Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Wednesday announced her government’s plan to raise the hospital bed ratio to three per 1,000 citizens, aiming to significantly upgrade the city’s healthcare capacity.
Gupta made the remarks while laying the foundation stone for the construction of a new footpath at the SU Block park in Pitampura, located in the Shalimar Bagh Assembly constituency.
Addressing local residents gathered at the park, she said, “With everyone’s blessings, the government is completing 100 days on May 30, and we will present our report card before the public on May 31. But I can say this much: I do not make big promises. However, Delhi has now elected a government that can reduce problems. Your trust is our effort.”
Reflecting on the past 100 days of governance, Gupta said her administration has made a series of important policy decisions aimed at resolving long-standing public grievances.
“In the 100 days of service that our government has spent in Delhi, we have taken a lot of policy decisions because all these issues have been troubling the people of Delhi for years,” she said.
“The previous governments never tried to solve any problem, citing conflict. This lack of effort was a loss to the people of Delhi,” she added.
The Delhi Chief Minister revealed that a high-level health committee meeting she recently chaired brought to light a concerning statistic — Delhi had just 0.47 hospital beds per 1,000 people, far below the World Health Organization’s recommended minimum of two beds.
“I chaired a high-level health committee meeting, and I was shocked to learn that although the WHO recommends a minimum of 2 hospital beds per 1,000 people, Delhi had only 0.47 beds per 1,000 people—not even one bed per 1,000 citizens. This is a serious concern. Now, this elected government is working towards a goal of 3 beds per 1,000 people,” she said.
Calling for unified governance, she added, “Whether it is with the MCD, the Delhi Government, or the Central Government, an integrated system should be created so that no Delhiite remains without treatment, and no one dies due to lack of medical care.”
She also highlighted the implementation of Ayushman Bharat in Delhi, crediting Prime Minister Narendra Modi for enabling the rollout of the healthcare scheme.
“I congratulate you that after you elected our government in Delhi, the Ayushman Yojana was implemented here. Today, Ayushman Yojana cards are being issued to the people of Delhi. We are issuing cards to all elderly residents above 70 years of age, and the Delhi government is providing treatment coverage of up to Rs 10 lakh—Rs 5 lakh from the Centre and Rs 5 lakh from the Delhi government,” she said.
“This scheme is not available anywhere else in the world. This is the only government that gives every elderly person above 70 years of age Rs 10 lakh for treatment,” she claimed.
Expressing gratitude for public support, Gupta concluded, “I sincerely thank PM Modi and all of you for your decision. It’s your single vote that has pushed Delhi forward on the path of progress.”
In a major push to bolster infrastructure and connectivity in Andhra Pradesh, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the construction of a four-lane highway corridor between Badvel and Nellore. The project, to be executed under the Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Transfer (DBFOT) model, will cover a distance of 108.134 kilometers at an estimated cost of ₹3,653.10 crore.
The newly approved Badvel-Nellore corridor is set to play a vital role in integrating key industrial nodes across the state. It will connect Gopavaram village in YSR Kadapa District, located on National Highway NH-67, to Guruvindapudi on NH-16 near Krishnapatnam Port in SPSR Nellore District.
The corridor is expected to enhance linkages to three major industrial corridors—Kopparthy on the Visakhapatnam-Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC), Orvakal on the Hyderabad-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (HBIC), and Krishnapatnam on the Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC).
By facilitating direct access to the Krishnapatnam Port, which has been identified as a priority node under the CBIC, the highway will bolster logistics efficiency and improve India’s Logistic Performance Index (LPI). The improved route will shorten the existing travel distance to the port by nearly 34 kilometers, reducing it from 142 kilometers to just over 108 kilometers. This reduction is projected to save commuters up to one hour in travel time, while also lowering fuel consumption, vehicle operating costs, and the overall carbon footprint.
In addition to improving transportation infrastructure, the project is expected to have a positive economic impact by generating significant employment. It is projected to create approximately 20 lakh man-days of direct employment and an additional 23 lakh man-days of indirect employment. Moreover, the corridor is expected to stimulate economic growth in surrounding areas through increased commercial and industrial activity.
Rashtrapati Bhavan is set to host a two-day national literary conference titled “How Much Has Literature Changed?” at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre on May 29 and 30. The event is being organized in collaboration with the Sahitya Akademi under the Ministry of Culture.
President Droupadi Murmu will inaugurate the conference at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre on Thursday. The inaugural session will also be attended by Union Minister for Culture and Tourism, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, alongside eminent literary figures from across the country.
The conference will feature multiple thematic sessions, delving into the nuances of modern literary expression. Key sessions include Poets’ Meet – Straight from the Heart, which will focus on the personal and political dimensions of poetry, and Feminist Literature of India: Breaking New Grounds, which will examine the evolving voice of women in Indian literary discourse.
Other sessions such as Change in Literature vs. Literature of Change and New Directions of Indian Literature in Global Perspective will reflect on the interplay between literature and societal transformation, as well as India’s literary presence on the global stage.
The conference will conclude with a cultural narrative session centred around the life and legacy of Devi Ahilyabai Holkar, highlighting her contributions to India’s social and cultural fabric.
Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 28, 2025/APO Group/ —
NBA Africa (www.NBA.com) and Opportunity International, a global nonprofit organization that develops innovative programs that use financial services, training and support to address some of the greatest challenges facing those living in poverty around the world, unveiled a new outdoor basketball court at Loiswell Academy in Nairobi, Kenya, on Tuesday, May 27.
The unveiling follows the launch of a new court at Highland School in Nyamata, Rwanda, last week and supports NBA Africa’s commitment to build 1,000 courts on the continent over the next decade.
The court was unveiled at a ribbon cutting ceremony by NBA Kenya Country Operations Lead Michael Finley, Opportunity International Board of Directors Member Ken Wathome, Opportunity International Executive Vice President, International Programs and Capital Solutions Randy Kurtz, Loiswell Academy Founder and Director Lois Mbugua and former NBA player Hasheem Thabeet, which was followed by a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA clinic for 100 boys and girls ages 16 and under.
Secretary-General of the Third UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) Li Junhua said, “The future of the ocean is not predetermined. It will be shaped by the decisions and the actions we are making now.”
Today (27 May), Li Junhua, together with High-level representatives from France and Costa Rica briefed the press about the upcoming UN Ocean Conference.
He said, “The ocean—our planet’s life-support system—is in a state of emergency. The evidence is overwhelming: rising temperatures, acidifying waters, plastic choking marine life, disappearing habitats, and the relentless overexploitation of resources.”
He continued, “The health of the ocean is declining, and with it, the well-being of the human being. We actually depend on our ocean supply lines. However, there is still time to change our course—if we act collectively.”
He said, “From 9 to 13 June 2025, the global community will gather in Nice, France, for the Third United Nations Ocean Conference, or UNOC3. This will not be just another routine gathering. We hope that it is a pivotal opportunity to accelerate action and mobilize all stakeholders across sectors and borders.”
He also said, “UNOC3 will culminate in the adoption of the “Nice Ocean Action Plan” – a concise, action-oriented declaration, along with new and expanded voluntary commitments. This plan will be our collective blueprint to advance SDG 14: to conserve and sustainably use the ocean, seas, and marine resources.”
