Tetere (Agenzia Fides) – Salesian missionaries working in the Solomon Islands have chosen to explain to children what the Jubilee is, the rites associated with the Holy Year, and how to make a pilgrimage to obtain the plenary indulgence. Thanks to their initiative, more than 200 children from the Christ the King Parish School in Tetere gathered for three days, characterized by moments of prayer, catechesis, and activities under the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope: Children on their way to Jesus’.”Based on the theme chosen for this Jubilee Year, the educators accompanied the young students and their families on various pilgrimages and charitable actions. Animation films and songs were included to illustrate in a simple way the spirit and meaning of the Jubilee as an opportunity for reconciliation and mutual forgiveness.During the sessions, the history and symbols of the Jubilee were explained, there were moments of reflection for educators as well as reports on abuse prevention. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 28/6/2025)
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Tetere (Agenzia Fides) – Salesian missionaries working in the Solomon Islands have chosen to explain to children what the Jubilee is, the rites associated with the Holy Year, and how to make a pilgrimage to obtain the plenary indulgence. Thanks to their initiative, more than 200 children from the Christ the King Parish School in Tetere gathered for three days, characterized by moments of prayer, catechesis, and activities under the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope: Children on their way to Jesus’.”Based on the theme chosen for this Jubilee Year, the educators accompanied the young students and their families on various pilgrimages and charitable actions. Animation films and songs were included to illustrate in a simple way the spirit and meaning of the Jubilee as an opportunity for reconciliation and mutual forgiveness.During the sessions, the history and symbols of the Jubilee were explained, there were moments of reflection for educators as well as reports on abuse prevention. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 28/6/2025)
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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Pierre Suon Hangly, of the clergy of the apostolic vicariate of Phnom-Penh, Cambodia, until now prefect apostolic of Kompong-Cham, as coadjutor vicar apostolic of the same apostolic vicariate of Phnom-Penh.Msgr. Pierre Suon Hangly was born on 14 April 1972 in Phnom-Penh.He was ordained a priest on 9 December 2001 for the clergy of the apostolic vicariate of Phnom-Penh.After ordination, he first provided pastoral service in the Sector of Kampo-Kep and Takeo (2001-2007). He was awarded a licentiate in theology, specializing in spirituality, at the Institut Catholique de Paris (2015), and went on to serve as rector of the Saint Jean Marie Vianney National Major Seminary (2015-2017), parish priest of Saint Peter and Paul in Phnom-Penh (2015-2022), pro-vicar of the apostolic vicariate of Phnom-Penh (2017-2022), and prefect of the Apostolic Prefecture of Kompong-Cham (2022). (Agenzia Fides, 28/6/2025)
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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – The Holy Father has appointed the Reverend Pierre Suon Hangly, of the clergy of the apostolic vicariate of Phnom-Penh, Cambodia, until now prefect apostolic of Kompong-Cham, as coadjutor vicar apostolic of the same apostolic vicariate of Phnom-Penh.Msgr. Pierre Suon Hangly was born on 14 April 1972 in Phnom-Penh.He was ordained a priest on 9 December 2001 for the clergy of the apostolic vicariate of Phnom-Penh.After ordination, he first provided pastoral service in the Sector of Kampo-Kep and Takeo (2001-2007). He was awarded a licentiate in theology, specializing in spirituality, at the Institut Catholique de Paris (2015), and went on to serve as rector of the Saint Jean Marie Vianney National Major Seminary (2015-2017), parish priest of Saint Peter and Paul in Phnom-Penh (2015-2022), pro-vicar of the apostolic vicariate of Phnom-Penh (2017-2022), and prefect of the Apostolic Prefecture of Kompong-Cham (2022). (Agenzia Fides, 28/6/2025)
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Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
CHENGDU, June 28 (Xinhua) — Four giant pandas born in Japan arrived in Chengdu, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, on Saturday evening.
Upon arrival, the four bears – 24-year-old female Liangbang (Japanese name Raukhin) and her three daughters, 8-year-old Jiebang (Japanese name Yuyin), 6-year-old Caibang (Japanese name Saihin) and 4-year-old Fengbang (Japanese name Fuhin) – were quarantined at the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding.
To ensure the pandas’ safe and unhindered return, the Japanese side organized special transportation, with Chinese experts traveling to Japan before departure to learn about their habits and living conditions. Both teams also accompanied the animals back to China.
At the Chengdu base, in turn, quarantine equipment, food and personnel were prepared so that the pandas could quickly adapt to the new environment and successfully endure the quarantine period.
In 1994, China launched a panda breeding cooperation program with Adventure World, an amusement park in the coastal city of Shirahama in Japan’s Wakayama Prefecture. During this time, the two countries’ joint efforts have produced 17 panda cubs and created the largest captive-bred population of giant pandas abroad, known as the “Ban family (Japanese name: Hin).”
Over the years, China and Japan have established a strong partnership and made significant achievements in the conservation and breeding of giant pandas, care of their cubs, treatment of diseases specific to this species, scientific and technical exchanges, and public education about the giant panda. –0–
UK businesses to benefit as G7 reach agreement on global minimum tax.
The Chancellor and G7 plot path forward on global minimum tax and tackling of aggressive tax planning and avoidance.
UK businesses spared from higher taxes after removal of Section 899 from the One Big Beautiful Bill.
Chancellor acted swiftly on concerns about those potential impacts by committing to work with international partners to find a negotiated solution.
UK businesses will benefit from greater certainty and stability as the UK reached a common understanding with G7 partners on international tax rules.
The agreement addresses how the US and global minimum tax rules will interact with a view to supporting the common objective of tackling multinational tax avoidance and creating a more stable international tax system.
The agreement has helped secure the removal of Section 899 from the One Big Beautiful Bill which could have led to substantial additional tax on UK business.
Talks to address US concerns on the global minimum tax can now continue without the backdrop of this new retaliation measure.
The removal of section 899 follows UK businesses having voiced significant concerns to the Chancellor in recent weeks. Rachel Reeves committed to work with international partners to find a solution and has raised business concerns in her recent engagement with US Secretary to the Treasury Scott Bessent.
Today’s statement will support the stability required for businesses to have confidence to invest in the UK and create jobs, as part of the government’s Plan for Change.
It follows the Prime Minister’s launch of the Trade Strategy this week which set out Britain’s trade priorities with a mission to open more doors for business and deliver growth, and recent trade deals with India, the EU and the US.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:
“I will always represent the best interests of British businesses on the world stage. Today’s agreement provides much-needed certainty and stability for those businesses after they had raised their concerns.
“The G7 agrees there is work to be done in tackling aggressive tax planning and avoidance and ensuring a level-playing field. The right environment for this work to happen is without the prospect of retaliatory taxation hanging over these talks, so the removal of Section 899 is welcome.”
The G7 have reached agreement on a path forward for the global minimum tax and Pillar 2 of the G20 / OECD Inclusive Framework project on Base Erosion and Profit Shifting.
