NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: May 2025 issue of “Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics” now available

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    May 2025 issue of “Hong Kong Monthly Digest of Statistics” now available 
         Apart from providing up-to-date statistics, this issue also contains a feature article entitled “Currency Composition of Hong Kong’s International Investment Position, 2020 to 2024”.
     
    “Currency Composition of Hong Kong’s International Investment Position, 2020 to 2024”
     
         International Investment Position (IIP) is an important statistic in the system of macroeconomic accounts that summarises the external position of an economy with the rest of the world. It is a balance sheet showing an economy’s stock of external financial assets and liabilities at a particular time point. The difference between the total value of external financial assets and liabilities is the net IIP of an economy, which provides a measure of net financial claims on non-residents plus gold bullion held as monetary gold.
     
         In recent years, international community, such as the G20 Data Gap Initiative co-ordinated by the International Monetary Fund, has been advocating for the compilation of currency composition of IIP. In response to the initiatives and the needs of data users, the Census and Statistics Department has compiled and disseminated the statistics on the currency composition of Hong Kong’s IIP on a quarterly basis since the reference period of the first quarter of 2020, with data series backcasted to the reference period of the first quarter of 2017.
     
         This feature article briefly introduces the data source for compiling the statistics in Hong Kong and the use of the statistics in assessing the external position. It also highlights the salient features of the currency composition of Hong Kong’s IIP from 2020 to 2024.
     
         For enquiries about this feature article, please contact the Balance of Payments Branch (1) of the C&SD (Tel: 3903 6990; email: bop@censtatd.gov.hk 
         Published in bilingual form, the HKMDS is a compact volume of official statistics containing about 130 tables. It collects up-to-date statistical series on various aspects of the social and economic situation of Hong Kong. Topics include population; labour; external trade; National Income and Balance of Payments; prices; business performance; energy; housing and property; government accounts, finance and insurance; and transport, communications and tourism. For selected key statistical items, over 20 charts depicting the annual trend in the past decade and quarterly or monthly trend in the recent two years are also available. Users can download the Digest at the website of the C&SD (    www.censtatd.gov.hk/en/EIndexbySubject.html?pcode=B1010002&scode=460 
         Enquiries about the contents of the Digest can be directed to the Statistical Information Dissemination Section (1) of the C&SD (Tel: 2582 4738; email:     gen-enquiry@censtatd.gov.hkIssued at HKT 16:30

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Economic performance in first quarter of 2025 and latest GDP and price forecasts for 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Government released today (May 16) the First Quarter Economic Report 2025, together with the revised figures on Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the first quarter of 2025.
     
         The Acting Government Economist, Dr Cecilia Lam, gave an account of the economic performance in the first quarter of 2025 and the latest GDP and price forecasts for 2025.
     
    Main points
     
    ＊ The Hong Kong economy expanded solidly in the first quarter of 2025, mainly supported by visible increases in exports of goods and services, as well as the resumption of moderate growth in overall investment expenditure. Yet, private consumption expenditure continued to register a modest decline. Real GDP expanded by 3.1% year-on-year in the first quarter, picking up from the 2.5% growth in the preceding quarter. On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter basis, real GDP grew visibly by 1.9%.

    ＊ The global economy maintained steady growth in the first quarter. With broadly sustained external demand, as well as some front-loading of shipments in anticipation of tariff hikes by the United States in early April, Hong Kong’s total exports of goods saw visibly accelerated growth, up 8.4% year-on-year in real terms. Meanwhile, thanks to the further increase in visitor arrivals, growth in cross boundary traffic, and notable increase in cross-boundary financial and fund raising activities, total exports of services continued to expand visibly in the first quarter, by 6.6% year-on-year in real terms.

    ＊ Domestically, overall investment expenditure resumed moderate growth, rising by 2.8% year-on-year in real terms, underpinned by a visible increase in expenditure on acquisitions of machinery, equipment, and intellectual property products, as well as a sharp rise in costs of ownership transfer due to a markedly higher number of property transactions compared to the same period last year. Yet, private consumption expenditure continued to register a small decline of 1.1%, reflecting the lingering impact of changes in residents’ consumption patterns. 

    ＊ The labour market remained tight in the first quarter. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stayed low at 3.2%, slightly higher than the 3.1% in the preceding quarter. The underemployment rate remained at a low level of 1.1%. Employment earnings continued to record solid growth.

    ＊ The local stock market once rallied in the first quarter, driven by the Mainland’s breakthrough development in artificial intelligence (AI) and the Central Government’s measures to stimulate the domestic economy as unveiled at the “two sessions”. However, the market cooled down towards the end of the quarter amid concerns over the United States’ trade policy outlook. The residential property prices remained soft. 

    ＊ Consumer price inflation stayed modest in the first quarter. The underlying Composite Consumer Price Index (Composite CPI) increased by 1.2% over a year earlier, same as the increase in the preceding quarter. Price pressures on various major components stayed largely contained. Including the effects of the Government’s one-off relief measures, the headline Composite CPI increased by 1.6% over a year earlier, higher than the 1.4% increase in the preceding quarter. 

    ＊ As international trade tensions have eased somewhat of late, the headwinds and uncertainties in the external environment have lessened to some extent. This may relieve part of the downward pressure on the global economic outlook. Moreover, the sustained steady growth of the Mainland economy amid more proactive fiscal policies and the moderately accommodative monetary policies should bode well for the performance of merchandise exports in Asia including Hong Kong. Sustained international trade flows, coupled with improving inbound tourism, are also expected to benefit Hong Kong’s exports of services. However, uncertainties in the trade policies of the United States persist, and its monetary policy trajectory going forward is still complicated. These may affect global financial conditions and investment sentiment. Apart from this, the change in consumption patterns of residents and visitors would still pose constraints on driving consumption in the domestic market, though sustained increase in employment earnings and the SAR Government’s various policies to promote mega events and tourism would help boost consumption sentiment.

    ＊ Taking into account the actual outturn in the first quarter and the latest developments of the global and local situation, the real GDP growth forecast for 2025 as a whole is maintained at 2%-3%, the same as that announced in the Budget. The Government will continue to closely monitor the situation.

    ＊ On the inflation outlook, overall inflation should remain modest in the near term as pressures from domestic costs and external prices should stay broadly in check. Considering that the inflation situation in the first quarter was broadly in line with earlier expectations, the forecasts for the underlying and headline consumer price inflation rates for 2025 are maintained at 1.5% and 1.8% respectively, the same as those announced in the Budget.
     
    Details
     
    GDP
     
         According to the revised figures released today by the Census and Statistics Department, real GDP grew by 3.1% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025 (same as the advance estimate), having increased by 2.5% in the preceding quarter. On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, real GDP rose by 1.9% in the first quarter (revised from the advance estimate of 2.0%), after a 0.9% increase in the preceding quarter (Chart).
     
         The latest figures on GDP and its major expenditure components up to the first quarter of 2025 are presented in Table 1. Developments in different segments of the economy in the first quarter are described below.
     
    External trade
     
         Supported by broadly sustained external demand as well as some front loading of shipments in anticipation of tariff hikes by the United States in early April, total exports of goods posted accelerated year-on-year growth of 8.4% in real terms in the first quarter, following a 1.3% increase in the preceding quarter. Analysed by major market and by reference to external merchandise trade statistics, exports to the Mainland grew strongly in the first quarter over a year earlier. Exports to the United States rose back, while those to the European Union fell further. Exports to ASEAN markets soared, while those to high-income Asian economies showed mixed performance. On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter basis, total exports of goods increased notably by 10.2% in real terms in the first quarter.
     
         Exports of services continued to expand visibly by 6.6% in real terms in the first quarter over a year earlier, after growing by 6.5% in the preceding quarter. Exports of all major service groups rose further. Specifically, exports of travel and transport services continued to expand, supported by the further increase in visitor arrivals and growth in cross-boundary traffic. Exports of financial services rose sharply, thanks to the notable increase in cross-boundary financial and fund raising activities. On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter basis, exports of services were virtually unchanged in real terms in the first quarter.
     
    Domestic sector
     
         Private consumption continued to be subject to the lingering impact of changes in residents’ consumption patterns in the first quarter. Private consumption expenditure declined modestly by 1.1% in real terms from a year ago, after a marginal decline of 0.2% in the preceding quarter. On a seasonally adjusted quarter to quarter basis, private consumption expenditure decreased by 1.6% in real terms. Meanwhile, government consumption expenditure increased by 1.2% in real terms in the first quarter over a year earlier, after rising by 2.1% in the preceding quarter. On a seasonally adjusted quarter to quarter basis, government consumption expenditure increased by 0.5% in real terms.
     
         Overall investment expenditure in terms of gross domestic fixed capital formation resumed moderate growth in the first quarter, rising by 2.8% year-on-year in real terms, after a modest decline of 0.7% in the preceding quarter. Within the total, expenditure on machinery, equipment, and intellectual property products increased visibly. The costs of ownership transfer rose sharply due to a markedly higher number of property transactions compared to the same period last year. Yet, expenditure on building and construction declined moderately.
     
    The labour sector
     
         The labour market remained tight in the first quarter of 2025. The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate stayed low at 3.2%, slightly higher than the 3.1% in the preceding quarter. The underemployment rate remained at a low level of 1.1%. The median monthly employment earnings of full-time employees in nominal terms increased by 6.4% year-on-year in the first quarter.
     
    The asset markets
     
         After staying largely range-bound in January 2025, the local stock market rallied after the Chinese New Year holidays through mid-March, as market sentiment was fuelled by the Mainland’s breakthrough development in AI and the Central Government’s measures to stimulate the domestic economy as unveiled at the “two sessions”. However, the market cooled down towards the end of the quarter amid concerns over the United States’ trade policy outlook. The Hang Seng Index (HSI) hit a three-year high of 24 771 on March 19, before retreating somewhat to close the first quarter at 23 120, up 15.3% from end-2024. In early April, trade tensions escalated abruptly due to the significant increase in import tariffs by the United States, and the global financial markets were volatile at that time. The HSI also fell in tandem, but it has recently resumed its uptrend.
     
         The residential property prices remained soft in the first quarter. Market sentiment turned more cautious towards the end of March amid growing external uncertainties from the United States’ trading and monetary policies. Overall flat prices fell by 2% in the first quarter. The index of home purchase affordability improved slightly further to around 59% in the first quarter alongside easing flat prices during the quarter, but remained above the long-term average of 56% over 2005 2024. The number of transactions, in terms of the total number of sale and purchase agreements for residential property received by the Land Registry, retreated by 19% from the preceding quarter to 12 193 in the first quarter, but was 24% higher than the level a year ago. On the other hand, overall flat rentals continued to show resilience, edging up by 0.4% during the first quarter. As to the non-residential property market, it remained generally weak in the first quarter, with trading activities across major market segments showing mixed performance, as well as prices and rentals declining further.
     
    Prices
     
         Consumer price inflation stayed modest in the first quarter of 2025. The underlying Composite CPI increased by 1.2% over a year earlier in the first quarter, same as the increase in the preceding quarter. Within this, food prices as a whole increased mildly. Private housing rentals saw a slightly accelerated increase. Price pressures on other major components stayed largely contained. Including the effects of the Government’s one-off relief measures, the headline Composite CPI increased by 1.6% over a year earlier, higher than the 1.4% increase in the preceding quarter. The headline inflation rate was higher than its underlying counterpart in the first quarter, as the electricity charges subsidy provided by the Government was smaller compared with the same period last year.
     
    Latest GDP and price forecasts for 2025
     
         As international trade tensions have eased somewhat of late, the headwinds and uncertainties in the external environment have lessened to some extent. This may relieve part of the downward pressure on the global economic outlook. Moreover, the sustained steady growth of the Mainland economy amid more proactive fiscal policies and the moderately accommodative monetary policies should bode well for the performance of merchandise exports in Asia including Hong Kong. Sustained international trade flows, coupled with improving inbound tourism, are also expected to benefit Hong Kong’s exports of services. However, uncertainties in the trade policies of the United States persist, and its monetary policy trajectory going forward is still complicated. These may affect global financial conditions and investment sentiment. Apart from this, the change in consumption patterns of residents and visitors would still pose constraints on driving consumption in the domestic market, though sustained increase in employment earnings and the SAR Government’s various policies to promote mega events and tourism would help boost consumption sentiment.
     
         Taking into account the actual outturn in the first quarter and the latest developments of the global and local situation, the real GDP growth forecast for 2025 as a whole is maintained at 2%-3%, the same as that announced in the Budget (Table 2). The Government will continue to closely monitor the situation. For reference, the latest growth forecasts by private sector analysts range between 1.0% to 2.5%.
     
         On the inflation outlook, overall inflation should remain modest in the near term as pressures from domestic costs and external prices should stay broadly in check. Considering that the inflation situation in the first quarter was broadly in line with earlier expectations, the forecasts for the underlying and headline consumer price inflation rates for 2025 are maintained at 1.5% and 1.8% respectively, the same as those announced in the Budget (Table 2).
     
         The First Quarter Economic Report 2025 is now available for online download, free of charge at www.hkeconomy.gov.hk/en/situation/index.htm. The Report of the Gross Domestic Product by Expenditure Component, which contains the GDP figures up to the first quarter of 2025, is also available for browse and download, free of charge on the homepage of the Census and Statistics Department, www.censtatd.gov.hk.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: JACET Charges – Child abuse material

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Joint Anti-Child Exploitation Team (JACET) have arrested and charged a 44-year-old male in relation to child abuse offences.

