NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ9: Measures on alienation restrictions for subsidised sale housing

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Leung Man-kwong and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Housing, Mr Victor Tai, in the Legislative Council today (July 2):
     
    Question:
     
         Subsidised sale housing (e.g. the Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) and the Green Form Subsidized Home Ownership Scheme (GHS) of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) as well as the Subsidised Sale Flats Project of the Hong Kong Housing Society (HS)) aim at offering affordable housing to low to middle-income families, whereas HA and HS have, over the years, adopted measures such as imposing alienation restrictions and requiring premium payment to ensure the efficient use of the relevant resources for people in need to acquire their homes. Regarding the measures on alienation restrictions for subsidised sale housing, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) in respect of each subsidised sale housing scheme launched by HA and HS in each of the past 10 years, of the total number of flats resold with premium (a) paid and (b) unpaid, together with a breakdown of such flats by (i) age distribution (i.e. within five years, between five to 10 ‍years and over 10 years), and (ii) distribution of transaction prices (i.e. less than $1 million, $1 million to $2 million, $2 million to $3 ‍million, $3 million to $5 million, $5 million to $7 million, and over $7 million);
     
    (2) of the current number of HOS flats which the alienation restriction period has expired and are eligible for application for resale upon payment of premium, and among them, the proportion of flats which have been resold with premium paid;
     
    (3) of the current number of HOS flats which have never been resold after purchase and its percentage in the total number of HOS flats, together with a breakdown by age of the flats; and
     
    (4) whether the Government will study prohibiting the resale of flats in the private market upon payment of premium in the future HOS and GHS projects, and changing to allow transactions in the secondary market of HOS flats only; if not, of the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         In response to the questions raised by the Hon Leung Man-kwong, our reply is as follows:
     
    (1) The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) has all along been striving to enhance the housing ladder, with a view to helping low to middle-income families achieve home ownership through the sale of subsidised sale flats (SSF). In the next five years (i.e. from 2025/26 to 2029/30), the HA and the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) will have a completion of about 56 500 SSF. We believe that the relevant flats can facilitate people in need to achieve their dream of home ownership. We also encourage members of the public to move up the suitable housing ladder according to their own ability.
     
         In addition to sale of first-hand SSF, the HA also allows SSF owners to sell their flats with premium unpaid in the Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) Secondary Market, or to sell, let or otherwise assign their flats in other ways in the open market after payment of premium. The discount rate that HOS owners enjoyed in purchasing their flats will form the basis for premium assessment for removal of the alienation restrictions.
     
         On the other hand, the HKHS’ SSF with premium unpaid are also subject to alienation restrictions. In 1997, the HKHS launched the Flat-For-Sale Scheme (FFSS) Secondary Market, enabling flat owners under HKHS’ relevant projects to resell their flats to eligible persons with premium unpaid, subject to the conditions in the respective land lease and provided that such owners have fulfilled the designated ownership period since the date of first assignment.
     
         Since flats with payment of premium are regarded as private units, the HA and the HKHS do not hold the information on whether relevant flats have been resold, and do not maintain transaction figures of SSF for which premium has been paid in the open market.
     
         The numbers of transactions of HA’s HOS and Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme (GSH) flats in the HOS Secondary Market in the past 10 years are set out in Annex 1. The total number of transactions amounted to about 21 200. In fact, the HA has all along encouraged the circulation of SSF in the Secondary Market through various initiatives, including the relaxation of the mortgage arrangements for SSF in 2024 to extend the maximum mortgage default guarantee period for the secondary market from 30 years to 50 years, so that buyers can secure mortgage loans of a longer tenor. In the 12 months after the implementation of relevant arrangements, the average number of transactions of second-hand SSF was about 370 per month, which was about 60 per cent higher than the average number of transactions of about 230 per month in the 12 months before the implementation (i.e. from March 2023 to February 2024), representing a significant increase. The total number of transactions of HOS flats in the HA’s Secondary Market in 2024 was 3 380, representing an increase of about 1.6 times as compared with the total number of transactions of about 1 320 in 2015.
     
         The numbers of transactions of HKHS’ SSF flats without payment of premium in the FFSS Secondary Market in the past 10 years are set out by year in Annex 2.
     
    (2) As at the first quarter of 2025, the HA had about 320 000 HOS flats of which the alienation period has expired, which can be resold in the open market after payment of premium. Among them, 19 per cent of the flats have been paid with premium.
     
         As at the first quarter of 2025, the HKHS had about 22 000 SSF flats of which the alienation restriction period has expired and can be resold in the open market upon payment of premium. Among them, 22 per cent of the flats have been paid with premium.

    (3) As at the first quarter of 2025, the HA has about 230 000 HOS flats with premium not yet paid and have not been resold. For details of the figures categorised by building age and proportion, please see Annex 3.
     
         As at the first quarter of 2025, HKHS has about 15 000 SSF flats with premium not yet paid and have never been resold. For details of the figures categorised by building age and proportion, please see Annex 4.

    (4) In order to effectively curb short-term speculative activities, the HA tightened the alienation restrictions of HOS and GSH flats in January 2022. The period where the owners can only sell at no more than the original price in the Secondary Market with premium unpaid has been lengthened from the first two years since first assignment to the first five years since first assignment; while the restriction period for sale in the open market after payment of premium has also been lengthened from the first 10 years since first assignment to the first 15 years since first assignment. All HKHS SSF developments completed in 2024 or beyond also adopt the aforementioned tightened alienation restrictions introduced by the HA in 2022.
     
         Allowing HOS and GSH flat owners to sell their flats after the restriction period can facilitate the circulation of second-hand SSF, thereby increasing SSF supply in the market. On the other hand, this measure provides opportunities for owners to move on to the private property market on the housing ladder, which is an initiative to encourage owners’ upward mobility and strengthen social’s mobility.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Sanjay Malhotra: Convocation address – Indian Institute of Technology

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Chairman of the Board of Governors, Director of the Institute, Prof and Padma Shree Manindra Agrawal, winner of numerous awards, who was my senior here and who I hold in very high esteem, faculty members, staff, proud parents, family and friends of the graduating students, distinguished guests, and my dear graduating students, alumni, ladies and gentlemen.

    Today marks the culmination of an exciting chapter for the graduating students, where you have not only learnt new things – academic and extra-curricular – but have also had an enjoyable and memorable experience. I extend a very warm congratulations to all the graduating students. Please give yourselves a huge round of applause.

    To the parents and guardians, this moment belongs as much to you as it does to your children and wards. Your innumerable sacrifices, continuous support, unconditional love and unwavering encouragement have laid the foundation upon which these young achievers now stand. I know this is an emotional and proud moment for you. I have myself experienced these emotions when my sons graduated – one from IIT Bombay and the other from IIT Guwahati. My warmest congratulations to you as your ward steps into a new chapter in life.

    Dear graduates, it is a special day for you as you enter a new and exciting phase of life. It is an equally special day for me and doubly so. First, this institute has had a transformational impact on me, my life and my thoughts. I remember with nostalgia my years at IIT. I still vividly remember my first day at IIT when my mother came to drop me with another batchmate. I recollect my days at Hall III and then Hall I, the healthy rivalry between Hall II and Hall III, phatta cricket, bulla, the various celebrations at Red Rose Restaurant on the campus and Chung Fa restaurant in the city, movies at L7, DEC 10 of which we were so proud, the iconic library, Culfest and the many friends that I made and treasure till date. The steel trunk which carried my belongings to IIT and which my loving wife has preserved till date is still with me. I still have my Wilson tennis racket, with which I religiously played every evening at the clay courts on campus. IITK has a special place in my heart. This convocation ceremony is even more special as I did not attend our convocation ceremony; in fact, we did not have a proper convocation ceremony, perhaps the only batch not to have it. So, it’s an honour to be back here after thirty-six long years in a new and privileged role and be a part of the convocation ceremony today. Thank you, IIT, for this honour.

    Times have changed a lot since I graduated. But there are certainly lessons which endure time. As a fellow-alumnus, roll number 85213, who has experienced life after campus, I will speak about four learnings from my journey.

    Learning for Life

    Many of you would have got your dream jobs. Others, who plan to pursue further studies, would get them soon. With a degree from a prestigious institute and a good job in hand, please don’t think that you have arrived. The moment you think you have arrived, you will stagnate. The moment you believe you know everything, you will stop growing.

    This is just the beginning, only the first step. The degree has only laid a solid foundation and will take you thus far. You will need to build from here. You will need to learn when you change sectors, move across organisations within a sector, take up different roles within an organization and even within the same role in an organisation. Technology is advancing at a lightning speed. What you learnt yesterday would be outdated tomorrow as new ideas and tools emerge daily.

    I can assure you that the institute has prepared you well for your life ahead. It has not only imparted you with knowledge which will be of immense use but, more importantly, equipped you with the most important tool – the tool of self-learning.

    Like other IAS officers, I worked in diverse fields like urban management, land resources, industries, power, health, taxation, banking, finance, etc. Many of them were general management but many were highly technical and specialized, which had a steep learning curve. The IITK emphasis on basic sciences and core engineering subjects, its importance to the fundamentals of a subject, its priority to deriving the formulae rather than merely memorizing and applying them, its attention to problem-solving from first principles, and various other methods of problem solving have held me in good stead. IIT gave me the necessary tools for self-learning. I am sure it has given you too the same tools.

    So, continue your quest for knowledge. Remember that learning is for life. The moment one is not learning, it is a signal that one is not growing; one is not advancing. It is knowledge which will keep you ahead of others. Its importance cannot be over-emphasized. I urge you all, as Stephen Covey said, to continuously sharpen your saw and cut the grass under your feet.

    Question the status quo

    My second learning pertains to the period between 2003 and 2006, when I was working in the United Nations. I was managing a project to improve productivity in the hand tools clusters in India. We hired a Total Quality Management expert for some of our interventions. He had long and diverse experience across organisations.

    He challenged the forging units there to reduce the time taken in changing a die from about eight hours to less than an hour. All of them including the most advanced, productive and efficient forging units vehemently denied the possibility of reducing the time. When he failed after many days of trying to convince them to improve, he suggested some changes including installation of a video camera. This was tried in a unit. These small changes reduced the time to five hours. When asked, the supervisor, apart from other things, explained that the work started on time, as scheduled; no one was late; no one took an unscheduled tea break; all required equipment were pre-arranged and kept ready for use; there was no wastage of time. The small changes and videography did the trick as everyone was being watched. What followed was a series of improvements or what are called kaizens, not only in the exchange of dies, but also various other processes – forging, grinding, electroplating, packaging, etc, as every process was questioned. We ended up reducing costs by about 10%.

    I learnt to question the status quo. I learnt that there is always scope for improvement. This helped me improve efficiency in various organisations and departments that I worked in. It helped in reducing processing time of files. I reduced turnaround times for applications. It helped me make changes in laws, rules and procedures for the benefit of citizens and government alike, as I questioned the status quo.

    As Albert Einstein famously said, “The important thing is not to stop questioning.” When you question the status quo and ask questions, you open the door to new ideas and fresh perspectives. It is fuel for innovation; it drives you to explore, experiment, and create something better. So, no matter where you are in life or your career, never stop questioning the status quo and improving.

    Pursue virtuous Karma

    The third learning pertains to my tenure as Secretary, Department of Personnel in the Government of Rajasthan in 2007-08. Promotions from the state civil service to the IAS were plagued with disputes and court cases. For almost about 20 years, no one was promoted to the IAS. My predecessors did not take up this issue as they thought it would be an exercise in futility as some aggrieved officer will approach the doors of the judiciary. When I was given responsibility for this department, I took up the gauntlet. I studied all the disputes and judicial pronouncements meticulously; decided on claims of seniority and promotion, without fear or favour; finalized and published the seniority lists; and after spending months on this mammoth exercise, sent the proposals to UPSC for promotion. Just when we were about to convene the meeting for promotion, one officer again approached the court and got a stay. Months of my hard work was brought to nought. Even though many officers commended me for the hard work and getting the matter so close to finalization, I was disappointed.

    I had to leave for Princeton for my masters within a few days and could not pursue the case in the courts. After I returned, I was put in a different department. In a few years, the court lifted the stay. I was asked if I would be interested in giving finishing touches to the work I had initiated. Once bitten, twice shy, I did not take up the challenge this time. The work was completed by another officer. In recognition of his efforts, he was conferred with the state award for civil service.

    I realized I did not follow my karma as I feared failure. I realized I needed to follow my karma boldly and decisively without bothering about the results.

    Without going in to details of my journey thereafter, today, as I look back, I can confidently say that it is karma that largely determines outcomes and results. It is the path that one chooses that broadly determines the destination. Today, I appreciate how true Steve Jobs was when he said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward.” Right now, you may not fully grasp how your karma – each late-night lab session, each frustrating bug, and each decision that you take – will impact your journey. You may not appreciate, how delayed gratification, the hallmark of all great leaders, will deliver bigger success over the longer term for the instant rewards foregone. But trust me, over time, the dots will connect and it will be in large measure due to your karma.

    Trust

    My last learning is from the student days in IIT, when we were always short of money and under debt. Food at the mess was as good as it can be. We relied heavily on the hostel canteen. A samosa at that time costed 35 paise and a bottle of Thums Up 2 rupees and 25 paise. The canteen was managed by a person called Lala. Lala was loved by everyone. He would serve us till late in night and very generously gave us credit. Even outside hostel, we got credit from the juice vendor, the shops in Shopping Centre, etc. This may not be surprising. Lala knew us, recognizing us as hostelers. Other vendors too recognized us as students from the campus. What was surprising though was that we got credit even from some shopkeepers in Kanpur, who did not know us at all. Why did these shopkeepers give credit to us? It is because of their trust in the IIT students.

    It is because people do business with people they trust. Trust is the foundation on which any relationship is built, whether it is marriage, friendship, or at workplace – between the CEO and the employees, or between a company and its consumers.

    It is trust in a person that makes him a leader; it is trust which makes people follow a leader. Integrity and ethics are paramount to develop trust. It is not easy to gain trust. To earn trust, a leader must have the courage to take difficult decisions. He must act in the interest of the employees and other stakeholders. He must be willing to accept responsibility. He must lead by example. He must possess the humility to learn from his mistakes. He must be just, transparent and respectful. Trust takes time to build. But it is easy to lose trust. To be a successful person, a successful leader, graduating students, try to gain trust and having gained it, preserve trust.

