Announcement on Open Market Operations No.115 [2025]
(Open Market Operations Office, June 18, 2025)
The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) issued the fourth batch of central bank bills in 2025 on the Central Moneymarkets Unit (CMU) bond tendering platform of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) through interest rate bidding on June 18, 2025 (Wednesday).
Details of the Reverse Repo Operations
Issue
Volume
Maturity
Rate
The Fourth Batch of Central Bank Bills (2025) (Hong Kong)
Announcement on Open Market Operations No.116 [2025]
(Open Market Operations Office, June 19, 2025)
The People’s Bank of China conducted reverse repo operations in the amount of RMB203.5 billion through quantity bidding at a fixed interest rate on June 19, 2025.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
KUNMING, June 19 — The 9th China-South Asia Expo opened on Thursday in Kunming, capital of southwest China’s Yunnan Province, drawing representatives from 73 countries, regions and international organizations, as well as more than 2,500 enterprises.
The six-day event has brought together all South and Southeast Asian nations, featuring 16 exhibition halls, nearly 70 percent of which are dedicated to professional sectors such as manufacturing, green energy, the coffee industry, and traditional Chinese medicine.
Two South Asia-themed pavilions with nearly 800 booths have been set up, with India and Pakistan each hosting 140 booths.
Nearly 40 economic and trade events are scheduled during the expo, including forums and procurement matchmaking meetings aimed at deepening regional cooperation.
The expo was first held in Kunming in 2013, the same year China put forward the Belt and Road Initiative. It has since facilitated over 110 billion U.S. dollars in foreign trade transactions and served more than 20,000 enterprises.
Jointly organized by the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) and the Yunnan provincial government, the expo serves as a key platform to strengthen economic and trade links between China and South Asian nations.
In 2024, trade between China and South Asian countries neared 200 billion U.S. dollars, doubling over the past decade with an average annual growth rate of 6.3 percent, according to MOC data.
China remains committed to high-level opening up and is advancing Chinese modernization through high-quality development, a process that will create valuable opportunities for cooperation with countries around the world, including those in South Asia, vice minister of commerce Yan Dong said at the opening ceremony.
Yan also expressed China’s readiness to deepen trade and investment ties, expand cooperation in emerging sectors such as the digital economy, low-carbon development, artificial intelligence and biomedicine, and jointly promote an open world economy.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The first phase of the Zhongguancun (Western Beijing) Artificial Intelligence Technology Park in Beijing’s Mentougou district has completed construction and is scheduled to open this October, according to Beijing Daily.
Jointly developed by Mentougou district and the ZGC Group, the park is a key project under Beijing’s “Two Zones” initiative. Once fully operational, it is expected to host more than 200 AI enterprises and generate over 10 billion yuan ($1.39 billion) in annual output.
Covering a floor area of 310,000 square meters, the first phase features 16 buildings dedicated to research and development, as well as a number of support facilities. The park incorporates smart technologies and eco-friendly design elements throughout.
The layout was designed with flexibility to meet the diverse needs of AI companies for office space, R&D, and testing. It aims to integrate research and small-scale production within a single campus.
The park has also reached intent of cooperation with seven companies covering emerging and cutting-edge fields, including AI-powered medicine and smart equipment, said Deng Xiaowen, general manager of the park’s construction and management company.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Nine highly anticipated Chinese blockbusters, including projects from directors Guan Hu, Rao Xiaozhi, Lu Yang and Feng Xiaogang, were previewed at a special event during the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) on June 17.
Cast and crew members of nine upcoming Chinese blockbusters pose for a group photo at a promotional event during the 27th Shanghai International Film Festival, June 17, 2025. [Photo courtesy of SIFF Organizing Committee]
Chen Guo, managing director of the Shanghai International Film and TV Events Center, said the blockbuster productions reflected the Chinese film industry’s ability to bring together leading talent and resources.
“These films not only showcase the highest standards of Chinese cinema but also exert significant influence across the global film market,” Chen said at the 2025 Chinese Epic Showcase event. “The nine featured productions embody the collective expertise and dedication of Chinese filmmakers, carrying the industry’s and audiences’ highest expectations. Together, they will inject powerful momentum into the film market’s growth for the second half of this year.”
The nine productions include Guan Hu and Fei Zhenxiang’s “Dong Ji Island,” Light Chaser Animation’s “Curious Tales of a Temple,” Rao Xiaozhi’s sequel to “A Cool Fish,” Da Peng’s “The Lychee Road,” Lu Yang’s “A Writer’s Odyssey 2” and “Echoes of Encounter,” Cao Baoping’s “Man Huang Jin Di,” and Feng Xiaogang’s “I Know Who You Are.” Several are scheduled for summer theatrical release.
“Dong Ji Island,” six years in development and part of the Filmed for IMAX program, tells the story of Chinese fishermen from the Dongji Islands who risked their lives during World War II to rescue British prisoners of war after the Japanese transport ship Lisbon Maru was torpedoed and sank. The film features extensive underwater sequences, with more than 100 crew members receiving aquatic training and over 60 days spent on underwater filming, co-director Fei Zhenxiang said. The film is set for release on Aug. 8.
“Curious Tales of a Temple,” an animated fantasy anthology from the studio behind “Chang An,” is set for release on July 12. Yu Zhou, co-founder and president of Light Chaser Animation, said the studio sought to honor the literary legacy of Pu Songling, a Qing dynasty writer, and that the project was its most demanding to date.
Another anticipated title is “The Lychee Road,” due out July 25. Adapted from Ma Boyong’s novel, the film follows a Tang Dynasty official tasked with delivering lychees to the royal court. Director Da Peng described it as a comedy about an “ordinary man giving his all against life’s unfairness and helplessness.”
Director Lu Yang presented two films: “A Writer’s Odyssey 2,” a fantasy adventure in the Filmed for IMAX program, and “Echoes of Encounter,” a science fiction romance set in a post-apocalyptic Nanjing and based on Tianrui Shuofu’s award-winning novel “Once Upon a Time in Nanjing.”
“We explored the Filmed for IMAX program to capture our grand-scale scenes and innovative action sequences,” Lu said. “The IMAX format extends beyond mere larger visuals — it expands imagination itself. It allows us to fully convey the fearless courage we want to present to audiences, along with our passionate devotion to the people and ideals we believe in.”
Director Cao Baoping, known for crime dramas such as “Trouble Makers” and “The Dead End,” introduced his latest film, “Man Huang Jin Di,” at the event. Set in a lawless region where crime is rampant, the film stars Jackson Yee, Duan Yihong, Huang Bo and Zhang Yi. It is scheduled for release later this year.
“I Know Who You Are,” the latest film from director Feng Xiaogang, marks his return to period drama after an eight-year break since “Youth.” Starring Lei Jiayin and Hu Ge, the film follows a police officer’s 40-year search for a spy who turns out to be his neighbor. The story spans several decades and depicts social change through detailed recreations of daily life and architecture.
Other films promoted at the event include the fantasy romance “Gift from a Cloud” by Yao Tingting, which is set for release on Aug. 29, and a dark comedy sequel to Rao Xiaozhi’s hit “A Cool Fish,” scheduled for release on July 5. The sequel is also part of the Filmed for IMAX program.
“Whether in life or work, we all face low moments — even the global film market has struggled these years. This film is our wish for tides to turn,” Rao said.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The Chinese capital is poised for a breakthrough in commercial spaceflight, with multiple reusable rockets developed by local firms preparing for their maiden launches. The advancements could dramatically lower launch costs and help Beijing tap into the booming low-Earth orbit economy, estimated to be a trillion-yuan market.
Low-Earth orbit, spanning 400 to 2,000 kilometers above Earth, offers advantages like natural magnetic shielding, lower radiation risks, and ultra-low-latency communication, making it a hotbed for global commercial space competition. Rockets serve as a critical gateway to this orbital frontier.
At southeastern Beijing’s “Rocket Street,” a hub for aerospace innovation, companies like Galactic Energy and LandSpace are racing to deploy next-gen rockets.
LandSpace’s Zhuque-3, a methane-fueled reusable rocket comparable to SpaceX’s Falcon 9, completed a 10-kilometer vertical takeoff and landing test last year and is expected to make a debut flight in the second half of 2025. Its stainless-steel structure and methane engines, reusable up to 20 times, could reduce launch costs by 80% to 90%.
Meanwhile, Galactic Energy is pursuing a liquid oxygen and kerosene approach with its Pallas rocket, also targeting a 2025 maiden launch, said Xia Dongkun, the firm’s executive president.
According to the municipal science and technology authority, Beijing is home to more than 70% of China’s commercial launch system integrators. It also maintains the country’s most complete launch vehicle development ecosystem and has developed a nationally leading satellite manufacturing cluster.
Additionally, Beijing’s commercial rocket firms have set new records in launch, satellite development, and data applications: Beijing accounted for one-fifth of China’s commercial launches last year, and single-use rockets have entered routine operations.
Galactic Energy’s CERES-1, China’s most-launched private rocket, has already sent 81 satellites to orbit for 25 clients. Its upgraded CERES-2, with doubled payload capacity, is preparing for its first flight.
Cost efficiency is key. “We are scaling payloads from 1 metric ton to hundreds and thousands while driving down per-kilo launch costs to tap into the trillion-yuan market,” Xia noted. The firm has cut engine production expenses by 90% using 3D printing, a technique also adopted by LandSpace, which slashed manufacturing time for its Tianque engine from two months to days.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The “618” mid-year shopping festival, one of China’s biggest e-commerce events, has driven a sharp rise in cross-border purchases in Beijing.
