, associate professor Sergei Lenshin on his birthday.
For over 10 years, Sergey Ivanovich has been at the helm of the correspondence education of the State University of Management, constantly improving and updating the system in accordance with modern trends. As a result of painstaking work and established discipline among the staff, the Institute is growing, employees clearly perform their duties, students regularly enroll and graduate, replenishing the ranks of specialists who are needed today more than ever.
We wish the birthday boy new achievements in educating future leaders of our country, successful completion of assigned tasks and support from a team of like-minded people.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Prayer services and sermons in commemoration of Martyrs’ Day were held at St. Michael Church and Al-Khulafae Al-Rashideen Grand Mosque in the capital city, Asmara.
In the morning hours, a prayer service was conducted led by His Reverence Abune Basilios I, 5th Patriarch of the Orthodox Tewahdo Church of Eritrea, along with heads of various dioceses and other Church leaders.
Religious leaders from the Catholic and Lutheran Churches also participated in the service. During the event, Abune Basilios delivered a speech emphasizing the profound significance of the day and the solemn responsibilities it entails for every citizen.
Merigeta Mulugeta Simon from the Office of the Patriarch, indicating that the martyrs paid their precious lives for their people and country, urged citizens to renew their pledge to live up to their expectations.
Similarly, in the afternoon hours, Salat and Dua services were conducted at the Al-Khulafae Al-Rashideen Grand Mosque, led by Sheik Salem Ibrahim Almukhtar, Mufti of Eritrea.
Sheik Salem Ibrahim said that the martyrs are our heroes who sacrificed their lives for independence, national sovereignty, and for us to live in peace and harmony. He also called for reinforced contributions in support of the families of martyrs.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.
Various programs in connection with Martyrs’ Day, 20 June, have been conducted in Asmara from 16 to 18 June.
The National Confederation of Eritrean Workers conducted a popular campaign at Asmara Martyrs Cemetery, along with cultural programs and support initiatives for martyrs’ families. The campaign at the Martyra Cemetery was attended by 160 workers from the central office and affiliated workers’ confederations.
At the cultural program organized at the confederation’s central office, Mr. Tesfay Girmay, Head of Administration and Finance, stated that over 80 members of the central office have been supporting eight families of martyrs since 2024.
In related news, the cooperative association of members of the 52nd Division organized a program in connection with Martyrs’ Day at the Meshalit historical site on 17 June. The event was attended by members of the association and youth workers’ organizations.
At the event, veteran fighters provided briefings on the heroic feats demonstrated by the then 52nd Division of the EPLF in its 1988 battle against enemy forces at the Meshalit Front.
Meshalit Front is located 30 km north of Keren.
The cooperative association of the 70-16 Division also conducted a popular campaign at the Barentu Martyrs Cemetery, which included tree planting and environmental sanitation activities.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare reported that the Government of Eritrea has disbursed about six billion Nakfa in support of the families of martyrs.
Mr. Zeray Tekleab, Director of Martyrs’ Families’ Welfare, noted that the Government began providing monetary support to martyrs’ families in 1995. At that time, each family received 10,000 Birr each to ease the burdens they might face in their lives. After the Government issued Proclamation No. 137/2003, every family began receiving 500 Nakfa monthly starting in 2004.
Mr. Zeray also stated that a rehabilitation program for martyrs’ families has been introduced, and many families have been supported with livestock and small-scale businesses. Vocational training programs have also been organized to enhance the skills of these families in various fields.
Regarding contributions by nationals at home and abroad, Mr. Zeray said that Eritreans residing overseas have initiated that one citizen to contribute 720 USD annually, with some extending permanent support. Nationals within the country are also contributing individually and collectively, including Government workers and students who have joined the initiative.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.
From the 1st to 3rd of July 2025, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will be holding its Regional Youth Forum in Saly Portudal, Senegal, under the theme: “Engaging ECOWAS for a new vision of youth”. This high-level meeting will bring together young leaders, representatives of youth organisations, political decision-makers and regional and international experts. It will provide an inclusive platform for dialogue on the challenges and opportunities facing young people in the ECOWAS region, particularly in the areas of employment, entrepreneurship, education and vocational training.
The conference is part of the celebrations marking the fiftieth anniversary of ECOWAS, and marks an essential stage in the regional organisation’s determination to strengthen the active participation of young people in building a peaceful, integrated and prosperous West Africa. They illustrate the ambition to forge a new regional vision, placing young people at the heart of social, economic and political transformation.
The main objective of this initiative is to create a space for direct dialogue between young people and ECOWAS, in order to harmonise points of view on the issues faced by young people in the region, and to co-construct concrete solutions to encourage their socio-economic development and civic participation.