The agreement seeks to maintain the core objectives of Pillar 2 – combatting multinational tax avoidance—while promoting a stable global tax environment that supports fair competition. Recent discussions have considered U.S. Treasury concerns with the application of the rules alongside the U.S minimum tax system.
G7 partners have reached an understanding on a possible solution that would allow the US minimum tax system to operate alongside the Pillar 2 rules but take steps to ensure any substantial risks with respect to the level playing field or base erosion and profit shifting are addressed.
The G7 will now discuss and develop this understanding, and the principles upon which it is based, within the Inclusive Framework of over 140 countries and jurisdictions, while making clear that the removal of proposed retaliatory tax measures in U.S. legislation is essential for this further progress to be made.
Through engaging in constructive discussions on the global minimum tax, the Chancellor is preserving its objective to target multinational tax avoidance while protecting the stability of the international tax system for British business.
The UK government will continue business engagement and work with international partners to develop the proposal agreed by the G7.
Rain Newton-Smith, Chief Executive, CBI, said:
“The US commitment to drop retaliatory tax measures proposed in the One Big Beautiful Bill removes a major source of uncertainty for UK-headquartered multinationals. The CBI has been clear – there are no winners in an economic standoff. Avoiding disruption to transatlantic investment, financial flows and jobs benefits both the US and UK economies.
“While uncertainty remains around the Bill’s final passage and other potential Congressional actions later down the line alongside the UK’s Digital Services Tax under scrutiny – the UK government has rightly defended British business interests and our national sovereignty. HM Treasury’s handling of a challenging negotiation process stands out for its openness and sustained engagement with industry.
“Looking ahead, global tax rules must now be rebalanced through multilateral agreement while ensuring UK companies remain competitively positioned. This is a pivotal opportunity for the OECD to deliver a genuinely simpler, fairer regime – one that goes much further in reducing excessive compliance burdens and upholds a level playing field for all.”
The G7 is made up of Canada (president), UK, USA, France, Italy, Germany and Japan.
Pillar 2 – the global minimum tax – is part of the OECD’s Base Erosion and Profit Sharing (BEPS) initiative to tackle multinational global tax avoidance through a global minimum 15% effective rate of tax.
The OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework that will take forward the talks is a group of over 140 countries and jurisdictions.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Tashkent, June 28 (Xinhua) — In the context of global challenges related to climate change and ecosystem degradation, combating desertification and promoting a “green” transition have become the most important state tasks for Uzbekistan, Dean of the Faculty of Economics of the Berdakh Karakalpak State University, Associate Professor Kishibay Kudiyarov said in an interview with Xinhua.
According to him, against the backdrop of the Aral Sea environmental crisis, the country is deeply aware that environmental safety is an integral part of national security. In this key area, China is seen as a reliable partner with valuable practical experience in green technologies, environmental management and sustainable development.
“In recent years, Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries have made significant progress in cooperation with China in combating desertification and restoring vegetation,” the expert noted. In particular, in the Aral Sea region, experts from the two countries are jointly conducting research, introducing technologies for planting salt-resistant plants and adaptive agriculture. These measures not only improve the environmental situation, but also contribute to raising the standard of living of the population, confirming the sustainability of the “green” partnership.
K. Kudiyarov emphasized that a new agenda of “green” interaction is being formed within the framework of the “Belt and Road” initiative between the Central Asian countries and China. He drew attention to the development of wind and solar energy projects, as well as the growing interest in investing in “green” finance and environmental initiatives. All this contributes to the region’s transition to a low-carbon and sustainable development model.
The expert also noted that the concept of “ecological civilization” promoted by China has acquired special significance and has become an example for the entire region. China’s “green” development model not only serves as a guideline in the field of environmental protection, but also provides Central Asian countries with effective tools for achieving a balance between economic growth and nature conservation,” he emphasized.
Optimistically assessing the prospects for further cooperation, K. Kudiyarov expressed Uzbekistan’s readiness for even deeper institutional interaction with China in the fight against desertification and promoting the “green” transition. “Whether it is scientific cooperation, the development of regional standards or environmental education, we are ready to promote the construction of the “green” Silk Road” together with China and contribute to environmental safety and sustainable development of the entire Central Asian region,” he concluded. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
BEIJING, June 28 – A Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy task group comprising of aircraft carrier Shandong (Hull 17), guided-missile destroyers Yan’an (Hull 106) and Zhanjiang (Hull 165), and guided-missile frigate Yuncheng (Hull 571) will visit Hong Kong from July 3 to 7, 2025. During the visit, open-ship-day activities and cultural exchanges will be held to help Hong Kong compatriots have a more direct and in-depth understanding of the development of China’s national defense and military building in the new era.
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The shareholders of the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) (www.Afreximbank.com) have appointed Dr. George Elombi as the next President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the continental financial institution. He becomes the fourth President to lead the Bank since its establishment in 1993.
His appointment was one of the key decisions of the 32nd Afreximbank group annual meetings and associated events held in Abuja, Nigeria, from 25 to 28 June, with the formal annual general meeting of shareholders taking place on Saturday, 28 June 2025.
He succeeds Professor Benedict Oramah, who has served as President and Chairman of the Board of Directors since 2015, and who will be stepping down in September 2025.
A Cameroonian national, George Elombi has been with Afreximbank since 1996, joining as a Legal Officer. He rose through the ranks to become Executive Vice President, Governance, Legal and Corporate Services. Over his nearly three decades at the Bank, he has served as Director and Executive Secretary (2010–2015); Deputy Director, Legal Services / Executive Secretary (2008–2010); Chief Legal Officer (2003–2008); and Senior Legal Officer (2001–2003).
Prior to joining Afreximbank, he taught law at the University of Hull, United Kingdom.
Dr. Elombi played a pivotal role in establishing Afreximbank group’s structure, including the formation of key subsidiaries that have expanded the Bank’s capacity to deliver on its mandate. As Chair of the Emergency Response Committee, he led the Bank’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, mobilising over $2 billion for vaccine acquisition and deployment across African and Caribbean nations. Under his supervision of the Equity Mobilisation and Investor Relations department, the Bank’s total ordinary equity mobilised amounted to USD 3.6 billion as at April 2025.
In his acceptance speech, Dr. Elombi expressed a deep commitment to the Bank’s mission and future, stating:
“I have worked alongside remarkable colleagues and extraordinary leaders to help shape this institution’s vision, its mandate as well as its growth. As we look to the future, I see Afreximbank as a force for industrialising Africa and for re-gaining the dignity of Africans wherever they are. I will work to preserve this important asset.”
He accepted the shareholders’ desire as expressed by his predecessor to make the institution a US$250 billion bank in ten years.
Dr. George Elombi holds a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the London School of Economics, University of London, and a Ph.D. in commercial arbitration from the same university. He obtained a ‘Maitrise-en-Droit’ from the University of Yaoundé in 1989.
