Source: Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Rosneft and the Ministry of Tourism of the Samara Region presented the second joint project for auto tourists “Zavolzhskie Gorizonty”. The route runs through the natural and cultural attractions of the Samara and Saratov Regions.
The route presentation was organized at the Rosneft gas station in Samara, where the Company’s volunteers held a thematic quiz for car owners with useful prizes. During the presentation, the famous Russian racing driver of the LADA Sport ROSNEFT team Vladimir Sheshenin held an autograph session, during which everyone could take a joint photo with the famous athlete.
Rosneft actively supports initiatives to develop domestic tourism and aims to create comfortable conditions for car travelers. Developing roadside service and improving the level of customer service provided at Rosneft filling stations is one of the Company’s priority areas of activity.
The “Zavolzhskie Horizons” route starts in Samara, where the dacha of the merchant Golovkin is located. The building was built in the early 20th century in the Art Nouveau style and is a cultural heritage site. A distinctive feature of the house, located on a steep bank, is two life-size sculptures of elephants. They are clearly visible from ships passing along the Volga.
On the way out of the capital of the province, travelers can visit the Vertoletka culture and recreation park, which is recognized as the best implemented public space project in Russia and has become the best observation deck in the city. The steep bank offers breathtaking panoramic views of Samara, the majestic Volga and the legendary Zhiguli Mountains.
The route then leads to the Serebro Severa ethnographic center in the village of Yagodnoye, where guests can get acquainted with northern culture, visit a reindeer camp and a village with sled dogs. In ancient Syzran, tourists will meet history at the Spasskaya Tower, the only surviving structure of the 17th-century Syzran Kremlin, a cultural heritage site of federal significance.
The journey along the route ends in Khvalynsk, Saratov Region, in the national park – the center of ecotourism, preserving rare species of flora and fauna, with its holy springs, eco-trails and thematic exhibitions and museums dedicated to representatives of flora and fauna.
The Rosneft network of petrol stations is the most extensive in the region, covering all the main roads in key tourist destinations. There are 78 stations of the company in the Samara Region, where you can fill up your car with guaranteed high-quality fuel, relax in a café or buy necessary goods on the road.
Rosneft actively supports initiatives to develop domestic tourism – together with partners, over 40 routes for car travel across the regions of the Russian Federation have already been developed. Some of them are already presented on the platformHorizons of Russia“
Department of Information and AdvertisingPJSC NK RosneftJuly 18, 2025
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: Rosneft – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Rosneft and the Ministry of Tourism of the Samara Region presented the second joint project for auto tourists “Zavolzhskie Gorizonty”. The route runs through the natural and cultural attractions of the Samara and Saratov Regions.
The route presentation was organized at the Rosneft gas station in Samara, where the Company’s volunteers held a thematic quiz for car owners with useful prizes. During the presentation, the famous Russian racing driver of the LADA Sport ROSNEFT team Vladimir Sheshenin held an autograph session, during which everyone could take a joint photo with the famous athlete.
Rosneft actively supports initiatives to develop domestic tourism and aims to create comfortable conditions for car travelers. Developing roadside service and improving the level of customer service provided at Rosneft filling stations is one of the Company’s priority areas of activity.
The “Zavolzhskie Horizons” route starts in Samara, where the dacha of the merchant Golovkin is located. The building was built in the early 20th century in the Art Nouveau style and is a cultural heritage site. A distinctive feature of the house, located on a steep bank, is two life-size sculptures of elephants. They are clearly visible from ships passing along the Volga.
On the way out of the capital of the province, travelers can visit the Vertoletka culture and recreation park, which is recognized as the best implemented public space project in Russia and has become the best observation deck in the city. The steep bank offers breathtaking panoramic views of Samara, the majestic Volga and the legendary Zhiguli Mountains.
The route then leads to the Serebro Severa ethnographic center in the village of Yagodnoye, where guests can get acquainted with northern culture, visit a reindeer camp and a village with sled dogs. In ancient Syzran, tourists will meet history at the Spasskaya Tower, the only surviving structure of the 17th-century Syzran Kremlin, a cultural heritage site of federal significance.
The journey along the route ends in Khvalynsk, Saratov Region, in the national park – the center of ecotourism, preserving rare species of flora and fauna, with its holy springs, eco-trails and thematic exhibitions and museums dedicated to representatives of flora and fauna.
The Rosneft network of petrol stations is the most extensive in the region, covering all the main roads in key tourist destinations. There are 78 stations of the company in the Samara Region, where you can fill up your car with guaranteed high-quality fuel, relax in a café or buy necessary goods on the road.
Rosneft actively supports initiatives to develop domestic tourism – together with partners, over 40 routes for car travel across the regions of the Russian Federation have already been developed. Some of them are already presented on the platformHorizons of Russia“
Department of Information and AdvertisingPJSC NK RosneftJuly 18, 2025
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
On July 17, 2025, the State University of Management was visited on a working visit by GUU graduates: Anton Ageyev, General Director of the ANO “Expert Coordination Center of the Commissions of the State Council of the Russian Federation”, Deputy Chairperson of the State Council of Russia Commission on Personnel Elena Lagoshina, Deputy Governor of the Kaluga Region Tatyana Leonova.
At the beginning of the meeting, the rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroev spoke in detail about his participation in the work of the 1st All-Russian Festival of Student Families.
Anton Ageyev, Director General of the Expert Coordination Center of the Commissions of the State Council of Russia, outlined the purpose of the working visit. Since April of this year, the structure of the State Council commissions that work in the areas of national projects has been changed.
Let us recall that Decree No. 309 of the President of Russia in May 2025 defined the national development goals of the Russian Federation until 2030.
Given the cross-cutting, interdepartmental nature of the national projects developed in pursuance of this Decree, it is necessary to strengthen interaction with the scientific and expert community. For this purpose, it is planned to conclude an agreement with the State University of Management, which implies the joint implementation of the tasks facing the commissions of the State Council of the Russian Federation in the relevant areas of socio-economic development, for which it is supposed to use the scientific and educational potential of the oldest management university in the country.
The meeting participants discussed the development and implementation of research, expert-analytical, educational and project activities; areas of preparation, publication and distribution of methodological, analytical and information materials; organization and holding of joint events, exchange of experience, best practices and information in the field of joint activities.
Deputy Governor of the Kaluga Region Tatyana Leonova outlined priority areas of joint work, which will primarily concern the activities of the State Council commissions “Personnel”, and noted the need for interdepartmental cooperation to solve the strategic task set by the President of Russia to achieve technological leadership for Russia.
Vice-Rector of the State University of Management Maria Karelina proposed a systematic approach to solving the issues under discussion and integrating the results of the work of the State Council commissions into mathematical models, formalizing this in the form of a special project.
The meeting participants particularly focused on the issue of eliminating the need for personnel and current instruments for regulating the labor market: forecasting the need, recruiting students in sought-after specialties in colleges and universities, and cooperation with employers and the state.
The guests and representatives of the rector’s office of the State University of Management exchanged many other ideas, one of which suggested the obligation of all state structures to post their research on a single resource, which will expand the analytical capabilities of the State Council commissions and speed up the synchronization and updating of data.
The colleagues compared schedules and agreed to approve specific projects in the near future within the framework of the cooperation and interaction agreement.
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
The ECOWAS Resident Representation in Benin has officially handed over 5,000 reusable menstrual towel kits to schools in Benin on the 27th of June, 2025. This event too place in Zé Benin is a part of the regional project titled “Support for Benin’s Initiatives to Raise Awareness Among Young Girls on Good Personal and Menstrual Hygiene Practices and for the Promotion of ECOWAS Among Young People.”
Funded by the West African Health Organisation (WAHO), this initiative aims to combat menstrual insecurity, empower young girls and raise the profile of ECOWAS among young people. The ceremony was attended by representatives of the sectoral ministries, Zè Town Hall,Departmental Social Affairs Departments, Guichets Uniques de Protection Sociale (GUPS), the beneficiary schools, as well as pupils, parents and technical partners.