The Saly meeting is the culmination of a series of pilot national consultations organised in several West African capitals, including Cotonou (Benin), Accra (Ghana), Yamoussoukro (Côte d’Ivoire) and Dakar (Senegal). These consultations laid the foundations for a participatory and regional process, of which the regional meetings are the concrete expression.
Through this initiative, ECOWAS is reaffirming its commitment to developing innovative strategies and defining shared priorities to strengthen the involvement of young people in local, national and regional governance. This conference reflects this vision, considering young people not only as beneficiaries, but also as key players in the development of the region. Organised under the coordination of the ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre (EYSDC), the conclusions of this conference will feed into the development of a strategic roadmap, in line with ECOWAS Vision 2050, and will lay the foundations for a new regional policy dedicated to youth.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The ECOWAS Commission in a significant collaboration with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Environment’s Department of Planning, Research, and Statistics, on the 17th of June, 2025 celebrated the 2025 World Environment Day. The commemorative event, held in Abuja, Nigeria, themed: “Ending Plastic Pollution“ with the slogan “Beat the plastic“
Mr. Yao Bernard Koffi, Acting Director of Environment and Natural Resources, delivered a goodwill message on behalf of H.E. Massandjé Toure-Litse, Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, and H.E. Dr Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission. He underscored the profound significance of the occasion, particularly as it coincided with ECOWAS’s Jubilee Year, marking five decades of regional solidarity, integration and shared responsibility.
Mr. Bernard Koffi reaffirmed the Commission’s unwavering commitment to fostering a clean, resilient, and sustainable environment for current and future generations. He highlighted ECOWAS’s proactive stance in addressing persistent environmental challenges, including the adoption of a regional regulation on plastic management in 2023, which mandates member states to harmonize their plastic waste management regulations. Furthermore, ECOWAS Vision 2050 identifies environmental sustainability as a crucial pillar for inclusive development and emphasizes the vital role of fostering youth-driven climate action, acknowledging that the future belongs to them. He concluded by urging tangible action over mere words and unity over indifference, stating, “The ECOWAS Commission stands ready to work side-by-side with Nigeria and all partners to beat plastic pollution not tomorrow, but today.” And that the commisson remains resolutely committed to working alongside member states to beat Pollution.
In his keynote address, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Honorable Minister of Environment, emphasized the critical global urgency of this year’s theme, “Ending Plastic Pollution.” He stressed that plastic pollution transcends environmental concerns, posing significant economic and public health crises.
The Minister highlighted the alarming rate at which plastic waste infiltrates oceans, rivers and drainage systems, endangering wildlife and exacerbating urban flooding. Minister Lawal outlined Nigeria’s initiatives, including the launch of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) Programme, which obliges producers to manage the entire lifecycle of their plastic products. He expressed profound appreciation to all development partners, particularly the ECOWAS Commission, commending its steadfast partnership in environmental governance, climate change response, and sustainable development across the West African sub-region, as well as its leadership in addressing transboundary environmental issues.
Mr. Mahmud Adam Kambari, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment, delivered the welcome address, reinforcing the dire threat plastic waste poses to ecosystems, public health, and the planet. He stated, “Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most urgent environmental challenges of our time, clogging waterways, endangering marine life, and contaminating our food systems.”
Mr. Kambari reiterated Nigeria’s direct experience with the devastating impacts of plastic waste and issued a clarion call for intensified efforts through effective policy implementation, robust public awareness campaigns, responsible consumption patterns, and strategic investment in sustainable alternatives. He affirmed the Ministry’s commitment to advancing circular economy principles, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and promoting innovations that reduce reliance on single-use plastics. Mr. Kambari extended sincere commendations to all partners, stakeholders, and environmental advocates for their tireless efforts, urging everyone present to reflect on individual and collective actions to “Beat Plastic Pollution.”
The occasion also saw the notable presence of representatives from key organizations, international partners and stakeholders, including UNICEF, Oando Foundation, Oando Clean Energy, OXFAM, Zoom Lion Nigeria, RCEI, RUWES, and the Head of Mission to the Netherlands, alongside invited students from various schools. These stakeholders collectively underscored the paramount importance of a safe environment, emphasizing the pivotal role of women and children as not only integral to addressing climate and environmental issues but also as vital agents of community awareness and crucial actors in forging a greener, plastic-free future.
The joint commemoration underscored the shared commitment of ECOWAS and Nigeria to combat plastic pollution through coordinated regional action and national policy implementation, reinforcing their dedication to a sustainable future.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
At least 14 people were injured when Russian drones attacked the Ukrainian Black Sea city of Odesa overnight, damaging high-rise buildings and railway infrastructure, local authorities said on Friday.
