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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Appointments of Under Secretary for Health, as well as Chairman and Chief Executive of Hospital Authority (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Government announced today (July 2) the following appointments:
     
     (1) Dr Cecilia Fan Yuen-man has been appointed as the Under Secretary for Health and will assume office on July 14, 2025;
     (2) Dr Libby Lee Ha-yun has been appointed as the Chief Executive of the Hospital Authority (HA) with effect from August 1, 2025, for a term of three years; and
     (3) Mr Henry Fan Hung-ling, the incumbent Chairman of the HA, has been reappointed for a term of one year with effect from December 1, 2025.
     
         The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, has appointed Dr Cecilia Fan as the Under Secretary for Health to succeed Dr Libby Lee.  Dr Lee has tendered her resignation and will leave her post on July 14, and Dr Fan will assume the post of Under Secretary for Health on the same day.
     
         The HA Board commenced open recruitment of its Chief Executive this January to succeed Dr Tony Ko, who will not seek reappointment upon completion of his contract at the end of July this year. The Selection Board was led by the HA Chairman and, after a global recruitment process and prudent consideration, recommended the appointment of Dr Lee as the Chief Executive of the HA. The appointment has been endorsed by the HA Board and approved by the Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).
     
         Dr Lee will join the HA to assume the post of Chief Executive on August 1. Advice from the Advisory Committee on Post-office Employment for Former Chief Executives and Politically Appointed Officials has been sought on the appointment.
     
         The Secretary for Health, Professor Lo Chung-mau, welcomed the newly appointed Under Secretary for Health, Dr Fan, to the Health Bureau, and looked forward to jointly promoting healthcare reform and innovation in the HKSAR as well as improving and protecting public health with her. “Dr Fan has extensive experience in public health management, and participated in the co-ordination of anti-epidemic and disaster relief efforts on multiple occasions, receiving commendations from the Chief Executive and the National Health Commission and demonstrating the leadership and adaptability skills necessary to promote reform,” he said.
     
         Professor Lo also thanked Dr Lee, who will soon leave the post of the Under Secretary for Health and take up the post of the Chief Executive of the HA, and said, “Dr Lee joined the HA after graduation from medical school and had long been serving in the public healthcare system until she took up the post of the Under Secretary in 2022. Dr Lee has served as the Under Secretary for almost three years and has showcased her excellent leadership, presentation and interpersonal skills. She also has a thorough understanding of the challenges faced by the healthcare system and the strategies on a macro level and will surely lead, in her new capacity, the HA to drive reform and innovation, enhancing public healthcare services.
     
         “As the cornerstone of the healthcare system, the governance of the HA is the most important part of the deepening of the healthcare system reform. I am thankful to Mr Fan for continuing to serve as the Chairman and supporting the reform pursued by the Government. I trust that the HA, under the leadership of Mr Fan and Dr Lee, will further take forward the relevant work in the future to ensure that the public healthcare system will provide the public with healthcare services of higher quality, safety and effectiveness.
     
         “I would also like to take this opportunity to express once again my appreciation for Dr Ko, who most earnestly made significant contributions to the development of the public healthcare system over the years. I wish him all the best in his future endeavours.”
     
         Following are the biographical notes on the appointed Under Secretary for Health and Chief Executive of the HA:
     
    Dr Cecilia Fan Yuen-man
    �����
         Aged 57, Dr Cecilia Fan is currently Consultant Family Medicine (Elderly Health Service) of the Department of Health (DH).
     
         Dr Fan joined the DH in 1992 and has served therein for over 30 years.  Apart from family medicine and elderly health services, she co-ordinated and participated in work in various areas, including the Professional Development and Quality Assurance Service. She also took part in co-ordination work at medical posts of quarantine centres during multiple epidemics, including outbreaks of the severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2003, human swine influenza in 2009, and COVID-19during 2020-2022. In February 2023, Dr Fan led the DH’s medical team to join the HKSAR search and rescue team in frontline search and rescue work at the quake-stricken areas in Türkiye. She was the only person from the SAR who received the National Outstanding Individuals in the Foreign Medical Aid commendation by the National Health Commission.
     
         Dr Fan holds a medical degree from the University of Hong Kong and a master’s degree in public health from the Chinese University of Hong Kong, as well as a number of professional qualifications. She is trained as a family physician.

    Dr Libby Lee Ha-yun
    �����
         Aged 53, Dr Libby Lee has been the Under Secretary for Health since July 2022.
     
         Dr Lee joined the executive team of the HA in 2008 and was promoted to Director of Strategy and Planning in 2016.  During her tenure as the Director of Strategy and Planning, she oversaw the formulation of strategies and operational plans, the co-ordination of community and primary care services, and the planning and implementation of capital works projects in relation to the HA’s provision of healthcare services. Her duties at that post also included conducting studies and analyses in relation to demographic changes and challenges faced by the HA and projecting corresponding resource requirements. Dr Lee has served on various professional bodies including as Council Member for the Hong Kong College of Anaesthesiologists and the Hong Kong College of Community Medicine.
     
         Dr Lee holds a medical degree and a master’s degree in public health from the University of Hong Kong as well as a number of professional qualifications. She is trained as an anaesthesiologist and a practitioner in administrative medicine.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Post-office employment for Dr Libby Lee Ha-yun

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Post-office employment for Dr Libby Lee Ha-yun 
    Mr Simon Ip Sik-on (Chairman)
    Mrs Margaret Leung Ko May-yee
    Mr Cheng Yan-kee
    Ms Lo Wing-sze
    Dr Miranda Lou Lai-wah
    Issued at HKT 16:08

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • Indian pharma exports strong at $4.9 billion in April-May, says Pharmexcil

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Pharmaceutical exports in India stood strong at $4.9 billion in April-May FY26, according to the latest update by the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil).

    Pharmexcil is an authorised export promotion agency under the Commerce and Industry Ministry.