    In April 2025, police became aware of the male as part of a wider operation targeting people who access child abuse material.

    Yesterday, NT Police and Australian Federal Police officers attended a residence in a rural suburb to conduct a lawful search where they located and seized a device containing child abuse material. The male was arrested and has since been charged with:

    •             Access child abuse material

    •             Possess or control child abuse material

    He was remanded to appear in Darwin local Court on 22 May 2025.

    Detective Sergeant Mark Cronin said “Accessing, possessing, or distributing child abuse material is a heinous crime that will not be tolerated. The Northern Territory Police remain committed to protecting the most vulnerable members of our community, and we will continue to work tirelessly to hold offenders accountable for their actions.”

    AFP Superintendent Greg Davis said the investigation highlighted how closely police around Australia worked together to combat the exploitation and abuse of children.

    “Our common goal is to protect children, wherever they live, and to ensure anyone who tries to harm them is identified and brought before the courts,” Supt Davis said.

    “Our message to offenders is clear, access and transmit child abuse material, you will be found and you will be prosecuted.”

    Members of the public who have any information about people involved in child abuse and exploitation are urged to call police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. You can also submit a report online at https://crimestoppers.com.au/.

    You can also make a report online by alerting the Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation via the ‘Report Abuse’ button at www.accce.gov.au/report.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Media Council makes ‘stop Telikom PNG silencing journalists’ plea to PM Marape

    The Media Council of Papua New Guinea (MCPNG) has called on Prime Minister James Marape to stop Telikom PNG silencing and suppressing media personnel.

    Telikom PNG, which is 100 percent government-owned, has two key outlets: FM100 radio and EMTV.

    Recently, it sacked FM100 talkback host Culligan Tanda after he featured opposition East Sepik Governor Allan Bird on his show, following the most recent vote of no confidence.

    Local media report that Tanda was initially suspended for three weeks without pay on April 22, and subsequently terminated.

    MCPNG president Neville Choi said this was just the latest example of media suppression by Telikom PNG going back to 2018.

    He said that he himself was sacked in 2019 after EMTV had run a story quoting the former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern saying she would not be riding in one of the PNG government’s luxury Maseratis during an APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) meeting in Port Moresby.

    Choi said the story, though correct, was perceived as painting the government of the day in a “negative light”.

    ‘Free, robust media essential’
    He said a “free, robust, and independent media is an essential pillar of democracy”.

    “It is the cornerstone of allowing freedom of speech, and freedom of expression.

    “Being in a position of power and authority gives no one, especially brown-nosing public servants wanting to score brownie points with the sitting government administration, the right to suppress media workers who are only doing their jobs, and doing it well,” he said.

    The council also reminded the management’s of state-owned media organisations, that the Organic Law on the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) defined corrupt conduct by public officials and the dishonest exercising and abuse of official functions.

    According to a PNG Haus Bung report, Marape has directed his chief of staff to get to the bottom of the issue.

    He has also denied government interference, according to a report by Exeprenuer.

    “We don’t get down that low as to editorial content,” Marape was quoted as saying by the the online magazine.

    In December, Marape gave “full assurance that my government will not dilute the media’s role.”

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

    Article by AsiaPacificReport.nz

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to China: Peter Wilson

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3

    Press release

    Change of His Majesty’s Ambassador to China: Peter Wilson

    Mr Peter Wilson CMG has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to China

    Mr Peter Wilson CMG has been appointed His Majesty’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China in succession to Dame Caroline Wilson DCMG, who will be transferring to another Diplomatic Service appointment.  Mr Wilson will take up his appointment during August 2025.

    Curriculum Vitae

    Full name: Peter Michael Alexander Wilson

    Year Role
    March 2023 to 2024 FCDO, Director-General for Europe
    Dec 2022 to March 2023 Cabinet Office, Director General, National Security Secretariat, responsible for the UK/France Summit
    March to Sept 2022 No 10 Downing Street, Principal Private Secretary to the Prime Minister
    2021 to 2022 Brasilia, Her Majesty’s Ambassador
    2017 to 2021 The Hague, Her Majesty’s Ambassador and UK Permanent Representative to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
    2013 to 2017 New York, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative, UK Mission to the UN
    2010 to 2013 FCO, Director, Asia Pacific
    2007 to 2010 Beijing, Political Counsellor
    2005 to 2006  Islamabad, Political Counsellor
    2003 to 2004  FCO, Head of Policy, Directorate of Strategy and Innovation
    1999 to 2002 Brussels, Head, European Parliament Team, UK Permanent Representation to the EU
    1995 to 1998 Beijing, Second Secretary, Trade
    1993 to 1995 Language Training (Mandarin)
    1992 to 1993 FCO, Member of the Maastricht Treaty Bill Team
    1992 Joined FCO
    1990 to 1992 Harvard Kennedy School, Masters in Public Administration

    Media enquiries

    Email newsdesk@fcdo.gov.uk

    Telephone 020 7008 3100

    Email the FCDO Newsdesk (monitored 24 hours a day) in the first instance, and we will respond as soon as possible.

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • India to conduct first biological experiment on ISS to study sustainability of human life in space: Jitendra Singh

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India is set to conduct its first-ever biological experiments aboard the International Space Station (ISS) to explore the sustainability of human life in space, Union Minister of State for Science & Technology Jitendra Singh announced on Thursday.

    The research is part of the BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment & Employment) policy, launched under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and represents a collaborative effort between the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Biotechnology (DBT).

    The experiments will be conducted during the upcoming AXIOM-4 mission to the ISS, now scheduled to launch on June 8 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will represent India as a crew member on this milestone mission.

    The first experiment will examine the effects of microgravity and space radiation on the growth of edible microalgae—a nutrient-rich potential food source for long-duration space missions.

    With high protein, lipid, and bioactive compound content, microalgae also offer exceptional photosynthetic efficiency, enabling effective carbon dioxide absorption and oxygen production in closed environments like spacecraft. Their short growth cycle and biomass productivity make them a promising candidate for sustainable food and air regeneration systems in space.

    The second experiment will investigate the growth and proteomic responses of cyanobacteria—specifically Spirulina and Synechococcus—under microgravity, using both urea- and nitrate-based media.

    Spirulina, known as a space “superfood,” is rich in proteins and vitamins and can potentially help recycle carbon and nitrogen from human waste, making it valuable for closed-loop life support systems in long-term missions or extraterrestrial habitats.

    Both experiments are being developed in collaboration with scientists from the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, under the broader ISRO-DBT research partnership.

    Singh highlighted these developments during a visit to the newly inaugurated DBT-ICGEB Biofoundry, a state-of-the-art facility built on the Design-Build-Test-Learn (DBTL) model. The facility, which was virtually inaugurated during the 31st Meeting of the ICGEB Board of Governors, aims to accelerate synthetic biology and biomanufacturing research.

    Singh praised PM Modi’s “visionary leadership” for propelling India’s biotechnology sector to global prominence and emphasized the strategic importance of the BioE3 Policy. Approved by the Union Cabinet in 2024, the policy seeks to drive innovation and growth across six strategic areas: bio-based chemicals and enzymes, smart proteins and functional foods, precision therapeutics, climate-resilient agriculture, carbon capture and utilization, and marine and space research.

  • All eyes on Doha as Neeraj Chopra launches 2025 campaign

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India’s two-time Olympic medallist and reigning World Champion in javelin throw, Neeraj Chopra, is set to begin his 2025 Diamond League campaign in Doha, Qatar. This marks his first competitive appearance of the season in the prestigious international series.

    Aiming for the elusive 90m mark

    The elusive 90-metre barrier remains one of Chopra’s key goals heading into the season. Despite winning gold at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and silver at Paris 2024, the landmark distance continues to stay just out of reach.

    For the new season, Neeraj Chopra has shifted to training under Czech javelin legend Jan Železný, a three-time Olympic gold medallist and the current world record holder. This move marks the end of his successful partnership with biomechanics expert Dr. Klaus Bartonietz, under whose guidance he achieved both Olympic and World Championship glory.

    The meet in Doha carries added importance for Chopra, as it will be his only major competition in May. His next planned appearance, the NC Classic 2025 in Bengaluru, was cancelled. The meet, originally set for May 24, was being organised in collaboration with World Athletics and the Athletics Federation of India.

    In Doha, Chopra will face a strong field of elite competitors. The lineup includes Anderson Peters of Grenada, a two-time world champion and 2024 Olympic bronze medallist; Jakub Vadlejch of Czechia, last year’s winner in Doha; Germany’s Julian Weber and Max Dehning; Kenya’s Julius Yego; and Japan’s Roderick Genki Dean. Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, the reigning Olympic champion, will be absent as he focuses on preparations for the Asian Athletics Championships in Korea.

    India will also have representation beyond Chopra. Asian Games silver medallist Kishore Kumar Jena will also compete in the men’s javelin event. On the track, national record holder Gulveer Singh will run in the men’s 5000 metres, while Parul Chaudhary will compete in the women’s 3000 metres steeplechase.

    Neeraj Chopra’s event is scheduled to begin at 10:13 PM IST on Friday, May 16. The meet will not be broadcast on television but will be streamed live on the Wanda Diamond League’s official YouTube channel and Facebook page.

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens related to Chong Hing Bank Limited

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Fraudulent websites and internet banking login screens related to Chong Hing Bank Limited 
    The HKMA wishes to remind the public that banks will not send SMS or emails with embedded hyperlinks which direct them to the banks’ websites to carry out transactions. They will not ask customers for sensitive personal information, such as login passwords or one-time password, by phone, email or SMS (including via embedded hyperlinks).
     
    Anyone who has provided his or her personal information, or who has conducted any financial transactions, through or in response to the websites or login screens concerned, should contact the bank using the contact information provided in the press release, and report the matter to the Police by contacting the Crime Wing Information Centre of the Hong Kong Police Force at 2860 5012.
    Issued at HKT 15:13

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Press conference, Strathpine

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    Ali France:

    It will come as no surprise to anyone here that cost of living is the biggest issue for people in my electorate of Dickson, paying the bills has been a real struggle. Labor went to the election with a really great plan to address cost‑of‑living issues and part of that was supporting wage increases.

    I was really, really pleased to see the figures this week that showed 18 months of real wage growth, and that’s all down to 3 years of really hard work by Jim and his team.

    We know that under the Coalition that wages were falling and that people were going backwards. So it’s really great to have the Treasurer here today in Dickson, as well as all of my other Queensland colleagues, and I’m now going to hand over to Senator Chisholm.

    Anthony Chisholm:

    Thanks Ali, it’s great to be with you, and the growing Northside Labor team in Emma and Corrine, and we welcome Jim from the Southside to the Northside.

    Ali, Emma, Corrine and myself are all based on this side of town and in outer suburbia. We understand that the Petrie and Dickson electorates and those on this side of town are full of people who work hard every day, want to provide for their families and get ahead in life.

    A defining feature of the Albanese government in the first term has been support for wage increases. We saw it during the 2022 campaign, and we saw it during the 2025 campaign as well, and I think it was a defining element to us receiving a good vote like we did here in Dickson and Petrie to help us win these seats to be part of an Albanese Labor government.

    So I’m really pleased that the Treasurer is here today to talk to us but also outline the role the government is going to play supporting those people on award wages to get ahead in life. They work hard, they deserve a decent pay as a result of that, and it’s important that the Albanese government supports them in that endeavour as well. So thanks, Treasurer.

    Jim Chalmers:

    Thanks very much, Chis, and it’s great to be here in Strathpine with really important parts of our much bigger, much better Queensland team now in the Albanese Labor government.

    I wanted to thank and congratulate Ali France on her stunning victory here in Dickson – similarly, Emma Comer in Petrie, we’re really looking forward to working with Corrine Mulholland when she joins the Senate in July, and I also congratulate Anthony Chisholm for being sworn in as a frontbencher in the Albanese Labor government as well.

    Wages and the cost of living were front and centre in our first term, they were front and centre in the campaign, and they will be front and centre in the second term as well.

    Decent pay, better wages, decent conditions, great jobs, these are Labor’s reasons for being, and you can see that in the progress that we’ve made together on wages, on jobs, in the labour market and the economy more broadly, and you can see it in the submission that we are lodging today.

    Today we are lodging our submission to the Fair Work Commission’s Annual Wage Review, which is all about recognising that millions of Australians on awards need and deserve decent pay so they can work hard and provide for their loved ones.

    The most important feature of today’s submission is we are seeking an economically sustainable real wage increase for Australians on awards.

    This is all about ensuring that 3 million Australians can get the decent pay that they need and deserve to provide for their loved ones.

    We’re very proud to be making this submission today, because it builds on the progress that we have made together when it comes to wages and jobs.

    This submission is responsible, it is fair, and it’s consistent with our efforts to provide tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer as well.

    This Albanese government is all about ensuring that Australians earn more and keep more of what they earn, and our submission today to the Fair Work Commission reflects that objective.

    It does build substantially on the very encouraging progress that we have been able to make together on wages and in the labour market more broadly.

