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) — China’s trade-in sales revenue exceeded 2.9 trillion yuan (about 405.6 billion U.S. dollars) as of the end of June 2025, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said at a press conference on Friday. -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.
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) — China imported consumer goods worth a total of 7.4 trillion yuan (about 1.03 trillion U.S. dollars) from 2021 to 2024, the first four years of the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said Friday. -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.
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) — China’s retail sales of consumer goods have grown at an average annual rate of 5.5 percent over the past four years, and are expected to exceed 50 trillion yuan (about 7 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2025, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said Friday. -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.
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 17 (Xinhua) — U.S. President Donald Trump has developed swelling in his legs and has been diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency, a common and harmless condition, White House press secretary Caroline Leavitt said on Thursday.
She said an ultrasound revealed chronic venous insufficiency, a condition that often occurs in people over 70.
K. Leavitt said additional tests showed that D. Trump “has no signs of heart failure, renal impairment or systemic disease.”
Trump, 79, was recently photographed at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with swelling visible in his ankles. –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.
Announcement on Open Market Operations No.137 [2025]
(Open Market Operations Office, July 18, 2025)
The People’s Bank of China conducted reverse repo operations in the amount of RMB187.5 billion through quantity bidding at a fixed interest rate on July 18, 2025.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
CHONGQING, July 18 — The first Belt and Road Conference for Overseas Chinese Cooperation and Development opened in southwest China’s Chongqing Municipality on Thursday, aiming to harness the strength of the overseas Chinese communities to advance the Belt and Road Initiative.
Deals worth 43.79 billion yuan (about 6.13 billion U.S. dollars) covering 66 projects across green energy, cross-border trade, advanced manufacturing and digital economy sectors were signed at the conference.
The conference also launched the Belt and Road Overseas Chinese Business Network, with founding members representing Chinese business organizations from 72 countries and regions. The network aims to integrate global Chinese business resources and promote cooperation in trade, science, technology and culture.
Ten exemplary “Overseas Chinese for Belt and Road” cases, highlighting contributions in fields such as new energy, manufacturing and humanitarian aid, were released.
Jointly organized by the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and the governments of Chongqing and Sichuan Province, the event brought together over 500 overseas Chinese representatives from more than 110 countries and regions.
Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi (PSA) is expressing outrage at the conduct of David Seymour for his offensive treatment of the UN’s Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples – and its disappointment that this stance was endorsed by the Prime Minister.
PSA Kaihautū Janice Panoho called on the Prime Minister to issues a formal apology to the Rapporteur, Dr Albert Barume, and for Foreign Minister Winston Peters to provide a meaningful, Tiriti-consistent response to the UN to the concerns raised with them about the Regulatory Standards Bill and the erosion of Māori rights that have occurred under this government.
“The Rapporteur was simply doing his job in seeking a response from the government to legitimate concerns that have been raised with the UN.
“David Seymour’s disrespectful response to the Rapporteur not only undermined Foreign Minister Winston Peters who is responsible for leading our diplomatic relations, it was also ignorant and reeked of colonial defensiveness.
“This further exposes this government’s complete disregard for the foundational place of Māori as tangata whenua of Aotearoa. The Regulatory Standards Bill, for example, deliberately excludes Māori worldviews, ignores tikanga, and seeks to erase Te Tiriti obligations, and when the international community raises red flags, the response is open hostility.
“Even more disturbing is the Prime Minister’s public admission that he ‘fully agrees’ with the contents of Seymour’s letter. This is not a mere misstep in process, this is an active and deliberate dismissal of indigenous rights, and a signal to Māori and the global community that this government believes it is above scrutiny.
“This coalition government continues to prove itself unfit to govern in a Tiriti-based nation. The actions are not just diplomatically embarrassing, they are a direct attack on Māori and our rights as affirmed by Te Tiriti o Waitangi and international law,” says Panoho.
“Māori will not be silenced by arrogant dismissals or political games. We will continue to use all available channels to hold this government accountable, nationally and internationally.”
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahiis Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
The Government announced today (July 18) that 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 2025.
As part of the entry requirements, applicants for these posts will need to attain:
(a) Level 2 in the two language papers (Use of Chinese and Use of English) in the Common Recruitment Examination (CRE) or other results which are accepted as equivalent; (b) a pass result in the Aptitude Test paper in the CRE; and (c) a pass result in the Basic Law and National Security Law Test (BLNST) (Degree/Professional Grades).
Candidates who wish to apply for the posts mentioned above but have not attained the requisite results in CRE should apply through an online application system on the Civil Service Bureau (CSB) website from tomorrow (July 19) to August 1 to take the relevant paper(s) in the CRE tentatively scheduled to be held on September 27 in Hong Kong in order to be considered for appointment. Details and the online application system will be made available on the CSB website at www.csb.gov.hk/eng/cre.html during the application period.
With the launch of Digitalised BLNST (Degree/Professional Grades) this year, which accepts applications year-round, candidates who are interested in applying for the above vacancies but have not attained a pass result in the BLNST must separately apply for Digitalised BLNST (application details are available at www.csb.gov.hk/eng/dblnst.html) and obtain a pass result before the specified date (i.e. November 29) in order to be considered for appointment.
Candidates located outside Hong Kong can still apply for the CRE and the BLNST (Degree/Professional Grades) tentatively scheduled to be held in Beijing, Shanghai, London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver and Sydney on November 29. Application details will be announced in September.
Students who are pursuing a bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, and graduating in the years of 2025-26 or 2026-27 academic years are also eligible to apply for the posts and/or apply to take the CRE and the BLNST.
Details of the 2025-26 AO, EOII, ALOII, ATOII and MSOII recruitment exercises will also be announced in September.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Bihar and West Bengal today (Friday), where he will launch a range of developmental projects worth over Rs 12,000 crore. After giving a major thrust to infrastructure development in both states, PM Modi will also address public gatherings in Motihari in Bihar and Durgapur in West Bengal.
The projects, amounting to over Rs 7,200 crore for Bihar and over Rs 5,000 crore for Bengal, aim to elevate the region’s connectivity and overall infrastructural growth, while boosting employment, rural livelihoods and digital innovation.
In Motihari, PM Modi will inaugurate and lay foundation stones for projects across rail, road, IT, fisheries and rural development sectors. He will flag off four Amrit Bharat Express trains connecting Patna, Motihari, Darbhanga and Malda Town to major northern cities including Delhi and Lucknow.