Representing the ECOWAS Resident Representative, Mr Mamadou Konate emphasised that this action is in line with the institution’s Vision 2050, which places human dignity, equal opportunities and social justice at the heart of regional integration.”Menstrual hygiene is a matter of dignity, health and social justice. Under no circumstance should itnever be a barrier to schooling or to young girls’ self-esteem” he said. The kits, made locally, will be distributed fairly by the GUPS of Zè and Djidja, in coordination with the relevant departmental structures.
Symbolically, ECOWAS handed over the kits to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Microfinance, represented by the Atlantic Departmental Director of Social Affairs. The kits were then transferred to the Atlantic and Zou Departmental Directorates of Social Affairs for distribution to 23 identified secondary schools.
The presentation of the project also included awareness-raising and training sessions for pupils, teachers and supervisors, with focus on promoting the values and missions of ECOWAS.
The ceremony ended with a symbolic handover of the kits to some of the girls, followed by a group photo and interviews with the media personnel present. The spokeswoman for the beneficiaries expressed her gratitude by declaring this donation as “a life-changing gesture” and encouraged her colleagues to “never give up on their dreams”.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) undertook a coordination and benchmarking mission to the African Union Commission (AUC) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, from 30 June to 4 July 2025. The visit is part of ongoing efforts to deepen collaboration in the implementation of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA IV) and to strengthen institutional synergies with the African Union (AU) and relevant stakeholders. The mission brought together key personnel from the ECOWAS Peace Fund and the Directorate of Financial Reporting and Grants, who engaged with counterparts at the African Union Commission, the African Union Peace Fund (AUPF), the APSA Support Programme Management Team and other relevant stakeholders.
The mission sought to achieve several strategic objectives, notably the reinforcement of coordination frameworks between ECOWAS and the AU in line with APSA IV goals, as well as the advancement of data-driven approaches to peace and security programming. Particular attention was given to the effective use of the African Monitoring and Evaluation Reporting Tool (AMERT), with discussions focusing on aligning its functionalities to ensure seamless data sharing, monitoring, and evaluation among various stakeholders.
Furthermore, the delegation engaged with counterparts at the AU Peace Fund and the Compliance and Risk Management Units to benchmark operational models in areas such as data management, visibility, fund mobilization, disbursement, and compliance. These engagements aimed to identify areas for mutual learning, propose technical roadmaps for platform interoperability and explore opportunities for capacity building in the effective use of digital tools for monitoring and reporting.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
The ECOWAS Commission, through its Directorate of Peacekeeping and Regional Security, convened the two-day Governmental Experts’ Validation Meeting on the ECOWAS Standby Force Training Policy for Peace Support Operations held from 16 to 17 July 2025 in Abuja, Nigeria. The meeting brought together Training Experts from ECOWAS Member States, technical experts, and strategic partners to finalise and Validate ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) Training Policy on Peace Support Operation.
Opening the meeting, Major General Umar Abubakar, Director of Peacekeeping and Regional Security at the Ministry of Defence Nigeria, emphasised the importance of transforming the Standby Force into an operational mechanism for regional peace and stability:
“This is a pivotal moment for ECOWAS. The policy we are validating today will transform our Standby Force from concept to reality. It will ensure we are prepared to respond swiftly and effectively to conflicts across the region and also serve as a standby brigade of the African Standby Force. Let us work together to finalise a policy that reflects both our regional realities and our ambition for peace.”
Delivering the keynote address, Dr. Sani Adamu, Acting Head of the Peace Support Operations Division, highlighted the vision behind the policy and its relevance in today’s operational context:
“This policy is not simply a document—it is a framework that integrates human rights Observance, gender, civilian protection, and post-conflict recovery. It lays the foundation for a responsive and professional force that can meet the complexity of today’s peace support operations.”
He further stated: “For over a decade, we have envisioned a unified training doctrine. This process today brings that vision within reach. I commend the unwavering commitment of our experts and partners.”
Speaking during the closing session, Mrs. Yvonne Akpasom, representing GIZ under the ECOWAS Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG) Project, reaffirmed the role of technical partners in supporting regional transformation: “GIZ is proud to support ECOWAS in developing a training policy that is comprehensive, operational, and aligned with global standards. Your contribution to designing and validating this framework underscores our joint resolve to build a Standby Force that is capable, credible, and cohesive.”
The meeting followed a structured agenda including plenary technical sessions and syndicate working groups. Participants reviewed the policy’s architecture, scope, training standards, operational responsibilities, and implementation mechanisms. The revised policy aligns with the African Standby Force framework and incorporates key themes such as inclusivity, gender mainstreaming, accountability, and standardisation.
This initiative is supported under the ECOWAS Peace, Security and Governance (EPSG) Project, co-financed by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), and implemented by GIZ. Additional collaboration was provided by Expertise France and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID).
The ECOWAS Commission reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening peace support operations across West Africa and called for swift adoption and implementation of the finalised training policy by all stakeholders.
This initiative is in direct alignment with ECOWAS Vision 2050, which aspires to build a fully integrated, peaceful, and prosperous West Africa. By institutionalising a unified training policy for the ECOWAS Standby Force, the Commission is reinforcing its commitment to preventive diplomacy, regional solidarity, and rapid response to crises. This training framework will not only enhance operational effectiveness but also promote stability, resilience, and human security across all fifteen Member States.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Professor Behr joins a distinguished community of over 1,800 scholars who share a commitment to advancing the humanities and social sciences
A University of Aberdeen Professor is among the distinguished scholars newly elected to the British Academy’s Fellowship in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the humanities and social sciences.
Reverend Professor John Behr, Regius Chair in Humanity and Head of the Department of Divinity at the School of Divinity, History, Philosophy & Art History, is one of 92 academics elected this year.
Previously at St Vladimir’s Seminary, New York, where he also served as Dean, he is also a part-time Professor at Radboud University, Nijmegen, Holland; and has published editions and translations of various Patristic texts with Oxford University Press, and most recently In Accordance with the Scriptures: The Shape of Christian Theology.
“I am deeply touched and honoured to be elected a Fellow,” said Professor Behr, adding that he looks forward “to working with the British Academy to help ensure that research in the Humanities at the highest level continues to be supported.”
Professor Behr was elected alongside other notable academics such as Professor Lily Kong BBM, PPA, FBA, the first Singaporean woman to lead a university in Singapore, and Professor Jonathan D Jansen FBA, the first Black Vice Chancellor and Rector of the University of the Free State, now Distinguished Professor of Education at Stellenbosch University.
This year, a total of 58 new Fellows have been elected from 25 universities across the United Kingdom, as well as 30 International Fellows from universities in the United States, Ireland, South Africa, Singapore, China, Australia, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland, and Cyprus. Four Honorary Fellows have also been elected in recognition of their exceptional achievements in music, art, journalism and librarianship.
This year’s cohort join a community of over 1,800 scholars who share a commitment to advancing the humanities and social sciences.
Professor Susan J. Smith PBA, new President of the British Academy, said: “With specialisms ranging from the neuroscience of memory to the power of music and the structural causes of poverty, they represent the very best of the humanities and social sciences. They bring years of experience, evidence-based arguments and innovative thinking to the profound challenges of our age: managing the economy, enabling democracy, and securing the quality of human life.
“This year, we have increased the number of new Fellows by nearly ten percent to cover some spaces between disciplines. Champions of research excellence, every new Fellow enlarges our capacity to interpret the past, understand the present, and shape resilient, sustainable futures. It is a privilege to extend my warmest congratulations to them all.”
Home » Latest News » Work to start on St George’s Lane improvements
Work on improvements to St George’s Lane by the bus station gets underway on Monday (21 July).
It’s the latest of our levelling up projects to get up and running, with the two key aims of improving accessibility and safety, and enhancing the appearance of this important location that welcomes thousands of people each day.
The six-week scheme involves widening the pavement on the bus station side, improving the pedestrian crossing by Fenwicks and resurfacing the road that the buses and taxis use.