    Already, people on the minimum wage are earning $143 a week more since Labor came to office. Australians on the medium wage are earning $206 a week more since Labor came to office. We’ve created 1.1 million jobs since we were elected. Participation is at or near record highs. Average unemployment has been historically low.

    Just this week, as Ali said, we got very encouraging news on wages, 18 consecutive months of annual real wages growth, the strongest real wages growth for 5 years. Another 89,000 jobs created in the data that we saw just yesterday. This shows we have been making progress together, and the submission we lodged today is about building on that progress.

    If you look more broadly across the economy since we came to office, real wages were falling sharply when we came to office, we’ve turned that around, but we’ve made progress more broadly on the economy as well.

    Inflation is down very substantially, real wages are up, unemployment is very low, growth is rebounding in our economy, we’ve got the debt down, interest rates have started to come down earlier in the year as well.

    We know that there’s more work to do because people are under pressure, and that’s why this submission today seeks a real wage increase for millions of Australians. We have made a lot of progress together, and we seek with this submission today to build on that progress so that Australians can earn more and keep more of what they earn, and so Australians can earn more to provide for their loved ones when they work hard and get ahead.

    Happy to take a few questions.

    Journalist:

    What do you mean by ‘economically sustainable amount’, is that in line with inflation, or is there a figure on that?

    Chalmers:

    Consistent with our earlier submissions, we don’t put a number in our submission, that’s been our practice for really quite a while now. What we are seeking is an economically sustainable real wage increase for millions of Australians on awards – and ‘economically sustainable’ reflects the fact, and you can see that in the detail of our submission, is that we want to make sure that this real wage increase is provided consistent with our other economic objectives, by getting inflation down and our other economic objectives as well.

    We’re obviously very focused on the fight against inflation, we have made a lot of progress there, but it’s not mission accomplished because people are still under pressure.

    I consulted with the Reserve Bank Governor as we finalised this submission. The Treasury also consulted with, I think, the Assistant Governor of the Reserve Bank to make sure that what we are proposing is responsible, it’s sensible, it’s sustainable, and it’s consistent with inflation being sustainably in the Reserve Bank’s target band, and I’m really confident that it is.

    Journalist:

    How will you avoid a budget black hole if your super tax goes through and people take capital offshore?

    Chalmers:

    A couple of things about that. What we’re proposing here is still very concessional treatment for Australians with very big superannuation balances, so we’re taking the current concessional treatment and making it slightly less concessional, but still concessional.

    This is a very modest change to the taxation of very large superannuation balances. It reflects about half a per cent of people. We announced it more than 2 years ago, we’ve done a bunch of consultation on it, it’s been in the Parliament for a big chunk of that time, and it means that there is still concessional tax treatment for people with big balances, but slightly less concessional.

    This is an important part of our efforts to make the budget more sustainable, and to fund our priorities, including strengthening Medicare, providing cost‑of‑living relief, the tax cuts for every Australian taxpayer. It’s responsible, it is modest, it only applies to a tiny sliver of people in superannuation, and it’s still concessional.

    Journalist:

    Why won’t you index, just with that indexation, start modest, and then creep up, and become [indistinct]?

    Chalmers:

    This is consistent with the treatment in a whole range of areas in the tax system. There are a lot of thresholds in the tax system and more broadly that aren’t indexed, and what that means is that governments of either political persuasion into the future can take decisions to lift the threshold; we’ve seen that, as I’ve said, in other parts of the tax system.

    Some of this analysis that you see about the thresholds in 30 or 40 years’ time, that assumes, I think wrongly, that no government of either persuasion would change that threshold.

    Journalist:

    Treasurer, can you –

    Chalmers:

    We’ll just go here and then to you.

    Journalist:

    On childcare, should taxpayers pay for these pay rises or parents out of pocket, and is that fair?

    Chalmers:

    We’ve provided billions of dollars to make sure that the early childhood educators who are doing such an incredible job for young people and for families in our communities, that they get the pay that they need and deserve.

    I was very proud to work very closely with Anne Aly and Jason Clare, and the Prime Minister and others in the course of the last term to make room for the Commonwealth contribution to these pay rises.

    This is an area with a lot of young families, so is the area that Emma represents, the area that I represent, and we know how important early childhood educators are. We want to make sure that they’re paid properly, we’ve made room in the Budget for billions of dollars to make sure that that’s a reality.

    Journalist:

    Treasurer, can you explain how defined benefits pensions will be taxed? How’s it calculated, what’s in [indistinct].

    Chalmers:

    The actuarial calculation is similar to the calculation that currently applies to the changes that the Coalition made when they were in office. There’s a formula which is calculated by actuaries and applied by the Tax Office in a way that is not inconsistent with the way it’s currently calculated to some of the changes that my predecessors made.

    Journalist:

    Treasurer, what is your reaction to Gerry Harvey saying a tax on unrealised capital gains is gross stupidity of the highest order?

    Chalmers:

    It’s not unusual for him to criticise Labor governments. I try and listen respectfully when people make a contribution to the national public policy conversation, but I think in Gerry’s case, he’s a relatively frequent critic of Labor governments. I don’t get too carried away by it, nor do I dismiss it.

    If you look at some of the commentary over the last couple of days, you know, there was one piece that was pretending that Campbell Newman, of all people, was some kind of observer of Labor government policy.

    You had one Liberal politician, whose primary purpose was to raise campaign donations, you had another Liberal politician lie about there being no legislation available when he was on the Committee that scrutinised that legislation in detail.

    I understand that when you’re making a change, even a modest one like this one, people have views about it, and people with very large superannuation balances will have views about it, political opponents will have views about it as well.

    This is a modest change, it makes a meaningful difference to the budget, but it still provides very concessional treatment for people with more than $3 million in superannuation, and it helps make the budget more sustainable and fund our priorities.

    Journalist:

    The vaccination rates among children and teenagers have dropped to critical levels across the country. Will the government put more money into urgent campaigns or other awareness campaigns to encourage parents to get their kids vaccinated?

    Chalmers:

    I’m sure that that’s something that Mark Butler, the Health Minister, is considering, but we already put a lot of effort into educating and encouraging people to get vaccinated.

    I personally found that story to be quite confronting to think that after all of the progress that’s been made in recent decades that we’re going backwards, I personally find that very troubling, very concerning and very confronting, and I’m sure the Health Minister’s in the same boat, and he’s working out what, if anything, else we could do to try and arrest that slide.

    Journalist:

    The $150 electricity rebate’s due to run out at the end of the year. Is the government open to considering extending that, considering the affordability crisis?

    Chalmers:

    Well, we’ve already extended those electricity bill rebates, that’s the $150 you refer to in your question. They were otherwise due to run out at the end of next month, and now they’ll be extended for another 6 months.

    From budget to budget, we evaluate the circumstances we’re in, we look at the pressures on people and the pressures on the Budget as well, and we do what we can to help out. That’s why, and my colleagues here would know this, having spent so much time engaging with people in their own communities, the highest priority of the Labor government in the first time was to get on top of inflation and help people with the cost of living.

    Electricity bill rebates are an important port of that, 3 rounds of tax cuts, cheaper medicines, cheaper early childhood education, fee‑free TAFE, all of these things are about recognising that when people are under pressure, there is a role for governments to step in and help where they can responsibly do that.

    So from budget to budget, and we’ve had 4 already, and the fifth one will be in May next year, from budget to budget, we see if we can do more, if we can afford to do more to help people with the cost of living, and people can expect that next May, just like they could expect that in the first 4 budgets.

    Journalist:

    Treasurer, Andrew Bragg says that ‘If Mr Chalmers is so sure his unrealised gains tax will apply to Mr Albanese’s pension, he should say exactly how much tax will be paid in the first year of his pension’. Can you nominate that figure?

    Chalmers:

    One of the reasons why nobody takes that guy seriously is because when it comes to the Prime Minister, his pension’s not yet known. Now we don’t know his circumstances into the future.

    He should know, he’s on the Committee that scrutinised the legislation that Andrew Bragg lied about and said didn’t exist. He also said that there’s no allowance in the legislation for defined benefit schemes for politicians.

    Those are lies. And you need to be really careful not just to read out whatever he tweets, because he’s been caught out lying in the last day or so. I would encourage you respectfully not to take his word for it, especially this week, after he’s been caught out lying so egregiously.

    There is provision for defined benefit schemes, there are calculations, those calculations are very similar to the ones that the Liberals and Nationals put in when they changed superannuation in the last term of the government, and that will apply to the Prime Minister, it will apply to any politician who’s got the equivalent of more than $3 million in super.

    Journalist:

    What do you make of Allan Fels’ call for an ACCC Inquiry into Bunnings?

    Chalmers:

    I’ve got a lot of time for Allan Fels, I respect him, I speak with him from time to time, he’s a great person with a substantial record of achievement.

    We’re already acting on competition, funding the ACCC much more substantially, I provided another $30 million to empower one of Allan’s successors in that role, Gina Cass‑Gottlieb, doing a wonderful job, we’ve found more resources for her.

    Our primary focus is on the supermarkets, we’ve made that really clear, price gouging and the Food and Grocery Code, but we have the ability, should we want to, to expand some of that focus, and the extra resources that I provided the ACCC will help ensure that where there’s more work to be done, it can be done.

    Journalist:

    Treasurer, there’s –

    Chalmers:

    We might just take 2 more. One more, and then another Andrew Bragg tweet, and then we’re done.

    Journalist:

    There’s an issue unfolding with the disability company, Cocoon SDA Care that operates partly in your electorate. Do you have any concerns about what’s going on with Cocoon and have any of your constituents raised concerns?

    Chalmers:

    Not that I’m aware of, but I’ll look into that, that’s the first I’ve been aware of that particular issue, but I’ll make sure I look into it, and if there’s anything I can say publicly at some future point, I’ll do that.

    Journalist:

    What do you say to the leading independent economists, just not Gerry Harvey or Andrew Bragg, who say that this will hurt investment, wealthy people will take their investments away from, you know, venture capital and start‑ups, and it could ruin the tech industry?

    Chalmers:

    First of all, there’s not a unanimous view amongst economists about that, or about the worthiness of the change that we’re proposing. I think Chris Richardson, for example, wrote something supporting it, and so always, when you’re making a change like this, there’s always a range of views, and obviously I follow closely the comments made by the peak groups and others.

    It really comes back to the question I gave earlier to your colleague; we’re still providing concessional tax treatment for people with big balances in superannuation, it’s just slightly less concessional, but it’s concessional compared to the marginal rate that people would be paying.

    And so I think we need a little bit of perspective here, I know that this is seen in some quarters as contentious, but again, I mean we announced this policy almost 2 and a half years ago, it’s been in the Parliament for a big chunk of that, we’ve been consulting on it, it’s a modest change, it still leaves concessional tax arrangements in there for people who have more than $3 million in super.

    I expect that there’s a campaign run about it, I expect that people have got views about it, but I do think we need a bit of perspective here. It is a modest change, it does impact only a very small amount of people, and it still provides concessional tax treatment.

    Journalist:

    Treasurer, just on –

    Chalmers:

    I might just take one more here because you’ve been light on, and then we’ll go.

    Journalist:

    Thank you, sir. Just about the wage review again.Have you spoken to the Reserve Bank about the wage review and whether or not it’s inflationary?

    Chalmers:

    Thank you. I have had discussions with the Governor of the Reserve Bank and the Treasury has been engaging with the Assistant Governor as well.

    We wanted to make sure that the submission that we’re putting forward, which is about a sustainable real wage increase for millions of Australians on awards, that that’s consistent with our other objectives, including getting on top of this inflation, which has impacted economies around the world over recent years.

    So I consulted the Governor, I think towards the end of March, I gave her a heads‑up today that we were making our submission today, the Treasury’s been engaging with the Reserve Bank and its staff, and that’s because we have made sure that this is consistent with inflation remaining sustainably in the band; that’s our objective.

    One of the things I’m really pleased about and proud of collectively in our economy, is we’ve managed to get real wages up over a sustained period of time at the same time as we’ve got inflation down, kept unemployment low, got the economy growing again, we’ve seen interest rates started to come down earlier this year, we’ve got the debt down in the Budget, so we’re paying less interest on it.

    So this, I think, does reflect the very substantial progress that Australians have made together in our economy. We know that there’s more work to do because people are under pressure, the global environment is still uncertain, but the submission that we take today reflects all of our economic objectives and primarily making sure that when people work hard, they can get ahead.

    I’ll take one more from you, then we’re done.

    Journalist:

    The ACTU want it to be 4.5 per cent, ARA says no more than 2.5 per cent. Is it somewhere in between that you kind of want it?

    Chalmers:

    It’s unusual, and in fact it’s welcome for different groups, including the union movement, to make submissions to the Fair Work Commission’s process. Those submissions close today, there will be hearings next week, a decision next month, it will kick in in July, and it’s a good and welcome part of the process that everyone’s got the ability to make a submission, like the government has today.

    Some organisations nominate numbers, others like the government don’t nominate numbers. The Fair Work Commission in its wisdom will weigh up all of that and come to a decision.

    Journalist:

    Leaning more towards the union, or the business bodies?

    Chalmers:

    Well, that’s not how we make our submission. You know, we’ve made a detailed submission today. You know, I’ve worked really closely with Amanda Rishworth on it, before that with Murray Watt, before that with Tony Burke. We put a lot of effort, a lot of thinking, we apply a lot of consideration to the submission that we make, we don’t put a number on it like other groups do.