Key railway projects in Bihar include the inauguration of automatic signalling on the Samastipur-Bachhwara line and the doubling of Darbhanga-Thalwara and Samastipur-Rambhadrapur sections worth Rs 580 crore.
The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for rail infrastructure projects including a Vande Bharat maintenance facility at Patliputra and doubling of the Darbhanga-Narkatiaganj line, amounting to Rs 4,080 crore.
In road infrastructure, PM Modi will launch the four-laning of the Ara bypass and Parariya-Mohania section of NH-319 with a combined investment of Rs 820 crore, improving access to the Delhi-Kolkata Golden Quadrilateral.
To foster Bihar’s digital economy, the Prime Minister will inaugurate a Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) facility in Darbhanga and an incubation centre in Patna, boosting start-ups and IT/ITES exports.
Under the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana, he will launch new fisheries infrastructure including hatcheries, aquaculture units and fish feed mills.
PM Modi will lay the foundation stone for Bharat Petroleum Corp. Ltd (BPCL) City Gas Distribution (CGD) project in Bankura and Purulia districts of West Bengal, worth around Rs 1,950 crore to give a boost to Oil and Gas infrastructure in the region. It will provide PNG connections to households, commercial establishments and industrial customers and provide CNG at the retail outlets.
PM Modi will also dedicate to the nation the Durgapur to Kolkata section (132 Km) of Durgapur-Haldia Natural Gas Pipeline and Bokaro-Dhamra Pipeline, also known as Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga (PMUG) Project. (IANS)
This year is the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth and she hasn’t aged a bit as the cultural touchstone of classy romance. Her Pride and Prejudice anti-hero, Mr Darcy, perennially pops up in his breeches in Instagram memes, while Regency feminist, Elizabeth Bennet has been brought to life by a host of contemporary actors.
Along with new screen versions of Austen’s Sense and Sensibility (starring Daisy Edgar-Jones) and a Netflix version of P & P, there have been adaptations of her classics Persuasion, Emma, Northanger Abbey, and Mansfield Park. And, there are numerous biographies and biopics including a TV drama about Jane’s sister, Cassandra, who burnt most of Jane’s letters.
Review: The Novel Life of Jane Austen: A Graphic Biography –
Janine Barchas, Isabel Greenberg (Hachette)
Now, there is also a graphic biography: The Novel Life of Jane Austen, written by Janine Barchas and illustrated by Isabel Greenberg.
Together, they have co-created a storyboard for the domestic life that framed Austen’s writing, encompassing her closeness to both Cassandra and her brother Frank, who joined the navy and liked to sew.
Unlike a “cradle to grave” biography, Barchas begins with a teenage Jane in London with Frank touring an exhibition about Shakespeare and his work. We then follow her, in illustrative comic boxes and speech bubbles, through her publishing rejections, her breakthrough debut Sense and Sensibility, and her rise to become one of most beloved writers in the canon of English literature.
The book ends beyond the grave, flashing forward to the present, in a scene where contemporary fans – Janeites – visit Jane Austen’s House, the cottage in Hampshire where Austen lived when she revised and published her six novels.
It’s also a sign of subtle structural polish. Now Jane Austen is as deserving of her own gallery as Shakespeare was when we first met Jane as a young, unpublished author.
Thinking in pink
Barchas – an “Austenite”, as Austen scholars are called – is the author of The Lost Books of Jane Austen, a study of the mass market editions of Austen’s work. (The Novel Life touches on Austen’s posthumous appeal with a scene where readers buy Austen books for one shilling at a railway station after her death, aged 41.)
Barchas is the co-creator of the interactive digital exhibition, What Jane Saw, which invites us to visit two art exhibitions witnessed by Jane Austen: the Sir Joshua Reynolds retrospective in 1813 or the Shakespeare Gallery as it looked in 1796. The Novel Life, however, is a more definitive life story. It’s also best read in print (although it is available as an e-book) to appreciate Greenberg’s illustrations and graphic format.
The Novel Life is a gentler, less dramatic style than traditional comics with six-pack superheroes or Japanese manga, similar to Greenberg’s previous literary graphic biography foray, Glass Town, about the Bronte sisters.
For the Novel Life, Greenberg has drawn a world in which Austen is whimsical, with expressive eyes looming under her signature bangs. She and her sister Cassandra appear in bright yellow or blue empire line dresses.
Most scenes are illustrated in a muted palette of yellow, blue and grey. This palette, Barchas reflects in the preface, represents “the relative quiet of her (Austen’s) life”.
When Jane is thinking or writing however, the pages transform into vivid shades of pink to symbolise her imagination and inspiration. In these pages, The Novel Life is at its best, showing graphic biography can be both captivating and deceptively sophisticated.
Archival nods
Is a graphic biography really a biography in the conventional understanding of the genre? It can upset the perceived rules. Anticipating this, in the preface, Barchas reminds us:
Any biography of Austen, and there are many, exists at the intersection of speculation and research.
This book is at this intersection. While the dialogue is largely invented, it is grounded in Barchas’ expertise and there is a glossary of sources at the end.
Throughout, there are also nods to the archive. Barchas begins with a scene of Jane in 1796 writing a letter to Cassandra at a desk while staying in London – one of the few not burnt.
A speech bubble quotes an extract from it:
Here I am once more in this scene of dissipation and vice, and I begin already to find my morals corrupted.
There are also Post-it style notes, separate to the bubbles, offering extra biographical context for readers less familiar with the intricacies of Austen’s story. A key scene happens when Jane, 22, receives her first rejection by a publisher for her manuscript “First Impressions” and is comforted by the loyal Cassandra. The note reads:
Jane would carry out more than a decade and a half of revisions before she dared to offer the manuscript to another publisher, who released it in 1813 as Pride and Prejudice.
Because of their visual casualness, importantly the notes don’t interfere with the intimate, engaging tone of the story.
‘Easter eggs’
For Austen’s committed “Janeite” fan base, Barchas promises “cheeky easter eggs” in the preface. Janeites can delight in well-quoted lines from the novels that appear as dialogue or a character’s thoughts.
Look, for instance, for Jane reading at a dinner party from P & P: “It’s a truth universally acknowledged […]” and “she is tolerable but not handsome enough to tempt me […]”.
It’s a truth universally acknowledged too that graphic biography can be confused with the graphic novel, now the third most popular literary genre in sales after general fiction and romance.