    The data showed that the sector has made a 7.38 per cent expansion compared with the same period last year. This indicates that the industry is continuing with its upward trajectory and marking a significant presence globally.

    This growth is due to “strategic initiatives focused on sustainable manufacturing, expanded global market presence, and digital innovation,” Pharmexcil said, adding that the efforts may bolster India’s ambitious goal of achieving a trillion-dollar trade target for its pharma industry.

    “India’s pharmaceutical exports continue to demonstrate a steady year-over-year growth, with drug formulations and biologicals continuing to dominate the export category,” Namit Joshi, chairman of Pharmexcil, was quoted as saying in a media report.

    “We attribute this growth to rising global demand, streamlined regulatory approvals, technological innovations, strategic partnerships, and economic stability,” Joshi added.

    Notably, formulations and biologicals accounted for 75.74 per cent of the total of the pharma exports. Bulk drugs and drug intermediates also expanded by 4.40 per cent in May.

    Vaccine exports saw a 13.64 per cent increase and reached $190.13 million, while surgical items (up 8.58 per cent) and Ayush and herbal products (up 7.36 per cent) also saw healthy growth.

    According to Pharmexcil, about 76 per cent of India’s pharmaceutical export destinations include the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) region, as well as Europe, Africa, and Latin America.

    However, the US remains the top destination. In May, exports to the country were valued at $1.7 billion in May — representing 34.5 per cent of total pharma exports and a 1.5 per cent expansion.

    While Europe and Africa saw moderate growth, the ASEAN region emerged as a newly contracted area.

    According to Joshi, the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) discussions showed it will significantly enhance supply chains and improve access to affordable medicines. It will also attract foreign direct investment, particularly in contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) and joint research.

    (IANS)

  • Indian pharma exports strong at $4.9 billion in April-May, says Pharmexcil

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Pharmaceutical exports in India stood strong at $4.9 billion in April-May FY26, according to the latest update by the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil).

    Pharmexcil is an authorised export promotion agency under the Commerce and Industry Ministry.

    The data showed that the sector has made a 7.38 per cent expansion compared with the same period last year. This indicates that the industry is continuing with its upward trajectory and marking a significant presence globally.

    This growth is due to “strategic initiatives focused on sustainable manufacturing, expanded global market presence, and digital innovation,” Pharmexcil said, adding that the efforts may bolster India’s ambitious goal of achieving a trillion-dollar trade target for its pharma industry.

    “India’s pharmaceutical exports continue to demonstrate a steady year-over-year growth, with drug formulations and biologicals continuing to dominate the export category,” Namit Joshi, chairman of Pharmexcil, was quoted as saying in a media report.

    “We attribute this growth to rising global demand, streamlined regulatory approvals, technological innovations, strategic partnerships, and economic stability,” Joshi added.

    Notably, formulations and biologicals accounted for 75.74 per cent of the total of the pharma exports. Bulk drugs and drug intermediates also expanded by 4.40 per cent in May.

    Vaccine exports saw a 13.64 per cent increase and reached $190.13 million, while surgical items (up 8.58 per cent) and Ayush and herbal products (up 7.36 per cent) also saw healthy growth.

    According to Pharmexcil, about 76 per cent of India’s pharmaceutical export destinations include the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) region, as well as Europe, Africa, and Latin America.

    However, the US remains the top destination. In May, exports to the country were valued at $1.7 billion in May — representing 34.5 per cent of total pharma exports and a 1.5 per cent expansion.

    While Europe and Africa saw moderate growth, the ASEAN region emerged as a newly contracted area.

    According to Joshi, the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) discussions showed it will significantly enhance supply chains and improve access to affordable medicines. It will also attract foreign direct investment, particularly in contract development and manufacturing (CDMO) and joint research.

    (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The project of students of SPbGASU was recognized as the best in the student nomination at the competition “Center of Historical Memory in the Village of Zaitsevo”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering – From left to right: Yulia Yankovskaya, Kristina Zaika, Ekaterina Zlotnikova, Valeria Dmitrieva and Elizaveta Doroshenko

    The project “Center of Historical Memory in the Village of Zaitsevo” by second-year students of the Department of Urban Development of SPbGASU was recognized as the best among student works submitted to the competition “Concept of Spatial Development of Municipalities of the Leningrad Region” in the nomination “Concept of Spatial Development of the Public Exhibition Center “Center of Historical Memory”. It was developed by Ekaterina Zlotnikova, Kristina Zaika, Elizaveta Doroshenko and Valeria Dmitrieva under the supervision of the head of the Department of Urban Development Yulia Yankovskaya for the territory of the Memorial Complex to the Civilians of the Soviet Union Who Died During the Great Patriotic War and the improvement of the territory in the village of Zaitsevo in the Gatchina Municipal District of the Leningrad Region.

    “Participation and especially victory in such professional competitions are very important both in professional development and in patriotic education of students. The students studied historical materials related to this place with great interest and attention, analyzed domestic and foreign experience in designing memorial complexes, gave an original compositional and figurative interpretation of the museum object and proposed a concept for the improvement of the territory,” noted Yulia Yankovskaya.

    According to her, the project is interesting for a number of ideas. Thus, a new landscaping solution has been given on the territory of the complex with the placement of a number of thematic areas focused on tactile, sound, color and light presentation of the events of the Great Patriotic War. The historical memory center itself is designed in modern dynamic forms, the “memory ribbon” covers the volume of the building from all sides.

    In accordance with the task, the functional filling includes a universal auditorium, a memorial and exhibition space, and a cultural and educational space with a small conference hall. The composition of the object is built on triangular shapes in plan, symbolizing fragments, the breakdown of people’s lives. In contrast to them, the “memory tape” connects the disparate volumes and fills them with a new peaceful life. Two atrium spaces adjoin the central part of the building with an entrance group, a foyer, and a hall on both sides: on the right – with an exhibition of objects related to military themes, on the left – a green space related to peaceful life. The interior of the building uses the works of monumental artists, students of the I. E. Repin Academy of Arts Ekaterina Okisheva and Xu Zhoke.