He concluded, “The future of the ocean is not predetermined. It will be shaped by the decisions and the actions we are making now. Let us choose a healthy, resilient ocean—for our generation, and also for generations to come.”
French Ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont stated, “The goal for this conference in Nice, for France, is a Nice Agreement that would be for the oceans what the Paris Agreement was for the climate ten years ago.”
Maritza Chan Valverde, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to the United Nations, said, “Accelerating action means cutting decision-making time from years to months, mobilizing all actors, engaging 195 governments, more than 1,000 cities, more 500 corporations and billions of citizens simultaneously. This is an opportunity for the United Nations to be together and to show that we can deliver as one.”
She concluded, “The third United Nations Ocean Conference will either reverse ocean decline by 2030 or document humanity’s failure to act. Five days, one ocean, a unique opportunity.”
The high-level 2025 United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development (the 2025 UN Ocean Conference) will be co-hosted by France and Costa Rica and held in Nice, France, from 9 – 13 June 2025.
The overarching theme of the Conference is “Accelerating action and mobilizing all actors to conserve and sustainably use the ocean”.
The Conference will involve all relevant stakeholders, bringing together Governments, the United Nations system, intergovernmental organizations, international financial institutions, other interested international bodies, non-governmental organizations, civil society organizations, academic institutions, the scientific community, the private sector, philanthropic organizations, Indigenous Peoples and local communities and other actors to assess challenges and opportunities relating to, as well as actions taken towards, the implementation of Goal 14.
The Conference will build on the previous UN Ocean Conferences, hosted by Sweden and Fiji in 2017 in New York and by Portugal and Kenya in 2022 in Lisbon.
The Nice Ocean Action Plan, made up of a political declaration and a list of voluntary commitments from stakeholders, will be adopted following international discussions during the Conference.
Source: United States of America – Federal Government Departments (video statements)
On October 18th, 2024, Nicholas Quets traveled to Rocky Point, Mexico, where upon entry, he encountered a Sinaloa cartel checkpoint. These cartel members attempted to steal his pickup truck before shooting him in the back through his heart, ultimately taking his life at just 31 years old. President Trump and Secretary Noem have taken decisive action to dismantle drug cartels.
European Commission Press release Brussels, 28 May 2025. Today, the European Commission has launched the EU Startup and Scale up Strategy, ‘Choose Europe to Start and Scale’, to make Europe a great place to start and grow global technology-driven companies.
The all-party Indian parliamentary delegation, led by BJP MP Baijayant Jay Panda in Saudi Arabia, is set to present India’s strong stance against Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism in Riyadh.
The delegation arrived in Riyadh early on Wednesday (Indian time) and later interacted with India’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Suhel Khan, at the India House.
Later, the delegation also offered floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh.
“Along with my colleagues from the all-party delegation, offered floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, honouring his timeless message of peace, non-violence & tolerance. We also had a detailed interaction with Ambassador Suhel Khan, reaffirming India’s resolute stand against terrorism and commitment to global peace,” Panda posted on X.
During the three-day visit, the delegation will interact with a cross-section of political dignitaries, government officials, thought leaders, business and media representatives. They will also engage with members of the Indian community, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh said in a statement.
Earlier on Tuesday, the delegation arrived in Riyadh on the third leg of their four-nation tour to highlight the significance of Operation Sindoor and India’s continued fight against Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism after concluding successful engagements in Kuwait and Bahrain.
The delegation was received by Abdulrahman Sntian A. Alharbi, Chairman of the Saudi-India Parliamentary Friendship Committee of the Shura Council.
“India’s stand on terrorism is resolute and uncompromising — a message we bring to Saudi Arabia with our all-party delegation. Appreciate the warm welcome by Abdulrahman Alharbi, Chair of the Saudi Arabia-India Friendship Committee of the Sura Council, as we begin key engagements to strengthen our growing partnership,” Panda posted on X.
The delegation, led by Panda, includes BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, BJP MP Phangnon Konyak, BJP MP Rekha Sharma, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) MP Asaduddin Owaisi, BJP MP Satnam Singh Sandhu, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, and former Indian diplomat Harsh Vardhan Shringla.
During the visit, the delegation will interact with a cross-section of political dignitaries, government officials, thought leaders, business and media representatives. They will also engage with members of the Indian community.
As part of their concluding day of engagements in Kuwait on Tuesday, the delegation undertook a series of media engagements and cultural visits aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and highlighting India’s united stance against terrorism.
“The delegation concluded its highly productive visit to Kuwait by effectively conveying India’s message of ‘Zero Tolerance’ and ‘New Normal’ against terrorism to a variety of interlocutors in Kuwait, including the Government, civil society, media, think tanks, opinion-makers and members of the Indian community,” said the Indian Embassy in Kuwait.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday approved an increase in the Minimum Support Prices (MSP) for 14 Kharif crops for the 2025–26 marketing season.
Among the crops that saw the highest MSP hike, nigerseed received the biggest absolute increase of ₹820 per quintal, followed by ragi at ₹596 per quintal, cotton at ₹589 per quintal, and sesamum at ₹579 per quintal. For paddy, the staple crop, the MSP has been raised by ₹69 per quintal.
In the pulses category, the MSP of tur (arhar) has been raised by ₹450, moong by ₹86, and urad by ₹400 per quintal. Among oilseeds, the support prices for groundnut, sunflower seed, and soybean have been increased by ₹480, ₹441, and ₹436 respectively. The move is expected to support better price realization for farmers and reduce dependence on imports.
The increase is in line with the Union Budget 2018-19 announcement of fixing MSPs at a minimum of 1.5 times the all-India weighted average cost of production. According to the government, the expected margin for farmers over their cost of production is estimated to be highest in bajra at 63 per cent, followed by maize and tur at 59 per cent each, and urad at 53 per cent. For the remaining crops, the margin is estimated to be at least 50 per cent.
The government stated that in recent years it has consistently promoted the cultivation of pulses, oilseeds, and nutri-cereals, also known as Shree Anna, by offering comparatively higher MSPs. This is intended to not only improve farmers’ income but also to encourage nutritional security and crop diversification.
Data shared by the government highlights a significant increase in procurement and financial support to farmers over the last decade. From 2014-15 to 2024-25, procurement of paddy stood at 7,608 lakh metric tonnes (LMT), compared to 4,590 LMT during 2004-05 to 2013-14. For all 14 Kharif crops combined, procurement during the same period was 7,871 LMT, as against 4,679 LMT in the previous decade.
The MSP payout to paddy farmers surged to ₹14.16 lakh crore in the last decade, as compared to ₹4.44 lakh crore during 2004-05 to 2013-14. Similarly, the total MSP amount paid for all 14 Kharif crops was ₹16.35 lakh crore, a sharp rise from ₹4.75 lakh crore during the earlier period.
India follows a three-season cropping calendar: Kharif crops, which are monsoon-dependent, are sown in June-July and harvested in October-November; Rabi crops are sown post-monsoon in October-November and harvested from January onwards; and summer crops are grown between the Rabi and Kharif seasons.
The Indian stock market ended in the red for the second consecutive session on Wednesday, weighed down by premium valuations and mixed global cues.