According to Beijing Customs, from May 13 to June 16, they processed 802,800 cross-border e-commerce import orders, up 10.98% from the previous year. The total value reached approximately 126 million yuan ($17.52 million), up 23.53% year on year.
E-commerce platforms like JD.com are now offering fast delivery for imported goods. A Beijing resident surnamed Wang recently received a bottle of Australian Cabernet Sauvignon in less than an hour after placing his order. JD Worldwide’s head of supply chain Wu Xue said the order marked a milestone for the platform’s instant delivery service, which enables customers to receive international orders in just hours or, in some cases, minutes.
Through this service model, consumers can check out imported products in offline stores, place orders online, and get them delivered within a few hours, faster than the usual same-day or next-day delivery.
JD has stocked more than 500 types of imported products, including cosmetics, wines, and baby care items, at Beijing Yizhuang Bonded Logistics Center in advance. Once an order is placed, goods go through customs procedures and are then transferred to nearby couriers, significantly reducing delivery time.
Tianzhu Customs, under Beijing Customs, also stepped up preparations ahead of the shopping festival. Officials monitored order flows in real-time and optimized clearance processes to support timely deliveries. From May 13 to June 16, Tianzhu Customs processed over 55-million-yuan worth of beauty and fragrance products, a 38.5% increase from the same period last year.
eThekwini Municipality strengthens ties in UAE to advance smart city
The eThekwini Municipality has embarked on a high-level international engagement mission in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), reinforcing its commitment to sustainable urban development, cutting-edge transport systems, and smart city transformation.
City Manager, Musa Mbhele is currently leading a series of high-level strategic engagements with government and business leaders in Abu Dhabi to explore strategic partnerships that could unlock economic opportunities and introduce advanced infrastructure innovation solutions.
This follows a successful initial round of discussions with major Abu Dhabi institutions, which laid a robust foundation for collaboration in integrated mobility, urban planning, and digital governance.
Key objectives of the UAE mission
The current leg of the mission, taking place from 16 to 19 June 2025, aims to: • Finalise agreements with the Integrated Transport Center (ITC) and the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) to implement forward-looking transport innovations aligned to the needs of the eThekwini region. • Explore technology-driven investment platforms with Maqta Technologies, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Ports Group, focusing on digital investment portals, such as the Single Window and the proposed “Invest in KZN” prototype. • Consolidate the Abu Dhabi-Dubai-KZN knowledge exchange corridor, focusing on smart logistics, sustainable infrastructure, and advanced technologies in customs clearance and risk analytics through platforms like BorderVision, RiskLab, and BorderMeter.
Mbhele is joined by Project Executive in the Chief Operations Office, Lungelo Buthelezi, and Acting Head of the eThekwini Transport Authority, Nelisiwe Zama.
On 16 June, the team led constructive discussions with senior leaders in Dubai’s Department of Municipalities and Transport, centred on building urban spaces, where mobility is seamless, sustainable, and intelligently connected.
“As urban landscapes evolve, the integration of smart transport systems, thoughtful urban planning, and municipal coordination has become more crucial than ever. We are in the United Arab Emirates to leverage international best practices.
“By embracing innovation and strategic planning, we pave the way for a connected and resilient urban future for our city of Durban,” said Mbhele.
Collaboration with UAE mobility and infrastructure leaders
The eThekwini delegation also engaged with key stakeholders in Abu Dhabi’s intelligent mobility and digital infrastructure sectors.
Among the stakeholders included Dr Emily Mogano, Vice President of Partnerships at the Sheikh Maktoum NEO Technologies Office, who expressed enthusiasm for the growing collaboration.
Senior representatives from the UAE’s transport sector, led by Minister Abdulla Al Hashmi, Director of Traffic Systems at the Integrated Transport Center, shared insights on Abu Dhabi’s Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). These include smart mobility advancements, traffic infrastructure optimisation, and road safety enhancements driven by cutting-edge technologies.
Al Hashmi emphasised the UAE’s readiness to collaborate with eThekwini on solutions tailored for Durban’s urban context.
These engagements underscores eThekwini’s commitment to proactive global cooperation and innovation-driven development, positioning Durban as a hub for international investment, mobility innovation, and smart governance. – SAnews.gov.za
Every year, some 100 billion garments are produced worldwide, and 92 million tonnes of clothing waste end up in landfills. Given this enormous amount of waste, it is logical to think that the only way forward is to degrow fashion. But can fashion and degrowth co-exist?
Degrowth is defined as the planned reduction of production and consumption in a way that ensures equitable living. Degrowth principles, such as sufficiency, cooperation and care, clash with growth principles of maximization, commodification and efficiency. For the fashion industry, which is responsible for immense resource extraction and waste creation, reducing resource throughput and ensuring equitable value creation pose enduring challenges.
While some governments and corporations encourage consumers to shop responsibly and reduce waste, collective responsibility is needed to facilitate a degrowth transition, which urges a fundamental shift in the way designers, manufacturers and brands approach fashion waste. Will circular practices help create a just and equitable industry? Is it possible to produce clothing locally and differently than “fast fashion” retailers?
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Upcycling as a radical rethinking of our relationship with waste
In a recent study, we explored how the circular fashion practice of upcycling – creative and caring transformation of discarded or waste clothes into something of higher value – pushes industry actors to rethink their relationship to fashion waste and give it value as a resource compatible with degrowth values. We examined how upcycling is practiced across institutions – brands, manufacturers, designers and NGOs – in Turkey, one of Europe’s largest textile producers.
It is important to note that while conversations about recycling – the practice of breaking down textile waste into raw material through mechanical or chemical processes – are prevalent in the fashion world, the painful fact is that only 1% of clothes are recycled into new garments, meaning the majority of fashion waste is doomed to remain as waste. Through upcycling, on the other hand, waste is treated as a resource. Rather than viewing clothes as disposable, upcycling enables us to understand and care about our clothes’ journey and the people and ecosystems behind them. Converting discarded food into natural dyes for colouring fabric, or using sailcloth to make handbags, creates value through the creativity, materials, skill sharing, and caring involved.
As part of green-growth efforts, some circular fashion actors treat waste as a commodity and try to maximize growth through efficient waste reduction. However, this is incompatible with degrowth. We need to reduce production of textiles and make use of existing textile waste, not just discard textile waste efficiently.
Relational ways of working with waste, technology, nature and people
Our research highlights the importance of the socio-ecological value of waste in industry upcycling practices. Such value is generated through social and solidarity networks of relations around waste, including between designers, manufacturers and upcycling brands, and involving nature and technology.
We emphasise the growing interest in the story of waste material, which is reinforcing strong connections to waste and its origins. Upcycling designers highlight local and material heritage in the production of upcycled clothes, which is necessary to foster the ecological and material consciousness required for a degrowth transition. Designers we interviewed evoked the idea that “nature doesn’t waste anything”, and mentioned being inspired by and mimicking nature’s cycles in the design process.
We also reflect on the kind of technology needed to support more relational, localised systems. The practices of upcycling designers and small brands highlight the value of the creation of waste-sharing platforms among industry actors. These platforms serve as waste libraries and provide opportunities to purchase different kinds of textile waste for upcycling.
Making waste valuable
Industry actors we interviewed said they are not simply trend chasers focused on profit, but seeking to build alternative ways of working with each other, nature, waste and technology. For example, designers partnered with local women in rural areas in Erzurum, Mugla and Kilis provinces to upcycle discarded fabrics into handwoven garments, preserving cultural heritage. A brand collected food waste to create natural textile dyes, collaborating with local cafés and friends in Istanbul. During the Covid-19 crisis, solidarity networks emerged between hospitals, textile manufacturers and designers to make upcycled uniforms for doctors and nurses. We have observed that manufacturers also repurpose waste to give gifts to employees, children and others. These practices aim to reduce waste and reconnect people to waste material, and enable the sharing of local knowledge and skills.
Our data also demonstrates a concern over lack of circular literacy among industry actors. Currently, access to upcycling knowledge and skills, as well as waste material, happens through knowledge hubs and waste-sharing platforms. For example, working with sectoral representatives and local governments, one knowledge hub created a circular economy guide to raise industry awareness about ways to revalue and reduce textile waste.
Upcycling is still a niche circular practice, and access to waste resources for initiatives, as well as lack of public funding and policy support for projects, remain important concerns. Nonetheless, when it is grounded in local communities, new narratives about materials, and care, upcycling can foster degrowth values in fashion.
Handan Vicdan ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.
Manama, Bahrain – 18 June 2025: As part of its new organizational structure, the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) has announced executive management promotions, effective 1 July 2025:
Abdulla Ahmed Haji – General Director – Capital Markets & Investment Supervision
Nawaf Ahmed Bubshait – General Director – Banking & Credit Institutions Supervision
Afaf Khalifa Khalfan – Director – Monetary Operations & Government Debt Management Directorate
Fatema Hasan Akhtarzada – Director – Licensing & Regulatory Policy Directorate
Sara Khaled Qaed – Director – Anti-Financial Crime Directorate
Mohamed Ahmed Al Sulaiti Director – Cyber-Security Unit
Fatema Mohamed Ali – Director – Human Resources Directorate
Amina Yousif Al Madani – Director – Communications & International Relations Directorate
Fatima A.Rahman Abdulla – Director – Retail Banking & Credit Institutions Supervision Directorate
Manal Ali AlTurkamani – Director – Capital Markets & Investment Business Inspections Directorate
Nabeel Mohammed Juma – Director – Supervision Technology Unit
Commenting on the occasion, HE Khalid Humaidan, Governor of the Central Bank of Bahrain, said: “We at the CBB are committed to empowering qualified national talents shaping the future of the financial services sector. As such, we are pleased to announce the latest promotions which support the decision to adopt the CBB’s new organizational structure. We would like to congratulate our team members and hope this step will achieve our goals in maintaining the stability of the financial sector and develop strategies that aim to advance the development of this vital industry.”
