Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense
BEIJING, July 14 (Xinhua) — Journalists from home and abroad are welcome to cover the commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing.
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Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China invites journalists from home, abroad to cover victory anniversary events in Beijing
BEIJING, July 14 — Journalists from home and abroad are welcome to cover the commemorative events marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War in Beijing.
An online registration system will be available at http://kzjn80reg.zgjx.cn from July 15 to July 29, 2025.
Foreign journalists as well as those from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan are welcome to submit their accreditation applications through the system.
To facilitate media coverage, a press center will be set up in Beijing during the events, providing services including hosting press conferences and briefings, coordinating interviews, and offering news updates via an official website and WeChat account.
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 14, 2025.
Washington’s war demands – Australia risks being dragged into a conflict with China over Taiwan
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University Andy. LIU/Shutterstock The United States can count on Australia as one of its closest allies. Dating back to the shared experiences in the second world war and the ANZUS Treaty signed in 1951, Australia has steadfastly
Women played key roles in Syria’s revolution. Now they’ve been pushed to the margins
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kinda Alsamara, Lecturer in the School of Languages and Cultures, The University of Queensland The end of the oppressive Assad regime in Syria in late 2024 has been broadly welcomed on the global stage – underscored by the fact the United States and European Union have now
Music is at the forefront of AI disruption, but NZ artists still have few protections
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dave Carter, Associate Professor, School of Music and Screen Arts, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University Getty Images Was the recent Velvet Sundown phenomenon a great music and media hoax, a sign of things to come, or just another example of what’s already happening ? In
Cycling can be 4 times more efficient than walking. A biomechanics expert explains why
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Blazevich, Professor of Biomechanics, Edith Cowan University You’re standing at your front door, facing a five kilometre commute to work. But you don’t have your car, and there’s no bus route. You can walk for an hour – or jump on your bicycle and arrive in
‘You become a target’: research shows why many people who experience racism don’t report it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mario Peucker, Associate Professor and Principal Research Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, Victoria University The way racism manifests itself may have changed over time, but it remains a persistent problem in Australia. The 2024 Reconciliation Barometer found a significant increase in racism against First
Even a day off alcohol makes a difference – our timeline maps the health benefits when you stop drinking
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicole Lee, Adjunct Professor at the National Drug Research Institute (Melbourne based), Curtin University d3sign/Getty Alcohol has many negative effects on our health, some of which may surprise you. These include short-term impacts such as waking up with a pounding head or anxiety, to long-term effects including
What’s happened to Australia’s green hydrogen dream? Here are 5 reasons the industry has floundered
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Reeve, Program Director, Energy and Climate Change, Grattan Institute An official from German energy supplier Eon with Fortescue founder Andrew Forrest after inking a deal in 2022 to supply green hydrogen from Australia to Germany. Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images As the world looks for
Soaring house prices may be locking people into marriages, new research shows
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Whelan, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Sydney GAS-photo/Shutterstock House prices continued to rise across Australia in June, recent data shows. Nationally, prices have risen about 38% in the past five years. Higher housing prices are simply one contributor, albeit a very important one, to the
Can’t work out without music? Neither could the ancient Greeks and Romans
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Konstantine Panegyres, Lecturer in Classics and Ancient History, The University of Western Australia Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA These days when you see people exercising, they’re usually also listening to music, whether they’re at the gym, or out jogging on the street. It makes sense, as studies have
The Bradbury Group features Palestinian journalist Yousef Aljamal, Middle East report and political panel
Asia Pacific Report In the new weekly political podcast, The Bradbury Group, last night presenter Martyn Bradbury talked with visiting Palestinian journalist Dr Yousef Aljamal. They assess the current situation in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and what New Zealand should be doing. As Bradbury, publisher of The Daily Blog, notes, “Fourth Estate public broadcasting
Author David Robie tells of outrage over sinking of the Rainbow Warrior 40 years ago
RNZ News Nights Tomorrow marks 40 years since the bombing and sinking of the Rainbow Warrior — a moment that changed the course of New Zealand’s history and reshaped how we saw ourselves on the world stage. Two French agents planted two explosives on the ship, then just before midnight, explosions ripped through the hull
ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on July 14, 2025.
Washington’s war demands – Australia risks being dragged into a conflict with China over Taiwan
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University Andy. LIU/Shutterstock The United States can count on Australia as one of its closest allies. Dating back to the shared experiences in the second world war and the ANZUS Treaty signed in 1951, Australia has steadfastly
Women played key roles in Syria’s revolution. Now they’ve been pushed to the margins
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kinda Alsamara, Lecturer in the School of Languages and Cultures, The University of Queensland The end of the oppressive Assad regime in Syria in late 2024 has been broadly welcomed on the global stage – underscored by the fact the United States and European Union have now
Music is at the forefront of AI disruption, but NZ artists still have few protections
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dave Carter, Associate Professor, School of Music and Screen Arts, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University Getty Images Was the recent Velvet Sundown phenomenon a great music and media hoax, a sign of things to come, or just another example of what’s already happening ? In
Cycling can be 4 times more efficient than walking. A biomechanics expert explains why
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anthony Blazevich, Professor of Biomechanics, Edith Cowan University You’re standing at your front door, facing a five kilometre commute to work. But you don’t have your car, and there’s no bus route. You can walk for an hour – or jump on your bicycle and arrive in
‘You become a target’: research shows why many people who experience racism don’t report it
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mario Peucker, Associate Professor and Principal Research Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, Victoria University The way racism manifests itself may have changed over time, but it remains a persistent problem in Australia. The 2024 Reconciliation Barometer found a significant increase in racism against First
Even a day off alcohol makes a difference – our timeline maps the health benefits when you stop drinking
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nicole Lee, Adjunct Professor at the National Drug Research Institute (Melbourne based), Curtin University d3sign/Getty Alcohol has many negative effects on our health, some of which may surprise you. These include short-term impacts such as waking up with a pounding head or anxiety, to long-term effects including
What’s happened to Australia’s green hydrogen dream? Here are 5 reasons the industry has floundered
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Alison Reeve, Program Director, Energy and Climate Change, Grattan Institute An official from German energy supplier Eon with Fortescue founder Andrew Forrest after inking a deal in 2022 to supply green hydrogen from Australia to Germany. Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images As the world looks for
Soaring house prices may be locking people into marriages, new research shows
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Stephen Whelan, Associate Professor of Economics, University of Sydney GAS-photo/Shutterstock House prices continued to rise across Australia in June, recent data shows. Nationally, prices have risen about 38% in the past five years. Higher housing prices are simply one contributor, albeit a very important one, to the
Can’t work out without music? Neither could the ancient Greeks and Romans
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Konstantine Panegyres, Lecturer in Classics and Ancient History, The University of Western Australia Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA These days when you see people exercising, they’re usually also listening to music, whether they’re at the gym, or out jogging on the street. It makes sense, as studies have
The Bradbury Group features Palestinian journalist Yousef Aljamal, Middle East report and political panel
Asia Pacific Report In the new weekly political podcast, The Bradbury Group, last night presenter Martyn Bradbury talked with visiting Palestinian journalist Dr Yousef Aljamal. They assess the current situation in Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza and what New Zealand should be doing. As Bradbury, publisher of The Daily Blog, notes, “Fourth Estate public broadcasting
Author David Robie tells of outrage over sinking of the Rainbow Warrior 40 years ago
RNZ News Nights Tomorrow marks 40 years since the bombing and sinking of the Rainbow Warrior — a moment that changed the course of New Zealand’s history and reshaped how we saw ourselves on the world stage. Two French agents planted two explosives on the ship, then just before midnight, explosions ripped through the hull
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University
The United States can count on Australia as one of its closest allies.
Dating back to the shared experiences in the second world war and the ANZUS Treaty signed in 1951, Australia has steadfastly worked to help ensure the US remains the principal security guarantor in the Indo-Pacific.
Australia’s track record speaks for itself. Yet additional demands are being placed that rankle.
The Pentagon wants to know how Australia – and other allies such as Japan – would respond in the event of a war with China over Taiwan.
Making these demands – which are being sought as part of the review of the AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement – is both unjustified and unreasonable.
Since federation in 1901, Australians have found themselves alongside US counterparts in almost all the major conflicts of the 20th century and beyond.
It is this shared experience that led former Ambassador to Washington, Joe Hockey, to coin the term “100 years of mateship”.
The pinnacle of the security relationship is the ANZUS Treaty which is a loosely worded document barely 800 words long.
However, it is important to remember AUKUS is just that – a technical agreement, albeit premised on the century-spanning trusted collaboration across the full spectrum of national security ties.
More recently, the US administration has made demands of allies, including Australia, the likes of which have not been seen in living memory.
This spans not just tariffs, but also increased defence spending. American policymakers appear oblivious or unconcerned about the blowback they are generating.
It is this context which makes the US demands for a broad-ranging and largely open-ended commitment over the defence of Taiwan, in advance of any conflict, so extraordinary and unhelpful.
Australia has long had a fear of abandonment. Ever since the searing experience of the fall of Singapore in 1942, officials have been eager to burnish ties with US counterparts. Conversely, there has always been a strong element in the community that has feared entrapment in yet another US-led war in Asia.
The experience in the Korean and Vietnam wars, let alone Afghanistan and Iraq, left many guarded about the efficacy of hitching the wagon to US-led military campaigns.
In essence, though, Australian policymakers have long sought the Goldilocks solution: not too enthusiastic to trigger entrapment and not too lukewarm to trigger abandonment.
Now Australia, Japan and others face a surprising new push by American officials for a commitment to a hypothetical conflict, under open-ended circumstances.
The irony is that American demands for a commitment fly in the face of the loosely worded ANZUS alliance – which stipulates an agreement to consult, but little more than that.
The AUKUS agreement includes no such guarantees either. The overt and confronting nature of Washington’s demands means Prime Minister Anthony Albanese effectively has no option but to push back:
We support the status quo when it comes to Taiwan. We don’t support any unilateral action […] we want peace and security in our region.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy was adamant Australia would not be committing forces ahead of any “hypothetical” conflict:
The decision to commit Australian troops to a conflict will be made by the government of the day, not in advance, but by the government of the day.
A further irony is Australia, like Japan, is already hugely invested in its US military relationship, particularly through its military technology.