    Your time to shine

    To conclude, dear graduating students, as you leave this campus today, have confidence in yourself. Dream big, but more importantly, act on those dreams. Make IIT Kanpur proud. Make your parents proud. Make India proud. But most importantly, make yourselves proud – proud by living lives of character, ethics and humility; lives filled with purpose, service and impact. As you step into tomorrow, carry with you the spirit of this institution, carry with you the love of your families, and carry with you the dreams of a billion Indians who believe in your potential.

    Your journey of transformation began here at IIT Kanpur. Now, transform the world as leaders who are trustworthy; who continue learning for life; who question the status quo and who pursue virtuous karma.

    May God bless you with all the very best in your journey ahead.

    Thank you.

    Jai Hind.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Sanjay Malhotra: Convocation address – Indian Institute of Technology

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Chairman of the Board of Governors, Director of the Institute, Prof and Padma Shree Manindra Agrawal, winner of numerous awards, who was my senior here and who I hold in very high esteem, faculty members, staff, proud parents, family and friends of the graduating students, distinguished guests, and my dear graduating students, alumni, ladies and gentlemen.

    Today marks the culmination of an exciting chapter for the graduating students, where you have not only learnt new things – academic and extra-curricular – but have also had an enjoyable and memorable experience. I extend a very warm congratulations to all the graduating students. Please give yourselves a huge round of applause.

    To the parents and guardians, this moment belongs as much to you as it does to your children and wards. Your innumerable sacrifices, continuous support, unconditional love and unwavering encouragement have laid the foundation upon which these young achievers now stand. I know this is an emotional and proud moment for you. I have myself experienced these emotions when my sons graduated – one from IIT Bombay and the other from IIT Guwahati. My warmest congratulations to you as your ward steps into a new chapter in life.

    Dear graduates, it is a special day for you as you enter a new and exciting phase of life. It is an equally special day for me and doubly so. First, this institute has had a transformational impact on me, my life and my thoughts. I remember with nostalgia my years at IIT. I still vividly remember my first day at IIT when my mother came to drop me with another batchmate. I recollect my days at Hall III and then Hall I, the healthy rivalry between Hall II and Hall III, phatta cricket, bulla, the various celebrations at Red Rose Restaurant on the campus and Chung Fa restaurant in the city, movies at L7, DEC 10 of which we were so proud, the iconic library, Culfest and the many friends that I made and treasure till date. The steel trunk which carried my belongings to IIT and which my loving wife has preserved till date is still with me. I still have my Wilson tennis racket, with which I religiously played every evening at the clay courts on campus. IITK has a special place in my heart. This convocation ceremony is even more special as I did not attend our convocation ceremony; in fact, we did not have a proper convocation ceremony, perhaps the only batch not to have it. So, it’s an honour to be back here after thirty-six long years in a new and privileged role and be a part of the convocation ceremony today. Thank you, IIT, for this honour.

    Times have changed a lot since I graduated. But there are certainly lessons which endure time. As a fellow-alumnus, roll number 85213, who has experienced life after campus, I will speak about four learnings from my journey.

    Learning for Life

    Many of you would have got your dream jobs. Others, who plan to pursue further studies, would get them soon. With a degree from a prestigious institute and a good job in hand, please don’t think that you have arrived. The moment you think you have arrived, you will stagnate. The moment you believe you know everything, you will stop growing.

    This is just the beginning, only the first step. The degree has only laid a solid foundation and will take you thus far. You will need to build from here. You will need to learn when you change sectors, move across organisations within a sector, take up different roles within an organization and even within the same role in an organisation. Technology is advancing at a lightning speed. What you learnt yesterday would be outdated tomorrow as new ideas and tools emerge daily.

    I can assure you that the institute has prepared you well for your life ahead. It has not only imparted you with knowledge which will be of immense use but, more importantly, equipped you with the most important tool – the tool of self-learning.

    Like other IAS officers, I worked in diverse fields like urban management, land resources, industries, power, health, taxation, banking, finance, etc. Many of them were general management but many were highly technical and specialized, which had a steep learning curve. The IITK emphasis on basic sciences and core engineering subjects, its importance to the fundamentals of a subject, its priority to deriving the formulae rather than merely memorizing and applying them, its attention to problem-solving from first principles, and various other methods of problem solving have held me in good stead. IIT gave me the necessary tools for self-learning. I am sure it has given you too the same tools.

    So, continue your quest for knowledge. Remember that learning is for life. The moment one is not learning, it is a signal that one is not growing; one is not advancing. It is knowledge which will keep you ahead of others. Its importance cannot be over-emphasized. I urge you all, as Stephen Covey said, to continuously sharpen your saw and cut the grass under your feet.

    Question the status quo

    My second learning pertains to the period between 2003 and 2006, when I was working in the United Nations. I was managing a project to improve productivity in the hand tools clusters in India. We hired a Total Quality Management expert for some of our interventions. He had long and diverse experience across organisations.

    He challenged the forging units there to reduce the time taken in changing a die from about eight hours to less than an hour. All of them including the most advanced, productive and efficient forging units vehemently denied the possibility of reducing the time. When he failed after many days of trying to convince them to improve, he suggested some changes including installation of a video camera. This was tried in a unit. These small changes reduced the time to five hours. When asked, the supervisor, apart from other things, explained that the work started on time, as scheduled; no one was late; no one took an unscheduled tea break; all required equipment were pre-arranged and kept ready for use; there was no wastage of time. The small changes and videography did the trick as everyone was being watched. What followed was a series of improvements or what are called kaizens, not only in the exchange of dies, but also various other processes – forging, grinding, electroplating, packaging, etc, as every process was questioned. We ended up reducing costs by about 10%.

    I learnt to question the status quo. I learnt that there is always scope for improvement. This helped me improve efficiency in various organisations and departments that I worked in. It helped in reducing processing time of files. I reduced turnaround times for applications. It helped me make changes in laws, rules and procedures for the benefit of citizens and government alike, as I questioned the status quo.

    As Albert Einstein famously said, “The important thing is not to stop questioning.” When you question the status quo and ask questions, you open the door to new ideas and fresh perspectives. It is fuel for innovation; it drives you to explore, experiment, and create something better. So, no matter where you are in life or your career, never stop questioning the status quo and improving.

    Pursue virtuous Karma

    The third learning pertains to my tenure as Secretary, Department of Personnel in the Government of Rajasthan in 2007-08. Promotions from the state civil service to the IAS were plagued with disputes and court cases. For almost about 20 years, no one was promoted to the IAS. My predecessors did not take up this issue as they thought it would be an exercise in futility as some aggrieved officer will approach the doors of the judiciary. When I was given responsibility for this department, I took up the gauntlet. I studied all the disputes and judicial pronouncements meticulously; decided on claims of seniority and promotion, without fear or favour; finalized and published the seniority lists; and after spending months on this mammoth exercise, sent the proposals to UPSC for promotion. Just when we were about to convene the meeting for promotion, one officer again approached the court and got a stay. Months of my hard work was brought to nought. Even though many officers commended me for the hard work and getting the matter so close to finalization, I was disappointed.

    I had to leave for Princeton for my masters within a few days and could not pursue the case in the courts. After I returned, I was put in a different department. In a few years, the court lifted the stay. I was asked if I would be interested in giving finishing touches to the work I had initiated. Once bitten, twice shy, I did not take up the challenge this time. The work was completed by another officer. In recognition of his efforts, he was conferred with the state award for civil service.

    I realized I did not follow my karma as I feared failure. I realized I needed to follow my karma boldly and decisively without bothering about the results.

    Without going in to details of my journey thereafter, today, as I look back, I can confidently say that it is karma that largely determines outcomes and results. It is the path that one chooses that broadly determines the destination. Today, I appreciate how true Steve Jobs was when he said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward.” Right now, you may not fully grasp how your karma – each late-night lab session, each frustrating bug, and each decision that you take – will impact your journey. You may not appreciate, how delayed gratification, the hallmark of all great leaders, will deliver bigger success over the longer term for the instant rewards foregone. But trust me, over time, the dots will connect and it will be in large measure due to your karma.

    Trust

    My last learning is from the student days in IIT, when we were always short of money and under debt. Food at the mess was as good as it can be. We relied heavily on the hostel canteen. A samosa at that time costed 35 paise and a bottle of Thums Up 2 rupees and 25 paise. The canteen was managed by a person called Lala. Lala was loved by everyone. He would serve us till late in night and very generously gave us credit. Even outside hostel, we got credit from the juice vendor, the shops in Shopping Centre, etc. This may not be surprising. Lala knew us, recognizing us as hostelers. Other vendors too recognized us as students from the campus. What was surprising though was that we got credit even from some shopkeepers in Kanpur, who did not know us at all. Why did these shopkeepers give credit to us? It is because of their trust in the IIT students.

    It is because people do business with people they trust. Trust is the foundation on which any relationship is built, whether it is marriage, friendship, or at workplace – between the CEO and the employees, or between a company and its consumers.

    It is trust in a person that makes him a leader; it is trust which makes people follow a leader. Integrity and ethics are paramount to develop trust. It is not easy to gain trust. To earn trust, a leader must have the courage to take difficult decisions. He must act in the interest of the employees and other stakeholders. He must be willing to accept responsibility. He must lead by example. He must possess the humility to learn from his mistakes. He must be just, transparent and respectful. Trust takes time to build. But it is easy to lose trust. To be a successful person, a successful leader, graduating students, try to gain trust and having gained it, preserve trust.

    Your time to shine

    To conclude, dear graduating students, as you leave this campus today, have confidence in yourself. Dream big, but more importantly, act on those dreams. Make IIT Kanpur proud. Make your parents proud. Make India proud. But most importantly, make yourselves proud – proud by living lives of character, ethics and humility; lives filled with purpose, service and impact. As you step into tomorrow, carry with you the spirit of this institution, carry with you the love of your families, and carry with you the dreams of a billion Indians who believe in your potential.

    Your journey of transformation began here at IIT Kanpur. Now, transform the world as leaders who are trustworthy; who continue learning for life; who question the status quo and who pursue virtuous karma.

    May God bless you with all the very best in your journey ahead.

    Thank you.

    Jai Hind.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • US bombing ‘seriously damaged’ Iran’s Fordow nuclear site: Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The U.S. bombing of Iran’s key Fordow nuclear site has “seriously and heavily damaged” the facility, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in an interview with CBS News.

    “No one exactly knows what has transpired in Fordow. That being said, what we know so far is that the facilities have been seriously and heavily damaged,” Araqchi said in the interview broadcast on Tuesday.

    “The Atomic Energy Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran… is currently undertaking evaluation and assessment, the report of which will be submitted to the government.”

    Intercepted Iranian communications downplayed the extent of damage caused by U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear program, the Washington Post reported on Sunday, citing four people familiar with classified intelligence circulating within the U.S. government.

    President Donald Trump has said the strikes “completely and totally obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program, but U.S. officials acknowledge it will take time to form a complete assessment of the damage caused by the U.S. military strikes last weekend.

    (Reuters)

     

  • No fear or worry, say pilgrims as they embark on Amarnath yatra

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha announced on Wednesday that over 4,000 devotees have begun their journey from Jammu for the Amarnath Yatra. He flagged off the first group of pilgrims from Jammu.

    ““More than four thousand devotees of Lord Bhole Nath have set out today in the first batch for Baba Barfani’s darshan,” said L-G Sinha.

    With chants of “Bam Bam Bhole” ringing through the air, the spiritual journey to the sacred Amarnath cave has officially begun.

    Pilgrims gathered in large numbers at the base camp, filled with emotion and enthusiasm.

    “Everything feels great, and I am very happy to be going with the first batch. There is no fear or worry because we have our Army and our leaders with us,” said one devotee.

    Another added, “There is great excitement among the first batch of pilgrims, and I want to tell all devotees to come at least once for darshan of Baba Amarnath.”

    The annual pilgrimage, a major spiritual event in the Hindu calendar, will see lakhs of devotees trek to the high-altitude cave shrine in the Himalayas over the coming weeks. This year’s yatra began with heightened preparations by the administration, ensuring a safe and seamless journey for all participants.

    L-G Sinha commended the efforts of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, the administration, and the security forces. “The Jammu and Kashmir administration, local residents, and the Shrine Board have made excellent arrangements for the Yatra. Jammu and Kashmir Police and security forces have ensured strict security measures,” he said.

    Along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, particularly near Ramban, security has been ramped up. The area has seen the deployment of additional forces, surveillance systems, and checkpoints. Only verified vehicles are being allowed to pass through key points to ensure the safety of pilgrims.

    Meanwhile, facilities including medical aid, sanitation, food distribution, and emergency response systems have been arranged along the route. The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board has worked closely with multiple agencies to monitor crowd flow and weather patterns, ensuring the safety and comfort of pilgrims throughout the yatra.

    (IANS)

  • Australia’s fit-again Steve Smith set to play second test vs West Indies

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Australia are set to be reinforced by Steve Smith’s return to their top order but may miss his reassuring presence in the slip cordon in the second test against West Indies in Grenada this week.

    Smith missed Australia’s victory in the series opener in Bridgetown with a dislocated finger in his right hand, an injury suffered during the World Test Championship final against South Africa last month.

    The 36-year-old has reunited with the squad at the National Cricket Stadium and is likely to replace Josh Inglis, who managed five and 12 batting at number four in Bridgetown, in the second test beginning on Thursday.

    “Anytime you add 10,000 runs back into the line-up, you’re going to be pretty happy with it,” Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey said of Smith’s impending return after their training on Tuesday.

    “He seems pretty confident, so he’s excited to get back in.

    “It’s been tough at the top of the order, so to add a little bit more experience is good for the group, but I think they’ve (been) doing a pretty good job as well.”

    Australia were all out for 180 in the first innings in the opening test and were 65-4 in the second before fifties by Travis Head, Beau Webster and Carey propped them up.

    Smith did some catching practice but ESPNcricinfo reported he would not take his usual position in the slip cordon.

    West Indies have a bigger headache with their slip cordon having spilled seven catches in the opening match to let Australia off the hook.

    “I think the biggest thing is we shot ourselves in the foot,” West Indies head coach Daren Sammy said.

    “You cannot drop seven catches against the world’s number one team and expect to compete.”