The BSE Sensex slipped 239.31 points, or 0.29 per cent, to close at 81,312.32, while the NSE Nifty dropped 73.75 points, or 0.30 per cent, settling at 24,752.45.
The decline was primarily driven by FMCG stocks, with the Nifty FMCG index ending nearly 1.5 per cent lower. Other sectoral indices such as Nifty Auto, Pharma, Metal, Realty, Infra, Commodity, and Healthcare also closed in negative territory.
Midcap and smallcap indices showed mixed trends. The Nifty Midcap 100 fell slightly by 13 points to 57,141, whereas the Nifty Smallcap 100 rose by 58 points, or 0.33 per cent, to 17,784.
Analysts attributed the subdued market sentiment to a lack of support from foreign institutional investors (FIIs) and the prevailing premium valuations.
“Domestic indices remained rangebound with a negative bias due to limited FII support and stretched valuations,” said Vinod Nair, Head of Research at Geojit Financial Services.
He added that key economic indicators such as a favourable monsoon forecast, a benign inflation outlook, and expectations of a strong Q4 GDP could help cushion downside risks. However, earnings visibility needs to improve alongside macroeconomic fundamentals to ensure stability in market direction, Nair noted.
Volatility eased, with the India VIX falling 2.79 per cent to 18.02, reflecting a drop in market uncertainty.
“Technically, the Nifty formed a red candle on the daily chart, indicating weakness. However, it continues to trade above its 21-day Exponential Moving Average (21-DEMA), which is currently around 24,570. As long as it holds above this level, a pullback move remains possible,” said Hrishikesh Yedve, Technical and Derivative Analyst at Asit C. Mehta Investment Interrmediates Ltd (a Pantomath Group company).
He noted that the index may face stiff resistance near the 25,000–25,100 zone in the near term.
Meanwhile, the Indian rupee traded flat around 85.40 against the US dollar, as the dollar index remained stable near the 99.45 mark.
“With key global economic data due this week—including the US Fed meeting minutes, Q4 GDP data, and the Core PCE Price Index—the rupee’s movement will largely depend on foreign fund flows in the secondary market,” said Jateen Trivedi, VP Research Analyst at LKP Securities.
Gold prices traded firm, finding strong support in the $3,280–$3,300 range on Comex. On the domestic front, MCX gold gained Rs 600, supported by a base around the Rs 95,000 level.
The Government will substantially reduce tolls when it takes over the Tai Lam Tunnel (TLT) at 0.00am on Saturday.
In addition, the HKeToll free-flow tolling service will begin from 5am on the same day.
Outlining the takeover arrangements today, the Transport Department said that the TLT will briefly cease operating for five minutes at 0.00am on May 31 to facilitate the updating of toll collection facilities. Thereafter, manual or Autotoll toll collections will be in operation until 3am.
From 3am to 5am, the tunnel will be fully closed for switchover works. It will reopen at 5am, when motorists can start using HKeToll without having to stop or queue to make payments.
As May 31 falls on a public holiday, fixed tolls will be applied throughout the day for private cars and motorcycles, of $18 and $7.2 respectively. The same fees also apply on Sundays.
Starting from June 2, tolls for private cars during the peak, normal and off-peak time slots from Monday to Saturday will be $45, $30 and $18 respectively.
For motorcycles, the toll for all time slots is set at 40% of the private car toll, which is between $7.2 and $18.
Taxis and other commercial vehicles, such as goods vehicles and buses, will continue to have a fixed toll on all days, set at $28 for taxis and $43 for other commercial vehicles.
The new tolls for all vehicle types will be lower than the existing tolls by between 22% and 80%, the department highlighted.
To facilitate the launch of HKeToll, temporary traffic and transport arrangements will take place in phases in the tunnel vicinity from 1am on May 31, with the tunnel and all slip road entrances being fully closed from 3am to 5am. Motorists should opt for Tuen Mun Road during the full closure.
During the tunnel’s temporary closure, the bus stops at the toll plaza will be suspended. As a result, three overnight bus routes – namely KMB Route Nos. N269 and N368, and Long Win Bus Route No. NA43 – will be diverted via Yuen Long Highway and Tuen Mun Road. Temporary bus stops will be set up at the “Tuen Mun Road Bus-Bus Interchange”.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Following is a question by the Hon Yim Kong and a reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (May 28):
Question:
Last month, the United States released the findings of the “Section 301 Investigations” under the Trade Act of 1974 and announced that port fees would be imposed on vessels owned or controlled by Chinese entities (including Hong Kong entities), including vessels whose owner or operator is headquartered in Hong Kong and vessels of which more than 25 per cent of the equity interest is held by a citizen or citizens or the Government of Hong Kong. Hong Kong is the fourth largest shipping register in the world, with over 1 100 maritime-related companies currently operating here. Some preliminary analyses have pointed out that such maritime companies will be faced with risks such as an upsurge in operating costs and a decline in market competitiveness, and ship leasing and ship financing businesses will also be affected by knock-on impacts. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) whether the Government has systematically assessed the negative impact of the aforesaid measures of the United States on Hong Kong’s shipping and maritime-related industries, and formulated a cross-departmental collaboration plan to safeguard Hong Kong’s status as an international shipping centre, as well as companies’ legitimate rights and interests;
(2) whether it will provide targeted relief measures to the affected companies engaged in shipping, ship leasing and so on, or provide certain financial support for them to adjust their route deployments; and
(3) whether it has proactive measures to attract “non-US” ship operators or relevant high-end maritime service providers to carry on developing their business in Hong Kong?
Reply:
President,
The United States (US) Government announced on April 17 this year the results of its Section 301 Investigations against Chinese maritime, logistics and ship building industries and decided to impose port fees on vessels owned or operated by Chinese (including Hong Kong and Macao) companies, and vessels built in China for the use of US ports. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has immediately issued a press release to express its strong opposition to the decision, particularly for the fact that the measures are blatantly discriminatory, deliberately dividing the international maritime community and undermining the spirit of international solidarity and co-operation.
The HKSAR Government is highly concerned about the incident and the Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB) has been maintaining close liaison with the industry to assess the situation and respond as needed. With regard to the various parts of Hon Yim’s question, my reply is as follows:
(1) The US authorities has announced that the port fees will take effect on October 14 this year. For a vessel of 50 000 net tonnage, it will be charged US$2.5 million per entry into a US port, thereafter increased annually reaching US$7 million in April 2028. Each vessel will be charged up to a maximum of five times per year. The fees are indeed detrimental to others without beneficial to oneself, not only undermining the interests of the US port industry, cargo owners and consumers but also unfairly increasing the costs of Hong Kong’s shipping companies on their business operations routing to and from the US ports.
Hong Kong is an international maritime centre supported by our country. Over the years, Hong Kong has attracted shipping companies of different capital backgrounds from all over the world to operate in the city by virtue of our “one country, two systems”, bilingual common law as well as a free and open business environment. Each of these shipping companies has its own specific business portfolio and clientele. The extent to which they will be affected would depend on the share of the US market in their respective portfolios and their scope for adjusting shipping routes and business portfolios. It is therefore difficult to generalise the situation.