Odesa is Ukraine’s largest Black Sea port, key for imports and exports, and has been under constant missile and drone attacks by Russia since the war began.
“Despite the active work of air defence forces, there is damage to civilian infrastructure, including residential buildings, a higher education institution, a gas pipeline and private cars,” local governor Oleh Kiper said on Telegram messenger.
Kiper released photos of burning houses and charred high-rise buildings.
Local emergencies service said that during the attack there were at least 10 drone strikes on residential buildings, causing massive fires.
Ukraine’s air force said on Friday that Russia had launched 86 drones on Ukraine overnight.
The military noted its air defence units shot down 34 drones while another 36 drones were lost – in reference to the Ukrainian military using electronic warfare to redirect them – or they were drone simulators that did not carry warheads.
However, the military reported that drones hit 8 locations.
Ukrainian state railways Ukrzaliznytsia reported that Odesa railway station was damaged during the attack, with power wires and rails damaged.
Russian drones also attacked Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine overnight, damaging several private and multi-storey houses, Kharkiv officials said.
At the Opening Ceremony of the 21st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-21) in Jakarta this morning, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered Opening Remarks and officiated the Launch of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI) 2026–2035, alongside other Ministers and representatives from ASEAN Member States. APASTI envisions “An integrated ASEAN powered by STI, fostering seamless collaboration, global competitiveness through enhanced innovative performance, sustainability and economic growth for a prosperous future.”
At the same event, AMMSTI also launched the ASEAN-Japan NEXUS Programme, with Japan committed USD 100 million to strengthen STI cooperation, and unveiled the ASEAN Regional Research Infrastructure Landscape Study, laying the foundation for shared research capacity and regional innovation hubs.
Download the full opening remarks here.
The post Secretary-General of ASEAN delivers remarks and launches APASTI at the Opening Ceremony of AMMSTI-21 appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.
At the Opening Ceremony of the 21st ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-21) in Jakarta this morning, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, delivered Opening Remarks and officiated the Launch of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI) 2026–2035, alongside other Ministers and representatives from ASEAN Member States. APASTI envisions “An integrated ASEAN powered by STI, fostering seamless collaboration, global competitiveness through enhanced innovative performance, sustainability and economic growth for a prosperous future.”
At the same event, AMMSTI also launched the ASEAN-Japan NEXUS Programme, with Japan committed USD 100 million to strengthen STI cooperation, and unveiled the ASEAN Regional Research Infrastructure Landscape Study, laying the foundation for shared research capacity and regional innovation hubs.
Download the full opening remarks here.
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The Australian origins of Santos have made an indelible mark on the company’s very name. The energy giant was first incorporated in 1954 under the acronym for “South Australia Northern Territory Oil Search”. It was publicly listed on the Adelaide Stock Exchange that same year.
Fast forward to today, there are pressing questions about whether Santos could serve Australia’s national interest if it was largely in the hands of a foreign government.
This week, it was announced a consortium led by the investment division of state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) had made an all-cash takeover bid of almost A$29 billion for Santos. This would value the company at $36.4 billion (including its debt).
Santos’ board has said it will support the deal if there isn’t a better offer on the table. But it will first have to clear a raft of regulatory approvals – not only in Australia but also Papua New Guinea and the United States, where Santos has operations.
The acquisition would be a monumental event in Australia’s corporate history. Key elements of this country’s critical energy infrastructure are at stake.
But it’s set to put a difficult decision before the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) and Treasurer Jim Chalmers. On the FIRB’s advice, Chalmers will have to balance Australia’s stated desire to attract foreign investment with the need to protect national interests.
Who’s trying to buy – and why?
Also in the ADNOC-led consortium of prospective buyers are US private equity firm Carlyle and a sovereign wealth fund of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company (ADQ). There are a few key reasons for their interest.
First, ADNOC is keenly interested in expanding its footprint in gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Acquiring Santos would give it a stake in much of Australia’s gas production and established LNG export facilities. This includes major operations at Gladstone and Darwin.
They would also gain a share in two important Papua New Guinean projects: PNG LNG and the yet-to-be-developed Papua LNG. These assets are particularly attractive because they offer direct access to the growing Asian LNG markets, where future demand is projected to be strong.
Second, the acquisition would allow ADNOC to diversify its portfolio and gain control of export capacity from Australia and PNG to the Asia Pacific region. Santos’s Gladstone LNG plant, for example, has significant export capacity. Much of Santos’ LNG capacity is under medium and long-term contracts.
And third, the timing of this bid is strategic. Santos has recently been in a period of high capital expenditure. A number of major projects are nearing completion. A successful takeover could free up funding for further development.
