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Category: Asia

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Government to take over Tai Lam Tunnel and substantially reduce its tolls on May 31, followed by HKeToll to be implemented from 5am (with photos/video)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Government to take over Tai Lam Tunnel and substantially reduce its tolls on May 31, followed by HKeToll to be implemented from 5am (with photos/video)Urban entrances     During the temporary closure of the TLT, the bus stops at the toll plaza will be temporarily suspended, affecting a total of three overnight bus routes: KMB Route Nos. N269 (Tin Tsz Estate – Mei Foo) and N368 (Yuen Long (West) – Central (Macau Ferry)) as well as Long Win Bus Route No. NA43 (Fanling (Luen Wo Hui) – Hong Kong Port of Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Public Transport Interchange). They will be diverted via Yuen Long Highway and Tuen Mun Road, and temporary bus stops will be set up at the Tuen Mun Road Bus-Bus Interchange. The TD has informed the bus companies concerned of the arrangements, and passengers should refer to the notices issued by the operators for details.

    AppealIssued at HKT 16:26

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CEPU bridges research-policy divide

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Government announced today the reappointment of 59 members of the Chief Executive’s Policy Unit (CEPU) Expert Group.

    Among those reappointed is Prof Naubahar Sharif, Head and Professor of the Division of Public Policy at the Hong Kong University of Science & Technology (HKUST).

    Prof Sharif hailed the CEPU’s engagement as “extremely valuable” in bridging research and policy-making, highlighting that it helps researchers to understand the requirements of Hong Kong society at large.

    For his part, CEPU Head Stephen Wong cited a visit by the CEPU to HKUST’s Institute of Public Policy as an example of the body’s mission to engage with university professors and think tanks striving to convert basic research into outcomes with real societal impact.

    Prof Sharif echoed Mr Wong’s perspective, stressing that it can be difficult for the research community to understand the broader requirements of Hong Kong society without the bridging role performed by the CEPU.

    He added that this interaction gives all parties an understanding of the level at which the CEPU operates, its vision for strategic long-term policy-making, and how researchers should pitch their work to generate greater impact for Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and the country as a whole.

    “Without such direction, I think we are doing great work, but that great work may be a little bit unmoored.”

    The CEPU oversees two funding schemes to support public policy research and knowledge transfer. These are the Public Policy Research Funding Scheme (PPRFS) and the Strategic Public Policy Research Funding Scheme (SPPRFS).

    Mr Wong praised Prof Sharif’s contributions as a reviewer and his participation in round-table discussions at meetings to kick off or conclude projects under both schemes.

    Prof Sharif outlined that he sees his role as a reviewer as being about upholding the high integrity of the process and the scientific quality of proposals, in addition to maintaining the utmost impartiality and objectivity. He added that the biggest contribution made by the project meetings is that they bring the projects to life, enabling a qualitative understanding both of the variety of stakeholders and the depth of impact involved.

    “If we did not have those sessions, we would only know about the PPRFS and the SPPRFS from the websites.”

    Meanwhile, “Fireside Chat with CEPU Experts” facilitates thematic discussions. Calling these a highlight, Prof Sharif explained that they foster dynamic exchanges among high-level stakeholders.

    Mr Wong revealed that the topics covered in fireside chats to date have included educational reform in Hong Kong and the future of China’s economy, while the next one will focus on artificial intelligence.

    Prof Sharif elaborated that these sessions create a spark among experts across different fields, allowing legislators, policy-makers, academics and industry participants to interact and collaborate.

    “You are bringing together such high-powered individuals and so much intellectual firepower into the same room for one and a half hours or two hours that it is a really powerful process.”

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • EU almost on track to reach 2030 climate goal

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The European Union is nearly on track to reach its main climate target for this decade, with countries’ existing CO2-cutting plans set to bring the bloc within one percentage point of the goal, the European Commission said on Wednesday.

    The EU is on course to reduce its net greenhouse gas emissions by 54% by 2030, compared with 1990 levels – just shy of its legally-binding goal of a 55% cut, the Commission said in an analysis of existing policies in the EU and its member countries.

    The analysis showed governments have upped their efforts to curb emissions in the last two years, even as Brussels faces a political backlash from some countries demanding the EU weaken its green agenda.

    Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent, with crop-wrecking floods and deadly wildfires linked to climate change hitting EU nations with increasing frequency.

    But with industries reeling from high energy prices after Russia slashed gas deliveries in 2022, and the prospect of U.S. tariffs, the EU faces mounting calls from governments to soften green measures for struggling businesses.

    EU climate commissioner Wopke Hoekstra said the EU would invest more in clean technologies to ensure industries can prosper from Europe’s green transition.

    “Emissions are down 37% since 1990, while the economy has grown nearly 70%, proving climate action and growth go hand in hand. Now we must build on this momentum,” Hoekstra said.

    By 2023, the EU had reduced its emissions by 37% from 1990 levels, the latest available data show.

    The Commission cited strong progress in the energy sector, with renewable sources covering 24% of EU energy consumption in 2023.

    Agriculture and transport are among the sectors lagging behind, it said.

    Farmers staged months of protests across Europe last year, criticising EU green policies. The agriculture sector has largely escaped EU climate measures, and Brussels weakened some environmental rules for farmers in response to the protests.

    The environmental impact of land use – which includes farming and forestry – has also been exacerbated by record-breaking wildfires, which deplete the land’s ability to store carbon. The EU’s “sink” of carbon stored in natural ecosystems like grasslands and forests is now not expected to improve by 2030, the Commission said.

    The EU’s 2030 climate goal is one of the most ambitious among major economies worldwide. The Commission is preparing to propose a 2040 climate target, but has delayed the proposal for months amid political pushback.

    (Reuters)

  • Researchers find how body tolerates food without immune system attack

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Israeli scientists have pinpointed a crucial network of immune cells that allows humans to digest food safely without triggering harmful reactions.

    The discovery, led by researchers at the Weizmann Institute of Science (WIS), sheds new light on oral tolerance, the body’s ability to recognise food as harmless and prevent an immune system attack, Xinhua news agency reported.

    This vital system stops everyday foods from causing inflammation while still letting the immune system fight off infections.

    The breakthrough could pave the way for new treatments for food allergies, sensitivities, and disorders like celiac disease. By understanding how this system works, scientists hope to correct what goes wrong when the body mistakenly attacks food.

    “If an aggressor fires across the border, he will be swiftly neutralised, peace accords notwithstanding. The immune system operates on a similar principle,” said Dr. Ranit Kedmi from Weizmann’s Systems Immunology Department.

    For a long time, scientists believed certain immune cells called dendritic cells were responsible for oral tolerance. However, even when these cells were removed in animal studies, the body still tolerated food.

    Now, the WIS researchers, in a study preprinted by the journal Nature, have identified another group of immune cells, called ROR-gamma-t cells, as the real drivers of this process.

    These rare cells kick off a chain reaction involving four different cell types, ultimately preventing the body’s attack cells, known as CD8 cells, from reacting to food.

    When this system fails, it can lead to food allergies, sensitivities, or diseases where the body mistakenly attacks food proteins, such as gluten.

    The researchers also found that during an infection, the immune system can temporarily override food tolerance to fight off microbes, before returning to its normal peacekeeping role.

    “Apparently, there is much more division of labor in the immune system than previously appreciated,” Kedmi explained. “It’s not that dendritic cells always decide whether or not to attack foreign substances. Rather, completely different players – specific, rare cells – are dedicated to launching a mechanism that makes sure we can consume food safely,” she added.

    (IANS)

  • Chhath’s eternal melody: Dr. Sharda Sinha awarded Padma Vibhushan posthumously

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a solemn ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour, posthumously on the celebrated folk exponent Dr. Sharda Sinha. The award recognises her unparalleled contributions to the preservation and popularisation of India’s rich folk music traditions.

    Known affectionately as “Bihar Kokila” and “Swar Kokila,” Dr. Sinha’s voice transcended generations and boundaries, establishing her as one of the most revered figures in India’s folk music tradition. Her songs, steeped in cultural richness and social narratives, have become an inseparable part of Indian festivals, especially Chhath Puja, with her soulful melodies gracing homes across Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Indian communities around the world.

    Born on November 1, 1952, in Hulas village of Bihar’s Supaul district, Sharda Sinha began her musical journey under the guidance of Pandit Raghu Jha of the Panchgachiya Gharana. She later honed her skills with stalwarts like Pandit Sitaram Hari Dandekar and Panna Devi, a contemporary of Begum Akhtar, learning the classical intricacies of khayal, thumri, and dadra. Her academic accomplishments include a Master’s degree in Indian Classical Vocal Music, a Ph.D., and a Nritya Visharad in Manipuri dance.

    Dr. Sinha’s breakthrough came with the release of her Maithili composition “Dularua Bhaiya” in 1971, which heralded a new era in regional music. Her fame grew internationally after her 1983 tribute to poet Vidyapati, resonating with audiences in Russia, China, the UK, and the US. Between 1985 and 1989, she released several albums—“Kekra Se Kahan Mile Jala,” “Piritiya,” “Mehndi,” “Bhajan Sagar,” “Chhathi Maiya”—many of which remain etched in public memory. Songs like “Paniya Ke Jahaj,” “Koyal Bin Bagiya,” and “Patna Se Baida” have become timeless, cherished across generations.

    Her voice carried not only melody but also the stories, rituals, and ethos of Indian life. This unique ability earned her titles such as “Bhojpuri Ki Sita,” “Sanskritik Paharua,” and “Bihar Ki Lata Mangeshkar.” Her contribution extended beyond the folk tradition into mainstream Bollywood, with memorable songs in films like “Maine Pyar Kiya,” “Hum Aapke Hain Koun,” “Gangs of Wasseypur-2,” “Kaagaz” and a special appearance in the web series “Maharani-2.”

    As a cultural ambassador for the Government of India, she represented India’s musical heritage in Mauritius and Suriname in 1988, and later in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Egypt, and again in Suriname in 2003. A “Top Grade” artist of All India Radio, she performed at countless concerts and cultural festivals across the nation, and inspired a generation of musicians during her four-decade-long teaching tenure at the Women’s College in Samastipur under L.N.M.U. Darbhanga, which awarded her an honorary Doctor of Literature in 2018.

    Over the years, Dr. Sinha was honoured with numerous accolades including the Padma Shri (1991), the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2000), and the Padma Bhushan (2018). She also received state and national recognitions such as Folk Queen of Bharat, Bihar Kala Puraskar, Bhojpuri Ratna, and Mithila Vibhuti Samman, among others.

    Dr. Sharda Sinha passed away on November 5, 2024. Her legacy, however, continues to echo in the hearts of millions through her voice and vision.

