Source: US State of Nebraska
. The 11th Judicial District consists of Arthur, Chase, Dawson, Dundy, Frontier, Furnas, Gosper, Hayes, Hitchcock, Hooker, Keith, Lincoln, Logan, McPherson, Perkins, Red Willow, and Thomas counties. The vacancy is due to the resignation of Judge Matthew Neher.
Source: US State of Nebraska
. Pillen Praises Trump’s Progress on Trade
LINCOLN, NE – Governor Jim Pillen, the only farmer currently serving as a Governor in America, is praising the progress President Donald J. Trump and his Administration have made for our country through new trade deals. Today, the White House announced trade deals with Japan, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
“I believe — wholeheartedly — the future for family farms in America gets brighter every day that Donald J. Trump is President. These trade deals and negotiations have the potential to set up American farmers and manufacturers for generations. This is a historic moment in our country, and I’m honored to work with President Trump and other great leaders like Secretary of Agriculture Rollins.”
Last week, Governor Pillen hosted Shigeo Yamada, Japan’s Ambassador to the United States, in Lincoln. Japan is among America’s closest allies and a tremendous trading partner for Nebraska agriculture, particularly our beef and pork exports.
Promoting Nebraska agriculture and business in Southeast Asia has been a top priority for the Pillen Administration. Last year, Lieutenant Governor Joe Kelly led a successful trade mission to Indonesia.
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
From July 14 to 20, a Seminar for representatives of legislative bodies of member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is being held in China, organized by the National People’s Congress.
It was attended by more than 20 officials from 7 SCO member states, who held in-depth discussions and visited Beijing and Urumqi to fully understand the achievements of China’s modernization.
The participants expressed their willingness to continuously deepen exchanges and cooperation with China and hoped that the legislative bodies of the member states would play a unique role in strengthening cooperation to build a community of shared destiny for the SCO.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily 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 –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
JERUSALEM, July 23 (Xinhua) — Israel must achieve a complete victory in the war in the Gaza Strip, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Tuesday.
According to a statement released by the minister’s office, I. Katz assessed the situation on several fronts with IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and other senior commanders.
“We have come as close as possible to achieving the goals of the war. We have two open theaters of military operations left in Gaza and Yemen, and we must strive for complete victory in both,” the head of the Ministry of Defense noted.
I. Katz emphasized the importance of achieving the set military goals, primarily the return of all Israeli hostages and the capitulation of the Hamas movement.
He added that there was a possibility of a renewed war against Iran and pointed to the need to preserve the “achievements” of the June operation against the Islamic Republic and develop an effective plan to force Iran to abandon its nuclear and missile programs.
I. Katz also said that the IDF’s presence at checkpoints and in security zones in various areas, including Syria and Lebanon, is necessary to protect Israeli communities. The IDF will remain in refugee camps in the West Bank and will operate in other camps if necessary, he added.
The minister’s comments came as talks on a Gaza ceasefire continue in Doha and Israeli media reports earlier in the day indicated significant progress.–0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily 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 –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
WASHINGTON, July 22 (Xinhua) — U.S. President Donald Trump met with his Philippine counterpart Ferdinand Marcos Jr. here on Tuesday to discuss trade and bilateral relations.
“We have a trade deal where the Philippines will have an open market and zero tariffs policy with the United States. The Philippines will pay a 19 percent tariff,” Trump wrote on the Truth Social social network.
In a recent letter to F. Marcos Jr., D. Trump said the U.S. would raise tariffs on Philippine goods to 20 percent effective August 1.
The White House has not yet released more details about the trade deal with the Philippines.
F. Marcos Jr. said ties between the two countries “have evolved into a relationship as important as it can be.” -0-
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily 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 –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
MINSK, July 23 /Xinhua/ — Belarusian Prime Minister Aleksandr Turchin and his Tanzanian counterpart Kassim Majaliwa Majaliwa held talks in Minsk on Tuesday to develop political and interdepartmental dialogue, and discussed ways to develop bilateral trade and cooperation in food security, BelTA reported.
During the meeting, A. Turchin noted that Belarus views Tanzania as an important partner in East Africa. “We see significant prospects for expanding cooperation in such areas as mechanical engineering, petrochemistry, medical, food and military-technical industries, tourism,” he noted and added that Belarus is ready to supply a wide range of quarry, road construction, municipal and fire-fighting equipment.
Also, according to A. Turchin, Belarus is open to expanding supplies of coffee, tea, nuts, cotton, fruits and other products from Tanzania, including for processing and sale on the market of the Eurasian Economic Union.
The Prime Minister of Tanzania noted that Belarusian business could consider opportunities for closer cooperation with the Tanzanian side in the agricultural sector. “The main focus should be on cooperation in the sphere of trade and economy,” he said.
Following the negotiations, a number of agreements were concluded, in particular memorandums on political consultations, on cooperation in agriculture and on interaction in the field of education. A memorandum of cooperation was also signed between the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Tanzania. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily 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 –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, July 23 (Xinhua) — China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC) said Tuesday it has started production at an oil field in the Bohai Sea, marking a major step in the development of the country’s offshore energy resources.
The Kenli 10-2 oil field is located in the southern waters of the Bohai Sea. It is the largest lithological field discovered to date in China’s offshore areas, with proven geological reserves of over 100 million tons.
The first stage of the Kenli 10-2 development project plans to commission 79 production wells with an expected maximum daily flow rate of 3,000 tons of oil and gas equivalent. The second stage of field development will also be implemented here.
To overcome the technical difficulties caused by the complex composition of heavy oil, CNOOC has established a sophisticated reservoir development technology system specifically designed for heavy oil production.
“The successful launch of the first phase of the Kenli 10-2 oil field development project marks a new stage in the development of China’s complex offshore heavy oil reservoir,” said Yan Hongtao, deputy general manager of CNOOC, adding that “this is a key step toward achieving our annual production target of 40 million tons in the Bohai Sea within a year.” -0-
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily 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 –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Xinhua | 23.07.2025
Keywords: China
Source: Xinhua
Hainan Free Trade Port to officially launch island-wide independent customs operations on December 18, 2025 Hainan Free Trade Port to officially launch island-wide independent customs operations on December 18, 2025
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Ed Case (Hawai‘i – District 1)
(Washington, DC) – U.S. Congressman Ed Case (HI-01), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, voted in full Committee today against the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Interior Appropriations bill that cut $2.9 billion from programs and agencies that support public lands and our nation’s natural resources.
The Interior, Environment and Related Appropriations bill funds the U.S. Department of the Interior, including the National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey, Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Forest Service and various independent agencies including the National Endowments on Arts and the Humanities. The bill’s FY 2026 discretionary funding level is $38 billion. This is a decrease of $2.9 billion from the FY 2025 enacted level.
“While these measures fund many critical Hawai‘i and priorities I requested, I regrettably had to vote against this version because it cripples efforts to deal with climate change by defunding all of the climate work by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,” said Case.
“It further decimates public lands by slashing funding for the National Park Service and gutting key conservation agencies that protect our parks, forests and wildlife. It also undermines museums and cultural institutions, cutting support for the Smithsonian and slashing the arts and humanities by $72 million each.”
In full Committee debate on the measure, Case voiced his strong opposition to the bill’s proposed $1.7 billion in cuts to federal support for Drinking Water and Clean Water State Revolving Funds (see remarks here: https://youtu.be/0w197WN4wys).
These vital programs offer low-cost financing to local communities for a broad spectrum of water quality infrastructure projects. They have played a critical role in efforts to remediate Red Hill, including supporting technical assistance for source water protection, and are critical to continued maintenance of Hawaii’s drinking water quality.
“Red Hill reinforced all over again that in an island community our water systems are fragile and priceless,” Case said.
“We need sustained investment not just to meet the urgent demands of remediation, but to ensure the long-term safety, resilience, and sustainability of our water infrastructure. We cannot cut back now on the very programs that have made that possible over the last half century,” Case said.
Continued support for the State Revolving Funds is also essential to Hawaii’s ability to confront emerging contaminants like PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” which pose serious risks to public health and the environment. Furthermore, these funds are critical for moving forward on 38 high-priority water infrastructure projects across the state. These projects strengthen drinking water safety, improve wastewater treatment, and build long-term resilience in Hawaii’s water systems. Without adequate federal investment, many of these initiatives risk delay or cancellation, leaving our communities vulnerable.
However, the measure added several of Case’s priority requests, including:
· $5 million for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s State of the Birds Activities to respond to the urgent needs of critically endangered birds that now face possible extinction. These funds will help save numerous endemic birds in Hawai‘i that have been devastated by climate change and avian malaria.
· $45 million for the U.S. Geological Survey Biological Threats and Invasive Species Research Program.
· $66 million for the U.S. Geological Survey’s Climate Adaptation Science Centers, which includes the Pacific Islands Climate Adaptation Science Center based out of the University of Hawai‘i-Mānoa. These centers provide regionally relevant scientific information, tools and techniques to resource managers and communities in Hawai‘i in response to our changing climate.
