NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • Indian rupee opens stronger against US dollar

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian rupee opened 75 paise stronger at 84.65 against the US dollar on Tuesday, compared to its previous close of 85.38 per dollar.
    According to analysts, the trading range for the day was expected to lie between 84.50 and 85.25. The dollar maintained its gains following a significant trade agreement between the United States and China.

    Under the pact, the US will reduce tariffs on Chinese goods from 145 per cent to 30 per cent for a period of 90 days, while China announced it would cut tariffs on US goods from 125 per cent to 10 per cent over the same duration. The two countries have agreed to establish a mechanism to continue dialogue on economic and trade relations.
    Analysts noted that any fresh developments on the geopolitical front are likely to significantly influence the rupee’s trajectory.

    In FY25, the rupee traded in the range of 83.10 to 87.60 against the greenback. It initially weakened following the US election results and depreciated by 2.4 per cent over the fiscal year due to persistent FPI outflows and a robust US dollar. 

    Despite these headwinds, the rupee remained relatively stable compared to other global currencies, supported by strong government finances, a narrowing current account deficit, improved liquidity, and moderating oil prices, among other factors, according to the NSE’s Market Pulse Report for April.

    Towards the end of the year, a reversal in dollar strength and renewed FPI inflows into debt instruments supported the rupee’s recovery, leading to an appreciation of 2.4 per cent in March 2025.
    The rupee’s average annualised volatility declined to 2.7 per cent in FY25, placing it among the least volatile major emerging market currencies and reflecting India’s robust external buffers and prudent forex management.

    “However, the rupee remained overvalued, with the 40-currency trade-weighted REER rising to 105.3. Nonetheless, both REER and NEER moderated gradually from H1FY25, indicating a softening of the overvaluation. The one-year forward premium for the rupee continued to moderate, reflecting shifting premium dynamics and India’s macroeconomic resilience,” the report stated.

    (IANS)

  • Cricket-Australia’s Green, Cummins and Hazlewood return for World Test Championship final

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Australia named all-rounder Cameron Green in their 15-man squad on Tuesday for the World Test Championship (WTC) final, where they will face South Africa at Lord’s from June 11-15.

    Green was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his lower back during the one-day international series in England last year and had surgery in October, but returned to playing for Gloucestershire in English county cricket last month.

    Skipper Pat Cummins, who missed the tour of Sri Lanka due to the birth of his second child in February and was also ruled out of the Champions Trophy campaign with an ankle injury, will take the reins against South Africa.

    Fellow pace bowler Josh Hazlewood was also included after a spell out with a hip injury.

    “We are fortunate and looking forward to having Pat, Josh, and Cam back in the squad,” chief selector George Bailey said.

    “The team finished the WTC cycle with an impressive series victory in Sri Lanka following an equally strong summer in defeating India for the first time in a decade.

    “Those series capped a consistent performance across the two-year cycle and now presents us with the incredibly exciting opportunity to defend the WTC.

    “It means a lot to the group to reach the final, and they’re very much looking forward to the challenge South Africa will present at Lord’s.”

    Australia won the World Test Championship in 2023 after beating India in the final at The Oval.

    Teenager Sam Konstas was also included in the squad, adding a specialist option for the opener’s spot, but media reports in Australia said the team could elevate Marnus Labuschagne from number three.

    The squad will then embark on a tour of the Caribbean, where they will play the West Indies in three tests from June 25. A squad for the five Twenty20 internationals that follow will be named at a later date.

    Australia squad: Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Sam Konstas, Matt Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.

    –Reuters

  • China stocks flat, Hong Kong retreats as tariff optimism fades

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Chinese stock prices were little changed on Tuesday whereas those in Hong Kong fell, as initial euphoria over a Sino-U.S. trade truce involving the reduction and delay of tariffs gave way to caution.

    An agreement between U.S. and Chinese officials after weekend talks in Geneva led to a rally in global markets and the U.S. dollar. However, fear that further negotiations could prove a slog still lingered and weighed on investor sentiment.

    China’s blue-chip CSI 300 Index was little changed at midday while the Shanghai Composite Index added less than 0.1%.

    In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index lost 1.8% and the benchmark Hang Seng Index weakened 1.7%, retreating from a six-week high. The Hang Seng Tech Index tumbled 3%.

    The trade deal exceeded market expectations but investors were confused and worried what changes might come after the “temporary peace”, Jefferies analysts said in a client note.

    “Institutional investors are becoming more cautious” and odds for policy support in the coming months may drop following the unexpectedly positive trade outcome, they said.

    U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, speaking after talks with Chinese officials in Geneva, said on Monday the sides had agreed on a 90-day pause on tit-for-tat trade action.

    The U.S. will cut extra tariffs imposed in April on Chinese imports to 30% from 145% and Chinese duties on U.S. imports will fall to 10% from 125%, the sides said on Monday.

    On Tuesday, the energy sector advanced 0.7% and the banking sub-index climbed 1.2%, leading onshore markets higher.

    The strategically important rare earths sector not mentioned in the talks – slipped 1%. The consumer electronics sector lost 0.4%, giving up earlier gains on tariff relief.

    Chinese stocks have recovered from a sell-off last month triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s punitive tariff measures on his so-called Liberation Day on April 2. The blue-chip Index is now trading 0.2% above that day.

    “We have been adding to China over the past months on the view that in the long term the current level of tariffs would be significantly reduced,” said Kamil Dimmich, partner and portfolio manager at North of South Capital EM fund.

    “Markets have been fairly quick to price in the anticipated ‘normalization’, so we are no longer in a rush to add but remain happy with our exposures in China. Most likely there will be further ups and downs over the coming weeks and months so there may be better times to add.”

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CS calls for voter registration

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, together with representatives from the four civil service central consultative councils, today visited the Queensway Government Offices today to appeal to colleagues to register as voters and cast their votes in the Legislative Council General Election, due to be held on December 7 this year.

    Acting Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Clement Woo was also present, distributing leaflets on voter registration.

    Mr Chan stressed that, as the backbone of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, civil servants bear the responsibility of implementing and supporting the administration in accordance with the law.

    The Chief Secretary said: “Today, together with the representatives from the four civil service central consultative councils, I visited colleagues in different government departments to appeal to those who are eligible but have not yet registered as voters to actively do so, and to remind those who have already registered as voters to check the accuracy of their registration details through the online system and submit an application to update their details in a timely manner if necessary, to ensure their voting rights are not affected.

    “We also appeal to our colleagues to convey this message to their families and friends to get well prepared for the LegCo General Election to be held at the end of this year and to vote enthusiastically to fulfil their civic duties and elect patriotic, capable and dedicated legislators devoted to serving the people, Hong Kong and our country.”

    The 2025 Voter Registration Campaign urges eligible individual and bodies who have not yet registered as voters to submit registration applications to the Registration & Electoral Office (REO) as early as possible – and on or before the statutory deadline of June 2.

    Registered voters who wish to record changes to their residential address or other registration particulars should also submit such applications to the REO on or before June 2.

    Both applications for new registration and changes to particulars can be submitted through the iAM Smart app, or by email, mail or fax with the correct forms.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Result of the Daily Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction held on May 13, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Tenor 1-day
    Notified Amount (in ₹ crore) 25,000
    Total amount of bids received (in ₹ crore) 5,401
    Amount allotted (in ₹ crore) 5,401
    Cut off Rate (%) 6.01
    Weighted Average Rate (%) 6.01
    Partial Allotment Percentage of bids received at cut off rate (%) NA

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/308

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN receives Traditional Māori Welcome at New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, was warmly received with a traditional Mihi Whakatau (welcome ceremony) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Wellington, reflecting the hospitality of Aotearoa New Zealand and the strong appreciation for cultural traditions that underpin ASEAN-New Zealand relations.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN receives Traditional Māori Welcome at New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with New Zealand’s SOM Leader for ASEAN

    Source: ASEAN

    Today, in Wellington, New Zealand, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, met with Deputy Secretary, Americas and Asia Group and ASEAN SOM Leader of New Zealand, H.E. Grahame Morton, and other senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of New Zealand. Both sides discussed progress of ASEAN–New Zealand cooperation, noting the recent convening of the 32nd ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue and the ongoing preparations for the Commemorative Summit on the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-New Zealand Dialogue Relations in October 2025, in Malaysia.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with New Zealand’s SOM Leader for ASEAN appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN joins Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand for lunch meeting

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, had a lunch meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, the Rt. Hon. Winston Peters, in Wellington today. Both sides discussed ASEAN-New Zealand relations, and explored ways to further substantiate the longstanding partnership, especially leading up to the ASEAN-New Zealand Commemorative Summit to mark the 50th anniversary of their Dialogue Relations in October 2025.

     
    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN joins Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand for lunch meeting appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview with Bridget Brennan, News Breakfast, ABC

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    Bridget Brennan:

    Hello Treasurer and welcome back to News Breakfast.

    Jim Chalmers:

    Thanks very much, Bridget.

    Brennan:

    Tell us about your biggest challenge as you enter a second term as Treasurer.

    Chalmers:

    I’m very grateful to the Prime Minister for asking me to serve again as Australia’s Treasurer and my immediate focus is all of this global economic uncertainty but also over the medium term and longer term trying to make our economy more productive as well.

    We’ve got a lot of work to do. Australians have made a lot of progress together in our economy over the course of the last 3 years but there’s lots more work to do because people are under pressure, the global environment is uncertain, our economy’s not productive enough. And so that will be the focus not just of me but this wonderful new economic team that the Prime Minister has appointed, and indeed the whole Cabinet and the whole government.

    Brennan:

    We’ll just let you get your earpiece set. Look, you’ve got a number of reports coming to you this year in terms of recommendations on how to boost productivity. What are some things you can do immediately to start getting to work on productivity?

    Chalmers:

    We’ve already got a big productivity agenda. Our agenda around skills and training and human capital is all about making our economy more productive and making sure there are more opportunities for more people. We’ve got an agenda when it comes to abolishing non‑compete clauses, a national regime for occupational licensing, the energy transformation, infrastructure investment.

    We’ve got a big agenda already for productivity, but there’s a real enthusiasm to do more and some of that work of the Productivity Commission will help us consider the next steps as well. There’s no switch that you can flick to instantly make an economy like ours – a complex economy – more productive overnight. It will take time, but we’ve already started, and we’ve got more work to do as well. And there’s a real difference here I think between the way that we’ve thought about productivity.