We are also deep cleaning the existing bus shelters and carrying out work around the existing trees, which involves increasing the size of the tree pits and surfacing them with a walkable permeable surface to help with watering.
During this time, the road will be closed to buses and taxis. Any buses that would normally stop on this section will use the bus station. Taxis will drop off and pick up from Canterbury Lane.
Fencing will be installed to segregate the area and keep the public safe. The colonnade area fronting the Whitefriars buildings will not be affected by any restrictions.
Access between Whitefriars and the bus station will be maintained, but work is required at the crossings. This will be in phases and people will be redirected to crossings that are open.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
An undated file photo shows the People’s Republic of China flag and the U.S. Stars and Stripes fly along Pennsylvania Avenue near the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, U.S. [Photo/Xinhua]
China on Friday firmly opposed a U.S. report amplifying the so-called “China threat” and urged relevant U.S. politicians to cease smearing and suppressing China.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian made the remarks during a regular press briefing, responding to a query about the report in which Democratic members of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee called for congressional action toward restoring the country’s global reputation and influence to prevent the U.S. from being overtaken by China as the world’s leading power.
Lin said the report, filled with Cold War thinking, peddles major country confrontation and the false narrative of “China threat,” with the real aim of going after and suppressing China. China firmly opposes it.
He stressed that China follows an independent foreign policy of peace and always acts as a positive and stable force for good, and has no intention to and will not engage in a contest with any country for influence.
Noting that China follows the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation in viewing and handling its relations with the U.S., Lin urged relevant U.S. personnel to foster a right perception of China, view China and China-U.S. relations in an objective and rational way, stop attacking, smearing, containing and going after China, and contribute to a steady, sound and sustainable bilateral relationship.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Flags of the European Union fly outside the Berlaymont Building, the European Commission headquarters, in Brussels, Belgium, Jan. 29, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
The European Union (EU) approved a new round of sanctions against Russia on Friday, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas said.
“The EU just approved one of its strongest sanctions packages against Russia to date,” Kallas wrote on the social media platform X.
The package contains a provision to lower the price cap on Russian oil sold to third countries by 15 percent below the market rate. Initially set at 60 U.S. dollars per barrel by the G7 in 2022, the cap under this new EU scheme will launch at 47.6 dollars, with the flexibility to adjust in line with future oil price movements.
As part of the package, measures are also included to ensure that the Nord Stream 1 and 2 gas pipelines in the Baltic Sea cannot be reactivated.
Also, Kallas said the EU will impose sanctions on a Russian-owned oil refinery in India and blacklist more than 100 additional vessels from Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet,” believed to be circumventing EU sanctions by carrying mainly Russian oil.
Slovakia, which relies heavily on Russian gas, had been holding up the proposed EU sanctions package. However, it said Thursday evening that it will green-light the new EU sanctions after securing guarantees from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that protect Slovakia’s energy interests.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Michael Hart, president of AmCham China, said at a Shandong-Thailand thematic event and supply chain international cooperation promotion conference in Beijing on Wednesday that this year’s China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) has provided a platform for communication and cooperation, with the number of U.S. exhibitors increasing significantly.
Michael Hart, president of AmCham China, speaks at an event during the 3rd CISCE in Beijing on July 16, 2025. [Photo courtesy of CISCE]
“The supply chain expo has provided a fantastic platform for communication and cooperation,” Hart said. “I’m pleased to share that the number of U.S. exhibitors at this year’s expo has grown by 15% compared to last year, once again making them the largest group of overseas exhibitors.”
Among U.S. exhibitors, 60% are Fortune Global 500 companies. American tech leader NVIDIA also makes its debut at this year’s expo.
“The foundation of China-U.S. relations lies in people-to-people ties,” said Yu Jianlong, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. “Currently, business communities from both countries maintain smooth communication and share a common desire to strengthen supply chain cooperation. At this critical juncture, Chinese and American businesses are taking concrete actions to advance bilateral economic and trade relations. We’ve reached clear consensus on maintaining stable and unimpeded global supply chains.”
Hart also noted the launch of AmCham China’s 2025 Navigator Program last November at the second CISCE, which has helped to develop supply chain leaders for collaboration with Chinese supply chain hubs. He said this year marks AmCham China’s first participation with an exhibition booth alongside member companies.
AmCham China represents U.S. businesses operating in China. With nearly 800 member companies, the chamber serves as a key platform for communication between the business community and both the U.S. and Chinese governments. The organization focuses on supporting member success in China, strengthening U.S.-China economic ties to benefit both nations and the global economy.
Hart said this event connects with business leaders from Chinese and foreign companies to explore new collaboration opportunities, on the opening day of CISCE.
“Since the first U.S. investment in Shandong in 1986, nearly 1,000 American companies have invested in the province, making it a key partner in bilateral trade,” he said. “Today, Shandong stands as one of China’s most dynamic provinces – a leader in economic and industrial development with long-established strengths in manufacturing, agriculture, port logistics, and new energy.”
The AmCham China booth at the 3rd CISCE in Beijing on July 16, 2025. [Photo/China.org.cn]
Shandong’s robust industrial ecosystem, efficient infrastructure, and skilled workforce have made it a cornerstone of global supply chain resilience, while many AmCham China member companies have established production bases and regional hubs in the province, Hart said. The chamber has also led multiple business delegations to Shandong, facilitating investment and strengthening cooperation between U.S. companies and the province, he added.
The third CISCE opened on Wednesday and runs through Sunday.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
China has strengthened its status as the world’s second largest consumer market during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). The country’s retail sales of consumer goods grew 5.5% on average annually over the past four years, and are expected to top 50 trillion yuan (US$7 trillion) in 2025, Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao said Friday.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Photo taken on May 1, 2022 shows a container vessel docking at the Qianwan Container Terminal in Qingdao, east China’s Shandong province. [Photo/Xinhua]
China believes that the United States should abandon zero-sum thinking and continue to remove a series of unreasonable economic and trade restriction measures against China, the Ministry of Commerce said Friday.
China has noted that the United States has recently taken the initiative to announce the approval of Nvidia’s H20 chip sales to China, a spokesperson for the ministry said in response to a media inquiry.
Following the economic and trade talks in London, the two sides have maintained close communication, confirming the details of the framework established in London and advancing its implementation, said the spokesperson.
China has approved qualified export applications for controlled items in accordance with the law, and the United States accordingly lifted relevant restrictions on China in early July, as discussed in the talks, according to the spokesperson.
Win-win cooperation is the right path for China and the United States, while suppression and containment lead nowhere, the spokesperson said.
In May of this year, the United States issued export control guidelines targeting Huawei’s Ascend chips, imposing stricter controls on Chinese chip products based on unwarranted allegations, thereby interfering with fair market competition through administrative power and severely undermining the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, according to the spokesperson. “China has solemnly stated its position and firmly opposes this.”
China expects the United States to work with China in the same direction, engage in equal consultations, and correct its erroneous practices, to foster a favorable environment for mutually beneficial cooperation between enterprises of both countries, and jointly safeguard the stability of global semiconductor production and supply chains, the spokesperson said.
Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao met with Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on Thursday, noting that China’s policy on attracting foreign investment will remain unchanged, and its door will only open wider.
Wang said China has a huge market scale, diverse application scenarios, and dynamic innovation and creativity, expressing the hope that multinational companies, including Nvidia, will provide high-quality and reliable products and services to Chinese customers.
Huang noted that the Chinese market is very attractive, and Nvidia is willing to deepen cooperation with Chinese partners in the field of artificial intelligence.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
This photo shows the booth of AITO during the third China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) in Beijing, capital of China, July 16, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
As global supply chains undergo digital transformation, major automakers are looking to deepen their integration into China’s advanced manufacturing and smart supply chain systems.
At the ongoing China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, industry leaders underscored how China’s maturing electric vehicle (EV) ecosystem, technological depth and industrial scale are shaping the next phase of global automotive production.