His appointment followed a rigorous selection process initiated in January 2025, which included a global call for applications published in international media and on the Afreximbank website. Shortlisted candidates were interviewed by an international human resource executive search firm. The top candidates were presented to the Board of Directors, which recommended Dr. Elombi to the General Meeting of Shareholders for final approval.
Under the Afreximbank Charter, a president is appointed by the general meeting of shareholders upon the recommendation of the Board of Directors for a term of five years, renewable once.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Afreximbank.
Media Contact: Vincent Musumba Communications and Events Manager (Media Relations) Email: press@afreximbank.com
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About Afreximbank: African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra- and extra-African trade. For over 30 years, the Bank has been deploying innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Working with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank has set up a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to support countries effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of December 2024, Afreximbank’s total assets and contingencies stood at over US$40.1 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$7.2 billion. Afreximbank has investment grade ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa1), China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI) (AAA), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB-). Afreximbank has evolved into a group entity comprising the Bank, its equity impact fund subsidiary called the Fund for Export Development Africa (FEDA), and its insurance management subsidiary, AfrexInsure (together, “the Group”). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) — With the approval of the Central Military Commission, a PLA naval flotilla led by the aircraft carrier Shandong will visit the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) from July 3 to 7, an official statement said Saturday.
The flotilla, which also includes the guided-missile destroyers Yan’an and Zhanjiang and the guided-missile frigate Yuncheng, will conduct a series of public tours and cultural exchange activities.
These events aim to give Hong Kong compatriots a more direct and in-depth understanding of China’s achievements in developing national defense and the armed forces in the new era. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
HONG KONG, June 28 (Xinhua) — He Zhuguo (Ho Tsu-kwok), a prominent Hong Kong businessman involved in tobacco and media businesses, died of illness at the age of 77 on June 11 in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), an official statement said Saturday.
He Zhuguo, born in Shanghai in June 1949, was chairman of the Hong Kong Tobacco Company Limited and chairman of the Sing Tao News Corporation Limited.
He was a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and a member of the Bureau of the CPPCC National Committee.
He Zhuguo is a renowned patriotic businessman and “a close friend of the Communist Party of China,” the statement said, adding that He Zhuguo loved the country and Hong Kong, firmly supported the policy of “one country, two systems” and the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and supported the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s efforts to implement law-based governance.
He played an important role in ensuring Hong Kong’s smooth transition, its return to the bosom of the motherland, and the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, the statement said.
He Zhuguo also supported the country’s reform and opening up and actively participated in economic development and charity work in China’s interior, the statement said.
Following his death, heads of central government bodies expressed their grief and condolences to his family in various ways. -0-
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, June 28 (Xinhua) — Ambassadors and envoys from the permanent missions of eight countries to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna stressed cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear technology during a visit to China.
Foreign envoys from Ghana, Brazil, Namibia, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Pakistan, Venezuela and Indonesia visited nuclear technology demonstration and innovation sites in China’s Shandong Province (east China) and Beijing.
They exchanged views with Chinese officials and experts and attended a symposium in Beijing on cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear technology.
The event, which took place from June 22 to 27, was jointly organized by the China National Atomic Energy Agency (CAEA) and the Permanent Mission of China to the United Nations and other international organizations in Vienna.
CAEA noted China’s efforts to promote safe and sustainable development of nuclear energy, use of nuclear technology for social welfare, as well as its extensive practice and future plans to deepen cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear technology with developing countries.
The foreign diplomats noted that China’s achievements in nuclear energy and nuclear technology have attracted the world’s attention, adding that China has played a vital role in promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy among countries in the Global South. They also expressed their willingness to cooperate with China at the bilateral and multilateral levels in areas such as nuclear agronomy, nuclear medicine, nuclear safety and security.
CAEA said it would work with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and partners from the Global South to jointly advance innovation and development in nuclear energy technologies. -0-
Brighton, UK, June 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — XY Miners, a UK-registered cloud miners provider, has announced the official launch of its fully automated crypto contract platform, designed to offer users around the world accessible and sustainable entry into cryptocurrency earnings. With short-term contract options, daily settlements, and no hardware requirements, the platform supports both new and experienced users looking for low-barrier digital asset income.
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Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
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The Presidency of the Republic of Ghana is pleased to announce that the Prime Minister of the Republic of India, His Excellency Narendra Modi, will undertake a two-day Official Visit to Ghana from Wednesday, 2nd July, to Thursday, 3rd July, 2025.
The visit highlights the warm and longstanding friendly relations between Ghana and India, as well as the importance both nations place on strengthening their strategic partnership.
The itinerary for the visit includes a bilateral meeting between President Mahama and Prime Minister Modi at the Presidency. The two leaders will engage in discussions aimed at deepening cooperation across various sectors, including trade, investment, agriculture, technology, education, healthcare, and energy. They will also exchange views on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
Key highlights of the visit will include the signing of several bilateral agreements to consolidate cooperation frameworks between Ghana and India, followed by a joint Press Conference addressed by President Mahama and Prime Minister Modi. President Mahama will also host a State Dinner in honour of Prime Minister Modi and his delegation.
The visit by Prime Minister Modi is expected to strengthen bilateral ties, foster deeper economic cooperation, and solidify the bonds of friendship between the peoples of Ghana and India.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Alexander Richard Braczkowski, Research Fellow at the Centre for Planetary Health and Resilient Conservation Group, Griffith University
In the shadows of Python Cave, Uganda, a leopard leaps from a guano mound – formed by bat excrement – and sinks its teeth into a bat. But this is no ordinary bat colony. The thousands of Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) found in this cave are known carriers of one of the world’s deadliest viruses: Marburg, a close cousin of Ebola.
I am a conservation scientist with over 17 years of experience in wildlife ecology, monitoring and human-wildlife conflict. I’m the co-founder of the Kyambura Lion Project, which made this discovery.
For years, scientists studying how diseases spread from animals to humans have hypothesised that zoonotic diseases jump from a wildlife reservoir (like a bat) to an intermediate host (monkey) and potentially to us, humans.
For past Marburg outbreaks in Uganda, two spillover pathways have been identified: the first, involves humans coming into contact with a fruit bat habitat (namely caves filled with bat guano). Indeed, fruit bats are thought to have infected two tourists at Python Cave in 2007 and 2008.
The second pathway involves humans and animals eating the same fruit that bats have fed upon or made contact with. This second spillover pathway was identified by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientists in 2023. They tracked bats from the cave entering cultivated gardens to feed.
But Atukwatse and the team of young Ugandan scientists (Yahaya Ssemakula, Johnson Muhereza, Orin Cornille and Winfred Nsabimana) have potentially found another pathway: predation by at least 14 species.
Such rich visual evidence of a viral interface – bats, predators and people – is virtually non-existent in the literature. Many theoretical depictions of this process exist, and there are isolated incidents of a monkey predating on a bat or wildlife feeding on bat guano, but Atukwatse’s discovery of this many different predators repeatedly feeding on a known Marburg virus reservoir is a first.