    “I would like to emphasize that this complex and multifaceted project with the development of a concept for the improvement, landscaping of the complex, a number of pavilions and thematic areas, as well as a rather complex public exhibition center, was completed by second-year students (of course, under the guidance of their teacher). Success speaks of both their good professional training and creative activity. The inspiration for this work was Ekaterina Zlotnikova. Last year, she took third place in the “Environment” nomination of the international competition “Form-Illusion”. I am glad that with her desire to actively participate in competitions and exhibitions, she encourages other students to be creative. Both the department and I, as the head of the workshop, do our utmost to reveal the creative potential of students and support their desire to develop their professional skills in creative professional competitions, not limited to student ones,” said Yulia Yankovskaya.

    The concept of the Center of Historical Memory “History Tape”

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Active citizens” are invited to test their knowledge of the “Summer in Moscow” project

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Project “Active Citizen” and the capital Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovative Development invite citizens to join quiz, dedicated to the bright objects of the project “Summer in Moscow”.

    This season, the city streets were decorated not only fresh flowers, but also unique art pavilions project “Made in Moscow”. Residents and visitors of the city can visit 12 points and “Green Market” on Bolotnaya Square, where products from Moscow brands are presented. For example, fashionable clothes, cosmetics, desserts from Moscow confectioners, pet products and much more. In addition, you can try ice cream with an exclusive flavor created for the summer season in Moscow.

    The Made in Moscow project summed up the first days of work of art pavilions and the Green Market

    There are eight questions in the quiz. Each question has five possible answers, only one of which is correct. Thus, “active citizens” will need to remember what famous samovar the object on Arbat is made in. Voters will also learn what is taught at master classes in the Raketa art pavilion on Rozhdestvenka Street. And also – what is the name of the art pavilion with Moscow cosmetics and the space where they sell ice cream and soft drinks.

    For correct answers, participants are awarded points in the city loyalty program “A Million Prizes”. They can be used to receive goods and services from partner organizations of the program, discounts in cafes and restaurants, as well as to top up the Troika transport card and parking account in the Parking of Russia application. In addition, points can be donated to charity.

    “Made in Moscow” — a project to promote local brands. There are already more than seven thousand of them, and the site contains over 34 thousand products created in the capital. Entrepreneurs receive free support measures, including information, and the opportunity to participate in major city events.

    Project “Summer in Moscow” — the main event of the season. It unites the most vibrant events of the capital. Every day in all districts of the city there are charity, cultural and sports programs, most of which are free. The Summer in Moscow project is being held for the second time, and the new season will be more eventful: new, original and colorful festivals and events will be added to the traditional ones.

    Project “Active Citizen” has been operating since 2014. During this time, more than seven million people have joined it, and over seven thousand votes have been held. Every month, the city implements 30 to 40 decisions made by Muscovites. The project is being developed by the State Institution “New Management Technologies” and the Moscow Department of Information Technology.

    The creation, development and operation of the e-government infrastructure, including the provision of mass socially significant services, as well as other services in electronic form, correspond to the objectives of the national project “Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State” and the regional project of the city of Moscow “Digital Public Administration”.

    Get the latest news quickly official telegram channelthe city of Moscow.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/156122073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Belgium and China vow to deepen ties and strengthen mutual trust

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BRUSSELS, July 2 (Xinhua) — Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, here on Tuesday, vowing to deepen exchanges and strengthen mutual trust with China.

    B. De Wever noted that Belgium and China have a long history of exchanges, and Belgium plays an important role in cooperation between Europe and China.

    Recalling his many visits to China, De Wever said he was deeply impressed by China’s development achievements. Despite differences in views, he stressed the importance of expanding exchanges and strengthening mutual trust in the current complex geopolitical environment.

    Moreover, he reaffirmed Belgium’s commitment to multilateralism and to promoting the autonomy of Europe, expressing hope that the upcoming meeting of EU and Chinese leaders would bring positive results.

    B. De Wever also stressed that Belgium firmly adheres to the one-China policy and this position will not change.

    Wang Yi stressed Belgium’s unique role in the European integration process and China-EU relations as a founding member of the EU and the host country of the EU.

    Wang Yi said China appreciates the rational and pragmatic China policy pursued by the new Belgian government and is willing to cooperate with it to further strengthen the traditional friendship and comprehensive partnership.

    According to the Chinese diplomat, China remains committed to high-quality development and high-level opening-up, welcomes more Belgian enterprises in China, and hopes that Belgium will also provide Chinese companies investing in Belgium with a fair, safe and predictable business environment.

    Wang Yi also noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, which is of great significance for the connection between the past and the future. He added that the half-century of interaction between China and the EU has fully demonstrated that the two sides can achieve mutual respect and win-win cooperation.

    In the complex and unstable international environment, China and the EU, as the two major powers, markets and civilizations in the world, should uphold the position of partners and the core idea of win-win cooperation, strengthen ties, deepen understanding and consolidate mutual trust, so as to jointly safeguard multilateralism and the free trade system. Together, they should serve as an “anchor of stability” in the world and act as reliable and strong partners that support and empower each other, Wang said.

    The parties also exchanged views on issues, including Ukraine. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: US to deport nearly 4,000 illegal migrants from Ecuador in first half of 2025

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    QUITO, July 2 (Xinhua) — The United States has deported 3,977 illegal Ecuadorian migrants in the first half of 2025, the Ecuadorian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

    That number includes 38 Ecuadorians who arrived in the coastal city of Guayaquil on Monday on a U.S. Air Force plane. The U.S. Embassy said on its social media account that it was enforcing the country’s immigration laws and deporting illegal migrants.

    According to the agency, by June 30, 3,939 Ecuadorians had been deported from the United States on 46 flights, not counting the latest arrivals.