On his end, Mr. Mohamed A. Karim – Executive Director of Corporate Services at the Central Bank of Bahrain, commented: “We are proud to be completing our newest promotions, which comprise an exceptional team of local competencies. Through our confidence in their capabilities, we look forward to commencing this next phase of development through their years of leadership and expertise. We also believe this will contribute to fulfilling the CBB’s aspirations to prepare capable leaders that will play a vital role in the growth of the local financial sector.”
Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain – 18th June 2025 – The Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) announced its decision to maintain the overnight deposit rate unchanged at 5.00%.
This decision comes as part of the review conducted by the CBB to maintain monetary and financial stability in the Kingdom of Bahrain in light of global financial market developments.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
New drainage standards tackle pollution in England’s communities
Developers encouraged to reduce pollution, protect communities from flooding and benefit nature as part of government’s ambition to build 1.5 million homes.
extensive wildflower green roof
In a move to tackle water pollution and protect communities from flooding, the government is updating the national standards for Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) for the first time in a decade.
The new standards – welcomed by the construction industry – will give developers clearer guidance on how to create rainwater management systems that mimic the natural environment and deliver better outcomes.
Suggested features include spaces designed to collect and filter rainwater, which will relieve pressure on our crumbling sewage system and prevent pollution overflowing into our waterways.
Impermeable surfaces such as roads and pavements increase the risk of flooding in heavy downpours, as the excess water has nowhere to go. By introducing materials designed to soak up water, new developments will be better protected against flooding.
The new standards will also encourage design features like green roofs and soakaways. These provide a place for nature to thrive and improve a building’s energy efficiency –reducing energy bills, bringing mental and physical health benefits to communities by expanding access to nature and supporting wildlife.
The updated standards signify the government’s ambition to build 1.5 million homes sustainably without delaying the planning process and comes following the record £104 billion secured from private sector investment to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas.
Water Minister Emma Hardy said:
The Government will introduce new standards to tackle water pollution, protect communities from flooding and make our new towns beautiful.
Nature recovery and growth can go hand in hand, and these new standards will enable the sustainable building of 1.5 million homes as part of the Plan for Change.
Key features of the new standards include:
Reducing flood risk by actively managing surface water on site
Improving water quality before it enters rivers and streams
Provide community benefits by creating more attractive and resilient places to live and work
Prioritising solutions that enhance biodiversity and green space
Encouraging water efficiency, by enabling the reuse of rainwater through harvesting and collection systems
Emphasising long-term maintenance and performance
To support the government’s Plan for Change, the updated standards are aligned with the National Planning Policy Framework and will complement wider planning reforms which will take place later this year. Developers are encouraged to innovate and demonstrate how their systems meet the outcomes, rather than follow a one-size-fits-all checklist.
Air pollution levels in Oxford are continuing to improve, new data from Oxford City Council has found.
However, despite improvements, there continues to be no safe level of air pollution.
Latest data from Oxford City Council has found that during 2024, overall NO2 levels in Oxford decreased by 10% on average compared to 2023 levels – with some areas seeing decreases of up to 24% – and a 38% decrease overall on pre-pandemic (2019) levels.
The data follows the publication of Oxford City Council’s latest Air Quality Annual Status Report for 2024 which examines air pollution levels across 118 locations in the city from January 2024 – December 2024.
According to the latest NO2 data, Oxford met all UK legal limits for NO2 at all sites of relevant public exposure, with one site in breach of the UK’s legal target (Headington Hill). In addition, the city is on track to meet its local NO2 target by the end of 2025, with only four locations exceeding this target, with just one site in a location of public exposure.
Monitoring air pollution
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is measured in micrograms in each cubic metre of air (μg/m³), with the legal annual mean target set by Government of 40 μg/m³.
In 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) published new guidelines which recommended stricter limits on the ‘safe’ level of air pollution, including PM2.5 and NO2, advising that there is no level at which pollutants stop causing damage.
In Oxford, there are two annual mean targets for Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollution:
National legal limit: the annual mean concentration of NO2 which must not exceed 40 μg/m³
Oxford’s own adopted local annual mean target for NO2 of 30 µg/m3
Pollutant
World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended annual mean
UK Legal annual mean limit value
Oxford’s local annual mean target (commitment to be achieved across the city by 2025)
PM2.5
5 μg/m³
10 μg/m³
Non applicable
NO2
10 μg/m³
40 μg/m³
30 μg/m³
Oxford City Council has a statutory duty to report on air quality within the city and gathers data from each monitoring station within the city, following detailed technical guidance from DEFRA.
Report highlights:
Some of the highlights of the latest report are:
On average, NO₂ levels fell by 10% in 2024
In areas of high bus traffic – such as High Street and St Aldates – there were reductions of up to 24%, largely due to the introduction of ZEBRA funded electric buses in January 2024
Oxford met all UK legal limits for NO₂ at all sites of relevant public exposure
Only one site was found to be in breach of the UK’s legal target. This is in an area with limited public exposure to air pollution (eg busy roads away from residential areas or areas with pedestrians):
Headington Hill measured a concentration of 43 μg/m³. While still 7% (3 μg/m³) over the legal target, this is a 19% reduction compared to in NO₂ levels in 2023 (53 μg/m³).
Only four of the 118 sites were found to be in breach of Oxford’s local annual mean target for NO₂: St Clements (34 μg/m³), with the other three located in areas of limited public exposure: Headington Hill (43 μg/m³), and Oxford’s ring road (32 μg/m³ and 31 μg/m³).
Over the past decade (2013 – 2023), average NO2 levels in Oxford have decreased by 52%
While NO₂ levels fell by 10% on average, areas of high bus traffic – such as High Street and St Aldates saw reductions of up to 24%. This is believed to be largely due to the introduction of 159 ZEBRA funded electric buses from January 2024.
In February, the Council published an updated source apportionment study for Oxford, which found that the transport is the largest contributor to nitrogen oxides (NO + NO₂) emissions, accounting for 44% of the total emissions of these pollutants.
The Source Apportionment Study modelling suggested that there was a 12% drop in road transport NOX emissions (from 40% to 32%), with buses now contributing only 4% to total NOX emissions. This reflects a significant (28%) reduction since the previous source apportionment study.
The latest air pollution data supports this modelling, with the 24% reduction on High Street (reduction from 27 to 21 μg/m³) and St Aldates (reduction from 31 to 23 μg/m³) largely attributed to the introduction of the ZEBRA scheme electric buses, which now covers 69% of Oxford’s total bus mileage.
ZEZ Pilot
In February 2022, the Oxfordshire County Council and Oxford City Council launched the UK’s first Zero Emission Zone (ZEZ) pilot in Oxford.
In 2024, NO₂ levels within the ZEZ Pilot area overall remain well below both the UK’s legal limit of 40 μg/m³ and Oxford’s local target of 30 μg/m³
NO₂ levels have generally remained stable at locations that are largely pedestrianised: Cornmarket (15 μg/m³), New Inn Hall Street (14 μg/m³), and St Michael’s Street (14 μg/m³).
Pedestrianised areas that are shared with buses and taxis (Queen Street, Bonn Square, and New Road) saw the largest reductions in NO2:
Queen Street: 17 μg/m³ – a reduction of 4 μg/m³
Bonn Square: 18 μg/m³ – a reduction of 2 μg/m³
New Road: 16 μg/m³ – a reduction of 6 μg/m³
Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs)
All the monitoring locations both inside and on the boundary roads of Oxford’s LTNS showed a decrease in NO₂ levels measured in 2024, compared to 2023.
None of the NO2 levels measured both inside and on the boundary roads of Oxford’s LTNS were above the UK legal limit
Only one location (St Clements) showed NO2 levels above the city’s local annual mean target for NO2
St Clements – historically Oxford’s most polluted street – saw notable NO₂ reductions of 4 μg/m³, 5 μg/m³, and 3 μg/m³ – averaging 34 μg/m³
Between Towns Road also saw a significant reduction of 5 μg/m³ (from 28 to 23 μg/m³)
Hollow Way saw a reduction of 2 μg/m³ (from 31 to 29 μg/m³), now meeting Oxford’s local air quality target for the first time
Particulate pollution (PM2.5 and PM10)
PM10 and PM2.5 were both monitored by automatic continuous monitors at St Ebbes (urban background) and Oxford High Street in 2024.
Oxford has consistently met all UK legal limits for PM2.5 in recent years and is now 2 μg/m³ away from achieving the WHO-recommended annual mean of 5 μg/m³ – considered the safest level for human health.
PM10 annual means for these sites were of 9 and 13 μg/m³. These values are both below the current UK legal annual mean limit of this pollutant (40 μg/m³) and of the WHO recommended annual mean (15 μg/m³).
Botley road closure
In April 2023, Botley Road was closed to traffic as part of broader improvement works on the western side of Oxford Railway Station. Since then, NO₂ levels have been monitored at four locations along Botley Road.
