Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, commenced her first official trip to Europe with a visit to Disneyland Paris on the morning of July 3 (Paris time) upon her arrival in Paris, France. There, she gained first-hand insights of the latest developments of Disneyland Paris. During the tour, she shared with the President of Disneyland Paris, Ms Natacha Rafalski, that Hong Kong Disneyland Resort has just launched its 20th-anniversary celebrations, which will bring all-new experiences to visitors. She also noted the shared appeal of both resorts as world-class tourist destinations.
Afterwards, Miss Law paid a courtesy call on the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the French Republic and the Principality of Monaco, Mr Deng Li. Miss Law expressed her hope to foster closer exchanges between Hong Kong and France, highlighting opportunities for collaboration across various sectors. Mr Deng talked about his views on the significance of Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges, highlighting that the city should make good use of its uniqueness. He also noted that Hong Kong is a potential market as an art trading centre.
In the afternoon, Miss Law met with the Secretary General of the Ministry of Culture of France, Mr Luc Allaire. During the meeting, Miss Law underscored Hong Kong’s dedication to fostering cultural exchanges on both the regional and global levels. She emphasised Hong Kong’s role as a dynamic platform for welcoming diverse cultures into its community, while showcasing Chinese culture on the world stage. Miss Law also shared her vision of transforming Hong Kong into a hub for hosting large-scale museum events. Both parties recognised the strong and vibrant cultural ties between Hong Kong and France, spanning areas such as cultural performances, art and museum exhibitions, film production, fashion and design. They expressed a shared enthusiasm for expanding collaboration and reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening cultural connections and partnerships in the future.
Miss Law will continue her visit to Paris today (July 4, Paris time).
Russia pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people and damaging buildings across the capital only hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, officials said on Friday.
Air raid sirens, the whine of kamikaze drones and booming detonations reverberated from early evening until dawn as Russia launched what Ukraine’s Air Force said was a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles.
Residents huddled with families in underground metro stations for shelter. Acrid smoke hung over the city centre.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is due to speak to Trump later on Friday about the war and a U.S. pause in some deliveries of air defence missiles, called the attack “deliberately massive and cynical.”
“Notably, the first air raid alerts in our cities and regions yesterday began to blare almost simultaneously with media reports discussing a phone call between President Trump and Putin,” Zelenskiy said on X.
“Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,” he added, calling for increased pressure on Russia and more air defence equipment.
Kyiv officials said the attack damaged about 40 apartment blocks, passenger railway infrastructure, five schools and kindergartens, cafes and many cars in six of Kyiv’s 10 districts. Poland said the consular section of its embassy was damaged in central Kyiv, adding that staff were unharmed.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that fourteen of the injured were hospitalised.
Ukraine’s state-owned railway Ukrzaliznytsia, the country’s largest carrier, said on Telegram that the attack on Kyiv forced them to divert a number of passenger trains, causing delays.
Damage was recorded on both sides of the wide Dnipro River bisecting the city and falling drone debris set a medical facility on fire in the leafy Holosiivskyi district, Klitschko said.
Russian air strikes on Kyiv have intensified in recent weeks and included some of the deadliest assaults of the war on the city of three million people.
CALL FOR SANCTIONS
Trump said that the call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war, while the Kremlin reiterated that Moscow would keep pushing to solve the conflict’s “root causes”.
A decision by Washington earlier this week to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv that the move would weaken its ability to defend against intensifying airstrikes and battlefield advances.
On Friday, Zelenskiy called for increased pressure on Moscow to change its “dumb, destructive behavior”.
“For every such strike against people and human life, they must feel appropriate sanctions and other blows to their economy, their revenues, and their infrastructure,” he said.
SHELTERED
Ukraine’s Air Force said that it destroyed 478 of the air weapons Russia launched overnight. However air strikes were recorded in eight locations across the country with nine missiles and 63 drones, it added.
Social media videos showed people running to seek shelter, firefighters fighting blazes in the dark and ruined buildings with windows and facades blown out.
Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian. Many more soldiers are believed to have died on the frontlines, although neither side releases military casualty figures.
Late on Thursday, Russian shelling killed five people in and near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a key target under Russian attack for months, Ukraine said.
Russia pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people and damaging buildings across the capital only hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, officials said on Friday.
Air raid sirens, the whine of kamikaze drones and booming detonations reverberated from early evening until dawn as Russia launched what Ukraine’s Air Force said was a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles.
Residents huddled with families in underground metro stations for shelter. Acrid smoke hung over the city centre.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is due to speak to Trump later on Friday about the war and a U.S. pause in some deliveries of air defence missiles, called the attack “deliberately massive and cynical.”
“Notably, the first air raid alerts in our cities and regions yesterday began to blare almost simultaneously with media reports discussing a phone call between President Trump and Putin,” Zelenskiy said on X.
“Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,” he added, calling for increased pressure on Russia and more air defence equipment.
Kyiv officials said the attack damaged about 40 apartment blocks, passenger railway infrastructure, five schools and kindergartens, cafes and many cars in six of Kyiv’s 10 districts. Poland said the consular section of its embassy was damaged in central Kyiv, adding that staff were unharmed.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that fourteen of the injured were hospitalised.
Ukraine’s state-owned railway Ukrzaliznytsia, the country’s largest carrier, said on Telegram that the attack on Kyiv forced them to divert a number of passenger trains, causing delays.
Damage was recorded on both sides of the wide Dnipro River bisecting the city and falling drone debris set a medical facility on fire in the leafy Holosiivskyi district, Klitschko said.
Russian air strikes on Kyiv have intensified in recent weeks and included some of the deadliest assaults of the war on the city of three million people.
CALL FOR SANCTIONS
Trump said that the call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war, while the Kremlin reiterated that Moscow would keep pushing to solve the conflict’s “root causes”.
A decision by Washington earlier this week to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv that the move would weaken its ability to defend against intensifying airstrikes and battlefield advances.
On Friday, Zelenskiy called for increased pressure on Moscow to change its “dumb, destructive behavior”.
“For every such strike against people and human life, they must feel appropriate sanctions and other blows to their economy, their revenues, and their infrastructure,” he said.
SHELTERED
Ukraine’s Air Force said that it destroyed 478 of the air weapons Russia launched overnight. However air strikes were recorded in eight locations across the country with nine missiles and 63 drones, it added.
Social media videos showed people running to seek shelter, firefighters fighting blazes in the dark and ruined buildings with windows and facades blown out.
Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian. Many more soldiers are believed to have died on the frontlines, although neither side releases military casualty figures.
Late on Thursday, Russian shelling killed five people in and near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a key target under Russian attack for months, Ukraine said.
Russia pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people and damaging buildings across the capital only hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, officials said on Friday.
Air raid sirens, the whine of kamikaze drones and booming detonations reverberated from early evening until dawn as Russia launched what Ukraine’s Air Force said was a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles.
Residents huddled with families in underground metro stations for shelter. Acrid smoke hung over the city centre.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is due to speak to Trump later on Friday about the war and a U.S. pause in some deliveries of air defence missiles, called the attack “deliberately massive and cynical.”
“Notably, the first air raid alerts in our cities and regions yesterday began to blare almost simultaneously with media reports discussing a phone call between President Trump and Putin,” Zelenskiy said on X.
“Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,” he added, calling for increased pressure on Russia and more air defence equipment.
Kyiv officials said the attack damaged about 40 apartment blocks, passenger railway infrastructure, five schools and kindergartens, cafes and many cars in six of Kyiv’s 10 districts. Poland said the consular section of its embassy was damaged in central Kyiv, adding that staff were unharmed.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that fourteen of the injured were hospitalised.
Ukraine’s state-owned railway Ukrzaliznytsia, the country’s largest carrier, said on Telegram that the attack on Kyiv forced them to divert a number of passenger trains, causing delays.
Damage was recorded on both sides of the wide Dnipro River bisecting the city and falling drone debris set a medical facility on fire in the leafy Holosiivskyi district, Klitschko said.
Russian air strikes on Kyiv have intensified in recent weeks and included some of the deadliest assaults of the war on the city of three million people.
CALL FOR SANCTIONS
Trump said that the call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war, while the Kremlin reiterated that Moscow would keep pushing to solve the conflict’s “root causes”.
A decision by Washington earlier this week to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv that the move would weaken its ability to defend against intensifying airstrikes and battlefield advances.
On Friday, Zelenskiy called for increased pressure on Moscow to change its “dumb, destructive behavior”.
“For every such strike against people and human life, they must feel appropriate sanctions and other blows to their economy, their revenues, and their infrastructure,” he said.
SHELTERED
Ukraine’s Air Force said that it destroyed 478 of the air weapons Russia launched overnight. However air strikes were recorded in eight locations across the country with nine missiles and 63 drones, it added.
Social media videos showed people running to seek shelter, firefighters fighting blazes in the dark and ruined buildings with windows and facades blown out.
Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian. Many more soldiers are believed to have died on the frontlines, although neither side releases military casualty figures.
Late on Thursday, Russian shelling killed five people in and near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a key target under Russian attack for months, Ukraine said.
Russia pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people and damaging buildings across the capital only hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, officials said on Friday.
Air raid sirens, the whine of kamikaze drones and booming detonations reverberated from early evening until dawn as Russia launched what Ukraine’s Air Force said was a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles.
Residents huddled with families in underground metro stations for shelter. Acrid smoke hung over the city centre.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is due to speak to Trump later on Friday about the war and a U.S. pause in some deliveries of air defence missiles, called the attack “deliberately massive and cynical.”
“Notably, the first air raid alerts in our cities and regions yesterday began to blare almost simultaneously with media reports discussing a phone call between President Trump and Putin,” Zelenskiy said on X.
“Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,” he added, calling for increased pressure on Russia and more air defence equipment.
Kyiv officials said the attack damaged about 40 apartment blocks, passenger railway infrastructure, five schools and kindergartens, cafes and many cars in six of Kyiv’s 10 districts. Poland said the consular section of its embassy was damaged in central Kyiv, adding that staff were unharmed.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that fourteen of the injured were hospitalised.
Ukraine’s state-owned railway Ukrzaliznytsia, the country’s largest carrier, said on Telegram that the attack on Kyiv forced them to divert a number of passenger trains, causing delays.
Damage was recorded on both sides of the wide Dnipro River bisecting the city and falling drone debris set a medical facility on fire in the leafy Holosiivskyi district, Klitschko said.
Russian air strikes on Kyiv have intensified in recent weeks and included some of the deadliest assaults of the war on the city of three million people.
CALL FOR SANCTIONS
Trump said that the call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war, while the Kremlin reiterated that Moscow would keep pushing to solve the conflict’s “root causes”.
A decision by Washington earlier this week to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv that the move would weaken its ability to defend against intensifying airstrikes and battlefield advances.
On Friday, Zelenskiy called for increased pressure on Moscow to change its “dumb, destructive behavior”.
“For every such strike against people and human life, they must feel appropriate sanctions and other blows to their economy, their revenues, and their infrastructure,” he said.
SHELTERED
Ukraine’s Air Force said that it destroyed 478 of the air weapons Russia launched overnight. However air strikes were recorded in eight locations across the country with nine missiles and 63 drones, it added.
Social media videos showed people running to seek shelter, firefighters fighting blazes in the dark and ruined buildings with windows and facades blown out.
Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian. Many more soldiers are believed to have died on the frontlines, although neither side releases military casualty figures.
Late on Thursday, Russian shelling killed five people in and near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a key target under Russian attack for months, Ukraine said.
Russia pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people and damaging buildings across the capital only hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, officials said on Friday.
Air raid sirens, the whine of kamikaze drones and booming detonations reverberated from early evening until dawn as Russia launched what Ukraine’s Air Force said was a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles.
Residents huddled with families in underground metro stations for shelter. Acrid smoke hung over the city centre.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is due to speak to Trump later on Friday about the war and a U.S. pause in some deliveries of air defence missiles, called the attack “deliberately massive and cynical.”
“Notably, the first air raid alerts in our cities and regions yesterday began to blare almost simultaneously with media reports discussing a phone call between President Trump and Putin,” Zelenskiy said on X.
“Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,” he added, calling for increased pressure on Russia and more air defence equipment.
Kyiv officials said the attack damaged about 40 apartment blocks, passenger railway infrastructure, five schools and kindergartens, cafes and many cars in six of Kyiv’s 10 districts. Poland said the consular section of its embassy was damaged in central Kyiv, adding that staff were unharmed.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that fourteen of the injured were hospitalised.
Ukraine’s state-owned railway Ukrzaliznytsia, the country’s largest carrier, said on Telegram that the attack on Kyiv forced them to divert a number of passenger trains, causing delays.
Damage was recorded on both sides of the wide Dnipro River bisecting the city and falling drone debris set a medical facility on fire in the leafy Holosiivskyi district, Klitschko said.