    The Ecuadorian government offers repatriates a monthly stipend of US$470 for the first three months of their return. Additional support measures include vocational training, educational opportunities and scholarship programs. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Pakistan to expand Gwadar port to facilitate maritime trade, regional connectivity

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    ISLAMABAD, July 2 (Xinhua) — Pakistan’s Ministry of Maritime Affairs on Tuesday announced a comprehensive plan to expand operations at Gwadar Port by establishing new shipping lines and introducing ferry services to Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, the ministry said in a statement.

    Chairing the meeting, Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said the initiative was part of a larger strategy to strengthen regional connectivity, expand Pakistan’s maritime trade and make Gwadar a major transhipment and logistics hub in the Arabian Sea.

    The minister added that the expansion would facilitate growing trade with Central Asia and the Middle East, while positioning Gwadar as a central hub in regional supply chains.

    As part of this initiative, the Ministry also plans to launch ferry services from Gwadar to the GCC countries to provide affordable and direct sea transportation for passengers and cargo.

    Located in the southwestern province of Balochistan, the port is a key component of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).

    Launched in 2013, the flagship project of China’s Belt and Road Initiative links the port of Gwadar with Kashgar in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Beijing’s largest airport expects passenger traffic to rise in summer months

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) — Beijing Daxing International Airport, the largest airport in the Chinese capital, expects passenger traffic to rise to over 9.52 million in July and August, the peak summer holiday period.

    From July 1 to August 31, Daxing Airport is expected to handle 60,400 flights, receiving and sending 9.52 million passenger times, up 4.18 percent and 4.41 percent, respectively, compared to a year earlier. The peak of traffic is expected on August 5, when up to 1,031 flights will pass through the airport, and the passenger flow will amount to 170,500 passenger times.

    The surge is driven by a mix of students, tourists and relatives visiting, with destinations such as the relatively cooler cities in China’s northeast and southwest, Southeast Asian countries and some European cities including London, Moscow and Amsterdam becoming particularly popular.

    The simplified visa procedures are helping to boost cross-border tourism. In July and August, the peak summer holiday season, the Daxing Airport checkpoint is expected to handle an average of 100 international flights per day, with an inbound and outbound passenger flow of 17,000 people. Since the beginning of this year, the airport’s total inbound and outbound passenger flow has exceeded 2.7 million people. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ12: Attracting Mainland and overseas residents to visit Hong Kong

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ12: Attracting Mainland and overseas residents to visit Hong Kong 
    Question:
     
    It has been reported that in recent years, our country has continued to expand the scope of its visa-free policy by, apart from expanding its unilateral visa-free policy to 47 countries, implementing a visa-free transit policy for 55 countries, thereby facilitating overseas visitors’ travel to the Mainland. For Hong Kong, the Central Government added 10 Mainland cities (such cities) eligible for travelling to Hong Kong under the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) in March and May last year, and resumed and expanded the multiple-entry IVS for Shenzhen residents to visit Hong Kong in December. Regarding efforts to attract Mainland and overseas residents to visit Hong Kong, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of, each month since June last year, (i) the number of overseas travelers entering the Mainland via Hong Kong, (ii) the number of overseas travelers leaving the Mainland via Hong Kong, (iii) such travelers’ average length of stay in Hong Kong, and (iv) their nationalities (i.e. the top 10 nationalities with the highest number of visitors);
     
    (2) in light of our country’s relaxation of its visa-free transit policy for overseas travelers and extension of their maximum stay on the Mainland to 240 hours, whether the authorities have sought from the Central Government the inclusion of all Hong Kong checkpoints into the scope of the aforesaid national policy to further enhance Hong Kong’s role as a tourism hub, thereby attracting more overseas travelers to enter and leave the Mainland via Hong Kong, and to travel around and consume in Hong Kong;
     
    (3) of the monthly number of visitors from such cities to Hong Kong and their average length of stay in Hong Kong during the period from May last year to May this year;
     
    (4) of the measures taken by the authorities (including publicity and promotional campaigns, encouraging airlines to increase flights between Hong Kong and such cities, and promoting co-operation between the tourism industries of Hong Kong and such cities) to attract more visitors from such cities to Hong Kong;
     
    (5) since the resumption and expansion of the multiple-entry IVS for Shenzhen residents in December last year, of the monthly number of Shenzhen permanent residents and Shenzhen non-permanent residents holding residence permits visiting Hong Kong and their average length of stay in Hong Kong; and
     
    (6) whether the authorities has discussed with the Central Government and sought to open up the multiple-entry IVS for residents of Guangzhou, Beijing and Shanghai to visit Hong Kong, with the aim of promoting trade and business exchanges and attracting more overnight visitors to Hong Kong; if so, of the details and the results of the discussions; if not, the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
    The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government (HKSARG) expressed gratitude to the Central Government for the high regard and care for the development of Hong Kong’s tourism industry as well as rolling out a number of measures benefiting Hong Kong’s tourism industry in 2024, including the optimisation of the Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) to cover all provincial capitals in our country, and the resumption and expansion of the multiple-entry IVS for Shenzhen. The HKSARG will continue to make good use of the Central Government’s measures benefitting Hong Kong to reinforce the Mainland visitor source market, and continue to liaise with the Mainland on facilitating international visitors’ entry arrangements to the Mainland via Hong Kong, thereby underpinning Hong Kong’s role as the international gateway to our country.
     
    In consultation with the Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB), the Security Bureau and the Immigration Department (ImmD), the consolidated reply to the question raised by Hon Yiu Pak-leung is as follows:

    (1) and (2) According to the statistics provided by the ImmD, from June 2024 to May 2025, the number of overseas visitor arrivals entering and leaving the Mainland via Hong Kong is tabulated below by month:
     

    Month 
    The ImmD does not maintain information on the average length of stay of the above visitors in Hong Kong. According to the information provided by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), amongst the inbound non-Mainland visitors from June 2024 to May 2025, 7.62 million arrivals were overnight visitors and their average length of stay in Hong Kong was 3.2 days.