For Tesla, China is not just a market; it has become a core pillar of its global supply chain strategy. The company’s Shanghai Gigafactory, now producing one vehicle roughly every 30 seconds, has achieved a 95 percent local parts integration rate for its Model 3 and Model Y lines.
The company said the factory’s output accounted for nearly half of Tesla’s global deliveries as of June, with over 3 million vehicles having rolled off its assembly lines since its launch.
Beyond vehicle production, Tesla is expanding into energy storage with its first overseas Megapack factory, also located in Shanghai. Officially launched in February 2025, the facility was built and operational in just nine months, with an annual production capacity of 40 GWh. Megapacks from this factory are now being exported to markets across the Asia-Pacific, further embedding Tesla into China’s smart energy supply networks.
“China has the world’s most complete EV (electric vehicle) supply chain, with top-tier local suppliers and highly responsive manufacturing capabilities,” an unnamed Tesla spokesperson told Xinhua.
He added that China’s large talent pool in artificial intelligence (AI), EV engineering and advanced manufacturing has become essential to Tesla’s localized R&D.
“Whether it’s supply chain resilience, innovation capacity or market scale, China continues to offer unique advantages,” said the spokesperson.
German auto supplier Bosch shared similar views. The company presented its localized innovations in electrified powertrains and driving assistance systems at the expo, emphasizing the rapid technology iteration happening in China.
“China leads the way in electrification, intelligence and the shift to software-defined vehicles,” said David Xu, president of Bosch China. “Its consumers adopt new technologies quickly, which drives faster product evolution and continuous innovation in the auto sector.”
Bosch is advancing its R&D and production capacity in China, a strategy it views as critical for keeping pace with the country’s fast-moving automotive market.
Swedish carmaker Volvo returned to the expo for the third consecutive year. Sandra Liu, vice president of government affairs at Volvo Cars Asia Pacific, said the expo offers “a platform to promote collaboration across supply chain tiers, foster interaction among companies of all sizes, and integrate industry, academia and research.”
Volvo’s booth featured the newly launched S90 and its flagship electric SUV EX90, in a bid to engage global supply chain partners and demonstrate the brand’s commitment to high-quality growth and sustainable mobility.
With geopolitical uncertainty still clouding global trade, China’s combination of industrial depth and digital infrastructure is seen as a stabilizing force.
As electrification, automation and digitalization reshape the global auto industry, integration into China’s supply chain is no longer optional — it is strategic.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Members of Hong Kong Customs Computer Forensic Laboratory win championship at 2nd International Digital Forensics Challenge The competition was co-organised by the Hong Kong Police Force, local universities and local technology enterprises. The participating teams comprised experts from law enforcement agencies, private enterprises and academic institutions. This year’s competition focused on the theme of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The scenario simulated a cyberattack on an investment company’s system, where fraudsters altered its AI model to develop a fictitious investment scheme, attempting to deceive investors into purchasing fake cryptocurrency. Competing teams were required to utilise their technical expertise to analyze and crack this complex digital crime scenario.
The Computer Forensic Laboratory of Hong Kong Customs is responsible for digital forensics work and providing technical assistance to frontline investigators. The award not only showcases Hong Kong Customs’ exceptional technical and professional expertise in the field of digital forensics but also highlights Hong Kong’s leading position in the global digital forensic arena.
Hong Kong Customs will continue to dedicate efforts to advancing digital forensics technology and collaborate closely with local and international partners to address increasingly complex cybercrime challenges. Issued at HKT 20:14
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
Members of Hong Kong Customs Computer Forensic Laboratory win championship at 2nd International Digital Forensics Challenge The competition was co-organised by the Hong Kong Police Force, local universities and local technology enterprises. The participating teams comprised experts from law enforcement agencies, private enterprises and academic institutions. This year’s competition focused on the theme of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The scenario simulated a cyberattack on an investment company’s system, where fraudsters altered its AI model to develop a fictitious investment scheme, attempting to deceive investors into purchasing fake cryptocurrency. Competing teams were required to utilise their technical expertise to analyze and crack this complex digital crime scenario.
The Computer Forensic Laboratory of Hong Kong Customs is responsible for digital forensics work and providing technical assistance to frontline investigators. The award not only showcases Hong Kong Customs’ exceptional technical and professional expertise in the field of digital forensics but also highlights Hong Kong’s leading position in the global digital forensic arena.
Hong Kong Customs will continue to dedicate efforts to advancing digital forensics technology and collaborate closely with local and international partners to address increasingly complex cybercrime challenges. Issued at HKT 20:14
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
MHRA approves adrenaline nasal spray – the first needle-free emergency treatment for anaphylaxis in the UK
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has today, 18 July 2025, approved adrenaline (epinephrine) nasal spray (EURneffy) to be used for the emergency treatment of serious allergic reactions, known as anaphylaxis.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has today, 18 July 2025, approved adrenaline (epinephrine) nasal spray (EURneffy) to be used for the emergency treatment of serious allergic reactions, known as anaphylaxis.
Anaphylaxis is a sudden, severe and sometimes life-threatening allergic reaction that causes a drop in blood pressure and breathing difficulties.
Adrenaline is a well-established treatment for anaphylaxis, commonly administered through auto-injectors. This approval marks the introduction of a nasal spray formulation, providing a needle-free alternative for the emergency administration of a potentially life-saving medication.
It is intended for use in adults and children who weigh 30 kg (about 66 pounds) or more.
Patients are reminded to familiarise themselves with the important public guidance from the MHRA on how to respond to anaphylaxis and use adrenaline auto-injectors
Julian Beach, MHRA Interim Executive Director of Healthcare Quality and Access, said:
“Patient safety is our top priority, which is why we’re pleased to approve the first needle-free nasal spray formulation of adrenaline for the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis in the UK. Until now, adrenaline for self-administration has only been available via auto-injectors.
“While this represents an important new option, adrenaline auto-injectors remain a vital and potentially life-saving treatment, giving people experiencing anaphylaxis valuable time before emergency help arrives.
“We continue to encourage everyone at risk of severe allergic reactions, and those around them, to familiarise themselves with how to respond in an emergency. Resources and guidance are available on the MHRA website to help people be prepared.”
Adrenaline (epinephrine) nasal spray is a ready-to-use single dose nasal spray that delivers its entire contents (2mg) upon activation.
The plunger should not be pressed before inserting the product into the nostril, otherwise the single dose will be lost prior to use.
Adrenaline (epinephrine) nasal spray can also be used when the nose is congested due to a cold or allergy.
Patients should always carry two nasal sprays with them in case a second dose is needed and let friends or family know they have them in case of an emergency.
A full list of side effects can be found in the Patient Information Leaflet (PIL) or the Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC), available on the MHRA website within 7 days of approval.
As with any medicine, the MHRA will keep the safety and effectiveness of the adrenaline nasal spray under close review.
Anyone who suspects they are having a side effect from this medicine is encouraged to talk to their doctor, pharmacist or nurse and report it directly to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme, either through the website (https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/) or by searching the Google Play or Apple App stores for MHRA Yellow Card.
This medicine has been approved through the International Recognition Procedure (IRP). The IRP allows the MHRA to consider the expertise and decision-making of trusted regulatory partners for the benefit of UK patients.
ENDS
Notes to editors
The approval was granted to ALK-Abelló A/S on 18 July 2025.
This product was submitted and approved via the International Recognition Procedure.
The MHRA conducts a targeted assessment of IRP applications and retains the authority to reject applications if the evidence provided is not considered sufficiently robust.
More information can be found in the Summary of Product Characteristics and Patient Information leaflets which will be published on the MHRA Products website within 7 days of approval.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK by ensuring they work and are acceptably safe. All our work is underpinned by robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits justify any risks.
The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.
For media enquiries, please contact the newscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call on 020 3080 7651.
Derby City Council recently welcomed Keith Fraser, Chief Executive of the Youth Justice Board, to see the work of the Derby Youth Justice Service (YJS) with young people and victims.