    Traditionally, the way our political opponents think about productivity in quite a narrow way, making people work longer and harder for less, versus the Labor way of making our economy more productive, which is investing in people, their ability to adapt and adopt technology, getting the energy transformation right, the care economy, our competition policy to make our economy more dynamic – all of this is part of our productivity agenda and I’m really looking forward to advancing that agenda through the course of this Parliamentary term.

    Brennan:

    You would have been watching closely overnight as the US and China hit pause at least temporarily on high tariffs against either nation. What opportunity is there for Australia in this news, is this a positive development at least in the short‑term?

    Chalmers:

    Oh, it’s a very positive development, a very welcome development, but we shouldn’t pretend that all of the issues in these trade tensions around the world have been resolved with this decision. There’s still a lot of uncertainty, a lot of volatility, a lot of unpredictability in the global economy but this is a welcome development.

    Now when it comes to Australia’s exposure to these trade tensions around the world, really the biggest concern for us is a trade war between the US and China, and what that means then for our own economy. So like the rest of the world, we welcome this announcement. But it’s tempered a little bit by the understanding, the realisation that there’s still a lot of uncertainty which is playing out in our own domestic economies around the world.

    Brennan:

    Today we’ll see that full reshuffled Cabinet sworn in. Was it a bit unedifying to see the factional war play out in the first week after you got that massive mandate? What sort of a taste do you think it left in voters’ mouths and minds when they saw 2 quite senior Cabinet ministers pushed aside by the factions?

    Chalmers:

    I do think it was unfortunate, and I think it was messy, I think that’s self‑evident. This is what happens when you’ve got more good people than you can fit into a Cabinet or a ministry or the broader ranks.

    I feel for those 2 guys in particular, and nobody really wants to see people left out in that fashion but this is what happens when we’ve got so many good people that we’ve got to fit into this Cabinet. We’ve got to strike the right balance between experience and new energy, new faces. We’ve more or less struck an effective balance there. So at a human level I feel for Ed and Mark and in the government, I think it reflects the strength that we have in personnel.

    Brennan:

    Just on Mr Dreyfus particularly before we let you go, obviously we’ve heard what Ed Husic has had to say, we haven’t yet heard from Mr Dreyfus. Do you think he was treated with dignity?

    Chalmers:

    I’m reluctant to go much further than I have already, Bridget. I appreciate the opportunity to say that both of those guys are good people, and like a lot of people in our team, they made a good contribution last term. No doubt this was a difficult decision for the party room to take. Beyond that, I don’t want to engage in a running commentary about that. I feel for those 2 guys today – and it will be a hard day for them today to see ministers sworn in.

    My focus today is on the really quite extraordinarily strong team that the Prime Minister has put together being sworn in at Government House and I’m especially grateful to him for the team that he’s appointed to the Treasury portfolio with all of this intellectual horsepower and talent and energy – Daniel Mulino, Andrew Leigh, Clare O’Neil, Anne Aly – these are really quite extraordinary people appointed and being sworn in today to the Treasury portfolio and I’m looking forward to working with them – that’s my focus.

    Brennan:

    All right, thanks for your time, Treasurer, and best wishes for today.

    Chalmers:

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview with Sarah Abo, Today, Channel 9

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    Sarah Abo:

    Well, the new Labor Cabinet will be sworn in this morning after a cut‑throat reshuffle saw several MPs booted from their portfolios.

    Joining us live from Canberra to discuss this is Treasurer, Jim Chalmers. Congratulations to you, Treasurer, you are back, and hasn’t your second term started without a hitch? Should we be worried about you – apparently there’s an assassin in your midst?

    Jim Chalmers:

    Good morning, Sarah, I don’t think I’m going to come at that, but I’m going to accept with good grace your congratulations. I appreciate it, looking forward to be sworn in today, and also I’m grateful to the PM for the first‑class team that he has assembled – including in my own Treasury portfolio – I’ve got some wonderful colleagues there, and I’m looking forward to working with them.

    Abo:

    It’s not quite the perfect start you were hoping for though, I imagine.

    Chalmers:

    I think inevitably when you’ve got so many good people to fit into a limited number of positions, then unfortunately, there are people, including very good people, who can get left out. And that’s what we saw last week; it was messy, and nobody would want that to happen, particularly to 2 people who are respected in our team.

    But my focus is on the colleagues I’ll be working with in the economic team. We’ll be sworn in today, and we’re already hard at work.

    Abo:

    Would you describe the Deputy PM as a factional assassin?

    Chalmers:

    No, I don’t describe my colleagues like that, but again, people can choose their own words and their own language. I understand that if you’ve missed out on the ministry, including the 2 guys that you’re referring to I think in your questions, then I feel for them. I respect them, and I feel for them, and they’ve got a right to say what they think about that. I choose different words.

    Abo:

    Ed Husic did double down on that last night saying it was gratuitous to dump Dreyfus. Let’s have a quick listen.

    [Excerpt]

    Ed Husic:

    Mark has been a big contributor, he should have been given dignity, there should have been some class extended to Mark frankly. I feel really bad for the way that he’s gone.

    [End of Excerpt]

    Abo:

    That’s twice now he’s gone on the public record to make the way he feels known. Does he have a right to air his grievances in such a way?

    Chalmers:

    I think Ed’s entitled to his view, and –

    Abo:

    It does make you wonder though, I guess, Treasurer, whether the Albanese government does have a problem with dissent?

    Chalmers:

    I think that would be an unusual conclusion to draw given the totality of the last 3 years. Yes, it was a difficult week last week, yes it’s hard when good people are excluded from a very strong team. I think I’ve acknowledged that in a number of different ways today.

    Our focus is on the team that we’ve put together, the hard work that we need to do for the Australian people at a time of global economic uncertainty, and that’s what I’ve been focused on, not on the internal machinations.

    Abo:

    All right. Well, let’s look at that new team in your Cabinet sworn in today. It does seem, I mean you can’t ignore it, some allies have been rewarded, others seemingly demoted. Did Tanya Plibersek get a bit of an unfair whack turfed from the environment portfolio?

    Chalmers:

    Not at all, and I’m delighted you asked me about this, Sarah. I spoke to Tanya yesterday; Tanya is absolutely delighted with this role. The social services role in a Labor government is absolutely key, and I see it and she sees it as a really terrific opportunity for Tanya.

    As I’ve said, I’ve spoken to her about it already, the work that we will do together in that portfolio, she’s replacing a wonderful Cabinet Minister in Amanda Rishworth who was on the show before me, and Tanya’s really looking forward to it.

    I read with a bit of curiosity this analysis about Tanya’s new job. In our government that job is absolutely key, and I think that she’s looking forward to getting stuck into it and I’m looking forward to working with her.

    Abo:

    Good to see her and the PM have kissed and made up then. All right. Well, meanwhile, China and the US have reached an agreement to pause tariffs for 90 days. Surely, Treasurer, the PM has to prioritise sitting down with Trump to talk trade now?

    Chalmers:

    We’re engaging with the Americans on trade, as you’d expected, we’ve been doing that for some time. The Prime Minister’s had a number of conversations with the President of the United States.

    What we saw between the US and China in the last day or so is a very welcome development, a very pleasing development, reassuring in a way. But we also need to recognise that it’s not resolved yet; this is a pause, not a resolution. It means that there’s still a lot of uncertainty, volatility, unpredictability in the global economy, and that’s impacting us here in our own economy as well.

    We’ve got a lot of skin in the game when it comes to a trade war between the US and China, we want to see these issues resolved in a permanent sense, not just in a temporary sense, but the developments of the last day or so have been very welcome and very pleasing.

    Abo:

    You have touched on that global uncertainty for a while, we know it was bad leading into this election, it’s unlikely to get much better in the months and perhaps years to come. But your portfolio has got some business leaders a little bit unhappy this morning. They reckon your timeline for improving productivity isn’t good enough. Are you dragging your feet here? You want a third term to fix this situation.

    Chalmers:

    Oh, there’s a business leader in The Australian called Chris Corrigan, we wouldn’t be surprised he’s got a different view of productivity to a Labor government. I’ve been engaging with business leaders on productivity, a number of them have reached out to me in the last week and a half to say how much they’re looking forward to working –

    Abo:

    It’s not just him, there are others. I mean you wanted to get this done, you wanted productivity lifted within this – by this second term. You’re now saying it might not be until the third?

    Chalmers:

    Not quite right, Sarah. We’ve got a productivity agenda, we’ve always said that it takes time to turn productivity around. This is a challenge that’s been in our economy for decades now, and it will take more than a couple of years to fix. We’ve been upfront about that all along.

    We work closely with the business community and with others to make our economy more productive over time. We’ve already got an agenda on skills and infrastructure and technology and energy and the care economy, but we know that we need to do more.

    Abo:

    It’s dropping though, Treasurer, I mean it’s the weakest it’s been in the last 35 years.

    Chalmers:

    Well, actually, the weakest decade for productivity growth was the Coalition decade to 2020. If we want to introduce those facts, Sarah, the weakest period for productivity growth was the wasted decade under our predecessors. And we’re working hard to turn that around. And I’ll work closely with business leaders, I already am, and I will continue to do that because living standards in our economy do depend on us making it more productive over time. And that’s why it’s a big focus, not just of me as Treasurer, but the whole Labor government.

    Abo:

    All right. You’ll be hoping to wipe the slate clean, I’m sure, today once Cabinet is sworn in, but what about the other side? Do you care who the Coalition chooses as their leader?

    Chalmers:

    I haven’t given it a lot of thought, but I think it’s unusual that 2 of the 3 people most responsible for the debacle which was the Coalition over the last 3 years have put their hands up for leader. I think it’s strange that instead of asking their colleagues for forgiveness, they’re asking their colleagues for votes.

    Abo:

    Ooh. Maybe it should be Tim Wilson then. Is that an endorsement to the re‑elected Tim Wilson?

    Chalmers:

    I don’t think that would be an improvement. I think whoever wins this battle of the duds today –

    Abo:

    Oh, battle of the duds.

    Chalmers:

    – the Liberal Party will still be the party of lower wages, higher income taxes and nuclear reactors. And that will show that whoever wins this ballot today, they haven’t learned the lesson of the last 3 years.

    Abo:

    Wow. Shots fired from the Treasurer. I like it. All right. Strap yourselves in, folks, it’s going to be an interesting 3 years ahead. Thank you so much for joining us, Treasurer, appreciate it.

    Chalmers:

    Thanks, Sarah.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Doorstop interview, Canberra

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    Jim Chalmers:

    I’m really grateful to the Prime Minister for the opportunity to serve as Australia’s Treasurer. Looking forward to being sworn in with my outstanding colleagues later this morning.