    According to the statistics provided by the ImmD, from June 2024 to May 2025, the top 10 nationalities of overseas visitors entering the Mainland via Hong Kong are tabulated below by month:
     

    Month/ Ranking2024202420252025According to the statistics provided by the ImmD, from June 2024 to May 2025, the top 10 nationalities of overseas visitors leaving the Mainland via Hong Kong are tabulated below by month:
     

    Month/ Ranking20242024202520252025Hong Kong has long been the gateway for overseas visitors to enter the Mainland, as well as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” linking up the Mainland with the rest of the world. The Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) has been committed to strengthening Hong Kong’s position as an international tourism hub, and has been closely monitoring the visa-free policies introduced by our country. The CSTB will, on the basis of the existing 144-hour visa-free policy for Guangdong province, continue to discuss with the relevant ministries of the Central Government the arrangements to facilitate international visitors to enter the Mainland via Hong Kong, with a view to attracting more international visitors to take Hong Kong as their first stop or transit point in their multi-destination travel itineraries to our country, leveraging Hong Kong’s role as a connector.

    (3) to (6) The The IVS was expanded to Xi’an and Qingdao on March 6, 2024, and further expanded to Taiyuan, Hohhot, Harbin, Lhasa, Lanzhou, Xining, Yinchuan and Urumqi on May 27, 2024. For the period from May 2024 to May 2025, the number of Mainland visitor arrivals from the aforesaid 10 newly added cities is tabulated below by month:
     

    MonthThe number of visitor arrivals to Hong Kong holding the multiple-entry IVS since its resumption and expansion in Shenzhen on December 1, 2024, is tabulated below by month:
     

    MonthThe ImmD does not maintain information on the average length of stay of the above visitors in Hong Kong. According to the information provided by the HKTB, of the inbound Mainland visitors from May 2024 to May 2025, overnight visitors and same-day visitors were 16.11 million and 21.94 million respectively, and the average length of stay of overnight Mainland visitors in Hong Kong was 3.1 days.

    To attract more residents from the 10 cities to visit Hong Kong, the CSTB, in collaboration with the HKTB, have rolled out a series of promotional activities.  After the expansion of the IVS to Xi’an and Qingdao in March 2024, the CSTB and the HKTB led a delegation to visit the two cities, and launched large-scale advertisements in local commercial districts, achieving a total exposure of 23.8 million views. After the expansion of the IVS to all provincial capitals, trade representatives from the eight newly added IVS cities, including Taiyuan, Hohhot, Harbin and others, were invited for a familiarisation trip to Hong Kong in June 2024 to have an in-depth exploration of Hong Kong’s local culture.
     
    Starting from April 2024, the HKTB has distributed over 40 000 sets of discount vouchers, each valued at HK$200, to visitors from the 10 newly added IVS cities through travel agents and airlines, stimulating visitor spending in Hong Kong.
     
    Moreover, the TLB has been working closely with the Airport Authority Hong Kong (AA) to strategically attract both local and non-local airlines to open new routes and increase flight frequencies through outreach teams, incentive schemes and policy facilitation measures, thereby further strengthening the air connectivity between Hong Kong and Mainland cities. Notably, the AA launched in June last year the Air Network Development Programme, which has so far attracted 29 airlines to open 60 new routes and increase flight frequencies to 14 destinations, including passenger flights to Xi’an, Qingdao, Lhasa, Lanzhou, and Urumqi. The current passenger flight services between the Mainland and Hong Kong have completely covered the 10 newly added the IVS cities last year. Compared to the period before the expansion of the IVS, the total number of flights to and from these cities has increased by 80 per cent.
     
    Regarding the promotion of trade collaboration, the CSTB provided funding support to the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong to organise trade visits to Harbin and Taiyuan in February and June 2025 respectively and will visit Xi’an in October 2025.  Through business exchanges with the representatives from the cultural and tourism departments and trade organisations of those cities, we foster business co-operation between the tourism trade of Hong Kong and those cities, facilitating exchange of visitors and developing business opportunities.
     
    In terms of suggestions to orderly optimise the IVS, namely the expansion of the multiple-entry IVS to other Mainland cities, the CSTB will continue to discuss with relevant ministries of the Mainland, with a view to enabling Mainland visitors to visit Hong Kong in a more convenient and flexible manner, thereby fostering the development of the tourism-related industries.
    Issued at HKT 15:50

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Cases of unauthorised deposit-taking from the public on the rise in the Czech Republic, CNB to tighten sanctions

    Source: Czech National Bank

    Only banks or entities with the relevant authorisation are permitted to take deposits from the public in the Czech Republic. However, the Czech National Bank (CNB) is currently recording an increase in cases where other entities are doing so without authorisation. This constitutes very serious unlawful conduct, for which the CNB has already imposed fines amounting to tens of millions of Czech korunas this year. In an effort to protect the public’s money, the central bank is to further tighten its sanctioning policy in this area.

    Obtaining money from the public is subject to strict regulation in the financial market, primarily in order to protect clients and their funds. An important element of this protection is deposit insurance, which in the Czech Republic is provided by the Deposit Insurance Fund and is mandatory for all banks and credit unions.

    However, there is a growing number of cases where entities without due authorisation are unlawfully taking deposits from the public. This very often happens on the basis of loan agreements concluded with members of the public, which these entities use to circumvent the rules. Funds collected in this manner are not covered by deposit insurance or by the well-developed system of financial market supervision in the Czech Republic, and the activity of collecting such funds is not subject to strict legal regulation.

    The CNB is therefore warning the public against cooperating with illegal providers of such financial services. If an individual entrusts their money to an unauthorised entity, they face a serious risk of losing all their funds.

    To protect depositors’ funds, the Act on Banks deems the unauthorised taking of deposits from the public to be very serious unlawful conduct. This is reflected in the sanctions the CNB may impose for violations of the law.

    The CNB has so far imposed fines ranging from a few million to tens of millions of korunas as punishment for this unlawful conduct. In 2025, for example, it imposed fines of CZK 12 million and CZK 15 million.