The Derby Youth Justice Service has achieved Quadrant 1 status, signifying its position as one of the highest-performing Youth Justice Services across England and Wales.
Following his visit, Mr Fraser told the service:
There were so many positive and inspiring aspects about your service. You demonstrated practice I have not often seen in other services, for example the children that were scrutinising the stop and search processes. You are also successfully keeping fewer children in police custody and also having fewer children remanded.
Derby YJS is performing exceptionally well, consistently achieving results below national averages for the rate of First Time Entrants into the justice system, the number of young people sentenced to custody, and rates of re-offending.
Key achievements highlighted during the visit included successful early intervention, which has seen more young people diverted away from possible offending and fewer young people being seen by the service as a result of going to court. Fewer children from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities have been referred into the service following a court appearance, while none are currently serving secure remand or sentence.
The service has also achieved 100% satisfaction rates from children’s feedback, with every child reporting they had been helped by Derby YJS.
The service attributes its success to several critical factors:
Committed practitioners who understand the children and young people well and can show the positive impact they make based on individual needs
A strong Multi-Agency Board working together to provide children with access a broad range of services
Stable senior leadership providing consistent direction
Service delivery based on insights to create tailored support for children, young people, and victims
A consistent understanding of risk across all levels.
Councillor Paul Hezelgrave, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Skills, said:
We’re immensely proud of the Derby Youth Justice Service’s achievements, and it was a pleasure to welcome Keith Fraser to witness their excellent work firsthand.
The YJS consistently delivers exceptional results, creating opportunities for positive change for young people while ensuring the safety of our communities – a true testament to our passionate practitioners and strong partnership working.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments 3
Press release
UK sanctions Russian spies at the heart of Putin’s malicious regime
The UK has exposed Russian spies responsible for spreading chaos and disorder on Putin’s orders.
UK exposes and sanctions three GRU units and 18 of their military intelligence officers, responsible for spreading chaos and disorder on Putin’s orders.
GRU units exposed for their involvement in the bombing of the Mariupol Theatre, the targeting of Yulia Skripal and cyber operations in support of Putin’s illegal war in Ukraine.
Action by UK and allies comes amid global threat posed by Russian malign activity.
Russian spies and hackers targeting the UK and others are today exposed and sanctioned in decisive action by the UK Government to deliver security for working people.
Today’s measures target three units of the Russian military intelligence agency (GRU) and 18 military intelligence officers who are responsible for conducting a sustained campaign of malicious cyber activity over many years, including in the UK.
The GRU routinely uses cyber and information operations to sow chaos, division and disorder in Ukraine and across the world with devastating real-world consequences.
In 2022, Unit 26165, sanctioned today, conducted online reconnaissance to help target missile strikes against Mariupol – including the strike that destroyed the Mariupol Theatre where hundreds of civilians, including children, were murdered.
Today’s action also hits GRU military intelligence officers responsible for historically targeting Yulia Skripal’s device with malicious malware known as X-Agent – five years before GRU military intelligence officers’ failed attempt to murder Yulia and Sergei Skripal with the deadly Novichok nerve agent in Salisbury.
In the UK, Russia has targeted media outlets, telecoms providers, political and democratic institutions, and energy infrastructure. The United Kingdom and our international allies are watching Russia and are countering their attacks both publicly and behind the scenes.
Foreign Secretary, David Lammy said:
GRU spies are running a campaign to destabilise Europe, undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and threaten the safety of British citizens.
The Kremlin should be in no doubt: we see what they are trying to do in the shadows and we won’t tolerate it. That’s why we’re taking decisive action with sanctions against Russian spies. Protecting the UK from harm is fundamental to this government’s Plan for Change.
Putin’s hybrid threats and aggression will never break our resolve. The UK and our Allies support for Ukraine and Europe’s security is ironclad.
The UK government is committed to accelerating its efforts to counter hybrid threats at home, protecting the UK’s national security – a key foundation of the Plan for Change – and abroad, working in collaboration with a growing international coalition including all 32 NATO Allies, the EU and its member states, and our partners in the FBI.
That is why the UK has announced the biggest sustained increase in defence spending – rising to 2.6% of GDP from 2027 – since the Cold War, and as highlighted in the National Security Review, the UK is stepping up our focus on tackling hybrid and technology enabled threats. The new UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership will support this, enabling closer cooperation across a wide range of areas.
The Kremlin has also used cyber operations in support of Putin’s illegal war – including targeting critical infrastructure like Viasat satellite communications. Some of these attacks were conducted on the eve of the full-scale invasion in 2022 with the express purpose of degrading Ukraine’s ability to defend itself.
Russia’s insidious activity stretches far beyond Europe. In addition to the GRU Units and officers, the UK is also sanctioning three leaders of “African Initiative”, a social media content mill established and funded by Russia and employing Russian intelligence officers to conduct information operations in West Africa. This includes reckless attempts to undermine lifesaving global health initiatives in the region by pushing baseless conspiracy theories to further the Kremlin’s political agenda.
Background
The Foreign Secretary laid out how the UK is stepping up our approach to combatting Russian hybrid threats in his Mansion House speech. Read more here.
Hybrid Threats activity refers to overt or covert actions by foreign governments which fall short of direct armed conflict with the UK but cause harm or threaten the safety or interests of the UK or our allies.
Examples of this include:
Cyber attacks (e.g. hacking government systems or stealing trade secrets)
Disinformation (e.g. spreading false or misleading information online)
Sabotage (e.g. damaging infrastructure or supply chains)
Political interference (e.g. influencing elections or public opinion)
Collision risks to UK-licensed satellites were lower in June with a 19% decline when compared with May, caused by fewer interactions between UK licenced objects and other spacecraft or debris over the previous 30 days.
The number of Resident Space Objects (RSOs) reported may be subject to small adjustments over time as the way objects are tracked is refined. Figures in this report reflect the most current available data and may differ slightly from those published in previous months
Fragmentation Analysis
There have been no new fragmentation (break-up) incidents this month.
Space weather
June saw an increase in space weather activity, particularly geomagnetic events, compared to the previous month
Comments
The National Space Operations Centre combines and coordinates UK civil and military space domain awareness capabilities to enable operations, promote prosperity and protect UK interests in space and on Earth from space-related threats, risks and hazards.
SA strengthens science and innovation cooperation with Algeria
The Department of Science, Technology, and Innovation (DSTI) has signed another significant partnership aimed at enhancing science, technology, and innovation cooperation with Algeria.
The partnership, known as the Plan of Action for 2026-2028, currently focuses on several strategic areas, including nuclear science and technology, the co-founding and implementation of the African Laser Centre (ALC), and the establishment of the Nanosciences African Network.
In addition, it emphasises the transfer of technical knowledge and equipment, as well as advancements in space propulsion and telecommunications.
The Plan of Action will also explore new areas of cooperation such as nanotechnology, renewable energy, nanomedicine, food and energy security, health innovation and vaccine development, artificial intelligence and emerging Technologies and others.
As much as this is a joint programme, South Africa’s National Research Foundation (NRF) will lead its implementation.
As a government-mandated research and science development agency, the NRF funds research, the development of high-end human capacity and critical research infrastructure to promote knowledge production across all disciplinary fields.
This comes after Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Blade Nzimande led a high-level South African delegation on a comprehensive visit focused on science, technology and innovation (STI) in Tunisia and Algeria.
The signing ceremony was preceded by an opening ceremony, where Algeria’s Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Kamel Bidar, and Nzimande delivered their keynote speeches.
Nzimande reflected on the special bond between South Africa and Algeria. In addition, he said the two nations share a strong commitment to the advancement of the African continent.
“Similarly, our two countries also share a firm commitment to the realisation of a more just and humane world that will be underpinned by the values of human solidarity, peaceful coexistence, and a respect for the sovereignty of all nations, regardless of their size.”
Emphasising the strategic importance of cooperation in STI between South Africa and Algeria, Nzimande stated, “Both Algeria and South Africa recognise that, to address our urgent national development goals and achieve higher levels of development, we must consistently enhance our national scientific capabilities.”