    And I also welcome the fact that when we’ve been through this process on a number of occasions already in the life of this government, that the Fair Work Commission has provided, you know, decent pay increases for Australians who are low paid or on awards. That’s a very good thing, and we hope to see that again. More than that, we hope to see a real wage increase.

    Thanks very much everyone.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Press conference, Newcastle

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    SHARON CLAYDON:

    Good morning everyone. Beautiful day here in beautiful Waratah West for a brisk start to a Tuesday morning. Thanks for being here. My name is Sharon Claydon, federal member for Newcastle. I’m so proud to be joined here today by Minister for Housing, Julie Collins. Representing state government, the state member for Wallsend, Sonia Hornery, and local government, Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Nuatali Nelmes and our Deputy Lord Mayor, councillor Declan Clausen. There’s a lot of us here today because, a), this is a really important celebratory moment, really, to be able to deliver important new housing stock for Newcastle, but also because this is a very collaborative effort to try and deal with what has been a growing crisis from many, many years of, let’s face it, neglect in ensuring that we’ve got an adequate housing supply.

    I couldn’t be more excited to have Julie Collins here today, because this is a minister who brings a lot of lived experience to this portfolio in social and affordable housing. She knows first‑hand the benefits of having safe and secure housing and making sure that that is a priority for our government. Two years ago, we inherited a huge crisis on housing. As I said, that is after a decade of the former government saying, ‘not our problem, this is a state/local government issue we don’t deal in housing’. Well, the Albanese Labor government takes a very different approach, and that is because there’s probably no more serious question before government than to ensure the safe and secure housing of our citizens. So, I’m going to hand across to Julie Collins to talk about the investment from the Commonwealth today. Sonia Hornery will say a few words around the collaboration with the state and the importance of delivering additional public housing, and the Lord Mayor and about the coordinated efforts. This is really just the start of what I hope you will be seeing – a good, healthy pipeline of new housing stock in Newcastle and the Hunter region. So over to you, Julie.

    JULIE COLLINS:

    Thanks, Sharon. It’s terrific to be here in Newcastle with you, but also with state member Sonia and with the Lord Mayor here and the deputy mayor. This is an important announcement. What we’re doing here today is, of course, standing in front of this social housing here in Newcastle. Here we have 10, new one‑ and 2‑bedroom rooms and apartments for rent for people who are on social housing waiting lists. This is just the start of what we’re doing, working with local government and state governments right across the country. Here of course, in Newcastle, we’re talking about not just these apartments, but another 9 in Wallsend that will be starting construction soon and, indeed, expect to be finished around June 2025. We’re talking about refurbishments here in Newcastle, but also in the broader region around Lake Macquarie. We’re investing not just in our cities, but also in our regional cities around the country.

    We want to build more homes for Australians through our $32 billion Homes for Australia plan. We need more homes for Australians to buy, more homes for Australians to rent, and more homes for Australians who are doing it tough. What you see here today is an example of a partnership and collaboration between 3 tiers of government; the local government, state government, and the federal government. This is primarily being funded through the Social Housing Accelerator, which is $610 million that we provided the New South Wales Government just over a year ago. Just 3 weeks ago, we provided the New South Wales Government with an additional $300 million. And of course, through our 5‑year housing agreement, we’ll be providing a New South Wales Government with more than $2.8 billion over the next 5 years for housing. This is about working together with other tiers of government, with the community housing sector, and indeed with the construction industry, so that we have more homes for Australians.

    We don’t have enough homes in Australia. We haven’t had enough homes for a long time. We need to get on and build more homes. It’s terrific to see these homes being completed here today and, of course, with more homes under construction and the refurbishments that have already been done by the New South Wales Government putting more people in homes more quickly. I’ll hand over to Sonia, to put the state government’s perspective.

    SONIA HORNERY:

    Thanks Julie and welcome, I’m just speaking on behalf of Minister Rose Jackson. Good morning, everyone. Thank you, this is wonderful to be here. As a person who is proudly from Windale social housing, when I was born, it gave my mum and dad a start with a big family, and we hope to be able to give more people a start as well in our future. I’m really pleased to hear from the minister, and from Rose Jackson about the 10 other developments that are happening in the Wallsend area, it’s exactly what we need. From the very day I was elected in 2007, the most common question that we get in our office is, ‘how do I find a home?’, and the 10‑year waiting list that was occurring with our Liberal government was just too high for public housing. I know that Rose Jackson is determined to reduce that waiting list, and that’s why we’re here today. So I want to thank both my colleagues from the federal government, Julie and Sharon, and my colleagues from local government, Nuatali and Declan, for being up to work collaboratively about getting this project underway, because it’s very important for our community. I’ll hand over now to Nuatali.

    NUATALI NELMES:

    Thank you to Minister Collins for being in Newcastle today. Obviously, the women in the Labor party called each other and we’ve matched all our clothes – let’s get that out of the way to start with. In all seriousness, the very innovative collaborative effort that we’ve gone to the City of Newcastle dates back a number of years, and we’ve worked very closely with the New South Wales Government and Homes NSW to deliver what is a first for local government and the state government, in that the City is contributing around $2 million a year in this very novel memoranda of understanding we have with Homes NSW in order to speed up the delivery of new social housing homes in the City of Newcastle.

    As Sonia said, on behalf of Minister Rose Jackson, this collaboration is not only seeing a building like this being delivered today, which is directly funded through the Social Housing Accelerator fund from the federal government, which has made a huge difference to speeding up the delivery of social housing, particularly in regional areas like Newcastle, but it also means that we’re breaking ground on another property this month in Wallsend for a very similar style of development with 9 new homes there. After that, the following year, next year, we’ll also be delivering another property in Wallsend and deliberately targeting social housing and the uplift of the housing stock here in Newcastle. This is creating many more new homes for Novocastrians that are looking for homes, that are struggling in this cost‑of‑living crisis, and you can see the speed of this delivery is actually quite quick. We haven’t had this level of collaboration until we’ve had a minister like Julie Collins and a minister like Rose Jackson working with us on the ground in local government to make sure that these houses are delivered for our residents and our population here in Newcastle. One of the single biggest issues we are facing, like every community around the country, is a housing crisis, and here in Newcastle, under this type of collaboration and this leadership from Minister Jackson and Minister Collins, we’re actually seeing the delivery of new social housing, which is truly fantastic for us here in Newcastle and for our residents here in Newcastle. Thank you.

    COLLINS:

    Questions?

    JOURNALIST:

    Here in New South Wales, the state government is scrambling to meet housing targets. There are tens of thousands of new homes earmarked for Broadmeadow, here in Newcastle, and some residential towers as well. Do you feel we’re heading for a new era of high‑rise housing in regional areas?

    COLLINS:

    What we need in Australia is more homes of every type. We don’t have enough homes and we haven’t had enough homes for a long time. We need homes of every type, and we need homes in our cities and in our regions. We know that the housing challenges in Australia have been widespread after a decade under the former Liberal‑National government. We’re about collaborating with other tiers of government on projects like you see here today under our $32 billion Homes for Australia plan. We want more homes for Australians to buy, more homes for Australians to rent, more homes, social homes, for Australians that need a safe place each night. That’s what our government has been busy getting on with. You see it right behind you today.

    JOURNALIST:

    Why this type of housing? You mentioned one‑ and 2‑bedrooms, and it would be similar at Wallsend. Why the need for that?

    COLLINS:

    Well, of course, what we’re building is the homes that people say they need. We’re talking about people that need homes, there are people that need one‑ or 2‑bedroom homes. But also, of course, what we’ve announced is an extra $1 billion dollars through Housing Australia that will be going to women and children, for instance, fleeing family and domestic violence and young people. We’re building the types of homes that people need.

    JOURNALIST:

    When will tenants actually be able to move into these houses?

    COLLINS:

    My understanding is very soon. In the coming weeks for behind us, and in terms of the Wallsend development that we’re talking about, we expect construction to be completed by the middle of next year. So, people will be moving into those in the second half of next year. In terms of the refurbishments that the New South Wales Government has already done, people are in those homes today, or moving into those homes today. So, we’re moving as quickly as we can for homes on every type right across the country.

    JOURNALIST:

    How will the changes forced upon the CFMEU impacts construction rates?

    COLLINS:

    Look, we’ve been busy getting on with homes. We’ve said when it comes to the CFMEU, there’s zero tolerance. Minister Burke has made announcements about an administrator going in. What we want to do is get on with building homes and that’s what we’ve focused on. We’re collaborating with other tiers of government, with the construction sector, and importantly, with community housing providers right across the country to get more homes of every type built right across the country.

    JOURNALIST:

    So, will those changes have an impact on what can be built and how much it costs?

    COLLINS:

    We’re getting on with the job of building homes, we want to see value for money for the Australian taxpayer, but we need homes of every type, right across the country.

    JOURNALIST:

    Obviously, this is about social housing today, but the average rent in Newcastle is over $600 a week. What do you say to working families and young people who are struggling to pay for rent, but they’re not eligible for social housing?

    COLLINS:

    What I would say is that we know we need homes of every type. We know that too many Australians are doing it tough and finding it difficult to have a safe, affordable place to call home, which is why we have our $32 billion Homes for Australia plan. That’s why we’re working with other tiers of government. That’s why we want to see homes of every type, whether they be homes for people to buy or homes for people to rent or social housing, like you see here behind us, or even transitional accommodation that I spoke about before for women and children fleeing family violence. We need homes of every type, right across the country,

    JOURNALIST:

    In the race to meet housing targets in regional Australia, is there a risk that access to transport infrastructure and green spaces could be an afterthought?

    COLLINS:

    No – what we’re doing it working with the states and territories. What you saw in the historic agreement last August in the National Cabinet was an agreement from states and territories to do serious planning reforms, working with local government to make sure that these are well located homes and that they are appropriate good quality homes for Australians. We want to make sure that we have homes right across the country, but they need to be the right homes in the right places. That is why we also, of course, provided $1 billion dollars just 3 weeks ago through my colleague, Minister Catherine King, to the states and territories for some of that community infrastructure.

    JOURNALIST:

    Will the government consider tax reforms around housing?

    COLLINS:

    Look, we know that the answer to most of the housing challenges that we’re talking about here is supply – supply, supply, supply is the answer. We don’t have enough homes and we haven’t had enough homes for a long time. When you look at the number of homes Australia has compared to the OECD average, we don’t have enough homes. We need to build more homes of every type, which is why we have a $32 billion Homes for Australia plan.

    JOURNALIST:

    What’s your message to families in this growing region who are struggling with housing and rents?

    COLLINS:

    What I would say is we’re working, at every available time, to add to our Homes for Australia plan. We have $32 billion in new money. We’re working with other tiers of government. We’ve provided immediate relief with increases to the Commonwealth Rent Assistance, the first back‑to‑back increase in more than thirty years. Our last Budget had an additional $6 billion in it, included in our $32 billion Homes for Australia plan. We now have $32 billion in new housing initiatives. We’re working with other tiers of government, and we’re getting the homes on the ground as fast as we can get them on the ground. And you see evidence of that here today.

    JOURNALIST:

    We know that supply chain demands has delayed developments across the country. What is the federal government doing to ensure there’s people in these houses as quickly as possible?

    COLLINS:

    Well, of course, we’ve been pretty clear that we don’t have enough tradies. We’re training more tradies to build more homes. We’re doing that as quickly as we can. We, of course, are doing that through Fee‑Free TAFE, we’re doing it through recognition of overseas skills of people who are already in Australia today who haven’t had their skills recognised. We’re doing it through our National Reconstruction Fund for our Future Made in Australia. We want to make sure that the components that go into homes are available here in Australia. We want to build as many homes as quickly as we can, and we’re doing that working with other tiers of government and with the sectors.

    JOURNALIST:

    Talking about other housing projects like this coming up in places like Wallsend – where are the next set going to go? What’s beyond this one? Going outwards towards places like Glendale, or where, I suppose, housing stock is needed?

    COLLINS:

    Well, we will of course be working with the other tiers of government about making sure that they are well‑located homes in the right places. We have, of course, gone to tender for the first round through Housing Australia for the Housing Australia Future Fund and the National Housing Accord. I look forward to making announcements in late August around the Housing Australia Future Fund’s first round. Of course, that funding was delayed by more than 6 months, because the Greens and the Liberals worked together in the Senate to delay that Fund. We would already have homes under construction today through the Housing Australia Future Fund, if it wasn’t for the Greens and the Liberal party blocking it in the Senate.

    JOURNALIST:

    Sonia, can I ask you a question?

    HORNERY:

    Sure.

    JOURNALIST:

    Just in regards to housing out at Minmi – there’s obviously a disagreement happening between some local people and decisions made by the state government. What’s your stance on that development out there?

    HORNERY:

    Well, the latest I’m aware of is that the Hunter Regional Development Planning panel approved that development. It was approved in 2013 by CBP Castle Council, and so that’s where we’re at. Now, I have made representation to the Minister on behalf of the community and their concerns. And I’m happy to continue to make representation on behalf of the community about their concerns.

    JOURNALIST:

    In regards to that, there’s always some kind of disagreements between people and where housing is going based on environmental concerns. How do we find that balance and get the housing stock that we’re hearing about that we need?