But, dear reader, there’s a tradition of life writing in the medium. The Pulitzer Prize winning graphic biography/memoir, The Complete Maus, told Art Spiegelman’s father’s story of the Holocaust to his son, (Art) who struggled to understand his father. Maus portrayed Jewish people anthropomorphically as mice and Nazis as cats. It was described by The New Yorker “as the first masterpiece of comic book history”.
Other high points in graphic biography include Peter Bagge’s Woman Rebel, the story of birth control campaigner Margaret Sanger, published in 2013.
Not everyone will appreciate a work diverging so dramatically from the expectations of a traditional biography. And those who will most appreciate or scrutinise The Novel Life are yes, the Janeites and Austenites.
Regardless, Austen comes to graphic life in the mind and hands of Barchas and Greenberg. More generally, for those of us who like our biographies in vivid colour – literally – and enjoy experiments in nonfiction storytelling, it’s a delightful reading experience, just like Jane Austen.
Kerrie Davies 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.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Photo taken on July 3, 2025 shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. [Photo/Xinhua]
The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote Thursday on a bill to cut funding for foreign aid and public broadcasting after the Senate passed it.
The Senate approved the bill early Thursday, which will roll back 9 billion U.S. dollars Congress had allocated to foreign aid and public broadcasting.
With a voting result of 51-48, the bill was opposed by every Democrat in the Senate, along with two GOP senators.
Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the bill is a small but an important “step toward fiscal sanity.”
The bill will slash 1.1 billion dollars meant for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. U.S. President Donald Trump and conservatives have blasted the corporation’s two channels, National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting System, as biased in favor of the left. Moreover, the GOP has deemed the channels as an unnecessary expense to taxpayers.
“My Democrat colleagues may not want to acknowledge it, but we have a serious spending problem in this country,” Thune said Tuesday. “And the very least we can do in response is to target some of the egregious misuses of taxpayer dollars that we are addressing today in this bill.”
Two Senate Republicans voted against the package.
“You don’t need to gut the entire Corporation for Public Broadcasting,” said Lisa Murkowski, one of the two Republicans who voted against the bill.
The package also slashed funding for some foreign development programs.
Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer blasted the legislation and accused the White House of usurping Congress’s legally mandated role of being in charge of federal spending.
“Today, Senate Republicans turn this chamber into a subservient rubber stamp for the executive, at the behest of Donald Trump,” he said.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
The Ukrainian parliament on Thursday approved the formation of a new cabinet, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.
The decision followed the resignation of former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, which led to the automatic dismissal of the entire government.
The new cabinet, led by newly-appointed Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, includes several members who remained in office from the previous government. These include Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine Oleksii Kuleba and seven ministers.
Shmyhal has been appointed as defense minister, while Mykhailo Fedorov, the previous deputy prime minister for innovation, development of education, science and technology, has been named first deputy prime minister.
“Our government is taking a course towards self-sufficiency: military, economic and social. My main goal is real positive results that every Ukrainian will feel,” Svyrydenko wrote on Facebook on Thursday.
She listed high-quality support for the armed forces, expanding domestic weapon production and enhancing the army’s technological capabilities among the government’s top priorities for the first six months.
Earlier in the day, the parliament confirmed Svyrydenko’s nomination to the post of prime minister, proposed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, with 262 votes in favor.
Svyrydenko, 39, served as first deputy prime minister and minister of economic development and trade from November 2021 to July 2025.
She becomes the second woman in Ukraine’s history to serve as Prime Minister, following Yulia Tymoshenko.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer (L) shakes hands with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at 10 Downing Street in London, Britain, on July 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday signed a wide-ranging bilateral deal covering various areas including defense and migration, which is believed to be the most significant treaty between Britain and Germany since the end of World War II.
The treaty includes security and defense items requiring the two countries to conduct joint military and training exercises, counter cyber threats and information warfare, and coordinate on arms exports.
In the treaty, the two countries have also reaffirmed their commitment to limit global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, which is laid out in the Paris Agreement on tackling climate change and its negative impacts.
The treaty also pledges strengthening bilateral trade within the framework of European Union-Britain agreements and the commitment to free and open markets, as well as increasing employment and growing the number of high-quality jobs.
Dubbed as the Kensington Treaty, Starmer said it was “the first of its kind ever” between the two countries and was evidence of “the closeness of our relationship as it stands today.”
He added that this treaty highlighted the two countries’ “strong and close relationship at a time of real volatility in the world.”
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
A Chinese envoy on Thursday condemned Israeli military strikes on Syria and demanded an immediate end to them.
At a time when the situation in southern Syria is turbulent, Israel has recently launched multiple airstrikes on Sweida, Daraa and Damascus. China unequivocally condemns the Israeli actions, which gravely violate international law, infringe on Syria’s sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, and bring new complications to Syria’s peace, stability, and political transition, said Geng Shuang, China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.
“We call on Israel to immediately cease its military strikes on Syria and withdraw from Syrian territory as soon as possible,” he told an emergency meeting of the Security Council.
The international community recognizes the Golan as occupied Syrian territory. The sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Syria should be respected. The relevant Security Council resolutions should be implemented. And the 1974 Disengagement of Forces Agreement between Israel and Syria should be observed, he said.
Ethnic tensions and the ensuing violence in Sweida, once again, show that the current situation in Syria remains complex and fragile. Achieving peace and stability still faces daunting challenges, said Geng.
It is imperative to stabilize the security situation and restore social order as soon as possible. China has noted reports that the Syrian interim authorities have reached a ceasefire with the parties concerned. China calls on all parties to abide by the ceasefire agreement, remain calm and exercise restraint, cease hostilities, and promote an early de-escalation of the situation, he said.
The Syrian interim authorities should continue to promote the political process with broad participation from all walks of life, address the concerns of all parties through inclusive dialogue, and effectively promote internal unity and reconciliation, said Geng.
Counterterrorism is an important aspect of restoring peace and stability in Syria. The Syrian interim authorities should fulfill their counterterrorism obligations and take effective measures to combat all terrorist groups listed by the Security Council, including the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, he added.
At present, hot-spot issues in the Middle East are emerging one after another, with new and old antagonisms intertwined and overlapping. The situation is complex and volatile. The state of affairs is neither in the interests of any country in the Middle East, nor the international community, said Geng.
The Security Council, as the body with the primary responsibility for international peace and security, should resolutely fulfill its responsibilities under the UN Charter and use all the tools in its toolbox to try to bring the conflicts to an early end, restore peace and stability in those areas, and achieve lasting peace and stability in the entire Middle East, he said.