Russian air strikes on Kyiv have intensified in recent weeks and included some of the deadliest assaults of the war on the city of three million people.
CALL FOR SANCTIONS
Trump said that the call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war, while the Kremlin reiterated that Moscow would keep pushing to solve the conflict’s “root causes”.
A decision by Washington earlier this week to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv that the move would weaken its ability to defend against intensifying airstrikes and battlefield advances.
On Friday, Zelenskiy called for increased pressure on Moscow to change its “dumb, destructive behavior”.
“For every such strike against people and human life, they must feel appropriate sanctions and other blows to their economy, their revenues, and their infrastructure,” he said.
SHELTERED
Ukraine’s Air Force said that it destroyed 478 of the air weapons Russia launched overnight. However air strikes were recorded in eight locations across the country with nine missiles and 63 drones, it added.
Social media videos showed people running to seek shelter, firefighters fighting blazes in the dark and ruined buildings with windows and facades blown out.
Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian. Many more soldiers are believed to have died on the frontlines, although neither side releases military casualty figures.
Late on Thursday, Russian shelling killed five people in and near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a key target under Russian attack for months, Ukraine said.
The Finance Ministry on Friday announced that all tax benefits currently available under the National Pension System (NPS) will also be extended to the newly introduced Unified Pension Scheme (UPS).
The decision aims to make the Unified Pension Scheme more attractive for central government employees, providing parity between the two pension options.
Introduced earlier this year, the UPS is available to new recruits joining the central government civil services from April 1, 2025. Existing government employees covered under the NPS have also been given a one-time option to switch to the new scheme.
In March, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) notified the rules and procedures to operationalise the scheme. With the Finance Ministry’s latest decision, employees choosing UPS will now be entitled to the same tax deductions on contributions and other tax-saving incentives as those opting for the NPS.
The UPS has been designed to offer a more predictable retirement income by assuring a defined pension. Under the scheme, the government contributes 18.5 per cent of an employee’s basic pay and dearness allowance, while the employee contributes 10 per cent.
By contrast, the National Pension System, which remains in place for other subscribers, operates as a defined contribution scheme without guaranteed returns.
The Finance Ministry described the tax parity as an effort to strengthen retirement security for central government staff through “transparent, flexible and tax-efficient options”.
The PFRDA will continue to oversee both pension schemes. Officials said the move is expected to encourage more employees to exercise their option to switch, and help the government address concerns about old-age income security.
The Finance Ministry on Friday announced that all tax benefits currently available under the National Pension System (NPS) will also be extended to the newly introduced Unified Pension Scheme (UPS).
The decision aims to make the Unified Pension Scheme more attractive for central government employees, providing parity between the two pension options.
Introduced earlier this year, the UPS is available to new recruits joining the central government civil services from April 1, 2025. Existing government employees covered under the NPS have also been given a one-time option to switch to the new scheme.
In March, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) notified the rules and procedures to operationalise the scheme. With the Finance Ministry’s latest decision, employees choosing UPS will now be entitled to the same tax deductions on contributions and other tax-saving incentives as those opting for the NPS.
The UPS has been designed to offer a more predictable retirement income by assuring a defined pension. Under the scheme, the government contributes 18.5 per cent of an employee’s basic pay and dearness allowance, while the employee contributes 10 per cent.
By contrast, the National Pension System, which remains in place for other subscribers, operates as a defined contribution scheme without guaranteed returns.
The Finance Ministry described the tax parity as an effort to strengthen retirement security for central government staff through “transparent, flexible and tax-efficient options”.
The PFRDA will continue to oversee both pension schemes. Officials said the move is expected to encourage more employees to exercise their option to switch, and help the government address concerns about old-age income security.
The Finance Ministry on Friday announced that all tax benefits currently available under the National Pension System (NPS) will also be extended to the newly introduced Unified Pension Scheme (UPS).
The decision aims to make the Unified Pension Scheme more attractive for central government employees, providing parity between the two pension options.
Introduced earlier this year, the UPS is available to new recruits joining the central government civil services from April 1, 2025. Existing government employees covered under the NPS have also been given a one-time option to switch to the new scheme.
In March, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) notified the rules and procedures to operationalise the scheme. With the Finance Ministry’s latest decision, employees choosing UPS will now be entitled to the same tax deductions on contributions and other tax-saving incentives as those opting for the NPS.
The UPS has been designed to offer a more predictable retirement income by assuring a defined pension. Under the scheme, the government contributes 18.5 per cent of an employee’s basic pay and dearness allowance, while the employee contributes 10 per cent.
By contrast, the National Pension System, which remains in place for other subscribers, operates as a defined contribution scheme without guaranteed returns.
The Finance Ministry described the tax parity as an effort to strengthen retirement security for central government staff through “transparent, flexible and tax-efficient options”.
The PFRDA will continue to oversee both pension schemes. Officials said the move is expected to encourage more employees to exercise their option to switch, and help the government address concerns about old-age income security.
The Finance Ministry on Friday announced that all tax benefits currently available under the National Pension System (NPS) will also be extended to the newly introduced Unified Pension Scheme (UPS).
The decision aims to make the Unified Pension Scheme more attractive for central government employees, providing parity between the two pension options.
Introduced earlier this year, the UPS is available to new recruits joining the central government civil services from April 1, 2025. Existing government employees covered under the NPS have also been given a one-time option to switch to the new scheme.
In March, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) notified the rules and procedures to operationalise the scheme. With the Finance Ministry’s latest decision, employees choosing UPS will now be entitled to the same tax deductions on contributions and other tax-saving incentives as those opting for the NPS.
The UPS has been designed to offer a more predictable retirement income by assuring a defined pension. Under the scheme, the government contributes 18.5 per cent of an employee’s basic pay and dearness allowance, while the employee contributes 10 per cent.
By contrast, the National Pension System, which remains in place for other subscribers, operates as a defined contribution scheme without guaranteed returns.
The Finance Ministry described the tax parity as an effort to strengthen retirement security for central government staff through “transparent, flexible and tax-efficient options”.
The PFRDA will continue to oversee both pension schemes. Officials said the move is expected to encourage more employees to exercise their option to switch, and help the government address concerns about old-age income security.
The Finance Ministry on Friday announced that all tax benefits currently available under the National Pension System (NPS) will also be extended to the newly introduced Unified Pension Scheme (UPS).