    Given the increasing frequency of such activity, it is evident that the fines imposed so far have not sufficiently fulfilled one of the primary functions of administrative penalties – general prevention. For this reason, the CNB will continue to tighten its sanctioning policy in this area.

    Jakub Holas
    Director, CNB Communications Division

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Foreign Minister holds closed meeting with Egyptian counterpart in Cairo


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    Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi held a closed meeting with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, on the sidelines of the 16th session of the Omani-Egyptian Joint Committee in Cairo.

    The meeting, reaffirmed the close cooperation between the Sultanate of Oman and the Arab Republic of Egypt and their shared commitment to developing it strategically across various fields, in a manner that deepens mutual interests and brings greater shared benefits to both brotherly countries.

    The two Ministers also discussed a number of regional issues and developments of mutual political and security concern.

    They underlined the importance of maintaining coordination, aligning their visions and combining efforts to prioritise dialogue and diplomacy in addressing challenges, defusing tensions and tackling the root causes of conflict, in the interest of the region as a whole.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Foreign Ministry of Oman.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Oman Egypt Joint Committee meets in Cairo


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    The 16th session of the Omani-Egyptian Joint Committee was held in Cairo at the level of the two countries’ foreign ministers.

    The Omani delegation was chaired by Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, Foreign Minister while the Egyptian side was chaired by Dr Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

    In his speech during the opening session, Sayyid Badr expressed his deep gratitude to the Egyptian delegation for their warm welcome and hospitality. He emphasised the profound historical ties and enduring bonds between Oman and Egypt, adding: “This session of the Omani-Egyptian Joint Committee is yet another blessed addition to the record of our positive cooperation, reinforcing the deep-rooted ties that have been shaped and distinguished throughout history. Today, we reap the fruits of these relations for the benefit of our two brotherly nations.”

    The Minister highlighted the significant progress in economic relations between the two countries, stressing the importance of enhancing investment partnerships in real estate, tourism, renewable energy, manufacturing, logistics, food security, and pharmaceutical industries.

    He called for activating the role of the Omani-Egyptian Business Council and the private sector, as well as focusing on startups, digital transformation, and innovation, affirming that “this would enhance economic sustainability and keep pace with global developments.”

    On regional issues, the Foreign Minister reiterated Oman’s full support for Egypt’s efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, firmly rejecting plans to displace the Palestinian people and endorsing the Arab initiative for Gaza’s reconstruction. He reaffirmed Oman’s steadfast stance in supporting the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on the  borders of June 4, 1967, with East Jerusalem as its capital, in accordance with international legitimacy and the Arab Peace Initiative.

    He also emphasised that “Arab national security is indivisible,” expressing Oman’s support for Egypt’s rights to the Nile River waters based on international law and the principle of fair and equitable use, fostering cooperation through mutual understanding and peaceful solutions.

    Sayyid Badr stressed Oman’s commitment to contributing to regional stability and shielding the peoples of the region from obstacles to development. He underscored the importance of resuming efforts to reach a just and lasting agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue, based on international law and the Non-Proliferation Treaty, while rejecting solutions imposed by force, which only lead to destruction and instability. He affirmed that dialogue and negotiation remain the only path to resolving disputes and mitigating risks.

    He praised the efforts of senior officials from both Oman and Egypt in preparing for the session, expressing hope that its outcomes would “serve as a qualitative addition to strengthening cooperation and fulfilling the aspirations of the two countries’ leaderships and peoples.”

    Dr Badr Abdelatty commended the depth of Egyptian-Omani relations and their tangible progress under the guidance of both countries’ leaderships, who seek to elevate cooperation to wider horizons.

    He noted that the current session reflects the shared commitment to building on the outcomes of the mutual visits by the two countries’ leaders. He pointed out that discussions with his Omani counterpart explored ways to enhance economic, trade, and investment relations. Politically, he praised the depth and alignment of views on regional issues and their peaceful resolution.

    The session included the signing of several memoranda of understanding and executive programmes in investment, labour, training, media cooperation, food safety, endowments, mineral resources, and human capital development, along with the minutes of the 16th session of the Omani-Egyptian Joint Committee.

    The session concluded with both sides stressing the importance of continued coordination and consultation across various fields, strengthening the Omani-Egyptian partnership for the mutual benefit of the two nations and their peoples, and contributing to regional security, stability, and development.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Foreign Ministry of Oman.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Oman and Egypt hold joint press conference


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    Oman’s Foreign Minister, Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, Foreign Minister and Dr Badr Abdelatty, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt, held a joint press conference  marking the conclusion of the 16th session of the Omani-Egyptian Joint Committee in Cairo.

    During the press conference, Sayyid Badr expressed full alignment with his Egyptian counterpart regarding Omani-Egyptian cooperation matters and both countries’ positions on regional issues. He noted both countries’ commitment to enhancing trade, strengthening the role of the Business Council, and increasing mutual investments, while praising the contributions of the Egyptian community to Oman’s development.

    On regional matters, he emphasised Oman’s support for Egypt’s efforts to halt the aggression on Gaza, reject forced displacement attempts, and adhere to the two-state solution leading to an independent Palestinian state.

    Sayyid Badr reiterated Oman’s support for Egypt’s position on the Renaissance Dam issue, stressing the importance of respecting Arab states’ sovereignty and territorial integrity while rejecting all forms of foreign interference in their internal affairs.

    He also stated that resuming negotiations on the Iranian nuclear issue is essential for regional stability, underscoring the importance of confidence-building measures to avoid escalation and to reach a fair, consensual solution to this issue while focusing efforts on regional development and cooperation.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Foreign Ministry of Oman.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation Discusses Developments in Joint Relations with United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Secretary-General and Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) Director


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    H.E. Dr. Rania A. Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, met with Ms. Rebeca Grynspan, Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), and Professor Sabina Alkire, Director of the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI).