    HORNERY:

    Well, it’s certainly not easy and some of that’s council and state government and federal government really about making those decisions. I think it’s about good planning for the future.

    MIL OSI News –

  • PIB flags AI-generated fake Daily Telegraph report cited by Pakistan minister

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The central government has flagged yet another instance of fake news pushed by Pakistan, this time involving a digitally altered image of a UK newspaper’s front page that falsely praised the Pakistan Air Force. The Press Information Bureau (PIB) said the image, circulated widely on social media, was AI-generated and never published by The Daily Telegraph.

    The image, dated May 10, carried the headline: “Pakistan Air Force: The Undisputed King of the Skies.” The Press Information Bureau’s (PIB) Fact Check unit confirmed the image was digitally altered and not published by The Daily Telegraph.

    What raised further alarm was the image being referenced by Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar during a statement in the country’s Senate on May 15. PIB flagged the move, saying that an official endorsement of a fabricated report “intentionally lent official weight to a piece of digital deception.”

    https://x.com/PIBFactCheck

    This is not the first time Pakistan-linked accounts have been flagged by PIB. Earlier this week, the fact-checking body debunked another claim related to an alleged Indian Air Force (IAF) casualty during ‘Operation Sindoor’. Viral images suggested the last rites of a Rafale pilot were conducted after the reported mission. PIB clarified the image used was from 2008 and unrelated to any recent developments.

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Taiwan and partner countries host international workshop on whole-of-society resilience aimed at advancing world peace, stability, and prosperity

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Taiwan and partner countries host international workshop on whole-of-society resilience aimed at advancing world peace, stability, and prosperity

    Date：2025-03-04
    Data Source：Department of North American Affairs

    March 4, 2025 
    No. 057 

    The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) hosted an international workshop on “Whole-of-Society Resilience Building, Preparation, and Response” in Taiwan from March 4 to 6 under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF). The event was held jointly with the representative offices of the United States, Japan, Australia, and Canada in Taiwan, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior’s National Fire Agency (NFA). Industry representatives, government officials, and academics from Taiwan and overseas attended the workshop to explore innovative strategies and best practices for building whole-of-society resilience and enhancing nations’ response capabilities to both man-made and natural disasters. A total of 264 people from 30 countries attended, including Taiwanese participants and 61 foreign guests.

    In his opening remarks, President Lai Ching-te pledged that as a responsible member of the international community, Taiwan was both willing and able to make greater contributions to global democracy, peace, and prosperity. He noted that Taiwan and partner countries shared their expertise and experience through the GCTF with the rest of the world so that concerted responses could be made to meet new challenges. 

    President Lai stated that Taiwan would steadily implement three initiatives—central and local governments will join forces to strengthen societal resilience across the board, whole-of-society disaster response capabilities will be enhanced, and Taiwan will leverage its strengths to contribute to the international community. He added that the Taiwanese people would demonstrate to the world their determination to create an even more resilient Taiwan. He also said he hoped that Taiwan could pursue mutual assistance and exchanges with other countries so as to jointly promote global stability and prosperity.

    In-depth discussions during the workshop covered a wide range of issues, including consensus building and command structures for whole-of-society resilience; civilian training and employment; the stockpiling of strategic supplies; the distribution of critical supplies; the safeguarding of energy and critical infrastructure operations; social well-being; medical care; the preparation of shelters and related facilities; and the security of information communication, transportation, and financial networks. In addition, executives from multinational enterprises shared their experiences of resilience enhancement and emergency planning. To cap off the workshop, international participants visited the NFA Training Center in Nantou County to gain an understanding of Taiwan’s firefighting and disaster prevention training programs. 

    Given the threats of natural disasters and geopolitical challenges, it is paramount for all countries to bolster whole-of-society resilience. Taiwan and partner nations will continue to work together through the GCTF platform to advance international exchanges and cooperation; build secure and resilient societies; and ensure global peace, stability, and prosperity. (E)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Young leaders and future diplomats in policy simulation

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    Young leaders and future diplomats in policy simulation

    UK supports water diplomacy in Central Asia: Dr Undala Alam Engages Turkmenistan’s young leaders and future diplomats in policy simulation.

    Preventive Diplomacy Fellows

    As part of her participation in the Central Asia Climate Change Conference 2025 held this week in Ashgabat, Dr Undala Alam, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Regional Climate Adviser for Central Asia, led a high-impact lecture and interactive policy simulation on international water diplomacy.

    Dr Undala Alam, the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) Regional Climate Adviser for Central Asia, led a high-impact lecture and interactive policy simulation on international water diplomacy.

    The session brought together fellows of the UNRCCA Preventive Diplomacy Academy from across Turkmenistan for a hands-on experience in navigating complex negotiations over shared water resources – a challenge at the heart of Central Asia’s sustainable development and regional cooperation.

    Turkmenistan’s emerging diplomats and future policy makers explore real-world challenges.

    The participants’ enthusiasm, strategic thinking, and deep engagement underscored the growing interest among young Turkmen professionals and future policy makers in shaping regional solutions to climate and water challenges.

    Preventive Diplomacy Academy fellows discuss critical issues with Dr Undala Alam.

    The UK Government remains committed to supporting the countries of Central Asia in promoting sustainable water governance and regional stability.

    For more information about the UK’s work on climate diplomacy in Central Asia, visit Climate, Energy and Water security for Central Asia region

    Updates to this page

    Published 16 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CFS announces results of seasonal food surveillance on rice dumplings (first phase) (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department today (May 16) announced that the test results of 47 rice dumpling samples collected under a recently completed seasonal food surveillance project on rice dumplings (first phase) were all satisfactory.

         Rice dumplings are a popular festive food for the Tuen Ng Festival. The project aims to provide information on safe consumption of rice dumplings to consumers and the trade in a timely manner.

         “The CFS collected samples of rice dumplings from different retail outlets (including online retailers) and food premises (including restaurants and food factories) for chemical and microbiological analyses. The chemical analyses included tests for colouring matters, preservatives, metallic contamination and pesticide residues. The microbiological analyses covered coagulase-positive staphylococci organisms and Bacillus cereus,” a spokesman for the CFS said.

         The spokesman reminded members of the public to observe the following food safety tips in purchasing, preparing, storing and consuming rice dumplings:

    Buying rice dumplings
    ————————-
    * Buy rice dumplings from reliable outlets;
    * When purchasing non-prepackaged rice dumplings, choose those that are securely wrapped in wrapping leaves; and
    * When purchasing prepackaged rice dumplings, check the expiry date and whether the packaging is intact.

    Home-made rice dumplings
    ——————————-
    * Buy wrapping leaves from reliable suppliers and avoid leaves that are unnaturally bright green or with chemical odours;
    * Wash hands and utensils thoroughly before and after handling food; and
    * Handle raw and cooked food separately to avoid cross-contamination.

    Storing and preparing rice dumplings
    ——————————————
    * Consume rice dumplings as soon as possible and avoid prolonged storage;
    * Both the glutinous rice and stuffing should be well covered until the rice dumplings are unwrapped. Do not come into direct contact with the strings upon cooking to prevent contamination at all times;
    * Store rice dumplings at 4 degrees Celsius or below, or store them properly according to the instructions on the package if they are not consumed or cooked immediately;
    * Keep cooked rice dumplings that are not consumed immediately in a covered container and put them in the upper compartment of the refrigerator. Keep raw food in the lower compartment to prevent cross-contamination;
    * Reheat rice dumplings thoroughly until the core temperature reaches 75 degrees C or above before consumption;
    * Do not reheat rice dumplings more than once; and
    * Consume reheated rice dumplings as soon as possible.

    Consuming rice dumplings
    ——————————
    * Wash hands with running water and liquid soap, and rub for at least 20 seconds before consumption; and
    * Reduce seasonings such as soy sauce or granulated sugar during consumption.

         The spokesman said, “Rice dumplings in general are relatively high in energy, fat and salt. During the festival, people should maintain a balanced diet and consume rice dumplings moderately, with due consideration of their health condition. People are recommended to share rice dumplings with their family members and friends, as this not only enhances the festive atmosphere, but also allows them to taste rice dumplings of different flavours and avoid over-consumption. People are also advised to make use of nutrition labels on prepackaged food to compare their nutritional contents for healthier food choices.”

         The spokesman also reminded the food trade to purchase food ingredients from reliable suppliers and maintain proper records to facilitate source tracing when necessary. They should follow Good Manufacturing Practice in the preparation of food products and comply with legal requirements when using food additives. The spokesman advised the food trade to adopt the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point System to identify, assess and control possible hazards in the food production process.

         The CFS will continue to conduct surveillance on rice dumplings in the second phase, the results of which will be released in due course to ensure food safety.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Taisugar Gas Stations Break Records with Over 100 Million Points Donated for Charity, NT$1.2 Million in Supplies Donated to Support Disadvantaged Groups.

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    To continue its commitment to social welfare and support for vulnerable communities, Taiwan Sugar Corporation (Taisugar) held its “Fuel Up with Love: Donate Points for Charity” campaign again this year, following the overwhelming response to last year’s initiative. Launched on March 1, the campaign received enthusiastic support from kind-hearted citizens, accumulating over 119.62 million loyalty points in just 1.5 months, setting a new record. Taisugar has converted the donated points into approximately NT$1.2 million worth of supplies, all of which have been donated to charitable causes. A presentation ceremony was held today (May 8) at Taisugar Chongde Gas Station in Tainan City, where Taisugar Vice President Chien-Chan Tseng presided over the donation ceremony. The event transformed the goodwill of every fuel-up and every point donated into tangible assistance, benefiting 11 charitable organizations and spreading warmth and hope to those in need.

    Vice President Tseng noted that since the debut of the donation campaign in November 2024, the initiative has received widespread acclaim. To keep the spirit of giving alive and inspire more public participation, Taisugar brought the campaign back this year with even greater success. This time, the campaign attracted over 250,000 participants, achieving a historic milestone of over 100 million points donated, demonstrating the compassion and generosity of Taiwanese society. In addition, Taisugar gas stations boosted the campaign by matching an extra 10 points for every liter of fuel purchased, amplifying the collective goodwill and encouraging more people to engage in small acts of kindness that make a significant impact for disadvantaged communities.

    The accumulated points have been redeemed for supplies, which have been donated to 11 organizations, including Huashan Social Welfare Foundation, Genesis Social Welfare Foundation, Taiwan Fund for Children and Families, Eden Social Welfare Foundation, NT Angel Foundation, Little Lamb Foundation, Erlin Happy Christian Home, Tobias Social Welfare Foundation, Garden of Hope Foundation, Good Shepherd Social Welfare Foundation, and the Taipei Sports Association for the Physically Disabled. During the campaign, customers who fueled 25 liters or more and donated their points also received a Taisugar Glucosamine Plus as a token of appreciation.

    This initiative allowed the public to effortlessly contribute to charitable causes through their everyday fuel purchases, seamlessly integrating giving into daily life and empowering citizens to make a difference. Taisugar affirmed its commitment to further strengthening its charity platform, launching more meaningful, community-driven initiatives, and joining hands with the public to foster a cycle of kindness that brings continuous hope and positive change to society.

    TSC News Contact Person:
    Lin Hsin-Chih
    Petroleum Business Devision, TSC
    Contact Number: 886-6-632-8703 #802 / 886-939-919-530
    Email:a62462@taisugar.com.tw

    Tai Chih-Mou
    Petroleum Business Devision, TSC
    Contact Number: 886-6-632-8703 #101 / 886-988-721-867
    Email:a63425@taisugar.com.tw

    Petroleum Business Devision Customer Services Phone: 886-6-632-8703 #786 or 788

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Ben Roberts-Smith has lost an appeal in his long-running defamation case. Here’s why

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Rick Sarre, Emeritus Professor in Law and Criminal Justice, University of South Australia

    The full Federal Court has dismissed Ben Roberts-Smith’s appeal to have his defamation case loss overturned.

    It is important in seeking to understand this judgement to know the history of the case.

    In June 2023, Federal Court Justice Anthony Besanko handed down a 726-page judgement in the defamation case that Roberts-Smith, the most highly decorated serving member of the Australian Defence Force, had brought against Nine Entertainment news outlets.

    Reporters for the Sydney Morning Herald, the Canberra Times and The Age had alleged, in 2018, that Roberts-Smith, a patrol commander with the Australian Special Air Service Regiment, was a war criminal. They maintained he had murdered unarmed Afghan prisoners and civilians, and bullied fellow soldiers.

    These press reports were particularly galling to a man who had been awarded the Medal of Gallantry, the Victoria Cross, and a Commendation for Distinguished Service.

    He sued Nine Entertainment (then referred to as Fairfax Publications) and their investigative journalists.

    Submissions in the trial ended in July 2022 after 110 days of evidence. In the result, Justice Besanko determined that Nine Entertainment had not defamed Roberts-Smith. The judge found the reporting was capable of being deemed defamatory, but that most of the imputations were substantially true. That being the case, he upheld the defence of truth and contextual truth not only in relation to the allegations of murder, but also with respect to imputations regarding Roberts-Smith’s character.

    Roberts-Smith appealed to the full Federal Court. The appeal hearing ran for ten days in February 2024. Today, 15 months later, the appeal court consisting of Justices Nye Perram, Anna Katzmann and Geoffrey Kennett has dismissed his appeal.

