Category: AM-NC

Sujeet Kalkal strikes gold at Budapest Wrestling Ranking Series

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Indian wrestler Sujeet Kalkal on Thursday clinched the gold medal in the 65kg men’s freestyle category at the Polyak Imre & Varga Janos Memorial 2025 wrestling tournament in Budapest, Hungary.

In the final of the 65kg men’s freestyle category, Sujeet delivered a clinical performance to defeat four-time European medallist Ali Rahimzade of Azerbaijan 5-1. His triumph marked India’s first gold medal in wrestling at any of the Ranking Series events this year. Earlier, Indian grapplers had returned empty-handed from the tournaments in Amman and Mongolia, according to Olympics.com.

In the first period of the final, Sujeet conceded an activity point, but he raised the tempo in the second period to complete two takedowns. He secured another activity point en route to a commanding victory in the gold medal bout.

Sujeet’s journey to the final was equally impressive. He began with a dominant 11-0 win over Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Islam Dudaev of Albania in the round of 16. He then overwhelmed European silver medallist Khamzat Arsamerzouev of France in the quarter-finals, before stamping his authority with a 6-1 win over Vazgen Tevanyan of Armenia in the semi-finals.

India added another medal in the men’s 57kg category, where Rahul clinched bronze with a 4-0 victory over Germany’s Niklas Stechele. Earlier, he had defeated Kim Sung-gwon of the Republic of Korea 5-3 in the quarter-finals, before narrowly losing a hard-fought semi-final 7-6 to the USA’s Luke Joseph Lilledahl.

Meanwhile, India’s Udit and Vicky suffered defeats in the repechage rounds of the 61kg and 97kg divisions, respectively. The Polyak Imre & Varga Janos Memorial in Budapest is the fourth and final wrestling Ranking Series tournament of the year.

Ranking points earned at this event will help wrestlers secure better seedings for the World Wrestling Championships, scheduled to be held in Zagreb, Croatia, in September later this year.

India fielded wrestlers in the men’s and women’s freestyle, as well as Greco-Roman, categories at the ongoing Budapest meet, which will conclude on Sunday.

(ANI)

July 18, 2025

MIL-OSI Banking: Formation of new district in the State of Arunachal Pradesh – Assignment of Lead Bank Responsibility

Source: Reserve Bank of India

RBI/2025-26/68
FIDD.CO.LBS.BC.No.14/02.08.001/2025-26

July 18, 2025

The Chairman / Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer
Lead Banks Concerned

Madam/ Dear Sir,

Formation of new district in the State of Arunachal Pradesh – Assignment of Lead Bank Responsibility

The Government of Arunachal Pradesh has notified formation of two new districts, viz., Keyi Panyor and Bichom in the state of Arunachal Pradesh vide Gazette Notification No. Law/Legn-5/2024 dated February 23, 2024. Accordingly, it has been decided to designate the Lead Banks of the new districts as below:

Sr No	Newly Created District	Lead Bank Responsibility assigned to	District Working Code allotted to new district
1	Keyi Panyor	State Bank of India	02S (to be reads as ‘numeral zero, numeral two and alphabet S’)
2	Bichom	State Bank of India	02T (to be read as ‘numeral zero, numeral two and alphabet T’)

2. There is no change in the Lead Banks of the other districts in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.

Yours faithfully,

(Nisha Nambiar)
Chief General Manager-in-Charge

MIL OSI Global Banks –

July 18, 2025

MIL-OSI China: Foreign firms eye China’s supply chain

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

This panoramic photo taken on July 17, 2025 shows the Advanced Manufacturing Chain area of the third China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, capital of China. [Photo/Xinhua]

With technological innovation playing an increasingly integral role in China’s supply chain operation, foreign firms will build more local partnerships in high-end manufacturing, modern services and consumer goods, senior executives from such corporations said on Thursday.

At the ongoing third China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, they said China’s supply chain is evolving beyond simple connectivity to emphasize greater coordination, development and innovation.

Held from Wednesday to Sunday, the third edition of CISCE has brought together more than 650 companies and institutions from 75 countries and regions, said the Beijing-based China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, organizer of the expo.

The proportion of overseas exhibitors increased from 32 percent at the second edition to 35 percent this year — an indication of enduring business interest in the face of rising geopolitical and economic headwinds.

German industrial conglomerate Bosch Group, a three-time participant at CISCE, showcased locally driven innovations in intelligent and electrified technologies across areas such as energy and power systems, motion control and driver assistance at the event this year.

Xu Daquan, president of Bosch China, said that at a critical juncture in the accelerated restructuring of the global automotive supply chain, adhering to open cooperation and strengthening local manufacturing and innovation capabilities are essential for achieving long-term growth.

“Bosch will continue to work with its Chinese partners to build a more resilient, agile and globally oriented smart mobility supply ecosystem,” said Xu.

Driven by technology shifts and competition, China’s fast-evolving auto sector leads in electrification and smart mobility, fueled by innovation and rapid consumer adoption of new technologies, said the German company.

Another active multinational presence at the expo is Federal Express Corp, the United States-based express transportation company and also a third-time CISCE participant. It presented a visually engaging booth at the trade show, featuring a diverse array of images and multimedia content.

“As an important platform for promoting international supply chain connectivity, CISCE offers a valuable opportunity for us to deepen cooperation with industry and supply chain partners,” said Poh-Yian Koh, president of FedEx China, adding the company completed the upgrade of its international export services in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, earlier this week.

FedEx looks forward to working together with all parties to build a stable, efficient, sustainable and intelligent supply chain network, injecting sustained momentum into the smooth operation of the economy and trade for China and the world, she said.

Joining the expanding roster of global participants, French cosmetics company L’Oreal Group made its debut at this year’s CISCE, highlighting innovations in the beauty supply chain.

Its exhibit emphasized smart, consumer-centric systems, open ecosystem collaboration, and the role of Chinese innovation in driving global expansion and delivering localized solutions worldwide.

Chen Jiaqi, director of corporate affairs and engagement at L’Oreal China, said that the ever-evolving demands of Chinese consumers are pushing companies to step up innovation and optimize the entire value chain, from production and logistics to customer service.

“In this process, many new technologies and business models co-created with Chinese supply chain partners have been introduced to the global stage, serving consumers worldwide,” said Chen.

MIL OSI China News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China’s FDI inflow tops $700B since 2021

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

China has achieved its target ahead of schedule for actual use of foreign direct investment (FDI) during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), a commerce official said Friday.

By the end of June, China’s actual use of FDI since 2021 had reached 708.73 billion U.S. dollars, hitting the 700-billion-dollar target six months early, Ling Ji, vice minister of commerce and deputy China international trade representative, said at a press conference.

Some 229,000 new foreign-invested enterprises were established during the period, about 25,000 more than in the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020), he noted.