    This was part of her ongoing participation in the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development, held in Spain from June 29 to July 3, 2025, as a member of the Egyptian delegation headed by H.E. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, Prime Minister, on behalf of H.E. President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Republic of Egypt.

    H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat discussed with the UNCTAD’s Secretary-General the joint relations between Egypt and UNCTAD, reviewing ways to elevate cooperation in the fields of economic development and investment.

    H.E. Dr. Al-Mashat expressed appreciation for the joint efforts with UNCTAD in issuing the Global Investment Report 2024, which monitors the most prominent trends in foreign direct investment worldwide. She highlighted the importance of this report in shedding light on Egypt’s position among the most attractive countries for investments, in light of the economic reforms implemented by the Egyptian government.

    The meeting also touched on the joint relations between Egypt and UNCTAD, underscoring the significance of cooperation in economic development and promoting foreign investments, in addition to utilizing the organization’s tools to measure the impact of development policies and enhance trade and investment strategies.

    In another context, Dr. Rania Al-Mashat met with Professor Sabina Alkire, Director of the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), an economist and professor in the Department of International Development at Oxford University, to discuss endeavors to promote investment in human capital.

    The two sides reviewed human development efforts and increasing investment in human capital to improve living standards and foster inclusive and sustainable economic development.

    The meeting also highlighted the Global Multidimensional Poverty Index, reaffirming that it represents an annual international measure of acute multidimensional poverty, covering over 100 developing countries. This index is a key tool for measuring the severity of poverty through 7 main dimensions: education, health, basic services, employment, social protection, and food security.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation – Egypt.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • Dalai Lama says he will be reincarnated, his Trust will lead search for his successor

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Dalai Lama said on Wednesday that he will be reincarnated and that his non-profit institution will have the sole authority to identify his reincarnation, countering China’s insistence that it will choose the successor of the Tibetan Buddhist leader.

    The remarks by the Dalai Lama, who turns 90 on Sunday, end speculation among millions of followers about whether there would be another Dalai Lama after his death. The Nobel peace laureate was speaking during a week of celebrations to mark his birthday which was expected to be closely watched by the U.S., India and China for clues about his successor for strategic reasons. There was no immediate comment from China.

    “I am affirming that the institution of the Dalai Lama will continue,” the Dalai Lama said in a video message to a gathering in Dharamshala, a town in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India, that was attended by more than 100 monks in maroon robes, journalists from around the world and long-time supporters including Hollywood star Richard Gere.

    Beijing views the Dalai Lama, who fled to India from Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule, as a separatist. The Dalai Lama has previously said his successor will be born outside China and urged his followers to reject anyone chosen by Beijing. In previous years, he had also said it was possible that there might be no successor at all.

    The Dalai Lama added that the Gaden Phodrang Trust, the non-profit organisation that he set up to maintain and support the tradition and institution of the Dalai Lama, has the sole authority to recognise his future reincarnation in consultation with the heads of Tibetan Buddhist traditions.

    “They should accordingly carry out the procedures of search and recognition in accordance with past tradition … no one else has any such authority to interfere in this matter,” the Dalai Lama said.

    Tibetan tradition holds that the soul of a senior Buddhist monk is reincarnated in the body of a child upon his death.

    Born as Lhamo Dhondup on July 6, 1935, to a farming family in what is now Qinghai province, the 14th Dalai Lama was identified as such a reincarnation when he was just two years old by a search party on the basis of several signs, such as a vision revealed to a senior monk, the Dalai Lama’s website says.

    He is now regarded as one of the world’s most influential religious figures, with a following extending well beyond Buddhism, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989.

    ‘NO INSTRUCTIONS ON SUCCESSION’

    Samdhong Rinpoche, a senior official of the Gaden Phodrang Trust told reporters that the Dalai Lama was in good health and he has not given any written instructions yet on the succession.

    He said the successor can be of any gender and that their nationality would not be restricted to Tibet.

    China says its leaders have the right to approve the Dalai Lama’s successor, as a legacy from imperial times. A selection ritual, in which the names of possible reincarnations are drawn from a golden urn, dates to 1793, during the Qing dynasty.

    Chinese officials have repeatedly said the reincarnation of the Dalai Lama should be decided by following national laws that decree use of the golden urn and the birth of reincarnations within China’s borders.

    Penpa Tsering, leader of the Central Tibetan Administration, the Tibetan government-in-exile in India, said the Dalai Lama would be open to visiting Tibet if his health permits and if there were no restrictions from China.

    He also said that the U.S. had lifted some restrictions on funds for Tibetans in exile and that the Tibetan government was looking for alternate sources of funding.

    The United States, which faces rising competition from China for global dominance, has repeatedly said it is committed to advancing the human rights of Tibetans. U.S. lawmakers have previously said they would not allow China to influence the choice of the Dalai Lama’s successor.

    (Reuters)

  • Wimbledon: Sinner remains ice cool as Gauff, Pegula and Zverev join bonfire of seeds

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    World number one Jannik Sinner stayed ice cool to move serenely into the Wimbledon second round but it was a second successive day of upsets at a sizzling All England Club as a succession of seeded players crashed and burned on Tuesday.

    American second seed Coco Gauff, chasing a French Open-Wimbledon double after her Paris triumph, was the day’s most surprising casualty, losing 7-6(3) 6-1 to Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska as the sun set on a sultry day.

    Gauff’s compatriot Taylor Fritz, the world number five, survived a five-set firefight by the skin of his teeth against big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

    But the same could not be said of 13 of the men’s seeds who fell at the first hurdle – a Wimbledon record since 32 seeds were introduced in 2001.

    Nine seeds also perished in the women’s first round while the eight top-10 seeds to go out across both singles draws amounted to the highest at a Grand Slam in the professional era.

    Germany’s Alexander Zverev was the most notable men’s casualty, the third seed losing 7-6(3) 6-7(8) 6-3 6-7(5) 6-4 to France’s Arthur Rinderknech in a marathon duel that began on Monday and was locked at one set apiece overnight.