· $63 million for State Historic Preservation Offices, which will help preserve Hawaii’s treasured historic properties.
· $80 million for State Fire Assistance, which provides financial and technical support directly to states to enhance firefighting capacity, support community-based hazard mitigation and expand outreach and education to homeowners and communities concerning fire prevention.
· $20 million for the Joint Fire Science Program, which supports a national collaboration of fire science exchanges providing science information to federal, state, local, tribal and private stakeholders.
· $5 million for Japanese Confinement Site Grants and funding for the Amache National Historic Site, which was one of ten incarceration sites established by the War Relocation Authority during World War II to detain Japanese Americans who were forcibly removed from their communities on the West Coast.
Through his assignment on the Committee, Case was also able to secure a Member-designated Community Project Funding (CPF) project of $1,092,000 for the Department of Hawaiian Homelands (DHHL) to upgrade the sewer infrastructure at Papakōlea.
“Papakōlea is the only Hawaiian Home Lands community located in central Honolulu with more than 300 homes and some 1,300 residents,” said Case. “As the infrastructure in Papakōlea ages, the sewer system has become susceptible to cracks, root intrusions and other defects that diminish the effectiveness of the service lines. My CPF will assist DHHL to work on a sewer line rehabilitation/replacement program for the community.”
The House’s CPF rules require that each project must have demonstrated community support, must be fully disclosed by the requesting Member and must be subject to audit by the independent Government Accountability Office. Case’s disclosures are here: https://case.house.gov/services/funding-disclosures.htm.
A summary of the bill is available here.
This is the eighth bill of twelve separate bills developed and approved by the Appropriations Committee that would fund the federal government at some $1.6 trillion for FY 2026 commencing October 1st of this year. The bill now moves on to the full House of Representatives for its consideration.
###
Source: New Zealand Government
Mā te hononga ka whai kaha.
Te Kūiti whānau will enjoy greater access to modern affordable rental housing thanks to an Iwi-led partnership backed by the Government, Associate Housing Minister Tama Potaka says.
The Government has approved in principle $17million into a partnership with Ngāti Maniapoto that will build 40 affordable rental homes with infrastructure in Te Kūiti, giving effect to the Crown’s Treaty of Waitangi settlement commitment with the iwi. The Iwi will also contribute a significant portion to the development including $11million – representing 50 percent of the housing supply costs – and the land.
“This is an area of high housing need. With over a third of Te Kūiti residents renting, the limited availability of rental properties makes it difficult for whānau to secure stable housing,” Mr Potaka says.
“We’re taking action to help address this shortage, which will also help local businesses because employers can struggle to attract and retain staff due to the lack of affordable housing. This mahi can mean a world of difference for whānau in small rural communities that need stable employment and incomes.
“The development, named Te Kirikiri, will feature affordable rentals of a mixed typology to meet the diverse needs of kaumātua and young whānau, consisting of 20 two-bedroom accessible homes for kaumātua, 13 three-bedroom homes and 7 four-bedroom homes.
“Work is scheduled to begin next month and will take about two years to complete.
“Te Kirikiri will incorporate tikanga Māori and kaupapa-led design principles, and include the use of wetlands, native grasses, trees, and shrubs to create safe, communal spaces for whānau to enjoy.
“These affordable rentals will support Ngāti Maniapoto’s ambition to place 200 whānau in safe, secure, high-quality and affordable homes by 2030.”
The Government investment is part of a $200 million commitment announced earlier this year that will accelerate Māori housing projects across the country and enable the delivery of 400 affordable rentals in high-need areas by the end of June 2027.
Source: New Zealand Government
Pacific Peoples Minister Dr Shane Reti this week attended the Pacific Islands Forum Economic Ministers Meeting in Suva, Fiji, where he reaffirmed New Zealand’s commitment to Pacific-led priorities and announced new support for climate resilience and public health.
“This week’s Forum focused on strengthening regional ties and tackling key challenges like economic development, banking access, and labour mobility,” says Dr Reti.
While in Suva, Dr Reti launched Fiji’s NZ$3.2 million participation in the Pacific Climate-Smart Agriculture and Sustainable Land Management Partnership.
“This investment will help develop climate-resilient crops, restore soil health, and support sustainable farming practices in Fiji,” says Dr Reti.
He also announced NZ$4 million in support of Fiji’s response to its national HIV outbreak.
“Fiji is facing a serious public health crisis, and New Zealand is proud to stand alongside them. This funding will support efforts to reduce transmission, improve treatment, and fight stigma,” says Dr Reti.
Both initiatives align with the Duavata Partnership and are funded through New Zealand’s International Development Cooperation Programme.
“New Zealand is backing Pacific leadership and resilience on the issues that matter most.”
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
India on Tuesday extended its ban on Pakistani aircraft entering Indian airspace till August 23, amid continued tensions between the two neighbours.
Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol said in a post on X, “Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) restricting Pakistani aircraft from entering Indian airspace has been officially extended until 23rd August 2025.”
“This extension reflects continued strategic considerations and is in line with prevailing security protocols. Stay tuned for further updates,” the minister added.
The move follows Islamabad’s decision last week to extend its own airspace restrictions on Indian carriers till August 24. The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) said the ban will remain in effect until 5:19 a.m. (IST) on August 24.
Meanwhile, India has issued a separate NOTAM for a large-scale Indian Air Force (IAF) exercise in Rajasthan, along the Pakistan border, from July 23 to 25. The exercise will cover areas from Barmer to Jodhpur.
A NOTAM is issued when a specific airspace needs to be cleared of civilian air traffic. Similar notices were issued during previous tensions with Pakistan to ensure that no passenger aircraft would be caught in the middle of potential aerial operations. It helps prevent civilian casualties by keeping commercial aircraft away from zones of military activity.
The latest NOTAM was issued against the backdrop of India’s ‘Operation Sindoor’, launched on May 7 in response to the terror attack in Pahalgam, where Pakistan-sponsored terrorists killed 26 civilians.
IANS
Source: Reserve Bank of India
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
@ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
– Not Applicable / No Transaction.
** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
@@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
$ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
* Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
Ajit Prasad
Deputy General Manager
(Communications)
Press Release: 2025-2026/763
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Craig Mark, Adjunct Lecturer, Faculty of Economics, Hosei University
Japan’s ruling coalition suffered the widely expected loss of its majority in the July 20 election, as young voters shifted to the populist right. As a result, Shigeru Ishiba’s prime ministership now hangs in the balance.
The election was for half of the 248 members of the House of Councillors, the upper house of the National Diet, Japan’s parliament. The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) secured 39 seats, and its minor coalition partner, the Komeito Party, just eight. This left it three seats short of the 50 required to maintain its majority, as populist opposition parties made dramatic gains.
The LDP is now confronted with minorities in both houses of the Diet for the first time in the party’s 70-year history. It is a huge decline from its postwar dominance of Japanese politics.
In a press conference on Monday, Ishiba said he would not resign, as the LDP remained the largest party in the upper house. He also insisted he needed to stay in office to complete negotiations with the Trump administration, which had threatened to continue harsh trade tariffs after August 1.
But Ishiba is facing calls from disgruntled LDP Diet members to step down. He had already led the LDP into minority government in last October’s election for the lower house of the Diet, the House of Representatives. He called the snap election in the wake of securing LDP leadership last September.
However, the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan (CDP) was not responsible for this latest defeat – it managed only to retain its 22 seats. Instead, the LDP and Komeito instead lost out to the two rising populist parties: the centre-right Democratic Party for the People (DPFP), which went from four to 17 seats, and the far-right Sanseito party, which made the most dramatic gains, from one to 14 seats.
Main opposition leader Yoshihiko Noda now needs to again consider whether to bring on a motion of no confidence in the Ishiba cabinet in the lower house. Last month, he backed away from doing so. Such a motion would likely succeed with the support of the other opposition parties, and immediately trigger a snap lower house election. But it would also be highly risky, as it could allow the two right-wing parties to again overshadow the main opposition.
Exit polls showed younger people voted in greater numbers for the two right-wing parties. Their dissatisfaction erupted against the political status quo that has long favoured older generations. Older Japanese remain the main supporters for the two major parties, as well as the smaller Komeito and the declining Japanese Communist Party.
Many voters were angry about declining wages, persistent inflation, and a growing tax burden to fund the straining pension and welfare system that disproportionately benefits the elderly.
The leaders of the two right-wing parties, 56-year-old Yuichiro Tamaki and 47-year-old Sohei Kamiya, more effectively used social media to exploit this electoral discontent and push their populist messages.
Sanseito emerged at the start of the COVID pandemic in March 2020. It promoted anti-vaccination conspiracy theories and xenophobia through its campaign slogan of “Japanese First”.
As more people have expressed frustration with Japan’s record tourist numbers, Sanseito and the smaller far-right Conservative Party of Japan sought to scapegoat the relatively small foreign resident population of waging a “silent invasion”.
This includes spreading false stories about them causing local crime waves, depressing wages, hiking real estate prices, and abusing welfare.