In 2022, prior to the road closure, the average NO₂ concentration at these sites was 19 μg/m³
In 2023, this dropped to 16 μg/m³ (a 16% decrease)
In 2024, the average further declined to 14 μg/m³ – a 2 μg/m³ decrease compared to 2023 levels, and 13% decrease, compared to the 10% city average
Main arterial routes into Oxford
On other major arterial roads into Oxford, 2024 monitoring data shows a consistent decline in NO₂ levels:
Abingdon Road: saw a 1 μg/m³ reduction (from 24 to 23 μg/m³)
Woodstock Road: saw a 1 μg/m³ reduction on average across 3 sites (from 16 to 15 μg/m³)
Banbury Road: saw a 2 μg/m³ reduction on average across 3 sites (from 18 to 16 μg/m³)
Headington Road/London Road: saw a 2 μg/m³ reduction on average across 3 sites (from 20 to 18 μg/m³)
Sunderland Avenue: saw a 2 μg/m³ reduction on average across 5 sites (from 22 to 20 μg/m³)
Next steps
The Council’s report will be submitted to the Government to be ratified and approved.
The report will also be used to inform the Council’s upcoming Air Quality Action Plan, which will be updated in 2026 following public consultation later this year.
An Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP) outlines the actions that the Council and its partners will take to improve air quality in Oxford within a certain period of time. The Council’s current Air Quality Action Plan can be read here.
Comment
“It is great news that air pollution levels are continuing to fall across all areas of the city, that Oxford is are legally compliant in all locations of public exposure, and that we are close to reaching our localised air pollution target. However, it is important to remember that there is ultimately no safe level of air pollution – it always causes us harm.
“This data provides us with the latest picture on pollution in Oxford and will help inform our upcoming Air Quality Action Plan, which will look at what measures we can take over the next few years to further improve air quality for everyone in our city.”
Councillor Anna Railton, Deputy Leader, and Cabinet Member for a Zero Carbon Oxford
Shaping Birmingham’s Future Together, a bold vision setting out the shared ambitions of the city, its partners and citizens, and the Corporate Plan setting out the council’s priorities, were approved.
Shaping Birmingham’s Future Together (SBFT) approved at full council (17 June 2025) – which is a partnership plan for the next decade – aims to address challenges, grasp opportunities and tackle inequalities Birmingham and its residents face.
This vision – produced through consulting and engaging partners and communities across Birmingham and which will be delivered by working closely with city partners – is for Birmingham to be a city that has a thriving economy, tackles inequality, where all communities can enjoy greater opportunities and the wellbeing that brings.
The SBFT has helped shape the city council’s Corporate Plan 2025-28 which sets out how the council will strengthen Birmingham’s position as a thriving, young, diverse and creative global city – a place where everyone is included in the opportunities that the city can offer.
The council’s strategic priorities and outcomes are aimed at responding to the city’s challenges and opportunities so it can best serve the city and citizens and achieve. The following are the key missions set out in SBTF, which will guide how the council delivers its priorities:
Growth and prosperity for Birmingham – Focusing on investment and economic growth that benefits all people and places in the city.
Knowledge and opportunity – For all children and young people to have a good start in life and a great education, and with lifelong learning accessible to all.
Safety and sustainability – Ensuring more affordable homes are built, housing standards are improved, and homelessness prevented wherever possible.
Health, education and inequalities – For all children and young people to have a healthy start in life, and encouraging physical activity and healthy living, so everyone can live and age well.
Connected Birmingham – The provision of a safe and sustainable transport network, good access to online services and support to develop digital skills.
Improvement and Recovery – to stabilise and strengthen the council’s financial position to ensure it becomes a well-run, high performing council
The Corporate Plan for 2025-28 incorporates the Improvement and Recovery Plan for the council. It will guide how the council delivers, enables and influences these core missions over the next three years.
It also includes a performance framework, against which the council’s progress against these priorities will be measured.
Cllr John Cotton, Leader of BCC and Chair of Chair of Shaping Birmingham’s Future Together, said: “The Corporate Plan is a clear demonstration of our ambitions for the people and communities of Birmingham. For too long, our story has been a Tale of Two Cities: a booming city centre with cranes dotting the skyline, in stark contrast to neighbourhoods with high levels of poverty and unemployment just a stone’s throw away.
“That’s why we feel it’s important to have shared ambitions for Birmingham, which both address our challenges and harness our incredible collective potential. Through our work on Shaping Birmingham’s Future Together, we have created a shared vision for Birmingham, which draws from our rich history and maps out a bright future.”
Joanne Roney CBE, the city council’s Managing Director, said: “This Corporate Plan marks an important shift towards embedding sustainable improvements and ensuring that the council is fully equipped to meet the challenges ahead with confidence and accountability.
“Its success will lead to improved outcomes for citizens and communities – and ultimately ensure that Birmingham City Council becomes the organisation that our citizens, communities and partners deserve.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 2
News story
Government to invest over £100m in water company fines to local environmental projects
The Government will invest water company fines into local projects across the country to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas
The Government will invest water company fines into local projects across the country to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas.
Over £100m in fines and penalties levied against water companies since October 2023, as well as future fines and penalties, will be reinvested into projects to clean up our waters which could include local programmes to address pollution and improve water quality.
When water companies breach their environmental permits – for example by releasing excessive pollution into a river – that is a criminal offence. The most serious cases, like illegal sewage spills, see water company fines issued and criminal prosecutions for water bosses.
This Government is clear that the current volume of sewage being discharged to our waters is unacceptable. We have launched an independent review, led by Sir Jon Cunliffe, to reset the water sector regulatory system and deliver a fair deal for customers and investors.
The Government is committed to cleaning up our rivers, lakes and seas with increased enforcement against polluting water companies, a record investment to fix broken pipes and a generational review of the sector as part of its Plan for Change.
Secretary of State Steve Reed said:
We inherited a broken water system with record levels of sewage being pumped into waters.
But the era of profiting from failure is over. A record 81 criminal investigations have been launched into water companies under this government and Ofwat recently announced the largest fine ever handed to a water company in history.
This Government will invest money collected through fines into local projects to clean up our rivers, lakes and seas for good.
More detail on the projects and programmes that this funding will go towards will be set out in due course.
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
On the Black Sea coast, a new thematic shift “Engineers of meanings: designers of a new reality” of the All-Russian children’s center “Smena” and the public organization “Movement of the First” was launched. The educational strategy for the professional training of engineers of meanings in the field of communication activities, which has been implemented by the Higher School of Media Communications and Public Relations of the Humanitarian Institute at SPbPU since 2020, for the first time became the conceptual logic of the educational shift for the country’s studying youth.
70 college students who came to the “Nastvornik” camp from all over the country were welcomed by the head of the Center for Innovative Pedagogical Technologies of the All-Russian Children’s Center “Smena” Roman Khevsokov and the director of the Higher School of Music and Social Sciences of the State University of the St. Petersburg Polytechnic University Marina Arkannikova. In her welcoming speech, she noted the high level of organization of the camp and the substantive content of the program of events.
You have two unforgettable weeks ahead of you. I wish you to take away from the Black Sea coast a sea of impressions, new knowledge and, of course, friends. And I will finish with the words of Robert Rozhdestvensky: “If you exist, be the best, if you exist, be the first. It is harder and easier to be the first!” said Marina Arkannikova.
On the day of the grand opening of the shift, a visionary lecture and master class on the topic “Engineers of meanings as visionaries of the communications industry and cultural sovereignty of Russia” took place. The speaker spoke about the strategy of national security of Russia in terms of preserving and developing the cultural sovereignty of the country, as well as about civil initiatives that form the value-semantic principles of the cultural code of the nation and protection from information aggression in the context of mental wars and cancel culture. For their interest in the discussion and thoughtful reasoning, the distinguished listeners were awarded the book “Engineers of meanings: from concept to professionalization”, prepared under the scientific editorship of Marina Sergeevna and published by the Polytechnic University.
The students of the educational program are participants of the All-Russian project “First Student” and winners of the competitive selection, who showed the highest results in motivation, in the desire for development and readiness to think strategically and on a large scale. For two weeks, from June 12 to 25, a course of professional skills, a series of business quests from the State Corporation “Rosatom”, a festival of professions “Masters of the Future”, a workshop “Smart City” will be organized for them. The participants of the shift will be able to get acquainted with the possibilities of professional growth in the field of children’s self-government in the primary organizations of the “Movement of the First”, will be engaged in the development of projects and their own first business, and will also be able to become part of a friendly society that will definitely support their ideas and meanings.
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.
Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering –
Congratulations to Anatoly Ivanovich Osokin, Head of the Department of Geotechnics at SPbGASU, on the successful defense of his dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Technical Sciences.
Scientific consultant – Rashid Abdullovich Mangushev, Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor, Professor of the Department of Geotechnics at St. Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering.
Dissertation topic: “Conceptual foundations and practical application of principles of scientific and technical justification and support of underground construction in soft soils”. Scientific specialty – 2.1.2. Foundations and bases, underground structures.
The defense took place on June 18 in the dissertation council 24.2.380.04, created on the basis of our university.
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.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) released today (June 19) the preliminary figures of chain volume measures of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by economic activity for the first quarter of 2025.
GDP figures by economic activity show the value of production in respect of individual economic activities. The value of production is measured by value added or net output, which is calculated by deducting intermediate input consumed in the process of production from the gross value of output. Volume measures of GDP by economic activity, expressed in terms of chain volume measures net of the effect of price changes, enable analysis of the output growth profiles of individual economic sectors in real terms.