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai meets delegation from 2025 Taiwan International Ocean Forum

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Details
    2025-06-30
    President Lai meets Minister of State at UK Department for Business and Trade Douglas Alexander  
    On the morning of June 30, President Lai Ching-te met with Douglas Alexander, Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade of the United Kingdom. In remarks, President Lai thanked the UK government for its longstanding support for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Noting that two years ago, Taiwan and the UK signed an enhanced trade partnership (ETP) arrangement, the president said that today Taiwan and the UK have signed three pillars under the ETP, which will help promote bilateral economic and trade cooperation. He expressed hope of the UK publicly supporting Taiwan’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) so that together we can create an economic and trade landscape in the Indo-Pacific characterized by shared prosperity and development. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: First, on behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend a warm welcome to Minister Alexander and wish a fruitful outcome for the 27th round of Taiwan-UK trade talks later today. Taiwan-UK relations have grown closer in recent years. We have not only continued to strengthen cooperation in such fields as offshore wind power, innovative technologies, and culture and education but also have established regular dialogue mechanisms in the critical areas of economics and trade, energy, and agriculture. The UK is currently Taiwan’s fourth-largest European trading partner, second-largest source of investment from Europe, and third-largest target for investment in Europe. Two years ago, Taiwan and the UK signed an ETP arrangement. This was particularly meaningful, as it was the first institutionalized economic and trade framework between Taiwan and a European country. Today, this arrangement is yielding further results. I am delighted that Taiwan and the UK have signed three pillars under the ETP covering investment, digital trade, and energy and net-zero. This will help promote bilateral economic and trade cooperation and advance industrial development on both sides. I also want to thank the UK government for its longstanding support for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. This month, the UK published its Strategic Defence Review 2025 and National Security Strategy 2025, which oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. These not only demonstrate that Taiwan and the UK share similar goals but also show that security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region are inseparable from those of the transatlantic regions. In addition, last November, the House of Commons passed a motion which made clear that United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758 neither established the sovereignty of the People’s Republic of China over Taiwan nor determined Taiwan’s status in the United Nations. The UK government also responded to the motion by publicly expressing for the first time its position on UNGA Resolution 2758, opposing any attempt to broaden the interpretation of the resolution to rewrite history. For this, on behalf of the people of Taiwan, I once again want to extend my deepest gratitude. Taiwan and the UK have the advantage of being highly complementary in the technology sector. In facing the restructuring of global supply chains and other international economic and trade developments, I believe that Taiwan and the UK are indispensable key partners for one another. I look forward to the UK publicly supporting Taiwan’s accession to the CPTPP so that together, we can create an economic and trade landscape in the Indo-Pacific characterized by shared prosperity and development. In closing, I wish Minister Alexander a pleasant and successful visit. And I hope he has the opportunity to visit Taiwan for personal travel in the future. Minister Alexander then delivered remarks, saying that it is a great personal honor to meet with everyone today to discuss further deepening the UK-Taiwan trade relationship and explore the many opportunities our two sides can pursue together. He mentioned that he traveled to Taiwan in 2022 when he was a private citizen, a visit he thoroughly enjoyed, so he is delighted to be back to see the strength of the UK-Taiwan relationship and the strengthening of that relationship. He said that relationship is built on mutual respect, democratic values, and a shared vision for open, resilient, and rules-based economic cooperation. As like-minded partners, he pointed out, our collaboration continues to grow across multiple sectors, and he is here today to further that momentum. Minister Alexander stated that on trade and investment, he is proud that this morning we signed the ETP Pillars on Investment, Digital Trade, Energy and Net Zero, which will provide a clear framework for our future cooperation and lay the foundation for expanded access and market-shaping engagement between our two economies. The minister said he believes that together with our annual trade talks, this partnership will help UK’s firms secure new commercial opportunities, improve regulatory alignment, and promote long-term investment in key growth areas, which in turn will also support Taiwan’s efforts to expand high-quality trade relationships with trusted partners. Minister Alexander said that President Lai’s promotion of the Five Trusted Industry Sectors and the UK’s recently published industrial and trade strategies are very well-aligned, as both cover clean energy and semiconductors as well as advanced manufacturing. He then provided an example, saying that both sides plan to invest in AI infrastructure and compute power-creating opportunities for great joint research in the future. By combining our strengths in these areas, he said, we can open the door to innovative collaboration and commercial success for both sides. He mentioned that yesterday he visited the Taiwan Space Agency, commenting that in sectors such as satellite technology, green energy, and cyber security, British expertise and trusted standards can provide meaningful solutions. Noting that President Lai spoke in his remarks of the broader challenge of peace and security in the region, Minister Alexander stated that the United Kingdom has, of course, also continued to affirm its commitment to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, along with its G7 partners. The UK-Taiwan relationship is strategic, enduring, and growing, he stated, and they reaffirm and remain firm in their longstanding position and confident in their ability to work together to support both prosperity and resilience in both of our societies. Minister Alexander said that, as Taiwan looks to diversify capital and build global partnerships, they believe the UK represents a strong and ambitious investment destination, particularly for Taiwanese companies at the very forefront of robotics, clean tech, and advanced industry. He pointed out that the UK’s markets are stable, open, and aligned with Taiwan’s vision of a high-tech, sustainable future, adding that he looks forward to our discussion on how we can further deepen our cooperation across all of these areas and more. The delegation also included Martin Kent, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific at the UK Department for Business and Trade. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by British Office Taipei Representative Ruth Bradley-Jones.   

    Details
    2025-06-27
    President Lai confers decoration on former Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Chairman Ohashi Mitsuo
    On the morning of June 27, President Lai Ching-te conferred the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon upon former Chairman of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Ohashi Mitsuo in recognition of his firm convictions and tireless efforts in promoting Taiwan-Japan exchanges. In remarks, President Lai stated that Chairman Ohashi cares for Taiwan like a family member, and expressed hope that Taiwan and Japan continue to deepen their partnership, bring about the early signing of an economic partnership agreement (EPA), and jointly build secure and stable non-red supply chains as we boost the resilience and competitiveness of our economies and jointly safeguard the values of freedom and democracy. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: Every meeting I have with Chairman Ohashi, with whom I have worked side by side for many years, is warm and friendly. I recall that when we met last year, Chairman Ohashi said that he often thinks about what Japan can do for Taiwan and what Taiwan can do for Japan, and that it is that mutual concern that makes us so close. This was a truly moving statement illustrating the relationship between Taiwan and Japan. Chairman Ohashi has also said numerous times that our bilateral relations may very well be the best in the entire world, and that in fact they may serve as a model to other countries. Indeed, Chairman Ohashi is himself an exemplary model for friendly relations between Taiwan and Japan. His spirit of always working tirelessly to promote Taiwan-Japan exchanges is truly admirable. Assuming the position of chairman of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association in 2011, he served during the terms of former Presidents Ma Ying-jeou and Tsai Ing-wen, continuously making positive contributions to Taiwan-Japan relations. Over these past 14 years, Taiwan and Japan have signed over 50 major agreements, spanning the economy and trade, fisheries, and taxes, among other areas. In 2017, the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association and the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association underwent name changes, strengthening the essence and significance of Taiwan-Japan relations. These great achievements were all made possible thanks to the firm convictions and tireless efforts of Chairman Ohashi. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I am delighted to confer upon Chairman Ohashi the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon to express our deepest thanks for his outstanding contributions. Chairman Ohashi is not just a good friend of Taiwan, but someone who cares for Taiwan like a family member. When a major earthquake struck in 2016, he personally went to Tainan to assess the situation and meet with the city government. This outpouring of friendship and support across borders was deeply moving. As we look to the future, I hope that Taiwan and Japan can continue to deepen our partnership. In addition to bringing about the early signing of an EPA, I also hope that we can expand collaboration in key areas such as semiconductors, energy, and AI, continue building secure and stable non-red supply chains, and boost the resilience and competitiveness of our economies as well as peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. As Chairman Ohashi has said, the close bilateral relationship between Taiwan and Japan is one the world can be proud of. I would like to thank him once again for his contributions to deepening Taiwan-Japan ties. Taiwan will continue to forge ahead side by side with Japan, jointly safeguarding the values of freedom and democracy and mutually advancing prosperous development. I wish Chairman Ohashi good health, happiness, peace, and success in his future endeavors, and invite him to return to Taiwan often to visit old friends. Chairman Ohashi then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai for his kind words. He stated that the Taiwan-Japan relationship is not only worthy of praise; it can also serve as a superb model in the world for bilateral relations that is worthy of study by other countries. He added that this is the result of the collective efforts of President Lai as well as many other individuals. Chairman Ohashi said that the current international situation is rather severe, with wars and conflicts occurring between many neighboring countries. He said that there is a growing trend of nuclear weapon proliferation, emphasizing that use of such weapons would cause significant harm between nations. He also pointed out that some countries even use nuclear weapons as a threat, leading to instability and impacting the global situation. Chairman Ohashi said that neither Taiwan nor Japan possesses nuclear weapons, which is something to be proud of. That is why, he said, we can declare that a world without nuclear weapons is a peaceful world. He also mentioned that during his tenure as chairman of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, he consistently upheld this principle in his work. Chairman Ohashi said that the mission of the World Federalist Movement (WFM) is to promote world peace. He said that the WFM has branches in countries worldwide, with the WFM of Japan being one of the most prominent, and that it also aspires to achieve the goal of world peace. Having served as chairman of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association for 14 years, he said, he is now stepping down from this role and will serve as the chairman of the WFM of Japan, aiming to promote peace in countries around the world. Chairman Ohashi said that both Taiwan and Japan can take pride in our friendly bilateral relationship, emphasizing that if the good relationship between Japan and Taiwan could be offered as an example to countries around the world, there would be no more wars. He expressed his sincere hope that under President Lai’s leadership, Taiwan and Japan can work together to jointly promote world peace. Also in attendance at the ceremony was Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Katayama Kazuyuki.

    Details
    2025-06-25
    President Lai meets Japan’s former Economic Security Minister Kobayashi Takayuki
    On the afternoon of June 25, President Lai Ching-te met with Kobayashi Takayuki, Japan’s former economic security minister and a current member of the House of Representatives. In remarks, President Lai expressed hope to combine the strengths of the democratic community to build resilient, reliable non-red supply chains, and ensure a resilient global economy and sustainable development. He also expressed hope that Taiwan and Japan can bring about the early signing of an economic partnership agreement (EPA), and that Japan will continue supporting Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), enhancing our own bilateral partnership, as doing so would create win-win situations and further contribute to regional economic security and stability. The following is a translation of President Lai’s remarks: I welcome Representative Kobayashi back to Taiwan for another visit after seven years. During his last visit, he was with a delegation from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Youth Division, and we met at the Executive Yuan. I am very happy to see him again today. Representative Kobayashi has long paid close attention to matters involving economic security, technological innovation, and aerospace policy. He also made a stunning debut in last year’s LDP presidential election, showing that he is truly a rising star and an influential figure in the political sphere. With this visit, Representative Kobayashi is demonstrating support for Taiwan with concrete action, which is very meaningful. Taiwan and Japan are both part of the first island chain’s key line of defense. We thank the many Japanese prime ministers, including former Prime Ministers Abe Shinzo, Suga Yoshihide, and Kishida Fumio, as well as current Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, for the many times they have highlighted the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait at important international venues, and for expressing opposition to the use of force or coercion to unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. I hope that Taiwan and Japan can engage in more cooperation and exchanges to promote peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region in all aspects. In particular, China in recent years has been actively expanding its red supply chains, which threaten the global free trade system and advanced technology markets. Taiwan hopes to combine the strengths of the democratic community to build resilient, reliable non-red supply chains. In the semiconductor industry, for example, Taiwan has excellent advanced manufacturing capabilities, while Japan plays an important role in materials, equipment, and key technologies. I am confident that, given the experience that Taiwan and Japan have in cooperating, we can build an industrial supply chain composed of democratic nations to ensure a resilient global economy and sustainable development. I hope that Taiwan and Japan can bring about the early signing of an EPA in order to deepen our bilateral trade and investment exchanges and cooperation. I also hope that Japan will continue supporting Taiwan’s bid to join the CPTPP, enhancing our own bilateral partnership, as doing so would create win-win situations and further contribute to regional economic security and stability. Taiwan and Japan are democratic partners that share the values of freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights. I firmly believe that so long as we work together, we can certainly address the challenges posed by authoritarianism, and bring prosperity and development to the Indo-Pacific region. In closing, I welcome Representative Kobayashi once again. I am certain that this visit will help enhance Taiwan-Japan exchanges and deepen our friendship. Representative Kobayashi then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai for taking the time to meet with him, and noting that this was his second visit to Taiwan following a trip seven years prior, when he came with his good friend from college and then-Director of the LDP Youth Division Suzuki Keisuke, now Japan’s minister of justice. Representative Kobayashi mentioned a Japanese kanji that he is very fond of – 絆 (kizuna) – which means “deep ties of friendship.” He emphasized that a key purpose of this visit to Taiwan was to reiterate the deep ties of friendship between Taiwan and Japan. In addition to deep historical ties, he said, Taiwan and Japan also enjoy a like-minded partnership in terms of economic, personnel, and friendship-oriented exchanges. He went on to say that at the strategic level, Taiwan and Japan also have deep ties of friendship, and that for Japan, it is strategically important that Taiwan not be isolated under any circumstances. Representative Kobayashi emphasized that cooperation between Taiwan and Japan, and even cooperation among Taiwan, Japan, and the United States, are more important now than ever, and that another important focus of this visit is the non-red supply chains referred to earlier by President Lai. He said that as Japan’s first economic security minister and the person currently in charge of the LDP’s policy on economic security, he is acutely aware of the important impact of economic security on national interests, and therefore looks forward to further exchanging views regarding Taiwan’s concrete steps to build non-red supply chains. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Deputy Representative Takaba Yo.