The number of foreign-born residents, mostly from other Asian countries, has steadily risen to 3.8 million to meet the demands of the shrinking labour force. However, it still only comprises about 3% of Japan’s (ageing and shrinking) population.
Despite running and electing a majority of female candidates, Sanseito has also attracted criticism for wanting to end gender equality so as to raise the birth rate. It also wants to remove democratic protections from the postwar constitution and return to an imperial form of government.
The success of the two right-wing parties, along with the nationalist neoliberal Japan Innovation Party, threatens to transform Japanese politics.
However, it remains to be seen whether they will be able to cooperate effectively in the Diet with other parties to enact their policy agenda. This includes cutting the consumption tax rate while boosting subsidies to support families and farmers, and restricting immigration.
The increased political uncertainty will raise concerns about Japan’s ability to continue its strategic reorientation. It has pledged to increase its defence spending to 2% of gross domestic product (GDP). It also wants to increase security cooperation with Europe, India and Australia.
The LDP’s Diet members will hold a full party meeting on July 31 to assess the election. If a majority of LDP members across both houses and representatives of the party’s prefectural chapters petition for a leadership ballot, they could mount a spill against Ishiba.
Ishiba now needs to continue to negotiate with opposition parties to pass legislation in both houses of the Diet. US President Donald Trump’s sudden announcement that a “massive” deal has been struck with Japan for a reciprocal tariff rate of 15% may yet give him a temporary political reprieve.
But as his post-election approval rating hits a record low 23%, his ailing premiership looks even more vulnerable.
Craig Mark does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
– ref. Young Japanese voters embrace right-wing populist parties, leaving the prime minister on the brink – https://theconversation.com/young-japanese-voters-embrace-right-wing-populist-parties-leaving-the-prime-minister-on-the-brink-261673
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
An aerial drone photo taken on Dec. 4, 2024 shows a view of Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
China’s capital markets are gaining increasing traction among global investors as foreign investment surged back in the first half of this year, supported by the country’s economic resilience, continuing opening-up policies and growing demand for more diversified and renminbi-denominated assets, officials and experts said on Tuesday.
Net inflows of foreign investment in China’s securities market — including bonds and equities — reached approximately $33 billion in the first five months of the year, reversing a net outflow seen in the second half of last year, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange said on Tuesday.
The renewed confidence is particularly evident in the stock market, as foreign investors posted a net increase in holdings of $10.1 billion in onshore stocks and funds in the first half, ending a two-year trend of net outflows. During the May-June period, the net increase surged to $18.8 billion, the SAFE said.
Driven by China’s sound economic fundamentals, large financial markets, improved market access and investors’ diversification demand, “we expect a continuing, gradual increase in foreign allocation to renminbi assets”, said Jia Ning, head of the administration’s Balance of Payments Department.
Heightened volatility in global financial markets has led investors to seek more diversified asset portfolios. Renminbi-denominated assets — with currency stability and a relatively independent return profile — have become an important allocation target for global investors to diversify risks and enhance returns, Jia said.
Citing a recent survey by the Official Monetary and Financial Institutions Forum, an independent think tank concerned with central banking, economic policy and public investment, Jia said that 30 percent of central banks worldwide plan to increase their allocation to renminbi assets, while several international investment banks have upgraded their outlook on Chinese assets from neutral to overweight.
Thomas Fang, head of China global markets at UBS, said that the Swiss global wealth manager also sees rising confidence among global investors in Chinese markets, both A and H shares, as the nation’s shining economic prospects help them diversify allocations from US dollar-denominated assets.
UBS has upgraded its full-year GDP growth forecast for China to 4.7 percent after the country posted 5.3 percent economic growth in the first half.
“We’ve been pounding the table that the overall underweight of the China assets would not be sustainable,” Fang said, adding that recent opening-up policies have offered overseas investors more instruments — ranging from commodity futures to listed options — to invest in China, facilitating their risk management and helping them take bigger positions there.
Li Bin, deputy head of the SAFE, said that China’s steady opening-up, high-quality economic development and growing foreign exchange market resilience will continue to help keep the renminbi exchange rate generally stable within a reasonable and balanced range, while foreign exchange regulators are well-positioned to mitigate any external shocks.
Li said that China’s foreign exchange market has performed better than expected with strong resilience this year, as the renminbi strengthened by 1.9 percent against the greenback in the first half with no signs of a one-way expectation for either appreciation or depreciation.
Guo Kai, executive president of the CF40 Institute, a research center affiliated with the China Finance 40 Forum think tank, said that China should advance institutional financial opening-up in order to sustain foreign investors’ rising allocation in renminbi-denominated assets and lift the Chinese currency’s role as a global reserve currency.
“The key lies in continuing to improve the clarity of rules, policy transparency, data quality, market communication and the rule of law, to which international investors attach great attention,” Guo said.
SAFE announced more measures on opening-up on Tuesday, including a nationwide removal of registration requirements for the reinvestment of foreign direct investment and the expansion of pilot programs that allow banks to directly process external debt registrations under the Qualified Foreign Limited Partner mechanism, through which foreign investors participate in China’s private equity and venture capital markets.
From January to May, the net inflow of equity-based direct investment into China reached $31.1 billion, up 16 percent year-on-year, the administration said.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Inbound tourism in Shanghai heats up in summer travel surge
Xinhua | July 23, 2025
Tourists Alfredo Cimmino (L) and Giulio Bartoli from Italy take a selfie with Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower at the Bund area in Shanghai, east China, July 18, 2025. Thanks to China’s visa-free policies and related measures, the popularity of both travel and shopping in China among foreigners has risen, serving as a boost to the country’s tourism development.
Foreign nationals made a total of 38.05 million trips to or from China in the first six months of the year, which was an increase of 30.2 percent year on year, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) said on July 16.
Of these trips, 13.64 million were visa-free entries, an increase of 53.9 percent from the same period last year, the NIA said.
Shanghai has seen a surge in inbound tourism in summer travel season this year since July 1. The city recorded 187 thousands inbound tourist trips during July 1 to July 15, a 35.5 percent increase from the previous year. Among them, 92 thousands visits were visa-free entries, accounting for nearly 50 percent of the total number of inbound foreign travelers. (Xinhua/Chen Haoming)
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Recent initiatives from the central government have boosted market liquidity. Upgrades to the Bond Connect, enhancements to the Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect Scheme, and facilitative payment arrangements for Hong Kong and Macao residents purchasing properties in the Chinese mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), have contributed to this positive momentum.
The China Securities Regulatory Commission’s efforts to optimize the Shanghai-Hong Kong and Shenzhen-Hong Kong stock connects further reinforce Hong Kong’s status as an international financial hub.
Economist Leung Hoi Ming notes that China’s position as the world’s second-largest economy is expected to contribute about 21 percent of global GDP growth, providing solid support for Hong Kong stocks.
Hong Kong consistently ranks as the world’s freest economy, third among global financial centers, and maintains top positions in investment climate, international trade, commercial regulations, and air cargo.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government’s moves to streamline market listing procedures have helped boost initial public offerings (IPOs) by 30 percent year on year to 52 cases by mid-July. Total funds raised soared 590 percent to 124 billion Hong Kong dollars (15.8 billion U.S. dollars), making Hong Kong the biggest IPO market worldwide, HKSAR Chief Executive John Lee said in a social media post on Monday.
The unique valuation advantage of Hong Kong stocks continues to attract both international and Chinese mainland investments. Recent data indicates a significant influx of southbound funds, reflecting renewed confidence among Chinese mainland investors.
Carlson Tong, chairman of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX), mentioned that Chinese mainland companies currently listed in Hong Kong account for 81 percent of the total market value.
The ongoing strength of Hong Kong stocks positively impacts both local and Chinese mainland capital markets, enhancing investor confidence and liquidity. Kevin Liu, chief offshore China and Overseas strategist at China International Capital Corporation, highlighted that active liquidity in the Hong Kong stock market is evident in an average daily trading volume of 240.6 billion Hong Kong dollars, showing a notable increase compared to the average daily trading volume in 2024, setting a historical high.
Improved financing conditions are encouraging companies to list and refinance, particularly in high-growth sectors like technology and innovation. Since early 2025, driven by sectors such as AI, new consumption, and innovative pharmaceuticals, Hong Kong’s market has even outperformed its global counterparts at times, said Liu.
As the stock market rises, global interest in China’s economy increases, promoting a virtuous circle of capital market openness and high-quality economic development, experts say.
Leung believes that the stock market’s rise reflects positive expectations regarding the fundamentals of the economy of the Chinese mainland, attracting more attention and investment from global capital. This influx brings more mature investment concepts and resources into the capital market, further optimizing its structure, he added.
Meanwhile, experts emphasize the need for continued market optimization to attract long-term investment, noting that encouraging more quality companies to list in Hong Kong will deepen and stabilize the market, enhancing its appeal as a global capital platform.
The HKSAR government will continue to improve the listing regime and boost market liquidity to attract more high-quality global companies to list in Hong Kong, Lee pledged earlier.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China’s Hainan free trade port to allow overseas investment in financial products
Xinhua | July 23, 2025
China’s Hainan Free Trade Port (FTP) is set to launch a pilot program on August 21 this year, enabling overseas investors to access domestic financial products offered by local financial institutions.