The decision aims to make the Unified Pension Scheme more attractive for central government employees, providing parity between the two pension options.
Introduced earlier this year, the UPS is available to new recruits joining the central government civil services from April 1, 2025. Existing government employees covered under the NPS have also been given a one-time option to switch to the new scheme.
In March, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) notified the rules and procedures to operationalise the scheme. With the Finance Ministry’s latest decision, employees choosing UPS will now be entitled to the same tax deductions on contributions and other tax-saving incentives as those opting for the NPS.
The UPS has been designed to offer a more predictable retirement income by assuring a defined pension. Under the scheme, the government contributes 18.5 per cent of an employee’s basic pay and dearness allowance, while the employee contributes 10 per cent.
By contrast, the National Pension System, which remains in place for other subscribers, operates as a defined contribution scheme without guaranteed returns.
The Finance Ministry described the tax parity as an effort to strengthen retirement security for central government staff through “transparent, flexible and tax-efficient options”.
The PFRDA will continue to oversee both pension schemes. Officials said the move is expected to encourage more employees to exercise their option to switch, and help the government address concerns about old-age income security.
Protesters against the Israeli genocide in Gaza and occupied West Bank targeted three business sites accused of being “complicit” in Aotearoa New Zealand today.
The Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa’s “End Rocket Lab Genocide Complicity” themed protest picketed Rocket Lab’s New Zealand head office in Mt Wellington.
Simultaneously, protesters also picketed a site in Warkworth where Rocket Lab equipment is built and Mahia peninsula where satellites are launched.
In a statement on the PSNA website, it was revealed this week that the advocacy group’s lawyers have prepared a 103-page “indictment” against two business leaders, including the head of Rocket Lab, along with four politicians, including Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
They have been referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague for investigation on an accusation of complicity with Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Rocket Lab chief executive Sir Peter Beck is one of the six people named in the legal brief.
“Rocket Lab has recently launched geospatial intelligence satellites for BlackSky Technology,” said PSNA co-chair John Minto in a statement.
High resolution images “These satellites provide high resolution images to Israel which are very likely used to assist with striking civilians in Gaza. Sir Peter has proceeded with these launches in full knowledge of these circumstances”
A “Genocide Lab” protest against Rocket Lab in Mt Wellington today. Image: PSNA
“When governments and business leaders can’t even condemn a genocide then civil society groups must act.”
The other business leader named is Rakon Limited chief executive officer Dr Sinan Altug.
“Despite vast weapons transfers from the United States to Israel since the beginning of its war on Gaza, Rakon has continued with its longstanding supply of crystal oscillators to US arms manufacturers for use in guided missiles which are then available to Israel for the bombing of Gaza, as well as Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iran with consequential massive loss of life,” Minto said.
“Rakon’s claims that it has no responsibility over how these ‘dual-use’ technologies are used are not credible.”
Rocket Lab and Rakon have in the past rejected claims over their responsibility.
Speakers at Mount Wellington included the Green Party spokesperson for foreign affairs Teanau Tuiono; Dr Arama Rata, a researcher and lecturer from Victoria University; and Sam Vincent, the legal team leader for the ICC referral.
Law academic Professor Jane Kelsey spoke at the Warkworth picket.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, July 4 (Xinhua) — A cargo air route was launched on Thursday between Urumqi, capital of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and the Serbian city of Nis, served by Uzbekistan’s Centrum Air.
Its Boeing 767-300F aircraft delivered 52.71 tons of goods to Serbia as part of cross-border e-commerce.
According to the Zhongxinshe News Agency, citing a source in the Xinjiang Airport Group, eight new international cargo airlines were opened in January-June this year, linking Xinjiang with the outside world. The total number of international cargo air routes in Xinjiang has now reached 34. Thanks to this, Urumqi Tianshan International Airport has become a key aviation logistics hub connecting Xinjiang with Central Asia and Europe. -0-
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he is willing to let migrant laborers stay in the United States if the farmers they work for will vouch for them.
At a campaign-style speech at the Iowa state fairgrounds, Trump said he is working with the Homeland Security Department to help farmers who depend on migrant laborers for their seasonal needs. He said he will also work with the hotel industry on the issue.
Trump has been pursuing a hard-line policy on migration and his U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has been leading an effort to deport people who crossed into the United States illegally.
This has led to some complaints from farmers that their crops are at risk due to a depleted work force.
“If a farmer is willing to vouch for these people in some way, Kristi, I think we’re going to have to just say that’s going to be good, right?”
“We don’t want to do it where we take all of the workers off the farms,” he added, speaking in a Midwestern state where farming is a dominant industry.
In a landmark moment for gender equality in the armed forces, Sub Lieutenant Aastha Poonia became the first woman fighter pilot of the Indian Navy. She was awarded the prestigious ‘Wings of Gold’ alongside Lieutenant Atul Kumar Dhull during the graduation ceremony of the Second Basic Hawk Conversion Course held at INS Dega, Visakhapatnam on Thursday.
The ceremony was presided over by Rear Admiral Janak Bevli, Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Air), who conferred the honours. The Indian Navy described the milestone as “A new chapter in Naval aviation,” celebrating Poonia’s entry into the elite Fighter stream—a domain previously dominated by men.
“Streaming of SLt Aastha Poonia into the Fighter Stream highlights the Indian Navy’s commitment towards gender inclusivity in Naval Aviation and promoting Nari Shakti, fostering a culture of equality and opportunity,” said the Defence Ministry in a statement.
The achievement comes amid increasing representation of women in the Indian Armed Forces. During recent press briefings on Operation Sindoor, officers like Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh stood as powerful symbols of women’s growing role in India’s defence landscape.
Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law yesterday started the first leg of her visit to France in Paris, by touring Disneyland Paris and meeting French Ministry of Culture Secretary General Luc Allaire.
Apart from gaining first-hand insights of the theme park’s latest developments during her tour, Miss Law shared with Disneyland Paris President Natacha Rafalski that Hong Kong Disneyland Resort has just launched its 20th-anniversary celebrations, which will bring all-new experiences to visitors.
This was followed by a courtesy call on Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the French Republic and the Principality of Monaco Deng Li.
Miss Law expressed her hope to foster closer exchanges between Hong Kong and France, highlighting the opportunities for collaboration across various sectors.
At her afternoon meeting with Mr Allaire, Miss Law underscored Hong Kong’s dedication to fostering cultural exchanges on both the regional and global levels, and shared her vision of transforming the city into a hub for hosting large-scale museum events.