    I’m especially looking forward to working with the absolutely first‑class Treasury portfolio team that Anthony has appointed. Daniel Mulino is an absolutely first‑rate person to have in our team, working closely with Andrew Leigh, Clare O’Neil, Anne Aly will bring a dynamism to the small business portfolio as well. This is an outstanding team of colleagues. I’m looking forward to working closely with them. They have a lot of intellectual horsepower, a lot of experience, a lot of energy, a lot of dynamism, as I said. And so looking forward to being sworn in.

    The hard work has already begun. I think the first briefing I received after the election was at quarter to 7 in the morning, the Sunday morning after the election. And that’s because a big focus for me in the Treasury portfolio and for the government is navigating this global economic uncertainty at the same time as we continue to roll out our cost‑of‑living help and make our economy more productive over time as well, build more houses, get the energy transformation right. These are the priorities for me as Treasurer, but for the economic team more broadly, the Cabinet and the government as well.

    We welcome the opportunity to work for the Australian people for another term with a big focus on the economy. The economy was front and centre in the election campaign, it will be front and centre in the second term, just like it was in in the first term. Our Albanese Labor government is defined by responsible economic management and people should expect that to continue.

    Journalist:

    You said you’re pretty keen to get those superannuation tax changes through. Initially when you put that legislation forward, it was to come into effect by July 1 this year, but the Prime Minister said that parliament won’t necessarily sit until late July. So, when would those tax changes come into effect?

    Chalmers:

    It’s not unusual for tax changes to be legislated after a start date, there are other instances of that. What I’ve said today is the same point that I’ve made repeatedly, really more or less since we first announced these changes more than 2 years ago now. This is a modest change which impacts a tiny sliver of the population, about half a per cent of people with balances over $3 million in their superannuation. It’s still concessional tax treatment, just slightly less concessional.

    And it makes an important contribution to the budget, to priorities like strengthening Medicare, the tax cuts, building more homes. So it’s an important part of the budget as well. The government hasn’t changed its approach to it. We announced it more than 2 years ago. It’s been in the parliament for a long time now. It’s a modest change that impacts a tiny amount of people and still provides concessional tax treatment for people in super.

    Journalist:

    When you announced those tax changes a few years ago, did you expect the argument that’s happened since then? Did you expect it to generate the attention it has?

    Chalmers:

    I don’t get it raised with me much out and about in the community, and it wasn’t a big part of the election campaign. I know that it’s the obsession of a couple of newspapers, for example, and it’s an obsession of the Liberal Party. I understand that people have got views about policy changes. I’m respectful about that. I’m realistic about that. People have got views when you make changes. But it is a relatively modest change, impacts a very small amount of people. There are good reasons to go about it this way, and it helps to fund the country’s priorities. From time to time people will have different views about that, I don’t obsess about that, sometimes you have to take difficult decisions.

    Journalist:

    Mark Dreyfus – sorry, Ed Husic said last night that Mark Dreyfus’ dumping from the Cabinet was gratuitous and he should have been granted more dignity, do you agree?

    Chalmers:

    I do feel for those 2 guys, Mark and Ed, I respect them both and I understand how unhappy they would be. I think today will be a difficult day for them to see the colleagues sworn in at Government House. And so, Ed has a view about that, and he’s got a right to express his view. I think all of us understand his unhappiness about this, and he’s reflected that with his public comments.

    Journalist:

    Do you think Marles is a factional assassin?

    Chalmers:

    I don’t use those words to describe him. I work very closely with Richard. Richard is a very good Deputy Prime Minister. He works very hard for the people of Australia in his portfolio. And as Deputy Prime Minister, he works very closely with us in the Cabinet. And I wouldn’t use those words to describe him. But again, it’s not for me to kind of engage in a running commentary on Ed’s comments. I understand why Ed’s unhappy. I’d be unhappy too, if I was Ed and if I was Mark.

    It was a messy week last week, but I want to assure people that the overwhelming focus of the government is on the economic challenges before us at a time of extreme global economic uncertainty and opportunity for Australia. This is what happens when you’ve got more good people than you have spots in the Ministry and in the Cabinet. People will miss out from time to time.

    And this is the difference really between our team and our opponents. Our opponents are scratching around for a half‑credible person to lead them and can’t find one. We’ve got 60 or 70 or 80 people who could be good Ministers right away in our team. So, inevitably people will miss out and they’ll be unhappy about that. I do genuinely understand that. I do genuinely feel for them, particularly today.

    Journalist:

    Can I ask as well, are you considering or will you consider increasing the Jobseeker rate in this term again?

    Chalmers:

    That’s not something that we’re considering now, we’re rolling out cost‑of‑living help in other ways. It’s also important to remember, I think it’s frequently forgotten, that I did raise the Jobseeker rate, working with the colleagues. We have increased in a permanent way Jobseeker in addition to the indexation.

    And when we can find room to help people with the cost of living we’ve shown an ability to do that in all 4 of our Budgets. Whether it’s the permanent increase to Jobseeker, the increases to Commonwealth Rent Assistance, the change we made for single parents, the energy bill rebates, the tax cuts, the efforts on the minimum wage. We’ve shown across the board a willingness to help people with the cost of living. That’s one way that we can do it and we have done it. But there are other ways as well.

    Journalist:

    Any tips for the Liberal leader?

    Chalmers:

    I think whoever wins the battle of the duds today, the Liberal Party will still be the party of lower wages, higher income taxes and nuclear reactors. And this choice that the Liberal Party room is being asked to make today is a choice between 2 of the 3 people most responsible for the debacle which was the last 3 years in the Coalition. Not just the campaign, but the 3 years. Sussan Ley and Angus Taylor shouldn’t be asking their colleagues for votes, they should be asking them for forgiveness. Sussan Ley and Angus Taylor are 2 of the co‑architects of one of the worst performances we’ve ever seen from a major political party.

    Now in the last term they were asked to come up with a coherent, credible, costed economic policy and they weren’t able to do that. So, I think it’s strange and unfortunate that the Liberal Party is being asked to choose from these 2 who are as responsible as anyone for what we saw happen to the Coalition a couple of Saturdays ago.

    Now, obviously we don’t underestimate our opponents. I don’t underestimate anyone, and I don’t accept this commentary that says that the next election is already determined. I think elections in Australia are typically close, the last one notwithstanding. And so, we will take seriously whoever they elect, we don’t underestimate our opponents but the Liberal Party is effectively choosing from the reserve grade team. And the last opposition was the dregs of the Morrison government and now this is the dregs of the dregs of the Morrison government. And so, I think it’s a very strange and unfortunate choice that the Liberal Party is being asked to make today.

    Thanks very much.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview with Peter Stefanovic, First Edition, Sky News

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    Peter Stefanovic:

    Thank you. Well, the Prime Minister will swear in his new team this morning, which features some familiar faces and some new ones as well. One of those maintaining his role is the federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers who joins us live from Canberra now. Treasurer, congratulations on your re‑election. Thank you for your time this morning.

    So you’ll be sworn in, then you do your morning stretches; you’re off and running. What’s the first thing you want in the kit bag in term?

    Jim Chalmers:

    Good morning, Pete. We’ve been off and running really, more or less since the day after the election. I think I got my first briefing from the Treasury Secretary at 6:45 am on the Sunday after the election. And that’s because a big focus for us is managing all of this global economic uncertainty that you and Tom just ran through a moment ago, not just on markets, but in the global economy more broadly.

    We’ve been working hard since the election was resolved a couple of Saturdays ago. I’m looking forward to getting sworn in today, and I’m particularly grateful to the PM for this opportunity, but also for the chance to work with some really terrific people who will be sworn in to the Treasury portfolio today.

    Stefanovic:

    Yeah.

    Chalmers:

    Clare O’Neil, Anne Aly, Daniel Mulino, Andrew Leigh, a lot of intellectual horsepower in those colleagues, a lot of energy, enthusiasm and talent, and so I’m looking forward to working with them.

    Stefanovic:

    Okay. What’s the one thing, the first thing that you want to achieve this term?

    Chalmers:

    We’ve got a number of priorities – first of all managing that uncertainty, also we’ve got a major focus on productivity, we need to make our economy more productive over time. I think in the most specific sense we’ve got to build more homes.

    I’ll work closely with Clare O’Neil to make sure that the billions of dollars that we’re investing as part of our broad and ambitious housing policy builds more homes in our communities right around Australia. So that’s a top priority as well.

    Stefanovic:

    Okay. Business leaders, they’re not letting you settle in, Treasurer. Some are already miffed that you’d need 2 more terms to boost productivity. Is that timeframe a worst case scenario for you or are you just trying to give some wriggle room?

    Chalmers:

    A couple of things about that. I don’t think anyone’s surprised to read in The Australian that Chris Corrigan has a different view on productivity to the Labor government.

    I’ve had some really terrific engagement with major business leaders in the last week or 2 about our focus on productivity. Overwhelmingly people want to work with us on it.

    The point that I’ve made is that productivity is a challenge which has been a feature of our economy for some decades, and it will take more than a couple of years to turn around. I think that’s just a realistic way of being upfront with people, that we can make our economy productive. It’s not one of those areas where you can just flick a switch and all of a sudden the economy is as productive as with want it to be. The problem’s been there for a couple of decades, the worst decade for productivity growth was the decade to 2020, the worst decade in the last half century or more.

    We’ve got a lot of work to do and that will take time, and I think that’s understood in the business community, and I’m going to work closely with business, with unions, with the community more broadly to do what we can this term to make our economy more productive over time.

    Stefanovic:

    Okay. Will you still go after unrealised gains in $3 million plus super accounts?

    Chalmers:

    We haven’t changed our policy on that. I know that that’s been a focus of some of the commentary since the election. I don’t think it’s particularly newsworthy that we haven’t changed our policy on that. We’ve made it clear that it’s a very modest change, it only affects 0.5 per cent of people with balances over $3 million.

    It’s still concessional tax treatment, just a little bit less concessiona. And it’s an important way that we fund some of our other priorities – including strengthening Medicare or providing income tax cuts, helping with the cost‑of‑living and building more homes. It’s an important part of our budget, we haven’t changed our approach to it. We know that there are elements of the media that are very focused on it, but we haven’t made a change there.

    Stefanovic:

    Well, I mean it’s just the idea of taxing something that hasn’t happened yet, which I think is a legitimate concern. But recent modelling by AMP found it’s not just retirees with over $3 million super, in the long run more and more Gen Z workers will be affected if it’s not indexed. Is that your calculation?