Recently, we have been visiting the shipping companies one after another, and the industry has reflected that the business environment in Hong Kong is indeed unrivalled and that the Hong Kong’s ship registry has brought an edge to their ships in terms of quality assurance and international reputation. The industry is striving to identify solutions to the incident, and we do not underestimate the pressure faced by them due to various commercial considerations. On the strength of our country’s strong backings, the HKSAR Government will render its full support to the Hong Kong’s shipping companies to cope with the challenges. At the same time, we urge the industry to stay confident and avoid making hasty decisions under short-term geopolitical pressures at the expense of the long-term development opportunities in Hong Kong.
(2) We understand from the affected companies that they consider financial subsidies from the Government neither financially sustainable nor an effective solution to the problem. In contrast, the industry hopes that the Government can better consolidate the edges for the maritime sector operating in Hong Kong.
In recent years, the Government has introduced a number of measures to enhance the competitiveness of the maritime industry, which has indeed saved up for a rainy day and enhanced the industry’s resilience in coping with the complex external circumstances. We will capitalise on our strengths via a systematic and proactive approach to reinforce the local maritime industry chain internally as well as to expand market opportunities in our country and the world externally. We would have four key areas of work in future, including strengthening the maritime ecosystem, leading the industry to seize the opportunities arising from green shipping, deepening Hong Kong’s role as an international exchange platform, and expanding opportunities in Mainland and overseas markets:
(i) Strengthening the maritime ecosystem, including the introduction of a half-rate tax concession for commodity traders and enhancement of the existing tax concessions for the maritime industry, for which the legislative bill is to be submitted to the Legislative Council in the first half of next year; continuing to provide green cash incentives and implementing the Block Registration Incentive Scheme for Hong Kong-registered ships;
(ii) Supporting and leading the industry to seize the opportunities arising from green shipping. The TLB has promulgated the Action Plan on Green Maritime Fuel Bunkering at the end of last year, with a view to promoting Hong Kong into a high-quality green maritime fuel bunkering centre by, inter alia, providing collaborative platforms for catalysing green maritime fuel supply and trading, thereby equipping the industry to cope with the international trend of green transition.
(iii) Deepening Hong Kong’s role as an international exchange platform for facilitating interfaces between the local and overseas industry and expanding global business opportunities. The Government has been actively deepening collaborations with the international maritime organisations. The Hong Kong Maritime Week last year has been one of the most international editions ever where the key organisations like the International Chamber of Shipping and the International Maritime Organization had staged events in Hong Kong. These organisations have confirmed their continued participation in the Hong Kong Maritime Week this year and there would also be other international organisations staging events in Hong Kong for the first time.
(iv) Assisting and leading Hong Kong shipping companies to expand opportunities in Mainland and overseas markets, capitalising on Hong Kong’s connectivity. This include establishing a “rail-sea-land-river” intermodal transport system with the Mainland for securing more cargo sources for Hong Kong, as well as utilising the port community system to be launched in January next year for connecting with the international maritime community, thereby assisting the industry to further enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
In addition, the Government will soon set up the Hong Kong Maritime and Port Development Board to be chaired by a non-official and provided with dedicated team and resources for enhancing its research, promotion and manpower training capabilities, so as to provide more effective support to the Government in promoting the development of Hong Kong’s maritime industry.
(3) The aforementioned measures will significantly enhance Hong Kong’s business environment and attractiveness, reinforcing Hong Kong’s position as an international maritime centre. We will continue to step up external promotion on the advantages of operating in Hong Kong through the Marine Department’s service points located in seven different continents and Invest Hong Kong’s network at home and abroad. The Marine Department will also set up a new dedicated team in the Middle East in the fourth quarter of this year for targeted promotion towards the emerging markets there.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Oil spill sighted at Silverstrand BeachIssued at HKT 16:50
Here is an item of interest to swimmers.
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department said today (May 28) that because of an oil spill, Silverstrand Beach in Sai Kung District has been closed until further notice. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.
The red flag was hoisted earlier at the beach due to big waves.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Temporary closure of Yuen Long Swimming PoolIssued at HKT 15:02
The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (May 28) that, due to suspension of water supply resulting from a water pipe burst in the vicinity, Yuen Long Swimming Pool in Yuen Long District has been temporarily closed until further notice.
Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow Season 4 has made its way to South India, fueling a wave of youth-driven innovation. Across the dynamic campuses of Hyderabad and the bustling tech hubs of Bengaluru, students are uniting to envision a brighter future for their communities, armed with empathy, purpose, and the principles of design thinking.
Samsung ‘Solve for Tomorrow 2025’ will provide INR 1 crore to the top four winning teams to support the incubation of their projects, along with hands-on prototyping, investor connects, and expert mentorship from Samsung leaders and IIT Delhi faculty.
At the University of Hyderabad, hundreds of students immersed themselves in a design thinking workshop, challenging the status quo and uncovering solutions to everyday problems.
“For me, the turning point was when the instructor said, ‘There are countless problems in the world, but only a few who take action to solve them,’” said R. Deepika, a Business Analytics student. “That statement inspired me to become one of those problem-solvers and create meaningful impact.”
Mukta, a Healthcare and Hospital Management student, also experienced a shift in perspective. “This session taught me to think like an entrepreneur. A simple idea can transform the world, and now I’m determined to bring mine to life,” she said.
The momentum didn’t stop in there. At KG Reddy Engineering College in Hyderabad, D. Ganesh Reddy, a BTech Computer Science Engineering student, left the workshop with a clear understanding of how technology can address local challenges.
“The session showed me that student ideas can lead to real-world change if we approach them with curiosity and structure,” he said.
Similarly, over 500 students from top institutions like Jain University, Dr. Chandrama Dayanand Sagar Institute of Medical Education and Research, and Kempowda Institute of Medical Sciences gathered to explore design thinking and innovation in action.
“This workshop opened my eyes to the problems in my own community,” said Joel J, a second-semester B.Tech student. “For the first time, I realized I could be the one to solve them.”
A Movement for Innovation
Across these cities, the workshops have done more than generate ideas—they’ve sparked confidence. Confidence that young minds, with the right mindset and guidance, can drive transformative change.
As Solve for Tomorrow continues its journey across India, it’s not just expanding its reach—it’s unlocking new possibilities. From Hyderabad to Bengaluru and soon to regions like the North-East, the program is cultivating a future powered by student-led innovation.
Applications are open, and the next generation of problem-solvers is already in motion.
Headline: Apple launches Self Service Repair for iPad, expands repair programs
Apple today announced the addition of iPad to Self Service Repair, providing iPad owners with access to repair manuals, genuine Apple parts, Apple Diagnostics troubleshooting sessions, tools, and rental toolkits. Beginning tomorrow, with support for iPad Air (M2 and later), iPad Pro (M4), iPad mini (A17 Pro), and iPad (A16), the launch features components including displays, batteries, cameras, and external charging ports. Today’s announcement joins the expansion of other Apple repair services that further enable customers and independent repair providers to complete out-of-warranty repairs, including new details about the Genuine Parts Distributor program.
“At Apple, our goal is to create the world’s greatest products that last as long as possible,” said Brian Naumann, Apple’s vice president of AppleCare. “With today’s announcement, we’re excited to expand our repair services to more customers, enabling them to further extend the life of their products — all without compromising safety, security, or privacy.”