According to the preliminary figures, overall GDP increased by 3.1% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, compared with the 2.5% increase in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Analysed by constituent services sector and on a year-on-year comparison, value added in respect of all the services activities taken together increased by 2.6% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, compared with the growth of 1.7% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Value added in the import and export, wholesale and retail trades sector increased by 4.2% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, as against the decrease of 0.2% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Value added in the accommodation and food services sector decreased by 1.8% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 from a year earlier, as against the growth of 2.6% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Value added in the transportation, storage, postal and courier services sector increased by 2.9% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 6.8% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Value added in the information and communications sector increased by 1.3% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, compared with the rise of 1.5% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Value added in the financing and insurance sector increased by 4.4% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 1.9% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Value added in the real estate, professional and business services sector registered a decrease of 0.3% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 from a year earlier, as against the rise of 1.7% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Value added in the public administration, social and personal services sector rose by 1.7% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 3.0% the fourth quarter of 2024.
As for sectors other than the services sectors, value added in the local manufacturing sector increased by 0.7% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 over a year earlier, compared with the increase of 1.0% in the fourth quarter 2024.
Value added in the electricity, gas and water supply, and waste management sector decreased by 1.4% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 from a year earlier, as against the increase of 3.0% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Value added in the construction sector decreased by 1.9% in real terms in the first quarter of 2025 from a year earlier, after the decrease of 4.7% in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Further information
The year-on-year percentage changes of GDP by economic activity in real terms from the first quarter of 2024 to the first quarter of 2025 are shown in Table 1. More detailed statistics are given in the report “Gross Domestic Product by Economic Activity”. Users can browse and download this publication at the website of the C&SD (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1030004&scode=250). For enquiries about statistics on GDP by economic activity, please call the National Income Branch (2) of the C&SD at 3903 7005.
Figures of chain volume measures of GDP by economic activity for the first quarter of 2025 are only preliminary at this stage. When more data become available, the preliminary figures will be revised accordingly and can be found at the C&SD website (www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/scode250.html).
regon Department of Human Services (ODHS) and community partners joined together to spotlight the importance of preventing and reporting abuse of older adults in recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (WEAAD). This observance serves as a critical reminder of our shared responsibility to protect the safety, dignity and rights of older adults across Oregon.
Every year, thousands of older Oregonians are subjected to various forms of abuse, including physical, emotional, financial and neglect. In Oregon in 2024, there were 18,535 alleged victims, according to data collected by the Adult Protective Services (APS) unit within ODHS. However, many cases go unreported due to fear, isolation, or lack of awareness. Education and community engagement are essential to ensure people know what to do if they are being harmed or suspect someone they know could be at risk.
“Anyone can be a victim of abuse. Understanding the many forms that abuse takes and what to do about it is everyone’s responsibility,” said Nakeshia Knight-Coyle, Ph.D., Director of ODHS Office of Aging and People with Disabilities (APD). “World Elder Abuse Awareness Day is a time to strengthen our commitment to educate ourselves, check in on neighbors and relatives, and speak up when we see or suspect harm.”
In recognition of World Elder Abuse Awareness Day, which is on June 15 each year, communities across Oregon held events this month, sharing educational materials and connecting with local organizations to help foster a safer environment for older adults.
In Klamath County, APD partnered with the Klamath & Lake Counties Council on Aging, the Klamath Basin Senior Citizens’ Center, and other local agencies to host a community resource fair on June 10. The event featured guest speakers, educational booths, engaging activities, giveaways, and a free lunch. A similar event was held the following day in Lake County at The Center (formerly the Lake County Senior Citizens Center). Hundreds of community members participated in the two events, showing strong local support for older adult abuse awareness and prevention. Events were also hosted virtually. Several APD leaders gave an informational presentation on June 12 at the Oregon Health Care Association’s Elder Abuse Prevention Summit 2025. The presentation focused on best practices facilities can implement to prevent abuse. Other topics covered at the summit included long-term care facility resident rights, effective abuse report investigations and navigating conflict.
Resources:
Anyone who suspects elder abuse is encouraged to call Oregon’s SafeLine at 1-855-503-SAFE (7233). Reports are confidential and can be made twenty-four hours a day.
Warning signs of abuse can include:
Physical: Unexplained injuries or physical signs of punishment or restraint.
Emotional: Anxiety, depression, or behavior changes
Neglect: Poor hygiene, bedsores, weight loss or unsafe living conditions.
Abandonment: A dependent person left alone.
Sexual: Withdrawal, distress or physical symptoms.
Financial: Unexplained bank transactions, late bill payments or missing assets.
For more information on how to help spot, prevent and report abuse, visit https://www.oregon.gov/odhs/report-abuse/pages/default.aspx
SPECIAL REPORT:By Saige England in Ōtautahi and Ava Mulla in Cairo
Hope for freedom for Palestinians remains high among a group of trauma-struck New Zealanders in Cairo.
In spite of extensive planning, the Global March To Gaza (GMTG) delegation of about 4000 international aid volunteers was thwarted in its mission to walk from Cairo to Gaza to lend support.
The land of oranges and pyramids became the land of autocracy last week as peace aid volunteers — young, middle-aged, and elderly — were herded like cattle and cordoned behind fences.
Their passports were initially seized — and later returned. Several New Zealanders were among those dragged and beaten.
While ordinary Egyptians showed “huge support” for the GMTG, the militant Egyptian regime showed its hand in supporting Israel rather than Palestine.
A member of the delegation, Natasha*, said she and other members pursued every available diplomatic channel to ensure that the peaceful, humanitarian, march would reach Gaza.
Moved by love, they were met with hate.
Violently attacked “When I stepped toward the crowd’s edge and began instinctually with heart break to chant, ‘Free Palestine,’ I was violently attacked by five plainclothes men.
“They screamed, grabbed, shoved, and even spat on me,” she said.
Tackled, she was dragged to an unmarked van. She did not resist, posed no threat, yet the violence escalated instantly.
“I saw hatred in their eyes.”
Egyptian state security forces and embedded provocateurs were intent on dismantling and discrediting the Global March activists. Image: GMTG
Another GMTG member, a woman who tried to intervene was also “viciously assaulted”. She witnessed at least three other women and two men being attacked.
The peacemakers escaped from the unmarked van the aggressors were distracted, seemingly confused about their destination, she said.
It is now clear that from the beginning Egyptian State forces and embedded provocateurs were intent on dismantling and discrediting the GMTG.
Authorities as provocateurs The peace participants witnessed plainclothed authorities act as provacateurs, “shoving people, stepping on them, throwing objects” to create a false image for media.
New Zealand actor Will Alexander . . . “This is only a fraction of what Palestinians experience every day.” GMTG
New Zealand actor Will Alexander said the experience had inflated rather than deflated his passion for human rights, and compassion for Palestinians.
“This is only a fraction of what Palestinians experience everyday. Palestinians pushed into smaller and smaller areas are murdered for wanting to stand on their own land,” he said.
“The reason that ordinary New Zealanders like us need to put our bodies on the line is because our government has failed to uphold its obligations under the Genocide Convention.
“Israel has blatantly breached international law for decades with total impunity.”
While the New Zealanders are all safe, a small number of people in the wider movement had been forcibly ‘disappeared’,” said GMTG New Zealand member Sam Leason.
Their whereabouts was still unknown, he said.
Arab members targeted “It must be emphasised that it is primarily — and possibly strictly — Arab members of the March who are the targets of the most dramatic and violent excesses committed by the Egyptian authorities, including all forced disappearances.”
Global March to Gaza activists being attacked . . . the genocide cannot be sustained when people from around the world push against the Israeli regime and support the people on the ground with food and healthcare. Image: GMTG screenshot APR
This did, however, continuously add to the mounting sense of stress, tension, anxiety and fear, felt by the contingent, he said.
“Especially given the Egyptian authorities’ disregard to their own legal system, which leaves us blindsided and in a thick fog of uncertainty.”
Moving swiftly through the streets of Cairo in the pitch of night, from hotel to hotel and safehouse to safehouse, was a “surreal and dystopian” experience for the New Zealanders and other GMTG members.
The group says that the genocide cannot be sustained when people from around the world push against the Israeli regime and support the people on the ground with food and healthcare.
“For 20 months our hearts have raced and our eyes have filled in unison with the elderly, men, women, and children, and the babies in Palestine,” said Billie*, a participant who preferred, for safety reasons, not to reveal their surname.
“If we do not react to the carnage, suffering and complete injustice and recognise our shared need for sane governance and a liveable planet what is the point?”
Experienced despair Aqua*, another New Zealand GMTG member, had experienced despair seeing the suffering of Palestinians, but she said it was important to nurture hope, as that was the only way to stop the genocide.
“We cling to every glimmer of hope that presents itself. Like an oasis in a desert devoid of human emotion we chase any potential igniter of the flame of change.”
Activist Eva Mulla . . . inspired by the courage of the Palestinians. Image: GMTG screenshot APR
Ava Mulla, said from Cairo, that the group was inspired by the courage of the Palestinians.
“They’ve been fighting for freedom and justice for decades against the world’s strongest powers. They are courageous and steadfast.”
Mulla referred to the “We Were Seeds” saying inspired by Greek poet Dinos Christianopoulos.
“We are millions of seeds. Every act of injustice fuels our growth,” she said.
Helplessness an illusion The GMTG members agreed that “impotence and helplessness was an illusion” that led to inaction but such inaction allowed “unspeakable atrocities” to take place.
“This is the holocaust of our age,” said Sam Leason.