Eligible products will include wealth management products, private asset management products from securities, fund, and futures operators, publicly offered securities investment funds, and insurance asset management products.
The program aims to diversify cross-border financial product offerings and explore new channels for overseas investors to access China’s domestic market, according to an official with the Hainan branch of the People’s Bank of China, one of the co-formulators of the rules.
It is also expected to attract both domestic and international asset management institutions to operate in Hainan, supporting the development of the Hainan FTP, according to the official.
As part of its broader economic strategy, China is transforming Hainan into a Free Trade Port. As the Hainan FTP is set to begin independent customs operations by the end of the year, the province is poised to become not only a tourist haven but also a pivotal gateway for China’s opening-up drive.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The upcoming China-EU Summit presents a valuable opportunity to reflect on the experience and insights gained from 50 years of bilateral ties. It offers a platform to build consensus and chart a stable and healthy path forward that benefits both sides and the world.
The summit comes at a time when geopolitical tensions, protectionism and unilateralism are increasingly fragmenting global relations. Furthermore, China-EU relations are at a critical juncture, presenting opportunities for deepening pragmatic cooperation while also highlighting the need for strengthened strategic communication to address global challenges and effectively manage differences.
In this context, there is hope that the meeting will convey clear and positive messages to advance win-win cooperation based on mutual respect and openness. The summit aims to chart a course for the next 50 years of bilateral relations, safeguard free trade and multilateralism, and provide certainty and positive energy in a world facing mounting challenges.
The past half century has witnessed remarkable developments of China-EU cooperation. The bilateral trade volume of goods increased from 2.4 billion U.S. dollars in 1975 to 785.8 billion dollars in 2024. Two-way investment stock has grown from nearly zero to 260 billion dollars. China and the EU are each other’s second-largest trading partners, with economic complementarity being a key feature of their cooperation.
China-EU cooperation serves as a prime example of mutually beneficial cooperation in the era of economic globalization, despite differences in history, culture, social systems and development stages.
Airbus illustrates this partnership well. Since entering the Chinese mainland market 40 years ago, the European aircraft manufacturer has seen its market share in China grow to more than 50 percent.
In 2003, China and the EU established a comprehensive strategic partnership. They have established over 70 consultation and dialogue mechanisms that cover various fields such as politics, economy and trade, humanities, science and technology, energy, and the environment. Additionally, the two sides have increased cooperation in the areas of digital and green transition.
Some valuable experience for comprehensive development includes the commitments to mutual respect, mutually beneficial cooperation, and free trade. These principles are the cornerstones of future China-EU ties, which is among the most influential relations worldwide.
Fruitful China-EU cooperation has contributed to the development and progress of both sides, delivering tangible benefits for nearly two billion people in China and the EU, and greatly promoted world peace and development.
However, in recent years, the bilateral relationship has faced difficulties and challenges, due to various frictions and differences on issues like trade. This has been particularly evident since the EU adopted a “partner-competitor-systemic rival” framework for characterizing bilateral relations in 2019. Some describe the EU’s positioning of China as akin to having all traffic lights (green, yellow and red) on at the same time. This approach not only fails to direct traffic, but will inevitably cause disruption.
Chinese culture holds that complaining about others will not lead to self-improvement. Given the scale of bilateral trade and the growing competitiveness of some of China’s industries, it is natural for some differences and frictions to arise. Solutions lie in dialogue and consultation.
The EU side has expressed concerns about its trade deficit with China. Yet, a thorough examination of the trade imbalance reveals that the situation is more complex than the deficit figure suggests. Three facts offer different perspectives. Firstly, the EU has long enjoyed a surplus in services trade with China. Secondly, it restricts the export of high-tech products to China. Thirdly, over one-third of exports from EU companies in China are sold to Europe, which means European companies get many of the benefits of the trade surplus.
There is no fundamental conflict of interests between China and the EU, but rather extensive common interests. Greater benefits will only come from partnership rather than rivalry. Bilateral cooperation was not — and will never be — a zero-sum game. To truly understand China-EU relations, it is important to hold a long-term, strategic and comprehensive perspective.
The world is currently experiencing significant turbulence and change. As China and the EU prepare for the next 50 years of cooperation, it is particularly important to reflect on and adhere to the original aspirations that guided the establishment of bilateral relations. This includes promoting values such as mutual benefit, solving problems through consultations, and opposing hegemony.
By learning from the past, the 25th China-EU Summit on Thursday should rise above differences and pool consensus to open up a new chapter of bilateral relations.
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
The United States and Japan struck a deal to lower the hefty tariffs President Donald Trump threatened to impose on goods from its Asian ally that included a pledge by Japan to invest $550 billion in the United States.
The agreement – including a 15% tariff on all imported Japanese goods, down from a proposed 25% – is the most significant of the string of trade deals the White House has reached ahead of an approaching August 1 deadline for higher levies to kick in.
“I just signed the largest TRADE DEAL in history with Japan,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform. “This is a very exciting time for the United States of America, and especially for the fact that we will continue to always have a great relationship with the Country of Japan.”
Ishiba, who is facing political pressure after a bruising election defeat on Sunday, hailed the deal as “the lowest figure among countries that have a trade surplus with the U.S.”.
The two sides also agreed to cut tariff 25% tariffs already imposed on Japanese autos to 15%, Ishiba said. Auto exports account for more than a quarter of Japan’s exports to the U.S.
The announcement ignited a rally in Japanese stocks, with the benchmark Nikkei climbing 2.6% to its highest in a year. Shares of automakers surged in particular, with Toyota 7203.T up more than 11%, and Honda 7267.T and Nissan 7201.T both up more than 8%.
The exuberance extended to shares of South Korean carmakers as well, as the Japan deal stoked optimism that South Korea could strike a comparable deal. The yen firmed slightly against the dollar, and U.S. equity index futures edged upward.
But U.S. automakers signaled their unhappiness with the deal, raising concerns about a trade regime that could cut tariffs on auto imports from Japan to 15% while leaving tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico at 25%.
Matt Blunt, who heads the American Automotive Policy Council which represents General Motors GM.N Ford F.N and Chrysler-parent Stellantis STLAM.MI, said “any deal that charges a lower tariff for Japanese imports with virtually no U.S. content than the tariff imposed on North American-built vehicles with high U.S. content is a bad deal for U.S. industry and U.S. auto workers.”
‘MISSION COMPLETE’
Autos are a huge part of U.S.-Japan trade, but almost all of it is one way to the U.S. from Japan, a fact that has long irked Trump. In 2024, the U.S. imported more than $55 billion of vehicles and automotive parts while just over $2 billion were sold into the Japanese market from the U.S.
Two-way trade between the two countries totaled nearly $230 billion in 2024, with Japan running a trade surplus of nearly $70 billion. Japan is the fifth-largest U.S. trading partner in goods, U.S. Census Bureau data show.
Trump’s announcement followed a meeting with Japan’s top tariff negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, at the White House on Tuesday.
“#Mission Complete,” Akazawa wrote on X.
The deal was “a better outcome” for Japan than it potentially could have been, given Trump’s earlier unilateral tariff threats, said Kristina Clifton, a senior economist at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia in Sydney.
“Steel, aluminium, and also cars are important exports for Japan, so it’ll be interesting to see if there’s any specific carve-outs for those,” Clifton said.
Kazutaka Maeda, an economist at Meiji Yasuda Research Institute, said that “with the 15% tariff rate, I expect the Japanese economy to avoid recession.”
Japan is the largest investor in the United States. Together with pension giant GPIF and Japanese insurers, the country has about $2 trillion invested in U.S. markets.
Besides that, Bank of Japan data shows direct Japanese investment in the United States was $1.2 trillion at the end of 2024, and Japanese direct investment flows amounted to $137 billion in North America last year.
Speaking later at the White House, Trump also expressed fresh optimism that Japan would form a joint venture with Washington to support a gas pipeline in Alaska long sought by his administration.
“We concluded the one deal … and now we’re going to conclude another one because they’re forming a joint venture with us at, in Alaska, as you know, for the LNG,” Trump told lawmakers at the White House. “They’re all set to make that deal now.”
Trump aides are feverishly working to close trade deals ahead of an August 1 deadline that Trump has repeatedly pushed back under pressure from markets and intense lobbying by industry. By that date, countries are set to face steep new tariffs beyond those Trump has already imposed since taking office in January.
Trump has announced framework agreements with Britain, Vietnam, Indonesia and paused a tit-for-tat tariff battle with China, though details are still to be worked out with all of those countries.
At the White House, Trump said negotiators from the European Union would be in Washington on Wednesday.
-Reuters
Establishes new Singapore office to deepen local relationships and expand investment capabilities
SAN FRANCISCO & SINGAPORE – Sixth Street, a leading global investment firm, today announced the appointment of Stuart Wrigley as Partner, Head of Sixth Street Asia Pacific and Head of Capital Formation and Strategy International. Wrigley will also lead the firm’s new Singapore office, which is expected to open in October 2025.