The purchase of the F35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, for instance, was meant to help enable the generation of interoperable forces, yet no such demand has been made when it comes to an advance commitment over their use in support of US ambitions.
So why invoke AUKUS in such a way?
Evidently, the way the US is trying to stand over Japan and Australia is harmful to its own interests. Such adversarial and unduly transactional behaviour could provoke a popular backlash in Australia and elsewhere.
The government has rightly rebuffed the calls saying it would be up to the government of the day to make such a decision. It is likely this will not be well received by the Trump administration. The PM is right though, to say it’s hypothetical and not worthy of a public endorsement.
Yet a further irony is that this is mostly a moot point.
The key benefit of alliance collaboration is already in place – and that relates to the efforts to deter China from ever acting on its desire to change the status quo in the first place.
As former PM and now ambassador to Washington, Kevin Rudd explained in his book, The Avoidable War, geo-political disaster is still avoidable, particularly if the US and China can find a way to coexist without betraying their core interests through managed strategic competition.
This strategic ambiguity is meant to complicate a potential adversary’s military planners and political decision makers’ thought processes over the advantages and disadvantages of going to war.
China already knows a clash over Taiwan would mean US allies like Japan and Australia would find it virtually impossible to avoid being entangled. The strategic ambiguity can be maintained ad infinitum, so long as an outright invasion is averted.
And the likelihood of conflict over Taiwan? I remain sanguine that conflict can be avoided.
But to do so would involve clear and compelling messaging: both through diplomatic channels and through the demonstration of robust military capabilities that war would be too costly.
John Blaxland received funding (2015–2018) from the US DoD Minerva Research Initiative.
– ref. Washington’s war demands – Australia right to refuse being dragged into a potential conflict with China over Taiwan – https://theconversation.com/washingtons-war-demands-australia-right-to-refuse-being-dragged-into-a-potential-conflict-with-china-over-taiwan-261076
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University
The United States can count on Australia as one of its closest allies.
Dating back to the shared experiences in the second world war and the ANZUS Treaty signed in 1951, Australia has steadfastly worked to help ensure the US remains the principal security guarantor in the Indo-Pacific.
Australia’s track record speaks for itself. Yet additional demands are being placed that rankle.
The Pentagon wants to know how Australia – and other allies such as Japan – would respond in the event of a war with China over Taiwan.
Making these demands – which are being sought as part of the review of the AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement – is both unjustified and unreasonable.
Since federation in 1901, Australians have found themselves alongside US counterparts in almost all the major conflicts of the 20th century and beyond.
It is this shared experience that led former Ambassador to Washington, Joe Hockey, to coin the term “100 years of mateship”.
The pinnacle of the security relationship is the ANZUS Treaty which is a loosely worded document barely 800 words long.
However, it is important to remember AUKUS is just that – a technical agreement, albeit premised on the century-spanning trusted collaboration across the full spectrum of national security ties.
More recently, the US administration has made demands of allies, including Australia, the likes of which have not been seen in living memory.
This spans not just tariffs, but also increased defence spending. American policymakers appear oblivious or unconcerned about the blowback they are generating.
It is this context which makes the US demands for a broad-ranging and largely open-ended commitment over the defence of Taiwan, in advance of any conflict, so extraordinary and unhelpful.
Australia has long had a fear of abandonment. Ever since the searing experience of the fall of Singapore in 1942, officials have been eager to burnish ties with US counterparts. Conversely, there has always been a strong element in the community that has feared entrapment in yet another US-led war in Asia.
The experience in the Korean and Vietnam wars, let alone Afghanistan and Iraq, left many guarded about the efficacy of hitching the wagon to US-led military campaigns.
In essence, though, Australian policymakers have long sought the Goldilocks solution: not too enthusiastic to trigger entrapment and not too lukewarm to trigger abandonment.
Now Australia, Japan and others face a surprising new push by American officials for a commitment to a hypothetical conflict, under open-ended circumstances.
The irony is that American demands for a commitment fly in the face of the loosely worded ANZUS alliance – which stipulates an agreement to consult, but little more than that.
The AUKUS agreement includes no such guarantees either. The overt and confronting nature of Washington’s demands means Prime Minister Anthony Albanese effectively has no option but to push back:
We support the status quo when it comes to Taiwan. We don’t support any unilateral action […] we want peace and security in our region.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy was adamant Australia would not be committing forces ahead of any “hypothetical” conflict:
The decision to commit Australian troops to a conflict will be made by the government of the day, not in advance, but by the government of the day.
A further irony is Australia, like Japan, is already hugely invested in its US military relationship, particularly through its military technology.
The purchase of the F35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, for instance, was meant to help enable the generation of interoperable forces, yet no such demand has been made when it comes to an advance commitment over their use in support of US ambitions.
So why invoke AUKUS in such a way?
Evidently, the way the US is trying to stand over Japan and Australia is harmful to its own interests. Such adversarial and unduly transactional behaviour could provoke a popular backlash in Australia and elsewhere.
The government has rightly rebuffed the calls saying it would be up to the government of the day to make such a decision. It is likely this will not be well received by the Trump administration. The PM is right though, to say it’s hypothetical and not worthy of a public endorsement.
Yet a further irony is that this is mostly a moot point.
The key benefit of alliance collaboration is already in place – and that relates to the efforts to deter China from ever acting on its desire to change the status quo in the first place.
As former PM and now ambassador to Washington, Kevin Rudd explained in his book, The Avoidable War, geo-political disaster is still avoidable, particularly if the US and China can find a way to coexist without betraying their core interests through managed strategic competition.
This strategic ambiguity is meant to complicate a potential adversary’s military planners and political decision makers’ thought processes over the advantages and disadvantages of going to war.
China already knows a clash over Taiwan would mean US allies like Japan and Australia would find it virtually impossible to avoid being entangled. The strategic ambiguity can be maintained ad infinitum, so long as an outright invasion is averted.
And the likelihood of conflict over Taiwan? I remain sanguine that conflict can be avoided.
But to do so would involve clear and compelling messaging: both through diplomatic channels and through the demonstration of robust military capabilities that war would be too costly.
John Blaxland received funding (2015–2018) from the US DoD Minerva Research Initiative.
– ref. Washington’s war demands – Australia right to refuse being dragged into a potential conflict with China over Taiwan – https://theconversation.com/washingtons-war-demands-australia-right-to-refuse-being-dragged-into-a-potential-conflict-with-china-over-taiwan-261076
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Paul Chan, financial secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, on Sunday highlighted the growing significance of regional cooperation amid changing global dynamics and affirmed Hong Kong’s commitment to foster multi-layered interactions with various economies in the region to solidify the foundation for collaboration.
In a blog post, Chan spoke of his recent trip to the Republic of Korea (ROK) to explore new opportunities for cooperation.
He noted that Hong Kong’s financial market and initial public offerings (IPOs) have performed robustly since September 2024, with significant interest from ROK investors in both Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland markets.
In the first five months of this year, the total trading volume of licensed securities firms from the ROK based in Hong Kong surpassed 1.5 trillion HK dollars, marking a 2.8-fold increase compared to the total for 2024, he said.
Chan also underscored the rapid growth of Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) in Hong Kong, describing them as a convenient mechanism for enhancing market connectivity. More products were being cross-listed between the two markets, whether through ETFs investing in South Korean stocks being listed in Hong Kong or those tracking Hong Kong indices being listed in the ROK, he said, adding that such interconnection boosts market liquidity and expands the investor base.
In fact, Hong Kong serves as a hub for both Chinese mainland and international capital, Chan said. Mechanisms that enhance financial market connectivity can attract more domestic and foreign investments in companies listed in both Hong Kong and South Korea, while also creating new opportunities and asset allocation options for investors, he added.
Chan noted that Hong Kong, as a “super connector” and “super value creator,” boasts several world-class universities and excellent research capabilities. Coupled with the thriving innovation and technology ecosystem of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, this can facilitate stronger connections and deeper cooperation between tech enterprises from both Hong Kong and the ROK, allowing innovative ideas and cutting-edge technologies to find broader applications and enhanced commercialization opportunities, he said.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
A drone photo shows the shipbuilding site of the subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corp Ltd in the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region on March 20. [Photo/Xinhua]
In early July, a shipyard along the Yangtze River in Jiangyin, East China’s Jiangsu province, was humming with the sounds of welding and hammering.
In one berth, work on an oil tanker was nearing completion, while a hospital ship was undergoing a major retrofit. A little distance away, dry docks were operating at full throttle.
CSSC Chengxi Shipyard Co, a subsidiary of China State Shipbuilding Corp, saw its export value surge by more than 28 percent year-on-year in the first five months. With orders lined up through 2028 and a growing appetite for high-tech vessels, this shipyard is powering full steam ahead.
“We are steering toward transformation,” said Yang Haibo, the shipyard’s assistant president. “Take the 41,800-ton self-unloading vessel we built last year; its value hit $96 million, triple that of a conventional bulk carrier. We just secured an overseas order to build a 44,000-ton self-discharger in May.”
As global demand shifts, Yang said Chinese shipyards are embracing greener and smarter solutions to remain competitive, including ramping up investment in next-generation shipbuilding technologies.
Much like China’s new energy vehicle, industrial robot and energy storage sectors, the shipbuilding industry exemplifies how domestic manufacturers are adopting innovation and green development to rise above the challenges posed by unilateralism and geoeconomic fragmentation.
In the process, they are playing a vital role in supporting the country’s foreign trade and industrial upgrade.
As a high value-added sector, the equipment manufacturing industry has become a key driver of China’s export restructuring.
The country’s exports of equipment manufacturing products amounted to 6.22 trillion yuan ($853.3 billion) between January and May, up 9.2 percent year-on-year, accounting for 58.3 percent of the country’s total exports, data from the General Administration of Customs showed.
Meanwhile, China’s exports of electric vehicles grew by 19 percent year-on-year, construction machinery by 10.7 percent, ships by 18.9 percent and industrial robots by an impressive 55.4 percent.
Equipment manufacturing accounted for 73 percent of China’s export growth in the first five months, with the contribution rising to 76.9 percent in May alone, providing strong support for the steady growth of foreign trade, said Lyu Daliang, director-general of the administration’s department of statistics and analysis.