    Details
    2025-06-16
    President Lai meets delegation led by Representative Bera, co-chair of US Congressional Taiwan Caucus
    On the morning of June 16, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Representative Ami Bera, co-chair of the US Congressional Taiwan Caucus. In remarks, President Lai thanked the representatives in Congress for actively voicing support for Taiwan and proposing numerous Taiwan-friendly initiatives to strengthen Taiwan-US ties, helping expand Taiwan’s international space and continuing to place focus on peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The president said that we will continue to strengthen bilateral investment and industrial cooperation and create a more comprehensive environment for economic and trade exchanges to jointly enhance economic and developmental resilience. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I am delighted to meet with the delegation and welcome Congressman Bera back to the Presidential Office. Last January, he visited after the presidential election, demonstrating the steadfast backing of the US Congress for democratic Taiwan. This time, as head of a delegation of new members of the House Armed Services Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee, he is continuing to foster US congressional support for Taiwan. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend a sincere welcome to Congressman Bera and all our esteemed guests. Over the years, staunch bipartisan US congressional backing of Taiwan has been a key force for steadily advancing our bilateral relations. I thank the representatives in Congress for actively voicing support for Taiwan and proposing numerous Taiwan-friendly initiatives, thereby strengthening Taiwan-US ties, helping expand Taiwan’s international space, and continuing to place focus on peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. I want to emphasize that Taiwan has an unwavering determination to safeguard peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Over the past year, the government and private sector have been working together to enhance Taiwan’s whole-of-society defense resilience and accelerate reform of national defense. The government is also prioritizing special budget allocations to ensure that our defense budget exceeds three percent of GDP this year. I hope that Taiwan-US security cooperation will evolve beyond military procurement to a partnership that encompasses joint research and development and joint production, further strengthening cooperation and exchange in the defense industry. Regarding industrial exchanges, last month, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and Minister of Economic Affairs Kuo Jyh-huei (郭智輝) each visited Texas to see firsthand Taiwan-US collaboration in AI and semiconductors. And the delegation led by Executive Yuan Secretary-General Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) sent by Taiwan to this year’s SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington, DC, was again the largest of those attending. All of this demonstrates Taiwan’s commitment to working alongside the US to create mutual prosperity. In the future, we will continue to strengthen bilateral investment and industrial cooperation. And I hope that the legislation addressing the issue of Taiwan-US double taxation will become law this year. I want to thank Congressman Bera for co-leading a joint letter last November signed by over 100 members of Congress calling for such legislation. I believe that by creating a more comprehensive environment for economic and trade exchanges, Taiwan and the US can enhance economic and developmental resilience. In closing, I thank you all for making the long journey here to advance Taiwan-US relations. Let us continue working together to promote the prosperous development of this important partnership. Congressman Bera then delivered remarks, saying that on behalf of the delegation, it is an honor for him to be here once again, it being last January that he and Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart visited and congratulated President Lai on his election victory, noting that theirs was the first congressional delegation to do so. Congressman Bera said that this is an important time, not just for the US and Taiwan relationship, but for all relationships around the world. When we look at conflicts in Europe and in the Middle East, he said, it is incumbent upon democracies to hold the peace in Asia. He emphasized that is why it is important for them to bring a delegation of members of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Armed Services Committee, adding that he believes for all of them it is their first trip to Taiwan.  Congressman Bera said that while this is a delegation of Democratic members of Congress, in a bipartisan way all of Congress continues to support the people of Taiwan. As such, in this visit he brings support from his co-chairs on the Taiwan caucus, Congressman Díaz-Balart and Congressman Andy Barr. He also took a moment to recognize the passing of Congressman Gerald Connolly, who was a longtime friend of Taiwan and one of their co-chairs on the caucus. Congressman Bera mentioned that there is always a special bond between himself and President Lai because they are both doctors, and as doctors, their profession is about healing, keeping the peace, and making sure everybody has a bright, prosperous future. In closing, he highlighted that it is in that spirit that their delegation visits with the president. The delegation also included members of the US Congress Gabe Amo, Wesley Bell, Julie Johnson, Sarah McBride, and Johnny Olszewski.

    Details
    2025-06-13
    President Lai meets delegation led by French National Assembly Taiwan Friendship Group Chair Marie-Noëlle Battistel
    On the morning of June 12, President Lai Ching-te met a delegation led by Marie-Noëlle Battistel, chair of the French National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group. In remarks, President Lai thanked the National Assembly for its long-term support for Taiwan’s international participation and for upholding security in the Taiwan Strait, helping make France the first major country in the world to enact legislation to uphold freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait. The president also said that exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and France are becoming more frequent, and that he hopes this visit by the Taiwan Friendship Group will inject new momentum into Taiwan-France relations and help build closer partnerships in the economy, trade, energy, and digital security.  A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: First, I would like to welcome Chair Battistel, who is once again leading a visiting delegation. Last year, Chair Battistel co-led a delegation to attend the inauguration ceremony for myself and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao. This is her fourth visit, and first as chair of the Taiwan Friendship Group, which makes it especially meaningful. This delegation’s visit demonstrates strong support for Taiwan, and on behalf of the people of Taiwan, I want to express my sincerest welcome and thanks. France is a pioneer in promoting free and democratic values. These are values that Taiwan cherishes and is working hard to defend. I want to express gratitude to the French Parliament for their long-term support for Taiwan’s international participation, and for upholding security in the Taiwan Strait. The French Parliament’s two chambers have continued to strongly support Taiwan, with the passage of a resolution supporting Taiwan’s participation in international organizations in 2021, as well as the passage of the seven-year Military Programming Law in 2023. This has made France the first major country in the world to enact legislation to uphold freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait. Through it all, the Taiwan Friendship Group has played a key role, and I want to thank all of our distinguished guests for their efforts. Over the past few years, Taiwan and France have continued to deepen cooperation in areas including the economy, technology, culture, and sports. At the Choose France summit held in Paris last month, Taiwanese and French enterprises also announced they will launch cooperation in the semiconductor and satellite fields. The VivaTech startup exhibition, now being held in France, also has many Taiwanese vendors participating. Exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and France, whether official or people-to-people, are becoming more and more frequent. I hope that this visit by the Taiwan Friendship Group will inject new momentum into Taiwan-France relations, building closer partnerships in the economy, trade, energy, and digital security.  To address current geopolitical and economic challenges, Taiwan will continue to join forces with France and other like-minded countries to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, and contribute our concerted efforts to global prosperity and development. Once again, I want to welcome our visitors to Taiwan. I hope to continue our joint efforts to create a more prosperous future for both Taiwan and France.   Chair Battistel then delivered remarks, thanking President Lai for extending this invitation. Last year on May 20, she said, she and her delegation attended the presidential inauguration ceremony, so she was delighted to visit Taiwan once again with the French National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group and bear witness to their friendship with Taiwan. Chair Battistel noted that this visit has given them an opportunity to strengthen Taiwan-France relations in areas including the economy, culture, the humanities, and diplomacy, and conduct exchanges with numerous heads of government agencies and research institutes. It has also been an opportunity, she said, to witness the importance of exchanges and cooperation with Taiwan in areas including energy, semiconductors, youth, and culture, and the impact created by important issues of mutual concern, including AI and disinformation, on the security of many countries. Chair Battistel praised Taiwan for its youth development efforts, and said that under the Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative, 30 Taiwanese young people have embarked on a visit to France, with itineraries including the United Nations Ocean Conference and the VivaTech exhibition, as well as the city of Toulouse, which is strategically important for the aerospace industry. Members of the group are also conducting exchanges at the French National Assembly, she said.  Chair Battistel stated that the Taiwan-France partnership is growing closer, and that she hopes to continue to strengthen bilateral exchanges and cooperation, as supporting peace for Taiwan supports peace around the world.  The delegation also included Taiwan Friendship Group Vice Chair Éric Martineau, as well as National Assembly Committee on Foreign Affairs Vice Chair Laetitia Saint-Paul and Deputies Marie-José Allemand and Claudia Rouaux. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by French Office in Taipei Deputy Director Cléa Le Cardeur.

    Details
    2025-05-20
    President Lai interviewed by Nippon Television and Yomiuri TV
    In a recent interview on Nippon Television’s news zero program, President Lai Ching-te responded to questions from host Mr. Sakurai Sho and Yomiuri TV Shanghai Bureau Chief Watanabe Masayo on topics including reflections on his first year in office, cross-strait relations, China’s military threats, Taiwan-United States relations, and Taiwan-Japan relations. The interview was broadcast on the evening of May 19. During the interview, President Lai stated that China intends to change the world’s rules-based international order, and that if Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted. Therefore, he said, Taiwan will strengthen its national defense, prevent war by preparing for war, and achieve the goal of peace. The president also noted that Taiwan’s purpose for developing drones is based on national security and industrial needs, and that Taiwan hopes to collaborate with Japan. He then reiterated that China’s threats are an international problem, and expressed hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war. Following is the text of the questions and the president’s responses: Q: How do you feel as you are about to round out your first year in office? President Lai: When I was young, I was determined to practice medicine and save lives. When I left medicine to go into politics, I was determined to transform Taiwan. And when I was sworn in as president on May 20 last year, I was determined to strengthen the nation. Time flies, and it has already been a year. Although the process has been very challenging, I am deeply honored to be a part of it. I am also profoundly grateful to our citizens for allowing me the opportunity to give back to our country. The future will certainly be full of more challenges, but I will do everything I can to unite the people and continue strengthening the nation. That is how I am feeling now. Q: We are now coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and over this period, we have often heard that conflict between Taiwan and the mainland is imminent. Do you personally believe that a cross-strait conflict could happen? President Lai: The international community is very much aware that China intends to replace the US and change the world’s rules-based international order, and annexing Taiwan is just the first step. So, as China’s military power grows stronger, some members of the international community are naturally on edge about whether a cross-strait conflict will break out. The international community must certainly do everything in its power to avoid a conflict in the Taiwan Strait; there is too great a cost. Besides causing direct disasters to both Taiwan and China, the impact on the global economy would be even greater, with estimated losses of US$10 trillion from war alone – that is roughly 10 percent of the global GDP. Additionally, 20 percent of global shipping passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, so if a conflict breaks out in the strait, other countries including Japan and Korea would suffer a grave impact. For Japan and Korea, a quarter of external transit passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, and a third of the various energy resources and minerals shipped back from other countries pass through said areas. If Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted, and therefore conflict in the Taiwan Strait must be avoided. Such a conflict is indeed avoidable. I am very thankful to Prime Minister of Japan Ishiba Shigeru and former Prime Ministers Abe Shinzo, Suga Yoshihide, and Kishida Fumio, as well as US President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden, and the other G7 leaders, for continuing to emphasize at international venues that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are essential components for global security and prosperity. When everyone in the global democratic community works together, stacking up enough strength to make China’s objectives unattainable or to make the cost of invading Taiwan too high for it to bear, a conflict in the strait can naturally be avoided. Q: As you said, President Lai, maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is also very important for other countries. How can war be avoided? What sort of countermeasures is Taiwan prepared to take to prevent war? President Lai: As Mr. Sakurai mentioned earlier, we are coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. There are many lessons we can take from that war. First is that peace is priceless, and war has no winners. From the tragedies of WWII, there are lessons that humanity should learn. We must pursue peace, and not start wars blindly, as that would be a major disaster for humanity. In other words, we must be determined to safeguard peace. The second lesson is that we cannot be complacent toward authoritarian powers. If you give them an inch, they will take a mile. They will keep growing, and eventually, not only will peace be unattainable, but war will be inevitable. The third lesson is why WWII ended: It ended because different groups joined together in solidarity. Taiwan, Japan, and the Indo-Pacific region are all directly subjected to China’s threats, so we hope to be able to join together in cooperation. This is why we proposed the Four Pillars of Peace action plan. First, we will strengthen our national defense. Second, we will strengthen economic resilience. Third is standing shoulder to shoulder with the democratic community to demonstrate the strength of deterrence. Fourth is that as long as China treats Taiwan with parity and dignity, Taiwan is willing to conduct exchanges and cooperate with China, and seek peace and mutual prosperity. These four pillars can help us avoid war and achieve peace. That is to say, Taiwan hopes to achieve peace through strength, prevent war by preparing for war, keeping war from happening and pursuing the goal of peace. Q: Regarding drones, everyone knows that recently, Taiwan has been actively researching, developing, and introducing drones. Why do you need to actively research, develop, and introduce new drones at this time? President Lai: This is for two purposes. The first is to meet national security needs. The second is to meet industrial development needs. Because Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines are all part of the first island chain, and we are all democratic nations, we cannot be like an authoritarian country like China, which has an unlimited national defense budget. In this kind of situation, island nations such as Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines should leverage their own technologies to develop national defense methods that are asymmetric and utilize unmanned vehicles. In particular, from the Russo-Ukrainian War, we see that Ukraine has successfully utilized unmanned vehicles to protect itself and prevent Russia from unlimited invasion. In other words, the Russo-Ukrainian War has already proven the importance of drones. Therefore, the first purpose of developing drones is based on national security needs. Second, the world has already entered the era of smart technology. Whether generative, agentic, or physical, AI will continue to develop. In the future, cars and ships will also evolve into unmanned vehicles and unmanned boats, and there will be unmanned factories. Drones will even be able to assist with postal deliveries, or services like Uber, Uber Eats, and foodpanda, or agricultural irrigation and pesticide spraying. Therefore, in the future era of comprehensive smart technology, developing unmanned vehicles is a necessity. Taiwan, based on industrial needs, is actively planning the development of drones and unmanned vehicles. I would like to take this opportunity to express Taiwan’s hope to collaborate with Japan in the unmanned vehicle industry. Just as we do in the semiconductor industry, where Japan has raw materials, equipment, and technology, and Taiwan has wafer manufacturing, our two countries can cooperate. Japan is a technological power, and Taiwan also has significant technological strengths. If Taiwan and Japan work together, we will not only be able to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and security in the Indo-Pacific region, but it will also be very helpful for the industrial development of both countries. Q: The drones you just described probably include examples from the Russo-Ukrainian War. Taiwan and China are separated by the Taiwan Strait. Do our drones need to have cross-sea flight capabilities? President Lai: Taiwan does not intend to counterattack the mainland, and does not intend to invade any country. Taiwan’s drones are meant to protect our own nation and territory. Q: Former President Biden previously stated that US forces would assist Taiwan’s defense in the event of an attack. President Trump, however, has yet to clearly state that the US would help defend Taiwan. Do you think that in such an event, the US would help defend Taiwan? Or is Taiwan now trying to persuade the US? President Lai: Former President Biden and President Trump have answered questions from reporters. Although their responses were different, strong cooperation with Taiwan under the Biden administration has continued under the Trump administration; there has been no change. During President Trump’s first term, cooperation with Taiwan was broader and deeper compared to former President Barack Obama’s terms. After former President Biden took office, cooperation with Taiwan increased compared to President Trump’s first term. Now, during President Trump’s second term, cooperation with Taiwan is even greater than under former President Biden. Taiwan-US cooperation continues to grow stronger, and has not changed just because President Trump and former President Biden gave different responses to reporters. Furthermore, the Trump administration publicly stated that in the future, the US will shift its strategic focus from Europe to the Indo-Pacific. The US secretary of defense even publicly stated that the primary mission of the US is to prevent China from invading Taiwan, maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific, and thus maintain world peace. There is a saying in Taiwan that goes, “Help comes most to those who help themselves.” Before asking friends and allies for assistance in facing threats from China, Taiwan must first be determined and prepared to defend itself. This is Taiwan’s principle, and we are working in this direction, making all the necessary preparations to safeguard the nation. Q: I would like to ask you a question about Taiwan-Japan relations. After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, you made an appeal to give Japan a great deal of assistance and care. In particular, you visited Sendai to offer condolences. Later, you also expressed condolences and concern after the earthquakes in Aomori and Kumamoto. What are your expectations for future Taiwan-Japan exchanges and development? President Lai: I come from Tainan, and my constituency is in Tainan. Tainan has very deep ties with Japan, and of course, Taiwan also has deep ties with Japan. However, among Taiwan’s 22 counties and cities, Tainan has the deepest relationship with Japan. I sincerely hope that both of you and your teams will have an opportunity to visit Tainan. I will introduce Tainan’s scenery, including architecture from the era of Japanese rule, Tainan’s cuisine, and unique aspects of Tainan society, and you can also see lifestyles and culture from the Showa era.  The Wushantou Reservoir in Tainan was completed by engineer Mr. Hatta Yoichi from Kanazawa, Japan and the team he led to Tainan after he graduated from then-Tokyo Imperial University. It has nearly a century of history and is still in use today. This reservoir, along with the 16,000-km-long Chianan Canal, transformed the 150,000-hectare Chianan Plain into Taiwan’s premier rice-growing area. It was that foundation in agriculture that enabled Taiwan to develop industry and the technology sector of today. The reservoir continues to supply water to Tainan Science Park. It is used by residents of Tainan, the agricultural sector, and industry, and even the technology sector in Xinshi Industrial Park, as well as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Because of this, the people of Tainan are deeply grateful for Mr. Hatta and very friendly toward the people of Japan. A major earthquake, the largest in 50 years, struck Tainan on February 6, 2016, resulting in significant casualties. As mayor of Tainan at the time, I was extremely grateful to then-Prime Minister Abe, who sent five Japanese officials to the disaster site in Tainan the day after the earthquake. They were very thoughtful and asked what kind of assistance we needed from the Japanese government. They offered to provide help based on what we needed. I was deeply moved, as former Prime Minister Abe showed such care, going beyond the formality of just sending supplies that we may or may not have actually needed. Instead, the officials asked what we needed and then provided assistance based on those needs, which really moved me. Similarly, when the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 or the later Kumamoto earthquakes struck, the people of Tainan, under my leadership, naturally and dutifully expressed their support. Even earlier, when central Taiwan was hit by a major earthquake in 1999, Japan was the first country to deploy a rescue team to the disaster area. On February 6, 2018, after a major earthquake in Hualien, former Prime Minister Abe appeared in a video holding up a message of encouragement he had written in calligraphy saying “Remain strong, Taiwan.” All of Taiwan was deeply moved. Over the years, Taiwan and Japan have supported each other when earthquakes struck, and have forged bonds that are family-like, not just neighborly. This is truly valuable. In the future, I hope Taiwan and Japan can be like brothers, and that the peoples of Taiwan and Japan can treat one another like family. If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem; if Japan has a problem, then Taiwan has a problem. By caring for and helping each other, we can face various challenges and difficulties, and pursue a brighter future. Q: President Lai, you just used the phrase “If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem.” In the event that China attempts to invade Taiwan by force, what kind of response measures would you hope the US military and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take? President Lai: As I just mentioned, annexing Taiwan is only China’s first step. Its ultimate objective is to change the rules-based international order. That being the case, China’s threats are an international problem. So, I would very much hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war – prevention, after all, is more important than cure.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MPEDA hosts inaugural National Skill Olympiad to boost seafood value addition