In this newly created role, Wrigley will be responsible for leading the expansion of Sixth Street’s client franchise across Asia Pacific, Europe and the Middle East. His mandate will focus on deepening relationships with existing investors, while leading new capital formation activity, strategic partnerships and the expansion of the firm’s investment capabilities in Asia Pacific. Sixth Street has built a longstanding track record in Asia Pacific, having invested in the region for more than a decade, including AirTrunk and ESR Group Limited.
“Stuart brings the depth of experience and expertise to accelerate our activity internationally,” said Sixth Street Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Alan Waxman. “We’ve developed a close relationship with Stuart over the course of two decades. In that time, he has demonstrated his strength as a business builder and clear alignment with our values of entrepreneurship, integrity and teamwork. We believe that the unconstrained and thematic nature of our investment platform is well positioned to deliver investment excellence and serve our investors in these strategic regions. We are committed to Asia Pacific and look forward to further expanding our presence through the opening of our new office in Singapore.”
Wrigley joins Sixth Street following a 24-year tenure at Goldman Sachs, where he most recently served as Head of Client Solutions Group in Asia Pacific for Goldman Sachs Asset Management (GSAM). In this role, he supported GSAM’s expansion across Asia Pacific and led a team focused on developing tailored investment strategies for institutional and wealth management clients in the region.
“I have been consistently impressed with Sixth Street’s culture, team and success in building a truly differentiated global investment firm,” added Stuart Wrigley, Partner, Head of Sixth Street Asia Pacific and Head of Capital Formation and Strategy International at Sixth Street. “Having spent 18 years in Asia Pacific and the Middle East, I believe that Sixth Street’s flexible, long-term capital has a unique opportunity to further support great companies in these regions and, most importantly, serve our investors.”
About Sixth Street
Sixth Street is a global investment firm with over $115 billion in assets under management and committed capital. The firm uses its long-term flexible capital, data-enabled capabilities, and “One Team” culture to develop themes and offer solutions to companies across all stages of growth. Founded in 2009, Sixth Street has more than 650 team members including over 280 investment professionals around the world. For more information, visit www.sixthstreet.com, and follow Sixth Street on LinkedIn.
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Novosibirsk State University –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
On Monday, July 21, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation – Chief of the Government Staff Dmitry Grigorenko visited the Novosibirsk Region on a working visit. One of the items on the agenda was a visit to Novosibirsk State University, where guests were presented with developments of the Center for Artificial Intelligence (CAI) and the Advanced Engineering School (AES) of NSU.
During the meeting, the rector of NSU, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Mikhail Fedoruk, introduced the vice-premier to the history of the university, told him what is special about NSU, what it is now and what are the plans for the near future. He noted the special role of the university as a center of attraction for innovations and its contribution to the development of Akademgorodok, Novosibirsk and the country as a whole. Mikhail Fedoruk also emphasized that all the main strategic technological projects that the university is implementing within the framework of the Priority 2030 program are somehow related to new technologies and artificial intelligence.
The AI Center employees, in turn, presented a number of projects that are at various stages of readiness. In partnership with Rostelecom, a whole line of video detectors is being developed that monitor various situations that require the intervention of emergency and city services.
Currently, about two dozen such detectors have been created, some of which have already been installed for testing in real conditions at the university campus facilities. In the future, the developers want to move on to creating detectors capable of tracking several specified signs or threats at once in order to optimize the operation of video surveillance systems.
A prototype of an autonomous intelligent assistant for visually impaired and blind patients was also presented, operating on the basis of using large language models and artificial intelligence technologies. This is a joint development with another industrial partner of the AI Center – the Novosibirsk branch of the Federal State Autonomous Institution “NMITs “MNTK “Microsurgery of the Eye” named after Academician S.N. Fedorov” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation.
— The principle of operation of this system is simple: a video camera will “see” instead of a person, the information from which will be sent to a portable computer, which will convert it into text. Then the text description is converted by a voice assistant and sent through headphones directly to the patient, — explained the head of the project at the NSU Center for Information Technologies Alexey Okunev.
Another area of work is related to monitoring atmospheric and noise pollution in municipalities. Here, the partner of the NSU Center for Informatics and Information Technologies is the Novosibirsk company CityAir, which specializes in the production and maintenance of networks and services for monitoring the quality of atmospheric air. Together with the university, the company intends to more widely implement artificial intelligence technologies in its work, thereby increasing the capabilities of the supplied equipment.
The NSU Advanced Engineering School has presented a “digital core” project for oil companies. NSU is the lead organization of a consortium that won a grant of 210 million rubles to develop digital core methods, an innovative tool that will help the Russian oil industry improve the efficiency of extracting hard-to-recover oil and gas reserves. The research will be conducted using the latest synchrotron, the Siberian Ring Photon Source (SKIF), located in the science city of Koltsovo.
— The subject of digital core combines the most advanced methods of mathematical modeling, experimental research techniques and data processing. The unique capabilities of synchrotron radiation will allow us to close these areas, making it possible to instrumentally track the impact of various methods of increasing oil recovery on rock and choose the most optimal scenarios for developing hard-to-recover oil and gas reserves, — commented Sergey Golovin, Director of the Advanced Engineering School of NSU, Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
Dmitry Grigorenko highly praised the developments presented to him, while emphasizing that any remarkable results should not remain “a thing in itself,” and it is necessary to move on to their implementation in the real sector of the country’s economy as quickly as possible.
— Such visits by representatives of the country’s leadership are very important for us. We get the opportunity to tell the top officials of the state about the results of our work, to understand from their reaction how relevant our developments are and, in case of a positive assessment, to receive support in implementation, which today is one of the most difficult barriers for most developers, — commented on the results of the visit the director of the NSU Center for Information Technologies Alexander Lyulko.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
Contact: Alexis Torres
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Representative Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) announced his appointment to serve on the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission. Created in 1976, this independent U.S. Government agency monitors compliance and advancement of human rights, democracy, economic, environmental, and military cooperation in the 57-nation Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) region.
“I am pleased to represent Austin, a vibrant international community, in an international organization founded upon the defense of human rights and fundamental freedoms. With an authoritarian president at home and so many troubling conflicts abroad, the Helsinki Commission offers me another forum for engaging with its mission of democracy promotion, international cooperation, and peaceful conflict resolution,” said Rep. Doggett. “As some urge ‘go-it-alone’ and others promote isolationism, I believe our security can be assured only through collaboration with our allies and strong diplomacy with our adversaries.”
Throughout his career, Rep. Doggett has been a strong champion for the rule of law, international human rights, and peace. Previously, he led whip efforts against President George W. Bush’s disastrous invasion of Iraq, warning of the consequences of what would become the worst foreign policy decision in American history. He was a leader in House efforts to protect the Iran nuclear agreement, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which was successfully negotiated during the Obama administration, but later rejected by President Trump. His name is also on the first sanctions legislation against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. The Congressman was also a frequent participant in previous Helsinki Commission events, such as its Parliamentary Assembly and an investigation of Russian war crimes conducted in the same historic Nuremberg, Germany courtroom in which Nazi war criminals were once convicted.
Congress originally created the Helsinki Commission in response to dissidents in the Soviet Union and its Eastern European allies, who saw the Helsinki Final Act as a new opportunity to hold governments accountable for their human rights records. The end of the Cold War allowed the Commission to expand its commitment to new areas, such as free and fair elections, energy security and the environment, and combating corruption and terrorism. The Commission is currently chaired by Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), Chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee. It also consists of members from the United States Senate and U.S. House of Representatives, as well as the Departments of State, Defense, and Commerce.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D-TX)
Contact: Alexis Torres
Washington, D.C.—U.S. Representatives Lloyd Doggett (D-TX), Ranking Member of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, and Health Subcommittee member Greg Murphy, M.D. (R-NC) introduced bipartisan legislation to require Medicare Advantage (MA) to adequately reimburse health care providers for services offered to enrollees of these private plans. The Prompt and Fair Pay Act establishes a floor requiring MA plans to reimburse for all covered health care items and services at least what would have been paid under Medicare Parts A and B; plans and providers may continue to negotiate higher reimbursement rates. The legislation also establishes prompt payment rules for clean in-network claims, which are requirements that would mirror those under Medicare Part D.
“A rapidly growing Medicare DisAdvantage market is straining our health care system and threatening consumers’ access to necessary health care,” said Rep. Doggett. “Providers are having to choose between substantial reimbursement delays that are often less than what is truly owed, administrative burdens, and care denials, or an outright withdrawal from MA contracts. With many providers already at risk of closure and MA now covering more than half of enrollees, it is essential that we ensure prompt and fair payments before every community is a health care desert. Our bill is an important step to protect patients and providers.”