The Minister believes that the countries’ shared conviction about the role of STI in development and commitment to cooperation is, in a way, a continuation of their liberation struggles.
“But now against underdevelopment and for prosperity in our respective countries, and on the rest of the continent. I must also say that we are highly impressed by the investments that you have made in building your public science system and its constituent institutions.”
The department emphasised that signing the Plan of Action between South Africa and Algeria is crucial for reinforcing both countries’ commitment to supporting the implementation of key development programs on the African continent.
These programmes include Agenda 2063, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the African Union’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2034).
On Tuesday, South Africa and Tunisia signed a landmark agreement aimed at scaling up collaboration in STI in a bid to deepen bilateral cooperation.
The agreement, signed during the official visit by Nzimande to Tunisia, forms part of the Scaling up Tunisia–South Africa Strategy.
It includes a detailed plan of action and the formal minutes of a joint research call meeting. – SAnews.gov.za
Justice, Police committees to recommend Ad Hoc Committee on Mkhwanazi allegations
Parliament’s portfolio committees on Police and Justice will recommend to the National Assembly (NA) that an Ad Hoc Committee be established to probe the allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner, Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkwanazi.
Mkhwanazi has made several serious claims about, amongst others, an alleged criminal syndicate that has spread into law enforcement and intelligence services, and allegations that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu colluded with criminal elements to disband the Political Killings Task Team based in KZN.
This led to President Cyril Ramaphosa placing Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on a leave of absence and the establishment of a judicial commission of inquiry, chaired by Acting Deputy Chief Justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga.
“Following consideration of a Parliamentary Legal Service legal opinion, the committees were of the view that an ad hoc committee is the best format to interrogate the allegations. Ad hoc committees are formed as per Rule 253 of the National Assembly. The rationale for this option is that the scope of such a committee is specific and time bound.
“The [committees were] presented with two alternative options: a full-blown investigative inquiry and two committees exercising their conferring powers in terms of NA Rule 169. The majority of committee members present in the meeting were in favour of the ad hoc committee, as members felt Parliament would thereby remain involved in such a process, exercising their oversight responsibility,” the committees said in a statement.
The two committees noted the “urgency of the matter” and reiterated the need to reach findings to “protect the integrity and standing of the entire criminal justice system.”
“Also, the committee highlighted the need to avoid duplication of the work of the commission of inquiry established by the President.
“Lastly, the [committees] emphasised the need for continuous oversight over the work of the Presidential commission of inquiry and requested that the interim reports submitted to the President be made available to Parliament. At the next meeting, the [committees are] expected to discuss the terms of reference and timelines for such an ad hoc committee.
“The committees will on 23 July 2025, as per the directive from the Speaker, recommend to the NA that an ad hoc committee be established to consider the matter. Furthermore, the committees’ recommendations will emphasise the need for urgency in considering the matter,” the statement concluded. – SAnews.gov.za
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, July 18 (Xinhua) — The incoming and outgoing passenger flow at the checkpoint of Tianshan International Airport in Urumqi, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, in 2025 exceeded 500,000, up 65.2 percent year on year as of July 14, the Xinjiang Daily reported.
This year, this level of passenger traffic was achieved 77 days earlier than last year, the department added.
According to Luo Minxuan, an employee of the department, over 146 thousand foreigners entered China through the checkpoint at Tianshan Airport during the reporting period, which is 1.3 times more than during the same period in 2024. Among them, more than 39 thousand people took advantage of the visa-free regime.
In addition to the existing 24 international passenger air routes, the airport recently opened two new routes – Urumqi-Tianjin (Northern China)-Osaka (Japan) and Urumqi-Shymkent (Kazakhstan), which once again stimulated the demand for business and tourist travel to foreign countries.
According to Luo Minxuan, the airport has seen a significant increase in the number of family tours abroad and cross-border tour groups. She added that over 60 percent of Chinese citizens who left the country through the Tianshan checkpoint went to five Central Asian countries as well as the Transcaucasian countries, including Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. -0-
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, July 18 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian on Friday called on the Philippine side to take concrete measures to ensure the safety, dignity and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese students in the Philippines.
China’s Ministry of Education issued a warning to students studying in the Philippines on Friday, urging Chinese students to assess security risks and raise their awareness.
At a regular press conference, Lin Jian said the public security situation in the Philippines is deteriorating, with crimes and searches against Chinese citizens on the rise. The warning issued by the Chinese government is a responsible and reasonable measure to ensure the safety and rights of Chinese students, the diplomat added.
“We once again warn those planning to study in the Philippines to conduct a risk assessment,” he stressed. -0-
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Moscow, July 18 /Xinhua/ — Sales of used passenger cars in Russia in the first half of the year amounted to 2.73 million units, which is 0.5 percent less than in the same period last year, TASS reported on Friday, citing the analytical agency Avtostat.
It is reported that the sales leader for the first 6 months of the current year was the domestic Lada, whose sales reached 715.8 thousand units with an increase of 4.7 percent. In second place is the Japanese Toyota with a result of 269.7 thousand (a decrease of 6.1 percent), and the top three is completed by the South Korean Kia – 150.6 thousand (a decrease of 3.6 percent).
In June, the Russian used car market shrank by 6.4 percent year-on-year to 467.4 thousand units. This is also 4.8 percent less than in May of this year.
As previously reported, sales of new passenger cars in Russia in the first half of 2025 amounted to 526.7 thousand units, which is 26 percent lower compared to the same period last year. –0–
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, July 18 (Xinhua) — The National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on Friday held a symposium to review the macroeconomic situation in the first half of 2025.
Wang Huning, member of the Standing Committee of the Politburo of the CPC Central Committee and Chairman of the National Committee of the CPPCC, attended the symposium and delivered a speech.
According to Wang Huning, since the beginning of the year, despite the complicated international situation and growing uncertainty, the country has maintained stable economic growth.
He stressed the need to focus on issues such as the goals and objectives of socio-economic development for the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030), the development of new-quality productive forces taking into account local conditions, expanding domestic demand and steadily promoting the achievement of common prosperity.
Wang Huning called for active discussion and suggestions to promote the effective implementation of relevant measures.
At the symposium, 13 members of the CPPCC National Committee delivered reports on a range of topics, including stabilizing and activating the capital market, promoting scientific and technological innovation in non-state enterprises, and developing artificial intelligence.
CPPCC National Committee Vice Chairman Wang Yong presided over the symposium. -0-
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BEIJING, July 18 (Xinhua) — China has achieved the target for the actual utilization of foreign direct investment (FDI) for the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) ahead of schedule, Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy China’s International Trade Representative Lin Ji said Friday.
He said at a press conference that from 2021 to the end of June 2025, China’s actual FDI utilization reached US$708.73 billion, achieving the target of US$700 billion six months ahead of schedule.
During this period, about 229 thousand new enterprises with foreign capital were created, which is approximately 25 thousand more than during the 13th five-year plan (2016-2020), he noted.
Foreign-invested enterprises accounted for one-third of China’s foreign trade turnover and one-quarter of its industrial added value, and over the same period, these investments created more than 30 million jobs, Lin Ji added.
According to him, the country has seen a noticeable improvement in the quality of foreign investment use. In 2024, high-tech industries accounted for 34.6 percent of attracted foreign investment, which is 6 percentage points more than in 2020.
To create a favorable environment for foreign businesses, the Ministry of Commerce has held more than 30 roundtable meetings since 2023, helping to resolve more than 1,500 issues related to foreign-invested enterprises, according to Lin Ji. -0-
Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
The International Trade Centre (ITC) celebrated its first Partnership for Africa Day, bringing together more than 200 high-level participants from institutions, Member States, business support organizations, donors, and small businesses. The event also marked a new milestone in ITC’s collaboration with the Swiss-African Business Circle (SABC). This landmark occasion showcased how strategic, inclusive partnerships can drive trade, innovation, and prosperity for African small businesses.