Foreign-invested enterprises contributed one-third of China’s foreign trade, one-fourth of value-added industrial output, and one-seventh of tax revenues. They have also created more than 30 million jobs during this period, Ling added.

He said the country has seen a marked improvement in the quality of foreign capital use. In 2024, high-tech industries attracted 34.6 percent of foreign investment, up 6 percentage points from 2020.

To foster a favorable environment for foreign businesses, the commerce ministry has held more than 30 roundtable meetings since 2023, helping address over 1,500 concerns for foreign-funded firms, Ling said.

MIL OSI China News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China’s retail sales of consumer goods grow 5.5% annually since 2021: Minister

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

The State Council Information Office (SCIO) holds a press conference on China’s achievements in high-quality commerce development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) in Beijing, capital of China, July 18, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

The retail sales of consumer goods in China grew 5.5 percent on average annually over the past four years, and are expected to top 50 trillion yuan (about 7 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2025, Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao said Friday.

The retail sales of consumer goods in China rose to 48.3 trillion yuan in 2024 from 39.1 trillion yuan in 2020, Wang said.

According to the World Bank, in terms of actual purchasing power, China’s retail sales of consumer goods surpassed that of the United States, reaching 1.6 times the level of the United States last year.

Consumption has contributed around 60 percent of China’s economic growth on average annually over the past four years, and the role of consumption as the economy’s main engine has continued to strengthen, Wang said.

Sales revenue under trade-in programs in China has surpassed 2.9 trillion yuan as of the end of June.

China’s service consumption continues to grow rapidly, with household spending on services reaching 46.1 percent last year, according to Wang.

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), China will continue to reduce restrictive measures in the service consumption sector, Wang said.

From 2021 to 2024, China imported consumer goods worth 7.4 trillion yuan, demonstrating the significant contribution of its vast market to global development.

China has refined its departure tax refund policy, and the total spending by inbound tourists reached 94.2 billion U.S. dollars in 2024, marking a remarkable increase of 77.8 percent year on year, Wang added.

MIL OSI China News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China imports 7.4 trillion yuan of consumer goods in 2021-2024: Minister

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

China imported consumer goods worth 7.4 trillion yuan (about 1.03 trillion U.S. dollars) between 2021 and 2024, the first four years of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao told a press conference Friday.

Citing figures of the World Trade Organization, he said goods imports by the Chinese mainland and China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region accounted for about 13.3 percent of global imports in 2024 — close to the United States’ 13.6 percent.

China is thus the world’s second-largest import market, almost on par with the United States, as well as a major export destination for nearly 80 countries and regions, the minister said.

To encourage more quality goods and services into the Chinese market, Wang said China has fostered international consumption center cities, established national demonstration zones for innovation and promotion of imports, and hosted major expos such as the China International Import Expo and the China International Consumer Products Expo.

“China’s vast market has become a shared market for the world and will continue to serve as a key source of growth and vitality for the global economy,” he told the press.

China has remained the world’s largest goods trader for eight consecutive years, with total goods trade reaching 6.16 trillion U.S. dollars in 2024, a 32.4 percent increase from 2020.

Meanwhile, the share of China’s exports to the United States fell from 17.4 percent of its total exports in 2020 to 14.7 percent in 2024, according to Wang.

“The production and supply chains supporting China’s foreign trade have become more complete, flexible and efficient, enhancing the country’s resilience and confidence in navigating risks and challenges,” he said.

Noting that China has long run a services trade deficit, Wang pointed out that the United States has been China’s largest source of such deficit. Considering the fact that China is the largest contributor to the U.S. goods trade deficit, he said this reflects the complementary strengths between the two economies.

Looking ahead to the upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), the minister said China will step up efforts to promote high-quality trade development with focus to be placed on both exports and imports, deepen international cooperation and enhance trade resilience.

MIL OSI China News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Any attempt at forced China-US ‘decoupling’ bound to fail: Commerce minister

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

Any attempt to forcibly “decouple” China-U.S. economic and trade ties is destined to fail, China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said on Friday.

The economic and trade relationship between China and the United States has experienced its ups and downs over the years, but the two countries remain important partners to each other, Wang told a press conference.

Despite a decline in the share of bilateral trade in each other’s overall trade volume, China-U.S. trade has remained generally stable, Wang said.

According to the minister, the trade volume of goods and services between China and the United States rose by 18 percent and 34.7 percent in 2024 from 2017 levels, respectively. The two countries also remain key investment partners, with close exchanges between their business communities.

“In essence, China-U.S. economic and trade relations benefit both sides and bring win-win outcomes. Cooperation is the only right path,” Wang stressed.

Bilateral trade and investment have also created a substantial number of jobs in both countries, he added.

Facts have proven that through equal-footed dialogue and consultation, China and the United States are fully capable of properly managing differences and working to address frictions to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes, Wang noted.

“China’s stance has been consistent in firmly defending national interests and upholding international fairness and justice,” the minister said.

In the first half of this year, China’s economy maintained steady growth despite downward pressures. The fundamentals sustaining its long-term positive outlook remain unchanged, providing the country with strong confidence and resolve in defending its legitimate interests.

As the world’s two largest economies, China and the United States share a responsibility to inject greater certainty and stability into global economic prosperity and development, he said.

Wang stated that China is ready to work with the U.S. side to enhance dialogue and communication, expand common ground, reduce misunderstandings, strengthen cooperation, and jointly steer China-U.S. economic and trade relations back onto the right track of healthy, stable, and sustainable development.

MIL OSI China News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New report finds systemic water company failure and underperformance
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

New report finds systemic water company failure and underperformance

Serious pollution incidents up 60% in 2024 from previous year
Serious pollution incidents up 60% in 2024 from previous year, new report shows

Three water companies responsible for 81% of serious incidents

Environment Agency now has greater powers and more funding than ever to hold poor performers to account

The number of water company pollution incidents across England rose sharply last year, a new report from the Environment Agency has found. The report shows consistently poor performance from all nine water and sewerage companies in the region, with serious pollution incidents in 2024 up 60% from 2023.

The Environment Agency (EA) assesses all pollution incidents, with category 1 (major) and category 2 (significant) incidents being the most serious. In 2024, 75 category 1 and 2 incidents were recorded, a steep rise from 47 serious incidents the previous year. 81% of these serious incidents were the responsibility of just three water companies – Thames Water (33 incidents), Southern Water (15 incidents) and Yorkshire Water (13 incidents). All pollution incidents (category 1 to 3) have increased by 29%: last year water companies recorded 2,801 incidents, up from 2,174 in 2023.

The EA is particularly concerned about the increasing trend in pollution spills from pipes carrying wastewater uphill – these accounted for 20% of the serious incidents in 2024 and impacted some protected waters for wildlife and swimming.