ADNOC is the state-owned oil company of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Marco Curaba/Shutterstock
Defining national interest
For regulators assessing the move, the potential takeover touches upon many national security, energy supply, and economic concerns for Australia.
One of the primary concerns is the potential loss of control over critical energy infrastructure.
Foreign ownership, especially by a state-linked investor such as ADNOC, raises questions about whose interests will ultimately shape strategic decisions about Australia’s essential gas flows, pricing, or even the integrity of operational technology systems.
There’s also concern that a foreign owner could prioritise LNG exports over domestic supply. That could potentially exacerbate domestic gas shortages and price hikes. In the eastern states of Australia, such issues are already a concern.
This is not the first time the Australian government has faced a tough decision on a foreign takeover bid in the oil and gas sector. In 2018, the Morrison government blocked a $13 billion Chinese bid for gas pipeline operator APA Group. It said a single foreign owner should not control Australia’s largest pipeline business.
And the then-Treasurer Peter Costello blocked Royal Dutch/Shell’s $10 billion blockbuster offer for Woodside Petroleum in 2001, also in the national interest.
The national interest checklist
On the other hand, Australia generally welcomes foreign investment. It brings capital, creates jobs, and supports economic growth.
If this deal proceeds to final stages, the decision could become a “test case” for Australia. Can we still attract global capital while also diligently safeguarding our sovereign interests?
The consortium has made commitments to maintain Santos’s headquarters in South Australia, preserve jobs and invest in growth and decarbonisation initiatives. But this is only part of the picture.
The FIRB and the Treasurer will need to consider how the deal would affect:
national security and critical infrastructure, including ownership and control risk, system integrity and supply chain vulnerability
the economy (such as on jobs and investment, tax revenues)
energy security and domestic gas supply
other Australian government policies, such as climate targets
the character of the investor
the complexity of regulation.
The FIRB and the Treasurer must be acutely aware that few other nations have extended the same generosity to foreign investors as Australia has over recent decades.
This generosity, while attracting capital, has also raised concerns about the nation’s control over its vital assets.
The SA government has already signalled it won’t stand idly by if the deal is “not in the interests of South Australians”.
All of this sits in the context of ongoing questions about how little tax is being paid by some multinationals while exploiting Australia’s natural resources.
It is paramount the Australian government makes a forward-looking, informed decision. This should serve Australia’s best interests, rather than those of foreign entities.
Associate Professor Akhtar has been invited to make several submissions to national Senate inquiries on tax, trade, and investment, and some of the material from those submissions has been drawn upon in writing this article.
The Australian origins of Santos have made an indelible mark on the company’s very name. The energy giant was first incorporated in 1954 under the acronym for “South Australia Northern Territory Oil Search”. It was publicly listed on the Adelaide Stock Exchange that same year.
Fast forward to today, there are pressing questions about whether Santos could serve Australia’s national interest if it was largely in the hands of a foreign government.
This week, it was announced a consortium led by the investment division of state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) had made an all-cash takeover bid of almost A$29 billion for Santos. This would value the company at $36.4 billion (including its debt).
Santos’ board has said it will support the deal if there isn’t a better offer on the table. But it will first have to clear a raft of regulatory approvals – not only in Australia but also Papua New Guinea and the United States, where Santos has operations.
The acquisition would be a monumental event in Australia’s corporate history. Key elements of this country’s critical energy infrastructure are at stake.
But it’s set to put a difficult decision before the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) and Treasurer Jim Chalmers. On the FIRB’s advice, Chalmers will have to balance Australia’s stated desire to attract foreign investment with the need to protect national interests.
Who’s trying to buy – and why?
Also in the ADNOC-led consortium of prospective buyers are US private equity firm Carlyle and a sovereign wealth fund of the United Arab Emirates, Abu Dhabi Development Holding Company (ADQ). There are a few key reasons for their interest.
First, ADNOC is keenly interested in expanding its footprint in gas and liquefied natural gas (LNG). Acquiring Santos would give it a stake in much of Australia’s gas production and established LNG export facilities. This includes major operations at Gladstone and Darwin.
They would also gain a share in two important Papua New Guinean projects: PNG LNG and the yet-to-be-developed Papua LNG. These assets are particularly attractive because they offer direct access to the growing Asian LNG markets, where future demand is projected to be strong.
Second, the acquisition would allow ADNOC to diversify its portfolio and gain control of export capacity from Australia and PNG to the Asia Pacific region. Santos’s Gladstone LNG plant, for example, has significant export capacity. Much of Santos’ LNG capacity is under medium and long-term contracts.