China is ready to work with the international community to play a constructive role in this regard, he added.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
A visitor watches a robot holding a bottle at the booth of Nvidia during the third China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, capital of China, July 16, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
Amid Beijing’s summer heat, a Chinese-made robot powered by chips from U.S. tech giant Nvidia gracefully delivered chilled bottled water to fascinated onlookers.
The scene, unfolding at the Nvidia booth during the ongoing third China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE), offered a glimpse into the sustained enthusiasm of U.S. companies for the Chinese market and its world-leading supply chain ecosystem.
Despite mounting challenges in the global supply chain, U.S. companies like Nvidia, Apple and Tesla used the expo stage to reaffirm their commitment to China, showcasing deep integration and ambitious plans for future investment. For many, success here means aligning with the world’s most comprehensive supply chain while keeping pace with its rapid development.
“China’s supply chain is a miracle,” said Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang at the expo’s opening ceremony on Wednesday. During his visit to Beijing, he also spoke with reporters, took part in a fireside chat, and held a press conference where he reaffirmed the company’s long-term commitment to China.
While Huang’s high-profile presence sent a powerful signal, he also revealed that Nvidia’s H20 chips will soon be available in the Chinese market.
“I hope to get more advanced chips into China than H20. And the reason is that technology is always moving on,” he said during a press conference Wednesday.
From tech giants like Nvidia and Apple to consumer brands such as Starbucks and Walmart, U.S. companies are attracted to the CISCE not only by China’s vast 1.4-billion-strong consumer market but also by the world’s most comprehensive supply chain that drives the “China speed” essential to global innovation.
According to the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, the event’s organizer, the number of U.S. exhibitors topped all overseas participants, increasing by 15 percent compared to the previous edition, and their combined exhibition area increased by 10 percent.
A few steps from Nvidia’s booth, Apple’s store-like setup shared a similar story of co-innovation. Instead of showcasing finished products like iPhones, the displays focused on the intelligent, green manufacturing processes used by its Chinese suppliers.
“Over the past three years at CISCE, we’ve showcased progress alongside our suppliers in smart manufacturing, green manufacturing and talent development,” Isabel Ge Mahe, Apple’s vice president and managing director of Greater China, told Xinhua.
Highlighting a massive 20 billion U.S. dollar investment in China over the past five years focused on these areas, she praised China’s dynamic innovation landscape and advanced smart supply chains while noting that Apple remains committed to this market. “We are deeply rooted here, incredibly proud of the supply chain we helped build, and will continue to invest and innovate with our local partners.”
Unlike traditional trade fairs focusing on goods or services, CISCE pioneers a unique “chain-centric” model that visualizes end-to-end industrial collaboration. In each exhibition hall, upstream, midstream and downstream companies cluster in adjacent booths, visually demonstrating their interdependence and synergy.
In the hall showcasing integration of the auto sector, crowds gathered around Tesla’s Model 3 and Model Y electric vehicles (EVs).
Here, supply chain integration and “China speed” were once again in the spotlight. These vehicles use more than 95 percent local parts, and a new car rolls off the Shanghai gigafactory line almost every 37 seconds.
“China possesses the world’s most complete EV industry chain,” said Tao Lin, vice president of Tesla. “The strength of local suppliers, combined with China’s vast talent pool and consumer embrace of smart EVs, provides unparalleled support and opportunity. We will continue to deepen our investment here,” Tao said.
“The Chinese market isn’t just scaling; it’s leaping in value,” said Lin Chunmei, president and general manager of Corning Greater China, in an interview with Xinhua. The U.S. materials science company is celebrating its 45 years in China with an ambitious “time travel”-themed booth underscoring its deep roots.
Noting that rapid AI development in China is driving growing demand for optical communication infrastructure, Lin said the company has pledged a 500 million dollar investment this year to develop cutting-edge technologies, localize critical production, and strengthen supply chain partnerships in China.
“The vast talent pool in China will help us accelerate cycles through market proximity, using ‘China speed’ to power global innovation,” she added.
For most U.S. companies, the critical question isn’t whether to invest in China, but how rapidly they can move. For companies present at the CISCE, collaboration with Chinese suppliers is giving them a head start.
“If you want to maintain, you have to invest,” Huang said. “The market is moving so fast and it’s so competitive. We have to continue to advance ourselves.”
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
An aerial drone photo shows harvesters working in a paddy field in Fangzheng County of Harbin, northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, Sept. 22, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
China’s grain production is on solid footing this year, with nearly 60 percent of early-season rice already harvested and projections indicating a bumper crop, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said Thursday.
The acreage of autumn grain is expected to rise slightly this year, with crops generally in good condition, said the ministry, attributing the good crop conditions of autumn grain to the adoption of more advanced farming practices and favorable weather.
Autumn grain accounts for around 75 percent of China’s annual grain output, making it the key to achieving this year’s production target of around 700 million tonnes, said the ministry.
China achieved a bumper summer grain harvest this year despite severe droughts in some regions. The national output reached about 149.74 million tonnes, marking the second-highest yield on record after last year and providing a solid foundation for stable annual grain production.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Mohamed Kande, global chairman of PwC, said China International Supply Chain Expo is a significant event as the firm makes its debut as an exhibitor this year.
According to Kande, the global professional services provider is showcasing its complete service ecosystem covering entire industrial and supply chains at this year’s expo.
Ren Hongbin (right), chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, meets with Mohamed Kande (center), global chairman of PwC, and Hemione Hudson, chair and CEO of PwC China, at the PwC booth of the 3rd CISCE in Beijing on July 16, 2025. [Photo/China.org.cn]
“I am honored to be in Beijing for this significant event,” Kande said. “The expo is an important gathering for innovation and collaboration, helping to strengthen the sustainable development of global manufacturing and international supply chains. Many of the companies participating are our clients, and their presence reflects the strength and potential of the Chinese market.”
He added, “At PwC, we are focused on working with our clients around the world on their reinvention journey while serving as a part of the professional services ecosystem that underpins the Chinese and international markets.”
At this year’s expo, PwC took the low-altitude economy, an emerging industry within the advanced manufacturing sector with a potential market size close to $500 billion by 2035, as its core exhibition theme and designed a unique “cross-sectional” booth display.
The booth includes a showcase of how PwC is supporting the development of sustainable global supply chains, creating a rich value landscape in both the Chinese and global markets. This is coupled with a vertical, in-depth perspective to reveal how PwC provides full lifecycle support, helping Chinese companies build strength and transform their market competitiveness.