Reasons behind the 2024 results include persistent underinvestment in new infrastructure, poor asset maintenance, and reduced resilience due to the impacts of climate change. 

Last financial year, the EA carried out over 4,000 inspections of water company assets. With more inspections, the EA discovers more non-compliance: last year 24% of sites breached their permits. The EA is clear that none of these factors, including wet weather, can excuse the unacceptable number of incidents last year, and water companies must meet their legal obligations to the environment and communities or face enforcement action.

Alan Lovell, Chair of the Environment Agency said:

This report demonstrates continued systemic failure by some companies to meet their environmental targets.

The water industry must act urgently to prevent pollution from occurring and to respond rapidly when it does.

We have made significant changes to tighten our regulation of the water industry and ensure companies are held to account. With a dedicated larger workforce and increased funding, our officers are uncovering and acting on failures to comply with environmental law.

The EA’s expectations for water companies are set out in the Water Industry Strategic Environmental Requirements (WISER) guide, which states there should be a trend to zero serious pollution incidents by 2025, a reduction in all pollution incidents and high levels of water company self-reporting. It is evident that some companies are failing to meet these targets.

Under the Water (Special Measures) Act, the EA will have greater powers to take swift action against polluting companies, allowing them to close the justice gap and ultimately deter illegal activity from happening in the first place. To boost funding for water regulation, the EA is consulting on a new levy on the water sector to recover the cost of enforcement activities.

It comes as last week, Defra confirmed an £189m uplift for the EA’s water regulation, coming from charges paid by the sector rather than the public purse. This represents a 64% increase in funding since 2023/2024.

So far, the EA is on track to deliver 10,000 inspections of water company assets next year and we will continue to work closely with government and fellow regulators to hold companies to account so they deliver the environmental improvements for communities and wildlife.

The Act also requires companies to produce annual Pollution Incident Reduction Plans to address the root cause of persistent problems and prevent pollution incidents.

Share this page

The following links open in a new tab

Share on Facebook (opens in new tab)

Share on Twitter (opens in new tab)

Updates to this page

Published 18 July 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: China and Kazakhstan are ready to develop cooperation in the engineering field

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 18 (Xinhua) — Luo Hui, a member of the leadership group and head of the international cooperation department of the China Association of Science and Technology (CAST), met with Abdumutalip Abzhapparov, head of the Central Asian Association for Education Accreditation in Kazakhstan, in Beijing on Wednesday, the CAST reported.

The parties unanimously believe that, in accordance with the new cooperation map, the prospects for cooperation in the engineering field between the two countries are very broad, and it is necessary to further increase exchanges and strengthen mutual trust in this area. This is stated in a statement posted on the official website of KANT.

KANT noted that consultations were also held on a number of issues, including the establishment of a Chinese-Central Asian cooperation mechanism in the engineering field, joint development of engineering education standards and qualifications of engineers for the future development of the relevant industry, pooling resources for the continuous professional development of engineers, organizing exchanges among young engineers, etc. -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.

.

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Any attempt to “decouple” China and the US will inevitably fail – Chinese Commerce Minister

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 18 (Xinhua) — Any attempt to forcefully “decouple” China and the United States in trade and economic terms will inevitably fail, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said on Friday.

Speaking at a press conference in Beijing, Wang Wentao noted that over the past years, trade and economic ties between China and the United States have experienced ups and downs, but the two countries have always remained important partners for each other. And despite the decline in the share of Sino-American trade in the external trade turnover of both countries, bilateral trade has generally remained stable, the minister said. -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.

.

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Over 20 schools in Delhi receive bomb threats emails

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

NEW DELHI, July 18 (Xinhua) — More than 20 schools in the Indian city of Delhi received bomb threats via email on Friday morning, prompting the schools to be evacuated and thoroughly searched.

According to the latest reports, no bombs or other explosives were found in the schools.

Threatening emails cause panic among security services. –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.

.

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: The final round of the Chinese stage of the WORLD MODEL 2025 competition kicked off in Ordos

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

On July 17, the Chinese final of the “WORLD MODEL 2025” competition kicked off in Ordos City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, aiming to create a platform for the exchange of experience between the modeling industry and international partners, and promote the integration of the fashion industry and the specific cashmere industry of Ordos. 120 participants from 30 provinces and cities across the country gathered in the “capital of Chinese cashmere” to take part in a professional competition on a stage that combines technology and art.

WORLD MODEL 2025 was founded in 1994 and is one of the three most famous modeling competitions in the world, with great influence and authority in the international fashion industry. In recent years, Ordos has developed rapidly in the fashion industry, showing a young and fashionable image of the city. The choice of Ordos as the location for the modeling competition is fully consistent with the characteristics of the city.

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.

.

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: China-Central Asia Fair Competition Policy Research Institute Opens in Xi’an

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 18 (Xinhua) — The China-Central Asia Fair Competition Policy Research Institute has been established in Xi’an, capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province, the provincial market regulation bureau said Friday.

The opening ceremony of the institute took place on Wednesday afternoon at the Northwestern University of Political Science and Law, according to a statement posted on the official website of the aforementioned department.

In his speech, Zhang Xiaoping, head of the department, called the establishment of the institute a key step to serve the Belt and Road Initiative and promote the development of an open economy in Shaanxi Province. According to him, in order to ensure the effective operation of the institute and enhance its influence, it is necessary to deepen research on competition policy and promote the realization of great results of institutional cooperation with Central Asian countries.

It is necessary to innovatively build a system of service support for enterprises entering international markets to help enterprises from Shaanxi strengthen their positions in the Central Asian markets, he added.

Zhao Wandong, secretary of the Party Committee of Northwest University of Political Science and Law, said the establishment of the institute offers a favorable opportunity to deepen theoretical innovation and practical research in the field of fair competition and antitrust regulation policies and promote the construction of a unified pan-China market. -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.

.

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Appointment of supervisory committee to conduct investigation into alleged misconduct of District Council member

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

The Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs (SHYA), Miss Alice Mak, appointed a supervisory committee today (July 18) to investigate alleged misconduct of Tuen Mun District Council (DC) member Mr Kenneth Yip Kat-kong.

The Chairman and three members of the Tuen Mun DC initiated an investigation into Mr Yip’s alleged misconduct pursuant to the District Councils Ordinance (Cap. 547) on July 15. The SHYA appointed a supervisory committee according to the Ordinance to conduct the investigation, and the five committee members are Mr Li Tak-hong, Ms Luparker Wong Shuk-fan, Mr Ng King-wah, Ms Janus Lau Yuen-yee, and Mr Lau Kar-wah. The supervisory committee will establish whether the facts on which the allegation is based are true; give its opinion on whether the established facts constitute grounds for imposing a sanction under section 72D of the Ordinance; and if there is ground for imposing a sanction, give its opinion on the appropriate sanction to be imposed on the DC member concerned. After completing the investigation, the supervisory committee will submit a report to the SHYA for consideration. The SHYA will make a decision after considering the report and announce such a decision in due course.