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, successfully on Tuesday held the grand finale of its first-ever National Skill Olympiad on seafood value addition at the Seafood Expo Bharat in Chennai. The initiative aims to foster a skilled workforce and promote innovation in value-added seafood exports.

    Emerging victorious in the closely contested final was Thanseer K R of Abad Foods, Malipuram, Kerala. The awards were presented by Member of Parliament and MPEDA Authority Member Hibi George Eden D. V. Swamy, Chairman of MPEDA.

    The Olympiad, a pioneering effort by MPEDA, saw participation from trained seafood processing professionals from both the East and West coasts of India. Preliminary rounds were held in Kochi on May 29 and in Visakhapatnam on June 5, with the top ten candidates advancing to the semi-finals on June 30. From there, four finalists were selected for the finale.

    The final round featured professionals from across the country competing on aspects such as quality, hygiene, execution, and presentation. Balamurugan I from Edhayam Frozen Foods Pvt Ltd, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu secured second place, while Sandya Rani Palaparthi of Coastal Cooperation Ltd, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh came third. D. Anitha, also from Kakinada, representing Sandhya Aqua Exports Pvt Ltd, finished fourth.

    Prize money of ₹1,00,000 was awarded to the winner, followed by ₹75,000 and ₹50,000 for second and third place respectively. The fourth-place finalist received a consolation prize of ₹25,000. All participants were also honoured with medals and certificates.

    Speaking at the event, Hibi Eden lauded MPEDA’s innovative approach in organizing the Olympiad and emphasized its role in advancing India’s seafood export industry. Chairman Shri D. V. Swamy highlighted the Olympiad’s contribution toward making India a global hub for value-added seafood and announced plans to make the event an annual feature in MPEDA’s calendar.

    The finale drew participation from a wide range of stakeholders, including officials from Central and State fisheries departments, seafood exporters, foreign buyers, and delegates of the ongoing Seafood Expo Bharat 2025.

    In addition to the competition, seafood products crafted by the finalists were showcased for public viewing, accompanied by a live tasting session at the MPEDA Skill Olympiad pavilion, giving attendees a direct experience of the culinary excellence and processing expertise on display.

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Secretary-General of ASEAN attends working lunch hosted by UN Resident Coordinator in Indonesia

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today attended a working lunch hosted by the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Indonesia, Gita Sabharwal, alongside the Heads of five UN Agencies in Indonesia. The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on ASEAN–UN Comprehensive Partnership, particularly in the areas of transnational crime, food and agriculture, culture and information, women’s empowerment, and disaster management. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to finalising the new ASEAN–UN Plan of Action (2026–2030) for adoption later this year, which will guide cooperation between both sides.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN attends working lunch hosted by UN Resident Coordinator in Indonesia appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ11: Developing tourism projects with distinctive intellectual properties

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ11: Developing tourism projects with distinctive intellectual properties 
    Question:
     
    There are views that Hong Kong has a number of intellectual property (IP) projects with local characteristics, among which the film “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In” has been well received both locally and overseas. In Japan, a restaurant has even launched peripheral food products inspired by the film, which sell out every day. Moreover, many film fans have visited Hong Kong for sightseeing due to the film, demonstrating the unlimited business opportunities of IP tourism. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) whether it has compiled statistics on the number of visitors attracted to Hong Kong by IP projects, cultural events and mega-events with local characteristics in the past three years, as well as their places of origin, length of stay in Hong Kong, and consumption amounts and patterns; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that, and whether it will consider compiling such statistics;
     
    (2) as some members of the industry and academics have pointed out that tourism projects dominated by a single IP are difficult to sustain, and that the long-term strategy should be linking up multiple IPs of the same type to create synergy effects (e.g. Hong Kong can explore combining the IP of “Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In” and those of a number of classic Hong Kong films to build a “Hong Kong version of Universal Studios”, with a view to maximising the cultural benefits of Hong Kong films), whether the Government has considered formulating a strategy to promote collaboration between different IP holders and the tourism industry; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
     
    (3) whether the Government has formulated a dedicated strategy for IP tourism, such as strengthening the protection and promotion of existing distinctive IP projects and related attractions, and actively introducing measures to encourage and support IP creation and the development of related attractions; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that, and whether it will consider formulating relevant strategies?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
    The current Government has established the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) to promote the integrated development of culture, sports and tourism. The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) under the CSTB proactively strengthens its support towards the industrialisation development of the cultural and creative industries and provides a platform to foster cross-sectoral and cross-genre collaborations among cultural and creative sectors for cultural intellectual property (IP). We fully encourage industries such as catering, retailing and tourism to make use of the rich IP resources in Hong Kong to achieve synergy, attract tourists and explore business opportunities.
     
    My reply to the various parts of the question raised by the Hon Jeffrey Lam’s question, in consultation with the Intellectual Property Department (IPD), is as follows:
     
    There are a number of attractions in Hong Kong with local characteristics and tourism appeal, such as Victoria Harbour, the Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (HKDL), the Ocean Park (OP), the Peak Tram, the Hong Kong Ferris Wheel, Ngong Ping 360. They are also IPs with strong Hong Kong’s cultural characteristics. The CSTB and the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) have been striving to promote tourism by making good use of these cultural IPs and the international image of Hong Kong.
     
    In 2024, Hong Kong hosted over 240 mega events, attracting about two million visitors from mainly the Mainland and Southeast Asia region, and bringing a total spending of about HK$7.5 billion and added value of about HK$4.5 billion to the economy. Many of these mega events featured local characteristics and made good use of well-known IPs, such as the “100% DORAEMON & FRIENDS” Tour, Pokémon GO City Safari, PANDA GO! FEST HK, ComplexCon Hong Kong, Hypefest Hong Kong, Animation-Comic-Game Hong Kong (ACGHK), and “A Path to Glory – Jin Yong’s Centennial Memorial • The World of Wuxia”, etc. In 2025, we continue to welcome events filled with IP elements, such as “CHIIKAWA DAYS” Exhibition, the opening of CR7® LIFE Museum Hong Kong, ACGHK 2025, “Comic Fun for All: The Magic of Hong Kong Comedy Comics” showcasing various local comics and Hong Kong Fashion Fest.
     
    We have been making use of attractive IP-themed events to enrich visitors’ travel and entertainment experience and stimulate spending. The HKTB proactively collaborates with event organisers to provide all round support, including driving local tourism through events. For example, during “100% DORAEMON & FRIENDS” Tour, the HKTB partnered with the exhibition organiser to present “Anywhere Door” at ten tourist spots in Hong Kong, attracting visitors and locals to explore the city and take photos. The HKTB also collaborates with IPs in flagship events and integrates with signature IPs to further promote tourism. For example, in organising the Hong Kong International Dragon Boat Races in 2023 and 2024, the HKTB collaborated with the world’s popular IP, LINE FRIENDS, to set up LINE FRIENDS dragon boat photo spots along the Avenue of Stars to attract visitors and locals to take photos and enjoy the races. Both visitors and locals could also purchase Hong Kong-exclusive merchandise designed for the races during the event period. 
     
    In terms of tourism promotion through leveraging movie IPs, the HKTB collaborated with the movie producer and relevant units to launch a movie exhibition titled “Live out the Cinematic Charm of Hong Kong” Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In. The exhibition was first staged at the Hong Kong International Airport and then AIRSIDE at Kai Tak, Kowloon City. In parallel, merchandise vendors on site offered classic dishes, nostalgic toys and movie merchandise to create business opportunities. The CCIDA also organises the three-year “Kowloon Walled City: A Cinematic Journey” Movie Set Exhibition at the Kowloon Walled City Park, showcasing more movie sets and local traditional craftsmanship displays, recreating scenes of the Walled City. Over 42 000 locals and tourists were attracted in the first month since its opening in May this year, driving catering and retailing spending in the vicinity.
     
    In terms of theme parks, the HKDL, a landmark attraction with rich IP features, has been introducing various unique facilities and events to attract visitors, including the opening of the world’s first ever and largest Frozen-themed land, the new Marvel-themed area under planning, the 20th anniversary celebration and an all-new Pixar entertainment experience. On the other hand, the OP, capitalising on its advantage of being home to the largest number of giant pandas outside the Mainland, has created the giant pandas’ IPs according to the physical traits of the six giant pandas and launched giant panda-related promotional activities, merchandise, cultural and creative products, video games, tourism products, etc, with Hong Kong’s characteristics. In addition to the extensive use of the giant pandas’ IPs in OP’s social media content and merchandise, the OP will continue to make use of the relevant IP to launch giant panda-themed festive events, immersive experience activities, light shows, thematic performances, amusement facilities, etc, and partner with different organisations to promote the IPs.
     
    Separately, the CCIDA, through the CreateSmart Initiative (CSI), has funded and promoted various IP projects that integrate local animation and comic culture with tourism. These include the two-year AniCom Sports Park which showcases 36 locally created AniCom characters from different eras, each paired with a sports-themed design, such as “Old Master Q” with snooker, “Dragon Shik” with boxing and “My Boy” with table tennis, echoing the Olympic Games Paris and the National Games to promote the innovative experience of integrating culture, sports and tourism in Hong Kong. Since its launch in July 2024, the project has attracted about 460 000 locals tourists. The Hong Kong Avenue of Comic Stars, with the theme of local original comics, has drawn over three million visitors to date. The project was enhanced and updated in late 2024, now featuring 76 coloured figurines of local comic characters created by 100 artists, such as “Wang Xiao Hu”, “Hero Wah” and “MinBao Gor”, along with a 50-meter-long large-scale comic wall and interactive installations. In half a year, it attracted over 850 000 visitors with approximately 40 per cent of them being tourists. The annual mega event, the ACGHK, brings together comics and animation, mobile/computer games and art toy creations from Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas, attracting about 250 000 tourists from the Mainland and overseas annually. The ACGHK 2025 will feature four projects, namely the Hong Kong International Art Toys Expo, the International Comic Artist Conference and Exhibition, the Comics Masters Gathering Hong Kong, and the Hong Kong Comics Support Programme Pavilion. Apart from showcasing over 100 art toys and comic works from Hong Kong, the Mainland and overseas, there will also be sharing sessions and workshops led by comic masters. The CCIDA will strengthen publicity in order to attract visitors from the Mainland and overseas.
     
    On upholding and strengthening IP protection, the Government continues to drive the development of local IP (including cultural IP), enhance the local IP regime, ensuring that it keeps abreast of the times, aligns with international trends, and meets Hong Kong’s economic needs, including the implementation of the Copyright (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 to strengthen copyright protection in the digital environment, and a comprehensive review of the local registered designs regime and plans to launch a public consultation within this year. A robust IP protection regime can foster the sustainable development of local cultural and creative industries, as well as help drive the growth of related industry chains, including tourism, thereby spurring the development of the economy. The CCIDA is also actively supporting cultural IP projects, including those related to tourism, through CSI, and driving applicants to make applications for IP protection for their cultural and creative products, formulate IP agreements and manage IP portfolios, etc, so as to assist creators in exploring business opportunities.
     
    The IPD advocates for the messages of respecting creativity and IP protection through producing and disseminating promotional materials and videos. At the same time, it is committed to implementing the “No Fakes Pledge” Scheme and the “I Pledge” Campaign to encourage the selling and buying of genuine goods among local retailers, tourists and consumers. The “No Fakes Pledge” Scheme has garnered widespread support from local businesses over the years, with an average annual participation of over 1 500 retail merchants and 7 000 outlets/online shops.
     