Held as a high-level welcome reception on the eve of Swiss Africa Business Day (SABD) 2025, the event was co-organized by ITC and SABC. It offered a unique platform for Swiss and African leaders from both the public and private sectors to deepen dialogue and shape forward-looking trade collaborations.
“By joining forces with ITC to organise a welcome reception as the official start to SABD2025, we further strengthened dialogue on Swiss-African trade. The event brought together actors from international Geneva, business support organisations, and public and private sector representatives from Africa, Switzerland, and beyond,” said Helena Bischoff, Deputy Managing Director, SABC.
A central highlight of the gathering was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between H.E. Helene Budliger Artieda, State Secretary of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), and Prof. Benedict Oramah, President of Afreximbank. This formalized Switzerland’s renewed commitment to advancing regional integration and SME development in Africa.
Beyond official engagements, the reception celebrated the richness of Africa’s creative economy. From a “Taste of Africa” culinary experience curated by Geneva-based African restaurants to a fashion showcase featuring designs from the Pan African Fashion Alliance (PAFA) and Swiss NGO Afrodysée, the event underscored the growing importance of diaspora engagement and cultural industries in trade development.
“The State Secretariat for Economic Affairs collaborates with ITC, a long-standing partner, to strengthen the competitiveness of African SMEs by promoting intra-African trade and fostering linkages between Africa and Switzerland,” noted SECO representatives.
As host country and development partner, Switzerland continues to play a pivotal role in ITC’s mission to empower African small businesses. Through its One Trade Africa initiative, ITC supports the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and promotes triangular cooperation between Switzerland, African institutions, and global partners.
This inaugural Partnership for Africa Day was not only a celebration but also a springboard toward a more connected, resilient, and opportunity-rich trade future for Africa. Together with Switzerland and partners such as SABC and Afreximbank, ITC is committed to turning dialogue into action—and partnerships into impact.
Source: The Conversation – France – By Mira Manini Tiwari, Research Associate at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute
If you choose to buy a sustainable product at the supermarket, or invest in a sustainable portfolio at your bank, how far does that sustainability reach? Does the product’s “sustainable” label account for the environmental and labour costs where the raw materials were extracted? Does the portfolio include renewable energy in countries where the investment is needed most?
In the EU, whether you are an individual or represent a company or financial institution, these questions are governed by the bloc’s non-financial reporting (NFR) regulations. The latest ones include the European Sustainable Reporting Standards (ESRS), which are gradually coming into force through 2029. The ESRS set out reporting standards and requirements, while the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) determines which companies these standards apply to, to what extent, and when.
These EU regulations also have strong implications for the Majority World, the countries and territories outside Europe and North America where most people live, at a time when global, systemic policy effects are more important than ever. As supply chains become longer and more interconnected, and as communities involved in them confront the fragilities of economic, political and climate shifts, the regulations that govern the sustainability of these chains and that enable or prohibit participation in them must be crafted and implemented to minimise harm to the most vulnerable.
In an article in Environment and Development Economics, my co-authors and I developed a set of proposals to improve the global sustainability of the NFR regulations. These call for collaborative development of regulations across the value chain, better data accessibility, measuring of and accounting for cross-border environmental damage, and greater integrity and engagement from financial actors.
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Cooperation, not compliance
As the ESRS come into force, reporting requirements are being applied to companies’ full value chains. This means that Majority World actors, such as those that extract raw materials for European products, may be indirectly subjected to the NFR regulations. This is important, as it holds companies and consumers, EU and non, accountable for the ethics of the goods and services they rely on. However, when regulations are built without directly involving those they will affect, they risk causing collateral, longer-term damage. For example, reporting requirements that feel inaccessible to smaller organisations can foster distrust and backlash, or cause companies to withdraw from contexts where data are less accessible, taking away key sources of income for communities.
While global climate negotiations have come under public scrutiny for their Minority World dominance, there has been relatively less scrutiny of global organisations governing financial and corporate sustainability standards. On their boards, the Majority World is conspicuous by its absence, demonstrating the dearth of attention to its agency in enabling greater sustainability, both locally and globally. European investors and policymakers are already shifting capital from the Majority World back to the EU in response to the NFR regulations, citing the difficulty of accounting for activities along the length of value chains. The damage falls on livelihoods, industries and essential investments, such as in renewable energy, which can suddenly disappear.
Developing NFR regulations in collaboration with all stakeholders, rather than only at the top, can provide a regulatory landscape that is, from the outset, more implementable, accessible and effective in the long run.
Democratic data and digitalisation
Efficacy in global NFR regulations relies on global data cooperation, which could lower the administrative burden on those reporting and enable greater accountability. The increasing number of EU NFR regulations do not exist in a vacuum: they have been accompanied by shifts in global regulations and a proliferation of national regulations. With regulations expanding to cover the full value chain, actors are increasingly likely to be subjected to multiple regulatory bodies, or have to provide data to reporting entities upstream. The time, financial resources and practical challenges involved in identifying, collecting, processing and sharing data are considerable, both for those submitting data and those receiving and verifying them. This makes divestment or significant losses more likely. Furthermore, the expansion of regulations can result in isolated streams of data and closed-circuit processes, which, in turn, cut out civil society organisations and individuals who use data to help hold firms to account for their social and environmental responsibilities.
Aside from EU calls for a European Single Access Point for corporate data, Majority World contexts offer particularly fertile ground for reimagining and building data infrastructures. Digitalisation in low- and middle-income countries is growing rapidly, and demonstrates the ability to make digital financial and business instruments democratic and accessible to those with the fewest resources. Such efforts should involve statisticians and local data experts from the outset to determine and harmonise appropriate data, along with transnational entities with the mandate of establishing links across data systems.
Support for international emissions accounting
Corporate reporting on environmental impacts must be accompanied by their reduction. Indeed, the work and transparency required to identify impacts in the first place, let alone mitigate them, underpins decisions to simply detach from the system, moving economic activity to local contexts where impacts are more traceable.
Firms that cannot afford to bring their activities onshore must account for emissions that occur from assets not directly under their ownership or control, which are known as Scope 3 emissions. In some cases, these emissions constitute well over half of a firm’s total value chain emissions. However, the implementation of the ESRS has designated the reporting of Scope 3 emissions, and climate impacts in general, to be largely discretionary, under the condition that firms provide evaluations of the economic and material implications of a given activity in their value chains.
The glaring gaps between some firms’ targets, actions and declarations are in part enabled by reporting systems that allow the omission of more distant climate risks and impacts, maintaining the misalignment between climate pledges and actions aimed at achieving them. While the number of firms showing readiness to comply with Scope 3 accounting is increasing, data on global investor preferences suggests that investors do not necessarily prioritise companies’ performance on these emissions when making investment decisions. For ethics to exist on the ground, they must be prioritised in financial flows.
Investment with integrity
In light of the above, financial institutions have a core responsibility to engage with NFR. These institutions’ economic leverage and centrality in the value chains and activities of several sectors give them incentivising power to catalyse a shift from the submission of reports to the building of living data systems and the achievement of fuller value chain accountability. Currently, many investors are not willing to accept reductions in their returns in exchange for the pursuit of social or environmental goals. Surveys suggest this is in part due to perceptions of low quality of environmental information, limited ability to assess the data received, and the difficulty of making investment decisions accordingly. In the current landscape of Minority World-led reporting, such mistrust is likely to be greater with respect to Majority World data, reiterating the need for data systems and reporting mechanisms built on equal footing.
Financial institutions can operate proactively, using their privileged access to data to bridge Minority and Majority World actors engaging in sustainable practices, such as microfinance bodies, local communities and relevant investors. Doing so could plug, at least in part, an information and trust gap that can hinder Minority World firms’ investment in unfamiliar contexts.
Regulating for whom?
The research underpinning our article initially involved a recommendation on streamlining and supporting reporting by small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which account for more than 60% of the EU’s corporate emissions. For these firms, especially, regulators face a critical balance between lowering the entry barrier of the reporting ecosystem and setting robust environmental targets. The nature, data points and timelines of reporting under the CSRD are currently under review following calls for simplification and greater support, and decision-makers are wrestling with the tension between accessibility and integrity.