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ6: Promoting traditional customs and cultural activities

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ6: Promoting traditional customs and cultural activities 
    Question:
     
    It is learnt that the traditional customs of “Petty Person Beating” and “Offering Sacrifices to the White Tiger” carried out underneath the Canal Road Flyover (commonly known as “Ngo Keng Kiu”) in Causeway Bay have attracted quite a number of tourists to view and experience them. However, due to the crowded environment at the location, there have been conflicts between tourists and local residents from time to time, which is not conducive to the promotion of the relevant cultural activities. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) whether it has compiled statistics on the change in the number of stall operators carrying out the aforesaid traditional customs and cultural activities underneath the flyover in the past 10 years; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
     
    (2) of the details of the authorities’ work in promoting the aforesaid traditional customs and cultural activities in the past three years, and whether the effectiveness of such work has been assessed; and
     
    (3) as it is learnt that at present, the aforesaid stall operators only hold business registration certificates and there is no accreditation mechanism for such cultural activities, while the management of stall operators and related activities also involves different policy areas (e.g. environmental hygiene and cultural tourism), whether the Government has considered setting up an interdepartmental management group to improve the relevant accreditation and management work with the focus on cultural conservation, so as to reduce the conflicts between tourists and residents while balancing the operational needs of the industry; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
    President Xi Jinping once pointed out that the outstanding traditional Chinese culture is the spiritual lifeblood of the Chinese nation. The current-term Government is committed to promoting the outstanding traditional Chinese culture and has introduced multiple measures over the past two years, including establishing the Chinese Culture Promotion Office and organising the Chinese Culture Festival. “Promote Profound Traditional Chinese Culture and Develop Cultural Contents with Hong Kong Character” was also formulated as one of the four strategic directions in the Blueprint for Arts and Culture and Creative Industries Development promulgated at the end of last year.
     
    From the perspective of traditional culture, whether a custom qualifies as “outstanding” traditional culture depends on its cultural values in terms of diversity and pluralism. The merit of traditional culture should also be evaluated based on among others, its transmission, dissemination, and level of prevalence.
     
    Both “Offering Sacrifices to White Tiger” and “Beating Petty Person” are traditional Chinese culture with certain folk customs and symbolic meanings. In folk belief, White Tiger is seen as a malevolent spirit believed to bring misfortune. Thus, the ritual of “Offering Sacrifices to White Tiger” aims to ward off bad luck and troubles. “Beating Petty Person”, a folk custom in southern China, involves striking paper effigies or wooden figures with various tools to drive away bad luck and negative energy.
     
    The “Offering Sacrifices to White Tiger during Insects Awaken Day” is included as one of the items on the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) Inventory of Hong Kong. The item specifically pertains to the practice of “Offering Sacrifices to White Tiger” conducted on the “Insects Awaken Day” within the “Twenty-Four Solar Terms” system, which typically falls on the 5th or 6th of March in the Gregorian calendar. This practice conducted on the “Insects Awaken Day” may include “Beating Petty Person”, and the practice of “Offering Sacrifices to White Tiger” can take place at various venues across Hong Kong, without limitation to any specified location. However, the “Offering Sacrifices to White Tiger” and “Beating Petty Person” activities underneath the Canal Road Flyover (commonly known as “Ngo Keng Kiu”) in Causeway Bay are operated all year round in general. These activities, which are not included in the scope of the “Twenty-Four Solar Terms” social practices, constitute commercial operations conducted by service providers.
     
    In consultation with the Home and Youth Affairs Bureau and the Environment and Ecology Bureau, my consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Edward Leung is as follows:
     
    The area underneath Canal Road Flyover is a renowned location for “Beating Petty Person”. While peak activity occurs during the “Insects Awaken Day” in March each year, the stalls operate “year-round”. Currently, around ten stalls operate beneath the flyover for this ritual, primarily concentrated along the pedestrian walkway facing the Hennessy Road tram tracks.
     
    Relevant departments have all along been following up on the environmental hygiene and street management issues arising from “Beating Petty Person” and carrying out enforcement actions within their respective jurisdictions. The Wan Chai District Office (WCDO) co-ordinates interdepartmental clearance operations (Joint Operation) on a regular basis to mitigate nuisances caused by these activities to the local residents and the surrounding environment. On-street activities may involve the purviews of various departments. The work of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) is mainly to maintain environmental hygiene. The FEHD has been monitoring the traditional customs of “Beating Petty Person” underneath the Canal Road Flyover and officers will, during their routine inspection, take appropriate actions based on the actual circumstances to maintain environmental hygiene.
     
    From January to May 2025, the WCDO coordinated a total of nine Joint Operations at the aforementioned location. Prior to the operation, the Government will post notices on unauthorised articles placed on Government land, reminding owners to remove the obstructive items. During the Joint Operation day, any remaining articles would be cleared by the FEHD. The WCDO will advise the “Beating Petty Person” practitioners to maintain clear pedestrian pathways. The Hong Kong Police Force will be present to maintain public order and provide assistance as required. Furthermore, any unauthorised structures found to be occupying Government land would be referred to the Lands Department for follow-up action.
     
    In alignment with the objective of promoting the outstanding traditional Chinese culture, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD) are committed to safeguarding, transmitting and promoting the ICH of Hong Kong while actively supporting the national policies on furthering the safeguarding of ICH. For ICH items across diverse domains, various corresponding measures are implemented to strengthen different aspects of work such as identification, documentation, research, preservation, promotion and transmission and to enhance the public’s understanding of ICH and engage the community in safeguarding ICH. An example of these measures includes the ICH Funding Scheme of the LCSD, which supports eligible local organisations and individuals in implementing meaningful local ICH projects to promote the items on the ICH Inventory of Hong Kong. In addition, the LCSD will also develop a mechanism and criteria in 2025 for recognising the bearers of the items on the Representative List of the ICH of Hong Kong, as well as organising the “Hong Kong ICH Month”. As to “Offering Sacrifices to White Tiger during Insects Awaken Day”, the first “Hong Kong ICH Month” to be held in June this year will include workshops to introduce “Twenty-Four Solar Terms”, including the introduction of this ICH item of “Insects Awaken Day”.  
     
    In addition, the one-stop travel information platform of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, DiscoverHongKong, features information on “Beating Petty Person” under Ngo Keng Kiu. If visitors are interested, they can experience this distinctive local custom firsthand.
    Issued at HKT 15:42

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Expanding scope of regulated mercury-added products under Mercury Control Ordinance

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Expanding scope of regulated mercury-added products under Mercury Control Ordinance 
         A spokesman for the Environment and Ecology Bureau said today (May 28) that the newly regulated mercury-added products will be listed in Schedule 3 to the Ordinance, including some electronic/electrical/lighting products and cosmetics. For details, please refer to the Annex. The amendments related to the first eight mercury-added products will take effect from December 31, 2025. The effective date(s) of the amendments related to the other eight mercury-added products will be announced separately after the relevant international convention becomes applicable to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
     
         In terms of enforcement, once the amendments to the Ordinance come into effect, the manufacture, import, export and supply of the relevant regulated mercury-added products will be prohibited. Anyone who contravenes the above regulations commits an offence and, upon conviction, is liable to a maximum fine of $50,000 and imprisonment for one year. The Government has set a grace period (until January 2029) for the supply of newly regulated mercury-added products to help the public adapt. After the specified deadline (i.e. after January 2029), if anyone continues to supply the relevant regulated mercury-added products, the authorities will initiate prosecution after collecting sufficient evidence and will also include the above implementation arrangements in the relevant guidelines.
     
         The spokesman said, “Bringing these mercury-added products under the regulation of the Ordinance can safeguard public health and protect the environment. It will at the same time enable the HKSAR to implement the amendments made to the Minamata Convention on Mercury to phase out mercury-added products.”
     
         The Convention is an international convention aimed at protecting human health and the environment from the harmful effects caused by the anthropogenic emissions and releases of mercury and mercury compounds. At the fourth and fifth meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention in 2022 and 2023, the Parties agreed to phase out 16 mercury-added products progressively between 2025 and 2027, taking into account the availability of mercury-free substitutes.
    Issued at HKT 15:42

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LegCo Secretariat releases Policy Pulse on “Northern Metropolis-building a new international innovation and technology city”

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LegCo Secretariat releases Policy Pulse on “Northern Metropolis-building a new international innovation and technology city” 
         The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, will attend an Interactive Exchange Question and Answer Session at LegCo tomorrow (May 29) to discuss with Members topics including ways to accelerate the development of NM. Members have long attached great importance to NM’s development, and the Subcommittee on Matters Relating to the Development of the Northern Metropolis was set up in April 2022 to put forward a number of specific proposals. These include the suggestion of a mode of “large-scale land disposal” which the Government adopted to identify sizeable land parcels with commercial value and earmarked for provision of public facilities, and grant them to successful bidders for integrated development. This approach not only speeds up the development of the land parcels and enables co-ordinated urban design, but also reduces public expenditures.
     
         NM spans 30 000 hectares, covering approximately one-third of Hong Kong’s total area. It encompasses the Yuen Long and North districts and borders Shenzhen with seven land boundary control points. This area is a major hub for Hong Kong to integrate into the overall national development and a new engine for the city’s future growth. It is projected to approximately provide 500 000 additional residential units and create around 650 000 new jobs upon full development.
     
         The National 14th Five-Year Plan indicated clear support for Hong Kong’s development into an international I&T centre. Under a new industry pattern of “South-North dual engine (finance-I&T)”, NM will develop into a “new international I&T city” to further promote co-ordinated development of I&T industries among Hong Kong and cities in the Greater Bay Area. The I&T Zone of NM encompasses the San Tin Technopole and the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park (HSITP), as well as the Ngau Tam Mei New Development Area.
     
         The Policy Pulse outlines the strategic planning and development progress of NM’s I&T Zone, along with measures to enhance complementary collaboration with the Mainland. The Hetao Co-operation Zone—which comprises HSITP (Hong Kong Park) and the Shenzhen Park—is jointly established under the vision of “one river, two banks” and “one zone, two parks” and enjoys unique advantages in cross-boundary co-operation. HSITP will be made up of different zones which mainly include Life and Health Technology zone, Artificial Intelligence and Data Science zone and New Technology and Advanced Manufacturing zone. With the first batch of tenants expected to move in starting this year, HSITP will officially enter into its operational phase.
     
         The Government estimates that upon its full-fledged development, HSITP’s economic contribution to Hong Kong will reach HK$52 billion per annum. Under the framework of “one country, two systems”, Members consider that the Government should optimise the advantages of the Loop in cross-boundary co-operation and explore forward-looking policies and systems in frontier fields such as cross-boundary data flow, intellectual property protection and fintech innovation. Members also suggest that the Government should actively develop a “base for pilot-scale test” in HSITP. Additionally, Members are of the view that the Government should proactively seek innovation and changes by introducing more preferential policies in respect of land supply, dedicated funding, tax deductions, etc., in order to attract more international capital and major I&T enterprises to establish their foothold in HSITP. The Government should also enhance inter-bureau and inter-departmental co-ordination to expedite the implementation of land development and transport infrastructure projects in HSITP. Moreover, in order to enhance the training of I&T talent and promote “research, academia and industry” collaboration, Members suggest that the Government should develop NM University Town into a research and development as well as technology transfer hub to support the area, while encouraging post-secondary institutions to strengthen co-operation with renowned Mainland and overseas institutions, and creating synergy through sharing resources and enhancing collaboration with industries in the area.
     