Miss Mak said, “The Government places strong emphasis on the conduct and integrity of DC members, and they should conduct themselves in a manner that is in line with public expectations and commensurate with the reputation of the DC and its members. Under the Ordinance, the Government may investigate DC members’ misconduct and impose sanctions according to the performance monitoring mechanism for DC members to ensure that every DC member upholds their duties faithfully to serve the people.”

Miss Mak continued, “The five members of the supervisory committee include one person who is not a DC member and four DC members from districts other than Tuen Mun. They have diverse backgrounds and rich district experience. The supervisory committee will handle the investigation in a robust, fair, just, impartial, independent and objective manner in accordance with the established mechanism.”

The supervisory committee was appointed pursuant to section 72C of the Ordinance. In order to avoid impacting the impartiality of the supervisory committee’s investigation, the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau will not comment on the case during the supervisory committee’s investigation.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong House at Echigo-Tsumari Art Field 2025 to stage in Tsunan, Japan, from tomorrow (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

     The Hong Kong House at the Echigo-Tsumari Art Field 2025 – The Whispers of Stone, organised by the Art Promotion Office (APO) of the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, will be staged in Tsunan, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, from tomorrow (July 19) until November 9. This year’s Hong Kong artists of the exhibition, Chris Cheung and Sim Shum, create a whimsical space using water stones as a medium, alongside sound, light and painting, combining the ancient legend of “The Talking Stone of Weiyu” about “speaking stones” from the Spring and Autumn period. The exhibition intertwines the themes of nature and humanity in an art space of sight and sound, offering audiences an immersive sensory experience of the environment.

     The Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale, held every three years, is one of the world’s largest international outdoor art festivals. With the support of the Tsunan Town Government and in collaboration with the Echigo-Tsumari Art Triennale Executive Committee and the NPO Echigo-Tsumari Satoyama Collaborative Organization, the APO has launched the Hong Kong House in Tsunan, Niigata Prefecture, Japan, since 2018, serving as a platform for artist residencies, exchanges and exhibitions.

     Cheung and Shum were deeply touched by the uniquely shaped water stones of the Shinano River in Echigo-Tsumari, and their art works whisper the stories found in the lyrics of folk songs from the two places, diffusing emotions and memories. They referenced Morse code to develop a language system for the water stones and created the ink art work “The Ode of Stone” and the light installation “The Shades of Stones”, facilitating interaction with audiences. The other two installations, “The Book of Stones” and “The Blessings of Stone” draw inspiration from the Japanese garden design concept “Suikinkutsu” and sacred stones.

     The artists will also organise workshops to guide participants in creating a light installation, projecting their inner thoughts into the space through light and shadows.

     In addition, the activity collaborator, Make A Difference Institute, will organise a community-based food culture project “Minna no Tsukemono”, inviting participants to taste preserved foods from around the world.

     For details of the exhibition, please visit the APO’s website www.apo.hk/en/web/apo/there_hkh2025_the_whispers_of_stone.html, or Hong Kong House’s Facebook at www.facebook.com/apo.hkhouse and Instagram at www.instagram.com/hongkonghouse.



MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HYAB invites organisations to operate youth facilities

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

HYAB invites organisations to operate youth facilities
As announced in “The Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address”, the HYAB will set up a physical platform for interaction for Youth Link members in the Nam Cheong District Community Centre and the adjacent Tung Chau Street Temporary Market, which includes youth facilities such as multifunction areas, a youth culture and creativity bazaar, and small-scale performance spaces. The goal is to provide a gathering place for ongoing interaction among Youth Link members and establish a base for implementing the Youth Development Blueprint measures to encourage communication and collaboration among the Government, the Youth Development Commission and young people participating in various youth development programmes.

In addition, to strengthen support for unleashing the potential of young people, the HYAB will convert part of the Youth Square to establish a new interactive space for young people to gather for exchanges, to develop personal potential and participate in different activities. The HYAB will roll out the Good Stories of Hong Kong Youth Programme by reserving part of the Youth Square for setting up a video studio for young people to produce video clippings to promote good stories of Hong Kong youths, and providing relevant training on the production and filming of video clippings.

The operating organisations of the youth facilities are required to organise on-site events during the operation period. Activities may include workshops, cultural performances, collaborative projects, seminars and youth-led initiatives. The operating organisations are also required to manage the facilities and food and beverage corners.

Details of the projects, the application criteria and the briefing sessions are set out in the invitation of proposals, which is available on the HYAB website (www.hyab.gov.hk
The deadline for application is 5pm on August 19.
Issued at HKT 15:00

NNNN

CategoriesMIL-OSI

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by SCST at completion ceremony of Hong Kong Maritime Museum Jockey Club Anchor Plaza (English only)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Speech by SCST at completion ceremony of Hong Kong Maritime Museum Jockey Club Anchor Plaza (English only)
Mr Hext (Chairman of the Hong Kong Maritime Museum, Mr Richard Hext), Mr Hunsworth (Steward of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Mr Nicholas D Hunsworth), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good morning. As they say, weathering choppy waters is perhaps the trick of the trade of the maritime industry. So, here we are, a trail to our professionalism. It is my great pleasure to join you all today at the completion ceremony of the Hong Kong Maritime Museum Jockey Club Anchor Plaza. Even despite the weather, it is worth taking a good look at our anchor and hearing what Richard will have to say later, introducing what the Anchor’s importance is.

Founded in 2005, the Hong Kong Maritime Museum has long been preserving and promoting the unique maritime history and culture of Hong Kong. As it approaches its 20th anniversary this year, the Maritime Museum’s journey has been remarkable. From its origins at Murray House in Stanley to its current home at Central Pier No. 8, the Museum has evolved into a cultural treasure, showcasing an impressive collection of maritime heritage, welcoming around 100 000 visitors every year, and establishing itself as a vital maritime landmark in Hong Kong over the past two decades. I am also glad to know that the Hong Kong Maritime Museum has been increasingly popular among tourists, with over 20 000 visitors from the Mainland of China and overseas recorded just last year.

Today, I am delighted to witness the completion of the Hong Kong Maritime Museum Jockey Club Anchor Plaza, one of the Chief Executive’s Community Projects. This milestone, achieved after years of dedicated efforts, represents an exciting new chapter in the development of the Museum. Featuring a striking anchor about 7 metres high and a ship-like pavilion, the Anchor Plaza will provide a brand-new public learning space, inviting visitors to explore Hong Kong’s maritime culture while adding yet another vibrant attraction to the iconic Victoria Harbour. I believe that the Anchor Plaza will draw more people to come and appreciate Hong Kong’s unique history and culture as a port city.