    Chalmers:

    A couple of things about that. First of all, on unrealised gains, there are other parts of the superannuation system where that is calculated, that’s a common misunderstanding which is repeated too frequently. And the second point about the long run, 30 or 40 years away, that assumes that there are never any changes to the threshold.

    There are a number of areas in our tax system where thresholds aren’t indexed, where they are changed from time to time by governments, and I would expect that to be the case again.

    It would be a strange assumption to assume that in the next 30 or 40 years nobody ever changes the threshold. That doesn’t happen in other parts of the tax system, and it wouldn’t happen in this part of the tax system over a period that long.

    Stefanovic:

    You just mentioned that you got some key appointments now in your brains trust, if you like. You’ve got, you know, Dan Mulino, Andrew Charlton as well is another one. How collaborative do you expect those economic discussions to be now?

    Chalmers:

    Perfectly collaborative, and ‘brains trust’ is a good way to describe them. I’m surrounded by brainiacs in the Treasury portfolio team, and I’m really excited about that.

    Mulino is an absolute gun, Andrew Leigh – experience, intellectual horsepower, Clare O’Neil similarly, Anne Aly is going to bring a real dynamism to the small business portfolio. We get to work closely with Katy Gallagher and with the Cabinet more broadly, and I couldn’t be happier with the team that Anthony has appointed, and I’m going to work really closely with them.

    I’ve already met with Dan Mulino, I’ve already met with Andrew Leigh, I’ve had discussions with a number of colleagues, and we’re looking forward to getting cracking.

    Stefanovic:

    But if they were to say to you, ‘Hey, Treasurer, taxing unrealised gains, there’s going to be a lot of blow‑back here, people are worried about the long‑term’, would you change course on that, or would you still plough ahead?

    Chalmers:

    I think I’ve answered this question already, Pete, you’ve come back to it for a second dig, but I’ve explained to you why we’re doing it.

    Stefanovic:

    No, but I’m just wondering if there’s more consternation behind the scenes, you know, would you change course at all in terms of that collaborative approach?

    Chalmers:

    It’s not something that you should anticipate, it’s not something that we’re considering or planning, for all of the reasons I ran through comprehensively a moment ago when you asked me the first time.

    Stefanovic:

    All right. US and China have paused their trade war for now, Treasurer. What’s your reaction to that, and what hope does that give you in terms of a reprieve for us?

    Chalmers:

    It’s a really welcome development, and I think the whole world is hopeful that this augurs well for the resolution of this effectively trade war between the 2 biggest economies in the world.

    But we have to be realistic about it as well – there’s still a lot of unpredictability, a lot of volatility and a lot of uncertainty in the global economy. This is not resolved, it’s been paused, in welcome ways, and you can see that the markets have reacted to that as Tom ran through with you a moment ago.

    These are welcome developments, they are good developments, but the situation is not resolved yet, and if you think about the concerns that we have for the impact of trade wars on the Australian economy, we are especially exposed to a trade war between the US and China. If you look at the analysis that we have done really the biggest part of our concern is the impact on the Chinese economy flowing through to our own economy. So we welcome these developments.

    Stefanovic:

    Okay.

    Chalmers:

    These are good developments, but we need to temper our expectations because there are a lot of issues still unresolved.

    Stefanovic:

    All right. Just a final one here, I know we’re squeezed for time, but – and this is not your problem – but the Libs’ leadership is up today in a couple of hours’ time. Have you got a thought on that this morning?

    Chalmers:

    Look, I haven’t given it a lot of thought – I think the 2 people that are up for election today shows that the Liberals haven’t learned a thing from the debacle which was their election campaign.

    Whoever wins the battle of the duds today, the Liberal Party will still be the party of lower wages, higher income taxes and nuclear reactors. And Sussan Ley and Angus Taylor, they should be asking their colleagues for forgiveness, not for their votes.

    You know, these 2 are 2 of the 3 people most responsible for the Liberal Party’s failure at the election, failure over the last 3 years to come up with anything that resembles a credible, coherent –

    Stefanovic:

    Okay.

    Chalmers:

    – economic policy, and so I find it bizarre that the Liberal Party members are being asked to choose between 2 of the worst performers in the Opposition over the last 3 years.

    Stefanovic:

    All right. Treasurer, I know we’re squeezed for time but thank you for your time this morning as always. We’ll chat again soon.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: New Federal Environment Minister can define Labor’s legacy on nature and ocean protection

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    SYDNEY, Tuesday 13 May 2025 — In response to the appointment of Senator Murray Watt as the new Federal Federal Environment Minister, Dr Susie Byers, Head of Advocacy at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said: 

    “Greenpeace congratulates Senator Murray Watt on his appointment as the new Federal Environment Minister in the Albanese Government at this critical moment for our environment. 

    “There has never been a more important moment to lead this portfolio with grit and ambition, with the health of nature and oceans in sharp decline across the country. Minister Watt has no time to lose, and will be faced with potentially the most important decisions of his whole term within just a few weeks of starting the job.

    “First off the mark must be the rejection of Woodside’s unacceptable gas plans in Western Australia, including the North West Shelf extension, and Browse proposal which would see drilling for gas underneath the fragile and pristine Scott Reef, threatening species like the pygmy blue whale and green sea turtle.

    “We know the Albanese Government has unfinished business on both reforming our broken nature laws so they properly address the ongoing destruction of nature and wildlife; and on addressing dangerous fossil fuels. Australia is an aspiring host of COP31 and has a responsibility to meet its international obligations, including setting out its plan to “transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems’ as soon as possible.

    “Ahead of the UN Oceans Conference next month, Minister Watt has an opportunity to define Labor’s legacy on ocean protection by ratifying the Global Ocean Treaty with 100 days of government, and creating vast ocean sanctuaries where marine life can flourish and is protected from destructive industrial fishing.

    “Australians voted overwhelmingly for action to protect nature and climate — Minister Watt’s initial decisions will demonstrate what kind of government we’ll see this term. Greenpeace looks forward to working constructively with Minister Watt to deliver the bold action needed to protect our environment and iconic wildlife from destruction.

    “We also acknowledge the contribution of Tanya Plibersek in progressing ocean protection including the significant expansion of Macquarie Island Marine Park and Heard and McDonald Islands Marine Park, and laying the groundwork for nature law reform.”

    -ENDS-

    For more information or interviews contact Kate O’Callaghan on 0406 231 892 or [email protected]

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • CJI Sanjiv Khanna retires; Justice B.R. Gavai set to take over as 52nd CJI

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna will retire on Tuesday, marking the end of his tenure as the 51st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

    He assumed office on November 10, 2024, and retires after serving in the apex position for six months.

    Justice Khanna has formally recommended Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, the second-most senior judge of the Supreme Court, as his successor. The recommendation was made to the Union Ministry of Law and Justice, and once accepted by President Murmu, Justice Gavai will be sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India.

    As per judicial tradition, Justice Khanna will sit on a ceremonial bench, alongside his successor.

    The Supreme Court Bar Association is set to bid farewell to the outgoing Chief Justice in a formal ceremony, during which Justice Khanna is expected to deliver his farewell address.

    Justice Gavai was elevated to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019.

    At the age of 64, he is scheduled to hold the top judicial post until November 23, 2025, when he turns 65, the retirement age for Supreme Court judges.

    A native of Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice Gavai began his legal career on March 16, 1985. He trained under Raja S. Bhonsale, a former Advocate General and High Court judge. After 1990, he focussed his legal practice at the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court, with special emphasis on Constitutional and Administrative Law.

    He has held several key public legal positions, including Assistant Government Pleader, Additional Public Prosecutor, and later Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor for the Nagpur Bench.

    (IANS)

  • Rush of diplomatic calls follow Trump’s offer to join potential Russia-Ukraine talks

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. and European diplomats went on a flurry of calls in the hours after U.S. President Donald Trump offered on Monday to join prospective Ukraine-Russia talks later this week, trying to find a path that would bring an end to the war in Ukraine.

    Trump’s surprise offer to join the talks on Thursday in Istanbul came a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in a fresh twist to the stop-start peace talks process, said he would travel Turkey and wait to meet President Vladimir Putin there.

    After Trump’s announcement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the “way forward for a ceasefire” in Ukraine with European counterparts, including the foreign ministers of Britain and France, and the EU’s foreign policy chief, the State Department said on Monday.

    Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and his German and Polish counterparts were also on the call, according to the readout.

    Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks late on Monday with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan to discuss Moscow’s direct talks with Kyiv – a proposal that came from Putin at the weekend, the Russian foreign ministry said.

    It remained unclear who would travel from Moscow to Istanbul to take part in the direct talks, which would be the first between the two sides since the early days of the war that Russia launched with its invasion on Ukraine in February 2022.

    There has been no response from the Kremlin to Zelenskiy’s offer to meet Putin in Istanbul and Moscow was yet to comment on Trump’s offer to join the talks.

    If Zelenskiy and Putin, who make no secret of their contempt for each other, were to meet on Thursday it would be their first face-to-face meeting since December 2019.

    “Don’t underestimate Thursday in Turkey,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday.

    Trump’s current schedule has him visiting Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar this week.

    Ukraine and its European allies have been seeking to put pressure on Moscow to accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from Monday, with the leaders of four major European powers travelling to Kyiv on Saturday to show unity with Zelenskiy.

    Earlier on Monday, the German government said Europe would start preparing new sanctions against Russia unless the Kremlin by the end of the day started abiding by the ceasefire.

    Ukraine’s military said on Monday that fighting along parts of the frontline in the country’s east was at the same intensity it would be if there were no ceasefire.

    Putin called the Western European and Ukrainian demands for a ceasefire “ultimatums” that the Kremlin said on Monday are for Russia an unacceptable language.

    Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the international affairs committee of the Federation Council, the upper house of Russia’s parliament, told the Izvestia media outlet in remarks published on Tuesday that the talks between Moscow and Kyiv can move further than they did in the 2022.

    “If the Ukrainian delegation shows up at these talks with a mandate to abandon any ultimatums and look for common ground, I am sure that we could move forward even further than we did,” Izvestia cited Kosachev as saying.

    (Reuters)

  • Flight disruptions continue amid India-Pakistan tensions

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, Air India and IndiGo have cancelled flights to and from key border cities for Tuesday, May 13, prioritizing passenger safety.

    Air India has suspended operations to and from Jammu, Leh, Jodhpur, Amritsar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Chandigarh, and Rajkot.

    IndiGo has also cancelled flights to and from Jammu, Amritsar, Chandigarh, Leh, Srinagar, and Rajkot.