According to PwC representatives at the booth, the firm has also collaborated with ecosystem partners in the low-altitude economy sector to jointly exhibit a “manned intelligent electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) aircraft.” Through immersive installations, the exhibition vividly demonstrates how PwC’s global professional services drive the transformation of cutting-edge technologies into advanced manufacturing capabilities while accelerating the bi-directional integration of cross-border supply chains with the Chinese market.
According to PwC’s recent report “Value in Motion,” manufacturing is transforming through “fourth industrial revolution” technologies like automation, 3D printing, and artificial intelligence. Emerging players, including IoT companies, AI firms, cybersecurity experts, and robotics manufacturers, are revitalizing the sector. The report predicts manufacturing companies that transcend traditional industry boundaries and respond to emerging sector demands will create substantial new economic growth. By 2035, the manufacturing sector is expected to contribute over $34 trillion to global GDP.
The PwC booth at the third China International Supply Chain Expo features the low-altitude economy as its central theme with a distinctive cross-sectional display. [Photo/China.org.cn]
“Manufacturing and supply chains are transforming across the world,” said Hemione Hudson, chair and CEO of PwC China. “The expo is a great opportunity for companies to showcase their achievements and learn from each other.”
She continued, “China is a global leader in advanced manufacturing and seizing the opportunity it presents will be crucial for the continued success of the Chinese economy. Moving towards higher quality production requires transformation across the manufacturing sector – with greater emphasis on strengthening resource models and building robust risk management. At PwC, we aim to help our clients build momentum by providing the support and expertise needed to unlock new growth opportunities.”
The third CISCE, hosted by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, opened on Wednesday in Beijing and runs through Sunday. As the world’s first national-level expo focused on supply chains, it has become a key platform for international business cooperation and shared development.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China’s online literature market revenue soars to 6.9 bln USD in 2024
Xinhua | July 18, 2025
This photo taken on Nov. 21, 2024 shows some hard copies of online Chinese novels during their inclusion event at the British Library in London, Britain. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
The revenue of China’s online literature market totaled 49.55 billion yuan (about 6.9 billion U.S. dollars) in 2024, which was a year-on-year increase of 29.37 percent, demonstrating strong resilience and promising prospects, according to a Thursday report published by the China Audio-video and Digital Publishing Association (CADPA).
The report was released at the eighth China Online Literature+ Conference, which opened on Thursday, and says that the cumulative number of online literature works in China reached 42.1 million volumes last year — an increase of over 4.2 million volumes compared to 2023. China’s online literature user scale hit 638 million last year — up 16 percent year on year.
Zhang Yijun, first vice chairman of CADPA, said that China’s online literature has emerged as a new mass cultural art form and promoted the development of a diversified value system within the industry, and that its integration with micro-short dramas opened up new paths for the industry’s transformation in 2024.
Last year, the number of IP adaptations of online Chinese literature totaled 83,250 volumes, which was a year-on-year increase of 14.55 percent, becoming an important carrier in promoting Chinese culture overseas.
The Royal New Zealand Navy’s (RNZN) multi-role vessel HMNZS Canterbury has sailed into Suva for annual Operation Calypso, this time with a technologically advanced capability aboard.
Op Calypso focuses on supporting Pacific partners through a range of joint maritime security activities and HMNZS Canterbury carried into the Fijian port advanced capability in the form of Uncrewed Surface Vessels (USV) – the Bluebottles Tahi and Rua.
The autonomous vessels can conduct long-endurance operations without requiring refuelling or crew. Propelled and powered by sun, wind and wave action, the Bluebottles are ideal platforms for fishery protection, border patrols, surveillance, and the collection of oceanic and meteorological data.
The RNZN will work with Republic of Fiji Navy personnel deploying and monitoring the Bluebottles to help identify and track vessels operating suspiciously in Fiji’s exclusive economic zone – including those potentially involved in narcotics trafficking.
A Royal New Zealand Air Force No. 42 Squadron King Air aircraft will provide identification and surveillance oversight while a Fijian Navy vessel will be available to carry out boarding and seizure tasks.
Commodore Shane Arndell, the New Zealand Defence Force’s Maritime Component Commander, says the joint effort reflects the deep commitment shared by both nations to tackle common security and economic challenges.
“For many years, at the request of the Fijian government, we have conducted joint fishery patrols to ensure Fiji’s natural resources and vital revenue streams aren’t being exploited through illegal fishing by other countries.
“Now we are confronting a criminal issue just as important but with deadly consequences,” Commodore Arndell said.
“The movement of drugs from South America through the Pacific is a very real concern and has a significant and long-lasting impact on the lives of Fijians, their families and the wider Pasifika community.
“All too often we see the harm these narcotics bring, so the opportunity to work with our fri
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 18, 2025.
WA had the highest rates of Indigenous child removal in the country. At last, the state is finally facing up to it Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jenna Woods, Dean, School of Indigenous Knowledges, Murdoch University Matt Jelonek/Getty Images First Nations people please be advised this article speaks of racially discriminating moments in history, including the distress and death of First Nations people. In 1997, Australia was confronted with the landmark Bringing Them Home
Separated men are nearly 5 times more likely to take their lives than married men Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Wilson, Research Fellow and PhD Candidate in Men’s Mental Health, The University of Melbourne Breakups hurt. Emotional and psychological distress are common when intimate relationships break down. For some people, this distress can be so overwhelming that it leads to suicidal thoughts and behaviours. This problem
Thinking of trekking to Everest Base Camp? Don’t leave home without this expert advice Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Heike Schanzel, Professor of Social Sustainability in Tourism, Auckland University of Technology Purnima Shrestha /AFP via Getty Images Tourists in Kathmandu are tempted everywhere by advertisements for trekking expeditions to Everest Base Camp. If you didn’t know better, you might think it’s just a nice hike in
Pragmatic engagement – what Albanese’s visit reveals about China relations in a turbulent world Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Edward Sing Yue Chan, Postdoctoral Fellow in China Studies, Australian National University The Albanese government has faced an increasingly uncertain world since its re-election in May. US President Donald Trump has cast a long shadow over the Australia–US alliance, raising fresh questions about Canberra’s long-term regional strategy.