The next part of my speech is actually to give you an idea of what we give to have the museum and the support to the arts and culture scenes. But I think you would rather hear from Richard the story of the Anchor than listen to my speech. So I’m sure when I issue it as the press release, you will be able to learn about it.

As you are all aware, the Government has been sparing no effort in fostering the development of arts and culture in recent years. Museums play an important role in preserving and disseminating cultural heritage. Apart from continuously improving public museum services, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department have been actively providing robust support for private institutions like the Hong Kong Maritime Museum. From thematic exhibitions like “Across Victoria Harbour” that revisit the past of Hong Kong, to the upcoming 2025 Forum for Asia-Pacific Maritime Culture to be held at the Museum, the Hong Kong Maritime Museum has played an integral role in enriching Hong Kong’s cultural landscape and fostering international cultural exchange that complements the Government’s work in a truly meaningful way.

In addition to support from the Government, the successful completion of the great Anchor Plaza and the remarkable achievements of the Museum would not be possible without the dedication of the Hong Kong Maritime Museum team and the unwavering support from the Hong Kong Jockey Club, other patrons of the Museum, and the wider community. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has contributed to this project and to the ongoing growth of the Hong Kong Maritime Museum. Let’s join hands to make lasting contributions to the cultural development of Hong Kong.

Let me wish the completion ceremony and the future of the Hong Kong Maritime Museum to weather through the choppy weather like right now, and I wish everybody a good day. Thank you.
Issued at HKT 15:10

NNNN

CategoriesMIL-OSI

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Exam date provisionally set

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

The Government announced today that the sitting of the Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) has been tentatively scheduled for September 27.

The CRE application process will open tomorrow and close at 11.59pm on August 1. Prospective applicants for civil service posts at the degree or professional level can apply.

The next round of recruitment exercises for the posts of Administrative Officer (AO), Executive Officer II (EOII), Assistant Labour Officer II (ALOII), Assistant Trade Officer II (ATOII) and Management Services Officer II (MSOII) will begin in September.

The Civil Service Bureau iterated that those who plan to apply for civil service posts at the degree or professional level in the near future must have the requisite CRE results and are advised to take part in this round of examination.

The pool of eligible candidates for civil service jobs requiring an undergraduate degree has been expanded to students in their third year of undergraduate studies in a four-year curriculum.

This means that those eligible to sit the examination include holders of a degree, or a professional qualification meeting the entry requirements of the posts, and university students graduating in the 2025-26 or 2026-27 academic year.

Details about the upcoming CRE will be uploaded to the bureau’s webpage tomorrow.

Candidates who are interested in applying for the above vacancies but have not attained a pass result in the Basic Law & National Security Law Test (BLNST) must separately apply and obtain a pass result before the specified date, ie November 29, in order to be considered for appointment.

Additionally, for the convenience of those studying or residing outside Hong Kong, the CRE and the paper-based BLNST are tentatively scheduled to be held on November 29 in Beijing, Shanghai, London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver and Sydney. Applications will open later this year.

Call the Civil Service Examinations Unit at 2537 6429 or email it for enquiries.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SPC Jul 18, 2025 0600 UTC Day 2 Convective Outlook

Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

SPC AC 180539

Day 2 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1239 AM CDT Fri Jul 18 2025

Valid 191200Z – 201200Z

…THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS SATURDAY INTO
SATURDAY NIGHT ACROSS PARTS OF EASTERN IOWA…SOUTHERN
WISCONSIN…NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ILLINOIS AND INDIANA…CENTRAL AND
SOUTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN…NORTHERN AND WESTERN OHIO…PARTS OF
NORTHWESTERN PENNSYLVANIA AND WESTERN NEW YORK STATE…

…SUMMARY…
Strong thunderstorms, including one or two organizing clusters, are
possible across southern portions of the Great Lakes region and
adjacent portions of the Ohio Valley Saturday into Saturday night,
with more widely scattered strong thunderstorm development across
the northern Rockies into adjacent high plains.

…Discussion…
Models indicate that at least some amplification to the mid/upper
flow across the northern tier of the U.S. is probable during this
period. It appears that this will include digging troughing across
the Pacific Northwest through northern Rockies, downstream of
increasingly prominent ridging building across the northeastern
Pacific. Farther east, troughing is forecast to dig across and to
the east of the Great Lakes, in advance of significant troughing
within a separate branch of westerlies, pivoting southeast of Hudson
Bay.

In lower levels, the better defined remnants of an ongoing cold
frontal intrusion to the lee of the Rockies, perhaps aided by
stronger differential surface heating during the day Saturday, may
shift east of the middle Mississippi through the lower Ohio Valley.
At the same time, a reinforcing intrusion of cooler and drier air is
forecast to advance across and south of the Upper Midwest and Great
Lakes, probably in the wake of a weak eastward migrating surface
low.

…Midwest through Great Lakes/Ohio Valley…
Model depictions concerning synoptic and sub-synoptic features,
including potential convective evolution remain rather varied. In
general, it appears that low-level moistening ahead of the
reinforcing cold front will contribute to moderate destabilization
as far north as the southern Great Lakes during the day Saturday.
On the southern fringe of the stronger westerlies, 30-50 kt flow in
the 850-500 mb layer across southern Wisconsin and Lower Michigan
into the lower Great Lakes will contribute to potential for
organized convective development. This may include a couple of
supercells and perhaps an upscale growing cluster. Although
mid-level lapse rates may be modest, this may be accompanied by some
risk for hail, in addition to strong to severe surface gusts and
perhaps a tornado or two.

Southwestward toward the middle Mississippi into Ohio Valleys,
deep-layer mean wind fields are likely to be weaker, but shear
beneath west-northwesterly mid-level flow may still support
potential for organized thunderstorm development, in the presence of
a seasonably moist boundary-layer becoming characterized by sizable
CAPE with daytime heating. Forcing for this activity remains
unclear, and probably will hinge on convectively generated or
augmented perturbations migrating around the northern periphery of
mid/upper ridging encompassing much of the central and southern tier
of the U.S. to the east of the Rockies.

…Lee of the northern Rockies…
Downstream of the digging mid/upper troughing across the Northwest,
moisture return to deepening lee surface troughing is forecast to
contribute to at least a narrow corridor of moderate to large
mixed-layer CAPE, in the presence of steep lower/mid-tropospheric
lapse rates. Veering of winds with height probably will contribute
to sufficient shear for organized thunderstorm development,
including supercells, as widely scattered to scattered thunderstorms
develop off the higher terrain into the high plains late Saturday
afternoon and evening. It is possible that severe weather
probabilities could still be increased in later outlooks for this
period.