His discovery highlights two uncomfortable truths:
many potential zoonotic interfaces remain undocumented – often right under our noses
the people most likely to detect them first are those living closest to wild frontiers.
But the bigger message is this: global health institutions need to stop overlooking local scientists and start funding field-based detection systems across Africa and Asia.
If we want to detect the next outbreak early, we should be empowering more Atukwatses, not waiting for the next lab test.
Atukwatse had heard from nearby guides that a large bat cave lay close to the survey grid. That kind of site, he reasoned, could be perfect leopard territory: a place to hunt, rest or avoid the heat.
This is ecological attentiveness at its best – the field biology equivalent of a commodities trader spotting volatility in a geopolitical flashpoint.
Atukwatse had his radar on and acted on instinct, setting five camera traps at the cave’s entrance and along the surrounding animal trails. Just one week later, he got what he hoped for: three separate clips of a leopard hunting bats in broad daylight. He left the cameras in place in protective casing. He checked them every 7–10 days.
But that was just the beginning.
The scale of the discovery
When I first looked at Atukwatse’s videos, our joint excitement was around the leopard footage. We knew they were adaptable and could even eat small rodents , but no one had ever recorded them eating bats in Africa.
As more clips came in, we realised something bigger was unfolding. Blue monkeys were seen grabbing bats mid-roost. A crowned eagle and a Nile monitor fought over two bat carcasses. A fish eagle – typically a piscivore, which is a carnivorous species that primarily eats fish – was filmed clutching bats in its talons.
Over 304 trap-nights, Atukwatse’s traps recorded 261 independent predator events from at least 14 different species.
Then came the second shock: over 400 human visitors – many of them tourists – were filmed approaching the cave mouth without any protective gear. Some stood just metres from a known Marburg virus reservoir. Importantly, the Uganda Wildlife Authority has built a sanctioned viewing platform about 35 metres from the cave. However, tourists broke park rules and walked within two metres of the cave mouth.
It was only after I visited the cave myself to take stills of the team that we put this all together. Atukwatse had just found the first visual evidence, at a large scale in nature, of at least 14 predators feeding on a known wildlife virus reservoir harbouring one of Earth’s deadliest viruses.
This wasn’t the result of million-dollar pathogen surveillance. It wasn’t even the core aim of our leopard survey. This happened because a young Ugandan field scientist followed his ecological gut.
Why does the discovery matter?
For decades, disease ecologists have known that major outbreaks often originate in wildlife – swine flu, avian flu and even SARS-CoV-2 all trace back to animal hosts. But what’s often missing is direct observation of spillover interfaces – the exact moments when a virus jumps from a bat, goose, or other animal into new species like humans, livestock or other wildlife.
Atukwatse’s discovery may be the first large-scale visual record of such an interface in nature: a roost of Egyptian fruit bats known to harbour a deadly virus, actively predated upon by at least 14 species, with hundreds of humans visiting the same cave mouth unprotected.
This may be a Rosetta Stone moment for spillover ecology – shifting our understanding from hypothetical models to a real, observable interface.
These kinds of spillover sites exist in other places in nature: in a Chinese wet market where a civet meets a meat processor, or in a Gabonese village where a bat is butchered for bushmeat. The difference? Most of them go undocumented. Atukwatse just filmed one.
Alexander Richard Braczkowski is the scientific director of the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust Kyambura Lion Project.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Alexander Richard Braczkowski, Research Fellow at the Centre for Planetary Health and Resilient Conservation Group, Griffith University
In the shadows of Python Cave, Uganda, a leopard leaps from a guano mound – formed by bat excrement – and sinks its teeth into a bat. But this is no ordinary bat colony. The thousands of Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) found in this cave are known carriers of one of the world’s deadliest viruses: Marburg, a close cousin of Ebola.
I am a conservation scientist with over 17 years of experience in wildlife ecology, monitoring and human-wildlife conflict. I’m the co-founder of the Kyambura Lion Project, which made this discovery.
For years, scientists studying how diseases spread from animals to humans have hypothesised that zoonotic diseases jump from a wildlife reservoir (like a bat) to an intermediate host (monkey) and potentially to us, humans.
For past Marburg outbreaks in Uganda, two spillover pathways have been identified: the first, involves humans coming into contact with a fruit bat habitat (namely caves filled with bat guano). Indeed, fruit bats are thought to have infected two tourists at Python Cave in 2007 and 2008.
The second pathway involves humans and animals eating the same fruit that bats have fed upon or made contact with. This second spillover pathway was identified by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientists in 2023. They tracked bats from the cave entering cultivated gardens to feed.
But Atukwatse and the team of young Ugandan scientists (Yahaya Ssemakula, Johnson Muhereza, Orin Cornille and Winfred Nsabimana) have potentially found another pathway: predation by at least 14 species.
Such rich visual evidence of a viral interface – bats, predators and people – is virtually non-existent in the literature. Many theoretical depictions of this process exist, and there are isolated incidents of a monkey predating on a bat or wildlife feeding on bat guano, but Atukwatse’s discovery of this many different predators repeatedly feeding on a known Marburg virus reservoir is a first.
His discovery highlights two uncomfortable truths:
many potential zoonotic interfaces remain undocumented – often right under our noses
the people most likely to detect them first are those living closest to wild frontiers.
But the bigger message is this: global health institutions need to stop overlooking local scientists and start funding field-based detection systems across Africa and Asia.
If we want to detect the next outbreak early, we should be empowering more Atukwatses, not waiting for the next lab test.
Atukwatse had heard from nearby guides that a large bat cave lay close to the survey grid. That kind of site, he reasoned, could be perfect leopard territory: a place to hunt, rest or avoid the heat.
This is ecological attentiveness at its best – the field biology equivalent of a commodities trader spotting volatility in a geopolitical flashpoint.
Atukwatse had his radar on and acted on instinct, setting five camera traps at the cave’s entrance and along the surrounding animal trails. Just one week later, he got what he hoped for: three separate clips of a leopard hunting bats in broad daylight. He left the cameras in place in protective casing. He checked them every 7–10 days.
But that was just the beginning.
The scale of the discovery
When I first looked at Atukwatse’s videos, our joint excitement was around the leopard footage. We knew they were adaptable and could even eat small rodents , but no one had ever recorded them eating bats in Africa.
As more clips came in, we realised something bigger was unfolding. Blue monkeys were seen grabbing bats mid-roost. A crowned eagle and a Nile monitor fought over two bat carcasses. A fish eagle – typically a piscivore, which is a carnivorous species that primarily eats fish – was filmed clutching bats in its talons.
Over 304 trap-nights, Atukwatse’s traps recorded 261 independent predator events from at least 14 different species.