Launched in 2022, Self Service Repair provides consumers who are comfortable completing their own repairs access to the same manuals, genuine Apple parts, and tools used at Apple Store locations and Apple Authorized Service Providers. Building on Apple’s commitment to expand repair access, the company continues to grow Self Service Repair to support even more products and regions: With the addition of iPad, the Self Service Repair Store now supports 65 Apple products, including the recently released iPhone 16e, MacBook Air, and Mac Studio. This summer, Canada will become the 34th country in which Apple offers Self Service Repair.
Today’s package of announcements also includes more details about Apple’s Genuine Parts Distributor program. The recently launched program broadens access to businesses that do not have a direct service relationship with Apple, fulfilling a need in the repair marketplace while providing customers with more options. Through Genuine Parts Distributor, independent mobile repair professionals can order genuine Apple service parts and components via third-party distributors, including MobileSentrix in the U.S., and MobileSentrix and Mobileparts.shop in Europe. Genuine Parts Distributor offers a wide range of Apple parts for iPhone repairs, including displays, batteries, and charging ports, with iPad parts coming tomorrow. Repair providers interested in learning more can visit the program page.
Over the past several years, Apple has accelerated its repair footprint by expanding the number of professional service locations that have access to genuine Apple parts, tools, and training. Repair options include Apple Store locations, Apple Authorized Service Providers, Independent Repair Providers, mail-in repair centers, Self Service Repair, and the Genuine Parts Distributor program.
Notice is hereby given that Anthony Markham Consulting Limited, which was registered under the Designated Businesses (Registration & Oversight) Act 2015, has been de-registered in accordance with 12(1)(a) of this Act with effect from 28/05/2025.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By Heidi Riley, Adjunct Research Fellow, University College Dublin, and Affiliate Researcher in the Department of War Studies, King’s College London
*Some pseudonyms are used to protect the identities of interviewees.
“I saw a lot of suffering.” The old man, Lokwi, gestures towards the woman cooking beside their hut as he talks. “The husband of this woman … was killed here.”
The woman is Lokwi’s sister-in-law. He is recalling the day in 1988 when his brother was killed by soldiers from the Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). Lokwi was still a child when the SPLA captured the town of Kapoeta and surrounding settlements, where he lived with his family. The day his brother was killed, everybody was forced to leave:
There was nothing good that day … They burned all the villages and the soldiers attacked the civilians. People were scattered.
South Sudan – a central African country of around 11.5 million people split in half by the White Nile – suffered decades of conflict prior to gaining independence from the rest of Sudan in 2011. While independence brought optimism, this was thwarted two years later by internal disputes among the ruling parties that led to a resurgence of the violence.
While a ceasefire was brokered in 2018 and a power-sharing agreement signed between opposing political factions, there has been a lack of political will to implement it. The dire economic situation, worsening food insecurity driven by climate change and political instability, and legacies of ethnic rivalries continue to perpetuate ethnically motivated violence and distrust between communities. In April, the head of the UN mission in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, warned that the world’s youngest nation is once again on the brink of civil war.
Amid this resurgence of violence, Lokwi – who is from the Toposa community – continues to be haunted by memories of the attack that killed his brother. Sitting under the shade of a tree in the village where it took place, he explains how he fled into the bush and survived for days on wild fruit until, starving, he managed to get to the town of Narus, where he was given some food by a local Dinka man.
When Lokwi finally returned to his village, he found everything destroyed by fire – huts, livestock and granaries “all burned”. Whereas he decided to start again and rebuild the village, his surviving brother, now living in Narus, promised “never to step in this land again because of the memories and pain”.
Today, Lokwi works as a peace activist in South Sudan. He spends a lot of time encouraging people in his village and the surrounding area to engage in peaceful dialogue with rival groups – and to resist violence. With an expression of concern, he explains the difficulties he faces in dissuading young men from engaging in violence:
When I tell them to stop the conflict … we have homes and families who listen and stay calm, but other individuals like the [male] youths don’t listen, they still create problems.
South Sudan’s long history of cattle raiding
Over the course of 2024, Anna Adiyo Sebit and three other South Sudanese researchers interviewed more than 400 men and women from South Sudan’s Toposa and Nuer communities as part of the XCEPT programme. This programme, based at King’s College London, seeks to understand the role that conflict-related trauma plays in influencing who engages in violence and who doesn’t.
As well as inter-ethnic fighting, South Sudan has a long history of cattle raiding. Cattle are central to the pastoralist communities which make up over half of the population, including ethnic groups such as the Dinka, Nuer and Toposa.
In most rural households, financial capital is typically held in livestock, mainly cows – which are also required for dowry payments and as compensation for any crimes committed. This places high value on cattle ownership, meaning that raiding and inter-community disputes over cattle are common.
And whereas these disputes were once fought with sticks, stones and spears, years of political conflict have left the country awash with guns – so cattle raiding has become a lethal activity. As one old man who described himself as a “retired warrior” explained:
In our grandparents’ and grand ancestors’ [time], in battles or fighting we used stones, pangas, sticks, spears and arrows. [At this time there were] rare fights or raids waged against [other] tribes … But after the introduction of AK-47 machine guns, it accelerated [to] higher numbers of raids and increased casualties in both communities.
Among these pastoralist communities, gender norms determine that where women and girls are tasked with maintaining domestic life, including sustaining subsistence farming and constructing huts, men are expected to keep and secure cattle. Many young men are active in cattle camps, which are in areas with better pastures where cows are taken to graze – but can be vulnerable to raids from other ethnic groups.
In many parts of rural South Sudan, young men are expected to fight to secure and protect their livelihood – including achieving the required “bride price” for their marriage to go ahead. Successful cattle raids can earn a young man respect among his peers.
But the trauma of experiencing violence from a young age, as so many of these young men have, is likely to be a factor in the perpetuation of various forms of violence in adulthood, including the prevalence of revenge killings.
The high rates of violence are also having a devastating impact on women and girls in South Sudan. According to a 2024 UN Population Fund study, 65% of women and girls have experienced some form of gender-based violence, of which intimate partner violence is the most prevalent. The UN Mission in South Sudan has also reported a steep increase in sexual violence and abductions of women and girls by armed groups in 2024.
Aware of the prevalence of violence against women by cattle youth, Lokwi speaks of confronting the issue at community meetings in his village where he brings together members of rival communities:
The youths are also part of the meeting. Everybody is given the chance from both communities to talk, and we tell them ‘stop killing women in the bush’. I tell them that women are the ones who give birth to generations, and [ask]: ‘Why do you kill women?’ [Some] will feel touched and listen and stop – but there are other individuals [for] whom killing is part of their life … They will still kill women.
Masculine expectations
In South Sudan, like many countries, masculine expectations that associate men with being the provider or protector, and with characteristics of strength, stoicism and bravery, play an important role in how men experience trauma and the coping mechanisms they use.
Men are often socialised into suppressing emotions such as sadness or hurt. As a result, alternative outlets for dealing with trauma and stress can manifest in more violent or aggressive emotions.
I have spent many years researching how societal expectations of masculinity play into the way men respond to traumatic experiences. In narratives of wartime suffering, our understanding of male trauma is often overshadowed by the association of masculinity with the perpetration of violence.