..Kerr.. 07/18/2025

CLICK TO GET WUUS02 PTSDY2 PRODUCT

NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 2 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 1730Z

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SPC Jul 18, 2025 0600 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

For best viewing experience, please enable browser JavaScript support.

Jul 18, 2025 0600 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

Click to see valid 1Z – 12Z Day 1 Convective Outlook

Updated: Fri Jul 18 05:45:27 UTC 2025 (Print Version | | )

Probabilistic to Categorical Outlook Conversion Table

Forecast Discussion

SPC AC 180545

Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
1245 AM CDT Fri Jul 18 2025

Valid 181200Z – 191200Z

…THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS IN PARTS OF VA/NC
AND NE/SD/MN/IA…

…SUMMARY…
Scattered severe thunderstorms with large hail, damaging winds, and
a few tornadoes are possible across parts of the Corn Belt in Iowa,
Minnesota, Nebraska, and South Dakota this evening into tonight.
Scattered damaging winds are possible across parts of Virginia and
northern North Carolina this afternoon.

…SD/MN/IA/NE…
A low-amplitude shortwave impulse along the international border
over the northern Great Plains will progress across the Upper
Midwest/Great Lakes and ON. A belt of seasonably strong mid-level
westerlies should be centered this afternoon from central MN to Lake
Huron. Elevated convection is expected to be ongoing at 12Z across
parts of the eastern Dakotas into northern MN ahead of the mid-level
impulse, amid a low-level warm theta-e advection regime. As this
overspreads a preceding cool/dry surface airmass over the Upper
Midwest, pronounced differential diabatic surface heating will
strengthen a baroclinic zone across southeast SD bisecting IA to the
southeast by late afternoon. Thunderstorm development in this time
frame should be confined to along/northeast of the surface warm
front across far eastern SD and southern MN. Large-scale ascent
appears nebulous, but a strengthening low-level jet should aid in
convection flanking to the southwest across the Mid-MO Valley during
the evening. This may merge with high-based convection shifting east
from western NE.

Deep-layer shear will be sufficient for initial supercells that will
probably grow upscale into multiple clusters and/or an MCS tonight.
The latter may accelerate east-southeast for a time in the western
IA vicinity before weakening during the early morning. A mix of all
severe hazards are possible in this setup with hail being favored
early and wind later. Moderately enlarged low-level hodographs
should also support a tornado threat with any sustained supercell to
QLCS evolution.

…VA/NC…
00Z HREF guidance supports scattered to numerous thunderstorms this
afternoon with transient organizational structures that should be
sufficient for a scattered damaging wind threat. This appears to be
largely in response to the eastward progression of an MCV currently
near the IN/OH/KY border. A compact belt of enhanced mid-level
westerlies should overspread the northern periphery of ample MLCAPE
emanating from the South Atlantic Coastal Plain. Multicell clusters
that can progress towards a warmer/deeper boundary layer across the
Piedmont and Coastal Plain should produce strong to sporadic severe
gusts through early evening.

..Grams/Wendt.. 07/18/2025

CLICK TO GET WUUS01 PTSDY1 PRODUCT

.html”>Latest Day 2 Outlook/Today’s Outlooks/Forecast Products/Home

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SPC – No watches are valid as of Fri Jul 18 06:48:01 UTC 2025

Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Current Convective Watches (View What is a Watch? clip)Updated: Fri Jul 18 07:05:06 UTC 2025 No watches are currently valid

Archived Convective ProductsTo view convective products for a previous day, type in the date you wish to retrieve (e.g. 20040529 for May 29, 2004). Data available since January 1, 2004.

MIL OSI USA News –

July 18, 2025
Amit Shah congratulates Ahmedabad for topping cleanest big cities list in Swachh Survekshan 2024-25

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday congratulated the people of Ahmedabad after the city was ranked the cleanest metropolis in the million-plus population category in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25.

In a post on X, Amit Shah said, “A moment of pride for Ahmedabadis as the city is ranked at the top among the cleanest big cities in India in Swachh Survekshan 2024-25. This honor stands as a testimony to the success of PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s vision behind Swachhta Abhiyan, pursuing the principle of cleanliness as the key to public health, and mirrors the shared commitment of the people to the cause.”

“Let this achievement be the cornerstone for achieving new heights in this arena by advancing the culture of cleanliness to new frontiers. My heartiest congratulations to the people of Ahmedabad and all the sanitation workers for their immense contributions,” he added.

Bhopal and Lucknow followed Ahmedabad in the rankings, while Indore, maintaining its clean city record for eight consecutive years, was elevated to the newly created Super Swachh League.

Expressing her happiness, Ahmedabad Mayor Pratibha Jain told IANS, “I am truly delighted. Ahmedabad, being declared the cleanest big city, is a result of the relentless efforts of the entire administration and the active participation of our citizens. I wholeheartedly thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their visionary leadership and constant encouragement.”

She added, “We worked tirelessly using the principles of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (3R). We also implemented a waste-to-energy plant, which played a major role in our success. I hope that every city in Gujarat rises to the top in the coming years.”

The awards were presented at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday.

Launched in 2016 under the Swachh Bharat Mission by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Swachh Survekshan has grown exponentially over the years. From just 73 cities in its inaugural edition, the 2024–25 survey covered an impressive 4,589 cities between April 2024 and March 2025.

This year, awards were presented across four key segments: Super Swachh League Cities, Top Three Clean Cities in Five Population Categories, Special Categories (including Ganga Towns, Cantonment Boards, SafaiMitra Suraksha, and Mahakumbh), and State-Level Awards recognizing the most promising clean cities.

For the first time, cities were classified into five population-based categories, including a newly introduced segment for very small cities with populations under 10 lakh.

(With inputs from IANS)

July 18, 2025
Amit Shah congratulates Ahmedabad for topping cleanest big cities list in Swachh Survekshan 2024-25

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday congratulated the people of Ahmedabad after the city was ranked the cleanest metropolis in the million-plus population category in the Swachh Survekshan 2024-25.

In a post on X, Amit Shah said, “A moment of pride for Ahmedabadis as the city is ranked at the top among the cleanest big cities in India in Swachh Survekshan 2024-25. This honor stands as a testimony to the success of PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s vision behind Swachhta Abhiyan, pursuing the principle of cleanliness as the key to public health, and mirrors the shared commitment of the people to the cause.”

“Let this achievement be the cornerstone for achieving new heights in this arena by advancing the culture of cleanliness to new frontiers. My heartiest congratulations to the people of Ahmedabad and all the sanitation workers for their immense contributions,” he added.

Bhopal and Lucknow followed Ahmedabad in the rankings, while Indore, maintaining its clean city record for eight consecutive years, was elevated to the newly created Super Swachh League.