And third, the timing of this bid is strategic. Santos has recently been in a period of high capital expenditure. A number of major projects are nearing completion. A successful takeover could free up funding for further development.
ADNOC is the state-owned oil company of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. Marco Curaba/Shutterstock
Defining national interest
For regulators assessing the move, the potential takeover touches upon many national security, energy supply, and economic concerns for Australia.
One of the primary concerns is the potential loss of control over critical energy infrastructure.
Foreign ownership, especially by a state-linked investor such as ADNOC, raises questions about whose interests will ultimately shape strategic decisions about Australia’s essential gas flows, pricing, or even the integrity of operational technology systems.
There’s also concern that a foreign owner could prioritise LNG exports over domestic supply. That could potentially exacerbate domestic gas shortages and price hikes. In the eastern states of Australia, such issues are already a concern.
This is not the first time the Australian government has faced a tough decision on a foreign takeover bid in the oil and gas sector. In 2018, the Morrison government blocked a $13 billion Chinese bid for gas pipeline operator APA Group. It said a single foreign owner should not control Australia’s largest pipeline business.
And the then-Treasurer Peter Costello blocked Royal Dutch/Shell’s $10 billion blockbuster offer for Woodside Petroleum in 2001, also in the national interest.
The national interest checklist
On the other hand, Australia generally welcomes foreign investment. It brings capital, creates jobs, and supports economic growth.
If this deal proceeds to final stages, the decision could become a “test case” for Australia. Can we still attract global capital while also diligently safeguarding our sovereign interests?
The consortium has made commitments to maintain Santos’s headquarters in South Australia, preserve jobs and invest in growth and decarbonisation initiatives. But this is only part of the picture.
The FIRB and the Treasurer will need to consider how the deal would affect:
national security and critical infrastructure, including ownership and control risk, system integrity and supply chain vulnerability
the economy (such as on jobs and investment, tax revenues)
energy security and domestic gas supply
other Australian government policies, such as climate targets
the character of the investor
the complexity of regulation.
The FIRB and the Treasurer must be acutely aware that few other nations have extended the same generosity to foreign investors as Australia has over recent decades.
This generosity, while attracting capital, has also raised concerns about the nation’s control over its vital assets.
The SA government has already signalled it won’t stand idly by if the deal is “not in the interests of South Australians”.
All of this sits in the context of ongoing questions about how little tax is being paid by some multinationals while exploiting Australia’s natural resources.
It is paramount the Australian government makes a forward-looking, informed decision. This should serve Australia’s best interests, rather than those of foreign entities.
Associate Professor Akhtar has been invited to make several submissions to national Senate inquiries on tax, trade, and investment, and some of the material from those submissions has been drawn upon in writing this article.
These include volunteers with metropolitan and rural fire services and other rescue organisations.
As natural disasters grow more frequent and severe with climate change we rely on these volunteers now more than ever. Yet volunteer numbers are shrinking.
Our new research reveals an important but often hidden toll from natural disasters – the mental health of emergency service volunteers, who risk physical and emotional burnout.
In our study, we interviewed 32 Victorian State Emergency Service (SES) and Country Fire Authority (CFA) volunteers. They told us they’re often not getting adequate support.
Exposure to death
Death is something commonly hidden behind clinical curtains. But for emergency service volunteers, exposure to dying and death is just part of the job. Death on jobs arrives unpredictably – on roads, in burned homes, after storms, floods and suicides.
Given their work often takes place in the local community, victims are frequently known to the volunteer, which can further complicate grief. As one participant told us:
You’re bound to come across someone you know, or someone you love at some point […] in a bad situation.
Another recounted a colleague’s experience:
It wasn’t until the next day that she found out that she actually knew the deceased person, but didn’t recognise them.
Volunteers described often being first on scene to assist but not fully prepared for what they find. They recounted experiences including retrieving children who had drowned, watching people dying on the roadside, and finding burnt and maimed human remains.
These encounters provoke intense emotional responses, from shock and sadness to feeling powerless and vulnerable. For many, feelings of helplessness and grief reverberate into everyday life. As one volunteer told us:
I was in a semi-breaking-down sort of place […] having flashbacks […] struggling to hold emotions and do my day job.
A lack of formal support
We identified over-reliance on informal team support and individual resilience to cope with difficult emotions.
Structured debriefs depended on leadership and team dynamics. Leaders with “tough it out” mindsets unintentionally perpetuated stigma around seeking help. One participant explained:
People generally will just sit there and not talk about how they feel […] They’re feeling ashamed or embarrassed.
The mindset of some teams seems to be that those who can’t manage the demands of the job should leave. One volunteer said:
It’s mostly very hard and tough. But if you’re going to survive in the game, you gotta be hard.