“Medicare Advantage was conceived with good intentions, but absent updates and reforms, insurers will continue to exploit and abuse the program to bilk the federal government at the expense of patients and physicians,” said Congressman Greg Murphy, M.D. “Doctors who see MA beneficiaries not only experience major delays in reimbursement and senseless prior authorization denials, but often receive less compensation for services rendered than they earn through traditional Medicare. I am proud to support the Prompt and Fair Pay Act to guarantee parity between MA reimbursements and Medicare Parts A and B, ensure our physicians are treated with dignity, and preserve access to high-quality, affordable care for patients.”
Although Traditional Medicare spending serves as the benchmark for MA payments, the law currently does not require MA plans to reimburse providers at the same rates. As a result, many hospitals, provider groups, and other health systems are operating in the red and are forced to withdraw from MA contracts. This year alone, 27 health systems have left the MA program. It’s also estimated that skilled nursing facilities lost $13.8 billion in 2024 because MA plans reimbursed significantly less than Traditional Medicare. Without Congress’s intervention, MA plans will continue to skirt an obligation to promptly and fairly pay providers.
Committed to a more just and equitable health care system for patients, providers and taxpayers, Reps. Doggett and Murphy have previously worked together to introduce legislation to strengthen veterans’ health care for those dually enrolled in MA and Medicare Part D plans. The members have also requested that the Government Accountability Office conduct an independent investigation into vertical consolidation of Medicare Advantage Organizations.
The Prompt and Fair Pay Act is endorsed by America’s Essential Hospitals, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Occupational Therapy Association, LeadingAge, National Rural Health Association, Premier, Texas Hospital Association, Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals, Texas Association for Home Care and Hospice, and the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology.
“By establishing a payment floor for Medicare Advantage (MA) plans that aligns with amounts paid under traditional Medicare, the Prompt and Fair Pay Act helps ensure rural providers are not disadvantaged as MA enrollment continues to grow. The National Rural Health Association also appreciates the addition of enforceable prompt payment standards as rural providers often face administrative burdens to receiving timely payment from plans, creating cash flow issues. This bill marks an important step toward improving predictability and sustainability for rural health systems. NRHA thanks Rep. Doggett and Rep. Murphy for their thoughtful approach to addressing long-standing challenges rural providers face in the MA program and we are proud to endorse this legislation.” – Alan Morgan, CEO of National Rural Health Association
Katie Smith Sloan, president and CEO, LeadingAge, the association of nonprofit providers of aging services, said: “To Congress and to regulators, we’ve repeatedly expressed concerns that Medicare Advantage plans, by underpaying and delaying provider reimbursement, are threatening the financial stability of our nonprofit and mission-driven provider members, which jeopardizes access to necessary care and services for older adults. This legislation, which establishes a rate floor and prompt payment requirements, is a vital step toward ensuring that providers are fairly and promptly compensated for the care they deliver. It will bring much-needed financial stability to our nursing homes and home health members–particularly those located in underserved and rural communities. We strongly support this legislation and urge its swift passage.”
Bruce Siegel, MD, MPH, President and CEO of America’s Essential Hospitals, said: “Essential Hospitals across the nation are facing unprecedented financial disruptions, jeopardizing their ability to serve patients and their communities. The Prompt and Fair Pay Act is a step in the right direction, providing concrete steps to fix woefully inadequate hospital reimbursements. We will continue to support common sense legislation like this that aims to better sustain and support our hospitals, and the communities they serve.”
“The AAFP thanks Rep. Doggett for leading on this legislative effort to establish fair payment standards and enforce timely payments from Medicare Advantage plans. This legislation will help ensure that family physicians can spend less time navigating red tape and more time delivering high-quality care. We’re encouraged by the inclusion of enforcement measures, which we hope will ensure accountability and compliance by plans and help protect the financial stability of practices and the health of our communities.” — Jen Brull, MD, FAAFP, President, American Academy of Family Physicians
Soumi Saha, PharmD, JD, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Premier, Inc., said: “Premier applauds Reps. Doggett and Murphy for their leadership in introducing the bipartisan Prompt and Fair Pay Act. This bill will take important steps to ensure that all providers are paid in a timely and appropriate manner for the care they provide to Medicare Advantage patients. Premier has consistently voiced the need to align payment timelines and levels for in-network providers compared with out-of-network providers. Reps. Doggett and Murphy are taking meaningful action to hold insurers accountable and correct these existing inequities in a manner that will benefit patients and providers.”
John Hawkins, President and CEO of Texas Hospital Association, said: “THA is grateful for the leadership of Congressman Lloyd Doggett to ensure hospitals are paid timely for care delivered to seniors covered by private insurance plans in the Medicare Advantage program. Non-partisan studies have repeatedly shown that excessive and unnecessary denials, slow pay tactics, overly stringent prior authorization requirements, and restrictive provider networks by these plans threaten access to medically necessary care. For years, Congressman Doggett has been working to address these challenges, and The Prompt and Fair Pay Act of 2025 will bring overdue accountability and prompt pay standards to the MA program.”
“Occupational therapy services are crucial to enable Medicare beneficiaries in either traditional Fee-for-Service or Medicare Advantage programs to recover and live as independently as possible after an injury or illness,” according toKatie Jordan, OTD, MBA, OTR/L, FAOTA, Chief Executive Officer, American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA). She notes that “The Prompt and Fair Pay Act would ensure payment parity for OT services provided to beneficiaries in either program while also requiring prompt payment of clean claims and enhancing transparency from Medicare Advantage organizations regarding questioned claims. This is critical to reduce the administrative burden related to processing claims which would allow a greater focus on actual patient treatment.”
“We appreciate Congressman Doggett’s leadership in introducing the Prompt and Fair Pay Act to ensure that Medicare Advantage plans are properly reimbursing practitioners for the care they provide,” said Jan Setnor, MSN, CRNA, Col. (Ret), USAFR, NC, President of the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology. “This bill will ensure patients have access to nurse anesthetists and other providers and the high-quality care they deliver by holding payors accountable for proper and timely reimbursement of care. This bill will protect access to care for the growing number of Americans who utilize Medicare Advantage plans, and we strongly urge Congress to pass this critical legislation.”
“Medicare Advantage plans have been hard on rural Texas hospitals, so TORCH applauds the effort to require sustainable payments without delay.” –John Henderson, President/CEO of Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals (TORCH)
A fact sheet about the bill can be found here, and the full bill text here.
Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Roger Williams (25th District of Texas)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Committee on Small Business Chairman Roger Williams (R-Texas) introduced the Equal Shot Act of 2025, a key piece of legislation aimed at ensuring fairness in federal small business policy. This bill prohibits the Small Business Administration (SBA) and its Administrator from discriminating against firearm-related businesses in the distribution of financial assistance.
The Equal Shot Act of 2025 protects small business owners from politically motivated bias, defends Constitutional rights, and guarantees that businesses supporting the Second Amendment have the same access to federal resources as any other eligible enterprise.
“Unelected officials should not have the power to discriminate against an entire industry based on political bias,” said Chairman Williams. “Firearm-related businesses are owned and operated by hardworking Americans who follow the law, create jobs, and contribute to their communities. They shouldn’t be punished for their values. This bill stands up for their right to compete on a level playing field.”
Click here to view the bill.
Background:
This bill comes as a response to concerns that, under the Biden Administration, federal agencies or financial institutions may have denied support or imposed restrictions on gun-related businesses for political or ideological reasons. This legislation aims to ensure that all eligible small businesses, regardless of industry, are treated fairly and without bias.
This bill is supported by major advocacy organizations, including the National Rifle Association (NRA), Gun Owners of America (GOA), and the National Association for Gun Rights (NAGR).
Original cosponsors include Reps. Jack Bergman (R-Michigan), Nick Langworthy (R-New York), Troy Downing (R-Montana), Jake Ellzey (R-Texas), Stephanie Bice (R-Oklahoma), Brandon Gill (R-Texas), Mike Collins (R-Georgia), Mark Alford (R-Missouri), Beth Van Duyne (R-Texas), Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tennessee), Tony Wied (R-Wisconsin), Scott Fitzgerald (R-Wisconsin), Sheri Biggs (R-South Carolina), Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas), Randy Weber (R-Texas), Anna Paulina Luna (R-Florida), Tim Walberg (R-Michigan), Mike Ezell (R-Mississippi), Tom Tiffany (R-Wisconsin), Claudia Tenney (R-New York), Steve Womack (R-Arkansas), and Michael A. Rulli (R-Ohio).
Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) will lead the companion legislation in the Senate.
###
Congressman Roger Williams is the Chairman of the House Small Business Committee and member of the House Financial Services Committee. He proudly represents the 25th Congressional District of Texas.
Source: New Zealand Government
Introduction – Grounding in shared reality
Thank you to LGNZ for the opportunity to speak today, and thank you to the mayors, chairs, and councillors in the room for putting your names forward to serve your communities.
Right now, the cost of living is top of mind for every Kiwi: food, fuel, power, and, yes, rates. Households are stretched, and rate rises are a flashpoint for that understandable frustration.
It is easy to point the finger in tense times, but I came here to point out a common cause. The Government and councils all want the same thing. Affordable, effective Local Government services for local communities.