Both parties expressed a shared enthusiasm for expanding collaboration, and reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening cultural connections and partnerships in the future.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Legislative Council Members and Kwai Tsing District Council members visit proposed lift and pedestrian walkway system between Lai King Hill Road and Lai Cho Road The Legislative Council (LegCo) Members and Kwai Tsing District Council (DC) members inspected the proposed lift and pedestrian walkway system between Lai King Hill Road and Lai Cho Road, Kwai Chung today (July 4) to follow up on the issue of enhancing barrier-free facilities in the district, which was raised at the meeting held in LegCo by both sides on May 23 this year.
LegCo Members first received a briefing by representatives of the Highways Department on the plans for the proposed lift and pedestrian walkway system between Lai King Hill Road and Lai Cho Road, including demolition of existing slopes, construction of a covered walkway and a lift tower with two elevators, as well as ancillary environmental beautification and drainage works.
LegCo Members then walked from Lai King Hill Road footbridge to Lai Cho Road to experience walking the long staircase connecting the two locations and inspect the surrounding conditions. Members also exchanged views with Kwai Tsing DC members and representatives of the Administration on the related works. Members urged the Administration to submit the funding proposal for the works as soon as possible, and enhance the speed and efficiency for early completion of the project, so as to facilitate the daily travel of the residents.
Members who participated in the visit were Dr Junius Ho, Dr Chan Han-pan, Dr Lo Wai-kwok, Mr Chan Yung, Ms Joephy Chan and Dr So Cheung-wing. Issued at HKT 17:27
At the invitation of The Honourable Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan, Chair of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in 2025 and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, will lead the ASEAN Secretariat delegation to participate in the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conferences, the 26th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the 15th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum, and the meeting of the SEANWFZ Commission. The series of meetings hosted by Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 8-11 July 2025, under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability.” While in Malaysia, Dr. Kao will hold bilateral meetings with Foreign Ministers from ASEAN Member States and ASEAN’s external partners to exchange views on recent regional and global developments, and to explore new ideas for strengthening and broadening cooperation and partnerships in support of the implementation of ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future. Dr. Kao is also scheduled to hold an interface with AICHR Representatives on the margins of the 58th AMM and Related Meetings.
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Thanks to support from the IAEA initiative “Rays of Hope” Cancer patients around the world can now more easily receive the life-saving care they need, participants were told at the forum “Rays of Hope”.
The Rays of Hope initiative aims to increase access to cancer care where it is needed most by helping low- and middle-income countries build and strengthen their capacity in medical imaging, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine. Since its launch in Ethiopia three years ago, more than 90 countries have applied for support.
“Cancer kills 2,000 people a day in Africa, making it the leading cause of death on the continent,” IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said Monday at the opening of the forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. “Three years ago, we launched the Rays of Hope initiative here at the African Union headquarters. Today, we are helping to bring cancer care to countries where it was previously unavailable.”
Temesgen Tirune, Deputy Prime Minister, said: “This forum must be a signal to work together. Let it inspire us to strengthen cooperation, increase investment and continue to show solidarity – so that no child dies from curable cancer, no mother has to wait forever for a diagnosis and no country is left behind simply because of its geography or the size of its GDP.”
The opening of the Rays of Hope forum was also addressed by Ethiopian Health Minister Mekdes Daba Feissa and African Union Chief of Staff Mohamed Al-Amin Suef.
During the morning sessions, representatives of countries supported by the Rays of Hope initiative shared their experiences. Among them were: the Minister of Health of Benin Benjamin Hunkpatin, Minister of Scientific Research and Technology of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Gilbert Kabanda Kurhenga, Minister of Health of Ethiopia Mekdes Daba Feissa, Minister of Health of Lesotho Selibe Mokhoboroane, Minister of Health and Social Welfare of Senegal Ibrahima Say, Deputy Minister of Health of Botswana Lawrence Ookeditse and Principal Secretary of the Kenyan Ministry of Health Fredrick Uma Oluga.
The importance of the Rays of Hope initiative was also underscored by the countries that have made contributions to it. The forum was addressed by the German Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Observer to the African Union in Ethiopia Jens Hanefeld, the Permanent Representative of Italy to the African Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa in Ethiopia Maurizio Busanelli, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the African Union Tsutomu Nakagawa and the First Counsellor of the French Embassy in Ethiopia and the African Union Julien Voiturier.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday predicted heavy rainfall activity over northwest and central India over the next seven days, with peak intensity expected in the northwest region on July 6 and 7. Eastern India is also likely to witness significant rainfall until July 7.
Isolated places in eastern Madhya Pradesh are expected to receive extremely heavy rainfall (more than 21 cm) today, while the ghat areas of central Maharashtra are likely to witness similar intensity on July 6 and 7. Himachal Pradesh may also see extremely heavy showers on July 6.
Several other regions will experience heavy to very heavy rainfall during this period. These include Jammu, Jharkhand, and western Uttar Pradesh on July 6; Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand from July 5 to 8; Punjab and Haryana on July 6 and 7; and East Rajasthan from July 4 to 6 and again on July 9 and 10.
Madhya Pradesh is expected to receive heavy rainfall today and tomorrow, with another wet spell from July 8 to 10.
Other areas including Chhattisgarh, Konkan and Goa, central Maharashtra, and the Gujarat region are likely to see heavy rainfall from July 4 to 8, while Vidarbha may receive showers from July 6 to 8.
Gangetic West Bengal is expected to receive heavy rainfall on July 5 and 6, and parts of Karnataka, Saurashtra & Kutch, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya are also likely to be affected on select days.
Weather forecast for Delhi-NCR
In Delhi-NCR, weather conditions are expected to remain relatively moderate but unsettled.
Delhi is likely to witness partly cloudy skies with very light to light rain accompanied by thunderstorms today. Maximum temperatures will range from 36 to 38°C.
On July 5, light to moderate rain is expected, with temperatures ranging from 35 to 37°C during the day and 26 to 28°C at night.
July 6 and 7 will see generally cloudy skies and light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms. Maximum temperatures are likely to dip to 32–35°C, and minimum temperatures may fall to 24–28°C, remaining below normal for this time of year.
The National Consumer Helpline (NCH) on Friday enabled refunds worth ₹7.14 crore to consumers across the country in the past two months. The Department of Consumer Affairs said the amount was facilitated through the resolution of 15,426 complaints spanning 30 sectors.