‘Don’t tell me!’ Why some people love spoilers – and others will run a mile Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anjum Naweed, Professor of Human Factors, CQUniversity Australia DreamBig/Shutterstock, The Conversation This article contains spoilers! I once leapt out of a train carriage because two strangers were loudly discussing the ending of the last Harry Potter book. Okay – I didn’t leap, but I did plug my
Keith Rankin Analysis – Letter from Westphalia, Germany; 6 June 1933 Analysis by Keith Rankin. On Saturday I came into possession of this letter, transcript below. I will note that the recipient of the letter is someone I know a bit about; I would like to know more about his time in London, circa 1930-1932. I understand that he attended the London School of Economics. I
Australian law is clear: criticism of Israel does not breach the Racial Discrimination Act Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Bill Swannie, Senior Lecturer, Thomas More Law School, Australian Catholic University Earlier this month, the Federal Court found controversial Muslim cleric Wissam Haddad breached the Racial Discrimination Act. Justice Angus Stewart ruled a series of speeches Haddad posted online were “fundamentally racist and antisemitic [and] profoundly offensive”
New Barbie with type 1 diabetes could help kids with the condition feel seen – and help others learn Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lynne Chepulis, Associate Professor, Health Sciences, University of Waikato Mattel Inc/AP, The Conversation, CC BY Barbie has done many things since she first appeared in 1959. She’s been an astronaut, a doctor, a president and even a palaeontologist. Now, in 2025, Barbie is something else: a woman
Rising seas threaten to swallow one of NZ’s oldest settlement sites – new research Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter N. Meihana, Senior Lecturer in History, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University Veronika Meduna, CC BY-SA One of Aotearoa New Zealand’s oldest settlement sites is at risk of being washed away by rising seas, according to new research. Te Pokohiwi o Kupe (Wairau Bar) near
AI is now part of our world. Uni graduates should know how to use it responsibly Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rachel Fitzgerald, Associate Professor and Deputy Associate Dean (Academic), Faculty of Business, Economics and Law, The University of Queensland MTStock Studio/ Getty Images Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming an everyday part of lives. Many of us use it without even realising, whether it be writing emails, finding
Susi Newborn among activists featured in Pacific ‘nuclear free heroes’ video Pacific Media Watch Greenpeace pioneer and activist Susi Newborn is among the “nuclear free heroes” featured in a video tribute premiered this week in an exhibition dedicated to a nuclear-free Pacific. The week-long exhibition at Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s Ellen Melville Centre, titled “Legends of the Pacific: Stories of a Nuclear-Free Moana 1975-1995,” closes tomorrow afternoon.
Grattan on Friday: New parliament presents traps for Albanese and Ley Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Anthony Albanese hasn’t been in any rush to convene the new parliament, which Governor-General Sam Mostyn will open on Tuesday. It’s only mildly cynical to observe that governments of both persuasions often seem to regard having pesky members and senators
Police protection for New Caledonian politicians following death threats By Patrick Decloitre, RNZ Pacific correspondent French Pacific desk New Caledonian politicians who inked their commitment to a deal with France last weekend will be offered special police protection following threats, especially made on social media networks. The group includes almost 20 members of New Caledonia’s parties — both pro-France and pro-independence — who took
12 countries agree to confront Israel collectively over Gaza after Bogotá summit ANALYSIS: By Mick Hall Collective measures to confront Israel’s genocide of the Palestinian people have been agreed by 12 nations after an emergency summit of the Hague Group in Bogotá, Colombia. A joint statement today announced the six measures, which it said were geared to holding Israel to account for its crimes in Palestine and
Rainbow Warrior bombing by French secret agents remembered 40 years on SPECIAL REPORT: By Te Aniwaniwa Paterson of Te Ao Māori News Forty years ago today, French secret agents bombed the Greenpeace campaign flagship Rainbow Warrior in an attempt to stop the environmental organisation’s protest against nuclear testing at Moruroa Atoll in Mā’ohi Nui. People gathered on board Rainbow Warrior III to remember photographer Fernando Pereira,
Why a surprise jump in unemployment isn’t as bad as it sounds Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jeff Borland, Professor of Economics, The University of Melbourne New figures show Australia’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate unexpectedly rose to 4.3% – its highest level since late 2021 – in June this year, up from 4.1% in May. While this is bad news, it’s not as bad
Australia got off on a technicality for its climate inaction. But there are plenty more judgement days to come Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Wesley Morgan, Research Associate, Institute for Climate Risk and Response, UNSW Sydney This week, the Federal Court found the Australian government has no legal duty to protect Torres Strait Islanders from climate change. The ruling was disappointing, but it’s not the end of the matter. The plaintiffs,
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Congresswoman Andrea Salinas (OR-06), alongside Reps. Sharice Davids (KS-03), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Doris Matsui (CA-07), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Chris Pappas (NH-01), and Paul Tonko (NY-20), sent a letter to Reps. Robert Aderholt (AL-04) and Rosa DeLauro (CT-03), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, urging them to maintain funding for the 988 LGBTQI+ Youth lifeline. The letter was co-signed by nearly 100 of their Democratic colleagues.
The letter underscores the effectiveness of the lifeline, which was shut down by the Trump Administration today. Since its inception, the lifeline has received nearly 1.5 million contacts from LGBTQI+ youth, serving as a critical resource for young people across the country who are at an elevated risk of suicide and mental illness.
A cross-agency Anti-Corruption Taskforce pilot highlights the Government’s commitment to protecting public funds and upholding integrity across the state sector, Police Minister Mark Mitchell and Public Service Minister Judith Collins say.
The taskforce is led by the Serious Fraud Office (SFO), supported by NZ Police and the Public Service Commission, and brings together counter fraud and enforcement expertise to identify and combat corruption and fraud risks faced by the public sector.
“The taskforce’s work will build a clearer intelligence picture of the threats that face our public sector. This is about taking proactive action to ensure our prevention and response system remains resilient and fit for purpose,” Mr Mitchell says.
“The public sector accounts for a third of the economy and the pilot is a critical step in protecting and enhancing New Zealand’s reputation as an attractive place to invest.
“Every dollar of public funding counts, and preventing the unlawful taking of taxpayer money is something we take very seriously.”
Ms Collins says the taskforce supports the Government’s broader public integrity agenda.
“New Zealand is widely respected as one of the least corrupt countries in the world, and we intend to keep it that way,” Ms Collins says.
“By increasing transparency, identifying risks and encouraging ethical conduct across the public sector, this taskforce will help maintain trust in our institutions.
“Fighting corruption is not just about prosecution, it’s about leadership, accountability and promoting a culture of integrity.”