    The Government will continue to support IP creation, construction and cross-over through innovative thinking, combining with our edges in technology, animation and comics, the performing arts, film and television culture to attract more tourists to come to Hong Kong to experience the unique local cultural connotation. We also hope that the catering, retailing and tourism industries can make good use of IP projects to explore business opportunities and implement the concept of “tourism is everywhere in Hong Kong” together.
    Issued at HKT 14:22

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Drivers urged to be ready for poor weather on Upper North Island roads

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    With Heavy Rain and Strong Wind Warnings in place for the several North Island regions, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is urging drivers to take extra care on the roads and check for the latest road conditions before travelling.

    Wet roads can be slippery, so road users should reduce their speed, increase their following distances, and be prepared for the possibility of slips, rockfalls, and flooding.

    Strong winds can be hazardous for trucks, vans, campervans, towing vehicles, and motorcycles. Road users should be prepared for sudden gusts, crosswinds, fallen trees, and wind-blown debris – particularly in exposed areas.

    With weather watches or warnings in place for parts of Northland, Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Tairawhiti, Taumaranui/Taupo and Taranaki, people traveling throughout the Upper North Island need to stay up to date on road and weather conditions. Road conditions can change without warning, and routes can be closed at short notice due to slips and flooding.

    Latest information on road and weather conditions

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: More wet and windy weather on the way for Top of the South drivers

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    |

    With Orange Heavy Rain Warnings in place for Nelson and Tasman, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is urging drivers to take extra care on the roads and check for the latest road conditions before travelling.

    Wet roads can be slippery, so road users should reduce their speed, increase their following distances, and be prepared for the possibility of slips, rockfalls, and flooding.

    Road users should be prepared for the possibility of strong winds, fallen trees, and wind-blown debris – particularly in exposed areas.

    People traveling in the region are urged to stay up to date on road and weather conditions. Road conditions can change without warning, and routes can be closed at short notice due to slips and flooding.

    Latest information on road and weather conditions

    Tags

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: NZTA welcomes High Court ruling on Mt Messenger Bypass

    Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

    NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi has welcomed 4 new High Court rulings, the latest of at least 20 court rulings in favour of Te Ara o Te Ata – Mt Messenger Bypass project.

    Today’s High Court decisions rejected an appeal by landowners and confirmed the Environment Court’s May 2024 ruling, which supported the Crown’s compulsory acquisition of the final piece of land required for the project’s northern section. The land, located in the 6km bypass alignment, is essential to move the project forward.

    The Bypass is a new two-lane 6km route between Uruti and Ahititi that avoids the existing steep, narrow and winding route over Mt Messenger on State Highway 3 in North Taranaki. It will provide much needed interregional economic, resilience, safety and environmental benefits, including for local communities, businesses, freight and all SH3 road users.

    NZTA’s Regional Manager of Infrastructure Delivery, Rob Partridge, says the ruling marks a significant milestone, following years of legal challenges.

    “While it is always our preference to acquire land through agreement, this has not been possible, despite extensive efforts including numerous offers made to the landowners,” says Mr Partridge.

    Since 2017, there have been many attempts to acquire the land by agreement, and the landowners have been presented with 20 offers including options for new housing elsewhere across their 683-hectare landholdings.

    “The delays in securing this land have come at a considerable cost. NZTA plans to update the overall project cost later this year, factoring in the impacts of these delays, as well as inflation and rising construction costs.

    As of June 2025, the NZTA Board had approved funding of $365.1 million for the project.

    Construction is progressing well, with the southern-most 1km section at road level.

    Excavation for the 235 metre tunnel and work on the project’s main bridge are underway, with the tunnel expected to be completed in early 2026 and the 125 metre bridge in late 2026. 

    The process now

    NZTA will now request the Crown takes the necessary steps to become the legal owner of this 11-hectare parcel of land, subject to any further legal challenge against this process occurring, so that the Mt Messenger Alliance can begin works on the northern section as soon as possible.  

    The work is then expected to take 4 full construction seasons, from October to April, to complete. 

    Te Ara o Te Ata – Mt Messenger Bypass project page

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Legends of a Nuclear-Free and Independent Pacific – Rev Mua Strickson-Pua

    Pacific Media Watch

    When advocates and defenders of a nuclear-free Pacific condemned the AUKUS military pact two years ago and warned New Zealand that the agreement would make the world “more dangerous”,  a key speaker was Reverend Mua Strickson-Pua.

    He was among leading participants at a Nuclear-Free and Independent Pacific (NFIP) movement teachers’ wānanga, which launched a petition against the pact with one of the “elders” among the activists, Hilda Halkyard-Harawira (Te Moana Nui a Kiwa), symbolically adding the first signature.

    Speaking about the petition declaration in a ceremony on the steps of the Auckland Museum marking the 10 July 1985 bombing of the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior, Reverend Mua Strickson-Pua explained that the AUKUS agreement was a military pact between Australia-UK-US that was centred on Canberra’s acquisition of nuclear propelled submarines.

    Reverend Mua Strickson-Pua and the NFIP petition has been featured in a new video report by Nik Naidu as part of a “Legends of NFIP” series by Talanoa TV of the Whanau Community Centre and Hub.

    • This and other videos will be screened at the “Legends of the Pacific: Stories of a Nuclear-Free Moana 1975-1995” exhibition this month at Ellen Melville Centre, which will be opened on Saturday, July 12 at 3pm, and open daily July 13-18, 9.30am to 4.30pm.
    • The exhibition is organised by the Asia Pacific Media Network (APMN), Whānau Community Centre and Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Tonga cybersecurity attack wake-up call for Pacific, warns expert

    By Teuila Fuatai, RNZ Pacific senior journalist

    A Tongan cybersecurity expert says the country’s health data hack is a “wake-up call” for the whole region.

    Siosaia Vaipuna, a former director of Tonga’s cybersecurity agency, spoke to RNZ Pacific in the wake of the June 15 cyberattack on the country’s Health Ministry.

    Vaipuna said Tonga and other Pacific nations were vulnerable to data breaches due to the lack of awareness and cybersecurity systems in the region.

    “There’s increasing digital connectivity in the region, and we’re sort of . . . the newcomers to the internet,” he said.

    “I think the connectivity is moving faster than the online safety awareness activity [and] that makes not just Tonga, but the Pacific more vulnerable and targeted.”

    Since the data breach, the Tongan government has said “a small amount” of information from the attack was published online. This included confidential information, it said in a statement.

    Reporting on the attack has also attributed the breach to the group Inc Ransomware.

    Vaipuna said the group was well-known and had previously focused on targeting organisations in Europe and the US.

    New Zealand attack
    However, earlier this month, it targeted the Waiwhetū health organisation in Aotearoa New Zealand. That attack reportedly included the theft of patient consent forms and education and training data.

    “This type of criminal group usually employs a double-extortion tactic,” Vaipuna said.

    It could encrypt data and then demand money to decrypt, he said.

    “The other ransom is where they are demanding payment so that they don’t release the information that they hold to the public or sell it on to other cybercriminals.”

    In the current Tonga cyberattack, media reports say that Inc Ransomware wanted a ransom of US$1 million for the information it accessed. The Tongan government has said it has not paid anything.

    Vaipuna said more needed to be done to raise awareness in the region around cybersecurity and online safety systems, particularly among government departments.

    “I think this is a wake-up call. The cyberattacks are not just happening in movies or on the news or somewhere else, they are actually happening right on our doorstep and impacting on our people.

    Extra vigilance warning
    “And the right attention and resources should rightfully be allocated to the organisations and to teams that are tasked with dealing with cybersecurity matters.”

    The Tongan government has also warned people to be extra vigilant when online.

    It said more information accessed in the cyberattack may be published online, and that may include patient information and medical records.

    “Our biggest concern is for vulnerable groups of people who are most acutely impacted by information breaches of this kind,” the government said.

    It said that it would contact these people directly.

    The country’s ongoing response was also being aided by experts from Australia’s special cyberattack team.

    This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • J&K LG flags off first batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims from Jammu amid tight security

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday flagged off the first batch of pilgrims for the annual Amarnath Yatra from Jammu to the Kashmir Valley, marking the start of the 36-day pilgrimage, which officially begins on Thursday.

    Amid chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” “Bum Bum Bhole,” and “Barfani Baba Ne Bulaya Hai,” enthusiastic pilgrims from across the country departed in two escorted convoys from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas on Canal Road. The pilgrims are heading towards the two main base camps – Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district.

    The Lt Governor, who also serves as the Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), was accompanied by senior civil and police officials during the flag-off ceremony.

    This year’s Yatra is being conducted under unprecedented security arrangements, particularly in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. To ensure the safety of pilgrims, an additional 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been deployed to reinforce the existing security grid, which includes the Indian Army, paramilitary forces, and the J&K Police.

    The Yatra will conclude on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and the festival of Raksha Bandhan.

    Pilgrims reach the holy cave shrine, located at an altitude of 3,888 metres, via two routes— the traditional Pahalgam route and the shorter Baltal route.

    Those taking the Pahalgam route undertake a four-day, 46-km trek passing through Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni before reaching the cave shrine. In contrast, pilgrims opting for the Baltal route complete a 14-km trek and usually return to the base camp the same day after having darshan at the shrine.

    The sacred cave houses a naturally formed ice stalagmite, believed by devotees to symbolize the mythical powers of Lord Shiva. The structure waxes and wanes with the phases of the moon, adding to its spiritual significance.

    Amarnath Yatra 2025: Route Options – Baltal vs Pahalgam

    There are two Amarnath Yatra routes to reach the Holy Cave: the Baltal route and the Pahalgam route.

    The Pahalgam route covers a distance of approximately 36 kilometers and typically takes between three to five days to complete. It is ideal for those who prefer a slower, more scenic trek through the breathtaking landscapes of the Kashmir Valley. This traditional route passes through key halting points such as Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni, making it well-suited for pilgrims who wish to experience the spiritual journey at a more relaxed pace.

    The Baltal route, on the other hand, is much shorter—about 14 kilometers – but significantly steeper and more challenging. It usually takes one to two days to complete and is best suited for physically fit individuals or those with limited time. Many pilgrims using this route complete the journey and return on the same day after having darshan at the cave shrine.

    Both routes offer unique experiences, and the choice depends on individual preferences, physical fitness, and time availability.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • J&K LG flags off first batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims from Jammu amid tight security

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday flagged off the first batch of pilgrims for the annual Amarnath Yatra from Jammu to the Kashmir Valley, marking the start of the 36-day pilgrimage, which officially begins on Thursday.

    Amid chants of “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” “Bum Bum Bhole,” and “Barfani Baba Ne Bulaya Hai,” enthusiastic pilgrims from across the country departed in two escorted convoys from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas on Canal Road. The pilgrims are heading towards the two main base camps – Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district.

    The Lt Governor, who also serves as the Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), was accompanied by senior civil and police officials during the flag-off ceremony.

    This year’s Yatra is being conducted under unprecedented security arrangements, particularly in the wake of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. To ensure the safety of pilgrims, an additional 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been deployed to reinforce the existing security grid, which includes the Indian Army, paramilitary forces, and the J&K Police.

    The Yatra will conclude on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and the festival of Raksha Bandhan.

    Pilgrims reach the holy cave shrine, located at an altitude of 3,888 metres, via two routes— the traditional Pahalgam route and the shorter Baltal route.

    Those taking the Pahalgam route undertake a four-day, 46-km trek passing through Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni before reaching the cave shrine. In contrast, pilgrims opting for the Baltal route complete a 14-km trek and usually return to the base camp the same day after having darshan at the shrine.

    The sacred cave houses a naturally formed ice stalagmite, believed by devotees to symbolize the mythical powers of Lord Shiva. The structure waxes and wanes with the phases of the moon, adding to its spiritual significance.

    Amarnath Yatra 2025: Route Options – Baltal vs Pahalgam

    There are two Amarnath Yatra routes to reach the Holy Cave: the Baltal route and the Pahalgam route.

    The Pahalgam route covers a distance of approximately 36 kilometers and typically takes between three to five days to complete. It is ideal for those who prefer a slower, more scenic trek through the breathtaking landscapes of the Kashmir Valley. This traditional route passes through key halting points such as Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni, making it well-suited for pilgrims who wish to experience the spiritual journey at a more relaxed pace.

    The Baltal route, on the other hand, is much shorter—about 14 kilometers – but significantly steeper and more challenging. It usually takes one to two days to complete and is best suited for physically fit individuals or those with limited time. Many pilgrims using this route complete the journey and return on the same day after having darshan at the cave shrine.

    Both routes offer unique experiences, and the choice depends on individual preferences, physical fitness, and time availability.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • MIL-Evening Report: Australians will soon need their age checked to log into online search tools – here’s why

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lisa M. Given, Professor of Information Sciences & Director, Social Change Enabling Impact Platform, RMIT University

    Shutterstock

    By the end of this year, the experience of using search engines in Australia won’t be as simple as it has always been.

    That’s thanks to a new online safety code announced yesterday by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant. Among other measures, it will require all Australian users to provide assurance of their age when they sign into a search engine account.

    So what’s the new code about? How will it work in practice? And how exactly will it affect kids – and adults – in Australia who use search engines such as Google?

    What’s in the new code?

    The code orders providers of internet search-engine services such as Google and Microsoft (which owns Bing) to “implement appropriate age assurance measures for account holders” within six months.

    The code requires providers to review and mitigate “the risk that Australian children will access or be exposed to online pornography, high-impact violence material, and self-harm material” in search engine results.

    While the code does not define the age of a “child” as being under 18, or another age, a search engine must apply tools and settings that “at a minimum” filter out online pornography and extremely violent material from search results. Providers must also ensure advertising in these content areas is not served up in search results to child account holders.

    Currently, Google account holders must be at least 13 years old.

    The code creates several other rules for search engine providers that will impact everyone.

    For example, providers must “prevent autocomplete predictions that are sexually explicit or violent” and prominently display crisis-prevention information, such as helplines, in the results for queries relating to topics such as self-harm, suicide and eating disorders.

    Search engine providers will also have to blur some images in search results by default to reduce the risk of kids inadvertently accessing or being exposed to pornographic or violent material. And they will have to provide parental controls to limit or alter children’s access to adult material.

    On top of these measures, the code requires search-engine providers to report to eSafety, invest in safety and moderation teams, and engage with community organisations.

    The new code has been in development since July 2024. It was co-drafted by the Digital Industry Group Inc, an industry association representing tech companies including Google, Meta and Microsoft. A single breach could result in a search engine provider copping a fine of up to A$49.5 million.