The NCH, a flagship initiative under the Department of Consumer Affairs, plays a critical role in providing pre-litigation support to consumers under the Consumer Protection Act, 2019. By addressing grievances swiftly and amicably, the helpline eases the burden on the Consumer Commissions.
According to official data, the e-commerce sector continues to generate the highest number of complaints. Of the total grievances, 8,919 pertained to the e-commerce sector alone, leading to refunds amounting to ₹3.69 crore. The travel and tourism sector followed, with refunds worth ₹81 lakh being facilitated for consumers facing issues related to bookings and cancellations.
Consumers from states and Union Territories across the country have used the platform, reflecting its wide reach. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of e-commerce complaints at 1,242, but grievances were registered even from smaller regions such as Sikkim and Dadra & Nagar Haveli.
Officials said the steady increase in the number of grievances reflects the growing outreach of the platform through various digital modes, including calls, the NCH app, the UMANG app, SMS, WhatsApp, email, the web portal, and the Integrated Grievance Redressal Mechanism (INGRAM).
The helpline acts as a single-window system for consumers to register their grievances at the pre-litigation stage. It is accessible in 17 languages through the toll-free number 1915. In addition, complaints can be submitted online via consumerhelpline.gov.in and through WhatsApp (8800001915), SMS, the NCH app, the UMANG App, and email (nch-ca@gov.in).
Officials have urged consumers to actively utilise these channels to secure timely and hassle-free redressal and to safeguard their rights as provided under the law.
Several recent cases highlight the helpline’s effectiveness.
In West Bengal, a consumer in Kolkata received a refund of ₹8.24 lakh for a cancelled flight ticket after approaching the NCH. Another consumer from Burdwan District secured a refund of ₹1,854 for an undelivered grocery order from an e-commerce platform.
In Rajasthan, a consumer from Nagpur District was refunded ₹5,799 for a washing machine that could not be returned due to repeated delays.
In Chhattisgarh, a consumer from Korba District received a refund of ₹1,214 for a toy order that was not delivered, following intervention by the helpline.
A consumer in Mumbai, Maharashtra, received a refund for missing grocery items within three hours of filing a complaint.
In Telangana, a consumer from Medak District, who received a three-star refrigerator instead of the ordered five-star model, was refunded ₹17,490 after the helpline’s intervention.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Pengshui Miao and Tujia autonomous county in southwestern China’s Chongqing welcomed a delegation of foreign diplomats and international representatives from July 2 to 3, as part of an initiative to promote local industries and expand global cooperation.
A delegation of foreign diplomats and international representatives visits Pengshui Miao and Tujia autonomous county in southwestern China’s Chongqing to learn about the county’s socioeconomic development and find new cooperation opportunities from July 2 to 3, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
The trip was jointly organized by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Chongqing Municipal Government and the Pengshui County Government. Nearly 70 representatives from consulates, international chambers, and media outlets across 11 countries—including Japan, Canada, Brazil, Myanmar, and Vietnam—took part in the visit.
The delegation explored Pengshui’s growing potential in specialty agriculture, traditional Miao medicine, and cultural tourism.
A delegation of foreign diplomats and international representatives visits Pengshui Miao and Tujia autonomous county in southwestern China’s Chongqing to learn about the county’s socioeconomic development and find new cooperation opportunities from July 2 to 3, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
At Shan’gan township’s “Miao Medicine Valley,” the delegation was introduced to locally grown wasabi—an uncommon crop in the region. Takada Mari, Consul-General of Japan in Chongqing, said that wasabi typically requires very specific conditions and said she had not expected it to grow successfully in Pengshui. She described the flavor as developing slowly with a natural taste, and noted that local production of wasabi, along with ongoing exchanges with Japanese businesses, could pave the way for deeper cooperation in trade, culture, and talent development.
A delegation of foreign diplomats and international representatives visits Pengshui Miao and Tujia autonomous county in southwestern China’s Chongqing to learn about the county’s socioeconomic development and find new cooperation opportunities from July 2 to 3, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
The delegation also visited Pengshui’s sweet potato development center, an agricultural product exhibition hall, and rural revitalization demonstration areas. Many participants said that the opening of a high-speed rail line to Pengshui has greatly improved accessibility and opened new opportunities for collaboration.
U Kyaw Zay Yar Lin, Consul-General of Myanmar in Chongqing, noted that Pengshui’s traditional attire and music reminded him of his own home country. He expressed strong interest in exploring trade possibilities for local specialty products such as Miao herbal medicine and sweet potatoes, emphasizing the cultural connection between ethnic communities in both countries.
A delegation of foreign diplomats and international representatives visits Pengshui Miao and Tujia autonomous county in southwestern China’s Chongqing to learn about the county’s socioeconomic development and find new cooperation opportunities from July 2 to 3, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
Birgit Murr, head of the commercial section at the Austrian Consulate General in Chengdu, highlighted the high quality of Pengshui’s organic agricultural products, particularly those with national geographical indication status. She said such credentials could serve as a strong marketing point for expanding sales to other regions in China and into international markets.
Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho attended a business luncheon during her visit to Lisbon, Portugal, to promote development opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
At the business luncheon co-organised by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office under the Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Bureau and the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Brussels, Ms Ho promoted the vast opportunities for Portuguese companies arising from the development of the GBA, and how Hong Kong can play its important roles as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” between the two places with its unique advantages of having the strong support of the motherland while maintaining unparalleled connectivity with the world.
Around 130 participants attended the luncheon, with representatives from over 80 Portuguese enterprises from the construction sector, information technology sector, commercial sector and professional organisations as well as representatives from 17 relevant Hong Kong enterprises.
During the luncheon, Ms Ho highlighted that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been actively promoting the use of innovative construction technologies to enhance the speed, quantity, quality and efficiency in increasing the supply of affordable housing.
Under the Housing • I&T initiative this year, the Housing Bureau will organise a series of activities to foster exchanges between Hong Kong and other countries and regions in areas such as smart construction, smart estate management, energy saving and green buildings. She encouraged Portuguese enterprises to seize these opportunities and strengthen collaborations with the Mainland and Hong Kong.
Ms Ho expressed her gratitude to the trade representatives from Hong Kong, including those participating in the construction of public housing, Light Public Housing (LPH) and transitional housing, for attending the luncheon in Lisbon and taking the opportunity to share in person with the participants Hong Kong’s opportunities and advantages in connecting the Mainland and the world.
By complying with international standards, stipulating local regulations and harnessing the strengths of the GBA in smart construction, Hong Kong can further advance in its development of Modular Integrated Construction (MiC), the transfer of on-site construction processes to factories and the application of construction robotics.