    These cancellations come just a day after 32 airports were reopened for civilian operations following a temporary shutdown due to rising military tensions.

    Tensions escalated after the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 people. India responded with Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Over 100 terrorists linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and Hizbul Mujahideen were reportedly killed.

    Pakistan retaliated with drone and missile strikes, which were intercepted by India’s air defence systems. India then launched further precision strikes on military targets deep inside Pakistan.

    Airlines and the Airports Authority of India closely monitor the situation, with further updates expected as developments unfold. 

    (With IANS inputs)

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Making of subsidiary legislation under Safeguarding National Security Ordinance

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Acting Chief Executive in Council today (May 13) approved the making of the Safeguarding National Security (Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) Regulation (the Regulation) under section 110 of the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) and the making of the Safeguarding National Security (Declaration of Prohibited Places) Order (the Order) by the Acting Chief Executive under section 42 of the SNSO, to provide for specific details in respect of the provisions in Chapter V of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKNSL) concerning the mandate of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (OSNS), in order to fulfil the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR)’s constitutional duty to further improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security. Both pieces of subsidiary legislation were gazetted on the same day and came into effect immediately.

    National security is within the purview of the Central Authorities. Article 48 of the HKNSL provides that the Central People’s Government (CPG) shall establish in the HKSAR the OSNS, which shall perform its mandate for safeguarding national security in accordance with the law. Chapter V of the HKNSL provides for the mandate of the OSNS, including overseeing, guiding, co-ordinating with, and providing support to the HKSAR in the performance of its duties for safeguarding national security. Also, the OSNS shall, upon approval by the CPG, exercise jurisdiction over a case concerning an offence endangering national security under the HKNSL in a circumstance specified in Article 55 of the HKNSL. According to Article 61 of the HKNSL, the relevant departments of the HKSAR Government shall provide necessary facilitation and support to the OSNS in performing its mandate in accordance with the HKNSL, and shall stop any act obstructing the performance of such mandate and hold those who commit such act liable in accordance with the law. The HKSAR Government must perform its constitutional duty to enact local legislation for the better carrying into effect of the relevant provisions of the HKNSL.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Simply Safe & Suitable template Food Control Plan and the Food Notice: Food Service and Food Retail Business Food Control Plan templates issued under section 39

    Source: police-emblem-97

    Have your say

    New Zealand Food Safety invites you to submit feedback on the proposed changes to the:

    • Simply Safe & Suitable template Food Control Plan (FCP)
    • Food Notice: Food Service and Food Retail Business Food Control Plan templates issued under section 39.

    This consultation would be of particular interest to food businesses operating under the Simply Safe & Suitable template FCP, registration authorities, verifiers, and biltong manufacturers.

    A summary of the changes is on this page and full details are in the consultation documents.

    You can make submissions between 13 May and 1 June 2025. Submissions close at 11:59pm on 1 June 2025.

    Consultation document

    Draft Food Notice: Food Service and Food Retail Business Food Control Plan templates issued under section 39 [PDF, 386 KB]

    Only the affected parts of Simply Safe & Suitable are provided. Changes to wording are in yellow, except for the addition of the ‘Making biltong’ card:

    Draft Simply Safe & Suitable template Food Control Plan [PDF, 1.2 MB]

    Related documents

    Current Simply Safe & Suitable template Food Control Plan [PDF, 1.9 MB]

    Current Food Notice: Food Service and Food Retail Business Food Control Plan templates issued under section 39 [PDF, 308 KB]

    Summary of proposed changes to the Simply Safe & Suitable template FCP and the Food Notice [PDF, 280 KB]

    Proposed changes to the Simply Safe & Suitable template FCP

    We’re proposing to add the ‘Making biltong’ card as a specialist card to the Simply Safe & Suitable template FCP.

    New Zealand Food Safety has developed a biltong procedure that will allow biltong manufacturers to operate under a Simply Safe & Suitable template FCP rather than a custom FCP.

    Note: If you are manufacturing and selling biltong outside the scope of the procedure proposed to be added to the Simply Safe & Suitable template FCP, you will need to register a custom FCP with the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). Activities out of scope of this biltong procedure include:

    • whole selling biltong (the ‘Making biltong’ card will only cover retail sale)
    • manufacturing other dried-meat snacks (for example, droëwors)
    • making biltong from other meat sources not mentioned in the ‘Making biltong’ card.

    Minor amendments are also proposed to other cards in the Simply Safe & Suitable template FCP. These are listed in our summary document.

    Proposed changes to the Food Notice

    For the Food Notice: Food Service and Food Retail Business Food Control Plan templates issued under section 39, New Zealand Food Safety is proposing to: 

    • remove reference to S39-00001 template FCP as New Zealand Food Safety no longer offers this
    • revoke the existing Schedule 1 which detailed the format of the S39-00001 template FCP
    • change the existing Schedule 2 to Schedule 1 which details the format of the S39-00004 template FCP
    • update the transitional requirements described in Clause 1.4
    • update Table 1 to reflect changes made.

    Making your submission

    Email your feedback on the proposed changes by 11.59pm on 1 June 2025 to foodactinfo@mpi.govt.nz

    You can also use our online survey to make a submission.

    Online submissions – SurveyMonkey

    While we prefer you email or use the online survey, you can post written submissions to:

    Food Act template project team
    New Zealand Food Safety
    Ministry for Primary Industries
    PO Box 2526
    Wellington 6140.

    Submissions are public information

    Note that all, part, or a summary of your submission may be published on this website. Most often this happens when we issue a document that reviews the submissions received.

    People can also ask for copies of submissions under the Official Information Act 1982 (OIA). The OIA says we must make the content of submissions available unless we have good reason for withholding it. Those reasons are detailed in sections 6 and 9 of the OIA.

    If you think there are grounds to withhold specific information from publication, make this clear in your submission or contact us. Reasons may include that it discloses commercially sensitive or personal information. However, any decision MPI makes to withhold details can be reviewed by the Ombudsman, who may direct us to release it.

    Official Information Act 1982 – NZ Legislation

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Education – 30 Years of responding to the need for mental health and addiction nursing at Whitireia and WelTec

    Source: Whitireia and WelTec

    Whitireia and WelTec are celebrating a 30-year milestone for their New Entry to Specialist Practice: mental health and addiction nursing programme (NESP). The one-year programme combines theory, supported clinical experience, clinical preceptorship and supervision and has been a hugely influential part in supporting communities all the way from Hawkes Bay to Nelson and everywhere in between.
    Over the last three decades NESP has grown exponentially. This no doubt is due to the increasing understanding of mental health and the complex clinical expertise that is required to support the needs of the individuals, as well as their whānau and wider community.
    Carmel Haggerty, Head of School for Health and Wellbeing at Whitireia and WelTec, has been involved with the programme since its inception in 1995. “Over the time that I have been involved, NESP has seen many changes with the programme including having it going from a Graduate Diploma to a Postgraduate Certificate, growing from its initial medical model of delivery to a more nursing focused, context-based learning programme,” says Carmel Haggerty.
    The programme’s flexible, distance-learning structure allows ākonga to work full-time while studying, with regular block courses on campus to consolidate learning and foster connection. This approach has enabled graduates to step into a wide variety of roles, making a tangible difference across the sector.
    Waimarama Durie (Ngāti Kauwhata, Rangitāne, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Raukawa), a 2018 NESP graduate, is a leading example of the varied and impactful careers enabled by the programme. Waimarama’s journey has included roles such as Clinical Nurse Specialist at Mt Eden Corrections Facility, Improving Mental Health Practitioner at Rimutaka Prison, Māori Nurse Educator at Te Rau Ora leading the Huarahi Whakatū PDRP and Āporei (Principal Advisor) at Te Whatu Ora. She credits NESP for equipping her with the skills and confidence to make a real difference, connecting her with like-minded peers, and broadening her approach to holistic, Kaupapa Māori-informed care.
    “One of the most beneficial aspects was working in the field while studying, bringing real-world experiences back to the classroom to learn and grow with peers and teachers,” says Waimarama Durie. “The programme broadened my perspective and encouraged me to seek holistic approaches and integrate Kaupapa Māori into my practice.”
    The programme’s success is a testament to its ongoing responsiveness. Course leaders and tutors are constantly reviewing and updating course content to reflect the latest best practices, Ministry guidelines, and community feedback. A strong emphasis is also placed on the wellbeing of ākonga, who often juggle study commitments while working in challenging environments. This support ensures graduates are not only clinically skilled, but also resilient, culturally competent, and ready to meet the evolving needs of the people they serve.
    Catherine Fuller, Principal Academic Staff Member at Whitireia and WelTec, says “there will always be a need for nurses working in clinical areas, but really the opportunities that come out of this course are as diverse as the workforce at the time and the skills involved are transferable to all industries.”
    Join our Postgraduate intake. Mid-year starting programmes are open for application now: https://www.whitireiaweltec.ac.nz/study-programmes?enrolling=true

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Arts – Ngā Kaituhi Māori NZSA programme recipients 2025

    Source: NZ Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa

    The NZ Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa – Ngā Kaituhi Māori has announced the recipients of its The NZSA Ngā Kaituhi Māori Mentorship and Kupu Kaitiaki Programmes for 2025.

    We are pleased to congratulate the four emerging writers who have each been selected for the Mentor Programme, with a six-month opportunity to work closely with an acclaimed Māori writer as their mentor to hone their tuhituhi ability and, in the process, evolve and refine a work toward a publishable manuscript.

    The four mentor and mentees matchings are Hoani Hakaraia with Cassie Hart; Mereana Latimer with Emma Hislop; Tallullah Cardno with Steph Matuku and Tommy de Silvawith Cassie Hart.

    The two emerging writers selected for the Kupu Kaitiaki Assessment programme for 2025 are Rose Toia and Billy Tangaere, who will receive detailed feedback on their writing and discuss next steps with their manuscript assessor.

    Matua Witi Ihimaera DCNZM QSM (Ngāti Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki), NZSA’s Ngā Kaituhi Māori Chair, says “E ngā kaituhi tātou, ngā mihi. It’s always thrilling to read the work of new writers and to trust to your potential, congratulations, mīharo. And I am always grateful to senior writers like Emma Hislop, Cassie Hart and Steph Matuku who have stepped up to provide the important tuakana-teina relationship that lies at the centre of this NZSA-Ngā Kaituhi Māori kaupapa to nurture new literary stars, he ngākau atawhai o koutou. To those who weren’t successful in your applications to the Mentorship and Assessment programmes, keep trying, I was once in your ranks! Kia kaha to all, kia manawanui.”