The taskforce will begin with a pilot project requiring a group of public sector agencies to assess their fraud and corruption prevention and detection systems. This will include reporting on offending detected and prevented, and the controls agencies have in place to protect public funds.
Participating agencies are the Department of Corrections, Land Information New Zealand, Inland Revenue, ACC, Ministry of Social Development and Sport New Zealand.
The pilot will inform the Government’s future approach to counter-fraud and corruption capability across the state sector, with a public report to be released following its completion.
The Anti-Corruption Taskforce follows the SFO’s launch of a national campaign to tackle Foreign Bribery and new online reporting platform for whistleblowers earlier this year, further strengthening New Zealand’s anti-corruption response.
More information about the Taskforce is available on the SFO’s website: https://www.sfo.govt.nz/fraud-and-corruption/what-we-do/anti-corruption-taskforce-pilot
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) — Russian students recently went on a cultural and educational trip to Tongjiang City in Northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province, the Zhongxinshe News Agency reported.
Tongjiang borders the Jewish Autonomous Region of Russia’s Far Eastern Federal District. According to the report, more than 50 Russian teenagers took part in this unique cultural and educational excursion, during which they learned about the charm of wetlands, often called “the kidneys of the earth”, and made applique paintings using fish skin cuttings, an art considered an intangible cultural heritage of the Hezhe (Nanai) people.
The first stop of the educational tour was the Tongjiang Wetland Ecological Experience Hall. One after another, realistic ecological models of wetlands attracted the attention of Russian teenagers.
They became “ecological detectives” and intuitively explored the unique value of the Sanjiang Plain wetland through immersive projection and interactive games, and deeply understood the importance of protecting this transboundary ecological treasure.
In the zoo located in front of the exhibition hall, Russian teenagers interacted with alpacas, rabbits and other animals. Watching and feeding these animals further stimulated their interest in getting closer to nature and understanding biodiversity.
According to Russian teenagers, the in-depth cultural and educational trip to Tongjiang allowed them not only to become acquainted with the ecology of China’s wetlands and the unique charm of the intangible cultural heritage of the Nanai people, but also to learn a lot about Chinese culture. -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.
Queenstown’s newest adventure tourism attraction at the global home of bungy is getting closer to opening, with construction of the hotly anticipated three-person swing well underway.
The Kawarau Swing is the latest innovation created by tourism pioneers AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand (AJHBNZ). Located at the historic Kawarau Bridge, it will be the first three-person adventure swing in the South Island and is on track open in September.
The Kawarau Swing will be accessed off the same viewing deck that receives about 400,000 visitors and spectators a year. Drilling is complete under the viewing deck and this week the steel structure that the swing platform will sit on was lifted into place.
Mechanical components and steel structures are being fabricated off-site and, once the foundation work is complete, things are expected to come together quickly, AJHBNZ CEO David Mitchell says.
When it opens, the Kawarau Swing will be adapted for single, tandem, or three-person rides, swinging guests up to 43 metres high across the Kawarau River before winching them back to the platform on the southern bank of the Kawarau Gorge.
Ideal for families and people seeking a different experience at the world’s first commercial bungy location, the swing will complement AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand’s existing bungy and zipride experiences at the historic Kawarau Bungy Bridge site.
“Not everyone who visits the Kawarau Bridge chooses to do a bungy jump,” Mitchell explains. “That’s why we’ve designed the Kawarau Swing to appeal to people who are seeking a different experience, which hits that sweet spot between the full-on adrenaline rush of a bungy and the pure joy of a zipride.
“As the swing comes to life, all stages of development will incorporate AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand’s proven safety systems, built on more than 30 years of experience in delivering thrilling yet safe adventures,” Mitchell adds.
About AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand
Ever since it was launched with a buzz by AJ Hackett and Henry van Asch back in 1988, AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand has been in the business of fuelling people with courage and adrenaline. The world’s first commercial bungy operation opened at the Kawarau Bridge in November 1988 and AJ Hackett Bungy New Zealand has remained committed to levelling up the exhilaration across Aotearoa, with bungy, zipride, swing, catapult, skywalk, skyjump and bridge climb across Queenstown, Taupō and Auckland.
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 the evening of July 12, a creative fireworks show was held in Liuyang City, Hunan Province, which attracted a large number of tourists.
As is well known, Liuyang City is famous as the “homeland of Chinese fireworks”. In the first half of this year, the city held 26 creative fireworks shows, which attracted more than 1.5 million tourists, of which more than 90% were out-of-towners, bringing in revenue of nearly 4 billion yuan. Photo by Xinhua News Agency journalist.
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: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry
Today the Albanese Labor Government is starting consultation on sustainable investment product labelling, to give investors more confidence to put more capital to work in sustainable products.
The release of this paper is a key step in implementing the Government’s Sustainable Finance Roadmap.
The Roadmap is all about helping to mobilise the capital required for Australia to become a renewable energy superpower, modernising our financial markets and maximising the economic opportunities from net zero.
This consultation paper seeks views from investors, companies and the broader community on a framework for sustainable investment product labels.
These labels will help investors and consumers identify, compare, and make informed decisions about sustainable investment products to understand what ‘sustainable’, ‘green’ or similar words mean when they’re applied to financial products.
A more robust and clear product labelling framework will help investors and consumers invest in sustainable products with confidence and help tackle greenwashing.
This is another practical step in the Roadmap to improve how we measure progress, manage risk, demonstrate results and mobilise the investment we need to reach net zero and other sustainability goals.
This phase of consultation will run from 18 July to 29 August and help the Government refine its design principles for the framework.
Headline: From OLED to Solar Cells: The Precision and Potential of Panasonic’s Industrial Inkjet Printing
Perovskite solar cells created using inkjet technology.
Improved transparency makes them practical for windows.
Yoshida: We see two paths for evolution. One is further improvement in terms of resolution. The other is compatibility with high-viscosity inks; once this has been achieved, it will be possible to precisely apply ink containing dispersed particles, expanding the range of applications.
We are particularly interested in perovskite solar cells, which are expected to become the next generation of solar cells.
Our proprietary large-area coating method utilizing inkjet technology makes it possible to uniformly coat the core power generating material onto large glass substrates. This enables thin and lightweight designs that were not possible with conventional products, while maintaining high power generation efficiency.
Nakatani: Another major advantage of inkjet technology is its high material utilization efficiency and the resulting design flexibility. With conventional manufacturing methods, it was sometimes necessary to coat the entire surface with material and then remove the excess. In contrast, inkjet technology precisely deposits ink only in the areas where the power generation layer is required. This reduces wasteful use of expensive materials.