    Because the case had national security implications, there is in place for a short period, a non-publication order over what is referred to as the “open court” reasons for judgement. The judges ordered that their reasons will not be available
    “until either the Commonwealth notifies the court and the parties that it has no objection to publication […] or 4pm on May 20, 2025, whichever is earlier”.

    In recent times it has become the practice of the Federal Court, in cases of public interest, to provide a summary to accompany the orders, available immediately. The summary provided to the public is not a complete statement of the conclusions reached. The only authoritative statement of the court’s reasons is that contained in the judgement that will be made available in due course.

    There are, however, a couple of matters that bear noting now.

    The first is that the appeal judges were unanimous in their support for the conclusions of the trial judge. In 2023, Justice Besanko made numerous adverse findings about the credibility of the evidence of Roberts-Smith, and the evidence of the witnesses whom he called on his behalf. Roberts-Smith sought to challenge all of those adverse findings and to point out errors in the trial judge’s findings. But it was to no avail.

    The appeal court’s summary states

    Having carefully considered all these matters, we are unanimously of the opinion that the evidence was sufficiently cogent to support the findings that the appellant murdered four Afghan men and to the extent that we have discerned error in the reasons of the primary judge, the errors were inconsequential. Accordingly, the appeal must be dismissed with costs.

    There is another, secondary matter arising from a side issue to the appeal, which bears mentioning here. When the draft judgement of the appeal court was close to completion, Roberts-Smith’s lawyers filed an application to lodge an amended notice of appeal. It referred to an audio recording that was sent anonymously to them in March this year. The recording purported to be a portion of a telephone conversation between investigative journalist Nick McKenzie and a witness whose identity is the subject of suppression orders.

    In this call, McKenzie was alleged to have admitted to using Roberts-Smith’s ex-wife as a source regarding her former husband’s legal strategy. Roberts-Smith’s lawyers said had they known of McKenzie’s alleged journalistic misconduct, they would have structured their arguments differently during the defamation trial.

    On the Federal Court website today, two judgements have been released in relation to the so-called McKenzie tape. The first gave the Roberts-Smith team a glimmer of hope. The appeal court judges determined that the application for them to hear the recording was, in fact, appropriate, and that the content was therefore admissible evidence in consideration of a new claim of miscarriage of justice.

    However, the second judgement extinguished any hope of this occurring. The appeal court judges concluded there was, in fact, no miscarriage of justice in not allowing the recording to be considered by a court.

    It’s been seven years since the allegations regarding Ben Roberts-Smith’s involvement in war crimes first surfaced. Roberts-Smith has indicated his intention to appeal to the High Court. This case may yet still have a way to run.

    The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Ben Roberts-Smith has lost an appeal in his long-running defamation case. Here’s why – https://theconversation.com/ben-roberts-smith-has-lost-an-appeal-in-his-long-running-defamation-case-heres-why-223543

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Humanoid robots poised to transform China’s factory floor

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

    Inside Zeekr’s humming, 5G-enabled electric car factory in the eastern Chinese city of Ningbo, a new type of worker began its apprenticeship.

    One robot meticulously sorted components from a shelf, its fingers deftly peeling and applying labels. Nearby, two others coordinated to lift a box from a cart, placing it precisely onto a rack. When one’s battery depleted, another autonomously approached to initiate charging.

    With a height of an average Chinese man, these UBTECH’s Walker S1 humanoid robots offer a glimpse into the future of China’s manufacturing sector — a new wave of automation promising to boost productivity while replenishing the shrinking pool of human workers.

    GO TO FACTORIES

    Over the past few months, Chinese startup teams have been making waves on the global stage with robots that can perform impressive stunts such as dance routines, backflips and Tai Chi.

    Beyond the spotlight, however, some leading robotics firms have been focused on deploying them in factories for more practical jobs. They are joining the global race, led by Tesla Optimus, to integrate humanoid robots into manufacturing.

    Shanghai Kepler Robot Co., Ltd. recently released a video of its K2 humanoid robot working at a logistics plant. The robot skillfully navigated the factory floor, handling boxes, transporting goods and operating machinery.

    K2 is specifically designed to handle factory work. It has dual arms that can carry 30 kilograms, boasting an impressive eight-hour work cycle on a one-hour charge, said Hu Debo, CEO of Kepler, adding that the base price for its mass-produced version is only 30,000 U.S. dollars.

    “If a robot can perform a job as a human does and its cost is around 300,000 to 400,000 yuan (approximately 41,000 to 55,200 U.S. dollars), then it would be cost-effective enough to be deployed,” said Xu Jun, head of the innovation technology department at Geely, Zeekr’s parent company.

    Humanoid robots initially found their application in China’s automotive manufacturing sector, driven by the industry’s high level of digitalization.

    “Automotive manufacturing is one of the most technologically advanced, intelligent, standardized, and data-driven fields in manufacturing, making it an ideal environment for humanoid robots,” said Xu.

    The robot density has hit 470 units per 10,000 workers in China’s manufacturing industry. Over the coming years, the sector is expected to send more intelligent robots to the shop floor.

    UBTECH founder Zhou Jian announced that the firm’s goal for this year is to manufacture approximately 1,000 humanoid robots, which are set to be deployed in real-world applications to collect more data.

    “Application in the manufacturing sector is our priority,” Zhou said.

    NOT ABOUT REPLACEMENT

    China’s push for humanoids stems from their potential to bridge the gap left by traditional industrial robots. While industrial robots excel in speed and load-bearing capacity with their pre-programmed, set-path motions, humanoids powered by AI-augmented learning boast greater adaptability.

    “Moreover, the large size of industrial robots prevent them from accessing confined spaces like vehicle cabins,” explained Xu, adding that humanoids are not intended as replacements of earlier iterations of industrial robots.

    Additionally, the “machine-for-human” transition in China’s coastal manufacturing plants has proven to be less alarming than initially feared.

    “What’s really happening in our industry isn’t that there are many people lining up to work in factories,” said Xu. “The real problem is a labor shortage, especially when production scales up. We simply can’t find enough workers.”

    “Widespread use of humanoid robots could replace humans in hazardous, repetitive, and dull jobs, potentially solving future labor shortages,” said Xiong Rong, director of a humanoid robotics innovation center in Zhejiang.

    K2 can achieve the same level of output as 1.2 to 2 people in simple and repetitive factory tasks. “Given the labor costs in the Yangtze River Delta, manufacturers can recoup their investment in this robot in just 1.5 to 1.8 years,” said Hu.

    However, humanoid robots still lag in efficiency for complex tasks.

    “Their overall efficiency is about 70 percent of skilled workers’ and they cannot perform complex tasks like precision screw-tightening done by senior technicians,” said Leng Xiaokun, founder of Leju Robot. The Shenzhen-based firm has trained its robots in several automotive plants to perform box-handling and parts-sorting tasks.

    A Shanghai startup has sent its robots to a “technical school”. In AgiBot’s 4,000-square-meter space, scenes like restaurants, bubble tea shops, and homes are set up.

    Over a hundred data collectors, wearing VR glasses and holding controllers, are teaching robots daily chores like folding clothes, clearing dishes, cleaning tables and cashiering in supermarkets. Each action is repeated hundreds of times by the robots.

    “Robots have to interact with tangible objects in a 3D world, as such data can’t be obtained from the Internet,” said Peng Zhihui, AgiBot’s co-founder.

    Meanwhile, the Beijing-based robotic firm Galbot is exploring an alternative training method: using synthetic simulation data to train robots. The startup has amassed tens of millions of scene data and billions of action data, according to its founder Wang He.

    WHY IN CHINA?

    China is positioning itself as a powerhouse not just in developing these robots but also in creating an ecosystem for their deployment.

    It came as the country has been driving manufacturing digitalization and intelligent transformation, aiming to leverage these technological upgrades to sustain economic growth.

    This year’s government work report proposed advancing the “AI Plus” initiative to integrate cutting-edge digital technologies with the nation’s strong manufacturing base and vast market advantages. It has also planned to develop future industries like embodied intelligence and other next-gen technologies.

    At an industrial park in the southern tech hub of Shenzhen, the tightly-knit robotics ecosystem enables seamless collaboration. PaXini Tech supplies tactile sensors to nearby UBTECH, while DexForce streams simulation data directly to AI2Robotics for real-time AI training.

    A recent Morgan Stanley report, “Humanoid Robot 100: Mapping the Humanoid Robot Value Chain,” has highlighted that Asian companies constitute 73 percent of the top 100 listed firms in this sector, with Chinese firms alone accounting for 56 percent.

    China’s startups are “benefiting from established supply chains, local adoption opportunities and strong degrees of national government support,” according to the report.

    Now, cities like Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen have established substantial industry funds. In the first quarter of this year, over 50 embodied intelligence firms secured over 6 billion yuan in funding, according to data of IT Juzi, an emerging technology data provider.

    A key feature of China’s electric vehicle industry is that it has integrated the consumer electronics supply chain, said Li Zexiang, founder of the XBot Park in southern city of Dongguan. “The embodied intelligence industry, exemplified by humanoid robots, is now following suit.”

    “China has the potential to replicate the disruptive impact from the EV industry in the humanoid space,” Reyk Knuhtsen, analyst at SemiAnalysis, told CNBC.

    “The influx of humanoid robots into factories will not only boost productivity but also create new industries, giving rise to new industrial chains and job opportunities,” said Xu. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Serious crash, Christchurch Southern Motorway, Wigram

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Motorists are advised to avoid the Christchurch Southern Motorway, State Highway 76, at Wigram following a crash this evening.

    Police were called to the scene, near the Awatea Road bridge, between Curletts Road and Halswell Junction Road about 6pm.

    The southern/western lanes are expected to be shut for some time, while northern/eastern lanes are heavily congested.

    ENDS

    Issued by the Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: More than 20 doctors from Central Asian countries have been trained in tuberculosis treatment in XUAR

    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

    URUMQI, May 16 (Xinhua) — Four advanced training course participants from the National Center for Tuberculosis Problems of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan recently completed a month-long training at the Sixth People’s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (XUAR, northwest China).

    Thus, to date, 23 doctors from Central Asian countries have already been trained in the treatment of this disease in the above-mentioned medical institution.

    Over the past month, medical trainees from Kazakhstan have held in-depth discussions on topics such as diagnosis and treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis and basic interventional bronchoscopy operations, and joined standardized training in complex surgeries and multidisciplinary consultations on difficult-to-treat diseases.

    According to Yerbol Kopbayev, China is impressive in terms of standardized management of the treatment process in case of drug-resistant tuberculosis, the model of interdisciplinary cooperation and the use of advanced diagnostic and treatment equipment, especially the norms and standards for the treatment of complex cases, which provide new ideas.

    At the graduation ceremony of the above-mentioned courses, the leaders of the Xinjiang hospital expressed hope that the medical trainees would provide higher quality medical services after mastering new skills and abilities.

    As it became known, the above-mentioned Chinese medical institution will disseminate technologies for minimally invasive operations in the field of thoracic surgery in Central Asia, and will also continue to provide international remote medical consultations.

    According to the survey data, Xinjiang remained one of the regions in China with a high incidence of tuberculosis from 1979 to 2010. Thanks to the efforts of local authorities, the incidence of tuberculosis in Xinjiang has significantly decreased, from 304.9 cases per 100,000 people in 2018 to 87.8 cases per 100,000 people in 2021. Currently, all local residents aged 15 and above are included in the screening program for tuberculosis symptoms and chest X-rays. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Japan’s GDP fell 0.7 percent year-on-year in Q1

    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

    TOKYO, May 16 (Xinhua) — Japan’s economy contracted 0.7 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025 amid stagnant private consumption and a drop in exports, government data showed Friday.

    Real gross domestic product (GDP) growth showed its first quarterly decline in four quarters, the cabinet said.

    In quarterly terms, GDP for the period from January to March, taking into account inflation, fell by 0.2 percent, according to the preliminary report of the Cabinet of Ministers.

    Over the quarter, exports fell by 0.6 percent, while imports, which have a negative impact on GDP, grew by 2.9 percent.

    Private consumption, which accounts for more than half of Japan’s economic output, rose 0.04 percent as prices rose.

    Nominal GDP increased by 0.8 percent compared to the October-December period, or by 3.1 percent year-on-year. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Re-elected Australian government wants more cooperation with China: Trade Minister

    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

    CANBERRA, May 16 (Xinhua) — Australia’s re-elected federal government led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wants to “do more business with China,” Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell told the Australian Financial Review (AFR) on Thursday.

    Australia will resist pressure from the United States to impose tariffs on imports from China and make decisions based on its national interests, the official said.

    “We don’t want to do less business with China, we want to do more business with China,” Farrell said. “We will make decisions about how to continue to engage with China based on our national interests, not on what Americans may or may not want,” he added.

    According to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian exports to China in 2023 were worth A$219 billion (US$140.2 billion), while exports to the United States were worth only A$33.5 billion (US$21.4 billion).

    Mr Albanese, whose ruling Labour Party won the May 3 election, confirmed on Monday that Mr Farrell would remain in the role of trade and tourism minister, a post he has held since 2022.