“We need the world to leave the rhetorical and symbolic field of discourse and move promptly towards the camp of concrete action to protect the people of Palestine from a clear campaign of extermination.”
Saige England is an Aotearoa New Zealand journalist, author, and poet, member of the Palestinian Solidarity Network of Aotearoa (PSNA), and a contributor to Asia Pacific Report.
*Several protesters quoted in this article requested that their family names not be reported for security reasons. Ava Mulla was born in Germany and lives in Aotearoa with her partner, actor Will Alexander. She studied industrial engineering and is passionate about innovative housing solutions for developing countries. She is a member of the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA).
New Zealand and other activists with Tino Rangatiratanga and Palestine flags taking part in the Global March To Gaza. Will Alexander (far left) is in the back row and Ava Mulla (pink tee shirt) is in the front row. Image: GMTG screenshot APR
SPECIAL REPORT:By Saige England in Ōtautahi and Ava Mulla in Cairo
Hope for freedom for Palestinians remains high among a group of trauma-struck New Zealanders in Cairo.
In spite of extensive planning, the Global March To Gaza (GMTG) delegation of about 4000 international aid volunteers was thwarted in its mission to walk from Cairo to Gaza to lend support.
The land of oranges and pyramids became the land of autocracy last week as peace aid volunteers — young, middle-aged, and elderly — were herded like cattle and cordoned behind fences.
Their passports were initially seized — and later returned. Several New Zealanders were among those dragged and beaten.
While ordinary Egyptians showed “huge support” for the GMTG, the militant Egyptian regime showed its hand in supporting Israel rather than Palestine.
A member of the delegation, Natasha*, said she and other members pursued every available diplomatic channel to ensure that the peaceful, humanitarian, march would reach Gaza.
Moved by love, they were met with hate.
Violently attacked “When I stepped toward the crowd’s edge and began instinctually with heart break to chant, ‘Free Palestine,’ I was violently attacked by five plainclothes men.
“They screamed, grabbed, shoved, and even spat on me,” she said.
Tackled, she was dragged to an unmarked van. She did not resist, posed no threat, yet the violence escalated instantly.
“I saw hatred in their eyes.”
Egyptian state security forces and embedded provocateurs were intent on dismantling and discrediting the Global March activists. Image: GMTG
Another GMTG member, a woman who tried to intervene was also “viciously assaulted”. She witnessed at least three other women and two men being attacked.
The peacemakers escaped from the unmarked van the aggressors were distracted, seemingly confused about their destination, she said.
It is now clear that from the beginning Egyptian State forces and embedded provocateurs were intent on dismantling and discrediting the GMTG.
Authorities as provocateurs The peace participants witnessed plainclothed authorities act as provacateurs, “shoving people, stepping on them, throwing objects” to create a false image for media.
New Zealand actor Will Alexander . . . “This is only a fraction of what Palestinians experience every day.” GMTG
New Zealand actor Will Alexander said the experience had inflated rather than deflated his passion for human rights, and compassion for Palestinians.
“This is only a fraction of what Palestinians experience everyday. Palestinians pushed into smaller and smaller areas are murdered for wanting to stand on their own land,” he said.
“The reason that ordinary New Zealanders like us need to put our bodies on the line is because our government has failed to uphold its obligations under the Genocide Convention.
“Israel has blatantly breached international law for decades with total impunity.”
While the New Zealanders are all safe, a small number of people in the wider movement had been forcibly ‘disappeared’,” said GMTG New Zealand member Sam Leason.
Their whereabouts was still unknown, he said.
Arab members targeted “It must be emphasised that it is primarily — and possibly strictly — Arab members of the March who are the targets of the most dramatic and violent excesses committed by the Egyptian authorities, including all forced disappearances.”
Global March to Gaza activists being attacked . . . the genocide cannot be sustained when people from around the world push against the Israeli regime and support the people on the ground with food and healthcare. Image: GMTG screenshot APR
This did, however, continuously add to the mounting sense of stress, tension, anxiety and fear, felt by the contingent, he said.
“Especially given the Egyptian authorities’ disregard to their own legal system, which leaves us blindsided and in a thick fog of uncertainty.”
Moving swiftly through the streets of Cairo in the pitch of night, from hotel to hotel and safehouse to safehouse, was a “surreal and dystopian” experience for the New Zealanders and other GMTG members.
The group says that the genocide cannot be sustained when people from around the world push against the Israeli regime and support the people on the ground with food and healthcare.
“For 20 months our hearts have raced and our eyes have filled in unison with the elderly, men, women, and children, and the babies in Palestine,” said Billie*, a participant who preferred, for safety reasons, not to reveal their surname.
“If we do not react to the carnage, suffering and complete injustice and recognise our shared need for sane governance and a liveable planet what is the point?”
Experienced despair Aqua*, another New Zealand GMTG member, had experienced despair seeing the suffering of Palestinians, but she said it was important to nurture hope, as that was the only way to stop the genocide.
“We cling to every glimmer of hope that presents itself. Like an oasis in a desert devoid of human emotion we chase any potential igniter of the flame of change.”
Activist Eva Mulla . . . inspired by the courage of the Palestinians. Image: GMTG screenshot APR
Ava Mulla, said from Cairo, that the group was inspired by the courage of the Palestinians.
“They’ve been fighting for freedom and justice for decades against the world’s strongest powers. They are courageous and steadfast.”
Mulla referred to the “We Were Seeds” saying inspired by Greek poet Dinos Christianopoulos.
“We are millions of seeds. Every act of injustice fuels our growth,” she said.
Helplessness an illusion The GMTG members agreed that “impotence and helplessness was an illusion” that led to inaction but such inaction allowed “unspeakable atrocities” to take place.
“This is the holocaust of our age,” said Sam Leason.
“We need the world to leave the rhetorical and symbolic field of discourse and move promptly towards the camp of concrete action to protect the people of Palestine from a clear campaign of extermination.”
Saige England is an Aotearoa New Zealand journalist, author, and poet, member of the Palestinian Solidarity Network of Aotearoa (PSNA), and a contributor to Asia Pacific Report.
*Several protesters quoted in this article requested that their family names not be reported for security reasons. Ava Mulla was born in Germany and lives in Aotearoa with her partner, actor Will Alexander. She studied industrial engineering and is passionate about innovative housing solutions for developing countries. She is a member of the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa (PSNA).
New Zealand and other activists with Tino Rangatiratanga and Palestine flags taking part in the Global March To Gaza. Will Alexander (far left) is in the back row and Ava Mulla (pink tee shirt) is in the front row. Image: GMTG screenshot APR
Faced with the choice in their daily lives, their work or their politics, why do some people decide to keep quiet, to censor themselves in anticipatory obedience, even if they’re not ordered to do so?
In this episode of The Conversation Weekly, we talk to self-censorship expert Daniel Bar-Tal about what drives people to censor themselves, and its consequences for society.
It was Daniel Bar-Tal’s experiences serving in the Israeli army that prompted him to begin studying self-censorship. “ I was observing all kind of phenomenon that are going on within a country that is engaged in intractable conflict,” he told us.
Bar-Tal, an emeritus professor in the school of education at Tel Aviv University, began to notice that self-censorship was essential in societies, like Israel, living in conflict. He explains:
There are all kind of directives which develop censorship, in the army, in school, teachers are told what they should do and say. But self-censorship is going beyond this. So it means that nobody tells you that you must say A or B or C, but you feel an obligation by yourself to say certain things without any order from above.
Bar-Tal assembled a team of researchers from different disciplines to examine how self-censorship plays out across different sectors of a society, from politics to academia to journalism. They found three main motivations why people self-censor: as a defence mechanism for their in-group; out of fear; and to win rewards.
Listen to Bar-Tal talk about his research into self-censorship on the latest episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, which includes an introduction from Beth Daley, executive editor at The Conversation U.S. about self-censorship currently happening in parts of American academia.
This episode of The Conversation Weekly was written and produced by Katie Flood with assistance from Mend Mariwany. Gemma Ware is the executive producer. Mixing and sound design by Eloise Stevens and theme music by Neeta Sarl.
Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here. A transcript of this episode is available on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Daniel Bar-Tal does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
For centuries, humans have searched for ways to extend life. Alchemists never found the philosopher’s stone, but scientists have consistently shown that a longer life can be attained by eating less – at least in certain lab animals. But can we find a way to live longer while still enjoying our food?
Compounds that mimic the biological effects of dieting could be the answer, and the two most popular diet-mimicking drugs are rapamycin and metformin. In a new study, my colleagues and I found that rapamycin prolongs life almost as consistently as eating less, whereas metformin does not.
Eating less, or dietary restriction, has been the gold standard for achieving a longer life ever since a study nearly a century ago in which laboratory rats that ate less surprised scientists by outliving their well-fed lab mates.
But for many people, sticking to a permanent diet is hard and far from enjoyable. Also, if taken to extremes, it can even be bad for health. That is why we wanted to know whether drugs that are dieting mimics could bring the same benefit of eating less without the unwanted side-effects.
Rapamycin was first discovered in bacteria living in Easter Island soil in the 1970s, and medical professionals now use it to prevent organ-transplant rejection, as it is a powerful immunosuppressant. It works by blocking a molecular switch that tells cells when nutrients are abundant.
Metformin, meanwhile, is a synthetic descendant of a compound found in French lilac (also known as goat’s rue) and is widely prescribed to control blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. Both drugs are involved in the body’s ability to sense nutrients and energy, so biologists like us hoped they might copy the mechanisms activated by eating less.