The ongoing upgrade of China’s equipment manufacturing industry is not only fueling the growth of domestic manufacturers, but also delivering energy-efficient, high-tech and competitively priced products to its trading partners, said Chen Jianwei, a researcher at the University of International Business and Economics’ Academy of China Open Economy Studies in Beijing.
This progress is accelerating the digital and green advancement of developed economies, while also supporting industrialization and urbanization in many developing and emerging markets, contributing to more balanced global development and long-term sustainability, said Chen.
Among the key drivers of this momentum, industrial robots have rapidly become a standout export category. These multijoint robotic arms and other advanced robotic systems are widely used in sectors such as automotives, electronics, chemicals and consumer goods.
As China’s production capabilities in this field continue to advance, a growing number of industrial robots are being exported to markets such as Thailand, Germany, the United States and the United Arab Emirates — underscoring the global appeal of the nation’s smart manufacturing solutions.
At AgileX Robotics, a robotic arm manufacturer in Dongguan, Guangdong province, workers were busy packing robotic arms in late June. This batch of products, designed for data collection, plays a key role in the development and training of humanoid robots, and has gained strong traction in overseas markets.
“We really can’t ship fast enough and demand is overwhelming. Our exports this year are expected to rise by 70 to 80 percent compared with 2024,” said Chen Peng, the company’s marketing director.
Chen said that orders from overseas research institutions, particularly in the artificial intelligence field, are growing the fastest. These clients often require rapid delivery due to time-sensitive needs.
This growth is not merely the success of a single robot manufacturer. Rather, it reflects a broader trend in Dongguan.
The city’s exports of industrial robots, including industrial robotic arms, handling and welding robots, and robots with other functions, exceeded 190 million yuan during the January-May period, representing a year-on-year increase of 116.4 percent, data from Huangpu Customs showed.
From an industrial chain perspective, China’s industrial robot sector has seen significant advancements over the past decade, especially in core components such as reducers, servo motors, controllers and control units, said Lei Lei, deputy secretary-general of the robotics branch of the Beijing-based China Machinery Industry Federation.
Lei said Chinese industrial robot manufacturers are evolving their export models as they expand globally. This shift is already playing out among many companies in the sector.
Xu Hongchun, vice-president of Suzhou JiBOT Technology Co, a Suzhou, Jiangsu province-based manufacturer of collaborative robotic arms and mobile robot platforms, said the company has already shifted toward providing customized end-to-end solutions for overseas factories and warehouses.
“Our material handling robots are primarily used in the new energy and electronic semiconductor sectors,” said Xu. “Currently, more than 70 percent of our exports in this category include solution-based packages.”
The Chinese company achieves this by integrating data from various robots into a centralized control system. A smart dispatching platform enables real-time coordination, allowing multiple robots to operate efficiently across different zones and meet the specific needs of its foreign clients.
While industrial robots and intelligent automation are shifting manufacturing and logistics, traditional heavy industries are also embracing innovation and seizing more market opportunities across the world.
In sectors such as mining and construction, Chinese companies are combining durable engineering with localization strategies to meet the needs of emerging markets.
Sany Heavy Equipment Co, a mining and construction machinery manufacturer based in Shenyang, Liaoning province, has been actively expanding its presence in the African market. Its wide-body dump trucks, electric-powered dumpers and engineering excavators are widely used in countries including South Africa, Ghana, Angola and Zambia.
“Africa is rich in mineral resources and has significant demand for mining machinery. Our mining equipment is built to withstand harsh operating conditions and is well-suited for the complex terrains found in mining areas,” said Sun Bo, head of the company’s sales unit.
Sun said that Sany Heavy Equipment Co’s mining dump trucks have significantly improved operational efficiency and earned high praise from clients in countries such as Eritrea and Mozambique in recent years.
The company’s exports amounted to 1.44 billion yuan in the first half, while its exports to Africa surged 230 percent year-on-year to 330 million yuan, the latest data from Shenyang Customs showed.
Experts said the continued rise of China’s equipment manufacturing exports reflects both industrial progress and the country’s deeper integration into global supply chains.
Zhao Ping, head of the academy of the Beijing-based China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said that China is no longer just a source of affordable goods. It is increasingly a provider of complex, high-value equipment that meets the needs of developed and emerging markets alike.
Zhao said that the combination of strong research and development capabilities, digitalized manufacturing processes and mature supply chains has enabled Chinese manufacturers to evolve from volume-driven to value-driven exports.
“This transformation not only enhances China’s competitiveness, but also contributes to global industrial development and technological diffusion,” said Ji Xuehong, a professor at the School of Economics and Management at Beijing-based North China University of Technology.
In the face of a complex and volatile external environment, China will steadfastly expand its high-standard opening-up and address the uncertainty of drastic changes in the external environment with the certainty of its own high-quality development, said Xiao Lu, deputy director-general of the department of foreign trade at the Ministry of Commerce.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Strong title contenders China, Australia and Japan all got off to winning starts at the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup on Sunday, with China and Australia notching lop-sided victories while Japan survived a stern test before ultimately edging Lebanon.
All 12 players scored, including seven in double figures, as defending champion China sailed past Indonesia 110-59.
Playing on home soil, China took the initiative from the opening tip, as starting center Han Xu scored seven points and substitute Zhai Ruoyun sank two 3-pointers in a 28-8 first quarter.
Sara Blicavs (C) of Australia goes up for a layup during the FIBA Women’s Asia Cup Division A 2025 Group B match between Australia and the Philippines in Shenzhen, south China’s Guangdong Province, July 13, 2025. (Xinhua/Xiao Ennan)
Coming into the game with 6:26 remaining in the quarter for her senior debut in international major tournaments, China’s prodigy Zhang Ziyu soon made an impact with five straight points.
Excelling on ball movement, the host team extended its lead in the second quarter, racing into a 49-20 at the halftime break. China handed out 14 assists in the first half, compared to just three for Indonesia.
China’s advantage remained unassailable after the interval, giving coach Gong Luming the opportunity of trialing different line-ups. Zhang Ru’s 3-pointer earned China a 50-point lead early in the final period.
18-year-old Zhang Ziyu shot five of seven from the floor for a team-high 13 points, tying with Yang Liwei and Luo Xinyu.
“We treated this game as a practice. We want to try different line-ups and style of play,” Gong said after the game.
Group A’s other opening match will be held on Monday between South Korea and New Zealand, with China facing South Korea on Tuesday.
In Group B, Australia’s attacking prowess saw six players hit double figures in a 115-39 rout of the Philippines.
As the highest-ranked team in the tournament, world No. 2 Australia scored 12 unanswered points after the tip-off and never looked back.
Despite being ranked 45 places lower than Japan, 54th-ranked Lebanon showed great tenacity, leading by 10 points after the first quarter and keeping the suspense until the final stages, where Japan used its signature fast breaks and outside shots to prevail, and Kokoro Tanaka’s two free throws with 0.2 seconds remaining secured the win for Japan.
“Our game started at 1:30 [p.m.], and I think we started at 2 p.m.,” joked Japan coach Corey Gaines, referring to his team’s slow start.
Australia now leads the group ahead of Japan due to a superior points difference.
Australia will now face Lebanon, while Japan squares off against the Philippines on Monday.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
A drone photo taken on July 2, 2025 shows an electric vertical take-off-and-landing (eVTOL) aircraft performing flight demonstration at Luogang Park in Hefei, east China’s Anhui Province. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)
At Hefei’s urban air mobility hub, the rotor blades of an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft hum to life before it glides smoothly into the summer sky.
Known as a “flying taxi,” this innovative vehicle is operated by Hefei Heyi Aviation Co., which in March became one of China’s first companies to receive an operating certificate for passenger-grade civil unmanned aircraft.
“Chinese companies have long been capable of designing and building these aircraft, but operating them was challenging due to regulatory restrictions,” said Li Xiaona, general manager of the company in east China’s Anhui Province.
Following the breakthrough in airworthiness certification, the commercialization of passenger-grade unmanned aircraft in China has accelerated, with government agencies working closely with industry bodies to set clear standards and define responsibilities.
By clearly defining “how to enter” and “how to regulate,” China’s low-altitude economy has hit the fast-forward button. Data show that over 80,000 companies are now operating nationwide, with the market continuing to expand rapidly.
This exemplifies the Chinese government’s efforts to streamline administrative approvals and boost market vitality. China’s vast and rapidly growing market provides a crucial advantage and a stable foundation amid global uncertainties. To drive high-quality growth and establish a new development model, building a unified national market is vital, and government authorities nationwide are stepping up efforts to make this vision a reality.
Beyond aviation, China has steadily enhanced its market access regulations, opening more sectors to private and foreign investment, thereby driving innovation and fostering competition.
In April, the country released a new edition of its national market access negative list, cutting the number of restricted items to 106 from 151 in 2018, a move designed to provide businesses with clearer expectations and greater certainty.
With market entry barriers lowered, private and foreign businesses are discovering fresh opportunities across various sectors.
In Beijing, Minospace recently secured an 804 million yuan (about 112 million U.S. dollars) contract to develop and launch a network of 10 remote-sensing microsatellites. For a privately owned company founded in 2017, the scale of this order is especially significant, underscoring how private players are becoming more deeply involved in driving growth in China’s aerospace sector.
In February, China approved 13 foreign companies to operate pilot value-added telecommunications services. In May, Hong Kong Cell Valley launched operations in Shenzhen under a new Guangdong pilot program that permits overseas investors to develop and apply technologies related to human stem cells, as well as gene diagnosis and treatment.
Guo Liyan, deputy head of the Economic Research Institute at the National Development and Reform Commission, said that alongside the streamlining of the negative list, reforms in approvals, registration and supervision are progressing simultaneously to ensure a level playing field for all businesses.
In south China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, local authorities have removed discriminatory licensing restrictions in the shared e-bike sector, opening the market to more brands. Meanwhile, in Wuhan, capital city of central Hubei Province, automakers and suppliers have formed an industry alliance to develop automotive-grade chips, fostering greater collaboration across the supply chain.
Similar efforts to eliminate market entry barriers have increased bidding success rates of private firms and fostered the growth of new business models, emerging industries and innovative application scenarios.
Government authorities across the country have also been working to improve infrastructure connectivity, strengthen industrial coordination and enhance data sharing, building a more standardized and fair market environment to support stronger business capabilities and unlock the full potential of the national market.