With the expeditious building of LPH and transitional housing, the living conditions and quality of life of people living in inadequate housing can be improved as soon as practicable. The significant housing production target of 308,000 public housing units over the next 10 years also enables the bureau and the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA) to promote the adoption of innovative technologies and advance public housing developments in a new era of smart construction.
Earlier in the day, Ms Ho visited EntreCampos, a local redevelopment project jointly developed by the public and private sectors, comprising social housing for middle-class residents, offices, retail, community facilities and green spaces. The project adopted Building Information Modelling (BIM) during construction. She also visited the new headquarters of an insurance company in the project. The building employs smart technologies and innovative sustainable energy systems to enhance energy efficiency.
Ms Ho stated that the HKHA has strived to promote greener and more energy-efficient designs, aiming to attain a gold rating or above under BEAM Plus for all new housing developments.
The measures include adopting MiC in construction with modules manufactured accurately and effectively in factories, and other innovative technologies such as BIM to facilitate planning throughout the construction process and enhance management, which can save energy, reduce waste and make the construction process more environmentally friendly.
The housing chief said she looked forward to continued exchanges between Hong Kong and Portugal on innovative construction technologies and green building designs.
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam will depart for Europe tomorrow to visit the Netherlands, France and Italy to introduce Hong Kong’s latest legal developments, promote its strengths in legal and dispute resolution services, and explore collaboration on international capacity building.
Mr Lam plans to attend seminars organised by the Department of Justice and other exchange sessions.
He will also deliver speeches to legal and business sectors to introduce Hong Kong’s unique advantages in the practice of the common law system under the “one country, two systems”, the strategic positioning of the city as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region, and its important role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” between the Mainland and the rest of the world.
The Secretary for Justice will return to Hong Kong on July 13 upon conclusion of his visit in Rome. Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan will be Acting Secretary during his absence.
Minister Leon Schreiber has outlined the key achievements recorded in the Department of Home Affairs at Thursday’s Budget Vote presentation.
“It has been a year of remarkable progress for the Home Affairs ecosystem. I am here to confidently report to the House that the progress we have made over the last 12 months, by working as one team with one dream, has exceeded the expectations of cynics and optimists alike,” Schreiber said.
The department has cleared a backlog of over 306 000 visa applications dating back more than a decade.
“We produced and delivered just under 3.6 million Smart IDs, surpassing the previous annual record by nearly half a million.
“We launched Operation New Broom as part of intensified operations to restore the rule of law, leading to over 46 000 deportations — the highest figure in more than five years and more than countries like France and Germany combined,” the Minister said.
Schreiber said the department launched theTrusted Tour Operator Schemeto boost tourism from the major source markets of China and India where South Africa has underperformed for years.
“We enabled over 1.4 million naturalised citizens and permanent residents to obtain secure Smart IDs for the first time. We activated the Immigration Advisory Board for the first time in a decade by appointing a diverse group of seasoned experts to help shape better policies,” Schreiber said.
Schreiber said the department dismissed 37 crooked officials and launched the dedicatedBorder Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forumthat brings together law enforcement, the Special Investigating Unit, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations and the National Prosecuting Authority to ensure corrupt officials and fraudsters are put behind bars.
“Our anti-corruption work has led to the conviction of eight offenders, with sentences ranging from four to 18 years in prison.
“We built a working prototype of theElectronic Travel Authorisation(ETA) system that will digitalise the visa processes from beginning to end, eliminating corruption and inefficiency,” the Minister said.
Schreiber said the reforms that his department will deliver in the next 12 months will begin to redefine the quality of services that South Africans expect from their government.
“The endpoint of these reforms is to enable both South Africans and legitimate visitors to apply and obtain enabling documents online, including in digital format, from the comfort of their own homes,” Schreiber said. – SAnews.gov.za
At the invitation of The Honourable Dato’ Seri Utama Haji Mohamad bin Haji Hasan, Chair of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in 2025 and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, will lead the ASEAN Secretariat delegation to participate in the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conferences, the 26th ASEAN Plus Three Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the 15th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the 32nd ASEAN Regional Forum, and the meeting of the SEANWFZ Commission. The series of meetings hosted by Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, will take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 8-11 July 2025, under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability.” While in Malaysia, Dr. Kao will hold bilateral meetings with Foreign Ministers from ASEAN Member States and ASEAN’s external partners to exchange views on recent regional and global developments, and to explore new ideas for strengthening and broadening cooperation and partnerships in support of the implementation of ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future. Dr. Kao is also scheduled to hold an interface with AICHR Representatives on the margins of the 58th AMM and Related Meetings.
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Palembang – July 4, 2025 – In a deeply disappointing decision, the Palembang District Court in Sumatra has rejected a lawsuit filed by dozens of smoke haze victims and a supporting intervention by Greenpeace Indonesia against three pulpwood plantation companies – PT Bumi Mekar Hijau, PT Bumi Andalas Permai, and PT Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries. The ruling is a setback in the fight for public health and a clean environment in South Sumatra.
The court’s decision to reject the lawsuit – apparently by finding that the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue – disregards the community’s fundamental right to a clean and healthy environment. It also severely curtails the public’s ability to seek justice.[1] The lawsuit, brought by the victims, was a legitimate exercise of their constitutional and legal rights, aiming to achieve accountability for their suffering from the recurring forest and land fires enabled by peatland drainage carried out by the plantation companies.”
The plaintiffs are members of the community who are clearly and directly impacted by the smoke haze resulting from peatland fires within the defendants’ concessions. They have endured both material and immaterial losses, and now they face this heartbreaking news,” said Belgis Habiba, Forest Campaigner for Greenpeace Indonesia. “Furthermore, the intervening plaintiff, Greenpeace Indonesia, also has the established right to demand the restoration of the environment damaged by the defendants’ peatland drying activities. The court appears to have ignored witness and expert testimonies, previous cases on environmental standing to sue, as well as the undeniable fact that the dangers of peatland fires and smoke haze continue to loom over South Sumatra.”
This ruling comes at a time of escalating peatland fire risks, with the South Sumatra Provincial Government having just declared an “Emergency Haze Alert” status. By dismissing this lawsuit, the panel of judges has ironically weakened the nation’s commitment to mitigating and tackling the annual fire and haze crisis.