         The detailed content of “Northern Metropolis-building a new international innovation and technology city” is available on the LegCo Website. The Policy PulseIssued at HKT 15:45

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ12: Measures to support non-Chinese speaking students

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ12: Measures to support non-Chinese speaking students 
    Question:
     
         It is learnt that the lack of Chinese language proficiency of non-Chinese speakers has always been the biggest obstacle for them in pursuing further studies, seeking employment and integrating into the community. Although the Government has been providing non-Chinese speaking (NCS) students with all-encompassing learning support through diverse strategies to help them master the Chinese language and integrate into the community, some members of the education sector have reflected that some primary schools still have reservations about admitting NCS students. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the respective numbers of (a) primary schools admitting NCS students and (b) NCS primary school students, together with a breakdown by school type (i.e. (i) public sector primary school, (ii) ‍Direct Subsidy Scheme primary school, and (iii) private primary school), in each of the past five years;
     
    (2) of the measures currently put in place by the Government to support the pre-primary education of NCS students, so as to assist them in learning Chinese and enhancing their language proficiency, thereby enabling them to articulate more smoothly to the primary school curriculum;
     
    (3) of the measures currently put in place by the Government to encourage primary schools to admit NCS students (e.g. reserving some school places for NCS students), so as to enable their early integration into the community; and
     
    (4) whether the Government has reviewed the effectiveness of the existing measures to support NCS students; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that, and whether it will conduct such a review in the future?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         The Government is committed to encouraging and supporting the integration of non-Chinese speaking (NCS) students into the community, including facilitating their early adaptation to the local education system and mastery of the Chinese language. The Education Bureau (EDB) has been providing NCS students with all-encompassing learning support from pre-primary to secondary levels through diverse strategies to help them master the Chinese language and integrate into the community. 
     
         Our reply to the question raised by the Hon Mrs Regina Ip is as follows:
     
    (1) and (3) All eligible children (including NCS students) enjoy equal opportunities in admission to public sector schools. To encourage parents of NCS students to arrange for their children to study in schools which provide an immersive Chinese language environment, the EDB abolished the so-called “designated schools” support system back in the 2013/14 school year. With the implementation of various enhanced support measures, the number of schools admitting NCS students has gradually increased and the school choices for parents of NCS students have also been widened. At present, most of the publicly-funded schools in Hong Kong have admitted NCS students, which account for about 70 per cent of the kindergartens (KGs) joining the Kindergarten Education Scheme (Scheme-KGs) and over 70 per cent of the primary and secondary schools. The number of public sector, Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) and private sector primary schools admitting NCS students and the respective number of NCS students from the 2019/20 to 2023/24 school years are tabulated below:
     

    School yearprimary schoolsprimary schools(1) Figures for the 2020/21 school year refer to the position as at mid-October, and others refer to the position as at mid-September of the respective school years.
    (2) Figures include students whose ethnicity is Chinese but are categorised as NCS students based on the spoken language at home.
    (3) Figures exclude international schools, private independent schools and special schools.
     
    (2) The EDB encourages parents of NCS students to arrange for their children to study in local KGs for early adaptation to the local education system as well as early exposure to and learning of Chinese. Starting from the 2019/20 school year, the EDB has further enhanced the relevant measures for NCS students by providing a five-tier grant for Scheme-KGs according to the number of NCS students admitted. A KG admitting one NCS student can also receive the grant, and the grant rate for the highest tier is a double of the previous level. All the KGs receiving the additional grant have each assigned a teacher to co-ordinate the support measures for NCS students. The KGs concerned mainly deploy the resources for appointing additional teaching staff, procuring professional services, e.g. translation or interpretation services, organising cultural integration activities, etc. to enhance the support for NCS students in diversified modes.
     
    (4) The Government encourages and supports the learning of Chinese of NCS students (including ethnic minorities students) and the creation of an inclusive learning environment in schools through diverse strategies, including providing additional funding to schools, optimising the curriculum, enriching the teaching resources, enhancing teacher training and professional support and facilitating home-school co-operation.
     
         Regarding the provision of the additional funding, all public sector and DSS schools offering the local curriculum and admitting NCS students can be provided with an additional subsidy according to the number of NCS students admitted. The amount of the additional funding currently ranges from about $0.16 million to about $1.6 million per year for each school. Schools usually use the additional funding to employ additional teaching staff members to teach in diversified and intensive modes, including pull-out learning, split-class/small-group learning, after-school support, increasing the number of Chinese Language lessons, learning Chinese across the curriculum, deploying additional teachers for co-teaching and arranging teaching assistants to provide in-class support.
     
         In respect to curriculum and teaching, the EDB has continually been providing teachers with guidance and support in curriculum planning, learning and teaching and assessment. The Chinese Language Curriculum Second Language Learning Framework, which was complemented by learning and teaching materials, has been implemented in primary and secondary schools since the 2014/15 school year to help NCS students learn Chinese. The EDB has been developing learning and teaching resources for NCS students. These resources have been uploaded to the EDB webpage and dispatched to schools. The Online Chinese Language Self-learning Resources launched in the 2023/24 school year provides diversified learning resources which help NCS students extend their learning; after-school Chinese language courses for lower primary NCS students are offered on a trial basis using adapted learning materials for the Youth Chinese Test; and the Summer Bridging Programme has been extended to cover NCS students to be promoted to Primary Five and Primary Six. In addition, apart from studying Chinese Language for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination, NCS students meeting specified circumstances (Note 1) may, taking into account their needs and aspirations, obtain other recognised alternative Chinese Language qualifications through additional channels, including taking Applied Learning Chinese (for NCS students) pegged at the Qualifications Framework Level 1 to Level 3 and other internationally recognised alternative Chinese language examinations supported with Government subsidies (Note 2), for multiple articulation pathways for further studies and future careers.
     
         Regarding teacher training, all Chinese Language teachers teaching NCS students are provided with training opportunities. The EDB continues to organise teacher professional development programmes, provide diversified school-based support services and establish professional learning communities to help teachers enhance their teaching effectiveness.
     
         For parent education, starting from the 2020/21 school year, the EDB has commissioned non-governmental organisations and a post-secondary institution to provide diversified parent education programmes for parents of NCS students, with a view to helping them support their children’s learning, encourage their children to master the Chinese language and have a more comprehensive understanding of the multiple pathways available for their children. The number of schools receiving Life Planning Education support services for NCS students has also increased in recent years.
     
         Generally speaking, the aforementioned arrangements can help NCS students learn Chinese effectively and integrate into the community. The EDB has been monitoring schools through different means to ensure the prudent and proper use of the additional funding, including requiring schools to submit plans and reports on the use of the additional funding and providing schools with professional advice and support through supervisory visits and day-to-day communication to ensure public funds are put to good use. 
     
         In recent years, the number of schools admitting NCS students has increased from about 590 in the 2013/14 school year to about 710 in the 2024/25 school year, accounting for over 70 per cent of the primary and secondary schools in the territory. All schools admitting NCS students are provided with the additional funding and have used the funding effectively to implement various school-based measures for providing appropriate support for NCS students. In addition, more than 30 per cent of the NCS school candidates entering for the HKDSE Examination met the general entrance requirements of University Grants Committee-funded undergraduate programmes, which is comparable to the territory-wide rate of about 40 per cent for day school candidates. This demonstrates that the Government’s policy intent of encouraging and supporting the integration of NCS students into the community, including facilitating their early adaptation to the local education system, is being attained progressively. The EDB will continue to collect and take into account of stakeholders’ views in reviewing the implementation of various support measures and enhance the measures as necessary with educational professionalism and having regard to the needs of students.
     
    Note 1: Specifically, these NCS students are those who have learnt Chinese Language for either –
    (a) less than six years while receiving primary and secondary education; or
    (b) six years or more in schools, but have been taught an adapted and simpler Chinese Language curriculum not normally applicable to the majority of students in local schools.
     
    Note 2: These examinations include the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Advanced Subsidiary (AS)-Level and Advanced (A)-Level.
    Issued at HKT 15:50

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Canadian firms urged to re-domicile

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    On day two of his Canada visit, Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui urged two Canadadian-based insurance companies to consider re-domiciling their companies to Hong Kong to enjoy the relevant legal and taxation convenience, as well as to lower their compliance costs for satisfying two sets of regulatory requirements.

     

    During yesterday’s duty visit, Mr Hui met Manulife President & Chief Executive Officer Phil Witherington and Chief Financial Officer Colin Simpson, as well as SunLife Executive Vice-President & Chief Financial Officer Tim Deacon and Executive Vice-President & Chief Strategy & Enablement Officer Linda Doughety.

     

    Both companies are Canadian-based and have extended their business to Hong Kong.

     

    Mr Hui introduced them to the newly enacted legislation on re-domiciliation of companies, adding that on the very first day the company re-domiciliation regime came into effect last Friday, an international insurance group immediately announced its plan to re-domicile its company to Hong Kong.

     

    He pointed out that this news was the best testament to the regime’s effectiveness in enhancing companies’ operational efficiency, thereby consolidating Hong Kong’s position as a leading international financial centre.

     

    Under the new regime, non-Hong Kong-incorporated companies may apply to re-domicile to Hong Kong if they fulfil requirements concerning company background, integrity, member and creditor protection, solvency, etc, while maintaining their legal identity as a body corporate to ensure business continuity.

     

    If the company’s actual similar profits are also taxed in Hong Kong after re-domiciliation, the Government will provide the company with unilateral tax credits to eliminate double taxation.

     

    Mr Hui highlighted that Hong Kong has a strong foundation in investment and trade, making it an ideal location for global enterprises to access insurance, reinsurance and risk management services, as well as to establish captive insurers. He also noted that there are vast opportunities for insurance companies in Hong Kong.

     

    Mr Hui then attended a business luncheon organised by the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office (Toronto), Invest Hong Kong (Canada) and the National Club.

     

    He gave a presentation themed “Hong Kong as an anchor of stability amid the changing world” to showcase to the attending financial leaders the stellar figures recorded in the financial market, and banking and monetary markets.

     

    Mr Hui talked about the Government’s efforts in aligning with international standards and boosting the development of green and sustainable finance and the virtual asset market. He highlighted that with its competitive advantages and proactive measures, as well as the stability and predictability of its financial market, Hong Kong has been earning the confidence of global investors.

     

    Additionally, Mr Hui met Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) Chief Executive Officer Grant Vingoe and both agreed that in today’s shifting global landscape, collaboration with trusted allies would ensure capital markets remain robust and resilient.