“A large market does not automatically generate scale effects. Reforms are essential to consolidate and expand market resources and create synergy between large factories and a unified market,” said Dong Yu, executive vice dean of the China Institute for Development Planning at Tsinghua University.
Going ahead, China is expected to implement more robust measures to refine market access rules and enhance the business environment, developing a unified national market where innovation will thrive and growth momentum can be further unleashed.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By John Blaxland, Professor, Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, Australian National University
The United States can count on Australia as one of its closest allies.
Dating back to the shared experiences in the second world war and the ANZUS Treaty signed in 1951, Australia has steadfastly worked to help ensure the US remains the principal security guarantor in the Indo-Pacific.
Australia’s track record speaks for itself. Yet additional demands are being placed that rankle.
The Pentagon wants to know how Australia – and other allies such as Japan – would respond in the event of a war with China over Taiwan.
Making these demands – which are being sought as part of the review of the AUKUS nuclear submarine agreement – is both unjustified and unreasonable.
Since federation in 1901, Australians have found themselves alongside US counterparts in almost all the major conflicts of the 20th century and beyond.
It is this shared experience that led former Ambassador to Washington, Joe Hockey, to coin the term “100 years of mateship”.
The pinnacle of the security relationship is the ANZUS Treaty which is a loosely worded document barely 800 words long.
However, it is important to remember AUKUS is just that – a technical agreement, albeit premised on the century-spanning trusted collaboration across the full spectrum of national security ties.
More recently, the US administration has made demands of allies, including Australia, the likes of which have not been seen in living memory.
This spans not just tariffs, but also increased defence spending. American policymakers appear oblivious or unconcerned about the blowback they are generating.
It is this context which makes the US demands for a broad-ranging and largely open-ended commitment over the defence of Taiwan, in advance of any conflict, so extraordinary and unhelpful.
Australia has long had a fear of abandonment. Ever since the searing experience of the fall of Singapore in 1942, officials have been eager to burnish ties with US counterparts. Conversely, there has always been a strong element in the community that has feared entrapment in yet another US-led war in Asia.
The experience in the Korean and Vietnam wars, let alone Afghanistan and Iraq, left many guarded about the efficacy of hitching the wagon to US-led military campaigns.
In essence, though, Australian policymakers have long sought the Goldilocks solution: not too enthusiastic to trigger entrapment and not too lukewarm to trigger abandonment.
Now Australia, Japan and others face a surprising new push by American officials for a commitment to a hypothetical conflict, under open-ended circumstances.
The irony is that American demands for a commitment fly in the face of the loosely worded ANZUS alliance – which stipulates an agreement to consult, but little more than that.
The AUKUS agreement includes no such guarantees either. The overt and confronting nature of Washington’s demands means Prime Minister Anthony Albanese effectively has no option but to push back:
We support the status quo when it comes to Taiwan. We don’t support any unilateral action […] we want peace and security in our region.
Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy was adamant Australia would not be committing forces ahead of any “hypothetical” conflict:
The decision to commit Australian troops to a conflict will be made by the government of the day, not in advance, but by the government of the day.
A further irony is Australia, like Japan, is already hugely invested in its US military relationship, particularly through its military technology.
The purchase of the F35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, for instance, was meant to help enable the generation of interoperable forces, yet no such demand has been made when it comes to an advance commitment over their use in support of US ambitions.
So why invoke AUKUS in such a way?
Evidently, the way the US is trying to stand over Japan and Australia is harmful to its own interests. Such adversarial and unduly transactional behaviour could provoke a popular backlash in Australia and elsewhere.
The government has rightly rebuffed the calls saying it would be up to the government of the day to make such a decision. It is likely this will not be well received by the Trump administration. The PM is right though, to say it’s hypothetical and not worthy of a public endorsement.
Yet a further irony is that this is mostly a moot point.
The key benefit of alliance collaboration is already in place – and that relates to the efforts to deter China from ever acting on its desire to change the status quo in the first place.
As former PM and now ambassador to Washington, Kevin Rudd explained in his book, The Avoidable War, geo-political disaster is still avoidable, particularly if the US and China can find a way to coexist without betraying their core interests through managed strategic competition.
This strategic ambiguity is meant to complicate a potential adversary’s military planners and political decision makers’ thought processes over the advantages and disadvantages of going to war.
China already knows a clash over Taiwan would mean US allies like Japan and Australia would find it virtually impossible to avoid being entangled. The strategic ambiguity can be maintained ad infinitum, so long as an outright invasion is averted.
And the likelihood of conflict over Taiwan? I remain sanguine that conflict can be avoided.
But to do so would involve clear and compelling messaging: both through diplomatic channels and through the demonstration of robust military capabilities that war would be too costly.
John Blaxland received funding (2015–2018) from the US DoD Minerva Research Initiative.
– ref. Washington’s war demands – Australia risks being dragged into a conflict with China over Taiwan – https://theconversation.com/washingtons-war-demands-australia-risks-being-dragged-into-a-conflict-with-china-over-taiwan-261076
Source: Panasonic
Headline: Active Chlorine Component of Hypochlorous Acid Solution Volatilized in the Air Suppresses Over 99% of RS Viruses
Osaka, Japan – Panasonic Corporation (https://holdings.panasonic/global/) today announced that its Heating & Ventilation A/C Company (hereinafter referred to as Panasonic) verified that the active chlorine component volatilized from the hypochlorous acid solution, produced by electrolysis of salt water, effectively suppresses over 99% of respiratory syncytial viruses (RS viruses) adhered in a space of approx. 25 m3 within 8 hours(*2).
The hypochlorous acid solution is produced through the electrolysis of salt water and demonstrates high efficacy in sterilization and deodorization. Since adopting the hypochlorous acid solution for the hygiene maintenance system of cup-dispensing vending machines in 1987(*3), Panasonic has been researching hypochlorous acid technology for approximately 40 years. The company verified in the past few years that the solution is effective in suppressing viruses, including the influenza virus (H1N1), novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant, and enterovirus and coxsackievirus, which can cause hand-foot-and-mouth disease, as well as herpangina.
RS viruses are major pathogen responsible for bronchiolitis and pneumonia, particularly known for causing severe illness in infants and the elderly. The viruses are primarily transmitted through contact with respiratory secretions from infected individuals or via airborne droplets released during coughing or sneezing. Upon infection, individuals may exhibit symptoms such as fever, nasal discharge, and coughing. In more severe cases, the condition may progress to wheezing and difficulty breathing.
Based on the current verification results, the active chlorine component volatilized from the hypochlorous acid solution is expected to suppress RS viruses adhered to tables, railings, and other objects.
[Figure 1. Infectivity titer of viruses by time elapsed]
■Verification methodTwo cases were verified: one by soaking the rotary sterilization filter in a hypochlorous acid solution of approx. 150 mg/L, exposing the filter to a given amount of wind (3.8 m3/min) to volatilize the active chlorine component, and then exposing RS viruses-attached samples to the volatilized substance; and the other by not exposing the specimens to the active chlorine component (natural attenuation).
■Verification resultsThe effect of suppressing over 99% of RS viruses within 8 hours was confirmed (Figure 1).
*1: Solution made by electrolysis of salt water
*2: These verifications were conducted for basic research purposes and did not involve any products containing the hypochlorous acid solution.
*3: Including the SANYO Electric Co., Ltd.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
A drone photo taken on July 12, 2025 shows entrances to the Genting Tunnel of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) in Pahang state, Malaysia. [Photo/Xinhua]
The East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), a mega rail project in Malaysia being built by the China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), marked another key milestone on Saturday with the breakthrough of the 16.39-kilometer Genting Tunnel.
The breakthrough represents a significant achievement in itself, situated beneath more than 750 meters of mountainous terrain, the company said in a statement following a ceremony to mark the occasion.
Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook, who officiated the ceremony, told a press briefing that the breakthrough also highlights the successful cooperation between the two countries in the field of railway engineering.
“The ECRL is also touted as a ‘game changer’ for the movement of passengers and freight in Peninsular Malaysia, as this rail infrastructure will link state capitals, major urban centres, industrial hubs, seaports, airports, and tourism zones while interchanging with existing railway lines along the ECRL corridor,” he added.
“The Genting Tunnel breakthrough also signals the completion of excavation works for all 41 ECRL tunnels along the 665-km alignment. This major milestone highlights the strong collaboration and dedication among ECRL personnel at all levels in carrying out tunnel excavation works with meticulous planning and robust safety protocols,” Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd (MRL) Chief Executive Officer Darwis Abdul Razak noted.
Located within the Titiwangsa mountain range, the Genting Tunnel was the most technically challenging of the 41 tunnels constructed along the ECRL alignment, being constructed with the use of advanced tunnel boring machines (TBMs) and drill-and-blast techniques in highly complex and varied geological conditions.
Explaining the challenges of working under these conditions and the use of high-technology methods to overcome them, Chen Jianfeng, deputy general manager of CCCC Second Highway Engineering Co., Ltd., told Xinhua that China’s TBM technology is among the world’s most advanced and well-suited to handle these challenges.
“The Genting Tunnel has highly complex geological conditions, including water ingress, rock bursts, soft surrounding rock, and six fault zones along the alignment. Due to these challenges, we chose the TBM method, which offers greater safety, stability, and efficiency for tunneling under such difficult conditions,” he said.
He also emphasized that the Chinese side has worked well with the Malaysian side to share knowledge and integrate processes, not only by bringing in advanced machinery and expertise but also by incorporating localization.
“Throughout the construction process in Malaysia, we have placed strong emphasis on localization while continuously working towards the integration of Chinese and Malaysian standards — a key focus of our efforts. During the project, we incorporated a wide range of local Malaysian elements and actively nurtured local talent,” he said.
“Many Malaysian technical personnel have been sent to China for training. Looking ahead, the ECRL will be operated through a joint China-Malaysia partnership, with both parties working together as part of an integrated operation and maintenance team,” he added.
With the completion of all tunnelling works, the ECRL project now moves into its next phase, which includes track installation, electrification, signaling and communication systems, as well as station interior fit-outs. All works remain on schedule and aligned with the project’s master timeline.