While not all men suffering from trauma respond in the same way, research by the Brazilian NGO Promundo has found that men and boys are more likely than women and girls to exhibit maladaptive coping behaviour such as risk-taking, low physical activity, withdrawal and self-harm – or violence in its multiple forms. There is also evidence that rates of alcohol and substance abuse are higher among men affected by trauma or high levels of stress.
During conflict or in situations of acute food insecurity, daily stresses through an inability to fulfil masculine expectations can become particularly acute – and lead to increasingly violent behaviour. This pattern emerges in many of the interviews conducted for the XCEPT project.
Eric, from the South Sudan state of Eastern Equatoria, lost his father when he was ten. His father was a fairly wealthy man but after his death, that wealth was passed on to Eric’s uncles on his father’s side, rather than his mother or her three co-wives. (The tradition of inheritance passing to male relatives is reflective of women’s lack of economic independence in rural South Sudan.)
Eric was then required to respect his uncles as stepfathers as they became the de facto authority over his mother, her co-wives and their children. As the oldest son, he endured years of beatings from his stepfathers, as well as witnessing violence by them against his mother.
Upon reaching adulthood, Eric said he realised he was able to escape the “catastrophic mistreatment from his stepfathers” and needed to “adventure” for his own survival. However, due to food shortages, survival meant engaging in cattle raiding.
On his first raid, his “warrior group” secured a herd of cattle by killing the cattle owner. Eric was granted four cows – but apart from one, these had to be handed over to his stepfathers. As he explained:
On my arrival, people in my village were excited to see me back without any injuries and I brought these cows. On [the] spot, my stepfathers took them. As in [the] culture of Toposa, anything from your enemies belongs to elder people. I was only left with one cow.
On his second raid, Eric secured 30 goats, of which his stepfathers allowed him to keep ten.
Aware of the suffering that this raiding had caused and now with an established reputation as a “warrior”, Eric then stepped back from raiding and used the ten goats to breed more. This gave him the resources for marriage and to start a family – but he carried the legacy of his involvement in the killings during past raids, and the knowledge that he was now a target for retaliatory violence. He explained:
So far, I have killed six enemies; hence am also included as a warrior in my community. I do not want them [the enemy] to know my name because they will kill me if they know me.
For Eric and many other men like him in South Sudan, it is difficult to show emotions such as sadness or fear, as this could be interpreted as a sign of weakness. Our researcher and interviewer, Anna Adiyo Sebit, describes the expectations placed on men in her culture: “As a man, even when someone dies, you do not shed a tear, especially in front of women. Instead, you cry from your heart inside.”
The trauma of war
Ten years ago, while conducting fieldwork in Nepal for my PhD and book, I interviewed more than 60 former members of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) to examine how their participation in the civil war – known as the People’s War – affected notions of masculinity within the armed group.
While I never asked about trauma or psychological difficulties, it became clear these were present for many of the men – just never explicitly spoken about. Instead, they would talk about their sense of disillusionment or lack of ability to fulfil societal expectations of masculinity – all the while, carefully keeping their emotions in check.
These emotions would only surface in more casual conversations over tea or food, following the formal interviews. In these moments, the men revealed a more vulnerable side – often expressing sadness, frustration, and a desire to share their more personal stories.
It was a clear shift from the displays of hardened masculinity in their narratives of the battlefield. Some of these informal exchanges hinted at signs of PTSD – for example, in their descriptions of flashbacks, sleep difficulties and short temperedness. One young man who was extremely polite and courteous became very fidgety after the end of the interview. He told me: “In the night I can’t sleep, because I hear bomb blasts inside my head.”
Another, clearly proud of his role in the People’s War, recounted his bravery on the battlefield. Yet, when he spoke of the six months of torture he had endured in police custody, his composure faltered and he struggled to hold back tears. He showed me a photo of his three-year-old child, saying: “This is why I will never return to battle.”
What I encountered was men who appeared uneasy about expressing emotions as this runs contrary to masculine expectations, but were also frustrated at a lack of outlets to tell their story.
During one interview with a former PLA member in the western district of Bardiya, I noticed a group of ex-PLA fighters gathered at the boundary of his home after they had heard an interview was taking place. As my interpreter and I were leaving, a thin man at the front of the crowd began shouting aggressively at us.
Having initially assumed his anger was directed at my presence in the area, I realised it stemmed from his frustration at not being selected for an interview. “Why does everyone always want to interview you?” he shouted at the man I had just spoken to. The former fighter’s anger, fuelled by alcohol, appeared to reflect his frustration at lacking a platform to share his own story.
From Nepal in 2016 to South Sudan in 2024, amid the violence and trauma of war and the daily expectations of masculinity associated with being a provider and protector, there appeared to be few outlets through which these men could talk freely about their emotions, tell their stories, and admit their mental health difficulties.
Many of the men interviewed in South Sudan had been involved in violent clashes involving killings at some point in their lives. In interviews carried out in Kapoeta North, a county in eastern Equatoria, some men reported having constant flashbacks to the sounds of gunshots – when they tried to sleep at night, these sounds would “become real”, stopping them getting any proper rest:
Sometimes you can wake up in the middle of the night and find yourself trembling as if these people are coming for you.
One man explained how he would get up in the night to follow a “black shadow” like a ghost. When community members would run after him to stop him, he would become “hostile and behave like he wants to kill everyone” – because, he explained, he saw his friend being killed on the battlefield and the memory of this would not leave him, especially in the night.
A woman described how, when young men are involved in “killing”, their “mind is not functioning well”. Contextualising this claim she explained: “There was this man who got traumatised due to the ongoing conflict of raiding. He fought many battles until the gunshot sound affected his brain and made him crazy.”
She then described a man who could not accept his friend had died in a cattle camp raid and insisted on returning to the battlefield, even though the community told him not to. “After confirming [his friend’s death] he ran mad and became confused. We say that such a person had his heart broken by the incident he witnessed, and we say he is mad.”
Men whose companions have been killed can become fixated on revenge, as Sebit explains, “It will torture their mind until they go and avenge the death of the person that was killed.” Some will encourage them to take revenge but others, like Lokwi, are trying to discourage revenge killings and working towards peaceful resolution of disputes through dialogue.
Societal expectations of masculinity
The link between societal expectations of masculinity, trauma and violent behaviour among men is important in better understanding ongoing insecurities in rural South Sudan. A man is supposed to own cows in order to gain respect from their community. Without these, they can be rejected – leading to feelings of isolation, despair and a fear of ridicule.
As noted by another elderly interviewee: “If a man does not go for raiding, he will be cursed by elders. [In contrast], if he comes back with cows, people will celebrate – and if he dies, people will say he died as a warrior.”
It can be a vicious circle. If you do not get cows when you raid another community, this may lead to further feelings of shame – driving the young men to put themselves at further risk. In a state of stress and having grown up in a culture of conflict, they may regard themselves as having no choice but to risk death in the quest for cows. Those who have been orphaned or do not have other family members to support them can be particularly vulnerable to this.