    Mentors – Mentees:

    Emma Hislop’s (Kāi Tahu) book of fiction, Ruin and other stories, won the Hubert Church Prize for Fiction, Mātātuhi Foundation Best First Book Award at the 2024 Ockham Awards. She has a Masters in Creative Writing from IIML. In 2023 she was awarded the Michael King Writer’s Centre International Residency at Varuna House, NSW. Emma is part of Te Hā Taranaki, a collective for Māori writers, established in 2019. In 2025 she is herself an Arts Foundation mentee working with Te Tumu Toi Icon Patricia Grace DCNZM QSO. Emma will be mentoring Mereana Latimer.

    Mereana Latimer (Ātiu, Ngā Wairiki, Ngāti Apa) is anchored where ngā hau e whā converge in Te Whanganui-a-Tara. Mereana’s writing has been included in Symposia, Turbine | Kapohau, Sweet Mammalian, takahē, Katūīvei (Massey University Press, 2024) and staged as part of an anthology with thanks to Prayas Theatre. Although a fool for poetry (with thanks to the Lemon Juice Writers’ Group), this mentorship supports Mereana to branch out into long-form prose.

    Steph Matuku (Ngāti Mutunga, Ngāti Tama, Te Atiawa) is a writer from Taranaki and a graduate of Te Papa Tupu. Her first two novels, Flight of the Fantail and Whetū Toa and the Magician were Storylines Notable Books. Whetū Toa was a finalist at the 2019 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. Her recent novel for young adults, Migration, was winner of the NZ Booklovers Award for Best Young Adult Book 2025. Steph will be mentoring Tallulah Cardno.

    Tallulah Cardno (Kāi Tahu, Ngāpuhi) (she/her) is a queer wahine living in Te Whanganui-A-Tara with her partner and young daughter. She comes from a family of writers and has been writing for as long as she can remember. Tallulah’s writing touches on the themes of queerness, motherhood, womanhood, grief, her Māori-Pākehā identity, her journey to reconnect to her Māori heritage, decolonisation, mental health, and relationships. She is a novelist and a poet, and has been published in Awa Wahine.

    Cassie Hart (Kāi Tahu) is an award-winning Māori/Pakeha writer, editor and mentor from Taranaki and graduate of Te Papa Tupu. She writes speculative fiction under her own name as well as a further 10 titles published under pseudonym. She received special recognition for her services to Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror in 2021 with a Sir Julius Vogel award. Cassie will be mentoring both Tommy de Silva and Hoani Hakaraia.

    Ko Tame de Silva tooku ingoa. He uri teenei noo Ngaati Te Ata me Te Waiohua. I’m a rangatahi freelance writer – with mahi published by Waipapa Taumata Rau, The Spinoff, and Lonely Planet – who hails from the scenic shores of Taamaki Makaurau. Through this tuakana-teina experience I hope to expand my writing arsenal by learning how to write fiction. Learning the ropes of how to put pen to paper to write a novel is a dream come true!

    Hoani Hakaraia: He uri tēnei nō ngā iwi ō Tainui waka (Ngāti Raukawa te au ki te Tonga, Ngāti Wehi Wehi) me Te Arawa (Ngāti Whakaue, Ngāti Pikiao). I am a product of kohanga reo, whānau, hapū, iwi, and marae. Growing up in Ōtaki I have always been awed by the epic tales of Tāwhaki and Mauī. I never wanted to be a writer, but it seems my mother might have birthed a storyteller anyway. I never wanted to be a writer, but inspired by the stories of worlds’ dystopian and fantastic in books, on screens, and in the real histories of the South Pacific and beyond, I seek the skills to create a new story that provides a space for self-reflection and inspiration.

    Kupu Kaitiaki Assessment Recipients:

    Eva Rose Toia (Ngāpuhi) is a corporate writer in a kaupapa Māori organisation and has a background in transcription, editing, and language accessibility. Her career has centred on crafting clear writing that supports others in their mahi. She’s now using those skills to contribute to kaupapa that matter to her: the future of te reo Māori, and how we revive and protect the stories of our whānau, hapū, and marae. She has a growing interest in the impact of technology on indigenous peoples, and is drafting a memoir exploring relationships, intimacy, and identity. She writes with care, is fascinated by the stories held in a single word, and loves how language can change minds.

    Billy Tangaere (Ngāti Porou) is a former soldier, artist, and MBA graduate whose words rise from the embers of a brutal past and soar toward ancestral light. In TOHU: A Journey of Healing, he walks the path of redemption with raw honesty, spiritual depth, and the unwavering strength of Māori wisdom. It answers the universal question on everyone’s lips: Who am I? Where do I belong? What is my calling? It is a story of self-discovery, healing, and redemption. Through the Māori lens of ancient knowing, Billy guides readers home—to their roots, their calling, and the stars where their ancestors wait. His story is not just his own—it is a mirror for all who seek healing, identity, and the courage to remember who they truly are. Seek the power of your roots.

    The NZSA Kaituhi Māori Mentorship Programme was established to foster and develop emerging writing talent around New Zealand with the support of established authors. The programme aims to support the amplification of Māori voices and Māori stories, and ultimately see greater publication and performance of these works. There are four spaces in the programme each year.  

    NZSA Kupu Kaitiaki Programme was established to provide new and emerging kaituhi with valuable feedback and a detailed manuscript assessment from a skilled Kupu Kaitiaki, working to refine and develop a manuscript. There are two places available annually.

    These two programmes are recent additions to The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa’s successful mentoring and assessment programmes for writers that have been running for over 30 years, and are an invaluable pipeline that nurtures emerging talent and helps new writers craft their manuscripts and build their skills.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Transport – Everyone can help make our roads safer

    Source: Ia Ara Aotearoa Transporting New Zealand

    The theme of this week’s Road Safety Week is Be a Road Safety Hero and Transporting New Zealand has some tips for getting your superhero cape on.
    CEO Dom Kalasih says everybody can help make the roads safer, from truckies in the big rigs, to motorists and cyclists.
    In particular, he says some key things make the roads much safer for everyone.
    “The roads are truckie’s workplaces, and they want them to be as safe as they can be for everyone,” he says.
    “A bit of patience and courtesy go a huge way to making sure everyone has a good trip.”
    Four top safety tips around trucks are;
    Leave the gap.
    Don’t pull in front of a truck just because there’s a space. Truck drivers like a decent space in front because they take about twice the distance to stop than a car does.
    Make yourself seen.
    Trucks have blindspots. If you can’t see their wing mirrors, they can’t see you. And if it’s wet, put on your car lights so you stand out behind the spray that gets kicked up.. Cyclists can help by wearing some fluro. There are a few riders who think dressing in black like a ninja at night is a good idea. It’s really not.
    It’s SH1, not F1
    Trucks legally can only do 90 km/h. If you want to pass, give yourself plenty of space if you’re using a passing lane. You might have 40 metres to pass so make sure there is plenty of space for you and anybody else who plans on getting through by the time the passing lane ends.
    Here’s an example of what not to do, taken on a road outside Rotorua. https://bit.ly/Far_too_tight
    Tired? Pull over
    Feeling sleepy? Find a safe place to pull over and have a micro-rest. The AA says a 15-20 minute power nap provides the brain with the best pick-me-up. Some water and a banana are always handy for keeping energised.
    More information on Road Safety Week is here

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Media release: Australian oil and gas sector congratulates Opposition Leader Sussan Ley – Australian Energy Producers

    Source: Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association

    Headline: Media release: Australian oil and gas sector congratulates Opposition Leader Sussan Ley – Australian Energy Producers

    Australia’s oil and gas industry congratulates Sussan Ley on her appointment as Leader of the Opposition and Ted O’Brien on his appointment as Deputy Leader.

    Australian Energy Producers Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said the industry looked forward to working with the Coalition on policies that deliver more gas supply and investment to ensure Australian households and businesses have reliable and affordable energy.

    “Sussan Ley brings significant experience and leadership to this role and understands the critical role of natural gas in Australia’s economic and energy security,” Ms McCulloch said.

    “Similarly, as Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Ted O’Brien championed the role of gas in Australia’s long-term energy mix and advocated for the inclusion of gas in the Capacity Investment Scheme.”

    Ms McCulloch said industry welcomed the Coalition’s pre-election commitment to bring on more gas supply by streamlining environmental approvals, protecting critical energy projects from lawfare, including gas in the Capacity Investment Scheme, and supporting investment in gas infrastructure.

    Industry stands ready to work with both major parties to implement bipartisan policies that will:

    • Boost Australian gas supply to ease cost of living pressures
    • Restore Australia’s global competitiveness for investment
    • Deliver real emissions reductions with gas and carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS)
    • Remain a reliable energy partner in our region

    “Australia has abundant gas resources, yet we face gas shortfalls this decade due to regulatory uncertainty, approval delays and policy interventions that have delayed new gas supply and damaged Australia’s investment competitiveness.

    “Addressing these risks must be a priority for the new Parliament,” Ms McCulloch said.

    Media contact: 0434 631 511

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • Outlining India’s doctrinal shift to hard-nosed message for Pak: Read PM Modi’s full address to nation

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, in a powerful televised address to the nation, minced no words in criticising Pakistan and its terror-supporting tactics while underlining that ‘Operation Sindoor’ is the country’s policy against terror, making it clear that terror and trade, terror and talk cannot happen together while water and blood can’t also flow at the same time. The Prime Minister’s hard-hitting address came close on the heels of the Indian Armed Forces’ successful ‘Operation Sindoor’, which targeted terror launchpads in Pakistan as well as Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in retaliation to the dastardly April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 innocent lives of civilians.

    Here is the full text of PM Modi’s special address to the nation.

    My dear countrymen, Namaskar!

    In the past days, we all have witnessed both the strength and patience of our country. First of all, on behalf of the people of India, I salute the valiant forces of India, the armed forces, our intelligence agencies, and our scientists. Our brave soldiers displayed immense courage to achieve the objectives of Operation Sindoor. I pay tribute to their bravery, courage and valour. I dedicate this valour to every mother, every sister and every daughter of the country.

    Friends,

    The barbarity displayed by terrorists in Pahalgam on April 22 had shocked the entire country and the world. The merciless killing of innocent citizens in front of their family and their children on the basis of their religion was a very gruesome face of terror and cruelty. This was also a disgusting attempt to break the harmony and unity of the country.

    For me, personally, this was very painful. After this terrorist attack, the entire nation, every citizen, every community, every class, every political party, unitedly stood up for strong action against terrorism. We gave full freedom to the Indian forces to wipe out the terrorists. And today every terrorist, every terror organisation knows the consequence of wiping out the Sindoor of our sisters and daughters.