The ECRL extends from Malaysia’s largest transport hub, Port Klang, and runs across the peninsula to the northeastern Kelantan state. The railway is expected to greatly enhance connectivity and bring more balanced growth to the country by linking its less-developed region on the east coast to the economic heartland on the west coast.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
This photo taken on June 29, 2025 shows the destruction at Evin Prison after the Israeli airstrike in Tehran, Iran. [Photo/Xinhua]
Precisely one month ago, in the wee hours of June 13, Israel launched major surprise airstrikes on several areas in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing senior commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians.
One month after the attack, which triggered a 12-day war between the two countries, Iranian experts and politicians maintain that although it is unlikely that Israel would launch another attack against Iran soon, Tehran should enhance its readiness for any scenario that may unfold.
Speaking in a recent televised interview, Ali Larijani, a senior advisor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, warned that “it is possible that Israel … would decide to come back,” stressing that Iran should always be ready.
In a recent interview with the Iranian Labour News Agency (ILNA), Hossein Kanani Moghaddam, an Iranian expert on West Asia issues and secretary-general of the Green Party, warned against any negligence, noting, “We should always be ready to defend the country and maintain our preparedness to confront the foe.”
He highlighted the necessity to strengthen the country’s passive defense in the face of surprise operations by Israel and the United States, saying the war, in which Iran was engaged, was a hybrid one featuring the employment of offensive, cyber, security, military, economic and sanction systems by Israel and the United States as well as the U.S. NATO allies.
Kanani Moghaddam highlighted the importance of ensuring Iran’s intelligence and anti-espionage agencies are well-equipped and focused on countering the “enemy.”
He also stressed the necessity of establishing an independent intelligence and security organization dedicated to addressing threats from Israel.
Iran’s deterrence power should be so tremendous that it makes Israel believe any “aggression” against the country would cost it heavily, he added.
In another interview with ILNA, Ali-Asghar Zargar, an international relations expert, said that while the current ceasefire between Iran and Israel could be sustainable, Iran should take swift actions to strengthen its air defense and military might.
Iranian lawmaker and former foreign minister, Manouchehr Mottaki, also told the official news agency IRNA in a recent interview that “all of us, especially the Iranian armed forces, should be ready for a likely Israeli attack.”
Iran’s military figures have been warning that should Israel seek to violate the ceasefire, Iran’s response would be “crushing.”
In remarks to Defa Press, a news outlet affiliated with the General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces, spokesman of the Iranian armed forces Abolfazl Shekarchi said the country’s response to a likely Israeli attack would be “firm, serious, crushing, effective and regret-inducing,” emphasizing that the Iranian armed forces’ preparedness was at a high level.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
A staff member operates robot to climb stairs at a robot base in Dongguan, south China’s Guangdong Province, June 23, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
Songshan Lake, nestled in south China’s Guangdong Province, buzzes with youthful energy as tomorrow’s tech leaders weave through roads once scented by lychees.
Just two decades ago, this thriving innovation hub was a quiet orchard. Today, it blossoms with ideas instead of fruit.
Covering 103 square kilometers, this high-tech zone hosts over 17,000 market entities. Among them are seven national-level manufacturing champion enterprises and 770 national high-tech enterprises, each playing a part in the rise of new-generation industries technology — from connected vehicles and robotics to intelligent equipment manufacturing, biomedicine and the frontiers of new materials and energy.
Fueling this rapid enterprise growth is Songshan Lake’s innovation ecosystem. It houses six universities and 18 provincial-level new R&D institutions. It is also home to several key scientific facilities, including China Spallation Neutron Source and the under-construction Advanced Attosecond Laser Infrastructure.
The journey of ePropulsion, a company co-founded by Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) graduate Pan Zongliang and his three classmates, exemplifies this ecosystem.
In 2012, spotting significant potential in marine new energy, they formed a startup team dedicated to marine electric propulsion R&D. By 2014, they had developed a prototype for their first electric outboard motor. However, turning that breakthrough into a market-ready product was not easy sailing — industrialization turned out to be a formidable voyage.
Luckily, HKUST professor Li Zexiang founded the XbotPark robotics base within Songshan Lake also in 2014, and Li recommended and helped ePropulsion’s five-member team relocate their company to Songshan Lake.
“As a marine new energy company, we needed a water area for product testing,” explained Pan, ePropulsion’s co-founder and COO. The Songshan Lake administrative committee provided the team a crucial asset: a dedicated water testing dock. “It was tremendous support,” Pan recalled.
Beyond policy backing, Songshan Lake’s strategic location allows XbotPark companies to leverage the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area’s supply chain advantages.
“Teams here often say, ‘If you can imagine it, you can build it’,” said director of the XbotPark robotics base. “Good ideas can typically find suppliers for implementation within half an hour.”
Today, ePropulsion operates a manufacturing plant in Dongguan City, where Songshan Lake is located, with its products — ranging from 500W to 1000kW electric outboards, pod drives, inboard systems, and matching battery and control systems — sold globally.
“Our main market is Europe and the United States, and our small and medium-sized electric outboards ranked first globally in shipments last year,” Pan noted. “Domestic market share is also rising with China’s expanding new energy vessel sector.”
Their green propulsion systems now power boats in events like the SailGP and America’s Cup, as well as scenic waters across China, including Wuhan’s East Lake, Hangzhou’s West Lake, and Guilin’s Li River.
According to XbotPark, it has incubated over 80 robotics and smart hardware startups, of which six are unicorns, boasting an over 80 percent survival rate. Its top companies have a cumulative valuation of 10 billion U.S. dollars.
An intelligent underwater robot is tested at a provincial institute of intelligent robotics in Dongguan, south China’s Guangdong Province, June 24, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
Nearby at the Guangdong Intelligent Robotics Institute (GIRI), another industrial park at Songshan Lake, a bright yellow robot maneuvers in a testing pool, surfacing and diving with fish-like agility. This intelligent underwater inspection robot, developed by BlueDiveBot, performs comprehensive, blind-spot-free surveys.
“Underwater robots can handle equipment maintenance, debris removal, water quality monitoring, and emergency response, overcoming human limitations and safety risks,” explained Hu Gangyi, general manager of BlueDiveBot.
Incubated by the GIRI and founded in 2023, BlueDiveBot has established a collaborative innovation platform integrating industry, academia, research, and application for advanced underwater equipment. It has mastered a series of cutting-edge technologies in unmanned underwater intelligent systems, some being domestic firsts.
“The well-developed industrial chain in Dongguan and surrounding areas accelerates our R&D commercialization,” Hu said. “We rapidly achieved production capacity and significant market sales growth.”
Since its establishment in August 2015, GIRI has focused its R&D and commercialization efforts on core robotics components like high-power lasers, sensors, and machine vision, alongside core products including industrial robots, high-end intelligent equipment, unmanned autonomous systems, and industrial big data.
GIRI vice president Zhou Xiaoxiao likens prototype technology to “an unripe green apple,” which needs refinement to turn into “a mature red apple” that can then serve a whole chain of products, such as apple jam and apple juice.
Further empowering innovation, the Songshan Lake high-tech zone partnered with Huawei Cloud to build a developer village in April 2022. It addresses enterprise digitalization needs through deep integration and collaborative innovation among different developer organizations, fostering digital innovation and industrial upgrading. Currently, 29 companies have settled there.
“The Songshan Lake high-tech zone has deployed frontier basic research,” concluded Wang Qianqian, deputy director of the Songshan Lake Science, Technology and Innovation Bureau. “Based on fundamental research results, we are forging a complete innovation chain from pioneering research to commercialization and industrial development.”
Source: Asia Development Bank
This paper draws on an analysis of environmental, social, and governance topics in corporate reports in East Asia and Southeast Asia. It notes that economics and governance risk were the most frequently mentioned, but with significant variations across the region.
Source: Asia Development Bank
This paper draws on an analysis of environmental, social, and governance topics in corporate reports in East Asia and Southeast Asia. It notes that economics and governance risk were the most frequently mentioned, but with significant variations across the region.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing, capital of China, July 13, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Sunday in Beijing.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, welcomed Lavrov to China to attend the Meeting of the Council of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States.
China is willing to work with Russia and other member states to prepare for the Tianjin Summit, and promote the development of the SCO to a new level, Wang said.
Noting that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression, Wang said that both sides should also hold a series of commemorative activities for the 80th anniversary of the victory of World War II (WWII) and safeguard the correct historical narrative on WWII.
Lavrov expressed willingness to work with China to deepen cooperation in various fields under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, and promote continuous new achievements in Russia-China relations.
Russia will continue to fully support China in holding the rotating presidency of the SCO, enhance communication and collaboration within the framework of the SCO and others, and ensure the complete success of the Tianjin Summit, Lavrov said.
The two sides also exchanged views on such issues as the Korean Peninsula, the Ukraine crisis and the Iranian nuclear issue.
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements
Trade win unlocks £250 million in exports for British pharmaceutical firms in Vietnam.
Trade win unlocks £250 million in exports for British pharmaceutical firms in Vietnam
British pharmaceutical companies are set to gain up to £250 million over the next five years as part of a Vietnamese law change that makes it easier to sell UK-made medicines to the country.
The announcement comes ahead of the latest Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO) today [14 July] co-chaired by Trade Minister Douglas Alexander and Vice Minister Nguyen Hoang Long.
The meeting aims to deepen trade ties – which have risen to more than £8 billion – and remove barriers for UK businesses in key sectors like healthcare, finance, and clean energy – which will boost growth to deliver for working people as part of the Plan for Change.
It follows the launch of the UK’s landmark Trade Strategy which aims to secure more nimble deals while promoting sectors like financial services and renewable energy which drive the most economic growth.
Thanks to UK government efforts, Vietnam has changed its laws to streamline the registration of new medicines and vaccines, now recognising approvals from trusted international regulators such as the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
It opens to the door to more commercial opportunities for UK companies who can avoid time-consuming paperwork and expensive legal processes if their products have been approved in the last five years by the MHRA, making it cheaper, quicker and easier to sell products to Vietnam.
The JETCO will reflect the UK’s goal of deepening ties with fast-growing economies in Asia while supporting key sectors like life sciences, education, and green energy – core pillars of the UK’s Industrial Strategy.
Renewable energy will be on today’s agenda as both countries pledge to work together to support the development of Vietnam’s renewable energy sector, particularly around offshore wind, with the industry in the UK forecast to support 100,000 jobs by 2030.