Then came the second shock: over 400 human visitors – many of them tourists – were filmed approaching the cave mouth without any protective gear. Some stood just metres from a known Marburg virus reservoir. Importantly, the Uganda Wildlife Authority has built a sanctioned viewing platform about 35 metres from the cave. However, tourists broke park rules and walked within two metres of the cave mouth.
It was only after I visited the cave myself to take stills of the team that we put this all together. Atukwatse had just found the first visual evidence, at a large scale in nature, of at least 14 predators feeding on a known wildlife virus reservoir harbouring one of Earth’s deadliest viruses.
This wasn’t the result of million-dollar pathogen surveillance. It wasn’t even the core aim of our leopard survey. This happened because a young Ugandan field scientist followed his ecological gut.
Why does the discovery matter?
For decades, disease ecologists have known that major outbreaks often originate in wildlife – swine flu, avian flu and even SARS-CoV-2 all trace back to animal hosts. But what’s often missing is direct observation of spillover interfaces – the exact moments when a virus jumps from a bat, goose, or other animal into new species like humans, livestock or other wildlife.
Atukwatse’s discovery may be the first large-scale visual record of such an interface in nature: a roost of Egyptian fruit bats known to harbour a deadly virus, actively predated upon by at least 14 species, with hundreds of humans visiting the same cave mouth unprotected.
This may be a Rosetta Stone moment for spillover ecology – shifting our understanding from hypothetical models to a real, observable interface.
These kinds of spillover sites exist in other places in nature: in a Chinese wet market where a civet meets a meat processor, or in a Gabonese village where a bat is butchered for bushmeat. The difference? Most of them go undocumented. Atukwatse just filmed one.
Alexander Richard Braczkowski is the scientific director of the Volcanoes Safaris Partnership Trust Kyambura Lion Project.
Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Alexander Richard Braczkowski, Research Fellow at the Centre for Planetary Health and Resilient Conservation Group, Griffith University
In the shadows of Python Cave, Uganda, a leopard leaps from a guano mound – formed by bat excrement – and sinks its teeth into a bat. But this is no ordinary bat colony. The thousands of Egyptian fruit bats (Rousettus aegyptiacus) found in this cave are known carriers of one of the world’s deadliest viruses: Marburg, a close cousin of Ebola.
I am a conservation scientist with over 17 years of experience in wildlife ecology, monitoring and human-wildlife conflict. I’m the co-founder of the Kyambura Lion Project, which made this discovery.
For years, scientists studying how diseases spread from animals to humans have hypothesised that zoonotic diseases jump from a wildlife reservoir (like a bat) to an intermediate host (monkey) and potentially to us, humans.
For past Marburg outbreaks in Uganda, two spillover pathways have been identified: the first, involves humans coming into contact with a fruit bat habitat (namely caves filled with bat guano). Indeed, fruit bats are thought to have infected two tourists at Python Cave in 2007 and 2008.
The second pathway involves humans and animals eating the same fruit that bats have fed upon or made contact with. This second spillover pathway was identified by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientists in 2023. They tracked bats from the cave entering cultivated gardens to feed.
But Atukwatse and the team of young Ugandan scientists (Yahaya Ssemakula, Johnson Muhereza, Orin Cornille and Winfred Nsabimana) have potentially found another pathway: predation by at least 14 species.
Such rich visual evidence of a viral interface – bats, predators and people – is virtually non-existent in the literature. Many theoretical depictions of this process exist, and there are isolated incidents of a monkey predating on a bat or wildlife feeding on bat guano, but Atukwatse’s discovery of this many different predators repeatedly feeding on a known Marburg virus reservoir is a first.
A leopard grabs a fruit bat at Uganda’s Python Cave.Bosco Atukwatse/Kyambura Lion Project
His discovery highlights two uncomfortable truths:
many potential zoonotic interfaces remain undocumented – often right under our noses
the people most likely to detect them first are those living closest to wild frontiers.
But the bigger message is this: global health institutions need to stop overlooking local scientists and start funding field-based detection systems across Africa and Asia.
If we want to detect the next outbreak early, we should be empowering more Atukwatses, not waiting for the next lab test.
Atukwatse had heard from nearby guides that a large bat cave lay close to the survey grid. That kind of site, he reasoned, could be perfect leopard territory: a place to hunt, rest or avoid the heat.
This is ecological attentiveness at its best – the field biology equivalent of a commodities trader spotting volatility in a geopolitical flashpoint.
A blue monkey with bat in hand at Python Cave.Bosco Atukwatse/Kyambura Lion Project
Atukwatse had his radar on and acted on instinct, setting five camera traps at the cave’s entrance and along the surrounding animal trails. Just one week later, he got what he hoped for: three separate clips of a leopard hunting bats in broad daylight. He left the cameras in place in protective casing. He checked them every 7–10 days.
But that was just the beginning.
The scale of the discovery
When I first looked at Atukwatse’s videos, our joint excitement was around the leopard footage. We knew they were adaptable and could even eat small rodents , but no one had ever recorded them eating bats in Africa.
As more clips came in, we realised something bigger was unfolding. Blue monkeys were seen grabbing bats mid-roost. A crowned eagle and a Nile monitor fought over two bat carcasses. A fish eagle – typically a piscivore, which is a carnivorous species that primarily eats fish – was filmed clutching bats in its talons.
Over 304 trap-nights, Atukwatse’s traps recorded 261 independent predator events from at least 14 different species.
Then came the second shock: over 400 human visitors – many of them tourists – were filmed approaching the cave mouth without any protective gear. Some stood just metres from a known Marburg virus reservoir. Importantly, the Uganda Wildlife Authority has built a sanctioned viewing platform about 35 metres from the cave. However, tourists broke park rules and walked within two metres of the cave mouth.
Bosco Atukwatse.
It was only after I visited the cave myself to take stills of the team that we put this all together. Atukwatse had just found the first visual evidence, at a large scale in nature, of at least 14 predators feeding on a known wildlife virus reservoir harbouring one of Earth’s deadliest viruses.
This wasn’t the result of million-dollar pathogen surveillance. It wasn’t even the core aim of our leopard survey. This happened because a young Ugandan field scientist followed his ecological gut.
Why does the discovery matter?
For decades, disease ecologists have known that major outbreaks often originate in wildlife – swine flu, avian flu and even SARS-CoV-2 all trace back to animal hosts. But what’s often missing is direct observation of spillover interfaces – the exact moments when a virus jumps from a bat, goose, or other animal into new species like humans, livestock or other wildlife.
Atukwatse’s discovery may be the first large-scale visual record of such an interface in nature: a roost of Egyptian fruit bats known to harbour a deadly virus, actively predated upon by at least 14 species, with hundreds of humans visiting the same cave mouth unprotected.
This may be a Rosetta Stone moment for spillover ecology – shifting our understanding from hypothetical models to a real, observable interface.
These kinds of spillover sites exist in other places in nature: in a Chinese wet market where a civet meets a meat processor, or in a Gabonese village where a bat is butchered for bushmeat. The difference? Most of them go undocumented. Atukwatse just filmed one.