Our work also included a recommendation that turns from the supply side, the focus of the preceding proposals, to the demand side: the data and sustainability literacy of the individual who walks into the supermarket to buy that sustainable product, or wants family investments to do more good than harm. Across sectors – public policy, investment and citizen engagement – resources must be dedicated to these literacies, so that actors are better placed to hold each other to account. Regulation becomes easily abstracted, reduced to figures and PDFs, databases and scores. Beneath each regulation is a world of citizens whose homes, livelihoods and health depend on them.
The author was affiliated with the University of Siena during the period in which she and her colleagues did the original work for the scholarly article that is mentioned in this piece. The author’s affiliation came via a project that, overall, was financed by the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The scholarly article and the present article were not outputs for the project.
Source: The Conversation – France – By Mira Manini Tiwari, Research Associate at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, European University Institute
If you choose to buy a sustainable product at the supermarket, or invest in a sustainable portfolio at your bank, how far does that sustainability reach? Does the product’s “sustainable” label account for the environmental and labour costs where the raw materials were extracted? Does the portfolio include renewable energy in countries where the investment is needed most?
In the EU, whether you are an individual or represent a company or financial institution, these questions are governed by the bloc’s non-financial reporting (NFR) regulations. The latest ones include the European Sustainable Reporting Standards (ESRS), which are gradually coming into force through 2029. The ESRS set out reporting standards and requirements, while the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) determines which companies these standards apply to, to what extent, and when.
These EU regulations also have strong implications for the Majority World, the countries and territories outside Europe and North America where most people live, at a time when global, systemic policy effects are more important than ever. As supply chains become longer and more interconnected, and as communities involved in them confront the fragilities of economic, political and climate shifts, the regulations that govern the sustainability of these chains and that enable or prohibit participation in them must be crafted and implemented to minimise harm to the most vulnerable.
In an article in Environment and Development Economics, my co-authors and I developed a set of proposals to improve the global sustainability of the NFR regulations. These call for collaborative development of regulations across the value chain, better data accessibility, measuring of and accounting for cross-border environmental damage, and greater integrity and engagement from financial actors.
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Cooperation, not compliance
As the ESRS come into force, reporting requirements are being applied to companies’ full value chains. This means that Majority World actors, such as those that extract raw materials for European products, may be indirectly subjected to the NFR regulations. This is important, as it holds companies and consumers, EU and non, accountable for the ethics of the goods and services they rely on. However, when regulations are built without directly involving those they will affect, they risk causing collateral, longer-term damage. For example, reporting requirements that feel inaccessible to smaller organisations can foster distrust and backlash, or cause companies to withdraw from contexts where data are less accessible, taking away key sources of income for communities.
While global climate negotiations have come under public scrutiny for their Minority World dominance, there has been relatively less scrutiny of global organisations governing financial and corporate sustainability standards. On their boards, the Majority World is conspicuous by its absence, demonstrating the dearth of attention to its agency in enabling greater sustainability, both locally and globally. European investors and policymakers are already shifting capital from the Majority World back to the EU in response to the NFR regulations, citing the difficulty of accounting for activities along the length of value chains. The damage falls on livelihoods, industries and essential investments, such as in renewable energy, which can suddenly disappear.
Developing NFR regulations in collaboration with all stakeholders, rather than only at the top, can provide a regulatory landscape that is, from the outset, more implementable, accessible and effective in the long run.
Democratic data and digitalisation
Efficacy in global NFR regulations relies on global data cooperation, which could lower the administrative burden on those reporting and enable greater accountability. The increasing number of EU NFR regulations do not exist in a vacuum: they have been accompanied by shifts in global regulations and a proliferation of national regulations. With regulations expanding to cover the full value chain, actors are increasingly likely to be subjected to multiple regulatory bodies, or have to provide data to reporting entities upstream. The time, financial resources and practical challenges involved in identifying, collecting, processing and sharing data are considerable, both for those submitting data and those receiving and verifying them. This makes divestment or significant losses more likely. Furthermore, the expansion of regulations can result in isolated streams of data and closed-circuit processes, which, in turn, cut out civil society organisations and individuals who use data to help hold firms to account for their social and environmental responsibilities.
Aside from EU calls for a European Single Access Point for corporate data, Majority World contexts offer particularly fertile ground for reimagining and building data infrastructures. Digitalisation in low- and middle-income countries is growing rapidly, and demonstrates the ability to make digital financial and business instruments democratic and accessible to those with the fewest resources. Such efforts should involve statisticians and local data experts from the outset to determine and harmonise appropriate data, along with transnational entities with the mandate of establishing links across data systems.
Support for international emissions accounting
Corporate reporting on environmental impacts must be accompanied by their reduction. Indeed, the work and transparency required to identify impacts in the first place, let alone mitigate them, underpins decisions to simply detach from the system, moving economic activity to local contexts where impacts are more traceable.
Firms that cannot afford to bring their activities onshore must account for emissions that occur from assets not directly under their ownership or control, which are known as Scope 3 emissions. In some cases, these emissions constitute well over half of a firm’s total value chain emissions. However, the implementation of the ESRS has designated the reporting of Scope 3 emissions, and climate impacts in general, to be largely discretionary, under the condition that firms provide evaluations of the economic and material implications of a given activity in their value chains.
The glaring gaps between some firms’ targets, actions and declarations are in part enabled by reporting systems that allow the omission of more distant climate risks and impacts, maintaining the misalignment between climate pledges and actions aimed at achieving them. While the number of firms showing readiness to comply with Scope 3 accounting is increasing, data on global investor preferences suggests that investors do not necessarily prioritise companies’ performance on these emissions when making investment decisions. For ethics to exist on the ground, they must be prioritised in financial flows.
Investment with integrity
In light of the above, financial institutions have a core responsibility to engage with NFR. These institutions’ economic leverage and centrality in the value chains and activities of several sectors give them incentivising power to catalyse a shift from the submission of reports to the building of living data systems and the achievement of fuller value chain accountability. Currently, many investors are not willing to accept reductions in their returns in exchange for the pursuit of social or environmental goals. Surveys suggest this is in part due to perceptions of low quality of environmental information, limited ability to assess the data received, and the difficulty of making investment decisions accordingly. In the current landscape of Minority World-led reporting, such mistrust is likely to be greater with respect to Majority World data, reiterating the need for data systems and reporting mechanisms built on equal footing.
Financial institutions can operate proactively, using their privileged access to data to bridge Minority and Majority World actors engaging in sustainable practices, such as microfinance bodies, local communities and relevant investors. Doing so could plug, at least in part, an information and trust gap that can hinder Minority World firms’ investment in unfamiliar contexts.
Regulating for whom?
The research underpinning our article initially involved a recommendation on streamlining and supporting reporting by small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which account for more than 60% of the EU’s corporate emissions. For these firms, especially, regulators face a critical balance between lowering the entry barrier of the reporting ecosystem and setting robust environmental targets. The nature, data points and timelines of reporting under the CSRD are currently under review following calls for simplification and greater support, and decision-makers are wrestling with the tension between accessibility and integrity.
Our work also included a recommendation that turns from the supply side, the focus of the preceding proposals, to the demand side: the data and sustainability literacy of the individual who walks into the supermarket to buy that sustainable product, or wants family investments to do more good than harm. Across sectors – public policy, investment and citizen engagement – resources must be dedicated to these literacies, so that actors are better placed to hold each other to account. Regulation becomes easily abstracted, reduced to figures and PDFs, databases and scores. Beneath each regulation is a world of citizens whose homes, livelihoods and health depend on them.
The author was affiliated with the University of Siena during the period in which she and her colleagues did the original work for the scholarly article that is mentioned in this piece. The author’s affiliation came via a project that, overall, was financed by the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR). The scholarly article and the present article were not outputs for the project.