    The latter told AFR that Australia had offered to negotiate with the United States to lift the 10 percent tariff imposed by President Donald Trump in April, but Canberra would not make a deal for the sake of a deal. “We will only make a deal if it is in our national interest. We want a good deal and we are prepared to wait and be patient,” the minister said.

    Mr Farrell also said Australia would soon finalise a new proposal to the European Union in talks on a free trade agreement, which stalled in 2023 but was revived in response to US tariffs. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Updated information about global and domestic minimum tax

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    We’ve published updates on our website about key aspects of the global and domestic minimum tax.

    The updates follow on from the royal assent of the primary legislation, and the subordinate legislation being registered as a legislative instrument.

    Our website information is designed to help taxpayers who may be in-scope of Pillar Two to meet their obligations, as first lodgments are due by 30 June 2026.

    The global and domestic minimum taxes are a key part of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s coordinated global approach to prevent a ‘race to the bottom’ on corporate tax rates.

    What the website updates cover

    Our website information now includes:

    • guidance about how we’ll administer potential amendments to Australian law to address inconsistencies
    • an overview of the mechanics for calculating top-up tax
    • additional information on how the rules apply, including in respect of specific entities
    • additional information and examples about lodgment, payment and record-keeping obligations
    • how Pillar Two interacts with other provisions and how it applies.

    Moving forward

    Through our consultation with the Pillar Two Global and Domestic Minimum Tax Working Group, we’ve been considering the need for, and prioritising the development of, formal and informal guidance for the market. We’re also updating existing guidance that may be affected by the introduction of this measure.

    We’ll continue to update our website with more information over the coming months.

    To provide feedback on priority issues your organisation is facing, or if you have any questions about the Australian Pillar Two rules, you can contact us via the Pillar 2 mailbox.

    Keep up to date

    We have tailored communication channels for medium, large and multinational businesses, to keep you up to date with updates and changes you need to know.

    Read more articles in our online Business bulletins newsroom.

    Subscribe to our free:

    • fortnightly Business bulletins email newsletterExternal Link
    • email notifications about new and updated information on our website – you can choose to receive updates relevant to your situation. Choose the ‘Business and organisations’ category to ensure your subscription includes notifications for more Business bulletins newsroom articles like this one.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Company tax rates

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    Our commitment to you

    We are committed to providing you with accurate, consistent and clear information to help you understand your rights and entitlements and meet your obligations.

    If you follow our information and it turns out to be incorrect, or it is misleading and you make a mistake as a result, we will take that into account when determining what action, if any, we should take.

    Some of the information on this website applies to a specific financial year. This is clearly marked. Make sure you have the information for the right year before making decisions based on that information.

    If you feel that our information does not fully cover your circumstances, or you are unsure how it applies to you, contact us or seek professional advice.

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    © Australian Taxation Office for the Commonwealth of Australia

    You are free to copy, adapt, modify, transmit and distribute this material as you wish (but not in any way that suggests the ATO or the Commonwealth endorses you or any of your services or products).

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Security: Pittsburg County Resident Sentenced For Second Degree Murder

    Source: Office of United States Attorneys

    MUSKOGEE, OKLAHOMA – The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Oklahoma announced that Timothy Kenneth Barber, age 45, of Hartshorne, Oklahoma, was sentenced to 293 months in prison for one count of Murder in Indian Country—Second Degree.

    The charges arose from an investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Choctaw Nation Lighthorse Police.

    On November 5, 2024, Barber pleaded guilty to the charge.  According to investigators, on December 20, 2023, Barber killed the victim with a single intentional shot to the head fired at close range from a .22 caliber rifle.  The crime occurred in Pittsburg County, within the boundaries of the Choctaw Nation Reservation, in the Eastern District of Oklahoma.

    The Honorable John F. Heil, III, U.S. District Judge in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma, presided over the hearing.  Barber will remain in the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service pending transportation to a designated United States Bureau of Prisons facility to serve a non-paroleable sentence of incarceration.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael E. Robinson represented the United States.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-OSI: Young people are concerned they lack the green skills to effectively act on climate change

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Capgemini Press contact: 
    Sereydana Oum
    Tel.: +33 6 61 42 03 59 
    Email: sereydana.oum@capgemini.com

    UNICEF Press contact:
    Anupama Saikia
    E-mail: ansaikia@unicef.org

    Young people are concerned they lack the green skills
    to effectively act on climate change

    Six in ten 16–24-year-olds globally agree that developing green skills could open up new career opportunities but less than half (44%) possess the skills required for today’s green workforce

    Paris, May 16, 2025 – The Capgemini Research Institute and UNICEF* Generation Unlimited’s report, ‘Youth perspectives on climate: Preparing for a sustainable future’ published today, explores youth perspectives on the climate crisis. It includes their take on “green skilling” and graduating to a green job, as well as how business and government can collaborate with young people to inspire climate advocacy. The report finds that despite rising climate anxiety, a majority of young people remain hopeful that there is still time to address and fix the problems caused by climate change. Young people in both, the Global South and Global North, want to be a part of the solution, with most interested in shaping environmental policy and many interested in pursuing a green job, however the report highlights a worrying lack of requisite green skills.

    According to the research, most young people worry about climate change. Over two-thirds of youth globally say they are concerned about how climate change could affect their future, representing an increase since 2023, when a UNICEF USA survey found that 57% of youth globally experienced “eco-anxiety.”1 Youth in the Global North report higher levels of climate-related anxiety (76%) compared to their peers in the Global South (65%). A rural-urban divide is also evident, with 72% of youth living in urban and suburban areas expressing concern about climate change impacts on their future, versus 58% in rural areas.

    Young people believe there is still time to fix the problems caused by climate change
    Despite their climate anxiety, most youths believe green skills are key to a brighter future, with 61% agreeing that developing green skills2 will offer them new career opportunities. They are interested in aligning their paid employment with their climate conscious values, with slightly over half (53%) globally and almost two-thirds (64%) in the Global North interested in a green job.

    “Young people across the globe, and in particular in the US, are hyperaware of the urgent challenges posed by climate change. It’s clear that they are also eager to be part of the solution,” said Sarika Naik, Group Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer at Capgemini. “We need to help young people turn their passion into impact by investing in green skills. This report shows how critical it is that business, governments, and education leaders work together to bridge the skills gap, empower youth voices, and create pathways to meaningful green careers.”

    “Young people are architecting climate solutions. They are designing and deploying innovative solutions that respond to the climate realities their communities are facing,” said Dr. Kevin Frey, CEO, Generation Unlimited at UNICEF. “Green Rising, with its ecosystem of public and private sector partners, is supporting young people with the skills and opportunities they need to take climate action, start green companies, access green jobs and power green solutions.”

    Youth lack the necessary green skills
    Young people provide a workforce pipeline for tackling climate change, but the green transition requires a skilled workforce. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), environmental sustainability competency relies on a strong foundation in science, an understanding of climate change, a commitment to protect the environment, the confidence to explain environmental issues, and the motivation to act sustainably3.

    However, the report finds that less than half of youth globally (44%) believe they have the green skills necessary to be successful in today’s workforce. In terms of green skills, young people in rural areas lag even further behind young people in suburban and urban areas. This percentage also differs across regions. In the Global South, around six in ten Brazilian youth say they are equipped with green skills, while only 5% of Ethiopian youth say the same.

    Since the Capgemini Research Institute’s 2023 research4, youth in several countries in the Global North have regressed in their knowledge of green skills. Among youth aged 16 to 18 in Australia, France, Germany, Japan, the UK, and the US, recycling and waste reduction remains the most commonly held green skill. But the share of youth knowledgeable about sustainable design, sustainable energy, and sustainable transportation has significantly declined since 2023. In the Global South, young people are most knowledgeable about recycling and waste reduction, energy conservation and water conservation, but least knowledgeable about climate technologies, data analysis, and sustainable design.

    The generational divide must be overcome to find solutions
    Most youth globally (71%) agree that they should have a strong influence on environmental policy and legislation. However, the majority agree that business and political leaders are not playing their part and should be contributing more to the fight against climate change. While almost two-thirds of young people feel engaged enough to want to speak with local leaders about climate action, fewer than half believe their opinions are actually heard by community leaders.

    The report urges community leaders to support young people in advancing climate solutions and green skills. According to the report, integrating green education, expanding access to training, and aligning climate goals with youth employment strategies should be part of the solution and implanted by policymakers. Whereas corporate leaders could be encouraged to co-create green job pathways, invest in youth-led initiatives, and embed young voices in CSR, ESG, and climate strategies in order to build trust and drive sustainable innovation.

    As young people seek to upskill, global movements like Green Rising aim to support 20 million young people by 2026 in taking grassroots action, offering opportunities for volunteerism, advocacy, paid work and entrepreneurship. This initiative is led by Generation Unlimited at UNICEF and supported by the public and private sector, including Capgemini.

    To read the full report: https://www.capgemini.com/insights/research-library/global-youth-and-sustainability

    Report Methodology
    The Capgemini Research Institute carried out extensive research into youth perspectives on climate change and interest in green skills and green jobs in February and March 2025. They conducted an online survey of 5,100 youth aged 16 to 24 across 21 countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe. This included 4,394 youth aged 18 to 24 and 706 youth aged 16 and 17 years old. For the 14% of the sample that were minors (<18 years old), they obtained parental permission from 706 parents. The majority (83%) of the youth surveyed live in the Global South (low- and middle-income countries).5 The remaining youth respondents live in the Global North or high-income countries.

    About UNICEF
    UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across more than 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone.

    About Generation Unlimited
    Launched by the UN Secretary-General at the 2018 UN General Assembly, UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited is a leading global Public-Private-Youth Partnership on a mission to skill and connect the world’s 1.8 billion young people to opportunities for employment, entrepreneurship, and social impact. The partnership brings together global organisations and leaders including Heads of State, CEOs, Heads of UN agencies, and civil society champions with young people to co-create and deliver innovative solutions on a global scale.

    * UNICEF does not endorse any company, brand, product or service

    About Capgemini
    Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fueled by its market leading capabilities in AI, generative AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem. The Group reported 2024 global revenues of €22.1 billion.
    Get The Future You Want | www.capgemini.com

    About the Capgemini Research Institute
    The Capgemini Research Institute is Capgemini’s in-house think-tank on all things digital. The Institute publishes research on the impact of digital technologies on large traditional businesses. The team draws on the worldwide network of Capgemini experts and works closely with academic and technology partners. The Institute has dedicated research centers in India, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States. It was ranked #1 in the world for the quality of its research by independent analysts for six consecutive times – an industry first.

    Visit us at https://www.capgemini.com/researchinstitute/

    1 UNICEF USA, “From eco-anxiety to eco-optimism, listening to a generation of resilient youth,” January 2023.
    2 Green skills refer to the hard and soft skills which help people take care of nature, stop pollution, and use resources wisely.
    3 OECD, Skills Outlook 2023: Skills for a resilient green and digital transition, November 6, 2023.
    4 CRI, Digital skills and technology in secondary education survey, March 2023
    5 Bank Group, Income Group Class, according to 2023 gross national income (GNI) per capita, calculated using the World Bank Atlas method.

    Attachment

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ASEAN, Republic of Korea pledged to enhance comprehensive strategic partnership

    Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations

    BANGKOK, 16 May 2025 – Senior officials of ASEAN and the Republic of Korea (ROK) reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) at the 29th ASEAN-ROK Dialogue held today in Bangkok.
     
    The Meeting acknowledged the positive momentum of ASEAN-ROK cooperation following the establishment of the CSP in conjunction with the 35th anniversary of Dialogue Relations in 2024. Substantive progress has been achieved across a wide range of areas of cooperation under the ASEAN-ROK Plan of Action (POA) 2021-2025, including political and security cooperation, trade and investment, digital transformation, tourism, energy, environment, disaster management, education, culture, youth and people-to-people exchanges. Both sides looked forward to the finalisation of the successor POA for the term 2026–2030, which is expected to be adopted by the Foreign Ministers of both sides in July 2025 during the ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with the ROK.
     
    The ROK expressed its support for Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship and priorities this year under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability”. The ROK also affirmed its continued support for ASEAN Community-building efforts and ASEAN Centrality, including the implementation of the ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future that will be adopted at the 46th ASEAN Summit.
     
    ASEAN and the ROK renewed their commitment to strengthening cooperation under the CSP. Focus will be placed on key areas such as trade and investment, including through the upgrade of the ASEAN-ROK Free Trade Are (AKFTA), digital transformation, cybersecurity, clean energy, ASEAN Power Grid, smart cities, climate change and environmental, education and youth empowerment, and narrowing the development gap. ASEAN welcomed the ROK’s implementation of various initiatives under the Korea-ASEAN Solidarity Initiative (KASI) to further enhance cooperation.
     
    Both sides also agreed to continue advancing practical cooperation in the four priority areas of the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), in accordance with the Joint Statement on Cooperation on the AOIP adopted at the 24th ASEAN-ROK Summit in 2023.
     
    The Meeting exchanged views on international and regional issues, including the situations on the Korean Peninsula, in South China Sea, in Myanmar, in Ukraine and in the Middle East. Both sides emphasised the importance of strengthening cooperation amidst the ongoing global uncertainties, including the need to uphold multilateralism and the open and free trading system.
     