Expressing her happiness, Ahmedabad Mayor Pratibha Jain told IANS, “I am truly delighted. Ahmedabad, being declared the cleanest big city, is a result of the relentless efforts of the entire administration and the active participation of our citizens. I wholeheartedly thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah for their visionary leadership and constant encouragement.”

She added, “We worked tirelessly using the principles of Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle (3R). We also implemented a waste-to-energy plant, which played a major role in our success. I hope that every city in Gujarat rises to the top in the coming years.”

The awards were presented at a ceremony held at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi, in the presence of President Droupadi Murmu on Thursday.

Launched in 2016 under the Swachh Bharat Mission by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Swachh Survekshan has grown exponentially over the years. From just 73 cities in its inaugural edition, the 2024–25 survey covered an impressive 4,589 cities between April 2024 and March 2025.

This year, awards were presented across four key segments: Super Swachh League Cities, Top Three Clean Cities in Five Population Categories, Special Categories (including Ganga Towns, Cantonment Boards, SafaiMitra Suraksha, and Mahakumbh), and State-Level Awards recognizing the most promising clean cities.

For the first time, cities were classified into five population-based categories, including a newly introduced segment for very small cities with populations under 10 lakh.

(With inputs from IANS)

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: The World Health Organization (WHO) Strengthens Tanzania’s Recovery from Marburg Outbreak with Critical Medical Equipment

Source: APO

.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has reinforced its support to Tanzania’s post-Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) recovery by handing over essential medical equipment worth over TZS 112 million to health authorities in Biharamulo District, one of the areas most affected by the outbreak.

The equipment package includes personal protective equipment (PPE), diagnostic tools, hospital beds, and emergency medical kits, critical to restoring routine health services and enhancing outbreak preparedness at the district level.

Speaking during the official handover ceremony, Dr. Galbert Fedjo, acting WHO Representative in Tanzania, reaffirmed WHO’s long-term support: “This handover is part of a broader commitment to strengthen outbreak preparedness and response capacities in Tanzania. We are proud to stand with the Government and the people of Tanzania on the road from recovery to resilience.”

The donation is part of a larger post-Marburg support package made possible through funding from the Government of the United Kingdom via the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Beyond medical supplies, the support has also contributed to risk communication, psychosocial recovery, and training of health workers across affected regions.

Receiving the equipment on behalf of the Government, The Director of Emergency at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Erasto Sylvanus, expressed appreciation to WHO and partners: “This support comes at a critical time as we continue to strengthen our health systems and ensure our frontline workers are equipped to handle future health emergencies. We thank WHO and the UK Government for standing with us.”

The Marburg Virus Disease outbreak was officially declared in March and successfully contained through rapid response efforts led by the Ministry of Health with support from WHO and partners. Today’s handover marks a significant step in the recovery phase and in enhancing Tanzania’s long-term public health emergency preparedness.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization – United Republic of Tanzania.

MIL OSI Africa –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Mahama reaffirms commitment: cocoa farmers to receive 70% of world market price

Source: APO

.

President John Dramani Mahama has announced that, beginning with the next cocoa season, Ghanaian cocoa farmers will receive no less than 70 per cent of the prevailing world market price for their produce.

Addressing a grand durbar of chiefs and residents in Juaboso on Tuesday, the President declared: “Let me be clear: we will honour our promise to pay our hardworking farmers 70 per cent of the world market price of cocoa. The sweat of our cocoa farmers deserves dignity and a fair reward.”

Key highlights

1. 70 % price guarantee: The new pricing formula will be reflected in the producer price set by the Producer Price Review Committee ahead of the upcoming 2025/26 crop year.

2. President Mahama announced that construction works will commence this quarter on the Juaboso–Asawinso trunk road, along with 120 km of feeder roads that link farming communities to key buying centres.

3. Government will distribute five million hybrid seedlings and scale up fertiliser subsidies to increase yields and maintain Ghana’s position as the world’s leading cocoa producer.

An additional 10,000 young people are being enrolled in the Cocoa Rehabilitation & Youth Entrepreneurship Programme to rejuvenate aged farms and create decent jobs in the sector.

President Mahama described cocoa as “the lifeblood of our rural economy” and emphasised that sustaining farmers’ livelihoods is central to Ghana’s growth agenda. The chiefs commended the President for honouring his pledges and called for continued collaboration to improve health, education, and market access in cocoa-growing areas.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.

MIL OSI Africa –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Twelve Million Kenyans to Benefit from a New Social Protection Project Aimed at Strengthening Human Capital and Economic Inclusion

Source: APO

.

The World Bank Board of Directors approved the Second Kenya Social and Economic Inclusion Project (KSEIP2) which will strengthen the country’s social protection systems and scale up safety net support to twelve million citizens, including elderly, women, adolescents, children and other age specific vulnerable groups–while advancing human capital development and economic inclusion.

The KSEIP2, a successor to the recently completed Kenya Social and Economic Inclusion Project (KSEIP), will build on the success and lessons learned from the relevant interventions implemented to enhance delivery systems for inclusive access to social and economic inclusion. It is financed by a $127.5 million investment from the International Development Association (IDA).

“Inclusive growth and poverty reduction are realized when there are more and better jobs as well as more accessible jobs for the poorest and most vulnerable populations,” said Qimiao Fan, World Bank Division Director for Kenya. “The project’s innovative elements will prepare today’s children and adolescents for healthy and productive adulthoods, help poorer families with sustainable livelihood enhancement, and ensure that hard-won gains are not lost to food insecurity during the times of drought or other crises.”

The project will scale up cash-plus programs for targeted age groups, complementing the existing cash transfers provided under the government’s flagship National Safety Net Program (NSNP). KSEIP2 will promote inclusive and sustainable employment through the introduction of climate-resilient income-generating activities and by linking beneficiaries to government social insurance schemes for long-term savings and resilience.

Given Kenya’s vulnerability to recurrent droughts in the North and Northeastern Counties, the project will also strengthen the efficacy of social protection system through investments in modernization and provision of emergency social assistance as temporary support to offset the adverse impact of such crisis.

“The Government of Kenya is committed to supporting opportunities for every Kenyan family to sustainably exit poverty and vulnerability. The KSEIP2 Project supports the government’s ambition on disrupting the vicious cycle of poverty by focusing on investments in children and adolescents, as well as households with productive capacity,” said Shubha Chakravarty, Senior Economist and the Task Team Leader, World Bank. “This objective will be achieved by working in synergy with other relevant government programs.”

The project is consistent with the FY23-FY28 World Bank Group Country Partnership Framework (CPF), particularly with the objectives of increasing household resilience, national preparedness for shocks response, and priorities around human capital development and jobs agenda. It is also in line with Kenya’s vision 2030 while supporting the constitutional commitment to “provide social security for all Kenyans who cannot support themselves”.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.