     

    The Securities & Futures Commission of Hong Kong entered into a memorandum of understanding with the OSC in mid-May to include Ontario of Canada in its list of acceptable inspection regimes for strengthening the regulatory collaboration and exchange of information between the two regulators.

     

    In the evening, Mr Hui had a dinner meeting with Hong Kong-Canada Business Association (Toronto Chapter) President Joseph Chaung, and the association’s board members to brief them on the latest developments and future direction of Hong Kong’s financial market.

     

    Mr Hui also paid a courtesy call on Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Toronto Luo Weidong. Both expressed their anticipation that Hong Kong, with the support of the nation and its solid foundation and forward-looking measures in financial areas, will engage in more co-operation with Canada.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Gandang Ahung of the Dayak people: More than a gong ensemble, a way of life at risk

    Source: The Conversation – Indonesia – By Muhammad Rayhan Sudrajat, Ethnomusicologist & Lecturer, Universitas Katolik Parahyangan

    It was first started one morning in 2015. I travelled 109 kilometres from Palangka Raya to a village in the Katingan River basin, Central Kalimantan. When I entered the village, I could feel the sound of the Gandang Ahung, the sacred gong ensemble used in the Tiwah death ceremony, vibrating in my chest. Its frequency filled the entire space, uniting humans, spirits, and nature in a single breath. Some people closed their eyes; even the forest outside seemed to hum along.

    Amidst the chanting, the ritual began: participants danced around the field where the Tiwah ceremony was held. Their distinctive hand and foot movements followed the rhythm. Baram, a traditional liquor from Katingan, was then shared among the dancers.

    The sound of Gandang Ahung lingered in the air, summoning spirits from the river’s rise and fall to partake in the sacred offering of blood. It opened the path to the upper realm —Lewu Rami je dia Kasene Beti Lewu Tatau Habaras Bulau Rundung Janah dia Bakalesu Uhat — the radiant village beyond time, where souls find rest in Hindu-Kaharingan cosmology.

    Gandang Ahung is not only a form of cultural heritage, but an inseparable part of how the Katingan Awa Dayak community understands life, death, and their relationship with nature.

    However, this sacred ritual is now threatened due to the rampant deforestation in Kalimantan. Cultural shifts brought by modernisation are also slowly eroding not only the physical environment, but also the soundscape, cosmology, and rituals like Tiwah. If these sounds disappear, so too might the worldview passed down through generations..

    Tiwah ceremony: The echo of living tradition

    In the Katingan Awa Dayak tradition, Tiwah is regarded as the second-level death ceremony, conducted long after the initial or first-level funeral. The first stage involves the immediate handling of the body, burial, and essential rites to initiate the soul’s journey—considered a temporary phase, as the soul remains in transition.

    The second-level Tiwah, serves as the final ritual to guide the soul to the afterlife, reunite it with ancestors, and restore harmony between humans, spirits, and nature. It includes the exhumation and ceremonial cleansing of the bones, reburial in a family bone house (pambak), and is marked by extensive communal offerings, music, and dance.

    There are no “spectators” in the ceremony: all villagers are participants. Children help, the pisur (religious leaders) lead, and the entire community listens not just with their ears but with their full presence. For months, families, neighbors, and religious leaders work together to prepare this procession.

    In Tiwah, sound is not merely entertainment. It becomes a language to speak to spirits, to remember the departed, and to reconnect the fragile web of life.

    Gandang Ahung, with its echoes and vibrations, plays a central role in the ceremony: It opens the way for the liau (spirits) to reach Lewu Tatau.

    Gandang Ahung can be carried anywhere, depending on the needs of the ritual. Interestingly, the instrument never sounds the same from one location to another, corresponding to the space where it is played. This shows how its sound is inseparable from surrounding land, rivers, and trees.

    Unlike how music comes through notation, tempo, and technique in the West, sound flows from relationships in the Katingan Awa community. The player, the community, and the spirits shape the sound. The player does not simply follow the beat – he adjusts his strokes to the dancer’s body movements.

    The tone is not dictated by a written score but arises from feeling — what is “right” in the moment. Here, in the ritual space, sound becomes a mode of communication, not merely a performance.

    Some pisur I spoke with explained that the rhythm of Gandang Ahung is not measured in beats, but guided by breath and intuition. The beats are slow for the Tiwah ceremony to accompany the Manganjan dance, a dance specifically for the Tiwah ceremony.

    Fading with forest loss

    Deforestation, river pollution, and the displacement of Indigenous communities threaten not only the physical environment and its biodiversity — they also erase the acoustic landscapes embedded in local rituals and cosmology.

    When forests are lost, sounds like Gandang Ahung and their profound meanings also slowly fade. The Gandang Ahung is not merely played — it is brought to life in rituals deeply rooted in nature: from the wood used to craft the drums, to the ceremonial space in the village heart, to the spirits believed to inhabit trees, rivers, and lakes.

    As forests are cleared for palm oil plantations, the space for these sacred sounds disappears — along with the communities’ ways of understanding life, death, and their bond with nature.

    Nurturing sound, nurturing life

    Hindu-Kaharingan itself, though recognised by the government, is often dismissed as mere ‘folklore’ or an ‘outdated tradition.’ Practices like Tiwah rarely appear in mainstream media – let alone gain recognition in national academic discourse.

    If Indonesia is truly committed to education and cultural preservation, we must start viewing traditions like Gandang Ahung not simply as artefacts, but as living philosophies and practices.

    Like classical music theory, these traditions are built on their own systems, ethics, and methodologies. They need to be taught, respected, and lived — not just documented and then forgotten.

    Concrete steps include protecting customary forests as soundscapes, integrating local music traditions into school curricula, and involving communities in the documentation of rituals.

    The Schools of Living Traditions (SLT) program in the Philippines, run by the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), offer a powerful example. The program has successfully preserved traditional arts and music through non-formal education that involves local cultural experts as teachers. It is recognized by UNESCO as a best practice in safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.

    Such measures are vital to ensure that sounds like Gandang Ahung transcend nostalgia and continue to thrive — not just in ceremonies, but in the everyday lives of the Katingan Awa community and Indonesians more broadly.

    Muhammad Rayhan Sudrajat tidak bekerja, menjadi konsultan, memiliki saham, atau menerima dana dari perusahaan atau organisasi mana pun yang akan mengambil untung dari artikel ini, dan telah mengungkapkan bahwa ia tidak memiliki afiliasi selain yang telah disebut di atas.

    – ref. Gandang Ahung of the Dayak people: More than a gong ensemble, a way of life at risk – https://theconversation.com/gandang-ahung-of-the-dayak-people-more-than-a-gong-ensemble-a-way-of-life-at-risk-256809

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Fencing test event set

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Challenge Cups Fencing Championships, which is also the 15th National Games (NG) Fencing test event, will be held at Kai Tak Arena, Kai Tak Sports Park this Saturday and Sunday.

     

    With more than 500 athletes participating, the event features open and veteran divisions. The épée competition will be staged on the first day, while the foil and sabre competitions will be held on the next day.

     

    The competition event will start at 9am on both days. Tickets are distributed to people through the Fencing Association of Hong Kong, China. Members of the public may register for tickets online from 9am tomorrow while stocks last.

     

    Moreover, a small number of tickets have been reserved for on-site distribution at the entrance on level UG of Kai Tak Arena at 9am or 2.30pm on the event days for admission.

     

    Radio Television Hong Kong will provide live broadcasts of parts of the events via RTHK TV 32 and webcast.

    Click here for more details

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: The UK, the Netherlands, Egypt and Saudi Arabia among likely winners in the changing world order

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    LONDON, May 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Global Business Complexity Index (GBCI) studies over 250 indicators of complexity in 79 jurisdictions that represent 94% of the world’s GDP. The complexity that the report measures is a dead-weight burden on business that stifles local innovation and deters foreign direct investment with no obvious societal benefit. The report has consistently shown that countries in Southern Europe and Latin America are the most complex for doing business and that continues to be true in 2025. At the other end of the scale, the least complex places to do business tend to be in Northern Europe and several of the offshore investment hubs. These all compete for investment on the basis of the ease of doing business there and have adopted less onerous requirements, as well as more efficient ways for firms to manage them.

    The report notes that complexity is relatively straightforward to navigate, at least for larger multinationals able to absorb the cost of complying with local rules. What is much harder to deal with is uncertainty. US-led sanctions, lockdowns in China and the Suez blockage had already begun a shift in globalisation towards more diversified supply chains, with companies seeking to reduce their reliance on single countries for sourcing, building or selling their products. A part of that solution noted in last year’s report was the rise of connector economies like Mexico, Philippines and Vietnam, bridging trade between China and the US in the so-called ‘China plus one’ strategy. That strategy has now fallen foul of US tariffs, set to reflect a country’s trade surplus in goods with the US and so punishing countries with connector status.

    Even if tariffs abate, their launch and rapid shifts point to an underlying risk for companies trading from countries with a high US trade surplus. The report notes a drop in confidence in stability, with the majority of jurisdictions (55%) reporting prioritisation of trade corridor diversity. It identifies a number of countries that might now emerge as the new connectors — with low levels of complexity pointing to business-friendly rules, a low US trade surplus pointing to less likely retaliatory action, a reasonable size and sophistication of economy to support a variety of activity at scale and absorb investment without tipping heavily into US trade surplus, and a multipolar stance that should allow them to trade across different blocs. Those countries include the UK and the Netherlands in Europe, Egypt and Saudi Arabia in the Middle East and Australia and Hong Kong in Asia Pacific.

    The report finally notes that at a time of great uncertainty for global trade — and in particular, trade with the US — governments should focus on making their countries less complex places to do business whilst seeking trade agreements across different blocs to encourage cross-investment. It also notes that companies will need to further diversify their supply chains. That will add to their internal complexity and costs. At the same time, companies can help themselves by simplifying their arrangements for managing those supply chains, with many having excessive numbers of legal entities for their geographic scope along with large numbers of suppliers to help manage them.

    TMF Group’s CEO Mark Weil, said:

    “The real challenge for businesses today isn’t complexity, it’s uncertainty. With rising trade tensions, a shifting geopolitical landscape and economic unpredictability, companies are forced to make decisions in an environment that can change overnight. Tariffs are just the latest signal of the risks of supply chain concentration. Diversification is a necessity in this context, although it comes with a cost. The good news is that businesses can offset some of the complexities of diversification by reducing their own internal intricacies. Our benchmarking reveals stark differences in structural complexity among similar firms. We see an opportunity here: by simplifying their structures and support models — for example, by having fewer legal entities and a few trusted global partners — businesses can gain flexibility. Done right, this can improve efficiency and agility as firms navigate an uncertain world.”

    Media Contacts
    Marina Llibre Martin, Global PR Manager
    marina.llibremartin@tmf-group.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Nobel laureate Brian Schmidt is ‘scared’ about Australia’s research capacity – this is why

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Brendan Walker-Munro, Senior Lecturer (Law), Southern Cross University

    On Wednesday, Nobel laureate Brian Schmidt and economics professor Richard Holden gave a joint address to the National Press Club in Canberra. Their key message? Australia isn’t spending enough money on university research.

    Schmidt wants to ensure Australia can undertake research vital to our national interests.

    “I look around and I am scared,” Schmidt said. “The Australian government investment in its sovereign research capability was 50% higher 15 years ago as a fraction of GDP.”

    In his remarks, Holden warned, “we’ve become addicted to funding […] research capability through international student income”.

    If this sounds familiar, both Schmidt and Holden have made similar calls before. And their press club presentation follows constant and repeated repeated calls from the university sector for more funds.

    How much is Australia spending on research and how does this compare to other countries?

    How does Australia compare?

    When we look around the world, Australia is lagging when it comes to research spending. Australia spends roughly 1.7% of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on all forms of research and development.

    Our research expenditure has also decreased every year since 2008, according to the Australian Academy of Science.

    Meanwhile, based on World Bank data, the United States spends about 3.59% of their GDP on research. China might only spend 2.56% of its GDP, but that’s 2.56% of around US$18.7 trillion (A$29 trillion) – meaning China spends about US$500 billion ($778 billion) on research annually.

    The OECD average (across 38 member countries) is 2.7%, a full percentage point higher than Australia. We’re also underspending compared to other nations smaller than us, including:

    – Finland has a population roughly one-fifth of Australia and spends 2.96% of its GDP on research

    – Sweden has a population of about 10 million and spends 3.41%.

    Australia’s top research universities (the Group of Eight), argue Australia needs to work towards a target of 3% GDP to “underwrite national prosperity”.

    The funding we have is unstable

    Australia’s university research funding also lacks stability.

    Government only funds part of university research – so universities have to come up with the rest. This adds a layer of vulnerability to our research system.

    One of the key sources of university-generated funding is international student fees.

    This means if there are cuts to overseas students – as we saw during COVID and as we see now due to federal government policy changes – there is a flow-on impact on research funding.

    Repeated calls for more funds have been ignored

    Universities have been asking for more money for years and these requests have been ignored by both sides of politics.

    But while the requests may not change, the global security context is shifting. As Schmidt told the press club,

    We can expect new technologies based around small-scale automated machines, hypersonic missiles and computer warfare to feature prominently if we are to have future conflicts between advanced economies.

    In such a case the research capability of a country will be incredibly important at influencing the overall winners and losers, because once the conflict starts, you ‘have what you got’.

    If we don’t properly fund universities to do cutting-edge research, such as quantum science, robotics and cybersecurity, researchers will go elsewhere to do their work. And some funders might not have Australian interests at heart.

    China, Russia and the European Union have leapt on US President Donald Trump’s recent decisions to defund or halt research programs, creating funds worth billions of dollars to woo scientists and scholars from the US to their own countries.

    What options do we have?

    The Albanese government has commissioned a strategic review of Australia’s research and development sector (led by Tesla chair Robyn Denholm), which is due to report by the end of the year. Part of its remit is to look at “mechanisms to improve coordination and impact of [research and development] funding and programs […].”

    In an ideal world, this will prompt the federal government up its funding of research, to match other countries. But previous unheard calls suggests this is unlikely.

    But we can also be more creative. Perhaps industry can fill the gap with an Australian “Silicon Valley” where emerging industries can be clustered with universities in research partnerships. This is what some authors have called “innovation precincts”.

    We could also look at prioritising industry-based PhDs, so postdoctoral students have a research job when they graduate. Or we could consider reallocating government funds going to other sources, such as defence, on topics of military or intelligence importance.

    This could see university funding pools become broader and deeper, more diversified and better suited to our national interests.

    Brendan Walker-Munro has completed paid consultancies for the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and Independent National Security Legislation Monitor. He receives funding from the Australian Government under the Australia-India Cyber and Critical Technologies Partnership.

    – ref. Nobel laureate Brian Schmidt is ‘scared’ about Australia’s research capacity – this is why – https://theconversation.com/nobel-laureate-brian-schmidt-is-scared-about-australias-research-capacity-this-is-why-257717

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Green light for gas: North West Shelf gas plant cleared to run until 2070

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Hepburn, Professor, Deakin Law School, Deakin University

    Franklin64/Shutterstock

    In a decision surprising very few people, Australia’s new environment minister Murray Watt has signed off on an extension for the gas plant at Karratha, part of the enormous North West Shelf liquefied natural gas project.

    The decision had been deferred until after the federal election, given significant environmental concerns around the project.

    This approval means the gas plant at Karratha can now keep running until 2070. The Woodside-operated project has helped to shape Australia’s reputation as one of the biggest suppliers of LNG in the world.

    Watt did not have to consider climate impacts, but rather what damage the extension might do to ancient rock art as well as economic and social matters. His approval is “subject to strict conditions”, which largely focus on air emissions from the project. Critics claim the extension will threaten irreplaceable 50,000 year old rock carvings and petroglyphs.

    The decision will enrage environmentalists. If the project continues to operate, it has been estimated to generate four billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions over 50 years.

    Australia has committed to reach net zero emissions by 2050. But the majority of the gas extracted from the North West Shelf will be exported, meaning the huge emissions generated from its extraction, liquefaction, transportation and burning will not be counted domestically.

    But while the Karratha plant now has a lifeline, there’s still an open question about where the gas will come from. For decades, the plant has processed gas from the North Rankin, Perseus and Goodwyn gasfields offshore. These are now running out.

    The main purpose of extending the Karratha plant’s lifespan would be to process gas extracted from giant new gasfields lying underneath the pristine Scott Reef. Approval to open these gasfields has not yet been given because of the significant concerns extraction will damage the reefs.

    What is the North West Shelf Project?

    The North West Shelf development has been operational since the 1980s. Gas is extracted from huge basins located off the Pilbara coast and processed at the Karratha plant on the Burrup Peninsula.

    To date, only a third of the 33 trillion cubic feet of gas in this basin has been extracted.

    Woodside Petroleum is the project operator, holding a one-third shareholding along with Chevron and Shell in what is known as the North West Shelf Joint Venture.

    The project is the largest producer of domestic gas in Western Australia, providing almost two-thirds of the state’s consumption. In the 2023-2024 financial year, it produced gas worth about A$70 billion.

    Domestic consumers are paying much more for this gas than their international counterparts. For example, a $25 billion contract entered into with China in 2002 includes a guarantee prices will remain the same until 2031.

    With the rapid escalation of gas prices, this means China is paying a third of the price paid by domestic consumers. Other markets for the gas include Japan and South Korea, which lack domestic gas resources.

    The Karratha plant has been cleared to run until 2070.
    Hans Wismeijer/Shutterstock

    The ‘transition fuel’ worse than coal

    Gas has long been touted as a transition fuel in a decarbonising economy. But this is questionable on several fronts.

    Rather than replacing coal, LNG may actually be displacing renewables.

    Worse, a recent study showed emissions from LNG are 33% higher than coal over a 20 year period when extraction, piping to a processing facility, compression, shipping, decompression and burning for energy are considered. “Ending the use of LNG should be a global priority,” the report concludes.

    Turning methane-heavy natural gas into a liquid to allow it to be shipped overseas is energy intensive. Large leaks of methane from wells and pipes are common during extraction and transport. When the gas is finally burned to generate energy, it produces carbon dioxide.

    In China, coal’s share of electricity production has been eroded by renewables but not by LNG, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.

    From a big picture point of view, climate commitments can’t be met if high-emitting infrastructure keeps being commissioned. Alongside stopping the expansion of fossil fuel projects, existing fossil fuel infrastructure must be retired or retrofitted with cleaner technology.

    Eroding ancient rock art

    The project’s processing plant is located on the Burrup Peninsula, also known as Murujaga. But this peninsula also has about 500,000 rock carvings by First Nations groups, the densest concentration in the world. In 2023, former environment minister Tanya Plibersek announced a bid to give this area World Heritage listing.

    In a new draft decision, the United Nations World Heritage Committee flagged concerns over the bid and referred it back to the Australian government to “ensure the total removal of degrading acidic emissions” and “prevent any further industrial development” near the petroglyphs.

    Gas production and ancient rock art are poorly matched. Research suggests processing plant gases such as nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide and ammonia have been gradually eroding the fragile petroglyphs for decades. Successive state and federal governments have failed to act to safeguard this area.

    Gas projects seem untouchable

    Approving the North West Shelf extension is a disaster for the environment, our climate commitments and the fragile and irreplaceable rock art in Murujuga.

    It would seem that despite well-founded concerns on many fronts, big gas projects in Australia are all but untouchable.

    Samantha Hepburn does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. Green light for gas: North West Shelf gas plant cleared to run until 2070 – https://theconversation.com/green-light-for-gas-north-west-shelf-gas-plant-cleared-to-run-until-2070-257008

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ5: Construction of a new acute hospital

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ5: Construction of a new acute hospital 
    Question:
     
         In the reply to my question raised when examining the Estimates of Expenditure 2025-2026, the Government has indicated that in further planning for the Second Hospital Development Plan, the redevelopment or expansion of existing hospitals and the construction of new hospitals to meet demand, including the feasibility of identifying a site for construction of a new acute hospital in Wong Tai Sin, will be options considered by the authorities. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the latest progress in identifying a site for construction of a new acute hospital in Wong Tai Sin; whether it has studied the feasibility of the establishment of an acute hospital, in the form of a cluster of hospital buildings, in the context of the expansion of the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals Wong Tai Sin Hospital, the vacant land made available after the relocation of the Diamond Hill Service Reservoirs, together with Our Lady of Maryknoll Hospital; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
     
    (2) whether it has studied the feasibility of construction of an acute hospital at other sites (including the recreation ground at Heng Lam Street, Lok Fu); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
     
    (3) as it is learnt that there is a shortage of healthcare manpower in Hong Kong, whether the Government has assessed the time frame for having sufficient healthcare manpower to meet the needs of a new acute hospital, and whether it will expedite the introduction of non-locally trained healthcare personnel?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         Having consulted the Hospital Authority (HA), the consolidated reply to the question raised by the Hon Yang Wing-kit is as follows:
     
    (1) and (2) The HA plans and develops various public healthcare services on a cluster basis, taking into account a number of factors, including the increase in service demand as a result of population growth and demographic changes, rising prevalence of chronic diseases, technology advancement, manpower availability as well as service arrangement of the clusters.
     
         At present, Wong Tai Sin is within the catchment area of the Kowloon Central Cluster (KCC). There are nine hospitals/healthcare institutions in the KCC providing healthcare services to the residents of the district, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) and the Kwong Wah Hospital (KWH) which are both equipped with Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments. In future, A&E services for the district will be provided by the New Acute Hospital at the Kai Tak Development Area (NAH) and the KWH. A service network with other extended care hospitals in the cluster will be formed to provide comprehensive healthcare services continuously to the catchment population of the KCC, including the residents of Wong Tai Sin.
     
         In view of the healthcare services demand of Kowloon region, the HA commenced the refurbishment project of Hong Kong Buddhist Hospital in 2015 and completed all works in 2019, which provided 130 additional convalescence and rehabilitation inpatient beds as well as other medical facilities. The HA is also implementing various hospital development projects in the three Kowloon clusters under the First Hospital Development Plan (HDP). Among the projects, the new Phase 1 Building of the redevelopment project of the KWH was completed at the end of 2022, providing a construction floor area of about 145 000 square metres. As compared to the old KWH, four operating theatres, one cardiac catheterisation room, four endoscopy rooms, one magnetic resonance imaging room and a one-stop ambulatory care centre are provided additionally. For the new A&E department, which is approximately three times the size of the old one, it has an additional Emergency Medicine Ward with 40 beds, isolation areas for infection control and other supporting facilities. With the commissioning of the new A&E department, the average waiting time for patients who, after treatment at the A&E department of the KWH, need to wait before being admitted to the hospital has dropped by about 24 per cent in the third and fourth quarters of 2024 as compared with the same period in 2023. In addition, the NAH will replace the role of the QEH as an acute hospital upon completion and provide 2 400 beds and 37 operating theatres, which are more than the existing about 1 940 acute and extended care beds and 24 operating theatres in the QEH. The gross floor area of the A&E department of the NAH is about thrice the current area of that of the QEH.
     
         When planning A&E services, the HA will ensure that the A&E department is located within a reasonable distance from its catchment areas. For example, after the commissioning of the NAH, the driving distance and time from major housing estates in Wong Tai Sin District to the NAH will be shorter than for those to the QEH currently.
     
         The Government announced in 2018 that it has invited the HA to commence planning for the Second HDP, which was to be implemented to meet the service demand up to 2036. With the changes in the planning and development situation in Hong Kong, for example, its territory-wide and regional planning and development strategies, the latest corresponding change in population projections, etc., the Health Bureau and the HA are currently reviewing the Second HDP by adopting a planning horizon of up to 2041 and beyond, and to project the healthcare services demand and consider the supply and conditions of the land required (including the feasibility of constructing a hospital and the associated supporting facilities on the site concerned), for optimising the Second HDP. The Government also considers factors such as the construction and development need of individual hospitals and its cost-effectiveness, and the convenience of public access to healthcare services under various major transport infrastructure development plans for determining the distribution, scale and priority, etc. of various hospital development projects under the Second HDP. As for the Second HDP, we would prudently consider various factors including whether to continue with the redevelopment or expansion of the existing hospital(s) in Kowloon, or to construct new hospital(s) for meeting the demand of healthcare services. The consideration of building a new acute hospital in Wong Tai Sin is subject to the availability of suitable site(s) and feasibility study(ies).
     
         After the completion of the review of the Second HDP, the Government will announce the details of the hospital development projects, including those in the Kowloon region, in due course.
     
    (3) In the course of planning and implementing the HDPs, the HA will forecast future service demand and corresponding healthcare manpower requirements and make corresponding assessments and planning, with a view to flexibly deploying manpower and recruiting additional staff in a timely manner according to service plans during the commissioning of new hospital facilities and phased introduction of services to meet service demands. The HA will also make good use of the revised legal framework to attract non-locally trained healthcare talent from different regions to work in Hong Kong, thereby expanding the talent pool of Hong Kong’s public healthcare system to meet the increasing service demands. 
     
         Regarding the overall healthcare manpower of Hong Kong, the Government conducts a healthcare manpower projection exercise every three years to update, on a regular basis, the supply and demand figures of the 13 healthcare professionals which are subject to statutory registration, in step with the triennial planning cycle of the University Grants Committee, which provides an important reference for the Government to determine the training quotas for various healthcare professions. The results of the last round of Healthcare Manpower Projection 2023 were announced in July 2024 and a new round of the projection exercise has also commenced. As put forward explicitly in the Chief Executive’s 2024 Policy Address, the Government will promote the use of the legislation passed earlier to proactively admit more non‑local doctors and nurses, etc. to enhance manpower. The Government has also introduced bill to the Legislative Council to make amendments to the relevant legislation on the admission of qualified non‑locally trained supplementary medical professionals.
     
         Thank you, President.
    Issued at HKT 14:45

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: The Bureau of Industrial Parks honored 112 model workers to celebrate the Labor Day, dedicating BIP to build a happier workplace together.

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    To recognize the dedication and contributions of workers across industrial parks, the Bureau of Industrial Parks (BIP) of the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) held the “2025 Labor Day Commendation Ceremony” on April 29. This year, a total of 112 outstanding workers from the northern, central, southern, and eastern regions of Taiwan were honored. The commendations include both local and migrant workers. In addition, eight companies were recognized for promoting harmonious labor-management relations and fostering a happy and sustainable workplace together with their employees.
    In the speech, BIP Director-General Mr. Chih-Ching Yang indicated that the continued growth of industrial parks relies on the tireless efforts of all workers and the active participation of enterprises. Director Yang noted that this recognition not only affirms the excellence of the awardees but also aims to inspire more employees to demonstrate professionalism, teamwork, and dedication. These efforts will help promote labor-management harmony, enhance overall competitiveness, and create a more attractive industrial ecosystem through continued improvements to the labor environment and service mechanisms. The BIP remains committed to “safety” and “sustainability” as guiding principles in governance.
    Among this year’s honorees, Mr. Chen Cheng-Hsiung from Orient Semiconductor Electronics, Ltd. was named a National Model Worker. Known for his proactive work ethic, Mr. Chen has applied innovative thinking and technical expertise to propose multiple process improvements, significantly increasing production efficiency while reducing operational costs. His outstanding contributions have earned high praise from the company and become a role model for others in the industrial park workforce. Another noteworthy honoree is Ms. Cherienne Gonzales from NXP Semiconductors Taiwan Ltd. who received the award for Outstanding International Migrant Worker. As the first foreign member to join the company’s STR team, she took the initiative to learn Mandarin and has played a key role in team communication. Ms. Gonzales has earned the company’s highest performance rating for six consecutive years, embodying the professionalism and diverse value that international workers bring to Taiwan’s industries.
    In addition to individual awards, eight companies and labor unions were commended for excellence in labor-management relations. Honorees included Taiwan Futaba Electronics Corp., NXP Semiconductors Taiwan Ltd., Canon Inc., Taiwan, and Brogent Technologies Inc. These companies have shown exemplary performance in areas such as sound management systems, open communication, and workplace improvements, and have long been committed to creating stable and harmonious work environments and becoming the model of industrials in the parks.
    Reflecting on the BIP’s labor policy initiatives over the years, the BIP has actively promoted workplace safety and improved labor conditions through the “Happy Industrial Parks” initiative. Now in its second year, the “Work-Life Balance Friendly Enterprise Award” honored eight companies across various sectors and scales for advancing gender equality, flexible working hours, and family-friendly policies. These efforts underscore the BIP’s strong commitment to corporate social responsibility and continued support for sustainable labor practices.
    The BIP emphasizes that this event is more than just a celebration–it is a meaningful platform to advocate for the value of labor. By recognizing workers’ contributions, it helps unite labor and management toward a shared goal and injects steady momentum into Taiwan’s economic development.

    Spokesman: Mr. Liu Chi-Chuan (Deputy Director General, BIP)
    Contact Number: 886-7-3613349, 0911363680
    Email: lcc12@bip.gov.tw

    Contact Person: Chen, Chiao-Fei (Acting Director of Environment and Labor Affairs Division, BIP)
    Contact Number: 886-7-3611212 ext.471
    Email: erin@bip.gov.tw

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ8: A dedicated “technology enterprises channel”

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ8: A dedicated “technology enterprises channel” 
    (1) whether it knows the expected outcomes of TECH;
     
    (2) whether it knows the differences between TECH and the original listing mechanism for technology enterprises, and how HKEX will strengthen the co-ordinated operation of the two;
     
    (3) whether it knows how HKEX will optimise the structure and vetting procedures of its Listing Division to cope with the large number of service applications upon establishment of TECH, thereby enhancing the attractiveness of the relevant policies; and
     
    (4) as TECH allows submission of listing applications by technology enterprises on a confidential basis so as to reduce the risks associated with premature disclosure of their specialist technology, whether the Government knows how HKEX will strike a balance between protecting the intellectual property rights of technology companies and maintaining market transparency?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         Hong Kong has always been committed to attracting high-quality companies from around the world to list in Hong Kong. To further assist specialist technology (Note) and biotechnology companies in raising funds and developing their businesses, the 2025-26 Budget announced that the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) will take forward the establishment of a dedicated “technology enterprises channel” (TECH) to facilitate relevant enterprises to prepare for listing applications. The Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) will also facilitate for a smoother application process. In consultation with HKEX and the SFC, the reply to the four parts of the question is as follows:
     
    (1) to (3) The main purpose of launching TECH is to provide tailored guidance to specialist technology companies and biotechnology companies before they submit their listing applications, thereby providing support to these prospective issuers in their listing preparation process. HKEX and the SFC formally launched TECH on May 6, 2025. The market response has been enthusiastic, with HKEX receiving a large number of enquiries, achieving the anticipated result.
     
         Compared to general applications, TECH can address key matters of these companies at the initial stage of listing preparation and help them better understand the applicable Listing Rules, enabling them to prepare listing materials more effectively. Specifically, TECH includes the following measures:
     
    (a) a specialised team of HKEX to provide concrete guidance on the eligibility and suitability for listing, such as acceptable sectors for specialist technology industries, requirements for core products, criteria for acceptance of other biotech products or clinical trials conducted under the regulation of different authorities, as well as considerations for accepting new sectors or industries outside the current scope as specialist technology industries;
     
    (b) to proactively approach prospective applicants to gain a better understanding of the company’s business and facilitate their comprehension of the Listing Rules’ requirements; and
     
    (c) to discuss with applicants on other Listing Rules-related questions and provide preliminary guidance.
     
         Depending on the number of applications, HKEX and the SFC will flexibly deploy their manpower to meet the demand for vetting applications and other services, ensuring that other applications are not affected.
     
         At the same time, HKEX and the SFC are taking forward enhancements to the listing regime, including reviewing specific requirements for primary listing, secondary listing and dual primary listing as well as post-listing regulatory mechanism, improving the overall vetting regulation for enterprises seeking to list in Hong Kong, with a view to enhancing the vitality, competitiveness and resilience of Hong Kong’s listing platform. The relevant measures will be announced with market consultation to be conducted as appropriate once they are ready.
     
    (4) Compared to other industries, specialist technology companies and biotechnology companies are typically companies that are in their early stage of development or have yet to commercially launch their products. Premature and prolonged disclosure of information on these companies’ operational strategies, proprietary technologies, and listing plans may pose substantial commercial risks to these companies. To assist these companies in mitigating relevant risks, HKEX allows applicants seeking a listing under Chapters 18C (i.e. specialist technology companies) and 18A (i.e. biotechnology companies) of the Listing Rules to submit their applications confidentially.
     
         To maintain transparency and assist investors in considering the subscription of relevant shares, the applicants concerned are still required to publish relevant information of the company after the hearing of the Listing Committee, which includes post-hearing information packs and overall co-ordinator announcement, covering the company’s organisation, business operations, directors and senior management, major shareholders, share capital, financial reports, etc. The measure aims to promote market development, respond to the practical needs of issuers, and adapt to global market changes, while ensuring that the listing regime safeguards the interests of investors.
     
    Note: The specialist technology industries includes next-generation information technology, advanced hardware and software, advance materials, new energy and environmental protection, and new food and agriculture technologies.
    Issued at HKT 15:00

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Longest period in band on record for monthly inflation

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    New figures from the ABS show that headline and underlying inflation remained in the Reserve Bank of Australia’s target band in April.

    Today’s result is another demonstration of the substantial and sustained progress we have made on inflation.

    Headline inflation was 2.4 per cent through the year to April 2025, unchanged from March.

    Annual Trimmed Mean inflation was 2.8 per cent.

    Monthly headline inflation has been in the band for nine consecutive months and underlying inflation has been in the band for five consecutive months.

    We know that these monthly numbers are volatile and can bounce around but the direction of travel on inflation is clear.

    Another month of CPI in the band is a welcome and encouraging sign that inflation is moderating sustainably.

    This is the longest period that both headline and underlying inflation have been in the band since the monthly inflation series began in 2018.

    Under Labor, inflation is down substantially, real wages are up, unemployment is low, our economy is growing, debt is down and interest rates are falling.

    On the official quarterly numbers, the March quarter was the first time since records began that unemployment has been in the low 4s and headline and underlying inflation have both been in the target band.

    Today’s data is more evidence we are in better shape to face the uncertainty in the global economy than almost any other advanced economy with inflation rising recently in countries like the UK and Japan.

    Electricity prices fell 6.5 cent in the year to April but would have risen 1.5 per cent without the energy rebates for every household we are rolling out with the states.

    Rents rose 5.0 per cent in the year but would have increased 6.1 per cent without the recent increases to Commonwealth Rent Assistance.

    Even with this substantial progress and two interest rate cuts in three months, we know people are still under pressure and we face global economic headwinds.

    That’s why the Albanese Government’s economic strategy has been all about getting on top of inflation while maintaining the gains in the labour market and ensuring the economy continues to grow.

    All of the progress that Australians have made together means that we are well placed and well prepared for heightened uncertainty and volatility in the global economy.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with the Chairman of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this morning received Chairman of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China (COMAC) He Dongfeng, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat. They discussed efforts to broaden civil aviation cooperation, particularly through COMAC’s engagement with ASEAN Member States. Both sides acknowledged the importance of closer technical collaboration, capacity building, and advancing regional air connectivity through innovative and diversified aircraft solutions.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with the Chairman of the Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN Highlights Key Outcomes on recently-concluded 46th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today highlighted the key outcomes of the 46th ASEAN Summit, 2nd ASEAN Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit and ASEAN-GCC-China Summit, recently held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.  He delivered the briefing to the diplomatic corps in Jakarta and members of the media. SG Dr. Kao also responded to questions from Ambassadors and journalists, further enhancing understanding of ASEAN’s ongoing work and its strategic priorities.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN Highlights Key Outcomes on recently-concluded 46th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN receives the Executive Director of the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today received a courtesy call from Executive Director of the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue (ACSDSD) Phasporn Sangasubana, at the ASEAN Headquarters/ASEAN Secretariat, where they discussed ACSDSD’s contributions to ASEAN’s sustainable development agenda. Executive Director Sangasubana also shared updates on ACSDSD’s key initiatives, lessons learned and best practices, while reaffirming the Centre’s commitment to strengthening collaboration in advancing regional sustainability in line with ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and its Strategic Plans that were recently adopted at the 46th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

     
    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN receives the Executive Director of the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-Evening Report: There’s a new COVID variant driving up infections. A virologist explains what to know about NB.1.8.1

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Lara Herrero, Associate Professor and Research Leader in Virology and Infectious Disease, Griffith University

    VioletaStoimenova/Getty Images

    As we enter the colder months in Australia, COVID is making headlines again, this time due to the emergence of a new variant: NB.1.8.1.

    Last week, the World Health Organization designated NB.1.8.1 as a “variant under monitoring”, owing to its growing global spread and some notable characteristics which could set it apart from earlier variants.

    So what do you need to know about this new variant?

    The current COVID situation

    More than five years since COVID was initially declared a pandemic, we’re still experiencing regular waves of infections.

    It’s more difficult to track the occurrence of the virus nowadays, as fewer people are testing and reporting infections. But available data suggests in late May 2025, case numbers in Australia were ticking upwards.

    Genomic sequencing has confirmed NB.1.8.1 is among the circulating strains in Australia, and generally increasing. Of cases sequenced up to May 6 across Australia, NB.1.8.1 ranged from less than 10% in South Australia to more than 40% in Victoria.

    Wastewater surveillance in Western Australia has determined NB.1.8.1 is now the dominant variant in wastewater samples collected in Perth.

    Internationally NB.1.8.1 is also growing. By late April 2025, it comprised roughly 10.7% of all submitted sequences – up from just 2.5% four weeks prior. While the absolute number of cases sequenced was still modest, this consistent upward trend has prompted closer monitoring by international public health agencies.

    NB.1.8.1 has been spreading particularly in Asia – it was the dominant variant in Hong Kong and China at the end of April.


    Lara Herrero, created using BioRender

    Where does this variant come from?

    According to the WHO, NB.1.8.1 was first detected from samples collected in January 2025.

    It’s a sublineage of the Omicron variant, descending from the recombinant XDV lineage. “Recombinant” is where a new variant arises from the genetic mixing of two or more existing variants.

    The image to the right shows more specifically how NB.1.8.1 came about.

    What does the research say?

    Like its predecessors, NB.1.8.1 carries a suite of mutations in the spike protein. This is the protein on the surface of the virus that allows it to infect us – specifically via the ACE2 receptors, a “doorway” to our cells.

    The mutations include T22N, F59S, G184S, A435S, V445H, and T478I. It’s early days for this variant, so we don’t have much data on what these changes mean yet. But a recent preprint (a study that has not yet been peer reviewed) offers some clues about why NB.1.8.1 may be gathering traction.

    Using lab-based models, researchers found NB.1.8.1 had the strongest binding affinity to the human ACE2 receptor of several variants tested – suggesting it may infect cells more efficiently than earlier strains.

    The study also looked at how well antibodies from vaccinated or previously infected people could neutralise or “block” the variant. Results showed the neutralising response of antibodies was around 1.5 times lower to NB.1.8.1 compared to another recent variant, LP.8.1.1.

    This means it’s possible a person infected with NB.1.8.1 may be more likely to pass the virus on to someone else, compared to earlier variants.

    What are the symptoms?

    The evidence so far suggests NB.1.8.1 may spread more easily and may partially sidestep immunity from prior infections or vaccination. These factors could explain its rise in sequencing data.

    But importantly, the WHO has not yet observed any evidence it causes more severe disease compared to other variants.

    Reports suggest symptoms of NB.1.8.1 should align closely with other Omicron subvariants.

    Common symptoms include sore throat, fatigue, fever, mild cough, muscle aches and nasal congestion. Gastrointestinal symptoms may also occur in some cases.

    COVID is continuing to evolve.
    Joannii/Shutterstock

    How about the vaccine?

    There’s potential for this variant to play a significant role in Australia’s winter respiratory season. Public health responses remain focused on close monitoring, continued genomic sequencing, and promoting the uptake of updated COVID boosters.

    Even if neutralising antibody levels are modestly reduced against NB.1.8.1, the WHO has noted current COVID vaccines should still protect against severe disease with this variant.

    The most recent booster available in Australia and many other countries targets JN.1, from which NB.1.8.1 is descended. So it makes sense it should still offer good protection.

    Ahead of winter and with a new variant on the scene, now may be a good time to consider another COVID booster if you’re eligible. For some people, particularly those who are medically vulnerable, COVID can still be a serious disease.

    Lara Herrero receives funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council.

    – ref. There’s a new COVID variant driving up infections. A virologist explains what to know about NB.1.8.1 – https://theconversation.com/theres-a-new-covid-variant-driving-up-infections-a-virologist-explains-what-to-know-about-nb-1-8-1-257552

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: China, ASEAN, GCC forge innovative trilateral cooperation amid global risks

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

    KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 — Amid escalating global challenges, China, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have forged a groundbreaking path in cross-regional cooperation.

    In a historic move, they convened a landmark trilateral summit in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia — ASEAN’s current chair — marking a bold step toward collective resilience, economic synergy, and a shared vision for prosperity.

    At the inaugural ASEAN-China-GCC Summit on Tuesday, Chinese Premier Li Qiang called on the three parties to set a global benchmark in openness, development cooperation and cross-civilization integration.

    His call comes at a critical juncture, as rising protectionism and escalating geopolitical tensions threaten to fracture the international order.

    Amid global economic headwinds and mounting uncertainties, Li noted that by strengthening connectivity and collaboration, the three sides can forge a vibrant economic circle and a powerful engine for growth, which holds profound significance not only for their respective prosperity but also for advancing peace and development across Asia and the world.

    “As some countries are becoming more protectionist and isolationist, the summit was a good initiative and effort to counter these emerging trends,” said Lee Pei May, a political expert at the International Islamic University Malaysia.

    “The summit proves that economies can complement rather than compete with one another, easing the worries that countries can only develop if they turn inward,” Lee added.

    At the tripartite gathering, Li urged all sides to work together to build a model of global cooperation and development in three aspects — creating a model of cross-region openness, forging a model of cooperation across different development stages, and fostering a model of cross-civilization integration.

    At the summit, the leaders committed to further strengthening Belt and Road cooperation, with a focus on deepening ties in connectivity, trade, industrial and supply chains, agriculture, energy, finance, and the digital economy. They pledged to accelerate trilateral integration, fostering robust, inclusive, and sustainable development for all.

    The summit adopted a joint statement, which was hailed as “detailed, elaborate” and a strong message of trilateral solidarity and cooperation by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

    In the joint statement, the relevant countries acknowledged their joint efforts to promote closer cooperation between ASEAN, GCC and China, and China’s vision to build a closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future and a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era.

    Andrew Kam Jia Yi, senior research fellow with the Institute of Malaysian and International Studies at the National University of Malaysia, said the summit highlights how the strengths of each party can complement one another.

    “The GCC’s energy and financial resources, ASEAN’s growing consumer base, and China’s technological and financial capacities together create more resilient supply chains and boost food and energy security for all,” he said.

    Following the summit, Li also delivered remarks at the opening ceremony of the ASEAN-China-GCC Economic Forum 2025.

    He emphasized China’s commitment to energizing trilateral cooperation through its high-quality development, pledging to firmly expand high-level opening up, promote mutual reinforcement between domestic and international circulations and share the opportunities of China’s development with countries of ASEAN and GCC, and enterprises from around the world.

    The trilateral cooperation mechanism not only fosters collaborative agreements across regions, but creates a novel platform of communication and dialogue for the Global South countries to closely coordinate on regional and international affairs and amplify their voices on the global stage.

    The joint statement recognizes the need to strengthen confidence in the rules-based multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, and reaffirms the countries’ resolve to make economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced, and beneficial to their peoples and future generations.

    During talks with other leaders on the sidelines of the summit, the Chinese premier voiced China’s readiness to push for a greater role of the Global South in improving global governance.

    In his meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Li said that China looks to strengthen communication and cooperation with Vietnam and jointly protect the common interests of the Global South countries.

    During their meeting a day before the summit, Li told Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, crown prince of Kuwait, that China is committed to strengthening communication and coordination with Kuwait through various multilateral platforms to push for more just and equitable global governance and a more harmonious, stable and prosperous world.

    The trilateral summit “encourages other regions to pursue similar models of collaboration,” Kam said.

    “It is a sign of growing solidarity, where countries of the Global South are working together to shape their own futures, assert their priorities on the global stage, and build a more equitable and stable world order from the ground up,” the scholar added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s finance ministry plans to issue 68 bln yuan of treasury bonds in HK this year

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

    China’s finance ministry plans to issue 68 bln yuan of treasury bonds in HK this year

    BEIJING, May 28 — The Ministry of Finance said Wednesday that it will issue a total of 68 billion yuan (about 9.46 billion U.S. dollars) in renminbi-denominated treasury bonds in six batches in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2025.

    The first two batches, totaling 25 billion yuan, were issued in February and April.

    The third batch of 12.5 billion yuan is scheduled to be issued via tender on June 4.

    Specific issuance arrangements will be announced on the website of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Central Moneymarkets Unit, the ministry said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s finance ministry plans to issue 68B yuan of treasury bonds in HK this year

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

    The Ministry of Finance said Wednesday that it will issue a total of 68 billion yuan (about 9.46 billion U.S. dollars) in renminbi-denominated treasury bonds in six batches in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in 2025.

    The first two batches, totaling 25 billion yuan, were issued in February and April.

    The third batch of 12.5 billion yuan is scheduled to be issued via tender on June 4.

    Specific issuance arrangements will be announced on the website of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority’s Central Moneymarkets Unit, the ministry said.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • Operation Sindoor outreach: Sanjay Jha-led Indian delegation reaches Indonesia

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Janata Dal (United) MP Sanjay Jha-led delegation arrived in Indonesia’s capital city, Jakarta, on Wednesday after successfully wrapping up the Singapore visit, conveying India’s unequivocal stance against terrorism.

    “The All-Party Parliamentary Delegation, led by Sanjay Kumar Jha, arrived in Jakarta as part of India’s diplomatic outreach on Operation Sindoor. India stands committed to fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Through this outreach, India sets out to seek understanding and support of its historic friend and Comprehensive Strategic partner,” the Indian Embassy in Jakarta posted on X.

    During the course of their stay in Jakarta, the delegation will engage with members of the Indonesian government, parliamentarians, leaders of political parties, the ASEAN Secretary General, resident ambassadors, think tanks, academia, media, and a cross-section of the Indian community in Indonesia.

    The delegation led by Jha includes BJP MPs Aparajita Sarangi, Brij Lal, Hemang Joshi, and Pradan Baruah, Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member John Barittas, senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid and Former Indian Ambassador to France Mohan Kumar.

    After successfully completing their engagements in Singapore, South Korea, and Japan, the delegates will now highlight the significance of Operation Sindoor and India’s continued fight against Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism to the Indonesian leadership.

    Earlier on Tuesday, the Indian parliamentarians met Singaporean Ministers Edwin Tong, Sim Ann and Janil Puthucheary and reaffirmed India’s unwavering commitment to combat terrorism in all its forms.

    They also engaged with Singaporean Members of Parliament, senior business and community leaders, representatives of think-tanks, academia, media, and the Indian diaspora.

    “During the interactions with Singaporean interlocutors, the delegation conveyed India’s stance on the events since the terror attack in Pahalgam, Operation Sindoor, and the new normal in India’s strategy against terrorism,” the Indian High Commission in Singapore said in a statement.

    “They briefed about the new benchmark in India’s fight against terrorism; India will give a fitting reply if there is a terrorist attack on India, India will not tolerate any nuclear blackmail, and India will not differentiate between the government sponsoring terrorism and the masterminds of terrorism. The delegation requested continued support from Singapore in the fight against terrorism,” the statement added.

    (IANS)

  • PM Modi to unveil mega infrastructure projects during Bihar visit

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to make a significant visit to Bihar on Thursday and Friday, inaugurating and laying the foundation stones for a slew of major development projects aimed at transforming the state’s infrastructure and boosting economic growth.

    On 29 May, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the newly constructed passenger terminal at Patna Airport, a state-of-the-art facility built at a cost of approximately Rs 1,200 crore. The new terminal is designed to handle up to one crore passengers annually, marking a significant upgrade in air travel infrastructure for the region. In addition, Modi will lay the foundation stone for the civil enclave at Bihta Airport, worth over Rs 1,410 crore. This development is particularly crucial as Bihta is rapidly emerging as an educational hub near Patna, home to institutions such as IIT Patna and the proposed NIT Patna campus, promising improved connectivity and accessibility to this growing center of learning.

    The following day, on 30 May, Prime Minister Modi will inaugurate, lay foundation stones, and dedicate to the nation several key projects worth over Rs 48,520 crore in Karakat, Bihar. A major highlight will be the foundation stone laying for the Nabinagar Super Thermal Power Project Stage II in Aurangabad district, a massive venture valued at nearly Rs 29,930 crore. With a capacity of 3×800 MW, this power project is expected to strengthen energy security not only for Bihar but for the entire eastern region of India. It promises to spur industrial growth, generate employment opportunities, and provide affordable electricity to the population.

    Alongside the power sector developments, the Prime Minister will also launch important road infrastructure projects to enhance connectivity and trade within the state. These include the four-laning of the Patna–Arrah–Sasaram stretch of National Highway 119A and six-laning of the Varanasi–Ranchi–Kolkata highway (NH-319B), as well as the Ramnagar–Kacchi Dargah section of NH-119D. A new bridge over the Ganga River between Buxar and Bharauli will also be constructed to further facilitate seamless travel and commerce. Additionally, Modi will inaugurate the four-laning of the Patna–Gaya–Dobhi section of NH-22, a project worth Rs 5,520 crore, along with improvements on the elevated highway and at-grade roads in Gopalganj on NH-27.

    Prime Minister will also dedicate to the nation the third rail line between Son Nagar and Mohammad Ganj, a project costing over Rs 1,330 crore, which is expected to ease rail traffic and boost freight and passenger movement.

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Kazuo Ueda: Opening remarks – BOJ-IMES conference 2025

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    I. Introduction

    We are pleased to welcome all of you, distinguished speakers and guests, to the 2025 BOJIMES Conference. Thank you very much for your participation.

    The first BOJ-IMES Conference was held in 1983, and while it was held biennially in some cases, this year marks the 30th edition. Since its inception, the conference has brought together participants from central banks, international institutions, and academia, providing a valuable platform for candid and active discussions on central banking in the context of the evolving global landscape.

    The theme of this anniversary conference is “New Challenges for Monetary Policy.” I have just returned from the G7 meeting in Canada, where many of my colleagues expressed confidence in the progress made toward fulfilling their mandates, though they also acknowledged new challenges such as heightened trade policy uncertainty and dealing effectively with more frequent supply shocks.

    To be honest, I felt slightly left out, though not for the first time, because here in Japan we are still grappling with the longstanding challenge of achieving our 2 percent inflation target in a sustainable manner, while being mindful of the implications of the zero lower bound of policy interest rates.

    That said, the nature of our challenge has evolved considerably in recent years. We are now closer to the target than at any time during the last three decades, though we are not quite there. Our recent path has been affected in a unique way by supply shocks.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • Operation Sindoor outreach: Indian delegation thanks Congo for unequivocal condemnation of terrorism

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    An all-party Indian parliamentary delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde has successfully concluded its diplomatic mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), emphasising India’s firm stand against Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism and garnering the African nation’s support for its anti-terror stance.

    The visit marks a significant outreach in the aftermath of the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 innocent tourists were killed.

    On Tuesday, the Indian MPs met senior Congolese leaders, including President of the Committee of Foreign Affairs of Congo’s National Assembly Berthold Ulungu, Deputy President Christophe Bowulu, President of Sub-Commission in-charge of Foreign Affairs Jethro Muyombi Tshimbu, and Committee Member Igwabi Mushengezi Pauline.

    The meetings highlighted India’s decisive action against terrorism through Operation Sindoor and conveyed its commitment to a zero-tolerance policy towards terror networks operating from across the border.

    The delegation underscored the gravity of the Pahalgam attack and shared details of India’s Operation Sindoor, carried out to neutralise terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

    In a symbolic show of solidarity, Berthold Ulungu strongly condemned the Pahalgam attack and extended condolences on the behalf of the Committee to victims’ kin.

    “Berthold Ulungu condemned the Pahalgam terrorist attack and conveyed that DRC shares the pain and grief of the people of India who are facing these atrocities. He conveyed condolences on behalf of the Committee to the families of the victims of the terrorist attack,” the Indian Embassy in Congo said in a statement.

    As a mark of respect, a moment of silence was observed during the meeting to honour those who lost their lives in the attack. Shrikant Shinde expressed gratitude for the gesture and the unequivocal condemnation of terrorism by the Congolese leadership.

    The delegation also engaged with the local media, where they briefed journalists on Operation Sindoor, India’s evolving approach to national security, and the country’s resolve to eliminate cross-border terrorism.

    Shinde provided insights into the fruitful discussions held with Congolese officials and appreciated the expressions of support and empathy received from the DRC government.

    “The meetings were productive and reaffirmed the growing global understanding of India’s new normal in dealing with terrorism. We are thankful for the solidarity shown by Congo and its leaders during this critical time,” Shinde told reporters.

    The diplomatic outreach in Congo is part of a broader Indian initiative to raise international awareness and support in its battle against cross-border terrorism, particularly from Pakistan-based networks.

    Following the Congo visit, the delegation will now visit Sierra Leone, continuing India’s diplomatic efforts to garner support from the Global South in its fight against terrorism.

    (With inputs from IANS)