    Friends,

    Operation Sindoor is not just a name but it’s a reflection of the feelings of millions of people of the country. Operation ‘Sindoor’ is our unwavering commitment to justice. In the late night of 6th May, and in the early morning of 7th May, the whole world saw this pledge turn into reality. Indian forces attacked terror hideouts in Pakistan and their training centres with precision.

    The terrorists had never imagined that India could take such a big decision. But when the country is united, endowed with the spirit of Nation First and national interest is paramount, then strong decisions are taken and results are achieved.

    When India’s missiles and drones attacked terrorist bases in Pakistan, not only the buildings of terrorist organizations but their courage also was shaken badly.

    Terrorist bases, like Bahawalpur and Muridke are universities of global terrorism. The big terrorist attacks of the world, be it 9/11, be it London Tube bombings, or the big terrorist attacks which have happened in India in the last many decades their roots are somehow connected to these terrorist hideouts.

    The terrorists had wiped out the Sindoor of our sisters and India responded by destroying their terrorist headquarters. More than 100 dreaded terrorists have been killed in these attacks by India.

    Many terrorist leaders were roaming freely in Pakistan for the last two and a half to three decades who used to conspire against India. India killed them in one stroke.

    Friends,

    Pakistan was deeply disappointed and frustrated by this action of India.

    It was bewildered and in this bewilderment it did another cowardly act. Instead of supporting India’s strike against terrorism, Pakistan started attacking India itself.

    Pakistan targeted our schools, colleges, Gurdwaras, temples and houses of civilians. Pakistan targeted our military base.

    But in this act Pakistan itself got exposed. The world saw how Pakistan’s drones and missiles fell like straws in front of India. India’s strong air defence system destroyed them in the sky itself.

    Pakistan had prepared for an attack on the border, but India struck at the heart of Pakistan. India’s drones and missiles attacked with precision. They damaged those airbases of the Pakistani Air Forces, of which Pakistan was very proud. India caused heavy damage to Pakistan in the first three days itself, which it had never imagined. That’s why after India’s aggressive action, Pakistan started looking for ways to escape.

    Pakistan was pleading to the world to ease tensions. And after suffering heavy losses, Pakistan’s army contacted our DGMO on the afternoon of 10th May. By then we had destroyed the infrastructure of terrorism on a large scale.

    The terrorists were eliminated. We had destroyed the terror camps established in the heart of Pakistan. Therefore, when Pakistan appealed and said that it will not indulge in any sort of terror activities or military audacity further, India considered it.

    And I am repeating again, we have just suspended our retaliatory action against Pakistan’s terror and military camps. In the coming days we will measure every step of Pakistan on the criterion that what sort of attitude Pakistan will adopt ahead.

    Friends,

    India’s three forces, our Air Force, our Army and our Navy, our Border Security Force – BSF, India’s paramilitary forces, are constantly on alert. After the surgical strike and air strike, now Operation Sindoor is India’s policy against terrorism. Operation Sindoor has carved out a new benchmark in our fight against terrorism and has set up a new parameter and new normal.

    First, if there is a terrorist attack on India, a fitting reply will be given.

    We will give a befitting response on our terms only. We will take strict action at every place from where the roots of terrorism emerge.

    Secondly, India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail. India will strike precisely and decisively at the terrorist hideouts developing under the cover of nuclear blackmail.

    Thirdly, we will not differentiate between the government sponsoring terrorism and the masterminds of terrorism. During Operation Sindoor the world has again seen the ugly face of Pakistan, when top Pakistani army officers came to bid farewell to the slain terrorists. This is strong evidence of state-sponsored terrorism.We will continue to take decisive steps to protect India and our citizens from any threat.

    Friends,

    We have defeated Pakistan every time on the battlefield. And this time Operation Sindoor has added a new dimension. We have displayed our capabilities in the deserts and mountains and also proved our superiority in New Age Warfare. During this operation the authenticity of our Made in India weapons were also proven. Today the world is witnessing that in 21st century warfare the time has come for Made in India defense equipment.

    Friends,

    Our greatest strength is our unity against all forms of terrorism. This is certainly not the era of war but this is also not the era of terrorism. Zero tolerance against terrorism is the guarantee for a better world.

    Friends,

    The way the Pakistani army, Pakistan government are encouraging terrorism, it will destroy Pakistan one day. If Pakistan wants to survive, it will have to destroy its terror infrastructure. There is no other way to peace. India’s stand is very clear… Terror and talks cannot go together… Terror and trade cannot go together…. Water and blood cannot flow together.

    Today, I would also like to tell the global community that our stated policy has been: if there are talks with Pakistan, it will be only on terrorism; and if there are talks with Pakistan, it will be only on Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

    Dear countrymen,

    Today is Buddha Purnima. Lord Buddha has shown us the path of peace. The path of peace also goes through power. Humanity should move towards peace and prosperity. Every Indian should be able to live in peace, and can fulfill the dream of Viksit Bharat (Developed India). For this, it is very necessary for India to be powerful. And it is also necessary to use this power when required. And in the last few days, India has done just that.

    Once again, I salute the Indian Army and Armed forces. I bow to the courage of every Indian, to the oath and resolve of unity of the people of India.

    Thank you, Bharat Mata ki Jai!!! Bharat Mata ki Jai!!! Bharat Mata ki Jai!!!

    (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China and LAC countries to deepen building of community of shared destiny

    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

    BEIJING, May 13 (Xinhua) — China and Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries will jointly deepen and thoroughly advance the building of a community with a shared future, said Qiu Xiaoqi, special representative of the Chinese government for Latin American affairs.

    He made the statement ahead of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States).

    Chinese President Xi Jinping will deliver a keynote speech at the opening ceremony and unveil new initiatives and measures to further strengthen ties. China and LAC countries are expected to make progress in a wide range of areas, including scientific and technological innovation, trade and investment, and artificial intelligence (AI).

    China and LAC countries will take a retrospective look at their original aspirations, pool consensus, and jointly map out future plans, Qiu Xiaoqi said.

    Qiu Xiaoqi recalled that in July 2014, Xi Jinping and LAC leaders announced the establishment of the China-CELAC Forum. In January 2015, the forum held its first ministerial meeting in Beijing, turning the vision of cooperation into reality.

    Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the first meeting of the forum, where he provided strategic guidance and laid a solid foundation for the successful launch of the forum and its long-term development.

    Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to the second ministerial meeting of the forum in 2018, calling on the two sides to reach political consensus on cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative. In 2021, he delivered a video message to the third ministerial meeting, charting a course for promoting high-quality development of China-LAC relations in the new era, Qiu Xiaoqi said.

    He said that thanks to Xi Jinping’s personal care and leadership and the joint efforts of all parties, the China-CELAC Forum is becoming more and more mature.

    The mechanism of this forum has formed a comprehensive, multi-level and multi-vector network of dialogue and cooperation, becoming an important platform for strengthening political trust, linking development strategies and promoting the rapprochement of peoples.

    He added that the forum also played an important role in promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for China and the LAC, as well as enhancing the influence of countries in the Global South.

    Through a range of institutional mechanisms such as ministerial meetings, dialogue between the Chinese and CELAC Quartet Foreign Ministers, and meetings of national coordinators, the forum has developed a growing number of specialized sub-forums, ranging from political party sub-forums to business sub-forums.

    “The China-CELAC Forum has become a key platform for building political consensus, putting forward important initiatives and measures, formulating action plans and evaluating results. It has played an important and active role in promoting China-LAC cooperation in various fields,” Qiu Xiaoqi said.

    Over the past decade, the forum has witnessed leaps and bounds in China-LAC relations, Qiu Xiaoqi noted, detailing five features that currently characterize China-LAC relations.

    First, bilateral relations have improved. Panama, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Nicaragua, and Honduras have established or renewed diplomatic relations with China, and of the 26 countries in the region that have diplomatic relations with China, 16 have established various forms of partnership with China.

    Second, the confluence of interests has brought new results. More than 20 LAC countries have joined the Belt and Road Initiative. China is now the second-largest trading partner of Latin America and the Caribbean, and the largest trading partner for several countries in the region, with free trade agreements signed with five countries.

    According to Qiu Xiaoqi, trade volume between China and countries in the region reached US$518.4 billion last year, more than double the volume of a decade ago.

    Third, the peoples have become closer than ever. LAC countries have widely supported the Global Civilization Initiative. The China-LAC Forum on Dialogue of Civilizations has been held seven times, demonstrating closer people-to-people exchanges between the two sides.

    Fourth, their cooperation in the international arena has made further progress. Adhering to mutual respect and taking into account each other’s core interests and concerns, China and LAC countries maintain close communication through platforms such as the United Nations (UN) and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), working together to advance global governance reform and safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

    Fifth, a new framework for overall cooperation has been established. With improved mechanisms, the China-CELAC Forum has become the main channel for interaction between the two sides.

    Qiu Xiaoqi stressed that it has become a common aspiration to elevate relations between China and LAC countries to a higher level.

    China will make use of the China-CELAC Forum and promote high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

    According to Qiu Xiaoqi, priority areas will be expanding transport connectivity, promoting trade and investment, deepening cooperation in manufacturing capacity, strengthening cooperation in aerospace and artificial intelligence, and strengthening exchanges on public administration.

    Qiu Xiaoqi stressed that China, Latin America and the Caribbean are some of the most dynamic and promising countries and regions in the world and are vital parts of the global South.

    Strengthening their solidarity and cooperation will not only help build a vast trans-Pacific market and support each other in resisting unilateralism and protectionism, but will also give a sustainable impetus to their development and make an important contribution to world peace and development, he said.

    Qiu Xiaoqi concluded that by taking the opportunity of jointly hosting the fourth China-CELAC Forum Ministerial Meeting, China and LAC countries will demonstrate solidarity and cooperation, strengthen bilateral ties, bring certainty to a troubled world, and contribute to the development and progress of mankind.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Choi Yuk-lin heads to Korea

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin will begin her visit to Korea today where in addition to touring Jeju and Seoul, she will attend the 7th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Education Ministerial Meeting (AEMM) in Jeju.

     

    Ms Choi will speak at thematic sessions at this year’s AEMM, which is on the theme of “Bridging Educational Gaps & Promoting Sustainable Growth in the Era of Digital Transformation”.

     

    The education chief will introduce Hong Kong’s advantages as an international hub for post-secondary education, and share the developments and achievements in the city’s digital education.

     

    Ms Choi also plans to exchange views with education ministers of the APEC economies.