Such concerns about masculinity emerge in many of the interviews with young men in South Sudan – and also in discussions with support workers there. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) is one of the few organisations in South Sudan who have run trauma awareness training for men. A local CRS programme manager, Luol, explained to me in an online meeting how men’s worries about marriage rights can spiral into acts of violence:
What is actually happening in [young men’s] brains is they are thinking: ‘Okay, I am 18 or 17 years old now, in the next two years I have to have my partner at home, but I don’t have resources. [So] the best way to get resources is to raid or steal people’s properties.’ This is the thinking of war. This is the thinking of a person who has been exposed to conflict – that the best way to get resources is to raid from somebody.
In another meeting, Luol described his experience of facilitating trauma awareness programmes with men. He explained that “many of the men have participated in cattle raiding and have seen horrific kinds of events such as, seeing somebody [being] killed, and [they] can be traumatised because [they] participated in that war [raid].”
Luol described one young man who came and spoke to him after the first day of training:
He wanted to testify that he’s now recovering from his trauma because he participated in the war and he saw children and women being killed and when he returned home, he saw [in] his own children, the children who were killed, and he cried, he felt ashamed for participating and playing a part in this. And he was trying to recover from that effect of trauma. And that’s very common. Most of the young men who participate in war come back traumatised.
The importance of such outlets for men to come and talk together about their emotions was emphasised in our meeting. For cultural reasons, neither individual counselling sessions nor sessions including women would be acceptable to the men.As noted by another local CRS staff member :
If women are in that group, the men are likely not to talk about [trauma] because of masculinity issues. They don’t want the women to hear men accepting weakness or vulnerability … But if the men are talking alone [about] their life they will say: ‘Yes, this is what happened to me, and this is how we can move forward.’
While these sessions are not supposed to be a form of restorative justice or “amnesty” for crimes committed, Luol explained that opening up about feelings of guilt in the small group is helpful in addressing “displaced anger” that can manifest in continued violence in the community, clan or in the family.
CRS Trauma Awareness and Social Cohesion programmes also encourage discussions of alternatives to violence or cattle raiding, presenting a longer-term life vision for those present. According to one attendee, his less traumatised brain allows for rational thinking such as: “If I start cultivating this year and I want to marry in two or three years’ time, I’ll be able to produce the crops, sell them in the market, and then buy cows if I need to buy cows.”
The programme was piloted in South Sudan’s Greater Jonglei State in 2014 using CRS private funding. Three years later it secured funding from USAID after “demonstrating its value”. In 2020, with additional funding from the EU, the programme was expanded to areas of Eastern Equatoria. While the programme has now ended with the completion of its funding cycle, CRS continues to seek future funding to re-establish the initiative.
Soldiers celebrate the anniversary of South Sudan’s independence day, which briefly brought peace. Richard Juilliart/Shutterstock
‘Everything gets destroyed’
While recognising that most men do not engage in violence, the reality is men are overwhelmingly responsible for violence when it does occur. This is the case in South Sudan as in all countries. It is therefore vital to engage with men, not just as perpetrators of violence but as potential peacemakers.
Unfortunately, gender stereotyping within the humanitarian and donor sector has resulted in a lack of trauma response targeted at men. Instead, men and boys tend to be framed as perpetual perpetrators of violence and discrimination – as “emasculated troublemakers” not worth engaging with, or at best by the “men can cope by themselves” narrative.
Wider research by XCEPT has found that out of 12 humanitarian organisations interviewed in northern Syria, northern Iraq and South Sudan, only two had programmes specifically targeted at men. The situation appears little changed from the conclusion reached in the 2021 Promondo report, which stated:
This de-prioritisation of boys and men in emergency response is rooted in donors’ and international organisations’ lack of political will to meaningfully acknowledge that vulnerability exists beyond women and girls … Chronic inattention to boys and men has resulted in programs, services and spaces not being sufficiently tailored to meet their needs.
This not only has an impact on men and boys’ wellbeing. It also fails to take on board the reality that unaddressed trauma among men correlates with increases in community violence, revenge killings, cattle raiding and gender-based violence suffered by women and girls. As an international CRS staff member explained:
Unless donors have a way of facing [the reality of trauma] and addressing it in all interventions, all the money we’re spending on health programs and infrastructure programs and education programs and whatever it is, it’s just money down the drain. Because eventually, everything gets destroyed in violence.
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Heidi Riley receives funding from the Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy and Trends (XCEPT) research programme, funded by UK International Development from the UK government. (Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the UK government’s official policies.) She also received funding from the Irish Research Council for the Nepal research mentioned. Sincere thanks to Anna Adiyo Sebit, expert researcher with Catholic Relief Services in South Sudan, for her fieldwork and other contributions to this article.
Question for written answer E-002050/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Nicola Procaccini (ECR), Salvatore De Meo (PPE)
In recent years, a number of e-commerce companies based in third countries, particularly China, operating under a direct-to-consumer model, have benefited from significantly reduced international shipping costs. It was possible initially as a result of the preferential tariffs provided for by the UPU (Universal Postal Union) system, which continues to classify China as a developing country, despite its current economic position, and then through direct commercial agreements with European postal operators, on account of the companies’ large shipping volumes.
This mechanism enables Chinese companies to obtain very low delivery tariffs, distorting competition. Despite the 2019 reform of the UPU, competitive inequalities and market fragmentation persist, penalising European operators and favouring those who do not adopt strict rules on product safety, traceability, liability and taxes.
At the same time, growing numbers of low-value consumer products, such as toys, are being placed on the market, and they often circumvent customs controls, exposing consumers – especially children – to potential health and safety risks.
In view of the above:
1.Is the Commission aware of this state of affairs and what steps will it take to provide a level playing field in the internal market?
2.With a view to improving European consumers’ safety, will it propose stricter controls on parcels from third countries?
Question for written answer E-002014/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Oihane Agirregoitia Martínez (Renew), Nicolás González Casares (S&D)
The European Ocean Pact – expected to be adopted by the European Commission on 4 June 2025– will seek to bring coherence to all EU policies related to oceans. In addition to fostering the blue economy, it will prioritise maintaining healthy and resilient oceans and coastal regions.
The scope of the emissions trading system was extended to cover maritime transport in January 2024, with a gradual implementation timeline until 2027. Given the process of decarbonising the fleet and taking into account the sector’s efforts in this transition and the very small proportion of emissions generated by its activity, we would like to ask:
1.Does the Commission plan to include the implementation of ETS2 in the European Ocean Pact to cover other maritime activities, such as fisheries?
2.If so, what are the estimated costs for the European fleet of extending this system and what measures does the Commission intend to take to support the sector with regard to the impact of this cost?
Question for written answer E-002054/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Claudiu-Richard Târziu (ECR)
In Romania and other central and eastern European countries, livestock breeding is not just an important economic activity, but also a part of rural identity and cultural heritage. The new European animal welfare initiatives – such as the elimination of cages or the limiting of transportation – can place excessive burdens on small and traditional farms that do not have the resources necessary for a rapid transition.
There are concerns that these regulations are designed for large farms in western Europe and are being applied uniformly, without reflecting the Union’s economic diversity. This approach could have an adverse impact on farmers in the East and reinforce the perception of an unequal single market.