– How does Marburg virus spread between species? Young Ugandan scientist’s photos give important clues – https://theconversation.com/how-does-marburg-virus-spread-between-species-young-ugandan-scientists-photos-give-important-clues-259806
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will undertake a visit to Ghana from July 02-03, 2025. This will be Prime Minister’s first ever bilateral visit to Ghana. This Prime Ministerial visit from India to Ghana is taking place after three decades. During the visit, Prime Minister will hold talks with the President of Ghana to review the strong bilateral partnership and discuss further avenues to enhance it through economic, energy, and defence collaboration, and development cooperation partnership. This visit will reaffirm the shared commitment of the two countries to deepen bilateral ties and strengthen India’s engagement with the ECOWAS [Economic Community of West African States] and the African Union.
In the second leg of his visit, at the invitation of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago, H.E. Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Prime Minister will pay an Official Visit to Trinidad & Tobago (T&T) from July 03 – 04, 2025. This will be his first visit to the country as Prime Minister and the first bilateral visit at the Prime Ministerial level to T&T since 1999. During the visit, Prime Minister will hold talks with the President of Trinidad & Tobago, H.E. Christine Carla Kangaloo, and Prime Minister H.E. Kamla Persad-Bissessar and discuss further strengthening of the India-Trinidad & Tobago relationship. Prime Minister is also expected to address a Joint Session of the Parliament of T&T. The visit of Prime Minister to T&T will impart fresh impetus to the deep-rooted and historical ties between the two countries.
In the third leg of his visit, at the invitation of the President of Republic of Argentina, H.E. Mr. Javier Milei, Prime Minister will travel to Argentina on an Official Visit from July 04-05, 2025. Prime Minister is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with President Milei to review ongoing cooperation and discuss ways to further enhance India-Argentina partnership in key areas including defence, agriculture, mining, oil and gas, renewable energy, trade and investment, and people-to-people ties. The bilateral visit of Prime Minister will further deepen the multifaceted Strategic Partnership between India and Argentina.
In the fourth leg of his visit, at the invitation of President of the Federative Republic of Brazil, H.E. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Prime Minister will travel to Brazil from July 5-8, 2025 to attend the 17th BRICS Summit 2025 followed by a State Visit. This will be Prime Minister’s fourth visit to Brazil. The 17th BRICS Leaders’ Summit will be held in Rio de Janeiro. During the Summit, Prime Minister will exchange views on key global issues including reform of global governance, peace and security, strengthening multilateralism, responsible use of artificial intelligence, climate action, global health, economic and financial matters. Prime Minister is also likely to hold several bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the Summit. For the State Visit to Brazil, Prime Minister will travel to Brasilia where he will hold bilateral discussions with President Lula on the broadening of the Strategic Partnership between the two countries in areas of mutual interest, including trade, defence, energy, space, technology, agriculture, health and people to people linkages.
In the final leg of his visit, at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Namibia, H.E. Dr. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Prime Minister will embark on a State Visit to Namibia on July 09, 2025. This will be the first visit of Prime Minister to Namibia, and the third ever Prime Ministerial visit from India to Namibia. During his visit, Prime Minister will hold bilateral talks with President Nandi-Ndaitwah. Prime Minister will also pay homage to the Founding Father and first President of Namibia, Late Dr. Sam Nujoma. He is also expected to deliver an address at the Parliament of Namibia. The visit of Prime Minister is a reiteration of India’s multi-faceted and deep-rooted historical ties with Namibia.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of External Affairs – Government of India.
H.M. Letsie III, King of the Kingdom of Lesotho and H.M. Queen Masenate Mohato Seeiso will pay a visit to Japan from June 29 to July 4.
During their stay in Japan, Their Majesties the Emperor and Empress will participate the National Day Event of Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, as official guest of the Government of Japan.
The visit of Their Majesties the Emperor and the Empress is expected to further develop the bilateral relations between Japan and Lesotho.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Centenary Celebrations of Acharya Shri Vidyanand Ji Maharaj at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, emphasizing the significance of the occasion in India’s spiritual tradition. The event, organized by the Government of India in collaboration with Bhagwan Mahaveer Ahimsa Bharti Trust, marks the formal commencement of a year-long tribute to honor the revered Jain spiritual leader and social reformer on his 100th birth anniversary.
In his address, PM Modi described the centenary as a momentous occasion, reflecting the immortal inspiration of Acharya Vidyanand Ji Muniraj. He noted that June 28 holds special significance, recalling that on this day in 1987, Acharya was conferred the title of ‘Acharya,’ marking the beginning of a sacred journey that connected Jain traditions with thought, discipline, and compassion. To commemorate the occasion, special coins and postage stamps were released. The Prime Minister also congratulated Acharya Shri Pragya Sagar Ji, under whose guidance millions follow the path laid by Acharya Vidyanand Ji, and humbly accepted the title of ‘Dharm Chakravarti’ conferred upon him, dedicating it to Mother India.
Reflecting on Acharya Vidyanand Ji’s life, born on April 22, 1925, in Karnataka, PM Modi highlighted his profound contributions as a scholar, author of over 150 texts, and a visionary who connected millions with cultural and spiritual values. The Prime Minister described him as a unique blend of knowledge and bliss, whose simple yet profound teachings inspired generations. Acharya Vidyanand Ji’s expertise spanned languages like Kannada, Marathi, Sanskrit, and Prakrit, and his contributions to literature, classical music, and national service were exemplary. A freedom fighter and Digambar Muni, he embodied detachment while serving as a reservoir of knowledge and spiritual inspiration.
PM Modi emphasized that India, as the world’s most ancient living civilization, owes its endurance to the timeless wisdom of sages and Acharyas like Vidyanand Ji. He praised the Acharya’s efforts in social and cultural reconstruction through initiatives like the Prakrit Bhavan and research institutions, which preserved Jain history and promoted inclusivity through seminal works like Jain Darshan and Anekantvad. His commitment to temple restoration, education for the underprivileged, and social welfare reflected a synthesis of self-realization and public good.
The Prime Minister underscored India’s ethos of selfless service, rooted in Jain philosophy and exemplified by Acharya Vidyanand Ji’s life. He cited government initiatives like PM Awas Yojana, Jal Jeevan Mission, Ayushman Bharat, and free food grain distribution as reflections of this ethos, aimed at uplifting the marginalized. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to inclusive progress, inspired by Acharya’s ideals, with the mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Prayas.
Highlighting the relevance of Jainism’s timeless principles, such as the five Mahavratas and Triratnas, PM Modi noted Acharya Vidyanand Ji’s efforts to make these teachings accessible through the Vachanamrit movement and devotional music. He also celebrated the government’s recent recognition of Prakrit as a classical language in October 2024 and the ongoing digitization of ancient manuscripts, including Jain scriptures. These efforts align with the broader mission to preserve India’s cultural heritage while promoting development, as seen in the 2024 celebrations of Bhagwan Mahavir’s 2,550th Nirvana Mahotsav.