     

    Additionally, she will visit local schools to learn about Korea’s latest developments in education before concluding her tour on May 16.

     

    During Ms Choi’s absence, Under Secretary for Education Sze Chun-fai will be Acting Secretary.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Money Market Operations as on May 09, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India
    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)
      Volume
    (One Leg)    		 Weighted
    Average Rate    		 Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 6,06,871.68 5.70 0.01-6.85
         I. Call Money 14,822.00 5.84 4.90-6.00
         II. Triparty Repo 3,92,344.05 5.79 5.70-6.00
         III. Market Repo 1,97,907.63 5.51 0.01-6.15
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 1,798.00 5.96 5.90-6.85
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 65.10 5.86 5.35-5.90
         II. Term Money@@ 1,045.00 – 5.70-6.18
         III. Triparty Repo 7,724.00 5.92 5.85-6.00
         IV. Market Repo 0.00 – –
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00 – –
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo Fri, 09/05/2025 4 Tue, 13/05/2025 7,417.00 6.01
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Fri, 09/05/2025 1 Sat, 10/05/2025 552.00 6.25
      Fri, 09/05/2025 2 Sun, 11/05/2025 0.00 6.25
      Fri, 09/05/2025 3 Mon, 12/05/2025 0.00 6.25
      Fri, 09/05/2025 4 Tue, 13/05/2025 0.00 6.25
    4. SDFΔ# Fri, 09/05/2025 1 Sat, 10/05/2025 2,04,212.00 5.75
      Fri, 09/05/2025 2 Sun, 11/05/2025 53.00 5.75
      Fri, 09/05/2025 3 Mon, 12/05/2025 3,414.00 5.75
      Fri, 09/05/2025 4 Tue, 13/05/2025 5,621.00 5.75
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -2,05,331.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo Fri, 02/05/2025 14 Fri, 16/05/2025 149.00 6.01
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo Thu, 17/04/2025 43 Fri, 30/05/2025 25,731.00 6.01
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       8,709.21  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     34,589.21  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -1,70,741.79  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on May 09, 2025 9,32,300.52  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending May 16, 2025 9,41,653.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ May 09, 2025 7,417.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on April 18, 2025 2,02,749.00  
    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.
    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
    & As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
    Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
    ¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
    # As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
    ^ As per the Press Release No. 2025-2026/91 dated April 11, 2025.
    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2025-2026/307

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI China: Abstract of white paper on China’s national security in new era 2025-05-12 23:24:42 The Information Office of China’s State Council on Monday issued a white paper titled “China’s National Security in the New Era.”

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

    BEIJING, May 12 (Xinhua) — The Information Office of China’s State Council on Monday issued a white paper titled “China’s National Security in the New Era.” An abstract is as follows:

    In the new era, the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core creatively proposed a holistic approach to national security, established a national security commission under the CPC Central Committee, comprehensively deepened the reform of the system and mechanisms for national security, and accelerated the modernization of the national security system and capabilities.

    China’s national security in the new era is one that takes the people’s security as its ultimate goal, political security as the fundamental task, and national interests as the guiding principle.

    It is also one that serves and promotes high-quality development, supports further expansion of high-level opening up, and operates under the rule of law. China coordinates its own security and common security, opposes the generalization of security, does not implement security coercion, and does not accept threats and pressure. The country adheres to independence and self-confidence and the path of national security with Chinese characteristics.

    I. China injects certainty and stability into a world of change and disorder

    Currently, China has entered a critical period of building itself into a stronger country and rejuvenating the Chinese nation on all fronts by pursuing Chinese modernization. Facing the complex situation of deepening adverse effects brought by changes in the external environment and increasing internal risks and challenges, China pursues a national rejuvenation strategy amid global changes of a scale unseen in a century. The country has maintained overall stability and steady progress in national security. China works together with Asia-Pacific countries to uphold regional peace and development. These inject stability into a volatile and unstable world.

    II. A holistic approach to national security guides national security efforts in the new era

    A holistic approach to national security fully draws on the essence of fine traditional Chinese culture and systematically summarizes the theoretical achievements and practical experiences of the CPC in safeguarding national security. It is the first major strategic thinking established as the guiding principle for national security efforts since the founding of the People’s Republic of China. It is an important component of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and represents a major theoretical contribution from contemporary China to the global community.

    A holistic approach to national security emphasizes taking the people’s security as its ultimate goal, political security as the fundamental task, economic security as the foundation, military, technological, cultural, and social security as the guarantee, and promoting international security as the support. It takes coordinated steps to ensure development and security, external and internal security, homeland and public security, traditional and non-traditional security, and China’s own security and common security. It both upholds national security and creates the conditions for ensuring it. With this new security architecture, China will be able to better safeguard its new pattern of development.

    III. Providing solid support for the steady and continued progress of Chinese modernization

    In the new era, focusing on achieving national strategic goals and implementing a holistic approach to national security, China’s national security firmly fulfills the major responsibilities entrusted by the Party and the people. It upholds the Party’s position as the governing party and the socialist system, improves the people’s sense of fulfillment, happiness and security, ensures high-quality development, safeguards national territorial integrity and maritime rights and interests, and ensures the safety and reliability of emerging fields. It forestalls and defuses various risks in the process of advancing Chinese modernization, fortifies the security shield essential to the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and provides strategic support for promoting world peace and development.

    IV. Reinforcing security in development and pursuing development in security

    In the new era, China has clearly identified the coordination of development and security as one of the major principles of governance, integrating it into the overall framework of economic and social development. The country remains unwavering in advancing high-quality development as its “primary task” while prioritizing the safeguarding of national security as its “paramount mission.” By unifying development and security, China ensures they are jointly planned, holistically deployed, and mutually reinforced.

    As China continues to grow by coordinating opening up and security, its door will only open wider. The nation emphasizes leveraging international rules to uphold security while opening up, drawing on global best practices to accelerate the establishment of modernized risk prevention and control mechanisms. It is refining institutional frameworks to guard against external risks while remaining committed to opening up, fostering synergy between openness and security.

    V. Implementing the Global Security Initiative and promoting the common security of the world

    The Global Security Initiative advocated by China addresses the urgent need of the international community to uphold world peace and prevent conflicts. It echoes the shared aspirations of the vast majority of nations for win-win cooperation over hegemony and bullying, aligning with humanity’s common pursuit of lasting peace and universal security. The initiative offers a new pathway to eliminate the root causes of international conflicts, tackle global security challenges, and improve global security governance.

    China advocates strengthening global security governance by practicing the principle of achieving shared growth through discussion and collaboration in engaging in global governance. It upholds true multilateralism, promotes adherence to international law, and drives reforms to make the global security governance system fairer, more equitable, and responsive to the will and interests of the majority of countries. This approach better meets practical needs in addressing global challenges.

    VI. Advancing the modernization of the national security system and capacity through deepening reforms

    On its new journey in the new era, China is comprehensively deepening reforms with greater emphasis on coordinating development and security, elevating the priority of safeguarding national security, and accelerating the modernization of its national security system and capacity. By 2035, China aims to fully strengthen the system and capacity, creating a robust security shield for the basic realization of socialist modernization. A unified blueprint has been laid across four dimensions: the national security system, public security governance mechanisms, social governance systems, and foreign-related national security mechanisms.

    Guided by reform and innovation, and focusing on systematic and institutional improvements, China is refining its national security mechanisms. It emphasizes synergy and efficiency, law-based thinking, technological empowerment, and grassroots foundations to achieve a healthy interaction between high-quality development and high-level security.

    In the new era, China’s national security has evolved through comprehensive reform, grown through great struggles, and strengthened through Chinese modernization. As the nation strives toward building a strong country and national rejuvenation, it remains committed to safeguarding its hard-won security, protecting people’s safety, and upholding global peace. China will continue to lead the way in peaceful development, promote global stability and prosperity, and work hand in hand with all other nations to build, share, and sustain international common security and strive for a world of lasting peace and universal security. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China releases emblem commemorating 80th anniv. of victory in war against Japanese aggression

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

    China releases emblem commemorating 80th anniv. of victory in war against Japanese aggression

    Xinhua | May 13, 2025

    China’s State Council Information Office on Tuesday unveiled an emblem commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

    Highlighting a striking yellow number “80” in the center, the emblem also features symbolic elements of the Great Wall, olive branches, brilliance, and “1945-2025.”

    The Great Wall symbolizes the spirit of the Chinese people uniting together and fighting with courage, representing the decisive role of a national spirit to which patriotism is central in the victory of the war against Japanese aggression.

    The olive branches demonstrate that after an arduous war of resistance, the Chinese people have won peace with victory, and that the Chinese people unite with people of all other countries to cherish and safeguard peace.

    A “gate of victory” formed by brilliance symbolizes that the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War is a victory of justice over evil, light over darkness, and progress over reaction. It indicates that the country has bright prospects for realizing national rejuvenation under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China.

    The emblem may be used in decorations for events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, as well as in the production of materials for publicity, educational activities, and relevant foreign affairs events, according to the office.

    Fighting from 1931 to 1945, the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression began the earliest and lasted the longest. As the main theater in the East of the World Anti-Fascist War, China served as the mainstay of resistance against Japanese militarism, making pivotal contribution to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Unions barred from Budget 2025 lock-up

    Source:

    The New Zealand Council of Trade Unions Te Kauae Kaimahi has sent an open letter to the Government objecting to its decision to block the NZCTU and other unions from attending the Budget lock-up on 22 May.

    “We object in the strongest possible terms to the Government’s decision to bar the NZCTU from the Budget 2025 lock-up. The NZCTU represents over 300,000 workers across the private and public sectors and is the largest democratic organisation in New Zealand,” said NZCTU President Richard Wagstaff.

    “Workers will be significantly impacted by the decisions made by government at Budget 2025, and it is important that the NZCTU can accurately report on Budget decisions to ensure working people are properly briefed.

    “This Government appears to believe the banks, international financial institutions, and consulting houses are more important than working people, and it seems that is why the representatives of working people have been denied access.

    “Last week the Government made the highly controversial decision to unilaterally gut the pay equity claims process. It is therefore unsurprising that it doesn’t want working people to understand the rationale and impacts of its Budget decisions this year,” said Wagstaff.

    Read the open letter below:

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal crash: Takapau

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police can confirm a person has died following a crash on State Highway 2 near Takapau this morning.

    Emergency services were called to the two vehicle crash just before 7.30am.

    One person died at the scene.

    The Serious Crash Unit attended and enquiries are ongoing to determine the circumstances of the crash.

    The road has since reopened.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –