Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Hong Kong updates methodology for compiling greenhouse gas emission inventory and releases emission inventory for 2023 Since 2013, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been compiling its GHG emission inventory based on the Global Warming Potential (GWP) values provided in the Second Assessment Report (AR2) of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). As decided by the UNFCCC at the 27th Conference of the Parties in 2022, GWP values set out in the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) shall be used to calculate GHG emission inventory by no later than the end of 2024.
In compliance with the requirement of the UNFCCC, the Government has used the AR5’s GWP values to compile the 2023 GHG emission inventory and update previous GHG emission figures to reflect annual variations and long-term trends.
Based on the calculation using AR5’s GWP values, Hong Kong’s total GHG emissions in 2023 amounted to approximately 34.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e), representing a decrease of about 20 per cent compared to 2005 levels and a decrease of about 25 percent from the peak emissions in 2014. The per capita GHG emissions in 2023 reached a new low since 1990, at approximately 4.58 tonnes CO2-e. It is nearly 30 per cent lower than those in 2005 and 2014, and is about a quarter of that of the United States and 60 per cent of that of the European Union. The carbon intensity was about 0.012 kilograms of CO2-e per Hong Kong dollar of GDP, representing a decrease of about 46 per cent compared to 2005.
The three main sources of GHG emissions in Hong Kong remain to be electricity generation (61 per cent), transport (18 per cent), and waste management (8 per cent). With the gradual replacement of coal with natural gas and zero-carbon energy for electricity generation, popularisation of electric vehicles, decrease in municipal solid waste quantity and increase in landfill gas recovery and utilisation (for energy production) in Hong Kong, GHG emissions from electricity generation, transport, and waste management have declined by approximately about 32 per cent, 7 per cent, and 10 per cent, respectively, compared to 2014.
To align with the country’s “dual carbon” target to achieve the peak of carbon emissions before 2030 and carbon neutrality before 2060, the Government will continue to implement the four major decarbonisation strategies, namely, net-zero electricity generation, energy saving and green buildings, green transport and waste reduction, outlined in Hong Kong’s Climate Action Plan 2050, to reduce Hong Kong’s carbon emissions by half from the 2005 levels before 2035 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2050.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Trade Unions (Amendment) Bill 2025 gazetted The Bill seeks to amend the Trade Unions Ordinance (Chapter 332) to strengthen the regulation of trade unions to safeguard national security and improve the trade union regulatory regime, thereby facilitating the healthy development of trade unions.
A spokesperson for the Labour Department said, “The proposed amendments will strengthen the statutory powers of the Registrar of Trade Unions to supervise and regulate trade unions to better fulfil the duty of safeguarding national security under the Hong Kong National Security Law and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (6 of 2024). At the same time, the amendments give due regard to the freedom and right of Hong Kong residents to form and join trade unions, and will not adversely affect the operation of law-abiding trade unions.”
The spokesperson added, “Subject to a smooth passage of the Bill, the amendment ordinance will come into operation on the expiry of six months after the day on which it is published in the Gazette. During this period, the Labour Department will further publicise and explain the amendments to trade unions to facilitate their understanding and compliance.”
The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council (LegCo) for first and second readings on April 30. The Government will fully work with the LegCo to scrutinise the Bill, with a view to seeking the LegCo’s support and passage of the Bill. Issued at HKT 9:30
Seoul, South Korea, April 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — GRAVITY Co., Ltd. (NasdaqGM: GRVY) (“Gravity” or “Company”), a developer and publisher of online and mobile games, announced the official launch of Ragnarok: Back to Glory, in Korea and Southeast Asia on April 17, 2025.
Ragnarok: Back to Glory is a 3D MMORGPG Mobile game that features a globally integrated marketplace, allowing users in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Korea and Southeast Asia to freely trade in-game items. The game received positive feedback from users during the CBT conducted in Korea and it garnered significant interest in Southeast Asia with over 2 million users signing up for pre-registration, demonstrating strong anticipation for its official launch in both regions. Ragnarok: Back to Glory is available for download on Google Play and Apple App Store and can also be downloaded through local app markets in Southeast Asia.
Gravity stated, “We are delighted to officially launch Ragnarok: Back to Glory in Korea and Southeast Asia. We have prepared a variety of events and look forward to your continued interest and participation”.
Gravity is a developer and publisher of online and mobile games. Gravity’s principal product, Ragnarok Online, is a popular online game in many markets, including Japan and Taiwan, and is currently commercially offered in 91 regions. For more information about Gravity, please visit http://www.gravity.co.kr.
Contact:
Mr. Heung Gon Kim Chief Financial Officer Gravity Co., Ltd. Email: kheung@gravity.co.kr
Ms. Jin Lee Ms. Yujin Oh IR Unit Gravity Co., Ltd. Email: ir@gravity.co.kr Telephone: +82-2-2132-7801
I. Current Situation of Economic Activity and Prices
A. Current Economic Developments Abroad
I would like to begin my speech by taking a look at the current situation of overseas economies (Chart 1). Regarding global business sentiment, as of March 2025, the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for the manufacturing industry has been at around 50 – the breakeven point between improvement and deterioration – and the PMI for the services industry has continued to improve. In the January 2025 World Economic Outlook (WEO) Update, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected that the growth rate of the global economy would be in the range of 3.0-3.5 percent for both 2025 and 2026, which is broadly in line with the average growth rate since 1980. The IMF will release the next quarterly update of the WEO this month, and attention is warranted on its assessment of the future path of trade policies in each jurisdiction and global developments in economic activity and prices affected by such policies.
B. Current Economic Developments in Japan
I will now turn to the current situation of Japan’s economy. The Bank of Japan judges that the economy has recovered moderately, although some weakness has been seen in part. It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that there are high uncertainties regarding trade policies in each jurisdiction and developments in overseas economic activity and prices affected by such policies. I will come back to this later.
The Birkin bag made by French luxury retailer Hermès has become a status symbol for the global elite. Notoriously difficult to obtain, the world’s rich obsess over how to get their hands on one.
But when US retailer Walmart recently launched a much cheaper bag that looked very similar to the Birkin, nicknamed a “Wirkin” by others, it sparked discussions about wealth disparity and the ethics of conspicuous consumption.
In this episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast, we speak to two sociologists about the Birkin and what it symbolises.
For the rich housewives of Delhi, the Birkin bag is a must have, says Parul Bhandari. A sociologist at the University of Cambridge in the UK, she’s spent time interviewing wealthy Indian women about their lives and preoccupations. She told us:
A bag that is carried by rich women of New York, of London, of Paris, is something that you desire as well, so it’s a ticket of entry into the global elite.
Birkins are also used by some of these rich women as a way to show off their husband’s affection, Bhandari says: “ Not only from the point of view of money, because obviously this bag is extremely expensive, but also because it is difficult to procure.” The harder your husband tries to help you get the bag, the more getting one is a testimony of conjugal love.
Manufactured scarcity
Named after the British actress Jane Birkin, Hermès’s signature bag can cost tens of thousands of dollars, or more on the resale market for those made in rare colours or out of rare leathers. But you can’t just walk into any Hermès store to buy one, as Aarushi Bhandari, a sociologist at Davidson College in the US who studies the internet – and is no relation to Parul – explains.
You need to have a record of spending tens of thousands of dollars even before you’re offered to buy one. But spending that money doesn’t automatically mean you get a bag. You have to develop a relationship with a sales associate at a particular Hermès store and the sales associate really gets to decide, if there’s availability, whether or not you get offered a bag.
Bhandari became intrigued by online communities where people discuss the best strategies for obtaining an Hermès. So when US retailer Walmart launched a bag in late 2024 that looked very similar to a Birkin, and the internet went wild, Bhandari was fascinated.
She began to see posts on TikTok discussing the bag. First it was fashion accounts talking it up, but then a backlash began, with some users criticising those who would spend thousands on a real Birkin and praising the “Wirkin” as a way to make an iconic design accessible to regular people. Bhandari sees this as an example of an accelerating form of anti-elitism taking hold within parts of online culture.
In February, the chief executive of Hermès, Axel Dumas, admitted that he was “irritated” by the Walmart bag and that the company took counterfeiting “very seriously”.
The Walmart bag quickly sold out and no more were put on sale. It has since entered into a partnership with a secondhand luxury resale platform called Rebag, meaning customers can buy real Birkins secondhand through Walmart’s online marketplace.
The Conversation approached Hermès for comment on the Walmart bag, and to confirm how the company decides who is eligible to buy a Birkin. Hermès did not respond.
Listen to the full episode of The Conversation Weekly podcast to hear our conversation with Parul Bhandari and Aarushi Bhandari, plus an introduction from Nick Lehr, arts and culture editor at The Conversation in the US.
This episode of The Conversation Weekly was written and produced by Katie Flood. Mixing and sound design by Eloise Stevens and theme music by Neeta Sarl.
Listen to The Conversation Weekly via any of the apps listed above, download it directly via our RSS feed or find out how else to listen here.
Parul Bhandari and Aarushi Bhandari do 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.
Noon briefing by Stephanie Tremblay, Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Deputy Secretary-General
– Security Council
– Pandemic Agreement
– Sudan
– Occupied Palestinian Territory
– Democratic Republic of the Congo
– Iraq
– Global Economy
– Briefings tomorrow
– Financial Contribution
**Deputy Secretary-General
The Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed is in Hanoi, Viet Nam today, to participate in the Partnership for Growth Summit and to chair the annual retreat of UN Resident Coordinators from Asia and the Pacific.
In her remarks at the opening session of the Summit, Ms. Mohammed underlined the need to strengthen partnerships and to scale up investments in climate solutions as a key entry point to advance countries’ Sustainable Development Goals transitions.
Ms. Mohammed also met with the Minister of Agriculture and Environment Mr. Đỗ Đức Duy. They discussed Viet Nam’s transition to a low-carbon energy system and progress on its food system pathways.
On the margins of the Summit, she also met with Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia.
And at the Green One UN House in Hanoi, Ms. Mohammed met the UN Country Team to discuss how to further strengthen the UN’s impact in Viet Nam and to sustain momentum on the SDGs. She also met with youth.
** Security Council
This morning, the Security Council members met for a briefing on South Sudan. The Head of the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Nicholas Haysom, told the Council members that the Revitalized Peace Agreement remains the only viable framework to break the cycle of violence in South Sudan.
He added that UNMISS is engaged in intensive diplomatic efforts to broker a peaceful solution to the current crisis alongside many stakeholders, including the African Union and the Security Council itself.
For her part, the Director of Operations and Advocacy at OCHA, Edem Wosornu, focused on the rapidly escalating violence and its impact on men, women and children. She added that this year, 9.3 million South Sudanese – that’s three-quarters of the population – require some form of humanitarian assistance, adding that children make up half of this total.
For South Sudan, this year’s Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan requires $1.7 billion to support close to 5.4 million people. Their full remarks were shared with you.
The Security Council will reconvene at 3:00 pm this afternoon for a session on the Great Lakes region. The Special Envoy for the Great Lakes region, Huang Xia, as well as UNICEF’s Executive Director, Catherine Russell, are scheduled to brief. We will share their remarks as soon as we get them.
**Pandemic Agreement
And we wanted to welcome the consensus on a draft pandemic agreement reached in Geneva after more than three years of intensive negotiations. Member States of the World Health Organization took a major step forward in efforts to make the world safer from pandemics, by forging the draft agreement for consideration at the upcoming World Health Assembly in May. The proposal aims to strengthen global collaboration on prevention, preparedness and response to future pandemic threats.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=16%20April%202025
Joint media stakeout by the Security Council members that have joined the Joint Pledges on Climate, Peace and Security (Denmark, France, Greece, Guyana, Panama, the Republic of Korea, Sierra Leone, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom) on Climate, Peace, and Security in the Great Lakes Region.
The Housing Authority today announced the launch of the Well Being·Start-Up 2.0 Programme, following the success of the scheme’s initial iteration.
The programme aims to promote youth entrepreneurship, with a view to creating mutual benefits for residents, retail tenants and the community.
Secretary for Housing and Housing Authority Chairman Winnie Ho outlined that the updated scheme has been extended to cover private shopping centres as well as government ones. She said it introduces an “entrepreneurial ladder”, involving “staged rental concessions”.
She added: “Commercial partners can join hands to assist Hong Kong’s young entrepreneurs by providing them with more entrepreneurial opportunities and enabling them to develop their careers. This also injects vitality and innovation into the community and new dynamics into Hong Kong’s retail landscape.”
Including the 12 shops provided by the authority in the first iteration, the extended scheme will involve approximately 50 shops in total.
To support the business development of participating entrepreneurs, the authority will provide three-year staged rentals at discounted rates.
It explained that this will enable participants to allocate funds flexibly for business development, whilst gradually adapting to market rental levels in their operations.
Annual reviews will be conducted to ensure that the programme is helping to foster sustainable enterprises, it added.
At the 2025 Touch Taiwan exhibition,the Department of Industrial Technology (DoIT),Ministry of Economic Affairs(MOEA), organized the Innovative Technology Pavilion, collaborating with leading companies including AUO, Innolux,Darwin, SynPower, LegendLaser, and Everlight. The pavilion presented 27 R&D outcomes across four major themes: panel-level packaging, automotive displays and smart applications, advanced display materials, and low-carbon and green manufacturing.
In response to the growing demand for advanced chiplet and AI chip packaging, the exhibition features the world’s first Total Solution for High Aspect Ratio Panel-Level Packaging. This breakthrough overcomes traditional fabrication limitations by increasing the aspect ratio of 12-inch vias from 10 to 15, boosting interconnect density by over 50%. By adopting a fully wet deposition process, it reduces costs by half compared to traditional dry coating methods. This innovation is poised for application in high-speed, high-frequency communication and computing chips, further enhancing Taiwan’s competitiveness in the global packaging industry.
DoIT Director General Chao-Chung Kuo noted that recent global tariff challenges have posed significant pressure on industries, highlighting the importance of resilient supply chains and robust innovation ecosystems. “Taiwan must build technology that can stand firm and expand globally,” said Kuo. Over the past four years, more than 120 innovative display technologies have been developed through technology development programs, driving over NT$13 billion in private investment and demonstrating the tangible impact of tech-driven economic growth.
Kuo stressed that industrial upgrading does not rely on a single technology but on the strength of the entire ecosystem. To this end, the MOEA aims to use Touch Taiwan 2025 as a platform to deepen partnerships with local and international companies. The event features 11 technical forums and one-on-one matchmaking sessions with nearly 80 enterprises home and abroad. These efforts aim to transform R&D into practical applications, catalyzing Taiwan’s transition in the smart display sector and illuminating its global influence.
Details 2025-04-15 President Lai meets delegation led by Tuvalu Deputy Prime Minister Panapasi Nelesone On the afternoon of April 15, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Tuvalu Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Economic Development Panapasi Nelesone and his wife. In remarks, President Lai thanked Tuvalu for its staunch and long-term backing of Taiwan’s international participation. The president said he looks forward to our nations deepening bilateral ties in such areas as agriculture, medicine, education, and information and communications technology and working together toward greater peace, prosperity, and development in the Pacific region. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I extend a very warm welcome to Deputy Prime Minister Nelesone and Madame Corinna Ituaso Laafai as they lead this delegation to Taiwan. Our distinguished guests are the first delegation from Tuvalu that I have received at the Presidential Office this year. During my visit to Tuvalu last year, I met and exchanged views with Deputy Prime Minister Nelesone and the ministers present. I am delighted to meet you again today and thank you once again for the hospitality you accorded my delegation. The culture of Tuvalu and the warmth of its people are not easily forgotten. Tuvalu’s support for Taiwan has also touched us deeply. I want to take this opportunity to thank Tuvalu for staunchly backing Taiwan’s international participation over the past several decades. Our two countries have supported each other like family and have together made contributions in the international arena. Last Tuesday, I received the credentials of Ambassador Lily Tangisia Faavae and expressed my hope for Taiwan and Tuvalu continuing to deepen bilateral relations. This visit by Deputy Prime Minister Nelesone is an important step in that regard. Our two countries will be signing a labor cooperation agreement and an agreement concerning the recognition of training and certification of seafarers. This will expand bilateral cooperation at multiple levels and bring our relations even closer. Taiwan and Tuvalu are maritime nations and share the values of democracy and freedom. Our two countries have stood shoulder to shoulder to protect marine resources and address the challenges posed by climate change and authoritarianism, and we aspire to work toward greater peace, prosperity, and development in the Pacific region. Our nations have produced fruitful results in such areas as agriculture, medicine, education, and information and communications technology. I anticipate that, with the support of Deputy Prime Minister Nelesone and our distinguished guests, we can continue to employ a more diverse range of strategies to begin a new chapter in our diplomatic partnership. Together, we can make even greater and more concrete contributions to regional development. Deputy Prime Minister Nelesone then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai for his kind words of welcome and the warm hospitality extended to his delegation. On behalf of the government and people of Tuvalu, he conveyed their gratitude to the president and the people of Taiwan for the generous support, as well as for the enduring friendship we share. He said that Taiwan’s steadfast commitment to our bilateral relationship has been instrumental in advancing our shared values of democracy, resilience, and sustainable development. From vital development assistance to cooperation in health, education, and climate change resilience, he added, Taiwan’s contributions have made a significant impact on the lives of the people of Tuvalu. For Taiwan’s recent generous donation of shoes for Tuvaluan primary school students, Deputy Prime Minister Nelesone expressed thanks to President Lai. He commented that these gifts, which underscore a deep commitment to the welfare of their youth, transcend mere material support; they are symbols of care, friendship, and hope for the future generations. Noting that our bilateral relationship is built on mutual respect, shared values, and a common vision for sustainable development in the Pacific, he expressed confidence that this partnership will continue to flourish and will serve as a beacon of cooperation and solidarity within our region. The delegation also included Tuvalu Minister of Foreign Affairs, Labour, and Trade Paulson Panapa; Minister of Public Works, Infrastructure Development and Water Ampelosa Tehulu, and was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Tuvalu Ambassador Faavae.
Details 2025-04-10 President Lai pens Bloomberg News article on Taiwan’s response to US reciprocal tariffs On April 10, an article penned by President Lai Ching-te entitled “Taiwan Has a Roadmap for Deeper US Trade Ties” was published by Bloomberg News, explaining to a global audience Taiwan’s strategy on trade with the United States, as well as how Taiwan will engage in dialogue with the aim of removing bilateral trade barriers, increasing investment between Taiwan and the US, and reducing tariffs to zero. The following is the full text of President Lai’s article: Last month, the first of Taiwan’s 66 new F-16Vs rolled off the assembly line in Greenville, South Carolina. Signed during President Donald Trump’s first term, the $8 billion deal stands as a testament to American ingenuity and leadership in advanced manufacturing. Beyond its economic impact – creating thousands of well-paying jobs across the US – it strengthens the foundations of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. This deal is emblematic of the close interests shared between Taiwan and the US. Our bond is forged by an unwavering belief in freedom and liberty. For decades, our two countries have stood shoulder-to-shoulder in deterring communist expansionism. Even as Beijing intensifies its air force and naval exercises in our vicinity, we remain resolute. Taiwan will always be a bastion of democracy and peace in the region. This partnership extends well beyond the security realm. Though home to just 23 million people, Taiwan has in recent years become a significant investor in America. TSMC recently announced it will raise its total investment in the US to $165 billion – an initiative that will create 40,000 construction jobs and tens of thousands more in advanced chip manufacturing and R&D. This investment will bolster the emergence of a new high-tech cluster in Arizona. Taiwan is committed to strengthening bilateral cooperation in manufacturing and innovation. As a trade-dependent economy, our long-term success is built on trade relationships that are fair, reciprocal and mutually beneficial. Encouraging Taiwanese businesses to expand their global footprint, particularly in the US, is a vital part of this strategy. Deepening commercial ties between Taiwanese and American firms is another. These core principles will guide our response to President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs. First, we will seek to restart trade negotiations with a common objective of reducing all tariffs between Taiwan and the US. While Taiwan already maintains low tariffs, with an average nominal rate of 6%, we are willing to further cut this rate to zero on the basis of reciprocity with the US. By removing the last vestiges to free and fair trade, we seek to encourage greater trade and investment flows between our two countries. Second, Taiwan will rapidly expand procurement of American goods. Over the past five years, rising demand for semiconductors and AI-related components has increased our trade surplus. In response to these market trends, Taiwan will seek to narrow the trade imbalance through the procurement of energy, agriculture and other industrial goods from the US. These efforts will create thousands of new jobs across multiple sectors. We’ll also pursue additional arms procurements that are vital to our self-defense and contribute to peace and stability over the Taiwan Strait. During President Trump’s first term, we secured $18 billion in arms deals, including advanced fighter jets, tanks and anti-ship missiles. Future purchases, which are not reflected in trade balances, build on our economic and security partnership while being essential to Taiwan’s “Peace Through Strength” approach. Third, new investments will be made across the US. Already, Taiwanese firms support 400,000 jobs throughout all 50 states. Beyond TSMC, we also see emerging opportunities in electronics, ICT, energy and petrochemicals. We will establish a cross-agency “US Investment Team” to support bilateral trade and investment – and we hope that efforts will be reciprocated by the Trump administration. Fourth, we are committed to removing non-tariff trade barriers. Taiwan will take concrete steps to resolve persistent issues that have long impeded trade negotiations. And finally, we will strongly address US concerns over export controls and improper transshipment of low-cost goods through Taiwan. These steps form the basis of a comprehensive roadmap for how Taiwan will navigate the shifting trade landscape, transforming challenges in the Taiwan-US economic relationship into new opportunities for growth, resilience and strategic alignment. At a time of growing global uncertainty, underpinned by growing Chinese assertiveness, closer trade ties are more than sound economics; they are a critical pillar of regional security. Our approach is long-term and principled, grounded in a lasting commitment to our friendship with the US, a firm belief in the benefits of fair and reciprocal trade, and an unwavering dedication to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. We are confident that our shared economic and security interests will not only overcome turbulence in the international trade environment – they will define the future of a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Details 2025-04-08 President Lai receives credentials from new Tuvalu Ambassador Lily Tangisia Faavae On the morning of April 8, President Lai Ching-te received the credentials of new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tuvalu to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Lily Tangisia Faavae. In remarks, President Lai welcomed the ambassador to her new post and thanked Tuvalu for its long-term support for Taiwan’s international participation. The president also noted that joint efforts between our two countries have produced fruitful results in such areas as medicine and public health, agricultural and fisheries technology, and information and communications technology. He expressed his hope that we will continue to deepen our bilateral relations so as to generate even greater well-being for our peoples and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Pacific region. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: It is a great pleasure today to receive the credentials of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tuvalu Lily Tangisia Faavae. On behalf of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I extend my warmest welcome to you. Last year, the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Tuvalu celebrated 45 years of diplomatic relations. Prime Minister Feleti Teo visited Taiwan in May last year for the inauguration of myself and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao and again in October for our National Day celebrations. When I visited Tuvalu last December, I was warmly received by the government and people of Tuvalu, and I deeply felt that our two countries were like family. Ambassador Faavae’s posting to Taiwan demonstrates the importance Prime Minister Teo places on our ties. Widely recognized for her exceptional talent, Ambassador Faavae is an outstanding official with extensive experience in public service. Moreover, during her term as Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, she voiced support for Taiwan at the World Health Assembly. I believe that with her assistance, our two nations will further advance cooperation and exchanges. I want to thank the government of Tuvalu for long supporting Taiwan’s international participation. Furthermore, joint efforts between our two countries have produced fruitful results in such areas as medicine and public health, agricultural and fisheries technology, and information and communications technology. Last year, Prime Minister Teo and I signed a joint communiqué on advancing the comprehensive partnership between Taiwan and Tuvalu. Going forward, we will stand together in tackling the challenges we face, including climate change and expanding authoritarianism. And we will continue to deepen our bilateral relations so as to generate even greater well-being for our peoples and promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the Pacific region. Once again, I warmly welcome Ambassador Faavae to her new post in Taiwan. Please convey warmest regards from Taiwan to Prime Minister Teo and all of our friends in Tuvalu. I wish you all the best in work and life during your term in Taiwan. Ambassador Faavae then delivered remarks, saying that it is a great honor and privilege to meet with President Lai today as the new Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Tuvalu to Taiwan, and to present to him her letter of credence. She then extended, on behalf of the government and people of Tuvalu, her warmest greetings and deep respect to the president and people of Taiwan. The letter of credence, she noted, signifies the trust and confidence that her government and governor-general have placed in her to represent their nation and to foster and strengthen the bonds of friendship and cooperation between our countries. Ambassador Faavae said that our two countries have enjoyed a longstanding relationship of 45 years based on mutual respect, cooperation, and shared values. She added that we have collaborated, and continue to do so, in such fields as education, health, climate change adaptation and sea level rise mitigation, agriculture, clean energy, and internet connectivity. Ambassador Faavae pointed out that Tuvalu remains committed to deepening ties with Taiwan and that it values people-to-people connections and our shared Austronesian heritage. She noted that the people of Tuvalu, a small developing nation, have greatly benefited from Taiwan’s advanced technical expertise and diverse financial assistance. She said she believes Tuvalu and Taiwan share a common interest and are united in our efforts and commitment to upholding democracy, peace, stability, and prosperity for our people and making the world better and safer. Ambassador Faavae stated that as ambassador of Tuvalu to Taiwan, she pledges to work diligently and respectfully to enhance our bilateral relations, promote mutual understanding, and facilitate collaboration in areas of shared concern. The ambassador said she looks forward to collaborating closely with the Taiwan government and other stakeholders to achieve our common objectives and to continue building a more prosperous and harmonious future for our nations. In closing, she thanked President Lai for the opportunity to serve and to further the enduring friendship between our two countries.
Details 2025-03-28 President Lai meets British Office Taipei Representative Ruth Bradley-Jones On the afternoon of March 28, President Lai Ching-te met with British Office Taipei Representative Ruth Bradley-Jones. In remarks, President Lai welcomed Representative Bradley-Jones as she takes up her post in Taiwan, and thanked the United Kingdom government and parliament for demonstrating staunch support for Taiwan. The president indicated that Taiwan and the UK enjoy close economic and trade ties, and our industries complement each other well, with great potential for collaboration in such fields as semiconductors, AI, unmanned vehicles, and medium- and low-orbit satellites. He stated that he looks forward to expanding exchanges with the UK across all domains so as to enhance democratic and economic resilience, jointly advancing the prosperous development of the Indo-Pacific region and economic security around the world. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: It is a pleasure to meet Representative Bradley-Jones here at the Presidential Office for this exchange. I understand that she has proactively called at many government agencies since taking up her post last month. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend a warm welcome. Taiwan and the UK are partners that share the values of freedom and democracy. In recent years, our bilateral relations have continued to deepen. With the efforts of Representative Bradley-Jones and our respective governments, I look forward to the expansion of dialogue and cooperation between Taiwan and the UK. This will further elevate our bilateral ties. Especially in the face of expanding authoritarianism, the UK is not only playing an important role in crafting a unified European response; it is also demonstrating staunch support for Taiwan through various channels. For example, joint statements released after the Australia-UK ministerial consultations, as well as the G7 foreign ministers’ meeting, underlined a high level of concern for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The UK government has publicly expressed support for Taiwan’s international participation on multiple occasions. And last November, the UK House of Commons passed a motion clearly asserting that United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 does not mention Taiwan. These actions attest to the UK’s belief in supporting democracy and peace, and have further solidified our countries’ friendship. I would like to convey my deepest gratitude to the UK government and parliament. Currently, the UK is Taiwan’s fourth largest trading partner in Europe and second largest source of investment from Europe. We enjoy close economic and trade ties, and our industries complement each other well. There is also great potential for collaboration in such fields as semiconductors, AI, unmanned vehicles, and medium- and low-orbit satellites. We look forward to expanding exchanges with the UK across all domains so as to enhance democratic and economic resilience. We also hope the UK will continue to support Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership so that together, we can work with more like-minded partners, jointly advancing the prosperous development of the Indo-Pacific region and economic security around the world. Once again, I welcome Representative Bradley-Jones to Taiwan and wish her all the best with her work. I anticipate that Taiwan-UK relations will continue to steadily advance through our joint efforts. Representative Bradley-Jones then delivered remarks, first saying in Mandarin that she is honored to meet with President Lai to discuss topics of mutual concern and jointly deepen Taiwan-UK relations, promoting mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation. She went on to say that she came to Taiwan last August to study Mandarin, and began her post as British Office Taipei representative in February this year, noting that every day she learns more about and gains a deeper understanding of Taiwan. Last year, she said, she visited Tainan and Wanli, and found Tainan’s wetlands and the scenery in Wanli very impressive. She added that she has also tried many different Taiwanese foods, and is looking forward to experiencing even more of Taiwan’s local culture and customs over the next four years. Continuing her remarks in English, Representative Bradley-Jones stated that since taking up her post, she has borne witness to the strength of the relationship between Taiwan and the UK and the potential for it to continue to grow. She said that on trade and investment, there is significant complementarity between Taiwan’s Five Trusted Industry Sectors and the UK’s Industrial Strategy, particularly in areas such as digital technologies, advanced manufacturing, and clean energy. Both governments are also together supporting Taiwan and UK businesses through our Enhanced Trade Partnership and annual trade talks, she said. Representative Bradley-Jones went on to say that on science and technology, Taiwan and the UK can and should do more together. She noted that the UK has the third largest tech sector in the world and is valued at over US$1.1 trillion, while Taiwan is the center of the semiconductor and AI hardware world. Given our complementary strengths, especially in areas such as semiconductors, space, and communications technology, she said, the UK has stepped up its level of activity in Taiwan, including by regularly hosting a UK Pavilion at SEMICON and funding 18 joint R&D programs through our new collaborative R&D fund, and looks forward to doing more together in the future. In support of Taiwan’s whole-of-society resilience, the representative said, the UK is supporting valuable exchanges, co-hosting GCTF (Global Cooperation and Training Framework) workshops, sharing lessons on financial sector resilience, and reaching out to mayors and community leaders across Taiwan. From financial resilience to cyber resilience, she said, the UK’s public sector and private industries have plenty to share and learn. Representative Bradley-Jones stated that on people-to-people links, parliamentarians, civil society, and academics are continuing to deepen contact, and that she is particularly excited by a new smart parliament partnership agreed upon by the Taiwan Foundation for Democracy and the UK’s Westminster Foundation for Democracy, which aims to facilitate cross-party, cross-society, and cross-border exchanges on issues such as democratic governance, AI, inclusive policy-making, and public safety. The representative indicated that the examples she mentioned just scratch the surface of the full potential of the Taiwan-UK relationship. She said that the UK’s longstanding policy remains unchanged, and fundamentally, that is because we share a common set of values and interests. We are together focused on how to make our societies safer and more prosperous tomorrow than they are today, she said, and as like-minded democracies, innovative economies, and practical partners, the sincere and pragmatic cooperation between Taiwan and the UK is bringing material benefits to the prosperity and well-being of our people every day.
Details 2025-03-21 President Lai meets Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy On the morning of March 21, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy. In remarks, President Lai said that Alaska has long been an important trading partner of Taiwan, and that we have built a solid foundation for cooperation in such fields as energy, fisheries, and tourism. The president expressed hope that Taiwan and Alaska will have more frequent engagement and exchanges so that our relations can continue to grow to create prosperous development for both sides. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend my sincerest welcome to our guests. This is Governor Dunleavy’s first visit to Taiwan, and last night, we both attended the Hsieh Nien Fan (謝年飯) banquet hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Taiwan. I am delighted to have this opportunity to meet with Governor Dunleavy today at the Presidential Office for further dialogue. Alaska has long been an important trading partner of Taiwan. Our sister-state relationship was established in 1988, and we have built a solid foundation for cooperation in such fields as energy, fisheries, and tourism. Currently, Taiwan is Alaska’s eighth largest export market and ninth largest source of imports. This goes to show just how close our trade and economic ties are and how much potential there is for further growth. As I said in my remarks at last night’s Hsieh Nien Fan banquet, Taiwan is interested in buying Alaskan natural gas. I am sure that Governor Dunleavy’s visit will help us explore even more opportunities for cooperation and continue to deepen Taiwan-United States relations. In the face of such challenges as expanding authoritarianism, climate change, and pandemics, we look forward to strengthening collaboration between Taiwan and the US. By drawing on our strengths, we can jointly build non-red supply chains to bolster our economic resilience and drive the advancement of global technology. I want to thank the US government for reiterating the importance it attaches to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and its opposition to any attempt to change the status quo by force or coercion. These statements backing Taiwan help in maintaining stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the Indo-Pacific region. Once again, I thank Governor Dunleavy for traveling such a long way to Taiwan. We hope to see more frequent engagement and exchanges between Taiwan and Alaska so that our relations can continue to grow, and we can create prosperous development for both sides. Governor Dunleavy then delivered remarks, saying that their trip to visit friends in Taiwan has been fantastic, thanking President Lai for the invitation to meet, and thanking all the staff. Governor Dunleavy said that as the pandemic was raging, the world went from “before COVID” to “after COVID.” Before COVID, he said, the world relied on a number of systems that were in place for decades after World War II involving supply chains, alliances, sources of energy, trading partners, and friends. He went on to say that as we go beyond COVID, we are reestablishing and reevaluating who our friends are, where we are going to get our energy, and who our trading partners are going to be. The governor said that we are creating a new world for the next 50 years with the new administration in Washington, and this is an opportunity for us to reevaluate and reinvest with our friends for the next 50 years in each other, our futures, and our security. Governor Dunleavy stated that one thing is for certain: that Taiwan is a friend of the US and a friend of Alaska, and has been for many, many decades. He said that it is their hope in this trip and subsequent trips to establish an even tighter bond among their friends in Taiwan, the US, and Alaska. The governor also said that we have much in common in that we are members of the Pacific family, are democracies, and believe in freedom, free speech, and capitalism. He indicated that he has much optimism for the future, and that as we reestablish relationships throughout the world, energy is going to be the key and the basis for our economic development, our national security, and our friendship. Governor Dunleavy said that he believes this trip is going to lay the groundwork for a fantastic future between Taiwan, Alaska, and the US, and that with President Lai’s support as well as the support of the US administration, we can work together to build even better relationships.
Details 2025-04-06 President Lai delivers remarks on US tariff policy response On April 6, President Lai Ching-te delivered recorded remarks regarding the impact of the 32 percent tariff that the United States government recently imposed on imports from Taiwan in the name of reciprocity. In his remarks, President Lai explained that the government will adopt five response strategies, including making every effort to improve reciprocal tariff rates through negotiations, adopting a support plan for affected domestic industries, adopting medium- and long-term economic development plans, forming new “Taiwan plus the US” arrangements, and launching industry listening tours. The president emphasized that as we face this latest challenge, the government and civil society will work hand in hand, and expressed hope that all parties, both ruling and opposition, will support the measures that the Executive Yuan will take to open up a broader path for Taiwan’s economy. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: My fellow citizens, good evening. The US government recently announced higher tariffs on countries around the world in the name of reciprocity, including imposing a 32 percent tariff on imports from Taiwan. This is bound to have a major impact on our nation. Various countries have already responded, and some have even adopted retaliatory measures. Tremendous changes in the global economy are expected. Taiwan is an export-led economy, and in facing future challenges there will inevitably be difficulties, so we must proceed carefully to turn danger into safety. During this time, I want to express gratitude to all sectors of society for providing valuable opinions, which the government regards highly, and will use as a reference to make policy decisions. However, if we calmly and carefully analyze Taiwan’s trade with the US, we find that last year Taiwan’s exports to the US were valued at US$111.4 billion, accounting for 23.4 percent of total export value, with the other 75-plus percent of products sold worldwide to countries other than the US. Of products sold to the US, competitive ICT products and electronic components accounted for 65.4 percent. This shows that Taiwan’s economy does still have considerable resilience. As long as our response strategies are appropriate, and the public and private sectors join forces, we can reduce impacts. Please do not panic. To address the reciprocal tariffs by the US, Taiwan has no plans to adopt retaliatory tariffs. There will be no change in corporate investment commitments to the US, as long as they are consistent with national interests. But we must ensure the US clearly understands Taiwan’s contributions to US economic development. More importantly, we must actively seek to understand changes in the global economic situation, strengthen Taiwan-US industry cooperation, elevate the status of Taiwan industries in global supply chains, and with safeguarding the continued development of Taiwan’s economy as our goal, adopt the following five strategies to respond. Strategy one: Make every effort to improve reciprocal tariff rates through negotiations using the following five methods: 1. Taiwan has already formed a negotiation team led by Vice Premier Cheng Li-chiun (鄭麗君). The team includes members from the National Security Council, the Office of Trade Negotiations, and relevant Executive Yuan ministries and agencies, as well as academia and industry. Like the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement, negotiations on tariffs can start from Taiwan-US bilateral zero-tariff treatment. 2. To expand purchases from the US and thereby reduce the trade deficit, the Executive Yuan has already completed an inventory regarding large-scale procurement plans for agricultural, industrial, petroleum, and natural gas products, and the Ministry of National Defense has also proposed a military procurement list. All procurement plans will be actively pursued. 3. Expand investments in the US. Taiwan’s cumulative investment in the US already exceeds US$100 billion, creating approximately 400,000 jobs. In the future, in addition to increased investment in the US by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, other industries such as electronics, ICT, petrochemicals, and natural gas can all increase their US investments, deepening Taiwan-US industry cooperation. Taiwan’s government has helped form a “Taiwan investment in the US” team, and hopes that the US will reciprocate by forming a “US investment in Taiwan” team to bring about closer Taiwan-US trade cooperation, jointly creating a future economic golden age. 4. We must eliminate non-tariff barriers to trade. Non-tariff barriers are an indicator by which the US assesses whether a trading partner is trading fairly with the US. Therefore, we will proactively resolve longstanding non-tariff barriers so that negotiations can proceed more smoothly. 5. We must resolve two issues that have been matters of longstanding concern to the US. One regards high-tech export controls, and the other regards illegal transshipment of dumped goods, otherwise referred to as “origin washing.” Strategy two: We must adopt a plan for supporting our industries. For industries that will be affected by the tariffs, and especially traditional industries as well as micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises, we will provide timely and needed support and assistance. Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) and his administrative team recently announced a package of 20 specific measures designed to address nine areas. Moving forward, the support we provide to different industries will depend on how they are affected by the tariffs, will take into account the particular features of each industry, and will help each industry innovate, upgrade, and transform. Strategy three: We must adopt medium- and long-term economic development plans. At this point in time, our government must simultaneously adopt new strategies for economic and industrial development. This is also the fundamental path to solutions for future economic challenges. The government will proactively cooperate with friends and allies, develop a diverse range of markets, and achieve closer integration of entities in the upper, middle, and lower reaches of industrial supply chains. This course of action will make Taiwan’s industrial ecosystem more complete, and will help Taiwanese industries upgrade and transform. We must also make good use of the competitive advantages we possess in such areas as semiconductor manufacturing, integrated chip design, ICT, and smart manufacturing to build Taiwan into an AI island, and promote relevant applications for food, clothing, housing, and transportation, as well as military, security and surveillance, next-generation communications, and the medical and health and wellness industries as we advance toward a smarter, more sustainable, and more prosperous new Taiwan. Strategy four: “Taiwan plus one,” i.e., new “Taiwan plus the US” arrangements: While staying firmly rooted in Taiwan, our enterprises are expanding their global presence and marketing worldwide. This has been our national economic development strategy, and the most important aspect is maintaining a solid base here in Taiwan. We absolutely must maintain a solid footing, and cannot allow the present strife to cause us to waver. Therefore, our government will incentivize investments, carry out deregulation, and continue to improve Taiwan’s investment climate by actively resolving problems involving access to water, electricity, land, human resources, and professional talent. This will enable corporations to stay in Taiwan and continue investing here. In addition, we must also help the overseas manufacturing facilities of offshore Taiwanese businesses to make necessary adjustments to support our “Taiwan plus one” policy, in that our national economic development strategy will be adjusted as follows: to stay firmly rooted in Taiwan while expanding our global presence, strengthening US ties, and marketing worldwide. We intend to make use of the new state of supply chains to strengthen cooperation between Taiwanese and US industries, and gain further access to US markets. Strategy five: Launch industry listening tours: All industrial firms, regardless of sector or size, will be affected to some degree once the US reciprocal tariffs go into effect. The administrative teams led by myself and Premier Cho will hear out industry concerns so that we can quickly resolve problems and make sure policies meet actual needs. My fellow citizens, over the past half-century and more, Taiwan has been through two energy crises, the Asian financial crisis, the global financial crisis, and pandemics. We have been able to not only withstand one test after another, but even turn crises into opportunities. The Taiwanese economy has emerged from these crises stronger and more resilient than ever. As we face this latest challenge, the government and civil society will work hand in hand, and I hope that all parties in the legislature, both ruling and opposition, will support the measures that the Executive Yuan will take to open up a broader path for Taiwan’s economy. Let us join together and give it our all. Thank you.
Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Phnom Penh for a state visit to Cambodia at the invitation of Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on April 17, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday he looks forward to cementing friendship and promoting cooperation with Cambodia.
He made the remarks in a written statement upon his arrival in Phnom Penh for a state visit to Cambodia.
Xi was warmly welcomed by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Cambodian People’s Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen and other senior officials at the airport during a grand welcome ceremony held by the king.
Hundreds of local people waved the two countries’ national flags and held banners bearing the words “Long live Cambodia-China friendship, solidarity and cooperation!” to welcome Xi.
In the statement, Xi expressed his pleasure in visiting Cambodia again and said he looks forward to meeting and holding talks with King Sihamoni, Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, Samdech Techo Hun Sen and Prime Minister Hun Manet.
Noting that his visit came on the occasion of the Khmer New Year, Xi, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, extended warm New Year greetings to the Cambodian government and people.
He said Cambodia is a time-honored civilization, adding that the splendid Khmer civilization, created by the hard-working and talented Cambodian people, has made important contributions to the progress of human civilization.
Xi said that in recent years, Cambodia has vigorously implemented the Pentagonal Strategy, achieving rapid economic growth and continuous improvement of people’s livelihood.
He expressed confidence that the Cambodian people will surely make new and greater achievements in national development with the blessing of King Sihamoni and under the leadership of the Cambodian government headed by Prime Minister Hun Manet.
Noting that bilateral ties were forged and nurtured by the elder generations of leaders of the two countries, Xi said China-Cambodia relations have withstood the test of global transformations, and always remained rock-solid.
The two countries have taken the lead in building a bilateral community with a shared future, as well as Belt and Road cooperation, Xi said.
China and Cambodia have supported each other in maintaining stability and promoting development and prosperity, and worked together in upholding international fairness and justice, setting an example for a new type of international relations while contributing to building a community with a shared future for mankind, he added.
Xi said China takes Cambodia as a priority in neighborhood diplomacy, and firmly supports Cambodia upholding strategic independence and following a development path suited to its national conditions.
He expected the two sides would enrich the China-Cambodia “Diamond Hexagon” cooperation framework, bring political mutual trust to a higher level, expand mutually beneficial cooperation of higher quality, ensure greater security, have more frequent people-to-people exchanges and strengthen strategic coordination of higher standards, so as to bring more benefits to the people of China and Cambodia and contribute more positive energy to peace and stability in the region and beyond.
More than 20,000 local people, along with representatives of overseas Chinese, Chinese-funded enterprises and Chinese students, lined the streets to warmly welcome Xi.
The Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Bureau is inviting a new round of applications under the Constitution & Basic Law Promotion Activity & Research Sponsorship Scheme.
The scheme aims to promote the Constitution, the Basic Law and the National Security Law and to enhance public understanding of each of these, as well as the “one country, two systems” principle.
To enhance synergy with Constitution Day, held on December 4 each year, any proposed activities relating to that occasion and scheduled within two weeks either side of December 4, will be given higher priority.
Proposals relating to the bureau’s designated theme will also be given priority.
The theme will be success stories relating to the implementation of “one country, two systems” in Hong Kong over the past 27 years. Aspects to be covered include innovation and technology development, talent cultivation, shipping, Hong Kong as a trade and financial centre, new quality productive forces, integration into national development, the development of the Greater Bay Area development, and major principles and concepts relating to “one country, two systems”.
The success stories should be elaborated with specific examples and case studies.
Starting from this year, the sponsorship scheme will accept applications once a year. The deadline for applications in 2025 is June 16.
Click here for details. Call 2810 2106 for enquiries.
Operation Gomorrah may have been the most cynical event of World War Two (WW2). Not only did the name fully convey the intent of the war crimes about to be committed, it, also represented the single biggest 24-hour murder toll for the European war that I have come across.
Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.
On the night of 27 July 1943, the RAF murdered 35,000, mostly working-class civilian residents living in the most densely populated part of Hamburg; a planned firebombing which started a sequence of events – a holocaust if not The Holocaust – that ended in Nagasaki on 9 August 1945. (Note The bombing of Hamburg foreshadowed the horrors of Hiroshima, National Geographic, 23 July 2021.) A holocaust is a “destruction or slaughter on a mass scale, especially caused by fire or nuclear war” (Oxford Dictionary). [In The Holocaust, 31,000 Jews were shot dead in Kyiv in a single day in 1941; the worst single day of The Holocaust, I understand.]
Hamburg was, literally, a dry run for what came later; the aim was to maximise the number of barbecued civilians by, among other things, choosing perfect weather conditions for an experiment in incendiary murder. (Yes, I am literally using inflammatory language.) While the total death toll of the week-long operation has been estimated to be over 40,000, the toll arising from the night of 27/28 July 1943 represents about 85% of the total.
The Gomorrah chapter of Peter Hitchens’ The Phoney Victory, 2018, gives a documented account of the moral duplicity surrounding Churchill’s bombing campaign. For a full story of the Allies’ firestorm holocaust, see Black Snow: Curtis LeMay, the Firebombing of Tokyo, and the Road to the Atomic Bomb, 2022, by James M Scott. (John Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, is a survivor of the Tokyo episode, the raid that killed more people – over 100,000 – than any other in a single arsonous assault.)
Sodom and Gomorrah
These twin ‘cities of the plain’, which, if they ever existed, are now either under the Dead Sea or east of there, in modern Jordan. The key chapter in the bible (Genesis, ch.19) mainly emphasises Sodom, though Gomorrah was reputedly as ‘sinful’. The biblical story is ghastly, in its misogyny as well as its extollation of extermination of ‘others’.
Genesis (ch.19) tells us, when Lot (Abraham’s nephew) found himself, in Sodom, hosting two Angels/men, ‘the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house; and they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, so that we may know them.”‘ The secret to understanding this is the biblical meaning of the word ‘know’; in this case the events took place in Sodom, and the guests had the appearance of ‘men’.
Lot replies: ‘”I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly. Look, I have two daughters who have not known a man; let me bring them out to you, and do to them as you please; only do nothing to these men …”.’ While the men of Sodom did not take up the offer – they favoured Lot himself – the angel-men saved Lot and his family. Then ‘When morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, “Get up, take your wife and your two daughters who are here, or else you will be consumed in the punishment of the city.”‘ …
‘When they had brought [the four of] them outside, [the angel-men] said, “Flee for your life; do not look back or stop anywhere in the Plain; flee to the hills, or else you will be consumed.” … Then the LORD rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the LORD out of heaven; and he overthrew those cities, and all the Plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.’ …
After the three survivors settled in a cave: ‘the firstborn [daughter] said to the younger, “Our father is old, and there is not a man on earth to come in to us after the manner of all the world. Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, so that we may preserve offspring through our father.” … ‘Thus both the daughters of Lot became pregnant by their father.’ (Thus, the East Bank [of the River Jordan] was repopulated!!)
Hamburg came to be equated with biblical Sodom, as deserving victims for a particularly barbaric form of mass murder. Neither Churchill, nor his bomber commander Arthur Harris, could know that only 35,000 Hamburgers would die as a result of that night’s operation. There is reason to believe that Churchill and his savants were looking for many more than hundreds of thousands of Germans to be ‘de-housed’ over the incendiary bombing campaign. (Dehousing was the euphemism used by Churchill’s men; compare with ‘resettlement’ for the trip that the residents of the Warsaw Ghetto made to Treblinka.)
Hamburg and the Gomorrah holocaust
Why Hamburg? Basically, because it was there. Though it was/is a large industrial and mercantile port city, the terror target was workers, not the works which employed them. The National Geographic article notes, with gallows-humour irony: “After noticing that Brits whose homes were struck by bombs were less likely to show up to work, analysts determined that destroying Germany’s largest cities and towns would likely cripple Germany’s war efforts.” Hamburg was close to England, and could be reached without flying over occupied land. And Hamburg was defended by a radar system of sorts, though not as sophisticated as British radar. The first British bombing raid on Hamburg was very much a technology test-run; refer The Woman Whose Invention Helped Win a War – and Still Baffles Weathermen, Irena Fischer-Hwang, 28 November 2018, Smithsonian Magazine. The second British raid on Hamburg was the real thing, a particularly dry run to really get the Gomorrah holocaust underway.
Hitchens (p.178) says: “Winston Churchill speculated in a letter of 8 July I940 to his friend and Minister of Aircraft Production, the press magnate Lord (Max) Beaverbrook, that an ‘absolutely devastating exterminating [my emphasis] attack by very heavy bombers from this country upon the Nazi homeland would help to bring Hitler down’. Arthur Harris, later the chief of RAF Bomber Command, realised the significance of these extraordinary words … he kept a copy of this letter.”
Hitchens (p.181) citing Bishop Bell speaking in February 1944 in the House of Lords: “Hamburg has a population of between one and two million people. It contains targets of immense military and industrial importance. It also happens to be the most democratic town in Germany where the Anti-Nazi opposition was strongest. … Practically all the buildings, cultural, military, residential, industrial, religious – including the famous University Library with its 800,000 volumes, of which three-quarters have perished – were razed to the ground.” While dead and dazed people may have low morale, and therefore have an arguable incentive to wage a civil war against their own government, they – especially the dead – are uniquely unable to overthrow a ruthlessly militarised government.
We might note Hamburg’s anthropological links to England. At a time of high racial – indeed racist – sensibilities, Anglo-Saxon supremacy was a very real thing. The area of Germany around Hamburg is the ‘Hawaiki’ of the Anglo-Saxon people; Lower Saxony is the ancestral motherland of the English. The class-consciousness and revengeful bloodlust of the English political class outweighed their ethnic consciousness. This was not true for the German Nazis, for whom the English were racial equals; Hitler and his crew really did not want to kill English people. Nazi Germany wanted the United Kingdom to become a neutral country, as Ireland was, and as the United States was before December 1941. Nazi Germany’s policy was to enslave, resettle, and murder Slavs and Jews and Gypsies; not to kill or dehouse Englishmen and their families.
The ‘elephant in the room’ was Josef Stalin.
Hitchens (p.191): “There is little doubt that much of the bombing of Germany was done to please and appease Josef Stalin. Stalin jeered at Churchill for his failure to open a Second Front and to fight Hitler’s armies in Europe, and ceaselessly pressed him to open such a front – something Churchill was politically and militarily reluctant to do. Bombing Germany, though it did not satisfy Stalin’s demands for an invasion, at least reassured him that we were doing something, and so lessened his pressure to open a second front.”
Hitchens (p.198): “Overy [in The Bombing War 2014] recounts how on 28 March 1945 Winston Churchill, clearly growing sick of the violence he had unleashed as victory approached and the excuses for it grew thinner, referred (in a memorandum) to Harris’s bombing tactics using these exact words. He urged, none too soon, that attacks turn instead to oil and transport. Harris paid no attention, and right up until 24th April 1945, his bombers continued to drop incendiaries and high explosives on German cities, turning many thousands of civilians into corpses.” [Hitler committed suicide on 30 April 1945, and VE Day was 8 May.]
Point of Interest: Churchill contested three elections, all after VE Day, all using Great Britain’s ‘first-past-the-post’ plurality system. He won just one of those three, though even then – in 1951 – his party got fewer votes than a Labour Party seeking re-election at a time of great difficulty for left-wing parties worldwide. Churchill’s Conservative Party got way-fewer votes than Labour in 1945 and 1950. The pressure on Prime Minister Clement Attlee to call the UK snap election of 1951 (one-third of the way through the term of his elected Labour government) can be understood as a successful example of political cunning on the part of the British establishment; literally a King’s coup.
A Scale of ‘Evil’?
While I generally hesitate to use the word ‘evil’, it may still be useful to grade very powerful people on a zero-to-ten scale of malevolence. On zero we might have the pacifist version of Jesus. On ten would be some very powerful person who actively sought nuclear ‘Armageddon’ (which would destroy life, not just humanity). After recently reading some quite difficult literature about World War Two, this is where I would place five powerful leaders:
9: Josef Stalin
8: Adolf Hitler
7: Benito Mussolini, Winston Churchill
6: Harry Truman
I need to read more about Truman; though, his legacy seems to have been airbrushed much as Churchill’s has been, and I might decide to upgrade him to a 7.
I would also note that these leaders had their close and powerful henchmen, whose ‘evilness’ can also be rated on such a scale, for example:
9.5: Lavrenty Beria
9: Josef Goebbels, Heinrich Himmler
Overall regimes can be better or worse than their leaders. I would rate both Stalin’s ‘Communists’ and Hitler’s ‘Nazis’ as both 8.5. Thus, Stalin’s regime was not quite as bad as its two most notorious figures. And Hitler’s regime was even worse than Hitler; that’s certainly not being kind to Hitler! (Stalin’s atrocities, the equal of Hitlers, were mostly committed in peacetime; the vast majority of Hitler’s were committed in wartime.)
‘Favourites’ as intimate (though not necessarily sexual) friends of powerful leaders
Churchill’s regime was not as bad as Churchill. Though Churchill had two favourites, both active members of his regime – especially his ‘Kitchen Cabinet’ – who were worse than him (possibly worse in one case, and definitely worse in the other). The ‘possibly worse’ one was Brendan Bracken, Minister for Information. Bracken, the prototype for ‘Big Brother’ in George Orwell’s book Nineteen Eighty-Four, was Churchill’s Goebbels. Orwell’s ‘Ministry of Truth’ was a conflation of the Ministry of Information and Orwell’s wartime employer, the BBC. (Born in Ireland, Bracken was sometimes rumoured to have been Churchill’s ‘love child’, though that supposition is most likely untrue.) Surprisingly little has been written about BB.
The ‘definitely worse’ favourite was German born (Baden Baden) and educated (Darmstadt and Berlin) scientist, Frederick A Lindemann; who was granted the title Lord Cherwell in 1941. He built his career in Britain at Oxford University, becoming Professor of Physics there in 1919. He also became a bit of a wartime ‘test pilot’, managing to establish his loyalty to the United Kingdom. His close friendship with Churchill lasted decades, beginning in 1921.
Frederick Lindemann, aka Lord Cherwell
In my assessment, Lindemann is the closest individual yet to a ten-out-of-ten on the above-suggested scale of malevolence. Let’s say that, if World War Three comes and someone like Lindemann has as much access to the levers of power as Lindemann actually had, then the world would be a goner. (In Lindemann’s defence, it has been noted that he was fond of children and animals. Likewise, another man; one with a famous moustache.)
Frederick Lindemann exerted a beguiling influence over Churchill. When Churchill was not in power, in the 1930s, Lindemann ran a private think-tank for Churchill. In the 1930s he allegedly undermined the scientific development of radar, which proved critical to the defence of Britain from Luftwaffe attacks; indeed, Lindemann seems to have shown a lack of interest in military defence; his thing was the elimination or dehumanisation of ‘others’. Lindemann “was one of the first to urge the importance of atom bomb research” (Where to Read about Professor Lindemann, The Churchill Project, 6 May 2015); indeed “Following his 1945 return to the Clarendon Laboratory, Lindemann created the [United Kingdom] Atomic Energy Authority”, Wikipedia.)
I will illustrate the Lindemann problem with quotes from these three sources; some may argue that I have made a biased selection, but so be it:
Mukerjee: “Known as the Prof to admirers (because of his academic credentials and his brilliance) and as Baron Berlin to detractors (thanks to his German accent and aristocratic tastes), Lindeman was responsible for the government’s scientific decisions.”
Mukerjee: “Lindemann attended meetings of the War Cabinet, accompanied the prime minister on conferences abroad, and sent him an average of one missive a day. He saw Churchill almost daily for the duration of the war and wielded more influence than any other civilian adviser.”
Gladwell: “I think that’s the crucial fact about Lindemann. One time he’s asked for his definition of morality and he answers, ‘I define a moral action as one that brings advantage to my friends.’ … The man who defined a moral action as ‘One that brings advantage to my friends,’ was best friends with Winston Churchill.”
Gladwell: “Lindemann becomes a kind of gatekeeper to Churchill’s mind.”
Mukerjee: “On most matters Lindemann’s and Churchill’s opinions converged; and when they did not, the scientist worked ceaselessly to change his friend’s mind.”
Mukerjee: “The mission of the S branch [Churchill’s nearest equivalent to DOGE] was to provide rationales for whichever course the prime minister, as interpreted by the Prof, wished to follow.”
Mukerjee: “Department heads ‘began to realize that, like it or not, the Prof was the man whom Churchill trusted most, and that all their refutations, aspersions, innuendos or attempts at exposure would not shift Churchill from his undeviating loyalty to the Prof by one hair’s breadth,’ wrote [economist] Harrod. So it was that the Prof would pronounce judgment on the best use of shipping space, the profligacy of the army, the inadequacy of British supplies, the optimal size of the mustard gas stockpile, the necessity of bombing German houses – and, when the time came, the pointlessness of sending famine relief to Bengal.”
Gladwell: “An argument took place at the highest reaches of British government. The question was what was the best use of the royal air force against the Germans? … One school of thought says, ‘Let’s use our bombers to support military activities, protecting ships against German U-boats, destroying German factories.’ The other school of thought argues that bombing ought to serve a bigger, strategic purpose. In other words, ‘Let’s use bombing to break the will of the German people, let’s make their lives so miserable that they give up.’”
Wikipedia: On dehousing, Lindemann says “bombing must be directed to working class houses. Middle class houses have too much space round them, so are bound to waste bombs”.
Gladwell on Lindemann’s dishonesty: “Lindemann’s memo to Churchill. It’s very matter of fact; it’s all about what the data says except for one thing. That’s not what the data says. The Birmingham-Hull study reached the exact opposite conclusion [about working-class morale] that Lindemann did.”
Gladwell: “Other experts [eg Henry Tizard] in the government, critics of strategic bombing, point out immediately that Lindemann’s numbers are ridiculous, five or six times too high, based on obvious errors.” [Hitchens (p.205) claims that the numbers of civilian casualties were only ten percent of what Lindemann had promised. If you multiply by ten the number of civilians – mostly workers, their families, slaves, and refugees – killed in the totality of the Gomorrah holocaust, you get a number bigger than deaths in The Holocaust; this would be a measure of Lindemann’s intent.]
Gladwell: “One of Lindemann’s friends said, ‘He would not shrink from using an argument which he knew to be wrong if, by so doing, he could tie up one of his professional opponents.’ Lindemann wanted strategic bombing, so Churchill went ahead and ordered the bombing of German cities.”
Gladwell: “Most historians agree that strategic bombing was a disaster. 160,000 US and English airmen and hundreds of thousands of German civilians were killed in those bombing campaigns. Many of Europe’s most beautiful cities were destroyed and German morale didn’t crack; the Germans fought to the bitter end. After the war, the Nobel Prize winning physicist Patrick Blackett wrote a devastating essay where he said that the war could have been won six months or even a year earlier, if only the British had used their bombers more intelligently.” [Note that the whole Gomorrah holocaust killed more Japanese civilians than German civilians; as noted in Black Snow: Curtis LeMay, the Firebombing of Tokyo, and the Road to the Atomic Bomb, the Hamburg dry run led more-or-less directly to the fire-bombings of almost every urban centre in Japan.]
Mukerjee: “‘Love me, love my dog, and if you don’t love my dog you damn well can’t love me,’ muttered a furious Churchill in 1941, after a member of the House of Commons had raised questions about the Prof’s influence.” [Gladwell: that “row occurred in 1942 and it occurred over strategic bombing”.]
Mukerjee: “Cherwell believed that a small circle of the intelligent and the aristocratic should run the world. ‘Those who succeed in getting what everyone wants must be the ablest,’ he asserted. The Prof regarded the masses as ‘very stupid,’ considered Australians to be inferior to Britons, advocated ‘harshness’ toward homosexuals, and thought criminals should be treated cruelly because ‘the amount of pleasure derived by other people from the knowledge that a malefactor is being punished far exceeds in sum total the amount of pain inflicted on a malefactor by his punishment.’” [Enjoyment arising from the punishment of the wretched outweighs the suffering of those wretched!]
Mukerjee: “Eugenic ideas also feature in a lecture that Lord Cherwell (then known as Professor Lindemann) had delivered more than once, probably in the early 1930s. He had detailed a science-based solution to a challenge that occupied many an intellect of the time: preserving for eternity the hegemony of the superior classes.”
Mukerjee: “New technologies such as surgery, mind control, and drug and hormone manipulations would one day allow humans to be fine-tuned for specific tasks. … ‘Somebody must perform dull, dreary tasks, tend machines, count units in repetition work; is it not incumbent on us, if we have the means, to produce individuals without a distaste for such work, types that are as happy in their monotonous occupation as a cow chewing the cud?’ Lindemann asked. Science could yield a race of humans blessed with ‘the mental make-up of the worker bee.’ This subclass would do all the unpleasant work and not once think of revolution or of voting rights: ‘Placid content rules in the bee-hive or ant-heap.’ The outcome would be a perfectly peaceable and stable society, ‘led by supermen and served by helots.’”
Mukerjee: “At least no one would demand votes on behalf of an ape. … To consolidate the rule of supermen – to perpetuate the British Empire – one need only remove the ability of slaves to see themselves as slaves.”
Gladwell: “How can you have a real debate against Churchill’s best friend? Friendship comes first.”
Gladwell: “The US starts sending over so many ships that, by late 1943 when the famine in Bengal is at its height, there’s actually a surplus of boats on the allied side. In fact, in 1943, the British actually start shipping wheat from Australia up through the Indian Ocean, just not to India. … British ships full of grain are sailing right past India on the way to the Middle East to be stored for some future, hypothetical need. They might even stop and refuel in Mumbai, but nothing leaves the ship. … Why is Lindemann [as Paymaster General] refusing to help? It doesn’t even make illogical sense. Indian soldiers, hundreds of thousands of them, are fighting the Germans in the Middle East and Africa. When other countries like Canada and the United States offered to send food to India, the British say, ‘We don’t want it.’ They turn down help. Lindemann seems completely unmoved by India’s plight.”
Gladwell: “Black people, according to a friend, filled him with a physical revulsion which he was unable to control. But I’m not sure that we’re seeing Lindemann here; I think we’re seeing Churchill. Churchill is the one with an issue about India. He’s obsessed with India. In the years leading up to the war, Gandhi is building his independence movement within India and Churchill hates Gandhi. Churchill is furious about the fact that Britain has to buy raw materials from India, meaning that the master is running up a debt with its supposed subject. … Why was Lindemann so adamant that England could not help India? Because Churchill was adamant that England could not help India and Lindemann was a loyal friend.”
CP Snow (1960), cited by Gladwell: “The Lindemann-Churchill relation is the most fascinating example of court politics that we’re likely to see.” [hmmm!]
Gladwell: “The best guess of how many died in the Bengal famine of 1943 is three million people. Three million. After the war, the British government held a formal inquiry into what happened, but the investigation was forbidden to consider, and I’m quoting, ‘Her Majesty’s government’s decision in regard to shipping of imports.’ In other words, they were asked to investigate the cause of the famine without investigating the cause of the famine.”
Hitchens (p.197): “Gas attacks were contemplated by Winston Churchill. … Overy writes ‘The RAF staff thought that incendiary and high-explosive raids were more strategically efficient [than gas or germ warfare], in that they destroyed property and equipment and not just people, but in any of these cases – blown apart, burnt alive or asphyxiated – deliberate damage to civilian populations was now taken for granted. This paved the way for the possibility of using atomic weapons on German targets in 1945’.”
It also paved the way for the potentially devastating anthrax attacks on Germany which would have taken place in 1944 had the American-led D-day offensive been unsuccessful; contamination from such attacks would have rendered parts of Germany uninhabitable for a human lifetime. (See my Invoking Munich, ‘Appeasement’, and the ‘Lessons of History’ 13 March 2025, which mentions both the Bengal famine and the anthrax program as well as the Hamburg holocaust.) The anthrax program bears the hallmark of Lindemann; the abandoned anthrax operation was dubbed Operation Vegetarian, in part a likely reference to Lindemann’s famed dietary obsessions.
Hitchens (pp.200-201): “It is surprising that Sir Max Hasting’s Bomber Command (first published in 1979) has not begun to change opinions. … Sir Max deserves much credit for the chapter in which he describes the indefensible destruction of the city of Darmstadt [south of Frankfurt] on 11 September 1944 (it was not, in any significant way, a military target). Hastings: ‘The first terrible discoveries were made: cellars crammed with suffocated bodies – worse still, with amorphous heaps of melted and charred humanity’.” (Lindemann went to school in Darmstadt. Victims most likely included his former classmates, teachers and their families.)
Hitchens (p.206), on the battle between Frederick Lindemann and Henry Tizard (the scientist who stood up to Lindeman, and paid a price): “Why is the only considerable account of this battle trapped inside [a] small, obscure volume that the reader must retrieve from deep in a few impenetrable scholarly libraries? Why is it not taught in schools? Why has nobody written a play about it? I suspect it is because this story, if well known, would undermine the shallow, nonsensical cult of Winston Churchill as the infallible Great Leader, a cult to which, surely, an adult country no longer needs to cling.”
Hitchens (p.205): “Tizard said that Lindemann’s estimate of the possible destruction was five times too high. He was supported by Patrick Blackett, a former naval officer who had become a noted physicist high in the scientific councils of the day. He would later win the Nobel Prize in Physics, and be ennobled as Lord Blackett. Blackett independently advised that Lindemann’s estimate was six times too high. ‘Both were slightly out. But they were nothing like as wrong as Lindemann was. Lindemann’s estimate of destruction was in fact ten times too high, as the postwar bombing survey revealed.” [The actual destruction of German cities was only one-tenth of what Lindemann had hoped and argued would be the case. Given the actual hundreds of thousands of barbecued German civilians, Lindemann had been arguing for millions.]
CP Snow (1960), cited by Hitchens (p.205): “It is possible, I suppose, that some time in the future people living in a more benevolent age than ours may turn over the official records and notice that men like us, well-educated by the standards of the day, men fairly kindly by the standards of the day, and often possessed of strong human feelings, made the kind of calculation I have just been describing. … Will they think that we resigned our humanity? They will have the right.” [Strikingly, although the post-war years have generally been regarded as ‘more benevolent’, the Gomorrah holocaust continues to ‘fly under the radar’. Indeed, so much so that Churchill’s speeches have been nominated as part of New Zealand’s schools’ draft English curriculum! (And that matter of Churchill was not raised by the New Zealand media; they were more interested in the ‘controversial’ possibility that Shakespeare might be compulsory.)]
Winston Churchill was not a nice man. His ‘favourite’ – Frederick Lindemann – was rather less nice.
Lessons
War itself is the problem, and the first casualty of war is truth. Drumbeating for war is cheap, and sabres are easily rattled. We stumble into wars without having any realistic idea how they might end; casual war becomes forever war. Wars involve multiple nasty people from the outset, and other similarly nasty people come to the fore during war, sometimes completely behind the scenes.
War changes much but solves little. World War Two was the first war in which civilians were targeted on an industrial scale. It ended, in Europe at least, in a Pyrrhic manner, with Josef Stalin’s USSR as the annihilist of Nazi Germany.
War in the modern age of globalisation means this and more. In a twenty-first century World War, while targeted civilians will be high on the murder list, the biggest death-counts are likely to be of untargeted civilians – residents of semi-belligerent and non-belligerent countries – and of completely guiltless non-human life forms.
If the Americans hadn’t successfully prosecuted D-Day (Operation Overlord) in 1944, I believe that Winston Churchill would have used the RAF to unleash his anthrax bombs. The Scottish island of Gruinard is only now becoming habitable, after eighty years of anthrax contamination. Imagine parts of Germany becoming uninhabitable – for nearly a century – had Operation Vegetarian been executed.
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Keith Rankin (keith at rankin dot nz), trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.
The Think Asia Forum 2025 was held on April 15 in Singapore with a strong critique of U.S. trade policies and calls for greater Asian cooperation, as over 40 experts from across the region gathered to address global governance challenges.
Cao Zhongming, Chinese ambassador to Singapore, delivers the opening address for the Think Asia Forum 2025 in Singapore, April 15, 2025. [Photo courtesy of ACCWS]
Cao Zhongming, the Chinese ambassador to Singapore, delivered a pointed opening address, condemning the recent U.S. tariff war against the world. “The reckless abuse of tariffs has severely violated legitimate rights of nations, undermined the rules-based multilateral trading system and disrupted the global economic order,” he told attendees. “Such unilateral and protectionist acts weaponize tariffs for selfish gains at the expense of global economic stability and Asian development.”
Ambassador Cao positioned China as a defender of multilateralism, stating: “China will continue taking resolute measures to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests while opening its doors wider to the world.” He urged Asian nations to unite against protectionism and economic bullying, and strengthen cooperation to safeguard the stability of the global economic order, emphasizing that “development is a universal right of all nations, not the privilege of a select few.”
The forum was co-sponsored by China International Communications Group (CICG), Tsinghua University and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore. Organizers included the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies (ACCWS), Tsinghua University’s School of Journalism and Communication, the Center for International Security and Strategy, and the Institute for Global Industry, as well as NTU’s Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information.
Think tank experts and scholars from China, Singapore, Japan, India and other Asian nations gave speeches and engaged in in-depth discussions in front of approximately 200 audience members. The opening remarks were moderated by Zhou Qing’an, dean of Tsinghua’s School of Journalism and Communication, while the keynote speeches and special dialogue sessions were moderated by Wang Xiaohui, editor-in-chief of China.org.cn and special research fellow at ACCWS.
President of Tsinghua University Li Luming highlighted Asia’s cultural ties as foundational for cooperation, stating, “Our civilizations provide enduring wisdom to address today’s challenges.”
Yu Yunquan, vice president of CICG and president of ACCWS, speaks at the Think Asia Forum 2025 in Singapore, April 15, 2025. [Photo courtesy of ACCWS]
Yu Yunquan, vice president of CICG and president of ACCWS, observed that Asia and the world face growing instabilities and uncertainties. “The intensification of major-country competition and geopolitical tensions has raised widespread concerns,” he noted. Yu added that think tanks across Asia bear unique and critical responsibilities in advancing the region’s shared future, and can help regional countries enhance political mutual trust and align their interests.
“The U.S.’s recent erratic ‘tariff extortion’ demonstrates how instability, uncertainty and unpredictability have become the norm in our turbulent world. Such volatility is eroding the stable environment essential for all nations’ development and harming the welfare of people worldwide — including Americans,” Yu said, noting that Asia is home to many developing countries and emerging economies, with export-oriented industries that are particularly vulnerable to deteriorating international trade conditions. “We urge Asian nations to unite in supporting multilateralism and global trade development, ensuring our region remains both an anchor of stability and an engine of growth.”
Professor Ernst J. Kuipers, vice president of NTU Singapore, emphasized that higher education institutions serve as guardians of human civilization and carry a critical responsibility to advance global development amid today’s challenges and opportunities. “Science communication is essential to dispel misconceptions and cultivate rational consensus,” he said.
Zhu Guangyao, former Chinese vice minister of finance, warned of serious global challenges — from weakened multilateralism and climate setbacks to unregulated AI and rising geopolitical tensions. He called on Asian nations to build a shared future, promoting peace and cooperation to stabilize the region and support global development. Citing Asia’s economic strength, Zhu urged the region to uphold values of “peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness” to strengthen solidarity and institutional development while advancing trade, financial ties, regional free trade processes, digital economy collaboration and financial safety mechanisms to meet common challenges and drive inclusive growth.
Former Minister of State for the Prime Minister’s Office in Singapore Chan Soo Sen emphasized that amid global turbulence, Asian nations should draw upon traditional Asian wisdom — beginning with self-reflection and internal consolidation to build collective resilience. For Singapore, he said, facing risks of constrained international trade, it must strengthen social cohesion and government credibility to bridge potential divides and safeguard diversity and coexistence. He highlighted how Asia’s cultural emphasis on neighborly relations and cooperative spirit should guide enhanced regional collaboration to navigate an uncertain future together.
Alfred Schipke, director of the East Asian Institute at the National University of Singapore (NUS), believes Asia can become a key growth engine through deeper reforms and fewer barriers. With the rise of multipolarization, Asia should take on a larger role in trade, investment and financial cooperation, he explained, while countries must pursue stability through pragmatic partnerships to help reshape global governance.
(Left to right) Wang Xiaohui, editor-in-chief of China.org.cn, moderates a special dialogue session between renowned historian Wang Gungwu, and Dong Qiang, dean of Yenching Academy at Peking University, at the Think Asia Forum 2025 in Singapore, April 15, 2025. [Photo courtesy of ACCWS]
A highlight of the forum was the special dialogue between Wang Gungwu, renowned historian and former chairman of the East Asian Institute at NUS, and Dong Qiang, dean of Yenching Academy at Peking University, which explored how Asian wisdom can inform global governance.
Wang emphasized its openness and adaptability — absorbing new ideas, respecting diverse civilizations and rejecting extremism. Meanwhile, Dong noted that traditional wisdom can be reshaped into modern governance tools, with its strength lying in flexibility and responsiveness. Both agreed that Asian wisdom, rooted in openness and mutual respect, should contribute the strength of cultural civilization to the development of a more equitable global governance system.
Tuesday’s three parallel sessions featuring other speakers addressed themes of “Exchanges and Mutual Learning: The Coexistence of Diverse Asian Civilizations,” “Security and Stability: Asia’s Future in a Changing World” and “Development and Sharing: Asian Wisdom for Global Recovery,” reflecting the region’s push for greater collective influence amid global uncertainties.
Participants attending the Think Asia Forum 2025 in Singapore, April 15, 2025. [Photo courtesy of ACCWS]
The forum concluded by launching a cooperation network of Asian think tanks, with ACCWS serving as secretariat to coordinate input from all parties and promote the network’s development.
NSW Health is advising people to be alert for signs and symptoms of measles after being notified of a confirmed case who was infectious while visiting several locations in inner west Sydney.
The case recently returned from South East Asia were there are ongoing outbreaks of measles in several countries including Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.
People who attended the following locations should watch for the development of symptoms. These locations do not pose an ongoing risk.
Sunday 13 April 2025
Leichhardt MarketPlace Aldi: 5:45pm – 6:45pm
Wednesday 16 April 2025
Leichhardt MarketPlace MyHealth Medical Centre: 2:00pm – 3:20pm
South Western Sydney District Acting Director of Public Health, Dr Mitchell Smith said if you visited the above locations at those times you should monitor for symptoms.
“Measles is a serious vaccine-preventable disease that is spread through the air when someone who is infectious coughs or sneezes,” Dr Smith said.
“Symptoms to watch out for include fever, sore eyes, runny nose and a cough, usually followed three or four days later by a red, blotchy rash that spreads from the head and face to the rest of the body.
“It can take up to 18 days for symptoms to appear after an exposure, so it’s important for people who visited these locations to look out for symptoms up until Sunday 4th May 2025.
“It’s important for people to stay vigilant if they’ve been exposed, and if they develop symptoms, to please call ahead to their GP or emergency department to ensure they do not spend time in the waiting room with other patients.
“We want to remind the community to make sure they are up to date with their vaccinations. This should be a reminder for everyone to check that they are protected against measles, which is highly infectious. “Anyone born after 1965 needs to ensure they have had two doses of measles vaccine. This is especially important before overseas travel, as measles outbreaks are occurring in several regions of the world at the moment.
“In addition, people at these locations who are immunosuppressed, pregnant, or anyone, including babies, who has not received a measles vaccine may benefit from preventative treatment. People in these groups should speak to their GP urgently or contact their local public health unit on 1300 066 055.”
The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and effective and is given free for children at 12 and 18 months of age. It is also free in NSW for anyone born after 1965 who hasn’t already had two doses.
Children under the age of 12 months can have their first dose of MMR up to six months earlier if they are travelling to areas with a high risk for measles. Parents should consult their GP.
People who are unsure of whether they have had two doses should get a vaccine, as additional doses are safe. This is particularly important prior to travel. MMR vaccine is available from GPs (all ages) and pharmacies (people over 5 years of age).
If you, or someone you know, is experiencing measles symptoms, or have questions about measles, please call your GP or healthdirect on 1800 022 222.
The second Macao International Comedy Festival convened top comedy creators for two major forums and a series of events to discuss the challenges of making comedy and its broader cultural significance.
Comedians, organizers and guests pose at the closing forum of the second Macao International Comedy Festival in Hengqin, Guangdong province, April 13, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Mahua Fun Age]
A closing forum was held on April 13 in Hengqin, a district of Zhuhai in Guangdong province that borders Macao, marking the festival’s high point. Events for the comedy festival were held in both Hengqin and Macao.
Han Mei, CEO of Mahua Fun Age and a co-organizer of the festival, said the event’s five days brought not only laughter but also a deeper connection across cultures. “Comedy doesn’t just make us laugh — it makes us reflect, resonate and even brings us to tears,” she said. “This reminds us how comedy can transcend cultural and geographic boundaries, and how talent drives the sustainable growth of the cultural industry.”
Han said the festival will continue providing an open, accessible platform rich in resources to support more comedians, especially young women, in pursuing creative ambitions and innovation.
Laughter as remedy
The closing forum, themed “Laughter as the Remedy,” featured Chinese comedy stars Shen Teng and Ma Li, Bollywood actor Aamir Khan and Hollywood screenwriter Peter Chiarelli in a discussion on the challenges of comedy creation.
Aamir Khan, Shen Teng, Ma Li and Peter Chiarelli attend the closing forum of the second Macao International Comedy Festival in Hengqin, Guangdong province, April 13, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Mahua Fun Age]
“Creating comedy is a serious undertaking, and the process is immensely challenging,” Shen said. “Comedy has such a long history that audiences have seen almost everything. The impact of short-form videos on long-form content has also been tremendous. Nowadays, attempting to innovate story structures or develop comedic characters that feel original to viewers is as difficult as scaling the heavens.”
“Comedy needs to build on the foundation of tragedy — making people not only relate and cry, but also laugh,” Ma said. Her longtime partner Shen agreed, adding that quality comedy requires an emotional core and skills from other genres. “To perform comedy well, you have to master different dramatic styles first, which makes the challenge even greater,” he said.
Khan said comedy requires something unique: precise timing. “Half a second earlier or later, and the punchline may not be effective. Timing is of the essence,” he said. “That’s what differentiates comedy from other genres.”
The Indian actor also emphasized that even a big laugh should be cut if it doesn’t serve the film’s overall narrative. “You have to keep in mind the overall impact of what you’re trying to say,” he added.
Chiarelli said comedy draws him in because it allows him to mask earnestness with humor while tackling serious topics. He enjoys guiding audiences to new perspectives, often by subtly drawing them into engagement. He cited his script for the film “Crazy Rich Asians” as an example of making an unfamiliar subject compelling to viewers.
During the forum, Shen also emphasized the urgent need to nurture young comedic talent and praised the festival as a valuable platform for emerging comedians.
“Developing the next generation of comedians is both meaningful and pressing,” he said. “True comedy requires innate talent — you must be born with a sense of humor to excel as a comedic actor. This alone disqualifies many performers. Some may have acting talent, but that doesn’t necessarily make them good comedians.”
The power of women in comedy
At the “Her Way” forum in Macao on April 12, Ma and Hong Kong filmmaker Andrew Lau discussed women’s roles in comedy.
Ma Li and Andrew Lau participate in the “Her Way” forum at the second Macao International Comedy Festival in Macao, April 12, 2025. [Photo courtesy of Mahua Fun Age]
Ma said she remains passionate about comedy but is keenly aware of the limited number of women in the field. “I once wanted to tear off the label of ‘comedic actress’ — it felt so difficult because comedy rarely earns proper recognition, especially for women,” she said. She explained that female comedians often feel isolated, frequently have their ideas rejected and face a host of unspoken requirements and expectations.
“I consider myself lucky to have finally met directors and teams who truly understand me and my artistic vision. Many have given up waiting. But I hope to see more women join and strengthen our ranks in comedic acting,” she said. She also expressed interest in taking on new challenges, including roles as cunning or complex characters beyond comedy.
Ma and Lau recently collaborated on a new film, “The Dumpling Queen,” a biopic about Wan Chai Pier dumpling brand founder Zang Jianhe, which is set for release on April 30. Lau said the story resonated with him because it reminded him of his mother. He thanked Ma for leading and supporting the project and helping to share a compelling Chinese story.
Ma said she did not initially pursue comedy and once felt constrained and labeled as a comedic actress. Over time, though, her view changed.
“During countless movie promotions, I’ve met audience members who tearfully told me, ‘You should know — during our darkest, most difficult moments, your comedy helped us through and gave us the strength to stand back up.’ Over time, I realized that a good story, a compelling character and quality comedy truly have the power to heal,” she said. “From that moment, I felt a sense of mission. I must continue doing comedy because bringing joy to audiences gives me just as much happiness.”
A New South Wales Senate inquiry into public toilets is underway, looking into the provision, design and maintenance of public toilets across the state.
Whenever I mention this inquiry, however, everyone nervously laughs and the conversation moves on. It’s not something people feel comfortable talking about.
Yet, a public toilet goes to the heart of what a city provides for its inhabitants and visitors. It is a critically important piece of public infrastructure that sets the tone for public behaviour, expectations and conduct.
And we could be doing so much better with our public toilets.
An important first impression
Public toilets communicate social values. They show how we provide for our citizens and what we expect of them in return.
A public toilet is often the first thing someone new to a place sees and wants; it creates an important first impression.
As communication theorist Paul Watzlawick said, “One cannot not communicate.” Infrastructure is no exception.
So public toilets play an important social role and, through their design, help communicate and shape relationships between citizens.
As one person’s submission put it: ‘It’s important that public toilets don’t look like prisons’. ThatHolisticMom888/Shutterstock
They not only provide relief for our urgent bodily needs; in them, we are equal humans. External hierarchies are largely removed.
Their appearance and design influences whether we feel cared for, trusted and appreciated, seen and acknowledged.
This is reflected in what members of the public have said to the current NSW senate inquiry. One submission, for instance, noted:
It’s important that public toilets don’t look like prisons.
If they are perceived as such, then the message is we can’t be trusted. We are assumed to damage or destroy them and behave like criminals.
Access to adequate public toilets is a basic right. But they are also used to administer medication, breastfeed, care for children, access drinking water and find a quiet place to rest. Public toilets are often the only private space in public.
So, how can a communal space like the public bathroom evolve accordingly? One issue emerging in several inquiry submissions so far is the issue of public toilets being routinely locked at night.
We don’t have a curfew, we are aloud (sic) out at night. If you don’t want people pissing in the street, then leave them open.
Cost is the greatest concern. Councils know how much their toilet blocks cost, but not how many people use them.
A submission from Blacktown City Council states their 218 public toilets cost more than A$15 million annually, involving six staff and three vehicles to service these facilities.
This equals more than $68,800 per toilet per year.
On the other hand, good public toilets could help grow the economy. A submission by Guide Dogs Australia quotes Deloitte Access Economics estimates that inclusive public spaces could add $12.7 billion to Australia’s economy annually and boost GDP by about $1.2 billion through increased workforce participation.
And a submission by Bathurst Regional Access Committees notes:
The disability tourism trade is worth well over $8 billion dollars annually. Tourism is what keeps many regions alive.
Decent and accessible toilets may even help attract more people to a local area, activating public spaces and building community.
Flipping the toilet script
We need to flip the way we think about public toilets and those who clean them.
They must radiate thoughtful care, pride, civic engagement and delight.
Australian urban designer David Engwicht’s community consultation approach to public space provides a great blueprint. He advocates recognising that place making is similar to home making; it can create memorable and potentially transformative experiences. It can help bring us into the present, creating a feeling of rootedness and connection.
This stunning public toilet in Tokyo was designed by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto. Tada Images/Shutterstock
The toilet can transcend its shameful, dirty, grimy image and last resort status. It can become a privilege to maintain, clean and keep in pristine condition for the public good.
The public toilet could become a valuable asset, an attraction, a sought after destination, a jewel in the crown of the government’s public offering.
They could be pieces of enchanting infrastructure sponsors line up to support.
In this project, 17 toilets were designed by world-leading Japanese architects and designers and their cleaners’ uniforms by a famous fashion designer.
The toilets were equipped with custom high quality toilet paper, cleaned three times a day, and given their own stunning interactive website.
German filmmaker Wim Wenders even made a feature film, Perfect Days, about a man who cleans these toilets.
Credit: The Match Factory/YouTube.
These toilets, sponsored by the non-profit Nippon Foundation in collaboration with Shibuya City government and Shibuya Tourism Association, represent a highly innovative approach.
Here, the public toilet is celebrated as an international attraction, while providing an excellent service to the public.
Christian Tietz 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.
Today marks a new digital era for the City of Wanneroo, with the launch of our first What’s Happening digital newsletter!
Don’t worry – you’ll still receive your regular print version in the mail, but now it’s supported by an interactive online edition that takes readers behind the scenes, with video interviews, photo galleries and detailed updates on community projects.
Standing proud on the cover of the first edition for 2025 is 98-year-old, Jack Le Cras. The Navy veteran cemented into history by being one of the few Australians who witnessed Japan’s signing of the peace – officially marking an end to WWII in 1945.
Read his story recounting the end of the war or tap the play button for an extra tour of the Wanneroo RSL with Jack himself – uncovering the impressive museum collection.
Read all about progress on Dordaak Kepup library and youth innovation hub and hear a full rundown on what you’ll find at the new facility from Senior Project Manager, Mark Little.
Plus, there’s an easy overview of the East Wanneroo development over the next 40 years, exciting updates on the latest exhibitions at Wanneroo Museum and of course, the Kid’s Zone! Check your letterbox and flip through your physical copy, then check out the bonus content in the digital version here.
An aerial drone photo shows a bullet train running on China-Laos Railway in Jinghong City, southwest China’s Yunnan Province, Feb. 22, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
China’s railway passenger trips hit a new high in the first quarter of 2025 thanks to robust travel demand and increasing transport capacity.
About 1.074 billion passenger trips were registered in the railway system in the period, up 5.9 percent year on year, China State Railway Group Co., Ltd. said in a statement on Thursday. In particular, the number of trips made by foreign travelers surged 30 percent year on year to 3.66 million.
The railway operator said it actively enhanced transport capacity to meet rising travel demand, with a 7.4 percent increase in daily trains, more scientific arrangements backed by big data, and continued operation of “slow trains” to remote areas to ensure public welfare.
To boost tourism and consumption, the company also deployed 187 tourist trains in the January-March period, up 30 percent year on year. It also worked to ensure the smooth operation of the China-Laos Railway, which carried 85,000 cross-border passengers in the period, up 32.2 percent.
Meanwhile, railway freight volume also expanded steadily. Data from the National Railway Administration said about 1.25 billion tonnes of cargo were transported through railways in the first quarter, up 1 percent from a year ago.
In the period, the amount of containers, metallic ores, and mineral and construction materials sent through railways increased 20.4 percent, 11.1 percent, and 42.1 percent in tonnes from a year ago, respectively.
The fixed-asset investment in the railway sector gained 5.2 percent year on year to 131.2 billion yuan (about 18 billion U.S. dollars) in the first quarter, also a record high.
The steady increases in both passenger trips and freight volume offered strong support for a stable economy, the administration said.
The Environment & Ecology Bureau today released the 2023 greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventory for Hong Kong and updated the methodology for compiling its GHG emission inventory.
The bureau pointed out that the Government has used the Global Warming Potential (GWP) values set out in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) to compile the 2023 GHG emission inventory.
It has also updated previous GHG emission figures, using the new GWP values, in order to reflect annual variations and long-term trends.
In updating the methodology, the Government has complied with the requirement of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Based on the calculation using AR5’s GWP values, Hong Kong’s total GHG emissions in 2023 amounted to about 34.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e), representing a decrease of about 20% compared with 2005 levels and a decrease of around 25% from the peak emissions in 2014.
Per capita GHG emissions amounted to approximately 4.58 tonnes in 2023, a new low since 1990, and 30% lower compared with 2005 and 2014. It is also about a quarter of the US level and 60% of the European Union level.
Carbon intensity in 2023 was 0.012 kg CO2-e per Hong Kong dollar GDP, about 46% lower than that in 2005.
Electricity generation continued to be the major source of emissions, generating 61% of total emissions in 2023. Other major emission sources were transport, accounting for 18% of the total, and waste management, which accounted for 8%.
Ageas communicates revised total number of issued shares
Following the capital increase of EUR 550 million (including issuance premium) in the context of the esure acquisition agreement that was signed on 14 April 2025, Ageas announces that its capital amounts to EUR 1,590,019,077.44 and the number of outstanding shares of Ageas SA/NV (the Denominator) increased to 198,938,286 due to the issuance of 10,967,099 new shares. Each outstanding share of Ageas SA/NV confers one voting right. There are no other securities of Ageas SA/NV conferring voting rights.
The newly issued shares by Ageas SA/NV are listed on the regulated market of Euronext Brussels as of 17 April 2025.
This information is available on the Ageas webite.
Ageas is a listed international insurance Group with a heritage spanning of 200 years. It offers Retail and Business customers Life and Non-Life insurance products designed to suit their specific needs, today and tomorrow, and is also engaged in reinsurance activities. As one of Europe’s larger insurance companies, Ageas concentrates its activities in Europe and Asia, which together make up the major part of the global insurance market. It operates successful insurance businesses in Belgium, the UK, Portugal, Türkiye, China, Malaysia, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Singapore, and the Philippines through a combination of wholly owned subsidiaries and long-term partnerships with strong financial institutions and key distributors. Ageas ranks among the market leaders in the countries in which it operates. It represents a staff force of about 50,000 people and reported annual inflows of EUR 18.5 billion in 2024.
Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –
The Moscow International Piano Competition named after the outstanding musician and teacher Vladimir Krainev was held for the sixth time at the Moscow International House of Music. From March 25 to 31, the best young talents from all over the world aged up to 22 competed in their skills. Students and graduates of the capital’s art schools traditionally performed successfully.
“At the competition, I once again saw the absolute triumph of the Russian piano school. Despite the fact that we now live in a turbulent dramatic world, our art has not disappeared anywhere, it continues to conquer people’s hearts. Everyone understands that our culture is a gigantic part of the general world culture, without us the world cannot exist,” said Vladimir Spivakov, President of the Moscow International House of Music.
In total, about 170 applications from China, South Korea, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and various cities of Russia were received for the competition, which is held every two years. 25 musicians were allowed to participate in the in-person rounds.
The capital’s art schools were represented by six pianists, including Vladimir Vishnevsky, Irina Ten, Alexander Koltsov, Elisey Varfolomeev and Nikita Shimansky from the Moscow Secondary Specialized Music School (College) named after the Gnessins, and Igor Sidorov from the Children’s Music School named after Yu. A. Shaporin (a structural subdivision of the Moscow State Institute of Music named after A. G. Schnittke).
Irina Ten and Vladimir Vishnevsky reached the final of the competition. They became winners of the prestigious international competition of young pianists and were awarded cash prizes. In addition, Vladimir Vishnevsky, who won the Grand Prix, received a special prize – the opportunity to play a solo concert in the upcoming season at the Moscow International House of Music.
The Vladimir Krainev Moscow International Piano Competition was established capital’s Department of Culture on the initiative of the President of the Moscow International House of Music, People’s Artist of the USSR Vladimir Spivakov and the widow of pianist Vladimir Krainev Tatyana Tarasova. The artistic director of the festival and chairman of the jury is Alexander Romanovsky. The main goal of the creative competition is to support talented musicians in the field of piano performance, as well as to preserve and popularize the best achievements of world musical art.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect
Capgemini acquires Delta Capita Group Limited’s subsidiary in the Netherlands to expand its Financial Crime Compliance services footprint in Europe
Acquisition will help Capgemini to further support European based banking, insurance and pensions firms to comply with critical ‘Know Your Customer’ (KYC) regulatory standards and complex local legislation
Paris, April 17, 2025 –Capgeminihas acquired 100% of the share capital of Delta Capita BV and its fully owned subsidiary Delta Capita Academy BV, the Netherlands based subsidiary of Delta Capita Group Ltd. that specializes in Financial Crime Compliance (FCC) services. This acquisition, Capgemini’s second in 18 months in the FCC space, will position the Group as the global partner of choice for KYC and FCC transformation. It strengthens Capgemini’s European offerings in financial crime, risk management and regulatory compliance services, complementing its already strong capabilities in Romania, Poland, India and the UK. The acquisition signing and closing took place simultaneously on April 16.
Located in the Netherlands, Delta Capita BV and its fully owned subsidiary Delta Capita Academy BV comprise a team of 200+ KYC analysts and consultants all accustomed to operating within complex legal and regulatory frameworks. The team helps clients to take a strategic approach to regulation, specializing in Know Your Customer, anti-bribery & corruption, and risk management policy and control frameworks. Its client roster includes major banks, insurers and pension firms, all highly complementary to Capgemini’s.
The team’s deep-domain expertise coupled with its multi-lingual capabilities will enable Capgemini to provide 1st, 2nd and 3rd line of defense advisory and managed services capabilities in FCC. Notably, to meet growing demand among its European financial services clients for complex and standard regulatory services, as well as Dutch pension legislation.
“Financial crime compliance, by its very nature, requires an intimate knowledge of rapidly evolving local legislation. The acquisition of Delta Capita BV will position the Group as the global partner of choice in KYC transformation,” comments Kartik Ramakrishnan, CEO of Capgemini’s Financial Services and Group Executive Board Member. “Our end-to-end strategic business and technology services coupled with comprehensive KYC on, near and offshore capabilities, are complementary to this highly skilled Netherlands based team who will augment our European footprint for FCC. I am delighted to welcome them to Capgemini.”
“Financial crime mitigation, risk management and regulatory compliance are business critical for the financial services industry and firms are now seeking comprehensive solutions for their end-to-end FCC transformation and ongoing management,” said Tom Kastelein, CEO of Delta Capita BV. “Capgemini’s global scale, partner ecosystem and well-established financial services expertise, were a natural fit for our team in terms of complex project scope and global client base. We are very happy to be joining the Group.”
About Capgemini Capgemini is a global business and technology transformation partner, helping organizations to accelerate their dual transition to a digital and sustainable world, while creating tangible impact for enterprises and society. It is a responsible and diverse group of 340,000 team members in more than 50 countries. With its strong over 55-year heritage, Capgemini is trusted by its clients to unlock the value of technology to address the entire breadth of their business needs. It delivers end-to-end services and solutions leveraging strengths from strategy and design to engineering, all fueled by its market leading capabilities in AI, generative AI, cloud and data, combined with its deep industry expertise and partner ecosystem. The Group reported 2024 global revenues of €22.1 billion. Get The Future You Want | www.capgemini.com
Headline: Panasonic Group certified as a TABLE FOR TWO Platinum Partner for the 12th consecutive year
Achievement highlights continued efforts at employee cafeterias in Japan and initiatives by Panasonic Marketing Europe
Osaka, Japan – April 17, 2025 – The Panasonic Group has been supporting the non-profit organization TABLE FOR TWO (TFT) in its efforts to deliver school meals to children in developing countries since 2009. The Group has been recognized by TFT as a Platinum Partner for the 12th consecutive year.
In 2024, the Group donated the equivalent of approximately 171,000 meals, including donations made through the newly launched program of Panasonic Marketing Europe GmbH. The total amount of donations made by the Group to date is equivalent to approximately 1.67 million meals.
The Panasonic Group has set “ending poverty” as one of the key themes for its corporate citizenship activities. In Japan, as an initiative that allows employees to participate in solving social issues through something familiar—food—the Group offers TFT menu items in employee cafeterias at 14 locations, donating 20 yen per TFT meal on a continuous basis. At sites without cafeterias, the “CUP FOR TWO (CFT)” program has been implemented, in which a portion of the proceeds from vending machines is donated, and in 2024, this led to approximately 71,000 meals being donated.
In Europe, Panasonic Marketing Europe has redefined the objective of its European kitchen appliance business as “delivering healthy food to as many customers as possible and creating a hunger-free, caring world,” and has launched two new initiatives. First, to commemorate World Food Day on October 16, 2024, the company donated 100,000 meals to TFT Germany. In addition, it announced that it would donate five school meals to TFT for every kitchen appliance purchased through the Panasonic online shop in Europe between October 1, 2024 and March 31, 2025.
This campaign has resulted in a donation amount equivalent to over 60,000 meals, which the Group will donate in stages.
Through the TFT initiative, the Panasonic Group will continue to provide nutritious school meals and contribute to improving children’s basic physical strength, preventing illness, and creating educational opportunities, thereby helping to alleviate poverty and bring happiness to people living in developing countries.
The Panasonic Group will continue to contribute to solving social issues in various ways in order to work toward realizing “an ideal society with affluence both in matter and mind.”
Panasonic Group Corporate Citizenship Activities Sitehttps://holdings.panasonic/global/corporate/sustainability/citizenship.html
Located at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) on the border of France and Switzerland, the LHC is expected to run for another 15 years. Nevertheless, physicists are already planning what will come after it.
One of the most favoured proposals for CERN’s next step is the 70-year Future Circular Collider (FCC) project. More than three times the size of the LHC, this enormous proposed machine promises to resolve some mysteries of the universe – and undoubtedly reveal some new ones.
What will the Future Circular Collider do?
The LHC, which occupies a circular tunnel 27 kilometres in circumference, is currently the largest machine in the world. The FCC would be housed in a much larger 91km tunnel in the Geneva basin between the Jura mountains and the Alps.
The first stage of the FCC would be the construction and operation of a collider for electrons (the lightweight particles that make up the outer shell of atoms) and positrons (the antimatter mirror images of electrons). This collider would allow more precise measurements of the Higgs boson.
The planned Future Circular Collider would occupy a tunnel 91 kilometres long, dwarfing the 27-kilometre Large Hadron Collider. CERN
The second stage would be a collider for protons (heavier particles found in the cores of atoms). The LHC already collides protons, but the new collider would accelerate the protons up to more than seven times as much energy.
This increase in collision energy allows for the discovery of particles never produced by humanity before. It also brings with it technical challenges, such as the development of high-powered superconducting magnets.
Known unknowns
The most high-profile result from the LHC has been the discovery of the Higgs boson, which lets us explain why particles in the universe have mass: they interact with the so-called Higgs field which permeates all of space.
This was a great victory for what we call the Standard Model. This is the theory that, to the best of our current knowledge, explains all the fundamental particles in the universe and their interactions.
However, the Standard Model has significant weaknesses, and leaves some crucial questions unanswered.
The FCC promises to answer some of these questions.
Collisions between high-energy particles may shed light on several unanswered questions of physics. CERN
For example, we know the Higgs field can explain the mass of heavy particles. However, it is possible that a completely different mechanism provides mass to lighter particles.
We also want to know whether the Higgs field gives mass to the Higgs boson itself. To answer these Higgs questions we will need the higher energies that the FCC will provide.
The FCC will also let us take a closer look at the interactions of very heavy quarks. (Quarks are the tiniest components of protons and some other particles.) We hope this may shed light on the question of why the universe contains so much more matter than antimatter.
And the FCC will help us look for new particles that might be dark matter, a mysterious substance that seems to pervade the universe.
Of course, there is no guarantee that the FCC will provide the answers to these questions. That is the nature of curiosity-driven research. You know the journey, but not the destination.
Competing colliders
The FCC is not the only major particle physics project under consideration.
Another is a proposed 20-kilometre machine called the International Linear Collider, which would likely be built in Japan.
The US has several projects on the go, mainly detectors of various kinds. It also supports an “offshore Higgs factory”, located in Europe or Japan.
One project that may concern the FCC’s backers is the planned 100 kilometre Chinese Electron Positron Collider (CEPC), which has significant similarities to the FCC.
This poses a dilemma for Europe: if China goes ahead with their project, is the FCC still worthwhile? On the other hand, CERN chief Fabiola Gianotti has argued that the FCC is necessary to keep up with China.
High costs
The decision on the FCC won’t be taken lightly, given the large cost associated with the project.
CERN estimates the first stage will cost 15 billion Swiss francs (around US$18 billion or A$28 billion at current exchange rates), spread out over 12 years. One third of this cost is the tunnel construction.
The size of the sum has attracted criticism. However, a CERN spokesperson told the Agence France-Press that up to 80% of the cost would be covered by the organisation’s current annual budget.
The second stage of FCC, which would reuse the 91km tunnel as well as some existing LHC infrastructure, is currently estimated to cost 19 billion Swiss francs. This costing carries a large uncertainty, as the second stage would not be commissioned until 2070 at the earliest.
Benefits beyond science
Pure science has not been the only benefit of the LHC. There have been plenty of practical technological spinoffs, from medical technology to open and free software.
One specific example is the Medipix chips developed for a detector at the LHC, which are now used across multiple areas in medical imaging and material science.
For the past 70 years, CERN has served as a fantastic model for peaceful and efficient international collaboration. Beyond its astonishing scientific output, it has also produced significant advances in engineering that have spread through society. Building the FCC will be an investment in both technology and curiosity.
Tessa Charles has previously received funding through an EU Horizon 2020 project, the FCC Innovation Study (FCCIS).
Ulrik Egede receives funding from the Australian Research Council to carry out research at the Large Hadron Collider. He is representing southeast Asia and Australia/NZ on the International Committee of Future Accelerators.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that China-Cambodia relations have withstood the test of global transformations, and always remained rock-solid.
In a written statement upon his arrival in Phnom Penh, Xi also noted that bilateral ties were forged and nurtured by the elder generation of leaders of the two countries.
Xi arrived here for a state visit to Cambodia, the third leg of his three-nation Southeast Asia tour which have already taken him to Vietnam and Malaysia.
We’ve reviewed our advice for India and continue to advise exercise a high degree of caution. Higher levels apply in some areas.
Carrying or using a satellite phone or GPS-enabled devices (including emergency locator beacons) without official permission is illegal. You could be arrested or detained, receive a large fine, have the device confiscated and face significant travel delays (see ‘Local Laws’).
If you have had a baby in India, you must inform the FRRO and secure the appropriate travel document and Indian visa to remain legally in the country or to travel. Failure to comply could result in significant financial penalties by the FRRO (see ‘Travel’).
Travellers have been robbed and assaulted after consuming spiked drinks or food. Be alert to the potential risks around drink spiking and methanol poisoning from consuming alcoholic drinks (see ‘Safety’).