Support programs exist, but often focus on major disasters rather than the more everyday jobs. Referral depends on leaders flagging those seen as at-risk or individual volunteers asking for support. One participant explained:
We do a debrief with peer support, but some people put on a brave face […] There needs to be more follow up.
What’s more, support is sometimes difficult to access. One participant, a team leader, explained what happened when a volunteer in their team wasn’t coping:
I called the mechanisms that [we] were told that we need to access. I’ve got somebody here that’s suicidal, nobody escalated it. I still hadn’t heard back six hours later.
Importantly, our findings also highlighted that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work. For some, peer support is a lifeline for processing experiences and building resilience, but not for others.
Five women killed. And the peer support was all over us. You know, we got to the stage where it was ridiculous. We’ve had enough, we don’t want this. It re-traumatises people who want to move on.
Talking to emergency service volunteers from only two organisations in one jurisdiction may limit the extent to which we can generalise our findings to other regions, countries or cultures.
However, Victoria does have the second largest number of emergency service volunteers in Australia (behind New South Wales).
Emergency service volunteers are extremely proud and passionate about serving their community and show up with care, calm and strength. But our findings show this comes at a personal cost, especially without the right supports.
Volunteer exposure to death and dying must be recognised as a serious occupational health and safety issue, not just an emotional side effect of the job. We need proactive, not reactive reform if we want to recruit, retain and protect the people we count on in a crisis.
Legislators and organisations should work collaboratively with emergency service volunteers to develop and implement responsive and consistent support services, culture and leadership.
Without targeted, systemic and consistent support, we risk the future of our community-based emergency response. It’s time to protect those who protect us.
If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
A recently announced Pentagon review of the AUKUS pact has sparked a renewed bout of debate in Australia. Led by the “AUKUS-agnostic” US Undersecretary of Defense Elbridge Colby, the review raises serious questions over whether Australia will receive its US-made Virginia-class submarines on schedule from 2032.
AUKUS supporters suggest the review is not overly concerning – they point out governments typically review major programs after taking office. As they note, the UK Labour government did the same when it commissioned Sir Stephen Lovegrove to review AUKUS in 2024. Moreover, the House of Commons Defence Select Committee is currently reviewing AUKUS.
Crucially, however, not all reviews are created equal. Given the US assessment is, according to US officials, being conducted to ensure alignment with the imperatives of “America first”, there is a risk the US will not supply Australia with the Virgina-class submarines it feels it requires to deter China. The UK reviews, on the other hand, did not and do not carry such risks.
The findings of the Lovegrove review remain confidential, but have been shared with Canberra and were incorporated into the UK government’s recent Strategic Defence Review (SDR). The Defence Select Committee is yet to report, but being public, its findings are likely to generate further debate in Australia.
Why are the UK reviews different?
The Defence Select Committee review, launched independently of the government, is an accountability mechanism that scrutinises progress but lacks the power to set policy.
Meanwhile, the Lovegrove review was never intended to question AUKUS, as its terms of reference made clear. Instead, its focus was more on what progress has been made so far and any barriers that might inhibit future success.
There was never any real chance the Lovegrove review would end or amend the UK’s participation in AUKUS, because it has widespread support across mainstream British politics. In foreign and security policy terms, cross-party consensus is the norm in the UK.
However, in the case of AUKUS, two specific factors stand out.
First, AUKUS provides a welcome means to share the burden on a project the UK was already pursuing. Even before AUKUS was announced, the UK had initiated plans for its next generation of nuclear-powered attack submarines, awarding initial design contracts to BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce worth £85 million (A$170 million).
Second, AUKUS has been a crucial component of the UK’s post-Brexit re-emergence. Coming after a period in which Brexit negotiations consumed the British government, it provided important substance to “Global Britain” and its Indo-Pacific tilt.
AUKUS’s cross-party appeal might initially seem strange, given its close association with Boris Johnson’s Brexiteer government. After all, with its “Britain Reconnected” plan, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government has been keen to demonstrate how it differs from its Conservative predecessors. This most recent example comes with the SDR’s NATO-first approach, which some interpreted as a sharp break.
However, this is a difference in style rather than substance. Rishi Sunak’s Conservative government had announced Britain had delivered the tilt and would focus on consolidating its position.
In other words, it was making no new commitments. The SDR does not amend this position. It makes clear that “NATO first does not mean NATO only”. This means continuing support for agreements such as AUKUS, which, according to the review, are crucial to shaping the global security environment.
Whether Britain has the capability to shape the global security environment is a question the SDR addresses, if implicitly, by acknowledging the “hollowing out” of the UK’s armed forces. Reconstituting Britain’s armed forces is consequently a key focus of Starmer’s government, which sees rearmament as a route to reindustrialisation.