Vietnam is today a dynamic, fast-growing economy.
The removal of pharmaceutical barriers with one of our closest trading partners in Asia is a boost for the UK pharmaceutical industry and proof our Industrial and Trade Strategies are already delivering.
The UK is committed to strengthening its relationship with Vietnam, which is witnessing rapid economic growth and fast becoming a major global manufacturing base for electronics, textiles, and renewable energy.
Discussions will also celebrate the good news for our world-leading financial services sector as the government commits support for Vietnam to design its first International Finance Centre in Ho Chi Minh City which is expected to streamline regulations and encourage international investments, making it simpler for British firms to trade with Vietnam.
The swift removal of pharmaceutical barriers and progress on financial and energy collaborations with Vietnam demonstrates the government is securing quick wins through nimble, targeted interventions and delivering on the key ambitions of the newly launched Trade Strategy.
There is great potential for British firms and other international investors in Vietnam; it is a rapidly growing market with increasing demand for sophisticated financial products. There are also mutual benefits to be gained through sharing expertise in areas such as green finance, innovation, and digital transformation.
We’ve been working closely with the UK Government and British Embassy in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to help lay the groundwork for the development of an international financial and business centre in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang and are very supportive of the government’s commitment to support its creation and its contribution to Vietnam’s economic growth and net-zero agenda.
Notes on analysis
The £250m over five-year figure is a mid-point of a range of £100m – £400m. The DBT methodology to value market access barriers can be found here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/methodologies-for-valuing-market-access-barriers
Sources:
Ahead of the appeal hearing of 13 people – among 45 individuals convicted in a mass trial last year of “conspiring to subvert state power” under Hong Kong’s National Security Law – Amnesty International’s China Director Sarah Brooks said:
“The Hong Kong 47 case stands as one of the most shocking examples of the crackdown on human rights in the city. This appeal hearing is a chance for the courts to start righting the wrongs of this unprecedented mass prosecution.
“Research findings we released earlier this month show that the vast majority of convictions under the National Security Law have targeted legitimate expression. It is appalling that Hong Kong courts could condone a crackdown that leaves more than 80% of defendants wrongfully languishing behind bars.
“This appeal is a pivotal test—not just for these 13 individuals, but for the future of freedom of expression in Hong Kong. Only by overturning these convictions can Hong Kong’s courts begin to restore the city’s global standing as a place where rights are respected and where people are allowed to peacefully express their views without fear of arrest.”
Background
In Hong Kong’s largest prosecution under the National Security Law, which was enacted in June 2020, 47 opposition figures were jointly charged with “conspiracy to commit subversion”. Thirty-one of the 47 pleaded guilty to the charge while 16 pleaded not guilty, two of whom were acquitted.
On 14 July 2025, Hong Kong’s Court of Appeal will hear the appeal of 13 of those convicted. In the same hearing, Hong Kong’s Department of Justice will also appeal against the acquittal of one of the defendants, Lawrence Lau. The hearing is expected to take 10 days to conclude.
The charges against the “Hong Kong 47” relate to their organization and participation in self-organized “primaries” for the 2020 Legislative Council elections that were ultimately postponed by authorities on Covid-19 grounds before the Chinese government brought in a new electoral system that strictly vetted who could stand for office.
The city’s chief executive at the time, Carrie Lam, said the “primaries” were illegal and warned that they could be in breach of the National Security Law that had been enacted only weeks earlier.
To treat self-organized “primaries” conducted by political parties to select candidates to put forward for elections as a genuine threat to Hong Kong’s existence, territorial integrity or political independence does not meet the high threshold of application for “national security” that international human rights standards require.
Research published last month by Amnesty International, on the fifth anniversary of the National Security Law’s enactment, found that more than 80% of people convicted under the law have been wrongly criminalized and should never have been charged in the first place.
Hong Kong’s human rights situation has deteriorated dramatically since 2020, with Amnesty International identifying more than 250 people arrested for violating the National Security Law or a colonial-era “sedition” law. Last year, the Hong Kong parliament itself enacted further national security legislation – the so-called ‘Article 23’ law – which has further deepened repression and silenced opposition voices in the city.
Source: United Nations 2
Threatened or actual tariff increases are largely focused on taxing imports into the United States and will make the products made by factories outside the country more expensive – a situation which may drive down demand.
The ILO’s Better Work programme, a partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), has supported garment factories, many of which export their products to the United States.
The ILO’s Sara Park explained to UN News what could happen next.
Sara Park: Better Work currently operates in the garment, textile and footwear sector in 13 countries around the world.
It was set up 24 years ago in Cambodia to monitor the working conditions in garment factories and since then has focused on improvement and capacity building of factories and our constituencies in the sector, for example occupational safety and health.
There are other elements that support the sector to promote social dialogue, safe and decent work which includes fair wages and working hours. The programme has also helped build productivity in those sectors.
UN News: How is the ILO involved?
Sara Park: The ILO is a tripartite organization, so we work with governments, employers, the unions who represent workers, usually Ministries of Labour, but also with ministries of trade or commerce because the programme focuses on exports.
A worker at a factory in Ethiopia carries out an inspection on fire safety equipment.
But what maybe makes us different from other projects is that we have a very close collaboration with major brands from the US, UK, Europe and Japan to promote responsible business practices.
UN News: How successful has this programme been?
Sara Park: Our studies show that at the factory level we’ve made significant impact, for example by increasing wages and supporting gender-equality related issues, women’s empowerment and women getting more supervisory roles.
Over the quarter of a century of its existence, Better Work has lifted millions of people out of poverty and reduced the environmental impact of the apparel sector by creating decent work in sustainable enterprises.
It’s still hard for unions as freedom of association remains a big challenge.
A woman works at a Better Work-affiliated factory in Viet Nam.
If you’re trying to develop a whole industry and make it competitive, it takes years if not decades; however, we have seen improvements in the factories where we work.
Better Work-enrolled factories have also reported an increase in orders from buyers.
UN News: So, this is good for business as well?
Sara Park: This is good for business, and productivity in individual factories. Governments also tell us that the programme supports confidence and thus growth of the industry as a whole in participating countries.
Garment employees work on a production line of an exporting clothing plant in Jordan.
UN News: How has Better Work been affected by recent global changes in development funding?
Sara Park: As we know from recent developments, the US Government has cut funding and that has affected our programmes in Haiti and Jordan, which were almost fully funded by the US. The other countries have not been affected, as we are lucky to have very diverse funding.
UN News: Why is the ILO’s ongoing support needed once the relationship between factory and the buyer is set up?
Sara Park: The buyers, which are often well-known companies, require a sustainable way of monitoring working conditions to ensure they are in compliance with international labour standards; this is important to eliminate risk from the buyers’ perspective.
The Better Work programme supports improvements in factories, by conducting assessments, advisory and learning sessions and helps all parties to better understand compliance with the standards. It also works with governments, workers and employers to build capacity.
Workers take their lunch break at a garment factory in Indonesia.
UN News: Currently there is widespread uncertainty about tariffs, the taxing of imported goods particularly into the United States. How is the garment sector impacted?
Sara Park: At the moment, we don’t know what the impact will be. Governments are monitoring the situation. Employers and, of course, the unions are worried.
It is extremely challenging for factories as uncertainty means they cannot plan even for the short term, as they don’t know what orders they will have. They are also concerned about paying workers.
Better Work-enrolled factories are providing primarily jobs in the formal sector; if they close, then those jobs may move to the informal sector where workers have fewer protections.
In countries like Jordan for example, migrants make up the majority of the workforce in the garment industry, most of them come from South and Southeast Asia.
UN News: How is this uncertainty impacting investment in the global garment industry?
Sara Park: During periods of crisis or uncertainty, investment generally pauses. One concern is that factories stop investing in improving working conditions, which could affect occupational safety and health.
For example, heat stress is a serious issue. Recently, in Pakistan temperatures reached 50 degrees Celsius so action needs to be taken to protect workers. This may not happen if investment dries up.
UN News: What would you say to a garment worker who was worried about his or her job?
Sara Park: We understand this is a worry for many workers. Yet the work of the ILO is continuing to ensure that workers are protected and the ILO remains in those countries and is committed to improving conditions for all workers across different sectors.
We will continue to promote social dialogue because that’s how improvements can be made at factory, sectoral and national level.
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mario Peucker, Associate Professor and Principal Research Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, Victoria University
The way racism manifests itself may have changed over time, but it remains a persistent problem in Australia.
The 2024 Reconciliation Barometer found a significant increase in racism against First Nations people. Antisemitism and Islamophobia have also been on the rise.
Many other migrant communities and their Australian-born descendants continue to face racial discrimination, abuse and systemic marginalisation.
And yet the true picture of racism in Australia is hard to determine, as a lot of racism goes unreported. Our soon to be published research reveals people often don’t know how to come forward, are scared of negative consequences, or simply don’t think anything would change if they did report it.
The silencing of those who have experienced racism manifests in various ways, including the sceptical, at times hostile public reactions to those who speak out publicly.
But our research, funded by VicHealth and accepted for publication by the journal Ethnic and Racial Studies, analysed how inadequate formal reporting pathways can mean people don’t come forward about their experiences.
We conducted a survey of more than 700 people, then focus groups with almost 160 people. In total, we examined the experiences of 859 Victorian adults from culturally or racially marginalised communities.
The vast majority of them – 76% of the survey respondents – had experienced racism in Australia, across many areas of life. These experiences happened at work, in shopping centres, on public transport and on the streets. Some also encountered racism in schools, healthcare, housing, online or when dealing with police.
But crucially, only 15.5% of them had ever reported any such incident to an organisation.
Unsurprisingly, one of the reasons why people do not report is that many are not aware of existing reporting options, for example through the federal or states’ human rights commissions.
For 75.2% of survey respondents, not knowing where and how to report was a key barrier. The only place most people knew about was the police, which was often not seen as appropriate unless the incident involved physical violence.
Moreover, trust in an effective response by police was generally low. A Muslim woman in one of the focus groups said:
the biggest reason [for not reporting] is probably not knowing. The obvious is the police station, but then, well, many of us already feel that police won’t do much. But what else is out there?
An even bigger obstacle is that reporting racism was commonly considered high-cost, but low-reward. Most participants (83.2%) were deterred by the conviction that the process was taking too much time and effort.