Usui: The ability to apply the material precisely to the target area creates unique value. For example, by using a striped coating pattern for the power-generating layer, it is possible to create window glass that combines power-generating capability with translucence. A major advantage of the inkjet method is that a window can generate energy but still function as a window. Of course, not needing a vacuum environment during manufacturing and minimizing material waste are also extremely important from the standpoint of energy conservation and sustainability.
Yoshida: In this way, our inkjet technology brings two values to perovskite solar cells: “large area and high efficiency” and “high design flexibility.” This will make it possible to install solar cells in locations previously considered too difficult—such as the walls and windows of buildings—and we believe that this will contribute to the realization of a sustainable society.
The latest review of euthanasia has just been released by the Ministry of Health – and despite a tiny workforce, there has been a continued growth in the number of those receiving assisted suicide.
472 people had assisted suicide – up from 344 in the previous 12 months – a 37% increase in assisted deaths in the last 12 months, and a 57% increase since the first full year of operation (2022).
20% increase in applications
80% NZ European/Pākehā. Virtually no Pasifika (<0.5%) and disproportionately few Māori (5%)
12% of applicants had a disability
242 applicants died before ‘needing’ euthanasia
the application process continues to shorten, now averaging only 14 days – down from 16 days in the previous report
less than 10% of applicants are for neurological conditions (the conditions frequently touted by proponents as the reason for needing euthanasia)
85% of applicants are deemed eligible by the attending medical practitioner
95% of second assessments (of those 85%) by an independent medical practitioner are deemed eligible
On the positive side, the report says:
“There have been occasions on which a person’s request for assisted dying has led to them exploring alternative care or services, such as optimising palliative care or additional social or wrap-around supports. In some cases, this resulted in the person rescinding (withdrawing) their application for assisted dying.”
The report says that 33 people subsequently decided to withdraw their application.
The report also highlights the very low number of medical professionals willing to be involved in euthanasia / assisted suicide – approximately 126 – despite attempts by the SCENZ to bolster the workforce. This is not surprising given the Hippocratic Oath / Declaration of Geneva made by medical professionals. Assisting suicide clashes with this ethical base.
What is most disturbing is that more than one in five applicants (21%) weren’t receiving palliative care. The End of Life Choice Act only provides a ‘right’ to one choice – premature death. There is no corresponding right to palliative care. Good palliative care and hospice services are resource intensive; euthanasia would be cheaper. There is a new element of ‘financial calculation’ into decisions about end-of-life care. This is harsh reality. At an individual level, the economically disadvantaged who don’t have access to better healthcare could feel pressured to end their lives because of the cost factor or because other better choices are not available to them. Some hospitals have no specialist palliative care services at all.
Of those deemed ineligible for euthanasia, 85% was because they didn’t meet the 6-month criteria, and approximately 40% also didn’t meet either the ‘unbearable suffering’ or the ‘irreversible physical decline’ requirement.
The other significant red flag in the report is that just 10 applicants had a psychiatric assessment to check for both competence to make the decision, and for any presence of coercion.
This latest data simply confirms that nothing in the law guarantees the protection required for vulnerable people facing their death, including the disabled, elderly, depressed or anxious, and those who feel themselves to be a burden or who are under financial pressure.
The NZ Herald recently reported: “Aspecialist paediatric palliative care (PPC) doctor says New Zealand is falling behind other nations in its care of terminally ill children and the Government must step up to help.” And the demand for this specialist medical care will only increase significantly in the near future. Our population is ageing, and therefore the number of people requiring palliative care is forecast to increase by approximately 25% over the next 15 years and will be more than double that by 2061.
Previous Governments have made little effort to address this growing problem and to increase funding for this essential service. Euthanasia is instead given priority and full Government funding.
It’s time we focused on and fully funded world-class palliative care – and not a lethal injection.
The PSA is criticising the Government’s announcement today on the establishment of the fourth Public Research Organisation, the New Zealand Institute of Advanced Technology (NZIAT), saying that they could struggle to deliver the science and research needed without the necessary talent and funding.
“Our biggest concern here is that all the talented people who undertook groundbreaking research at Callaghan Innovation have likely already taken up jobs – many of them overseas,” Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi national secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons says.
The PSA is New Zealand’s largest union and represents scientists, laboratory and support staff from the former Crown Research Institutes and in the newly formed Public Research Organisations.
As of June, dozens of public researchers from Callaghan Innovation were made redundant. Many of the team were experts in subjects like artificial intelligence, which are at the centre of the NZIAT.
While some areas of Callaghan Innovation were expected to transfer across to NZIAT (namely the Health Tech Activator and Product Accelerator), the number of staff in these areas is very small.
“We said earlier this year that without a plan to transition large numbers of scientists, the Government is wasting the expertise that has been built up here.
“How can you go for growth in the economy when the people who create all this value have already boarded a flight to Australia?
“How can the Government, so hell-bent on saving costs, justify paying out redundancy payments to people whose skills they ultimately concede they need only a month after the redundancies have taken effect?”
The PSA also says that there’s a question mark over how much science and research will be delivered by the NZIAT.
“The funding – $231M over four years – sounds pretty good, but for this kind of science is actually low.
“Plus Minister Reti’s announcement says the institute will invest in science and technology, not produce any new research. So about $60M per year in investment is a tiny platform.
“The Government has essentially sucked up all the funding from Callaghan Innovation – which received about $85M a year – and redeployed less of it here.
“We’re not fooled. There’s less money than ever going into public science, to the detriment of not only the New Zealand science community but everyone in Aotearoa.”
The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahiis Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.
Volunteers Di Billingsley and Phil Graham have been recognised with an Executive Director’s Citation for Service by Bushfires Northern Territory (NT).
The award recognises their role in delivering critical bushfire training to 60 new NT volunteers and Park Rangers in 2023 during a time when NT instructors were actively deployed to the firefront. This filled a critical gap and helped urgently build capability.
While Phil received his citation last year upon returning to the NT, Di was recently presented with the award by DCO Operational Doctrine and Capability Rohan Luke.
“I was deeply honoured to be able to present Di her Citation on behalf of Bushfire NT for her work in 2023,” Rohan said.
“She was humbled and surprised, but it was a moment well deserved for her dedication and service.”
The Executive Director’s Citation for Service recognises individuals who have performed a direct service of a meritorious nature or an outstanding action in response to wildfire.