Militarisation as central to ‘rebirth’
In this rebirth, the government is focusing heavily on the arms industry as a means to bring well-paid, high-skilled jobs to post-industrial parts of the country. There is debate about whether this is the best way to create jobs and growth, but the Starmer government has gone all-in on the strategy.
Indeed, one of the most notable outcomes of the SDR is that the UK plans to invest substantial sums in its fleet of attack submarines, as it plans to go from seven Astute-class boats to 12 AUKUS-class ones.
This ambition may provide some comfort to Australian observers as it indicates the scale of the UK’s commitment to AUKUS. Still, achieving the goal will require a significant increase in industrial capacity, as Britain will need to produce a new submarine every 18 months. The record of the UK government on major capital projects suggests this is a heroic ambition.
For example, the last three Astute-class boats to be commissioned took between 130 and 132 months to build. The sixth and seventh boats of the nearly 25-year-old program are yet to enter service. Moreover, even the active Astute boats are beset by problems; in the first half of 2024, none of the five in-service boats completed an operational deployment due to maintenance issues.
So, while in the context of the US review, Britain’s commitment is likely welcomed, any comfort must be tempered by the expectation that problems will also likely emanate from Britain.
Tom Howe is a Young Professionals Member of the AIIA.
India and the Central American Integration System (SICA) held a virtual dialogue on Wednesday to strengthen bilateral cooperation and deepen engagement across key sectors. The meeting was co-chaired by Rajesh Vaishnaw, Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, and Alejandro Solano, Vice Minister of Multilateral Affairs of Costa Rica, which currently holds the Pro-Tempore Presidency of SICA.
Senior officials from the SICA Secretariat, including the Director of International Cooperation, Carmen Marroquín, and representatives from SICA member countries also participated in the discussions.
Highlighting the shared values of democracy, sustainable development, and South-South cooperation, the Indian side reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the region through its development partnership initiatives. These include the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme, Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), and a dedicated SME grant programme.
Vaishnaw emphasized India’s readiness to collaborate with SICA in areas such as digital transformation, affordable healthcare, disaster resilience, and renewable energy, underscoring India’s success in these fields.
SICA member countries appreciated India’s proactive and consistent support, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and other natural disasters. Both sides agreed to further enhance cooperation in critical sectors including food and nutritional security, health, connectivity, agriculture, digital infrastructure, energy, and trade and investment.
The dialogue reaffirmed the commitment to sustained political engagement and regional cooperation, with Panama set to assume the SICA presidency later this year.
The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, has issued two new notifications aimed at regulating the import of certain precious metal alloys and chemical compounds.
As per the notification issued on 17 June, the government has restricted the import of alloys of palladium, rhodium and iridium containing more than 1 % gold by weight. This expands the earlier restriction on platinum imports (issued on 5 March 2025) to cover the entire Customs Tariff Heading (CTH) 7110 at the 4-digit level, ensuring a uniform import policy across precious metals and their alloys.
However, the import of alloys containing less than 1 % gold remains unrestricted, thereby safeguarding the interests of key industrial sectors such as electronics, automotive components, and specialised chemical manufacturing. This calibrated policy aims to strike a balance between trade facilitation and regulatory oversight.
In a related move, DGFT has also issued another notification restricting the import of colloidal metals and certain compounds under CTH 2843. The restriction is intended to curb the misuse of chemical imports for bringing gold into the country in disguised forms.
To support genuine industrial needs, imports under CTH 2843 will be permitted against an import authorisation, specifically for sectors such as electronics, electrical, and chemical manufacturing.
Detailed notifications are available on the DGFT website at https://dgft.gov.in.
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
In anticipation of World Giraffe Day, which is celebrated annually on June 21, mos.ru launched online broadcasts from the enclosure of the South African giraffe and the endangered Grevy’s zebras. You can watch them, as well as many other inhabitants of the Moscow Zoo, every day during the institution’s working hours – from 07:30 to 22:00.
Three female zebras – Deborah, Mia and Leila – along with a female Kenyan giraffe, Lipa, get along well in the mixed exhibit “Animals of Africa” in the new area of the zoo. In the warm season, they walk on the summer lawn and can frolic together, running races. With the arrival of cold weather, the animals move to a warm pavilion, where the giraffe remains until spring. And the zebras regularly go outside all year round, they can often even be seen walking through snowdrifts.