As one Asian-Australian participant stated:
I imagine the reporting to be a long process. Do I want to go through the process, especially as a migrant. You ask yourself: is it life and death? If not, let me just get on with my day.
Many highlighted concerns they would not be taken seriously (75.9%) or that reporting would have negative consequences for them or their children (72.8%). They were also concerned about how reporting could negatively affect their career, treatment at school or even their legal resident status.
An African-Australian man said:
You know you’re gonna be a double victim. Let’s say at your workplace, if you report racism, straight away […] you become a target.
These factors shape the discouraging perspective that reporting is a high-cost action.
But what makes it even worse is the very common conviction, expressed by 90.6% of survey respondents, that “nothing would change” even if they were to report, and that there was no accountability for racist behaviour.
A Somali-born mother, whose daughter was called a racist slur by her teacher, complained to the school principal, but “he didn’t do anything”. She said her kids and their friends “all agreed that no one would do anything about this”. She said:
They have this belief that if they make a complaint, it will not go anywhere. They all said the same thing: If you go somewhere, no one will care.
Another survey participant said reporting racism would have to be worth the effort:
We need to know that the mental and emotional sacrifice of reporting will be worth it, that it will result in an outcome. Why would I report racism if nothing will be done?
In addition, there are other psychological factors at play.
Of those surveyed, 70.1% explained they refrain from reporting because they don’t want to “cause trouble”. In the focus groups, participants often spoke about not wanting to “rock the boat” or refraining from “talking bad, talking about racism because they might hate us”.
Similarly, others are so determined to “blend in” they feel they have to accept racism. A Chinese-Australian participant explained her community wouldn’t complain because:
we want to, and try to, fit in. And we have come to accept a little bit of tough treatment.
Even protecting the perpetrators of racism from harm was described by some as a reason for not reporting:
I thought by reporting I would hurt her [the perpetrator], and in our culture, we should not be hurting another person.
Our research shows racism often goes undetected and unreported due to systemic and cultural barriers. As a result, injustice remains unchallenged and normalised.
But communities are finding alternative ways of speaking out against racism, often outside formal reporting channels.
Following our research, for example, three local community-led anti-racism support networks have been set up in parts of Victoria to complement the existing support and reporting system.
These networks provide trusted and culturally safe spaces and support to those who face racism. They have started to systematically document racism, working towards local evidence that can be used to raise awareness and inform targeted anti-racism actions in the future.
Networks like these could be introduced around the country to give people more options to come forward.
We won’t be able to properly address racism while those experiencing it think they won’t be listened to. We all need to ensure racist incidents are taken seriously, responded to promptly and that people are heard.
Mario Peucker receives funding from the Victorian Government and VicHealth.
Franka Vaughan receives funding from VicHealth
Jo Doley received funding from VicHealth.
Tom Clark receives funding from VicHealth.
– ref. ‘You become a target’: research shows why many people who experience racism don’t report it – https://theconversation.com/you-become-a-target-research-shows-why-many-people-who-experience-racism-dont-report-it-260092
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, July 13 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Beijing on Sunday.
Wang Yi, also a member of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee, welcomed S. Lavrov, who arrived in China to participate in the meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states.
The head of the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that China hopes to work with Russia and other SCO members to properly prepare for the organization’s summit in Tianjin /Northern China/ and take the development of the SCO to a new level.
Recalling that this year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, Wang Yi stressed that both sides should also hold a series of commemorative events to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in World War II and uphold the correct historical interpretation of the war.
S. Lavrov, for his part, expressed Russia’s readiness to work with China to deepen cooperation in various areas under the strategic leadership of the heads of the two states and to promote constant new achievements in Russian-Chinese relations.
The head of the Russian Foreign Ministry assured that Russia will continue to fully support China’s rotating chairmanship of the SCO, strengthen communication and cooperation within the SCO and other organizations, and contribute to the successful holding of the summit in Tianjin.
The sides also exchanged views on issues such as the situation on the Korean Peninsula, the Ukrainian crisis and the Iranian nuclear issue. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
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Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
New York City, NY, July 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As the cryptocurrency market continues to heat up, leading digital assets like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ripple (XRP) have once again captured global investors’ attention. At the same time, the question remains: how can everyday users easily join this wave and earn steady income? Now, there’s an answer—SunnyMining, a global leader in crypto cloud mining, officially launches its free mobile cloud mining App, providing users worldwide with a new channel for passive crypto earnings that requires no entry barrier, no upfront cost, and no technical know-how.
Zero Investment, Zero Barriers—Start Mining from Your Phone
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Bitcoin (BTC)
Ripple (XRP)
Dogecoin (DOGE)
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Through the App, users can view daily earnings, hashrate growth, and withdrawal records in real-time. The platform supports a “Daily Settlement + Auto Accumulation” mechanism to ensure every unit of hashrate generates traceable, actual returns.
How to Join SunnyMining? Start Earning Crypto in Just 5 Steps!
Step 1: Visit the official website or download the App
Go to the SunnyMining website or download the mobile App.
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Open the App, tap “Register,” enter your phone number or email, set a password, and create your account. You may also enter an invitation code (if available) to receive extra hashrate rewards.
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After successful registration, log in and receive your new user exclusive “Free Cloud Hashrate”—no investment required, mining starts immediately.
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In the App, select your preferred coin (such as BTC, XRP, DOGE), tap “Start Mining” or “Activate Contract,” and the system will intelligently allocate cloud hashrate to generate your daily income.
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Open the App daily to check your earnings. Withdraw when eligible. Use the “Invite Friends” feature to earn more hashrate rewards and expand your passive income.
Click to view contract details
Tap for Contract Details
AI-Powered Hashrate Scheduling & Smart Allocation for Efficient Mining
To maximize user earnings, SunnyMining integrates an AI-powered hashrate scheduling system. By intelligently analyzing real-time network difficulty, price fluctuations, and block generation rates, the system dynamically allocates the most optimal mining strategies. This helps users automatically switch to high-yield coins, reduce risks, and increase mining efficiency.
All mining operations on the platform are based on blockchain-powered smart contracts, ensuring full transparency and verifiability. Trust is embedded in code, and rules are enforced by contracts.
Enhanced App Experience: Intuitive, Streamlined, Globalized
The SunnyMining mobile App is fully compatible with both iOS and Android. Its user interface is clean and intuitive, supporting multiple languages including Chinese, English, Spanish, German, and Japanese. The App is now available in over 100 countries and regions, gaining widespread popularity.
Within the App, users can not only view real-time mining data and earnings, but also participate in contract upgrades, claim rewards, invite friends, and enjoy a fully interactive mining experience.
Robust Incentive Mechanism: Invite-to-Earn & Social Cloud Mining
SunnyMining understands the value of community and social engagement. The platform features a built-in referral incentive system and global leaderboard:
Successfully invite a friend and both parties earn extra hashrate rewards
Active users can climb the global leaderboard to win airdrops and exclusive perks
Earn exponential growth in hashrate and passive income over time
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Official Website: https://www.sunnymining.com
App: https://sunnymining.com/download/
Email:info@sunnymining.com
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Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI
Dili (Agenzia Fides) – Young people happy to live their vocation by following Christ and serving the Church every day. This is the reality that is lived at the Saints Peter and Paul Major Seminary in Dili in East Timor, which recently celebrated the 25th anniversary of its foundation.The small South-East Asian country, where more than 90 percent of the population is Catholic, just under a year ago received a visit from Pope Francis, who met, among others, the seminarians in Dili.In 25 years, 989 men have studied and received formation at the Major Seminary, including diocesan and religious seminarians. Of these, 118 young men have been ordained priests.Today, 245 seminarians study in the structure. These days they were visited by Fr Alessandro Brandi, an official of the Pontifical Society of St. Peter the Apostle (POSPA), who concelebrated the Holy Mass for the 25th year of foundation in the square of the Major Seminary. The rite was presided over by Norberto do Amaral, Bishop of Maliana and President of the Episcopal Conference of East Timor. The Bishop of Baucau, Leandro Maria Alves, was also present.During the celebrations, in addition to moments of celebration, there were also meetings with seminarians from the other two structures present in Dili: the “St. John Mary Vianney” propaedeutic Seminary and the “Our Lady of Fatima” minor Seminary. To date, there are 106 young people in the former, and 195 in the latter.Father Alessandro had the opportunity to explain in detail the vocation and activities of the four Pontifical Mission Societies, focusing especially on the Pontifical Mission Societies, dwelling above all on POSPA and how funds are raised for subsidies that then reach the island to support the formation of seminarians.”Be happy seminarians, always maintain and nurture a good relationship with your formators. And vice versa,” was the official’s final recommendation. (F.B.) (Agenzia Fides, 13/7/2025)
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Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Jannik Sinner defeated Carlos Alcaraz 4-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 in a high-octane final to claim his maiden Wimbledon trophy and fourth Grand Slam crown on Sunday, avenging his loss to the Spaniard in last month’s epic French Open final.
The hard-fought win over the two-times defending champion on the famous lawns of London ensured that Sinner became the first Italian to secure a Wimbledon singles title.
“I would like to start with Carlos. An amazing tournament, but mostly thank you for the player you are,” Sinner said.
“It’s so difficult to play against you, but we have an amazing relationship off the court and on the court … keep going, keep pushing.”
The 23-year-old Sinner drew first blood in the first Wimbledon men’s final contested by a pair born in the 2000s, breaking for a 3-2 lead, but Alcaraz clawed back before hitting a spectacular return at full stretch to wrap up the opening set and he celebrated by cupping his ear and soaking up the cheers.
Sinner was gained a break in the opening game of next set and he let out a rare yell of “Let’s go” after winning a point en route to holding in a tight game before surging ahead 3-1 after a brief interruption when a champagne cork flew from the stands and landed on Centre Court.
The top seed shrugged off the distraction and hit a running crosscourt winner to take the second set, before tightening his grip on the contest by unleashing a superb volley at the net to break for 5-4 and then holding in the next game to seal the third set with minimum fuss.
With shadows drifting across the main showcourt that had basked in bright sunshine, Sinner wheeled away to a 3-1 lead in the fourth set as Alcaraz began to display the smallest signs of dejection, and the monk-like world number one held firm from there to complete a famous victory.
“It’s amazing to be in this position,” added Sinner.