MIL OSI Africa –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Accountability Series: Interior Minister Announces Transformative Initiatives
Source: APO

.

The Ministry for the Interior has unveiled groundbreaking initiatives aimed at reforming the Prison Service and strengthening the nation’s security architecture.

Speaking at the inaugural “Government Accountability Series” at the Presidency in Accra, Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, announced a pivotal shift for the Prison Service, transforming it into a key contributor to national production and inmate rehabilitation.

As part of the government’s strategic efforts to resource state institutions and foster meaningful rehabilitation, the Ministry for the Interior has initiated discussions with the Ministry of Education to sign a Memorandum of Understanding. This landmark agreement will empower the Prison Service to supply:
- 20% of sanitary pads for the nation’s Free Sanitary Initiative.
- 30% of all school furniture procured by the government.
- 30% of all school uniforms distributed nationwide.
Alhaji Mohammed-Mubarak, articulating the rationale behind the initiative, stated that the initiative is designed to engender reforms within the nation’s prisons, where inmates are mostly caged.

“We are moving beyond mere incarceration to equip inmates with valuable skills, foster productivity, and prepare them for successful reintegration into society.

The Minister stated that the Ghana Police Service plays a critical role in upholding public order and supporting the government’s economic agenda.

He lauded the Service’s unwavering commitment to public safety, highlighting its sustained efforts against illegal mining operations.

These robust efforts have significantly curbed illicit activities in forest reserves and along water bodies, effectively preventing foreign nationals from engaging in small-scale mining and safeguarding the nation’s natural resources.

In response to the government’s 24-Hour Economy programme, Mohammed-Mubarak announced the establishment of a dedicated 24-Hour Economy Secretariat at the Police Headquarters in Accra. This secretariat is designed to provide round-the-clock security for businesses, ensuring the safe movement of goods and people, and fostering unhindered economic growth across the country.

The Minister further detailed the Ghana Police Service’s impressive successes in crime combat.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.

MIL OSI Africa –
July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Ghana: President Mahama welcomes London Mayor

Source: APO

.

President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday reaffirmed Ghana’s firm commitment to international trade and investment, outlining the wide-ranging reforms actively fostering economic transformation and better governance.

He was speaking during a courtesy call from the Mayor of London, Sir Sadiq Khan.

The President stated that these strategic reforms, begun just six months into his administration, are already showing tangible results.

He spoke about the renewed business confidence, the relative appreciation of the Cedi, and a decreasing inflation rate as important signs of economic stability and progress, especially after recent global challenges and inherited public debt burdens.

“We are striving to cultivate a new sense of thinking, a fresh approach to doing things, and to ensure that we effectively serve the people who elected us to lead,” President Mahama stated.

He elaborated on key government initiatives, including the ’24-Hour Economy’ policy, drawing inspiration from London, a city he described as “never sleeping.”

The President explained, “We’ve launched a 24-Hour Economy initiative to harness Ghana’s vibrant youthful population and address the challenges of rapid urbanisation by promoting continuous economic activity and opportunities.”

President Mahama further emphasised Ghana’s burgeoning digital landscape, indicating the country’s readiness to fully integrate into the global FinTech community with numerous digital services and innovative companies emerging across the country.

He also reiterated the government’s strong focus on agriculture and agribusiness as vital sectors for creating more opportunities, particularly for young people.

Discussions between the two leaders also delved into the deep historical and business ties connecting Accra and London.

President Mahama acknowledged Accra’s rapid growth and expressed Ghana’s keen interest in learning from London’s extensive expertise in urban planning, efficient transport systems, modern waste management solutions, and effective flood control strategies.

“For a city like London, the efficiency of your transport system, even with perceived challenges, is truly remarkable,” the President noted, adding, “We aspire to develop similar reliable systems where punctuality is the norm for our citizens.”

In his remarks, Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan congratulated President Mahama on his re-election and commended the positive signals his administration is sending to the international community regarding Ghana’s potential.

He praised the invaluable contributions of Londoners of Ghanaian origin, who are enriching various sectors of the city’s economy and public life, from healthcare and transport to the arts.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.

MIL OSI Africa –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Sudan: United Nation (UN) Human Rights Chief deplores killing of dozens of civilians in Kordofan

Source: APO

.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk on Thursday deplored the killing of dozens of civilians by both parties amid ongoing hostilities in Sudan’s Kordofan region over the past week.

The UN Human Rights Office has verified the killing of least 60 civilians by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in North Kordofan’s Bara locality since 10 July. Civil society groups have reported that up to 300 people were killed.

At least 23 other civilians were reportedly killed and more than 30 others injured when airstrikes by the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) hit two villages in West Kordofan from 10 to 14 July. In addition, on 17 July, at least 11 civilians – all members of a single family – were killed in a SAF airstrike in Bara locality.

“It is distressing that more than two years since the conflict began parties to the conflict in Sudan continue to demonstrate callous disregard for civilians’ lives and safety,” said Türk.

The latest civilian deaths come amid worrying reports that the RSF is mobilising for an offensive on El Obeid, the capital of North Kordofan state. The UN Human Rights Chief also expressed continued concern for the safety of civilians in El Fasher, North Darfur, following multiple RSF attacks on the besieged city in recent days, including a ground attack on 11 and 12 July, which reportedly resulted in civilian casualties.

“An escalation of hostilities in North Darfur and Kordofan will only further aggravate the already severe risks to civilians and the dire humanitarian situation in a conflict that has already wrought untold suffering on the Sudanese people,” said Türk. “I urge those with influence to act to prevent such an escalation, and to ensure that both parties uphold their obligations under international law, including on the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure.”

The High Commissioner renewed his calls on the warring parties to ensure safe, sustained and unimpeded access to humanitarian aid, including through humanitarian pauses, and to prevent and repress violations of international law. “All alleged violations must be fully and independently investigated and those responsible brought to justice,” he said.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations: Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).

MIL OSI Africa –

July 18, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Minister of State at Ministry of Foreign Affairs Meets United States (US) State Department Senior Advisor for Africa

Source: APO

.

HE Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi met on Thursday with HE Presidential Envoy and Senior Advisor for Africa at the US Department of State Massad Boulos, who is currently visiting the country.

During the meeting, the two sides reviewed the close strategic relations between the State of Qatar and the United States and discussed ways to support and enhance them. They also discussed joint efforts to address the situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, along with a number of issues of mutual interest.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of The State of Qatar.

MIL OSI Africa –

July 18, 2025

Category: AM-NC

New report finds systemic water company failure and underperformance

Alan Lovell, Chair of the Environment Agency said:

Share this page

Updates to this page