To find out, we pooled the results of many studies to see if there were any overall patterns. We carefully examined thousands of scientific papers to finally home in on 167 studies on eight vertebrate species, from fish to monkeys, that provided sufficient details on survival and how the study was done. Then we compared three longevity strategies: eating less, taking rapamycin and taking metformin.
We found that eating less still came out on top as the most consistent way to prolong life in all animals but rapamycin was close behind. Metformin, in contrast, showed no clear benefit. The life-extension effect of eating less was the same in both sexes, and it didn’t matter whether the diet plan involved eating smaller portions or intermittent fasting.
That makes rapamycin one of the most exciting leads for new anti-ageing therapies. Ageing might not be considered a disease, but it is a risk factor behind many diseases from cancer to dementia. If we slow that underlying process, the benefit will be extra years of quality life and lower healthcare bills as the world’s population grows older.
Rapamycin was first isolated from bacteria found in the soil on Easter Island. JHVEPhoto/Shutterstock.com
Encouraging early signs, but we’re not quite there yet
However, there are some important points to consider. First, we discovered considerable variation from experiment to experiment with some studies even showing that eating less or taking rapamycin reduced lifespan.
Also, most of the evidence originates from mice and rats that have many of our genes but are clearly not exactly like us.
Finally, rapamycin may have side-effects such as repressing immunity and reproduction. Researchers are now investigating milder doses of rapamycin to see if they provide the advantages without the side-effects.
The preliminary signs are encouraging. In an ongoing human rapamycin trial, volunteers given low, intermittent doses of rapamycin have experienced positive effects on indicators of healthspan. For metformin, the human trial is still in progress and the findings are expected to be out in a few years time.
For now, nobody should run to their doctor asking for prescriptions of rapamycin to live longer. But this drug, extracted from obscure soil bacteria, shows us that interfering with a single molecular pathway can be enough to mimic the benefits of eating less. The challenge is to use this discovery to produce therapies that make us healthier for longer without compromising our quality of life – or our taste for the occasional slice of chocolate cake.
Dr. Zahida Sultanova works for the University of East Anglia and is funded by the Leverhulme Trust. She is a member of European Society of Evolutionary Biology (ESEB) and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Society of Turkey (EkoEvo).
The BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre (www.BRICSCompetition.org), in collaboration with mathematicians, programmers, ecologists and biologists from the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA, Vienna), has developed a systemic approach to deepen the understanding of how digital ecosystems function. The research group proposes applying mathematical models and biological theories from the natural sciences to describe processes in the digital economy. Their comprehensive approach to analysing and regulating ecosystems is built on analogies between natural and digital ecosystems—both are complex adaptive systems that share structural and functional characteristics. The results have been published in the interdisciplinary journal npj Complexity in the open-access article “An ecological perspective to master the complexities of the digital economy” (Elena Rovenskaya, Alexey Ivanov, Sarah Hathiari, Daria Kotova, Ursula M. Scharler, Gergely Boza) (www.nature.com) and in the Springer Nature Research Communities “Behind the Paper” post “Taming the Digital Giants: Why Regulators Need an Ecological Lens on Platform Power” (Elena Rovenskaya, Alexey Ivanov, Sarah Hathiari, Daria Kotova, Ursula M. Scharler, Gergely Boza) (www.communities.springernature.com).
The scientists formulated this idea as the 5M System (5M Framework), which describes the digital realm in ecological terms and draws analogies between natural and digital phenomena across five levels: Micro (“genes”) — elements of technology, knowledge, and business strategy (including user behaviour data); Meso (“species”) — products; Macro (“ecosystems”) — digital platform ecosystems; Mega (“biomes”) — wider societies hosting platform ecosystems; Meta — interactions among the four previous levels occur here.
For example, optimal foraging theory can explain why Uber avoids sparsely populated areas: like an animal that leaves a food-poor patch because the energy gained per unit of search time is too low, Uber steers clear of rural zones where ride requests are infrequent, driver utilisation drops, and the “return” on each kilometre driven fails to justify the effort. The flexibility of digital-product boundaries is akin to the blurred definition of biological species, within which finer subspecies are often distinguished: LinkedIn can be viewed either as a Microsoft service or as a set of related products—job marketplace, professional social network, advertising platform, and so on.
Elena Rovenkaya, the IIASA Advancing Systems Analysis (ASA) Program Director and Principal Research Scholar:
“Digital ecosystems are an entirely new economic object, fundamentally different from the standard economic agents regulators are used to dealing with. The analogy we propose between natural and digital ecosystems will allow antitrust authorities to look at digital ecosystems from a new angle and obtain intuitive explanations for business strategies that often seem complex. Moreover, applying well-established mathematical and ecological approaches may be more effective than designing new methods from scratch.”
Aleksey Ivanov, Director of the BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre:
“The published article is expected to be the first in a series of interdisciplinary publications devoted to new antitrust approaches for regulating the digital environment. In the AI sector and adjacent fields, the number of partnerships and investment agreements resembling mergers is growing, yet companies often evade antitrust scrutiny by sidestepping formal filing thresholds. A systemic-analysis response—particularly mathematical modelling and the systems-mapping method that the BRICS Centre is developing with partners—can depict a complex phenomenon in a model of all its cause-and-effect links. This will significantly accelerate research and make antitrust analysis more precise.”
In the future, the researchers also plan to create a digital tool using AI for BRICS antitrust coordination — the “Merger Radar.” This system will detect economic-concentration deals and shape preliminary positions on such transactions.
The article forms part of the BRICS Centre’s research track on the antitrust challenges created by digitalisation. The project was launched in 2018 to provide expert and methodological support to antitrust agencies in the BRICS Working Group for Research on Competition Issues in Digital Markets; in 2019 the Centre first highlighted the threats posed by digital platforms and the need for special oversight; from 2020 the Working Group shifted its focus to ecosystem regulation — today the most advanced debate in antitrust law. At the 7th BRICS Competition Conference (China, 2021) the Centre publicly presented the “eco-antitrust” concept; in 2022, in Brazil, it organised the first BRICS Digital Competition Forum, which has since been held annually. At the latest forum, in autumn 2024, representatives of Brazil’s antitrust authority CADE announced the drafting of a new bill to regulate ecosystems, which is now before the Brazilian parliament. The experts are currently analysing the impact of AI on competition and preparing a new report.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of BRICS Competition Law and Policy Centre.
As Nigeria advances its mining ambitions through high-impact deals and project milestones, African Mining Week (AMW) – Africa’s premier mining gathering, taking place October 1–3, 2025, in Cape Town – will feature a dedicated session on the country. The session will showcase current projects and opportunities, reinforcing Nigeria’s position as an emerging mining hub.
Public and private stakeholders are working to harness Nigeria’s vast mineral wealth to diversify the economy and boost GDP. In April 2025, Nigeria signed a cooperation agreement (http://apo-opa.co/449iMLC) with South Africa – the continent’s leading mining nation – to promote investment, technology transfer and knowledge sharing. This partnership is expected to accelerate Nigeria’s mining growth by drawing on South Africa’s expertise and mature sector.
On the ground, Titan Minerals Limited (https://apo-opa.co/44872Zw) is leading exploration for phosphate in Sokoto, bitumen in Edo and Ondo and gold along the Schist Belt, while seeking partners to advance new gold, base metals and PGM deposits toward feasibility. Meanwhile, Thor Explorations (http://apo-opa.co/3TAhEvi) launched underground drilling at its Segilola Gold Mine – Nigeria’s first industrial gold operation – aiming to scale production to 85,000–95,000 ounces in 2025.
Additionally, Nigeria resumed gold, lithium and copper exploration in Zamfara in early 2025, underscoring its drive to attract fresh investment. The country’s mineral resources (http://apo-opa.co/4e6dpRM) include 42.5 billion tons of probable bitumen (sixth-largest globally), 10.6 billion tons of limestone, 2.75 billion tons of coal, over 3 billion tons of iron ore and 21.4 metric tons of gold – offering significant investor opportunities. Together, these resources position Nigeria as a potential mining powerhouse capable of driving industrialization, creating jobs and delivering long-term economic growth.
Against this backdrop, AMW 2025 provides an ideal platform for Nigeria to showcase its progress and engage investors to secure its role in Africa’s mining future. The event will not only highlight key projects, but also foster dialogue on policy, infrastructure and partnerships needed to unlock the sector’s full potential. With growing international interest, Nigeria is poised to position itself as a leading destination for sustainable mineral development.
African Mining Week serves as a premier platform for exploring the full spectrum of mining opportunities across Africa. The event is held alongside the African Energy Week: Invest in African Energies 2025 conference from October 1-3 in Cape Town. Sponsors, exhibitors and delegates can learn more by contacting sales@energycapitalpower.com.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Energy Capital & Power.
The award-winning VUKA Group (www.WeareVuka.com) has officially launched the Carbon Markets Africa Summit (CMAS), a purpose-driven, high-level continental gathering that will take place from 21 to 23 October 2025 in Johannesburg. Designed as Africa’s flagship platform for carbon finance, CMAS brings together policymakers, investors, standards bodies, developers and corporates to drive practical, inclusive climate action and unlock Africa’s carbon value at scale.
Carbon markets are quickly becoming one of Africa’s most promising opportunities for climate finance and sustainable development. Yet the complexity of validation, verification, regulation and monetisation continues to challenge project developers, financiers and governments alike.
“This isn’t mining or retail. The returns, timelines and requirements are different,” says Olivia Tuchten, Principal Climate Change Advisor at Promethium Carbon. “There’s money to be made and good to be done – but only if stakeholders upskill and understand the process.”