    How will the code work in practice?

    The code does not spell out the measures to be used to assure someone’s age.

    They could including asking for government-issued ID or be similar to strategies currently being assessed for the Australian government’s under 16s social media ban, such as facial recognition technology.

    Yet, the government’s recent age assurance trials highlighted concerns about the accuracy of age estimation tools, despite claims of their overall effectiveness.

    Changing how people search

    Once implemented, age assurance requirements will likely change how people engage with search engines and other applications.

    Google is used by more than 90% of Australians and for more than just searching. The Google ecosystem includes Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Maps, providing seamless integration between search and other tools and tasks.

    Repeated age assurance requests could disrupt the seamlessness of content-sharing across devices that users now experience.

    Many people also opt to remain logged into their accounts on multiple devices, to quickly enable cross-device activities. This means within a family, users of multiple ages may access content on a single account, even when they don’t intend to do so.

    Will search engines need to change this functionality, to more regularly log users off their accounts, and reconfirm the account holder’s age? And how will the code affect features such as Google’s “incognito mode”, which is used for private searching?

    The code will apply to “any features integrated within the search functionality and the user interface” of the service, including results generated by artificial intelligence (AI). This means results generated by Google’s Gemini AI service fall under the code, alongside traditional search results.

    However, the code doesn’t apply to “standalone applications or tools that are not integrated within the internet search engine service”. This means that while a browser extension such as ChatGPT for Google may fall under the code, as an integrated search engine service, the standalone ChatGPT app could be excluded.

    This may make searching even more confusing for users, as many people may not understand the limitations of treating generative AI tools like search engines – but they are not.

    Will the code work?

    As with all age assurance checks, there may be ways people can get around these new search engine controls.

    For example, they may use VPNs to trick the system into believing they are outside of Australia (and therefore not subject to age assurance checks). Or, children may access content on older people’s accounts and devices.

    However, the code does preempt concerns that children might get around controls by simply not logging in to their accounts. And, the code’s insistence on reporting mechanisms means people of all ages will be able to report material and raise complaints about potential code violations.

    In this way, the code seems to reflect the government’s previously proposed (but now, paused) “digital duty of care” legislation, which aimed to hold technology companies to account for the content they provide.

    One crucial question remains: will the steps companies take to comply with the code meet Australians’ expectations for seamless, integrated search practices and personal privacy as they access information online?

    Lisa M. Given receives funding from the Australian Research Council. She is a Fellow of the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia and the International Association for Information Science and Technology.

    – ref. Australians will soon need their age checked to log into online search tools – here’s why – https://theconversation.com/australians-will-soon-need-their-age-checked-to-log-into-online-search-tools-heres-why-260199

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • Dalai Lama says his Trust will lead search for his successor

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Dalai Lama said on Wednesday that a non-profit that he has founded will have the sole authority to recognise his future reincarnation, countering China’s insistence that it will choose the successor of the Tibetan spiritual leader.

    The remarks by the leader, who turns 90 on Sunday, came during a week of celebrations to mark his birthday. There was no immediate comment from China.

    Beijing views the Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, as a separatist. The Dalai Lama has previously said his successor will be born outside China and urged his followers to reject anyone chosen by Beijing.

    “I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue,” the Dalai Lama said in a statement.

    He added that the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the non-profit that he set up to maintain and support the tradition and institution of the Dalai Lama, has the sole authority to recognise his future reincarnation in consultation with the heads of Tibetan Buddhist traditions.

    “They should accordingly carry out the procedures of search and recognition in accordance with past tradition … no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter,” the Dalai Lama said.

    (Reuters)

  • Dalai Lama says his Trust will lead search for his successor

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Dalai Lama said on Wednesday that a non-profit that he has founded will have the sole authority to recognise his future reincarnation, countering China’s insistence that it will choose the successor of the Tibetan spiritual leader.

    The remarks by the leader, who turns 90 on Sunday, came during a week of celebrations to mark his birthday. There was no immediate comment from China.

    Beijing views the Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, as a separatist. The Dalai Lama has previously said his successor will be born outside China and urged his followers to reject anyone chosen by Beijing.

    “I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue,” the Dalai Lama said in a statement.

    He added that the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the non-profit that he set up to maintain and support the tradition and institution of the Dalai Lama, has the sole authority to recognise his future reincarnation in consultation with the heads of Tibetan Buddhist traditions.

    “They should accordingly carry out the procedures of search and recognition in accordance with past tradition … no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter,” the Dalai Lama said.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Indonesia’s inflation rate in June was 1.87 percent year-on-year

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    JAKARTA, July 2 (Xinhua) — Indonesia’s inflation stood at 1.87 percent year-on-year in June, data released by the country’s Central Statistics Agency (BPS) showed on Tuesday.

    On a monthly basis, inflation was 0.19 percent, and the consumer price index rose from 108.07 in May to 108.27 in June.

    “The monthly inflation rate in June was 0.19 percent,” said BSP Deputy Commissioner for Distribution and Services Statistics Puji Ismartini. The inflation data is based on monitoring conducted in 150 counties and cities across the country, she added. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Rosanna Law to visit France

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law will depart tomorrow for France, where she will visit Paris and Bordeaux with a view to enhancing collaboration between Hong Kong and France in the areas of culture and tourism.

    Miss Law will meet French government officials and representatives of the wine trade to explore opportunities for co-operation and exchange. She will also visit museums and tourist landmarks.

    The culture chief will head back to Hong Kong on July 9. During her absence, Under Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Raistlin Lau will be Acting Secretary.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri meets Mauritian leadership, discusses strengthening bilateral ties

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri paid an official visit to Mauritius on Tuesday, marking his second visit to the island nation in his current role. The visit came shortly after a telephone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Mauritian counterpart Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam on June 24, during which both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the Enhanced Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

    During his visit, Misri called on President Dharambeer Gokhool, PM Ramgoolam, Deputy PM Paul Berenger, and Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful. In his meeting with Prime Minister Ramgoolam, Misri conveyed PM Modi’s invitation for an official visit to India and discussed the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation.

    As part of India’s ongoing support to Mauritius, Misri handed over specialized anti-drug equipment to the Mauritian government, underlining joint efforts to combat rising drug addiction and related social issues in the country.

    The visit highlighted India’s strong commitment to its ties with Mauritius under the Neighbourhood First policy, Vision MAHASAGAR, and its engagement with the Global South. Both sides reaffirmed their intent to deepen cooperation across sectors for mutual development and the prosperity of the Indian Ocean Region.

  • Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri meets Mauritian leadership, discusses strengthening bilateral ties

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri paid an official visit to Mauritius on Tuesday, marking his second visit to the island nation in his current role. The visit came shortly after a telephone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Mauritian counterpart Dr. Navinchandra Ramgoolam on June 24, during which both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the Enhanced Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

    During his visit, Misri called on President Dharambeer Gokhool, PM Ramgoolam, Deputy PM Paul Berenger, and Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful. In his meeting with Prime Minister Ramgoolam, Misri conveyed PM Modi’s invitation for an official visit to India and discussed the full spectrum of bilateral cooperation.

    As part of India’s ongoing support to Mauritius, Misri handed over specialized anti-drug equipment to the Mauritian government, underlining joint efforts to combat rising drug addiction and related social issues in the country.

    The visit highlighted India’s strong commitment to its ties with Mauritius under the Neighbourhood First policy, Vision MAHASAGAR, and its engagement with the Global South. Both sides reaffirmed their intent to deepen cooperation across sectors for mutual development and the prosperity of the Indian Ocean Region.

  • No link between COVID-19 vaccines and sudden deaths, confirms ICMR-AIIMS study

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Comprehensive studies conducted by India’s top health research bodies have found no evidence linking COVID-19 vaccination to sudden deaths among adults, particularly in the 18–45 age group. The findings, released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, are based on extensive investigations by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.

    These studies were initiated amid rising public concern about sudden and unexplained deaths following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the research outcomes have decisively ruled out any direct connection between the vaccines and such fatalities. Instead, they point to a combination of pre-existing health conditions, genetic factors, lifestyle choices, and in some cases, post-COVID complications as the underlying causes.

    One of the key investigations, conducted by ICMR’s National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), was a multicentric matched case–control study titled “Factors associated with unexplained sudden deaths among adults aged 18–45 years in India.” Carried out between May and August 2023, the study covered 47 tertiary care hospitals across 19 states and Union Territories. It examined cases involving seemingly healthy individuals who died suddenly between October 2021 and March 2023. The results found no increased risk of unexplained sudden death following COVID-19 vaccination.

    In parallel, AIIMS New Delhi, in collaboration with ICMR, is conducting a prospective study titled “Establishing the cause in sudden unexplained deaths in young.” Though the study is still underway, preliminary findings indicate that myocardial infarction (heart attacks) remains the leading cause of sudden deaths in young adults. The pattern of causes has remained consistent with trends from previous years. Additionally, in several cases, genetic mutations have been identified as contributing factors.

    Collectively, the findings from both studies offer a robust scientific explanation of sudden deaths in young adults and reinforce the safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines administered in India. Experts emphasized that misinformation or unverified claims linking vaccines to such deaths are not only scientifically inaccurate but also pose a risk to public trust in vaccination programs.

    Health officials and researchers have cautioned that spreading speculative and unsupported claims can fuel vaccine hesitancy—an outcome that could undermine public health efforts and reverse progress made in managing the pandemic.

  • No link between COVID-19 vaccines and sudden deaths, confirms ICMR-AIIMS study

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Comprehensive studies conducted by India’s top health research bodies have found no evidence linking COVID-19 vaccination to sudden deaths among adults, particularly in the 18–45 age group. The findings, released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, are based on extensive investigations by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.

    These studies were initiated amid rising public concern about sudden and unexplained deaths following the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the research outcomes have decisively ruled out any direct connection between the vaccines and such fatalities. Instead, they point to a combination of pre-existing health conditions, genetic factors, lifestyle choices, and in some cases, post-COVID complications as the underlying causes.

    One of the key investigations, conducted by ICMR’s National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE), was a multicentric matched case–control study titled “Factors associated with unexplained sudden deaths among adults aged 18–45 years in India.” Carried out between May and August 2023, the study covered 47 tertiary care hospitals across 19 states and Union Territories. It examined cases involving seemingly healthy individuals who died suddenly between October 2021 and March 2023. The results found no increased risk of unexplained sudden death following COVID-19 vaccination.

    In parallel, AIIMS New Delhi, in collaboration with ICMR, is conducting a prospective study titled “Establishing the cause in sudden unexplained deaths in young.” Though the study is still underway, preliminary findings indicate that myocardial infarction (heart attacks) remains the leading cause of sudden deaths in young adults. The pattern of causes has remained consistent with trends from previous years. Additionally, in several cases, genetic mutations have been identified as contributing factors.

    Collectively, the findings from both studies offer a robust scientific explanation of sudden deaths in young adults and reinforce the safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines administered in India. Experts emphasized that misinformation or unverified claims linking vaccines to such deaths are not only scientifically inaccurate but also pose a risk to public trust in vaccination programs.

    Health officials and researchers have cautioned that spreading speculative and unsupported claims can fuel vaccine hesitancy—an outcome that could undermine public health efforts and reverse progress made in managing the pandemic.

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Supporting New Zealanders into work

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says a strong turnout for the first in a series of regional employment events reinforces a cross-sector commitment to get Kiwis into jobs, boost employment and grow the economy.
    Kicking off the MSD-led series in Levin, Minister Upston and officials met with representatives of around 30 employers and other stakeholders, reinforcing job opportunities across the Horowhenua and Kāpiti Coast regions.
    “It was great to attend this event, acknowledge the commitment of MSD and recognise the partnership with local employers,” Louise Upston says.
    “That’s because this Government is focused on a Going for Growth strategy which includes a key emphasis on developing the talent of our people. 
    “These events reinforce that. They’re about people, about maximising the potential of Kiwis, about raising their earning potential while also ensuring businesses can access the people they need to help them complete globally and grow.
    “The Government has an ambitious target to reduce the number of people on the Jobseeker Benefit by 50,000 by 2030. MSD and employers are key to this.
    “We know we can’t do it alone, and need support from the community, employers and training organisations to achieve this goal. 
    “To continue discussions about how we can work together to achieve the Jobseeker reduction target, MSD will host a number of events to bring together employers, providers and community organisations.
    “The focus for the Levin/Horowhenua Supporting New Zealanders Into Work event was ensuring employers and partners are motivated to invest in the good of their communities by training or employing MSD clients, and that they know how MSDs products and services can support them. 
    “It provided a great opportunity for local employers and organisations to discuss how we can all work together to understand workforce needs and address workforce challenges.
    “This week, I’m attending two more MSD-hosted events in the Hutt Valley and in Gisborne, with additional dates to be confirmed around the country.
    “Again, I want to acknowledge the work of MSD staff in getting people into jobs, with work exits up 11 per cent on the same time a year ago.    As we saw in Levin last night, MSD are doing a great job engaging proactively with both Jobseekers and with employers.
    “We know the faster we can help beneficiaries – especially young people – find sustainable employment, the better the outcomes for them, their families, our communities, and our economy.
    “That’s why we’ve introduced more early intervention through a new phone-based employment case management service which includes 6,000 18-24-year-old clients in this service, we’ve got 2,100 more places for young people to get community job coaching, more regular work seminars, and a traffic light system to help them stay on track with their obligations.
    “The new Relocate for Work Support payment will also make it easier for people to move to take up sustainable employment. 
    “All of these initiatives are helping on the frontline, and that matters because  ‘work’ is about more than money. It also gives people a sense of purpose, independence, connectedness – leading to a better future and helping families break out of the cycle of inter-generational welfare dependence.”

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Housing Authority re-enters three construction sites

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Housing Authority re-enters three construction sites      The Housing Department is now arranging for other qualified and capable contractor(s) to finish the remaining construction works in the hope that the affected projects can be completed as soon as practicable.  