    The 29th ASEAN-ROK Dialogue was co-chaired by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, SOM Leader of Thailand, Eksiri Pintaruchi, and Deputy Minister for Political Affairs, SOM Leader of the ROK, Chung Byung-won. It was attended by Senior Officials of ASEAN Member States and the Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN for ASEAN Political-Security Community. Timor-Leste attended as Observer.
     

    The post ASEAN, Republic of Korea pledged to enhance comprehensive strategic partnership appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • Prime Minister Narendra Modi extends wishes on the 50th anniversary of Sikkim’s statehood

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his wishes on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of Sikkim’s statehood. In a post on X, PM Modi highlighted that Sikkim is associated with “serene beauty” and has made “strides” in various sectors.

    “Warm greetings to the people of Sikkim on their Statehood Day! This year, the occasion is even more special as we mark the 50th anniversary of Sikkim’s statehood! Sikkim is associated with serene beauty, rich cultural traditions, and industrious people. It has made strides in diverse sectors. May the people of this beautiful state continue to prosper,” the PM said in his post.

    Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang also extended his greetings on the occasion. He termed the day as “historic” and paid homage to the legacy of the Kingdom of Sikkim. He further reaffirmed his commitment to the vision of “Sunaulo Sikkim, Samriddha Sikkim, ani Samarth Sikkim,” aligning with Prime Minister Modi’s vision of a “Viksit Bharat.”

    Sikkim became the 22nd state of India on May 16, 1975, under the leadership of Lhendup Dorjee Khangsarpa, the state’s first Chief Minister, who ushered in democracy in the erstwhile Chogyal Kingdom.

    ANI

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Japanese handcrafted eyewear brand Kaneko Optical upgrades Hong Kong office to international headquarters with new concept store opening (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Japanese handcrafted eyewear brand Kaneko Optical upgrades Hong Kong office to international headquarters with new concept store opening  
         The Acting Director-General of Investment Promotion at InvestHK, Mr Arnold Lau, said, “We are delighted to see the expansion of Kaneko Optical in Hong Kong, just five months after its first launch in the city. It shows confidence not only in Hong Kong’s status as a global hub for international brands but also in our advantages as a global supply chain management hub.”
     
         The Chief Executive Officer of Japan Eyewear Holdings Hong Kong and Japan Eyewear Holdings International, and Director & Head of Global Operations of Kaneko Optical, Mr Toru Akita, indicated that Hong Kong is not only a retail market for the company but also a strategic hub for its international supply chain.
     
    Mr Akita said, “Our Hong Kong office will serve as an international headquarters spearheading the brand’s overseas branding and merchandising operations, including our existing wholesale destinations in over 20 countries, as of the end of 2024. In addition, it will gradually take charge of the company’s international sales development and corporate treasury management outside of Japan.”
     
    He added, “Hong Kong has a rich variety of retail scenarios that we want to tap into. The new concept store in Tsim Sha Tsui, which is our largest presence outside of Japan, will open up new business ties at emerging markets through the growing number of ASEAN, Middle East tourists.”
     
    He explained, “One thing we learned after launching our first concept store in Central is the brilliant mix of high-net worth professionals from different parts of the world. Their spending habits and preferences fit well with our market position, and our brand image gets to spread wide through their international networks.”
     
    Founded in 1958 as an eyeglass wholesaler, Kaneko Optical has become a recognised trendsetter in the Japanese eyewear industry. With its own planning, design, and sales of eyewear brands, it actively collaborates with major collections and apparel manufacturers to create original brands.
     
    For more information about Kaneko Optical, please visit www.kaneko-optical.co.jp/en 
    To get a copy of the photo, please visit     www.flickr.com/photos/investhk/albums/72177720326093396Issued at HKT 14:00

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • Peace breakthrough unlikely as Putin declines to meet Zelenskiy in Turkey

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Russia’s Vladimir Putin spurned a challenge to meet face-to-face with Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Turkey on Thursday, instead sending a second-tier delegation to planned peace talks, while Ukraine’s president said his defence minister would head up Kyiv’s team.

    They will be the first direct talks between the sides since March 2022, but hopes of a major breakthrough were further dented by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said there would be no movement without a meeting between himself and Putin.

    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later echoed that view, telling reporters in the Turkish resort of Antalya that Washington “didn’t have high expectations” for the Ukraine talks in Istanbul.

    The head of the Russian delegation, presidential adviser Vladimir Medinsky, said he expected Ukraine’s representatives to turn up for the beginning of discussions on Friday in Istanbul at 10 a.m. local time (0700 GMT).

    “We are ready to work,” Medinsky said in a video posted on the Telegram messaging app. He said his delegation had held “productive” talks on Thursday evening with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan.

    Zelenskiy said Putin’s decision not to attend but to send what he called a “decorative” lineup showed the Russian leader was not serious about ending the war. Russia accused Ukraine of trying “to put on a show” around the talks.

    “We can’t be running around the world looking for Putin,” Zelenskiy said after meeting Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara.

    “I feel disrespect from Russia. No meeting time, no agenda, no high-level delegation – this is personal disrespect. To Erdogan, to Trump,” Zelenskiy told reporters.

    Zelenskiy said he would also not go to Istanbul and that his team’s mandate was to discuss a ceasefire.

    A decree issued by Zelenskiy said Ukraine’s delegation would be led by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and include the deputy heads of its intelligence services, the deputy chief of the military’s general staff and the deputy foreign minister.

    Ukraine backs an immediate, unconditional 30-day ceasefire but Putin has said he first wants to start talks at which the details of such a truce could be discussed. More than three years after its full-scale invasion, Russia has the advantage on the battlefield and says Ukraine could use a pause in the war to call up extra troops and acquire more Western weapons.

    Both Trump and Putin have said for months they are keen to meet each other, but no date has been set. Trump, after piling heavy pressure on Ukraine and clashing with Zelenskiy in the Oval Office in February, has lately expressed growing impatience that Putin may be “tapping me along.”

    “Nothing’s going to happen until Putin and I get together,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.

    Rubio, speaking in Antalya, later echoed that thought: “It’s my assessment that I don’t think we’re going to have a breakthrough here until the President (Trump) and President Putin interact directly on this topic.”

    Referring to the current state of the talks as a “logjam,” Rubio said he would travel to Istanbul to meet with Turkey’s foreign minister and Ukraine’s delegation on Friday.

    The diplomatic disarray was symptomatic of the hostility between the sides and the unpredictability injected by Trump, whose interventions since returning to the White House in January have often provoked dismay from Ukraine and its European allies.

    While Zelenskiy waited in vain for Putin in Ankara, the Russian negotiators had no one to talk to on the Ukrainian side. Some 200 reporters milled around near the Dolmabahce Palace on the Bosphorus Strait that the Russians had specified as the venue.

    CEASEFIRES AND PEACE TALKS

    The enemies have been wrestling for months over the logistics of ceasefires and peace talks while trying to show Trump they are serious about trying to end what he calls “this stupid war.”

    Hundreds of thousands have been killed and wounded on both sides in the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War Two. Washington has threatened repeatedly to abandon its mediation efforts unless there is clear progress.

    Asked if Putin would join talks at some future point, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said: “What kind of participation will be required further, at what level, it is too early to say now.”

    Russia said on Thursday its forces had captured two more settlements in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. A spokesperson for Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov pointedly reminded reporters of his comment last year that Ukraine was “getting smaller” in the absence of an agreement to stop fighting.

    FIRST TALKS FOR THREE YEARS

    Once they start, the talks will have to address a chasm between the two sides over a host of issues.

    Russian delegation head Medinsky is a former culture minister who has overseen the rewriting of history textbooks to reflect Moscow’s narrative on the war. It includes a deputy defence minister, a deputy foreign minister and the head of military intelligence.

    Key members of the team, including its leader, were also involved in the last direct peace talks in Istanbul in March 2022 – and Medinsky confirmed on Thursday that Russia saw the new talks as a resumption of those interrupted three years ago.

    “The task of direct negotiations with the Ukrainian side is sooner or later to achieve long-term peace by eliminating the basic root causes of the conflict,” said Medinsky.

    The terms under discussion in 2022, when Ukraine was still reeling from Russia’s initial invasion, would be deeply disadvantageous to Kyiv. They included a demand by Moscow for large cuts to the size of Ukraine’s military.

    With Russian forces now in control of close to a fifth of Ukraine, Putin has held fast to his longstanding demands for Kyiv to cede territory, abandon its NATO membership ambitions and become a neutral country.

    Ukraine rejects these terms as tantamount to capitulation, and is seeking guarantees of its future security from world powers, especially the United States.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC May 16, 2025 0600 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    SPC AC 160558

    Day 1 Convective Outlook
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    1258 AM CDT Fri May 16 2025

    Valid 161200Z – 171200Z

    …THERE IS A MODERATE RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PARTS OF
    KENTUCKY…NORTHERN AND WESTERN TENNESSEE…SOUTHEAST MISSOURI…FAR
    SOUTHERN ILLINOIS…SOUTHERN INDIANA…FAR SOUTHWEST OHIO…

    …SUMMARY…
    A regional outbreak of severe thunderstorms is likely this afternoon
    into tonight across parts of the mid Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee
    Valleys. This will include intense supercells associated with
    tornadoes, large hail and wind damage. Several strong tornadoes are
    expected, and a long-track high-end tornado will be possible. From
    the evening into the overnight, a bowing line segment is expected to
    form with potential for tornadoes and damaging winds, some possibly
    greater than 75 mph.

    …Mid Mississippi and Ohio Valley/Tennessee Valley…
    A negatively-tilted mid-level trough will move through the Upper
    Midwest and mid Mississippi Valley today, as an associated 75 to 90
    knot mid-level jet translates northeastward into the Ozarks. At the
    surface, a low will move into the western Great Lakes, as a cold
    front advances eastward into the mid Mississippi Valley. A very
    moist airmass will remain in place ahead of the front, extending
    eastward into the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys. Across this airmass,
    surface dewpoints will be in the upper 60s and lower 70s F. Warming
    surface temperatures will result in moderate to strong
    destabilization across much of the moist sector by afternoon. An
    area of low-level convergence is expected to become increasingly
    focused from the Ozarks into the mid Mississippi Valley. This will
    result in the initiation of scattered strong to severe storms around
    midday. Several convective clusters are expected to organize and
    move eastward into the lower Ohio Valley during the afternoon. Storm
    coverage will expand markedly during the late afternoon and early
    evening as low-level flow increases across the region.

    Concerning the thermodynamic environment, a pristine airmass is
    expected to be in place by afternoon. Model forecasts are in good
    agreement that MLCAPE will peak from 3000 to 4000 J/kg from parts of
    the Ozarks eastward into the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys. As
    instability increases, deep-layer shear and lift are also expected
    to increase as a mid-level jet approaches from the west. Ahead of
    this feature, an 850 mb jet is forecast to develop over the mid
    Mississippi Valley. This jet will gradually increase in strength
    into the 45 to 65 knot range, moving eastward into western Kentucky
    by late afternoon. Near the axis of the low-level jet at Paducah,
    RAP forecast soundings at 23Z have MLCAPE near 3500 J/kg, 0-6 km
    shear around 60 knots, and low to mid-level lapse rates near 7 C/km.
    0-3 km helicity is forecast to be between 225 and 250 m2/s2. This
    environment will support supercells and tornadoes. Several strong
    tornadoes appear likely, and a high-end long-track tornado will be
    possible from far southeast Missouri, into southern Illinois and
    southern Indiana, southward into western Kentucky and far northern
    Tennessee.

    During the late afternoon, storm coverage is expected to become
    widespread across the moist sector. Several supercell clusters will
    move eastward from the mid Mississippi Valley into the Ohio and
    Tennessee Valleys. Steep mid-level lapse rates will promote large
    hail development. The more intense cores may have hailstones between
    2 and 4 inches in diameter. Supercells will also be capable of
    producing damaging wind gusts. During the early evening, the
    wind-damage threat is expected to increase as some of the convective
    clusters gradually transition into more linear structures. Winds
    could exceed 75 mph along the leading edge of these faster-moving
    bowing line segments. During the evening, multiple bow echos are
    expected to form that will result in extensive wind damage swaths.
    Wind damage is expected across a broad area, including parts of the
    mid Mississippi, Ohio and Tennessee Valleys into the central
    Appalachian mountains.

    …Ark-La-Tex/Lower Mississippi Valley…
    A very moist airmass will be in place today across the Ark-La-Tex
    and lower Mississippi Valley. Surface dewpoints in the lower to mid
    70s F will result in moderate to strong destabilization across much
    of this airmass. A capping inversion is expected to be in place for
    much of the day, but should weaken late in the afternoon as a
    mid-level jet moves eastward into the mid Mississippi Valley. The
    southern edge of the jet will help to increase large-scale ascent,
    aiding convective development. In response, a few clusters of storms
    will form and move eastward into the lower Mississippi Valley during
    the late afternoon and early evening. In areas that strongly
    destabilize, storms could be capable of producing large hail and
    wind damage. Hailstones greater than 2 inches in diameter will be
    possible with intense supercell cores.

    ..Broyles/Weinman.. 05/16/2025

    CLICK TO GET WUUS01 PTSDY1 PRODUCT

    NOTE: THE NEXT DAY 1 OUTLOOK IS SCHEDULED BY 1300Z

    MIL OSI USA News –