The plaintiffs’ legal team has announced they will thoroughly review the full ruling, which has yet to be published, and are considering an appeal. “We believe that the people of South Sumatra have an undeniable right to clean and healthy air, and this must be tirelessly fought for,” said Ipan Widodo, representing the plaintiffs’ legal team. “If the panel of judges allows plantation companies responsible for producing haze to escape accountability, then the devastating impact of smoke haze will continue to haunt the residents of South Sumatra.”
In a display of disappointment, victims of the smoke haze and community members in South Sumatra held a flower-scattering protest in front of the Palembang District Court. Messages of “Justice for Haze Victims,” “Deepest Condolences for the Demise of Justice at Palembang District Court,” and “Palembang District Court Makes It Even Harder to Breathe” adorned the court building’s front fence. Dressed entirely in black, the protestors symbolized the denial of justice for the haze victims.
“Amidst the South Sumatra Provincial Government’s declaration of an emergency haze alert, this decision seems to contradict the commitment of law enforcement and the government in combating forest and peatland fires and smoke haze,” said Muhkamat Arif, one of the eleven plaintiffs. “Naturally, the judges’ decision is incredibly disappointing, but it will not diminish our spirit to keep fighting until we win.”
Referring to Supreme Court Circular Letter No. 1 of 2017, the panel of judges should have upheld a crucial principle of the judicial system: that substantive justice – which relates to the essence and purpose of law in realizing true justice for society – must take precedence over formal justice, which only adheres to procedural or technical rules in court proceedings. This case dismissal signals a crisis of judicial partiality regarding the right to a healthy environment in the midst of a climate emergency. Therefore, the South Sumatra Smoke Suit Initiative (Inisiasi Sumatera Selatan Penggugat Asap – ISSPA) urges the Supreme Court Supervisory Body and the Judicial Commission of the Republic of Indonesia to evaluate the handling of this lawsuit and increase scrutiny of similar rulings that could exacerbate the national ecological crisis.
Notes to editor [1] The full text of the judgement has not yet been released by the court, but the respondent companies’ argument that the community lacked standing was apparently accepted, according to the brief note uploaded to the court website.
[2] PT Bumi Mekar Hijau, PT Bumi Andalas Permai, and PT Sebangun Bumi Andalas Wood Industries are listed as part of the APP Business Group in documents submitted during the company’s application to re-associate with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).
Media Contacts Belgis Habiba, Greenpeace Indonesia, +62 897 0005 629 Yolanda Pradinata, LBH Palembang, +62 821 7764 1251 Igor O’Neill, Greenpeace Indonesia – [email protected], +61 414 288 424
South Sumatra Smoke Suit Initiative (Inisiasi Sumatera Selatan Penggugat Asap – ISSPA): Greenpeace Indonesia, Pantau Gambut, Yayasan Lembaga Bantuan Hukum Indonesia (YLBHI), YLBHI-LBH Palembang, Indonesian Centre for Environmental Law (ICEL), Public Interest Lawyer Network (PIL-Net) Indonesia, Spora Institute, Perkumpulan Rawang, Perkumpulan Tanah Air, Dewan Pimpinan Wilayah Serikat Petani Indonesia Sumatera Selatan, Konsorsium Pembaruan Agraria (KPA) Wilayah Sumatera Selatan, Solidaritas Perempuan Palembang, Sarekat Hijau Indonesia Sumatera Selatan, Spektakel Klab, Kontra Visual, Diskomik, Himpunan Mahasiswa Pertanian Universitas Sriwijaya (Himasperta UNSRI), Aksi Kamisan Sriwijaya, Badan Eksekutif Mahasiswa Fakultas Hukum Universitas Sriwijaya (BEM FH UNSRI), Badan Eksekutif Mahasiswa Fakultas Ekonomi Universitas Sriwijaya (BEM FE UNSRI), Pergerakan Mahasiswa Islam Indonesia Universitas Islam Negeri Raden Fatah (PMII UIN Raden Fatah).
The Israeli military is preparing an enforcement plan to “ensure that Iran cannot return to threaten Israel”, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz told senior military officials.
He said the military must be prepared, both in intelligence and operations, to ensure Israel has air superiority and to prevent Tehran from reestablishing its previous capabilities.
He made his remarks following a 12-day air war between the longtime enemies in June, during which Israel struck Iranian nuclear facilities, saying the aim was to prevent Tehran developing a nuclear weapon.
Iran denies seeking nuclear arms and that its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes.
Israel and Iran agreed to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that ended hostilities on June 24.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Tashkent, July 4 (Xinhua) — The international dialogue of the World Tourism Alliance “Tourism on the Silk Road” kicked off in the Uzbek city of Samarkand on Thursday, the press service of the Tourism Committee under the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan reported on Thursday.
The event, which is held under the motto “Building a Better Future through Silk Road Dialogue,” is reported to include plenary sessions, round tables, B2B meetings, presentations and thematic sessions that will help develop new partnerships and expand tourism ties between the participating countries.
“The event helps to strengthen the image of Uzbekistan as one of the leading tourist destinations in Central Asia and opens up new opportunities for the development of international tourism, expansion of cultural exchange and mutually beneficial cooperation in the region,” the committee noted. –0–
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Applications open for auction of spectrum in 2.5/2.6 GHz band A spokesperson for OFCA said, “As announced in the 2024 Policy Address, the Government will continue to make available more suitable radio spectrum to the market in a timely manner to support wider and more advanced applications of communications technology (including 6G). The Communications Authority (CA) and the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (SCED) issued a joint statement in April this year, announcing the decision to reassign a total of 50 MHz of spectrum in the aforementioned band through auction in the fourth quarter of this year. The mid-band spectrum balances the needs of both network coverage and capacity and has the potential to support mobile broadband services and other innovative applications using 5G or more advanced mobile services.”
The CA will conduct the auction of the 50 MHz of spectrum in the aforementioned band on October 20. The spectrum will be reassigned to the successful bidders under unified carrier licences with a new assignment period of about 10 years and 10 months. The arrangement enables all 140 MHz of spectrum in the 2.5/2.6 GHz band to expire together on March 30, 2039, so that the CA can carry out holistic spectrum planning and reassign relevant spectrum more flexibly having regard to future mobile technology development to enhance spectral efficiency. Parties interested in participating in the auction may submit their applications to OFCA from September 4 to 5.
The SCED has set the auction reserve price for the use of the spectrum in the 2.5/2.6 GHz band, i.e. $4 million per MHz. The actual amount of spectrum utilization fees payable will be determined through the auction.