         The HA will continue to take various measures to expedite the completion of other public housing projects in order to reduce the impact as far as possible. On the other hand, as various Light Public Housing projects have been progressively completed and are becoming available for allocation, the composite waiting time (CWT) will decrease steadily, and the target of reducing the CWT to 4.5 years in 2026/27 remains unchanged.  
    Issued at HKT 12:55

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Community urged not to touch bats after rare case of Australian bat lyssavirus

    Source: Australian Green Party

    ​NSW Health is reminding the community to avoid touching or handling bats, following the first confirmed case of Australian bat lyssavirus in NSW.
    The man in his 50s from Northern NSW is in a critical condition in hospital. 
    Keira Glasgow, a Director in Health Protection at NSW Health said lyssavirus is transmitted from infected bats to humans when virus in bat saliva enters the body through a bat bite or scratch. 
    “This is a very tragic situation. The man had been bitten by a bat several months ago and received treatment following the injury. Further investigation is underway to understand whether other exposures or factors played a role in his illness,” Ms Glasgow said.
    “We know 118 people required medical assessment after being bitten or scratched by bats in 2024, but this is the first confirmed case of the virus in NSW, and the fourth case in Australia.
    “It is incredibly rare for the virus to transmit to humans, but once symptoms of lyssavirus start in people who are scratched or bitten by an infected bat, sadly there is no effective treatment.”
    Ms Glasgow urged people to assume that any bat in Australia could carry lyssavirus, and said this is why only trained, protected and vaccinated wildlife handlers should interact with bats.
    “If you are bitten or scratched by a bat, urgent medical assessment is crucial. You will need to wash the wound thoroughly for 15 minutes right away with soap and water and apply an antiseptic with anti-virus action, such as betadine, and allow it to dry. You will then require treatment with rabies immunoglobulin and rabies vaccine.”
    Australian bat lyssavirus is a close relative to the rabies virus. The virus has been found in species of flying foxes, fruit bats and insect-eating ​microbats.
    The best way to protect yourself from infection is to not touch bats. If you see a bat in distress, injured or trapped on the ground, do not try to rescue it. Instead, contact trained experts WIRES on 1300 094 737 or your local wildlife rescue group. 
    For more information about lyssavirus refer to the Rabies and Australian bat lyssavirus infection fact sheet.
    For more information on protecting yourself around wildlife, visit: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/Infectious/factsheets/Pages/be-careful-around-wildlife.aspx

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Doorstop – University of Technology Sydney

    Source: Murray Darling Basin Authority

    KATHLEEN BAIRD, HEAD OF SCHOOL OF NURSING AND MIDWIFERY: Good morning, everyone. Firstly, I’d like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation on whose land UTS stands. And I welcome you all to UTS. I’m Kathy Baird, Professor Kathy Baird, and I’m the Head of the School of Nursing and Midwifery. It is an absolute honour to welcome the Minister for Education, the Honourable Jason Clare, to UTS this morning.

    I do also want to acknowledge the Commonwealth’s ongoing support through the placement payment for our student nurses and midwives. This initiative will provide much-needed financial support to our students during their clinical placements. It will help to ease the burden they face while they gain the practical skills required. Their dedication, resilience and compassion are the foundation of the future of nursing [indistinct] will be built.

    I’d also like to thank the students that came here this morning. And I would like to hand over to Minister Clare. Thank you.

    JASON CLARE, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION: Thanks very much. And a big thank you to UTS for letting me visit today to talk about something which is dear to my heart and I think is going to be really important in supporting the teachers and nurses and midwives and social workers that are training in our universities now that are getting an education in our universities right now to help them with their studies, with the cost of living while they’re studying, and help them to complete their degree.

    When I got this job a couple of years ago, I remember talking to some nursing students who talked to me about placement poverty. It was something that I hadn’t heard of before. Now I understand. And it’s because of the stories that they told me. There’s a lot of nursing students who work in our hospitals right now as assistants in nursing, and it’s a part-time job where they’re getting paid to work in a hospital while they’re studying here at university. But a big part of their degree is also prac, practical training. And it’s something like 800 hours of practical training that they have to do as part of their degree.

    And often that prac will happen at the same hospital where they’ve got a part-time job, but while they’re doing their prac, they can’t do that job. So, they’re working in the same hospital, but they’re no longer being paid. And that’s what placement poverty looks like. It means that you don’t have the money that you ordinarily would have to pay the bills, to pay for parking, pay for public transport. And it can make life harder.

    The end result of that is that some students who start a degree, like nursing or teaching, don’t finish it. For some students, prac also means you have to move away from home to do it. And that can make life more difficult as well. It can mean giving up your part-time job because you’re not living around the corner while you’re doing the practical training.

    This was a key recommendation of the Universities Accord, which is a big report. It’s a blueprint for how we reform higher education in Australia over the next decade and the decade after that. And I released that report early last year, and at the budget last year, I announced that we’d allocate almost over a half a billion dollars to fund paid prac. I think I was here to talk about that then. And it’s terrific to be back at UTS on the week that it starts, where we’re bringing the words from that report to life and making it real. And, most importantly, making a difference to the sort of people I got to meet today.

    This applies to teaching students, to nursing students, to midwifery students and social work students. These are some of the most important professions in our country. These are young people who one day will teach our kids or look after us when we’re sick, who will help women giving birth, who’ll help women fleeing domestic violence. And this is a bit of practical help while you do your practical training.

    Can I just pass over to Dorsa who I got the privilege to meet this morning, who’s a third-year midwifery student here at UTS, to tell your story about what drew you to midwifery and how you think this payment might help.

    DORSA NEMATIAN: Thank you so much, Minister Clare. So I am a refugee from Iran who has been doing a midwifery course for the past three years. I started off with a degree in Bachelor of Medical Science, which helped made me realise that it wasn’t for me, and I was more drawn to midwifery and childbirth, which is the reason why I made the switch. Obviously, this Commonwealth Prac Payment will make the difference between surviving through the practical part of our degree to just enjoying it and being able to learn while we’re undertaking our practice.

    JOURNALIST: So there has been a huge slump in the number of students on youth allowance, and experts are warning that we may not meet our tertiary education targets if low-education and regional students aren’t going to uni. Would you consider raising the rate of those payments or loosening eligibility requirements?

    CLARE: We’ve already increased youth allowance as well as rental assistance. You are right that what we do need to do over the next decade and beyond is help more young people finish school and then go on to TAFE or university to get the qualifications that the jobs that are in demand now and that are going to be in even more demand in the decades ahead. There’s no part of the economy where jobs are growing faster than in nursing and in health care. That’s for sure.

    Yesterday I formally announced the creation of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission in its interim reform, and it kicked off yesterday, headed up by Professor Mary O’Kane, who is the author or the lead author of the Universities Accord. And she makes the point there that we’re not going to have the workforce that we need – something like four out of five workers in the economy with a university degree or a TAFE qualification – unless we break down that barrier that stops a lot of young people, particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds, from poorer backgrounds and from the regions and the bush, from getting a crack at university in the first place and then going on and finishing their degree.

    And that’s why the prac payment is part of this. It’s definitely part of it, support for people while they do their practical training, but it’s not the only thing that we’re doing. Next year, you’ll see the rollout of funding reform for the way our universities are funded. And, in particular, funding reform to help the sort of people that you mentioned in your question, people from disadvantaged backgrounds. And part of that is developing and rolling out a needs-based funding system a little like the Gonski model for schools for universities.

    JOURNALIST: What do you think that slump is due to?

    CLARE: We’ve seen over the course of this year and last year an increase in the total number of young people enrolling in courses at university. That’s a good sign. The number of people going to university, the number of Australians going to university, has been in decline pretty much since 2017. There was a bump during COVID. That was a bit of an anomaly where people were locked at home and enrolled in courses. But overall, we’ve seen a decline in the number of Aussies enrolling in uni degrees until last year when it jumped up, and now it’s jumping up again this year. It’s on track to be the highest number of Australians enrolling in either an undergraduate degree or a postgraduate degree on record. So that’s a good thing.

    As I say, it’s not just people leaping out of school to study at university; it’s also people going back to uni to reskill, to upskill, get more skills. So that’s a good sign. But the Universities Accord is about building on that and what more we need to do it to support more people into university and into TAFE. I mentioned the funding reforms that will take place next year. Another part of it is making sure that TAFE and university work better together. We shouldn’t see them as two separate systems; we should be thinking about how they can be more joined up or integrated, how some of what you do at TAFE can be counted when you go to university and vice versa.

    We were having a chat, Dorsa mentioned that she did another course before she went into midwifery. Some of that is counted towards this course. That means that the degree is shorter than it otherwise would be, and costs less. But that’s a good example of what we can do more of here.

    In terms of helping people with the cost of higher education, the best example I can really point to is the cut to HECS that I’ll introduce into the Parliament in the next few weeks. The first bill that we’ll introduce into the Parliament will cut the student debt for 3 million Australians by 20 per cent. This will cut $16 billion dollars off the debt of ordinary Aussies. For the average Australian, it will cut their debt by more than five and a half grand. And that’s a big deal that will make a big difference.

    JOURNALIST: Do you want to move into child care now?

    CLARE: I’ll just make some comments off the top. Any Australian who heard the news from Victoria yesterday would be sickened by what they heard. And for every parent that is directly affected by this in Victoria, they would be frightened and they’d be angry. They would be bloody angry. And I know that they’re angry because one of those parents is a friend of mine, and her two little girls are directly affected by this. And I won’t tell you what she told me last night because you can’t repeat it on television. But she’s right to be mad. I’m mad. I think anyone who works in the early education system, and there’s hundreds of thousands of fantastic people who do, would be angry today as well. And my friend is mad because of all of the stress and the trauma and the crap that she and her girls are going to have to go through in the weeks ahead.

    This is serious, and it requires serious action. I was informed about this by the Victorian Government a little over a week ago. It’s one of the reasons why I put this on the top of the agenda when Education Ministers met last week. Let me be clear, when Education Ministers met to discuss child safety last week, we didn’t discuss this case, but we discussed what are the next steps that we need to take as a nation to make sure that our kids are safe in early education and care.

    There are things that we’ve already done. We’ve banned the use of personal mobile phones and devices in child care centres, and we did that for a reason. We’ve also changed the rules around mandatory reporting from seven days to 24 hours where there are complaints about sexual or physical abuse. I’ve got to tell you, we did that for a reason.

    And there are other things that are also underway. I mentioned yesterday and again this morning the legislation that I’ll bring to the Parliament which is about making sure that if services aren’t up to scratch, that they aren’t meeting the safety and the quality standards that we expect as a country, that we have the power as a Government to cut their funding off. And that’s important, too, because there’s nothing more important than the safety of our kids in early education and care.

    And there’s more to do. That’s what the meeting of Education Ministers on Friday was all about. We’ve seen the awful revelations out of the Four Corners investigation led by Adele Ferguson only a couple of months ago, and the Wheeler Report that was released last Thursday. Ministers had the opportunity at that meeting to be briefed by Chris, to be briefed by Mr Wheeler, and to go through his recommendations. But we were also briefed by Gabrielle Sinclair, who’s the head of ACECQA, about the actions she recommends we take in the light of the Four Corners investigation. And now Ministers are working together on a package of further reforms that are needed to make sure that our early education and care centres are as safe as they need to be.

    JOURNALIST: Minister, on that legislation you’re planning to introduce, how serious would a breach have to be for a centre to have their funding cut? What sort of threshold are we talking about?

    CLARE: All of that will be set out in the legislation that we’re working on right now. I mentioned to David on RN this morning that I’ve directed my Department to get that legislation drafted as quick as possible. It will deal with a number of things. As we announced back in March when we announced our intention to legislate in this area, it’s about that, it’s about cutting off funding to centres where there’s egregious behaviour by a centre. It’s also about stopping them from getting permission to expand and open other centres. But not just that; it’s also about stopping a provider or an employee who works in a centre who’s been found to be a bad actor from moving out of the child care sector into another part of the care economy, for example, in the NDIS. And we saw examples of that in the Four Corners investigation.

    JOURNALIST: Do you think there should be a tougher background checking process for those who have a working with children check?

    CLARE: I said this morning that it’s taken too long to do the work necessary to make sure that our working with children check system is up to scratch. And I’ve spoken a number of times with the Attorney-General, Michelle Rowland, the new Attorney-General, and I think I can safely speak on her behalf that she agrees and is determined to take the action necessary here to make sure that our working with children checks across the nation are up to scratch. That will be something that will be discussed by Attorneys-General when they meet next month. The Attorney-General is doing a press conference at the moment, and she’ll have more to say on that.

    The only other point I would make on working with children checks is that they’re not the only thing that we need to fix or reform. They’re not a silver bullet. There are too many examples where a perpetrator is eventually caught and arrested and sentenced. They’re somebody that got a working with children check because they had no prior criminal record. And so it’s only one of the things that we need to focus on here if we’re serious about making sure that we keep our kids

    JOURNALIST: You mentioned you wanted those – that legislation through as fast as possible. Can we expect to see these changes made this year?

    CLARE: Yes.

    JOURNALIST: Do you – the National Children’s Commissioner says the sector’s regulators need to be stronger, need more teeth to act. Has the government been slow to respond to these calls?

    CLARE: You can never be fast enough here. And the honest answer is the work here will never be done. There will always be bad people that try and break through the system and the safety. And so the work here will never be done. But what the Commissioner is talking about there are one of the things that Ministers are focused on and looking at right now.

    JOURNALIST: So will the Government make nationally harmonised working with children checks a priority? So those were recommended in 2015. How complicated will they be to enact, and why hasn’t it been done yet?

    CLARE: Similar answer to the one I gave just a moment ago. And the Attorney-General will be able to speak to that in more detail. But this is one of the things that Attorneys are looking at when they meet next month. They’re looking at what you described as harmonisation or mutual recognition, the sharing of information across borders, but also potentially near real-time updates to working with children checks, where criminal record checks or criminal records change. There’s a big piece of work that’s going on nationally with all the states and territories here. But as you rightly point out, the work can’t happen soon enough.

    JOURNALIST: Would you support the introduction of mandatory CCTV in child care centres?

    CLARE: CCTV itself was the subject of a recommendation by Chris Wheeler in his report that was handed down on Thursday. And that recommendation was about installing CCTV in centres where there has been previous breaches, where there is concern by the regulator about safety and quality in those centres. The New South Wales Government has given in-principle support for that recommendation. The Victorian Government I think, will have more to say about that today. And this is one of the things that Ministers are looking at across the board as we develop nationwide reforms. That’s different, though, to the question you asked about making it mandatory. The advice from experts at the moment is targeted based on centres which have demonstrated that they’re not up to scratch.

    JOURNALIST: The Victorian Greens have been calling for a royal commission into the sector. Do you – would you support that?

    CLARE: We’ve had a royal commission. We’ve got the recommendations. After Australia’s worst paedophile was arrested and convicted in Queensland just over two years ago, I commissioned a review into child safety. We’ve got those recommendations as well. Now we’ve got the Wheeler Report. We’ll get more evidence and more information out of what the Victorian Government is announcing today. We know what we need to do. It’s how we do it and how we pull all of that together and get the whole country acting as one.

    Okay, thanks very much, everybody.
     

    MIL OSI News –