We recognise that depreciation has accumulated, and funding mechanisms are finite. Behind those rate rises are decades of pressure building: water systems that should have been renewed a generation ago, roads worn out faster than they’re maintained, and new housing demands without the means to service them.
Central government blames councils. Councils blame government. The problem is blaming isn’t productive. New Zealanders don’t care whose fault it is – they want affordable and effective local government, too.
The question is, how can we sharpen focus and raise productivity to do just that?
Everyone’s under pressure, central government, local government and, most importantly, New Zealand taxpayers and ratepayers. The pressure households currently face mean that we cannot justify passing the bill to families who are already stretched. Inflation’s legacy is still biting. Families are tightening their belts. Government must do the same.
From Wellington, we’ve worked hard to rein in spending, eliminating low-value activities. Households have done their part too, paying eye-watering mortgage rates and making sacrifices in their own budgets to make ends meet.
These efforts have paid off. Households now see an overall consumer price inflation rate of 2.5%, down from a peak of 7.3% in 2022.
We could be doing even better, but Stats NZ helpfully releases breakdowns of the drivers of inflation. And one figure practically screams out from the spreadsheet. Local authority rates and payments rose by 12.2% in the year to March. 12.2%, versus an overall rate of 2.5%.
Clearly, local government is a key driver of cost pressure on households and, don’t forget, businesses that people rely on for goods, services, and jobs.
In Wellington, we’re focusing on delivering services that only Government can deliver effectively and affordably. I believe local government should have the same focus, beginning with a clear conception of local government’s role.
That is, what things must local government provide because private markets cannot?
To put it the way someone once said it to me: Roads, rats, rubbish and rates should be the focus. Horizontal infrastructure of new jobs and housing is a priority, too. Councils shouldn’t be pontificating on people’s four well beings. Your job is not to recreate Plato’s Republic here in the South Pacific. It’s to effectively provide a discrete bundle of goods at an affordable price.
But we also recognise a hard truth: many of the costs facing councils aren’t of your own making.
They’ve been baked into the system through decades of regulatory complexity. Layer upon layer of vague mandates, unclear responsibilities, and well-meaning rules that create more confusion than solutions.
You’re stuck trying to deliver core services under rules that second-guess every decision and inflate every budget line.
On overregulation: we hear you. We are pushing government back to basics but we’re also delivering a plan to make it easier for councils to reflect the needs of their communities.
We’ve seen the so-called four well beings, introduced with good intentions, but resulted in asking councils to act as second-tier social ministries, expected to deliver on every issue, regardless of mandate, expertise, or funding.
In 2017 I called the introduction of this legislation the Puppy Dogs and Ice Cream Bill. That’s because rather than requiring councils to deliver core services in a cost-effective way for households and businesses, the Government believed councils should be able to do whatever they felt like. That was always going to be a recipe for higher rates.
And we’ve seen the proliferation of the RMA’s numerous processes and requirements turning councils into consultation machines.
Add to that endless duplication across agencies, overlapping consents, decades of poor investment and management (and a Minister asking you to focus on attendance). We all need things to change.
Councils are not only granters of resource consents, they are the biggest applicants, with much of council’s essential infrastructure hamstrung or cost inflated by the RMA.
The Government’s resource management reforms tackle this head on.
Benchmarking will show ratepayers how the performance of their own council compares with others, in terms of rates, debt, and spending. Some healthy competition between councils is long overdue.
We’re demanding discipline from councils, but we’re also committed to clearing away the red tape that constrains you. We’re scrapping the laws that confuse roles, inflate budgets, and justify the kind of spending Kiwis can’t afford.
We’re rebuilding the system so councils can focus on the things only councils can do: represent their local communities, fix pipes, roads, rubbish, and infrastructure that unlocks growth and lowers costs.
Back to basics isn’t a slogan. It’s a plan. And we’re going to deliver on it.
A plan for councils and communities
To cut costs, clear roadblocks, and put power back with communities there’s a clear blueprint:
1. RMA reform – real change
We are replacing the Resource Management Act aiming for a fundamental shift in how it works, because there’s no piece of legislation more detrimental to the cost of living than the RMA.
I’ve seen the details of resource consents for solar farms, which include requirements such as:
This is what’s driving up power bills. You and your ratepayers want renewable energy but the consenting process demands ceremonial chanting and spreadsheet-level detail about every shrub on site. These two aims don’t compute.
We see the same thing happening with supermarkets, IKEA, even hospitals. This madness raises prices at the checkout and on power bills.
IKEA’s consent required inviting representatives of seven different mana whenua groups “to undertake cultural monitoring, karakia and other such cultural ceremonies on the site” at the pre-start meeting, commencement of earthworks and immediately prior to completion of bulk earthworks across the site, with ten days’ notice before each of those events. Ten working days, that can be two weeks of waiting for a construction site that wants to get cracking, more if you chuck a public holiday in the middle. IKEA must think us Kiwis really love affordable Swedish furniture for it to be worth their while.
That’s the problem though, for every IKEA there’ll be another organisation that just can’t get past the consenting, can’t hack the months of delays and paperwork.
Currently, and under the reforms of the last government, the RMA slows down housing, gums up roads and strangles infrastructure. It delays pipes. It creates years of delay for projects that ratepayers are already paying for.
Under the new framework this government is working towards, councils will spend less time litigating, and more time building.
National rules will be clear and local voice will be stronger, with less duplication and endless second-guessing.
Infrastructure consents will be faster and more certain, especially for projects with regional importance.
In short: fewer lawyers, more shovels.
2. Regional Deals – Partnership, not payouts
Second, we’re advancing a new model of Regional Deals. These are not handouts. They are contracts between central government and regions to deliver real outcomes in return for real reform.
For years I championed the idea of genuine partnerships between central and local government to make sure important infrastructure actually gets built. The ACT/National Coalition Agreement committed to instituting long-term city and regional infrastructure deals, allowing PPPs, tolling and value capture rating to fund infrastructure.
Deals will include:
And crucially, each deal must include measurable, transparent outcomes. Because Kiwis are done with blank cheques.
It’s great to see negotiations underway on the first regional deals, and I hope to see the first deals announced by the end of the year.
3. Encouraging investment so we can have nice things
Many of you will be concerned about the cost of living for your ratepayers. I encourage you to save more, think about where you’re spending and prevent rates rises as much as possible. That’s what you can do. The Government is also looking to lower the cost of living by tackling one of the most stubborn costs out there. Groceries.
Increased competition in the grocery sector is a win-win for councils. Ratepayers see cheaper prices at the checkout and regions see development that brings jobs and money to the area.
Right now, outdated planning and consenting rules make it nearly impossible for new players to break into the market. I’ve suggested a possible way to fix that is through a fast-track grocery development process to clear the path for new entrants like Aldi, Walmart or local startups, to bring real competition to communities across New Zealand.
That means lower prices for ratepayers, but also new jobs, investment, and mixed-use developments that can revitalise town centres. It’s a win-win: Central Government gets out of the way, new businesses bring in the investment, and local councils and communities reap the rewards.
Mindset shift – From finger pointing to problem solving
None of this works if we go back to zero-sum thinking. That kind of mindset, the idea that central government only wins if local loses, or that councils are always to blame has failed New Zealand.
It failed us with housing. It failed us with crime. It’s failing us with infrastructure.
What works is recognising that our problems are shared and that the success of one level of government helps the other.
When councils deliver better infrastructure, housing becomes more affordable.
When central government cuts red tape, council costs come down.
When both work together, communities thrive.
This is the positive-sum mindset. And it’s what we need to get our country moving again.
Conclusion – Delivering for New Zealanders, together
So here’s the deal.
We are repealing the four wellbeings and other vague mandates, not because they’re bad ideas, but because they’ve become an excuse to do everything and nothing.
We are replacing them with a clear emphasis: focus on what only councils can do and do it brilliantly.
We are reforming the RMA so you can build the pipes, roads, and housing New Zealand needs.
We are putting Regional Deals on the table, tools that empower you, with accountability baked in.
And we are asking every council to go line-by-line on spending, to say no to what’s nice-to-have, and deliver the basics at a price ratepayers can afford.
That is how we rebuild trust.
That is how we earn the right to ask Kiwis for more.
And that is how, together, we can solve the problems of our communities, not by pointing fingers, but by rolling up our sleeves and getting to work.
Thank you.
Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority
Today the Albanese Government introduced legislation to Parliament to lift child safety in early education and care services.
This legislation will give the Commonwealth Government power to cut off funding to child care centres that don’t meet the National Quality Standard when it comes to safety and quality, where there’s a breach of the law, or where centres are acting in a way that puts the safety of children at risk.
The legislation will also allow Commonwealth officers to perform spot-checks without warning to detect fraud and non-compliance across the sector.
Governments, State and Federal, need to do more to ensure the safety of children. These new powers are part of that.
They will be used in close collaboration with states and territories regulating quality and safety under the National Quality Framework.
This is just one of a number of steps the Albanese Government is taking with the states and territories to protect children in early education and care.
Speeding up work on a nationwide register of early educators will be on the agenda at the Education Ministers’ Meeting in August, as well as the role of CCTV in centres and mandatory child safety training for educators.