PM Modi recalled the nine resolutions shared during Navkar Mantra Diwas, urging citizens to conserve water, plant trees, maintain cleanliness, promote local products, explore India, adopt natural farming, embrace healthy lifestyles, engage in yoga and sports, and support the underprivileged. He expressed confidence that these resolutions, inspired by Acharya Vidyanand Ji’s teachings, would strengthen India’s journey toward a developed nation during the Amrit Kaal.
Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekawat and revered saints were among the dignitaries present. The year-long centenary celebrations will feature cultural, literary, educational, and spiritual initiatives to spread Acharya Vidyanand Ji’s message of compassion, knowledge, and service.
The leaders of Bougainville and Papua New Guinea have signed a deal that may bring the autonomous region’s quest for independence closer.
Called “Melanesian Agreement”, the deal was developed earlier this month in 10 days of discussion at the New Zealand army base at Burnham, near Christchurch.
Both governments have agreed that the national Parliament in PNG has a key role in the decision over the push for independence.
They recognise that the Bougainville desire for independence is legitimate, as expressed in a 2019 independence referendum result, and that this is a unique situation in PNG.
That is the agreement’s attempt to overcome pressure from other parts of PNG that are also talking about autonomy.
The parties say they are committed to maintaining a close, peaceful and enduring relationship between PNG and Bougainville.
Both sides said that to bring referendum results to the national Parliament both governments would develop a sessional order, which was a the temporary adjustment of Parliament’s rules.
Bipartisan Parliamentary Committee They said that a Bipartisan Parliamentary Committee on Bougainville, which would provide information to MPs and the general public about the Bougainville conflict and resolution, is a vital body.
The parties said they would explore the joint creation of a Melanesian framework with agreed timelines, for a pathway forwards, that may form part of the Joint Consultations Report presented to the 11th National Parliament.
Once the Bipartisan Committee completes its work, the results of the referendum and the Joint Consultation Report would be taken to the Parliament.
The parties said they would accept the decision of the national Parliament, in the first instance, regarding the referendum results, and then commit to further consultations if needed, and this would be in an agreed timeline.
In the meantime, institutional strengthening and institutional building within Bougainville would continue.
To ensure progress is made and political commitment is sustained, the monitoring of this Melanesian Agreement could include an international component, a Parliamentary component, and the Bipartisan Parliamentary Committee, all with UN support.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
The leaders of Bougainville and Papua New Guinea have signed a deal that may bring the autonomous region’s quest for independence closer.
Called “Melanesian Agreement”, the deal was developed earlier this month in 10 days of discussion at the New Zealand army base at Burnham, near Christchurch.
Both governments have agreed that the national Parliament in PNG has a key role in the decision over the push for independence.
They recognise that the Bougainville desire for independence is legitimate, as expressed in a 2019 independence referendum result, and that this is a unique situation in PNG.
That is the agreement’s attempt to overcome pressure from other parts of PNG that are also talking about autonomy.
The parties say they are committed to maintaining a close, peaceful and enduring relationship between PNG and Bougainville.
Both sides said that to bring referendum results to the national Parliament both governments would develop a sessional order, which was a the temporary adjustment of Parliament’s rules.
Bipartisan Parliamentary Committee They said that a Bipartisan Parliamentary Committee on Bougainville, which would provide information to MPs and the general public about the Bougainville conflict and resolution, is a vital body.
The parties said they would explore the joint creation of a Melanesian framework with agreed timelines, for a pathway forwards, that may form part of the Joint Consultations Report presented to the 11th National Parliament.
Once the Bipartisan Committee completes its work, the results of the referendum and the Joint Consultation Report would be taken to the Parliament.
The parties said they would accept the decision of the national Parliament, in the first instance, regarding the referendum results, and then commit to further consultations if needed, and this would be in an agreed timeline.
In the meantime, institutional strengthening and institutional building within Bougainville would continue.
To ensure progress is made and political commitment is sustained, the monitoring of this Melanesian Agreement could include an international component, a Parliamentary component, and the Bipartisan Parliamentary Committee, all with UN support.
This article is republished under a community partnership agreement with RNZ.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
​A 74-year-old male person in custody, who had been found unconscious in Siu Lam Psychiatric Centre, died in a public hospital today (June 28).
The person in custody suffered from diabetes mellitus and hypertension. He required continuous medical care and follow-up at the institution hospital and a public hospital. At 7.22am today, the person in custody was found unconscious in a hospital ward by a correctional officer. The officer immediately called for reinforcement to provide first-aid treatment to him, and an ambulance was called at once to send him to a public hospital for further treatment. He remained unconscious after being sent to the public hospital. His condition deteriorated and he was certified dead at 9.38am today.
The case has been reported to the Police. A death inquest will be held by the Coroner’s Court.
The person in custody was convicted for the offence of arson and detained under a hospital order for psychiatric treatment in June 2025.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​The Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, called on the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office (HKMAO) of the State Council and the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development yesterday (June 27) on the last day of her visit to Beijing.
Ms Ho first called on Deputy Director of the HKMAO of the State Council Mr Nong Rong, and reported on the work of the Housing Bureau (HB). These include intensified efforts to combat tenancy abuse to ensure the prudent use of public housing resources. Around 8 700 public rental housing units have been recovered so far. On Light Public Housing (LPH), the progress of constructing about 30 000 units in 2027 is good. The intake of the first LPH project with about 2 100 units at Yau Pok Road, Yuen Long, has been 100 per cent completed smoothly, while the project at Choi Hing Road, Ngau Tau Kok, with about 2 300 units, will commence intake in phases by the end of this month. The remaining projects are also pressing ahead at full speed. The HB will introduce the Basic Housing Units Bill into the Legislative Council for the first and second readings in July, and strive to complete the legislative work within this year, so as to ensure full implementation of the regulatory work for eradicating substandard subdivided units in Hong Kong and provide a reasonable and safe living environment for the grassroots, the earlier the better. The HB will continue to refine housing policies with sustained efforts, break through constraints to improve people’s livelihood, and enhance their well-being.
She then called on the Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, Mr Ni Hong, introduced the work of the HB, and shared the adoption of advanced construction technologies from the Mainland in Hong Kong and the outcomes. She mentioned that the HB will organise a series of activities and visits this year, including an international symposium to be held in Hong Kong in November, to showcase to the world the latest developments of construction technologies in Mainland China and Hong Kong. The HB will fully capitalise on Hong Kong’s unique advantages of connecting with both the Mainland and the rest of the world and play the role of a “super connector” and a “super value-adder”. She expressed hope that friends from around the world could attend the symposium to be hosted by Hong Kong at the end of this year.