In this context, we request the following clarifications from the European Commission:
1.What concrete measures will it take to ensure that the animal welfare standards will be implemented in a proportionate manner that reflects the structural differences between the Member States, especially those in eastern Europe?
2.What types of financial support or transition mechanisms does it intend to offer to small farmers to enable them to adapt without the risk of being forced to cease their activity?
3.How will it guarantee that the application of these rules will not lead to distortions in single market competitiveness to the detriment of farmers in less developed regions of the Union?
The Commission, supported by the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights hosted by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (‘EUIPO Observatory’), has been actively monitoring the effects of the 2023 Recommendation on combating online piracy of sports and other live events[1].
The Observatory conducted in the first quarter 2025 the first of two foreseen data collection exercises, aimed at gathering relevant evidence on the impact of the recommendation from rightholders, intermediaries and national authorities.
The data collection exercise is based on several Key Performance Indicators published by the Commission in July 2023, after consultation with relevant stakeholders.
The recommendation also entrusted the EUIPO Observatory to create a Dedicated Network of administrative authorities as a forum to exchange on measures, procedures and remedies applied to tackle online piracy of live events at national level.
Four meetings of the Dedicated Network have taken place to date, and these have allowed to gather valuable information on the measures put in place in the Member States and on their impact and efficiency, as well as on the good practices and challenges faced in tackling online piracy.
Additionally, the Commission recently published a Call for evidence[2] to collect stakeholders’ views on the effects of the recommendation and the remaining challenges.
Based on the information collected throughout this process, the Commission will assess the effects of the recommendation by November 2025 and on that basis, consider if additional measures are needed at EU level.
The discussions at the Summit in Paris on 17 February 2025 covered Europe’s defence and security, including the need to strengthen the European defence technological and industrial base. In addition, participants emphasised the need to step up the overall support to Ukraine, and to maintain economic pressure on Russia, including through sanctions.
The President of the Commission is responsible for ensuring the external representation of the EU when matters fall outside the scope of the common foreign and security policy and relate to other EU policy fields[1].
The President of the Commission is therefore responsible for ensuring the external representation of the EU with regards to various work strands of support to Ukraine, including, among others, financial assistance and humanitarian support. Furthermore, matters related to the EU’s defence industry also fall within the scope of competences of the Commission, which plays a crucial role in assisting Member States to boost their defence industries — a prerequisite for any militarily capable and well-equipped Europe.
The invitation to participate underscores the Commission’s distinct and important role in these discussions.
[1] Article 17(1) of the Treaty on European Union , https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/treaty/teu_2012/oj/eng.
1. The Commission has not received any official information from the European Public Prosecutor’s Office regarding the alleged appeal mentioned by the Honourable Member.
2. The Commission does not comment on national Court proceedings[1].
The next multiannual financial framework is an opportunity to better focus EU spending on the EU’s shared priorities. Addressing demographic change is one of these shared priorities. In general, as per the Commission’s political guidelines[1], the EU will also step up its work on preventive health, in particular for mental health and cardiovascular diseases, as well as on treatments for degenerative illnesses.
As recalled in the recent Commission’s communication on ‘The road to the next multiannual financial framework’[2], financing the social transition will require maximising public investment and leveraging private capital.
There is scope for increasing additionality to ensure that the EU budget focuses on investments which would not have materialised otherwise.
Reinforcing the link between overall policy coordination and the EU budget will also be key to ensure better alignment with EU priorities and inform decisions on investments and reforms at EU and national level, including in the social care sector.
In line with the ‘better regulation’ principles[3], the Commission intends to use evidence-based policymaking supported by thorough impact assessments and stakeholder consultations to ensure future initiatives address actual needs.
In addition, a comprehensive performance framework will support the monitoring and reporting of the progress toward the defined objectives, using appropriate performance indicators.
In the implementation of EU funds under Common Provisions Regulation (CPR)[1], Member States and the Commission should ensure compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights[2] and the implementation and application of the UN Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities (UNCRPD) throughout the programming period, also when designing the selection criteria for operations[3].
In addition, the horizontal enabling condition (HEC)[4] on the implementation and application of the UNCRPD requires that a national framework to ensure implementation of the UNCRPD is in place. Other thematic enabling conditions (TEC) also promote the shift to community-based services and care, through deinstitutionalisation[5].
The Commission assesses the fulfilment of the HEC and TECs and their application by the Member States throughout the CPR programming period and when not fulfilled, the related expenditure under the CPR is not reimbursed from the EU budget. Member States are required to appoint monitoring committees to ensure the correct implementation of programmes[6].
The Commission participates in a monitoring and advisory capacity, with annual review meetings to examine the performance of each programme[7].
Through the application of the relevant HEC and TEC, the Commission remains committed to enabling shift to community-based services and care, through deinstitutionalisation.
The Commission has issued guidance on independent living and inclusion in the community of persons with disabilities in the context of EU funding[8].
The approach presented in this notice is relevant to all EU funding instruments within their scope of support, including EU’s external action and EU-funded projects internationally.
[1] Regulation (EU) 2021/1060. Available from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2021/1060/oj/eng.
[8] Commission Notice Guidance on independent living and inclusion in the community of persons with disabilities in the context of EU funding. Available from: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/C/2024/7188/oj/eng.
Question for written answer E-002045/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Catherine Griset (PfE), Aleksandar Nikolic (PfE), Mélanie Disdier (PfE), Julie Rechagneux (PfE), Fabrice Leggeri (PfE), Gilles Pennelle (PfE), Pascale Piera (PfE)
Following in the footsteps of their US counterparts, European digital businesses are asking the Commission to postpone the adoption of the Digital Fairness Act (DFA), so that the functioning of the current legislative framework can be evaluated first.
In their view, most of the practices that might be sanctioned by the DFA (AI chatbots, online influences, targeted advertising, etc.) are covered by the existing legislation.
Keen to regain greater competitiveness, those European digital businesses are calling for an ‘updated enforcement strategy’ for the current framework before any new legislation is adopted.
Will the Commission, recently won over by the benefits of simplification, take heed of this grievance?
Question for written answer E-002067/2025 to the Commission Rule 144 Benedetta Scuderi (Verts/ALE), Ignazio Roberto Marino (Verts/ALE), Leoluca Orlando (Verts/ALE), Cristina Guarda (Verts/ALE)
Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) allocates public resources to cover ‘market failures’ in areas with no 5G coverage. In the Abruzzo region, 5G networks are already up and running, NRRP contributions have been paid to Infratel Italy and proposals have been made by INWIT for new infrastructure. Under Articles 107 and 108 TFEU, to prevent competition distortion, the Commission must be notified of any state aid and declare it compatible.
In the light of the above:
1.Does the Commission intend to initiate the formal procedure provided for in Article 108 TFEU to assess the legality of the 5G NRRP investments in Abruzzo, checking whether the contributions to Infratel Italia and INWIT measures constitute unjustified state aid in areas that already have 5G coverage?
2.What measures does it intend to take to recover the sums paid out if those contributions turn out not to be compatible?
3.With a view to ensuring that resources are allocated correctly and transparently, providing coverage for areas without a network, and protecting and safeguarding the principles of free market and competition, does it consider it appropriate to issue specific guidelines for the identification of 5G ‘market failure areas’?
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