“We are pleased to announce that you can now watch Grevy’s zebras and South African giraffes online. These exotic inhabitants of the savannah get along well with each other. In nature, each species, without competing with others, feeds in a certain plant layer. Zebras’ favorite food is cereal inflorescences. And giraffes graze at a height of two to six meters, eating parts of plants that are inaccessible to other animals. In the zoo, a variety of vegetation is planted for them every year, and vertical and horizontal feeders are hung separately for Lipa,” said Svetlana Akulova, General Director of the Moscow Zoo.
On the online broadcast page, thanks to the broadcast from four cameras, everyone can watch how zebras and a giraffe spend time. For a good view of the spacious clearing, specialists from the capital Department of Information Technology installed new equipment.
“On zoo.mos.ru, animals have their own pages where you can learn interesting facts about them, examine their stripes and spots in photographs. Thanks to modern high-resolution cameras with a panoramic view, every resident of the country has the opportunity to study the behavior of zebras and giraffes in conditions as close as possible to their natural environment, and observe touching moments of their everyday life,” the press service of the Moscow Department of Information Technology reported.
The female giraffe Lipa is now 22 years old, which is quite a respectable age. She weighs about 800 kilograms. At the Moscow Zoo, the giraffe is fed twice a day: in the morning and during the day. The menu includes juicy willow brooms, alfalfa hay, mixed feed, as well as fresh vegetables and fruits. In the summer, Lipa also enjoys young grass.
The South African giraffe lives south of the Sahara in the savannas and dry forests of the African continent. These animals have a unique oral apparatus: their lips are equipped with long hairs, which send information to the brain about the presence of thorns and the degree of ripeness of leaves. The purple tongue of the giraffe is flexible, strong and extremely mobile – it skillfully avoids thorns, choosing the most delicious shoots and pulling them up to the level of the upper lip. Special papillae, which cover the lips, help the animal to hold the desired plant in its mouth: the giraffe cuts it with the incisors of the lower jaw.
Lipa’s neighbors are three female Grevy’s zebras. This is the largest of all existing zebra species. It lives in the desert steppes and arid shrub savannas of Ethiopia, Somalia, and Kenya. In the wild, Grevy’s zebras are threatened with extinction: despite the strictest ban, poaching of these animals continues.
The stripes on a zebra’s skin are unique and can be compared to fingerprints. These animals have incredibly strong legs. Thanks to this feature, they can not only cover long distances, but also defend themselves from predators, such as lions. These animals also have excellent vision, hearing, smell, and visual memory. They are able to recognize their relatives from afar by their characteristic pattern.
Zebra Deborah is a long-time resident of the Moscow Zoo, she is 20 years old. Curious Leila and cautious Mia are younger, they are seven years old. They arrived from abroad four years ago. The staff immediately realized that the animals respond to their names, so they did not come up with new ones. In the hot season, Grevy’s zebras prefer to walk in the morning hours or after sunset.
The first online broadcasts from the enclosures of the Moscow Zoo were launched in the fall of 2024. Since then, the list of animals that can be admired has increased significantly. Anyone can watch representatives of the cat family, different species of bears and pandas, as well as other predators, herbivores and primates.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
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Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
Since the beginning of the year, individuals and business representatives have leased and purchased 38 land plots from the city as a result of competitive procedures. More than 75 thousand square meters of housing and commercial facilities will be built on them. This was reported by the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.
“Land from the city for the construction of various facilities is in demand among entrepreneurs and individuals. Since the beginning of this year, as a result of competitive procedures, city residents and business representatives have bought and leased 38 plots with a total area of more than 6.4 hectares. On them, it is possible to build facilities, the area of which in total exceeds 75 thousand square meters. These are private residential buildings, gas stations, as well as cultural, leisure and public complexes,” said Vladimir Efimov.
The city regularly puts up land for commercial real estate construction at open auctions. The purpose of each plot is determined taking into account the needs of the district where it is located. Thus, for the construction of over 12.2 thousand square meters of commercial facilities, investors leased 1.4 hectares in the Yuzhnoye Butovo and Filimonkovsky districts.
“Since the beginning of the year, individuals have purchased the most land for individual housing construction — over 3.5 hectares. The plots are located in the Troitsky, Novomoskovsky and Vostochny administrative districts. In addition, investors signed two agreements on the implementation of large-scale investment projects, according to one of which a modern retail and office building will appear in the Kommunarka administrative and business center. The second project involves the construction of production in Nekrasovka,” she noted.
Ekaterina Solovieva, Minister of the Moscow Government, Head of the Department of City Property.
Development of electronic services for business corresponds to the objectives of the national project “Digital Economy”. Within its framework, the bidding procedure is fully implementedinvestment portal Moscow. It contains a full list of information about the lots, the form of the event and the conditions of participation. Moreover, the actual bidding procedure is also held online. The organizer is Moscow City Department of Competition Policy.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
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