Concluding the visit, Ms Ho said, “The visit not only provided an opportunity to showcase the achievements of the collaborative development of Hong Kong and the Mainland construction industries to experts and scholars from different regions at the Asia-Pacific Network for Housing Research 2025 Conference; it also strengthened exchanges between Hong Kong and the Mainland on smart construction, smart property management, community building and housing policies. In addition, echoing the Housing•I&T initiative of the HB this year, this trip enabled us to gain a better understanding of the latest developments of advanced technologies on the Mainland. I encourage the industry to use public housing as a testing ground for trials of new technologies, and to research and develop innovative construction technologies and smart management technologies that are locally applicable and globally accepted, in order to provide a better living environment for our people.”
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Appeal for information on missing woman in Tsing Yi (with photo) Chan Fung-yau, aged 85, went missing after she left her residence in Cheung Fat Estate yesterday (June 27) morning. Her family then made a report to Police.
She is about 1.5 metres tall, 50 kilograms in weight and of thin build. She has a round face with yellow complexion and short grey and white hair. She was last seen wearing a white short-sleeved T-shirt, light-coloured trousers, light-coloured slippers and holding a black walking stick.
Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of New Territories South on 3661 1173 or email to rmpu-nts-2@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.
India paid heartfelt tributes to former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao on his birth anniversary, celebrating his legacy as a visionary leader whose transformative economic reforms reshaped the nation’s trajectory. Leaders across the political spectrum lauded Rao’s contributions to India’s economic liberalization, foreign policy, and national development.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi honored Rao, stating on X, “India is grateful to Shri PV Narasimha Rao Garu for his effective leadership during a crucial phase of our development trajectory. His intellect, wisdom, and scholarly nature are widely admired.”
Born on June 28, 1921, in Laknepalli village, present-day Telangana, Rao was a freedom fighter and a prominent member of the Indian National Congress. Serving as India’s ninth Prime Minister from 1991 to 1996, he was the first South Indian and only the second non-Hindi-speaking leader to hold the office. His tenure is best remembered for the 1991 economic reforms that liberalized India’s economy, fostering unprecedented growth and elevating the country’s global standing.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described Rao as “a towering statesman and scholar par excellence,” noting his contributions to economic progress and national development. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that Rao’s reforms were “instrumental in catalyzing an era of unprecedented national growth” and pivotal in expanding India’s middle class. Kharge also highlighted Rao’s role in advancing India’s nuclear program and initiating the ‘Look East’ foreign policy.
The Congress party paid tribute, stating, “Rao’s 1991 economic reforms set India on the path of progress, liberalization, and self-reliance. His bold reforms and statesmanship continue to inspire generations.”
Other leaders, including Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini, also honored Rao. Chouhan called him a “Bharat Ratna” whose contributions were invaluable, while Birla hailed him as the “architect of India’s prosperity through liberalization.” Dhami and Saini praised Rao’s role in opening doors to economic prosperity and strengthening India’s global identity.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
TOKYO, June 28 (Xinhua) — Japan’s Adventure World amusement park in Shirahama Township, Wakayama Prefecture, sent four giant pandas to China on Saturday.
The 24-year-old female, Raukhin, and her three daughters, 8-year-old Yuyin, 6-year-old Saihin and 4-year-old Fuxin, will be taken to the Chengdu Base of Giant Panda Research and Breeding in China’s Sichuan Province.
Park staff waved flags as the animals left early in the morning, and scores of fans in panda T-shirts waited at a nearby intersection to wave goodbye to the truckload of animals.
Zoo director Koji Imazu told media that despite the pandas’ departure, the park hopes to maintain elements related to the animals to attract visitors. “I hope the pandas will continue to live healthy and long lives after returning to China, and will be presented in good condition to the Chinese people and those who visit them from Japan in the future,” he added.
According to Adventure World staff, all four pandas are healthy. The Chinese specialists who will care for them have been fully consulted about the characteristics and habits of each female.
A joint panda breeding program between Adventure World and the Chinese research base was launched in 1994.
The zoo operator said that since the joint panda protection agreement expires in August this year, the two sides agreed to carry out the transport in June, when temperatures are relatively mild, to reduce the stress on the animals.
Elderly Raukhin will enjoy her old age in a better medical environment in China, and her daughters will be able to take part in a breeding program. –0–
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrives for a European Council summit in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 3, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
U.S.-EU trade talks have gone through multiple rounds, but with the July 9 tariff deadline approaching, European leaders remained divided at Thursday’s European Council summit over whether to push for a quick deal or hold out for a more favorable one.
A quick deal or a better one?
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday that the EU had received the “latest U.S. document” for continued negotiations, though she did not disclose details of the U.S. proposals.
EU leaders now face a strategic dilemma over whether to accelerate talks to secure a deal before the deadline, or risk a prolonged trade dispute in hopes of achieving more favorable terms.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, whose country is among the EU’s top exporters, is leading calls for a rapid resolution.
“We have less than two weeks until July 9 — you can’t negotiate a sophisticated trade agreement in that time,” he said, warning that key industries, including chemicals, steel and automotive, are already under intense pressure.
But others urged caution, warning that a rushed deal could tilt the balance in favor of the United States.
“We are assessing it,” von der Leyen said. “Our message today is clear. We are ready for a deal. At the same time, we are preparing for the possibility that no satisfactory agreement is reached.” She added that “all options remain on the table,” and the EU would defend its interests if needed.
French President Emmanuel Macron echoed this stance, saying France supports a fast and pragmatic deal but “will not accept unfair terms.” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has indicated that Washington may consider extending the deadline for countries negotiating in “good faith.”
Key divides remain
To ease tensions, the EU has proposed eliminating tariffs on industrial goods on both sides — a move that has met with a lukewarm response from Washington.
The EU also hopes to narrow the trade imbalance by increasing imports of U.S. liquefied natural gas, arms and agricultural products, and by considering reducing auto tariffs. However, U.S. negotiators continue to press for sweeping EU concessions on value-added tax rules, digital regulation, food safety and environmental standards.
While EU officials say they are open to dialogue, they insist that core regulatory principles are non-negotiable.
“Where it is the sovereign decision-making process in the European Union and its member states that is affected, this is too far,” von der Leyen said recently.
Citing diplomatic sources, AFP reported that EU leaders may be exploring a so-called “Swiss cheese” deal — allowing for broad U.S. tariffs but securing exemptions for sensitive sectors such as steel, automotive, pharmaceuticals and aerospace.
Automobiles remain the most contentious point. Germany has proposed an “offset rule” under which the EU would allow duty-free imports of U.S. cars in exchange for the same number of EU vehicles being exempted from tariffs in the United States. The effectiveness of such a mechanism, however, remains uncertain.
A new trade club without US?
U.S. President Donald Trump’s unpredictable trade policies — marked by abrupt tariff hikes, temporary suspensions and renewed threats — have shaken confidence among traditional allies and reignited global concerns over trade stability.
At Thursday’s summit, von der Leyen floated a new idea about forming a trade alliance with members of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which includes Britain, Japan, and other Asian economies. She said such a coalition could serve as a foundation for reforming the World Trade Organization.