The Attorney-General has also put reform of Working with Children Checks as the first item on the agenda for the Standing Council of Attorneys-General meeting next month.
Today’s legislation builds on the work the Albanese Government and state and territory governments have already done implementing the recommendations of the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority’s Child Safety Review. These include mandatory 24 hour reporting of any allegations, complaints or incidents of physical or sexual abuse, and restricting the use of personal mobile phones in centres.
The highest priority of the Albanese Government is strengthening safety in early education and care to make sure our kids are safe.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:
“This legislation is not about shutting centres down, it’s about raising standards up.
“This is about making sure the safety and quality in child care centres is what parents expect and children deserve.
“We are determined to do what needs to be done to rebuild confidence in a system that parents need to have confidence in.
“It’s a system that more than a million mums and dads rely on to care for and educate the most important people in their world – their children.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Early Childhood Education Dr Jess Walsh:
“Every child deserves to be safe in their early learning centre and this legislation requires providers to put safety first.
“The Australian Government is absolutely committed to ensuring that children have a positive, rewarding and safe early education experience to get the best possible start in life.”
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 23, 2025.
Hard labour conditions of online moderators directly affect how well the internet is policed – new study
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Tania Chatterjee, Joint PhD Candidate at Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, The University of Queensland Getty Images/GCShutter Big tech platforms often present content moderation as a seamless, tech‑driven system. But human labour, often outsourced to countries such as India and the Philippines, plays a pivotal role in
Ghosted by a friend? 4 expert tips on how to handle the hurt
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Megan Willis, Associate Professor, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University martin-dm/Getty When we talk about “ghosting”, we usually think it relates to dating. But what happens when you’ve been ghosted by someone you’ve known for years – your childhood best friend, a parent, a
Labor’s new bill would cut HELP loans by 20%. But it also risks locking some graduates into a ‘debt treadmill’
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Andrew Norton, Professor of Higher Education Policy, Monash University The Albanese government’s 20% cut to student debt is the first bill introduced to the new federal parliament. It is clever politics. In the government’s first term, the 3 million Australians with a student debt turned high indexation
ICJ climate crisis ruling: Will world’s top court back Pacific-led call to hold governments accountable?
By Jamie Tahana in The Hague for RNZ Pacific In 2019, a group of law students at the University of the South Pacific, frustrated at the slow pace with which the world’s governments were moving to address the climate crisis, had an idea — they would take the world’s governments to court. They arranged a
‘Maybe this is the last minutes you are living’: how the war is impacting young Ukrainians
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ashley Humphrey, Lecturer in Social Sciences, Monash University Now into its fourth year, the war that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has taken a devastating toll. An estimated 60,000 to 100,0000 Ukrainian lives have been lost and more than 10 million citizens displaced, and entire cities have
Auckland is NZ’s ‘primate city’ but its potential remains caged in by poor planning and vision
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Welch, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, University of Auckland, Waipapa Taumata Rau Getty Images The recent report comparing Auckland to nine international peer cities delivered an uncomfortable truth: our largest city is falling behind, hampered by car dependency, low-density housing and “weak economic performance”. The Deloitte
Climate disasters are pushing people into homelessness – but there’s a lot we can do about it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Timothy Heffernan, Lecturer in Anthropology, Australian National University Almost half of all Australian properties are at risk of bushfire, while 17,500 face risk of coastal erosion. By 2030, more than 3 million will face riverine flood risk. Meanwhile, housing demand continues to outpace supply. With climate-related disasters
UK bans Gaza protest group – could the same thing happen in Australia?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shannon Bosch, Associate Professor (Law), Edith Cowan University More than 100 people were arrested in the United Kingdom on the weekend for supporting Palestine Action, a protest group that opposes Britain’s support of Israel. Palestine Action was recently proscribed as a terrorist organisation, placing it in the
The incredible impact of Ozzy Osbourne, from Black Sabbath to Ozzfest to 30 years of retirement tours
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lachlan Goold, Senior Lecturer in Contemporary Music, University of the Sunshine Coast Ozzy Osbourne photographed in London in 1991. Martyn Goodacre/Getty Images Ozzy Osbourne, the “prince of darkness” and godfather of heavy metal, has died aged 76, just weeks after he reunited with Black Sabbath bandmates for
Could the latest ‘interstellar comet’ be an alien probe? Why spotting cosmic visitors is harder than you think
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sara Webb, Lecturer, Centre for Astrophysics and Supercomputing, Swinburne University of Technology Comet 3I/ATLAS International Gemini Observatory/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA/K. Meech/Jen Miller/Mahdi Zamani, CC BY On July 1, astronomers spotted an unusual high-speed object zooming towards the Sun. Dubbed 3I/ATLAS, the surprising space traveller had one very special quality: its
Should Australia lower the voting age to 16 like the UK? We asked 5 experts
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Pandanus Petter, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, School of Politics and International Relations, Australian National University The government in the UK is introducing legislation into parliament to lower the voting age to 16. If passed, the new age rules will be in place for the next general election, expected
Doctors shouldn’t be allowed to object to medical care if it harms their patients
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julian Savulescu, Visiting Professor in Biomedical Ethics, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute; Distinguished Visiting Professor in Law, University of Melbourne; Uehiro Chair in Practical Ethics, The University of Melbourne HRAUN/Getty A young woman needs an abortion and the reasons, while urgent, are not medical. A United States Navy
Ultra fast fashion could be taxed to oblivion in France. Could Australia follow suit?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rowena Maguire, Professor of Law and Director of the Centre of Justice, Queensland University of Technology Ryan McVay/Getty For centuries, clothes were hard to produce and expensive. People wore them as long as possible. But manufacturing advances have steadily driven down the cost of production. These days,
Central bank independence and credibility matters. Here’s why
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Simon, Adjunct Fellow in Economics, Macquarie University Olga Kashubin/Shutterstock In the United States, President Donald Trump has been pressuring the chairman of the US Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, to slash interest rates. This is partly to ease the interest payments on the ballooning US government debt.
Kneecap’s stance on Gaza extends a long history of the Irish supporting other oppressed peoples
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Ciara Smart, PhD Graduand in Australasian Irish History, University of Tasmania Love them or hate them, there’s no doubt Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap are having a moment. Their music – delivered in a powerful fusion of English and Irish – is known for its gritty lyrics about
Do countries have a duty to prevent climate harm? The world’s highest court is about to answer this crucial question
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nathan Cooper, Associate Professor of Law, University of Waikato Getty Images The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will issue a highly anticipated advisory opinion overnight to clarify state obligations related to climate change. It will answer two urgent questions: what are the obligations of states under international
Gaza not a religious issue – it’s a massive violation of international law, say accord critics
Asia Pacific Report Groups that have declined to join the government-sponsored “harmony accord” signed yesterday by some Muslim and Jewish groups, say that the proposed new council is “misaligned” with its aims. The signed accord was presented at Government House in Auckland. About 70 people attended, including representatives of the New Zealand Jewish Council, His
Flying the flags for Palestine – NZ protesters take message to Devonport
The Devonport Flagstaff About 200 people marched in Devonport last Saturday in support of Palestine. Pro-Palestine flags and placards were draped on the band rotunda at Windsor Reserve as speakers, including Green Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick and the people power manager of Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand Margaret Taylor, a Devonport local, encouraged the crowd
View from The Hill: How much can Jim Chalmers get out of the economic reform roundtable?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra We’re now less than a month away from the start of the Albanese government’s “economic reform” (aka “productivity”) roundtable, but it has become quite hard to get a fix on exactly what this gathering will amount to. The guest list
Israeli settlers beat to death 2 Palestinians in latest lynchings
BEARING WITNESS: By Cole Martin in occupied West Bank Two young Palestinians were beaten to death on their land by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank on Friday. A funeral was held on Sunday for Sayfollah “Saif” Mussalet, 20, and Muhammad Shalabi, 23, who were brutally killed by a large group of settlers in
US Senate News:
Source: United States Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today made this statement on the welcome news that a Spartanburg family has been safely extracted from Syria. Desiree Gomez, an assistant principal at Lyman Elementary School, her husband Mohamad Shokair and their daughter Salma had been caught in the middle of fighting in Syria while visiting family.
Graham’s office was in touch with the family’s relatives in the United States, working with the U.S. State Department to provide for their safe return home.
“I just received the great news that Desiree, an assistant principal at Lyman Elementary, her husband and their daughter have been safely extracted from Syria. My office had been deeply involved and closely monitoring this operation.
“The family was on a visit to their relatives in Syria and were caught in the chaos and fighting.
“I want to profusely thank The Grey Bull Rescue Foundation for this daring rescue effort, risking their lives to bring this family to safety. At an appropriate time, I intend to do more to recognize the Foundation’s selfless mission to bring hope and safety to Americans in harm’s way.
“I urge all Americans to pay close attention to all State Department travel advisories before making any trips – even if it is family related.
“Again, I am so grateful to all those who assisted in this endeavor to bring this family safely back home to South Carolina.”