“We were talking actually before the match; we would never have thought to be in this position. Back in the days when I was young, this was only a dream, because it was so far away from where I’m from. So I’m just living my dream, it’s amazing.
“I’d like to thank my team and everyone who came here for this special day. It means so much. You give me so much emotion on and off the court and we try to keep pushing and trying to become a better tennis player, but mostly a better person.”
There was to be no Roland Garros-like resurrection for Alcaraz, who fought back from three match-points down in the Paris finale just 35 days ago, as the Spaniard’s bid to claim three successive All England Club titles was extinguished.
“I’m just really happy and really proud about everything I’m doing,” the 22-year-old Alcaraz said.
“At the beginning of the season, I struggled a little bit on the court, but then suddenly I started to bring joy on the court again and that excitement I have every time I step on the court.
“It’s a great journey so far, which I’m really proud of.”
(Reuters)
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
PYONGYANG, July 13 (Xinhua) — The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) condemned the joint military exercises between the United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) on Sunday, calling the trilateral maneuvers “a major danger factor that increases the level of military tension on the Korean Peninsula and adjacent areas.”
As reported by the Korean Central News Agency, citing a statement by the head of the Political Department of the DPRK Ministry of Defense, on July 11, the United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea “held provocative trilateral joint air exercises, using various types of bombers, including the B-52H strategic bomber, in the skies over the Korean Peninsula and its environs.”
The statement noted that the military alliances between the US and Japan and between the US and the ROK “have finally evolved into a nuclear-based trilateral military alliance,” and the trilateral military cooperation being promoted in all areas foreshadows “long-term instability and tension on the Korean Peninsula, which may lead to an unpredictable phase of military confrontation at any time.”
The statement stressed that taking countermeasures against provocative military actions that threaten regional security, such as steps to strengthen the multilateral military alliance, is the DPRK’s sovereign right. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
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Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Greg Steube (FL-17)
July 13, 2025 | Press Releases
View the Video Here
SARASOTA – U.S. Representative Greg Steube (R-Fla.) today released the latest installment in his ongoing Veterans History Project Series, honoring the military service of constituents from Florida’s 17th District. This interview features Staff Sergeant Gerald Dombecki, a U.S. Army veteran who served from 1981 to 1993, including deployment to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Iraq during Operation Desert Storm.
“Staff Sergeant Gerald Dombecki’s story reflects the strength, sacrifice, and resolve of our American servicemembers,” said Rep. Steube. “From patrolling volatile regions overseas to navigating the long fight for care and recognition after returning home, his testimony is both inspiring and sobering. We are honored to preserve his service story for future generations.”
In his interview, Dombecki recounts his early years in the Army as a Military Police Officer, his time guarding nuclear weapons in Korea, and the emotional experience of serving in Desert Storm. He shares stories of camaraderie, the challenges of reintegrating to civilian life, and the decades-long struggle to receive proper care through the Department of Veterans Affairs.
“I’ve worked since I was 14. I didn’t want to stop working—I just couldn’t anymore,” said Dombecki, who was eventually diagnosed with Parkinson’s and COPD, conditions tied to his service but only recently recognized by the VA. “You shouldn’t have to fight so hard for something you earned.”
Dombecki now resides in Florida with his wife, serves as a security liaison in his community, and advocates for fellow veterans who are navigating the VA system. His daughter is currently serving in the U.S. Air Force, continuing the family’s proud tradition of military service.
Please click here to watch the full interview.
Be sure to check Congressman Steube’s YouTube channel in the future for upcoming interviews.The Office of Congressman Greg Steube will submit the interview to the Veterans History Project, an initiative of the Library of Congress’s American Folklife Center to collect and retain the oral histories of our nation’s veterans.Initially started in 2000, the Veterans History Project aims to collect, preserve, and make accessible the personal accounts of the United States military veterans and Gold Star Families so that future generations may hear directly from the veterans and better understand their service. Researchers, scholars, and educators rely upon VHP collections as a primary source. The oral histories, photographs, manuscripts, and other original materials supplement historical texts and valued cultural resources. Veterans from all branches and ranks of the United States military who served in World War I through the more recent conflicts are eligible to participate. For more information on the VHP, please visit https://www.loc.gov/vets/.If you live in Florida’s 17th Congressional district, please visit https://steube.house.gov/services/vhp to participate.
Source: United Nations (video statements)
The HLPF will be held from Monday, 14 July, to Wednesday, 23 July 2025, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council.
Opening
Unlocking means of implementation: Mobilizing financing and STI for the SDGs (Townhall meeting)
-How can countries and stakeholders advance a coherent framework for financing the SDGs?
-What are the key outcomes from the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) which can be addressed in the short-term?
-How can promising science and technology solutions for the SDGs be scaled up?
-What innovative examples were highlighted at the 10th Multi-Stakeholder Forum on STI for the SDGs?
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The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) will be held from Monday, 14 July, to Wednesday, 23 July 2025, under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council. This includes the three-day ministerial segment of the forum from Monday, 21 July, to Wednesday, 23 July 2025, as part of the High-level Segment of ECOSOC.
The theme of the HLPF will be “Advancing sustainable, inclusive, science- and evidence-based solutions for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals for leaving no one behind”
Five Sustainable Development Goals would be the focus of HLPF 2025
SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being
SDG 5 – Gender Equality
SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 14 – Life Below Water
SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals
The 2025 HLPF is expected to bring together ministerial and high-level representatives of governments, as well as a wide range of expertise and stakeholders, including heads of UN entities, academics and other experts, and representatives of major groups and other stakeholders.
37 countries will present a Voluntary National Reviews (VNR) at the 2025 HLPF: Angola, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belarus, Bhutan, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Finland, Gambia, Germany, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Lesotho, Malaysia, Malta, Micronesia, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Qatar, Saint Lucia, Seychelles, South Africa, Sudan, Suriname, Thailand.
Watch in 6 UN official languages: https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1f/k1fv876o81
Source: The Conversation – USA (2) – By Brian J. Yanites, Associate Professor of Earth and Atmospheric Science. Robert Shrock Professor of Surficial and Sedimentary Geology, Indiana University
Hurricane Helene lasted only a few days in September 2024, but it altered the landscape of the Southeastern U.S. in profound ways that will affect the hazards local residents face far into the future.
Mudslides buried roads and reshaped river channels. Uprooted trees left soil on hillslopes exposed to the elements. Sediment that washed into rivers changed how water flows through the landscape, leaving some areas more prone to flooding and erosion.
Helene was a powerful reminder that natural hazards don’t disappear when the skies clear – they evolve.
These transformations are part of what scientists call cascading hazards. They occur when one natural event alters the landscape in ways that lead to future hazards. A landslide triggered by a storm might clog a river, leading to downstream flooding months or years later. A wildfire can alter the soil and vegetation, setting the stage for debris flows with the next rainstorm.
I study these disasters as a geomorphologist. In a new paper in the journal Science, I and a team of scientists from 18 universities and the U.S. Geological Survey explain why hazard models – used to help communities prepare for disasters – can’t just rely on the past. Instead, they need to be nimble enough to forecast how hazards evolve in real time.
Cascading hazards aren’t random. They emerge from physical processes that operate continuously across the landscape – sediment movement, weathering, erosion. Together, the atmosphere, biosphere and the earth are constantly reshaping the conditions that cause natural disasters.
For instance, earthquakes fracture rock and shake loose soil. Even if landslides don’t occur during the quake itself, the ground may be weakened, leaving it primed for failure during later rainstorms.
That’s exactly what happened after the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan Province, China, which led to a surge in debris flows long after the initial seismic event.
Earth’s surface retains a “memory” of these events. Sediment disturbed in an earthquake, wildfire or severe storm will move downslope over years or even decades, reshaping the landscape as it goes.
The 1950 Assam earthquake in India is a striking example: It triggered thousands of landslides. The sediment from these landslides gradually moved through the river system, eventually causing flooding and changing river channels in Bangladesh some 20 years later.
These risks present challenges for everything from emergency planning to home insurance. After repeated wildfire-mudslide combinations in California, some insurers pulled out of the state entirely, citing mounting risks and rising costs among the reasons.
Cascading hazards are not new, but their impact is intensifying.
Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of wildfires, storms and extreme rainfall. At the same time, urban development continues to expand into steep, hazard-prone terrain, exposing more people and infrastructure to evolving risks.
The rising risk of interconnected climate disasters like these is overwhelming systems built for isolated events.
Yet climate change is only part of the equation. Earth processes – such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions – also trigger cascading hazards, often with long-lasting effects.
Mount St. Helens is a powerful example: More than four decades after its eruption in 1980, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers continues to manage ash and sediment from the eruption to keep it from filling river channels in ways that could increase the flood risk in downstream communities.
Traditionally, insurance companies and disaster managers have estimated hazard risk by looking at past events.
But when the landscape has changed, the past may no longer be a reliable guide to the future. To address this, computer models based on the physics of how these events work are needed to help forecast hazard evolution in real time, much like weather models update with new atmospheric data.
Thanks to advances in Earth observation technology, such as satellite imagery, drone and lidar, which is similar to radar but uses light, scientists can now track how hillslopes, rivers and vegetation change after disasters. These observations can feed into geomorphic models that simulate how loosened sediment moves and where hazards are likely to emerge next.
Researchers are already coupling weather forecasts with post-wildfire debris flow models. Other models simulate how sediment pulses travel through river networks.
Cascading hazards reveal that Earth’s surface is not a passive backdrop, but an active, evolving system. Each event reshapes the stage for the next.
Understanding these connections is critical for building resilience so communities can withstand future storms, earthquakes and the problems created by debris flows. Better forecasts can inform building codes, guide infrastructure design and improve how risk is priced and managed. They can help communities anticipate long-term threats and adapt before the next disaster strikes.
Most importantly, they challenge everyone to think beyond the immediate aftermath of a disaster – and to recognize the slow, quiet transformations that build toward the next.
Brian J. Yanites receives funding from the National Science Foundation.
– ref. Disasters don’t disappear when the storm ends – cascading hazards, from landslides to floods, are upending risk models – https://theconversation.com/disasters-dont-disappear-when-the-storm-ends-cascading-hazards-from-landslides-to-floods-are-upending-risk-models-259502
MIL OSI –