CMAS is Africa’s response – a strategic event focused on building confidence, closing knowledge gaps and accelerating real transactions.
Strategic Moment: Africa’s Carbon Future and the Global Agenda
The timing of CMAS is particularly significant. With growing global momentum around carbon pricing and the operationalisation of Article 6, the outcomes of the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit in November are expected to influence the future architecture of global carbon markets.
As the G20 debates issues like carbon border adjustment mechanisms and international credit standards, Africa must be ready to respond with a united, informed voice. CMAS provides a platform for African stakeholders to strategically align, share technical insights, and sharpen positions – not only for G20, but also in preparation for COP30, where climate finance and carbon market governance will again take centre stage.
“We are in the right place and at the right time today to ensure that Africa benefits from carbon markets,” says Prof Anthony Nyong, Director of Climate Change and Green Growth at the African Development Bank.
A Unique Value Proposition: What Sets CMAS Apart
Pan-African Focus with Global Reach: Prioritising African leadership while connecting to international buyers, standards and financiers.
Ministerial Roundtable(21 October): A closed-door session convening African environment, climate and finance ministers to align policy priorities and amplify Africa’s voice at COP30 and G20.
Deal-Making Platforms: Investor roundtables, project showcases, deep-dive workshops and curated networking designed to convert conversations into transactions.
Integrity & Compliance: Navigate voluntary and compliance carbon markets with rigor, exploring Article 6, regional frameworks and global best practice.
Project Visibility: Spotlight on investable, Africa-based carbon projects with real climate and community impact.
Pre-COP30 Momentum: CMAS will help unify African market positions and technical readiness in the lead-up to multilateral climate finance negotiations.
Advisory Board: A Multi-Sectoral Powerhouse
To ensure CMAS reflects Africa’s diverse needs and opportunities in carbon markets, an influential advisory board has been convened, including:
Andrew Gilder – Director, Climate Legal, South Africa
Andrew Ocama – Eastern Africa Alliance on Carbon Markets and Climate Finance, Uganda
Bianca Gichangi – Regional Lead – Africa, VCMI, Kenya
Brett Stacey – Director, Carbon Zero Verification, United Kingdom
Dr Olufunso Somorin – Regional Principal Officer, AfDB, Kenya
Heather McEwan – Regional Representative, Verra, South Africa
Javier Mazanares – CEO, Allen Manza, Panama
Lawrence Cole-Morgan – Carbon Credit Trading Lead, Standard Bank, South Africa
Mathis Granjon – Trader, Green Steps, Netherlands
Maxime Bayen – Operating Partner, Catalyst Fund, Spain
Olivia Tuchten – Promethium Carbon, South Africa
Reshma Shah – Lead, Carbon Markets, FSD Africa, Kenya
Bernardin Uzayisaba, Carbon Market Programme Specialist, UNDP, South Africa
Ibrahim Shelleng, Senior Special Assistant to the President, Government of Nigeria
A Pathway to African Ownership
“Africa is still not maximising its potential. We need to do things differently,” says Olufunso Somorin, AfDB. “One of the challenges is that there are many good project developers who have very good ideas, but they don’t have the resource to jumpstart their idea into an investable project.” Somorin continues: “The AfDB has created the African Carbon Support Facility, and we are hoping to start off with a $100 million capitalisation.” Among the goals are supporting countries towards market-creating policy shifts, and the bulk of the funds will provide resources to project developers and assist in validation costs. “The AfDB wants to increase the number of African-owned, African-based and African-led project developments on the ground,” he adds.
According to Lawrence Cole-Morgan, Standard Bank, “the carbon markets provide Africa with the ability to monetise its significant carbon sequestration potential to fund socio-economic development and badly needed adaptation, while making a meaningful contribution to combatting climate change.”
Meanwhile, Andrew Ocama, Eastern Africa Alliance on Carbon Markets and Climate Finance, is of the opinion that “each country is at a different level of readiness to actively participate in the carbon markets. To the seven Alliance countries, these markets are an important avenue for finance owing to their accountability and the measurability of their outcomes.”
Event Details
21 October – Pre-Summit Day
Carbon 101 seminar
High-impact dialogue by the Global Trust Project
22–23 October – Main Summit
Plenaries
Ministerial Roundtable
Investor roundtables
Hands-on workshops
Sector-focused dialogues
Deal-making and networking
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Organised by VUKA Group
With more than 20 years of experience delivering high-impact B2B events across Africa, VUKA Group is the independent, B-BBEE-compliant force behind platforms like Africa’s Green Economy Summit, Enlit Africa, Smarter Mobility Africa, and DRC Mining Week.
19 JUNE 2025 – Production has commenced at the 65 MW Ingerslev Å solar plant located in Jutland, Denmark. The facility is operated by BeGreen, a wholly owned subsidiary of Equinor.
Anders Bade, senior vice president for onshore and markets within Renewables at Equinor.
“This is another step in our ambition to establish a profitable onshore renewables business in select markets across Europe and the Americas. Currently, we have around 1.2 GW of onshore capacity in production and under construction ,” says Anders Bade, senior vice president for onshore and markets within Renewables at Equinor.
Ingerslev Å marks an important milestone as BeGreen’s first project to reach production since Equinor acquired the company in 2023. With the launch of Ingerslev Å, all four Equinor subsidiaries that specialize in onshore renewables and battery storage now have assets in operation.
“Our ownership of local companies provides a strong foundation for value creation by leveraging their on-the-ground expertise and maximizing synergies with our trading house, Danske Commodities,” says Bade.
Danske Commodities will sell the power generated from Ingerslev Å on merchant terms in the DK1 power market in western Denmark. The annual production is estimated at 68 GWh.
The construction of Ingerslev Å was completed in under a year, showcasing the rapid project cycles typical of onshore renewables. The facility features over 100,000 solar panels and six transformer stations installed on site.
19 JUNE 2025 – Production has commenced at the 65 MW Ingerslev Å solar plant located in Jutland, Denmark. The facility is operated by BeGreen, a wholly owned subsidiary of Equinor.
Anders Bade, senior vice president for onshore and markets within Renewables at Equinor.
“This is another step in our ambition to establish a profitable onshore renewables business in select markets across Europe and the Americas. Currently, we have around 1.2 GW of onshore capacity in production and under construction ,” says Anders Bade, senior vice president for onshore and markets within Renewables at Equinor.
Ingerslev Å marks an important milestone as BeGreen’s first project to reach production since Equinor acquired the company in 2023. With the launch of Ingerslev Å, all four Equinor subsidiaries that specialize in onshore renewables and battery storage now have assets in operation.
“Our ownership of local companies provides a strong foundation for value creation by leveraging their on-the-ground expertise and maximizing synergies with our trading house, Danske Commodities,” says Bade.
Danske Commodities will sell the power generated from Ingerslev Å on merchant terms in the DK1 power market in western Denmark. The annual production is estimated at 68 GWh.
The construction of Ingerslev Å was completed in under a year, showcasing the rapid project cycles typical of onshore renewables. The facility features over 100,000 solar panels and six transformer stations installed on site.
What exactly are tariffs? Who ends up paying them? And why is the European Commission—not individual EU countries—handling trade negotiations?
In this video, we explain how tariffs work using simple examples, such as imported shoes and a real-life “Chicken War” between the EU and the US.
You’ll learn:
00:16 What tariffs are and how they function
01:05 Who actually bears the cost (spoiler: it’s not always who you think)
01:21: What is the essence of tariffs? Chickens vs. cars
01:47 Why the European Commission negotiates trade deals on behalf of all 27 EU Member States
02:52 How trade agreements impact consumers, businesses, the environment, and international relations
From taxes on chicken in the 1960s to today’s powerful EU single market, this explainer shows why trade policy matters — and how it affects you as an EU citizen.
Watch on the Audiovisual Portal of the European Commission: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/video/ I-274087
Follow us on:
-X: https://twitter.com/EU_Commission
-Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/europeancommission/
-Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EuropeanCommission
-LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/european-commission/
-Medium: https://medium.com/@EuropeanCommission
Apple AAPL.O is interested in tapping generative artificial intelligence to help speed up the design of the custom chips at the heart of its devices, its top hardware technology executive said in private remarks last month.
Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware technologies, made the remarks in a speech in Belgium, where he was receiving an award from Imec, an independent semiconductor research and development group that works closely with most of the world’s biggest chipmakers.
In the speech, a recording of which was reviewed by Reuters, Srouji outlined Apple’s development of custom chips from the first A4 chip in an iPhone in 2010 to the most recent chips that power Mac desktop computers and the Vision Pro headset.
He said one of the key lessons Apple learned was that it needed to use the most cutting-edge tools available to design its chips, including the latest chip design software from electronic design automation (EDA) firms.
The two biggest players in that industry – Cadence Design Systems CDNS.O and Synopsys SNPS.O – have been racing to add artificial intelligence to their offerings.
“EDA companies are super critical in supporting our chip design complexities,” Srouji said in his remarks. “Generative AI techniques have a high potential in getting more design work in less time, and it can be a huge productivity boost.”
Srouji said another key lesson Apple learned in designing its own chips was to make big bets and not look back.
When Apple transitioned its Mac computers – its oldest active product line – from Intel’s chips to its own chips in 2020, it made no contingency plans in case the switch did not work.
“Moving the Mac to Apple Silicon was a huge bet for us. There was no backup plan, no split-the lineup plan, so we went all in, including a monumental software effort,” Srouji said.