    “I’m not sure he’s ever played a match like that in his life,” said Zverev, who is still chasing a first Grand Slam title after 38 attempts.

    Italian Lorenzo Musetti, seeded seventh, was bundled out on Court Two by Nikoloz Basilashvili – the same court where earlier American women’s third seed Jessica Pegula was sent packing 6-2 6-3 by Italian Elisabetta Cocciaretto.

    A red-hot Sinner never looked like joining the exodus as he beat fellow Italian and close friend Luca Nardi 6-4 6-3 6-0 in a victorious return to the Grand Slam stage after his epic French Open final defeat by Carlos Alcaraz last month.

    “I tried to put the friendship away for a couple of hours,” Sinner, who conceded only four points when he landed his first serve, told reporters.

    Novak Djokovic closed out the day’s action on the main showcourt by getting past Frenchman Alexandre Muller 6-1 6-7(7) 6-2 6-2 despite being hampered by a stomach bug midway through his match. He will face Briton Dan Evans next.

    After seven British players won singles matches on Monday – a professional era record at Wimbledon – home fans had more to cheer on Tuesday as fourth seed Jack Draper, his nation’s big hope, avoided any dramas by easing past Argentina’s Sebastian Baez who retired hurt trailing 6-2 6-2 2-1.

    In total, 10 British players have reached round two.

    KREJCIKOVA TESTED

    Women’s defending champion Barbora Krejcikova was tested by promising 20-year-old Filipina Alexandra Eala but after a slow start she found her form to win 3-6 6-2 6-1 on her return to Centre Court after last year’s surprise triumph.

    “I mean, what the hell (kind of tennis) she played in the first set?” said Krejcikova, praising her opponent.

    “She was smashing the ball and cleaning the lines, so wow, wow. She’s going to be really good in a couple of years.”

    Five-times Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek, seeded eight, has yet to conquer Wimbledon but showed positive signs when she beat Polina Kudermetova 7-5 6-1 while Russian teenager Mirra Andreeva advanced after a 6-3 6-3 victory over Mayar Sherif.

    Both might have expected Gauff to be a major obstacle but the world number two subsided against Yastremska.

    “I feel like mentally I was a little bit overwhelmed with everything that came afterwards,” Gauff said about the spell following her Paris triumph last month.

    “I didn’t feel I had enough time to celebrate and also get back into it.”

    The women’s draw is now without three of its top five seeds after number five Zheng Qinwen of China, the Olympic champion, suffered a third successive Wimbledon first-round defeat, beaten 7-5 4-6 6-1 by Czech doubles specialist Katerina Siniakova.

    “I believe if I get through the first match, I will start to play better and better (on grass),” Zheng said. “The problem is the first match for me is complicated.”

    Many will lament the exit of Wimbledon dark horse Alexander Bublik, seeded 28th. The Kazakh showman is guaranteed entertainment with his array of trick shots but he was unable to avoid the exit door, as he was dragged into battle by Spaniard Jaume Munar and beaten 6-4 3-6 4-6 7-6(5) 6-2.

    Late in the day yet another seed fell when Frenchman Ugo Umbert was beaten by veteran countryman Gael Monfils, again defying his 38 years to edge a five-setter.

    American Fritz survived, though, letting out a huge roar as he beat Perricard 6-7(6) 6-7(8) 6-4 7-6(6) 6-4 in a match carried forward from Monday. Perricard’s consolation for losing the cliffhanger was a 153 mph serve – a Wimbledon record.

    Tommy Paul took out Briton Johannus Monday with little fuss, the 13th seed cruising through 6-4 6-4 6-2, but it was the end of the road for fellow American and 30th seed Alex Michelsen who fell 6-2 3-6 6-3 3-6 7-6(6) to Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic.

    Zeynep Sonmez became the first Turkish woman to reach the second round at the grasscourt Grand Slam when she battled past Romania’s Jaqueline Cristian 7-6(3) 6-3.

    Victoria Mboko found out a few hours before she faced Magdalena Frech that she had entered the main draw as a Lucky Loser due to Anastasia Potapova’s withdrawal and the Canadian teenager rode her luck to stun the 25th seed 6-3 6-2.

    Fourteen years after first adding her name to the Wimbledon honours board, twice champion Petra Kvitova performed her last dance on the lawns, the Czech losing 6-3 6-1 to American 10th seed Emma Navarro.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Permission has been issued for the construction of two residential buildings in Kapotnya under the renovation program

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    In the Kapotnya district, two residential buildings with a common underground section will appear under the renovation program. The capital’s State Construction Supervision Committee (Mosgosstroynadzor)The head of the department reported this. Anton Slobodchikov. Work will begin at the address: 1st quarter of Kapotnya, land plot No. 4.

    “The committee has issued permits, and now the developer can begin work on the site. Two L-shaped buildings will consist of four sections each. The area of residential premises in the new building is almost 29 thousand square meters. The first floors are designed as non-residential – public and commercial facilities can be located there,” said Anton Slobodchikov.

    The residential premises will be fully finished in accordance with the standards of the renovation program and the necessary equipment will be installed, including kitchen sinks and stoves, plumbing and lighting fixtures.

    The buildings will have through entrances decorated with stained glass. They will house concierge rooms and pram rooms. The facades will be ventilated and covered with concrete tiles and porcelain stoneware.

    Trees and shrubs will be planted, sidewalks and driveways will be built next to the house on an area of about 12 thousand square meters. Children’s and sports playgrounds with rubberized surfaces will be equipped in the yard.

    “Each house under the renovation program has individual design solutions. Two residential buildings in Kapotnya will be finished with modern and durable materials. The color scheme is based on calm natural shades that go well together: creamy white, beige, chocolate, graphite, pale brown,” said the chief architect of the capital, first deputy chairman of the Committee for Architecture and Urban Development of the City of Moscow (Moskomarkhitektura)

    Sergey Kuznetsov.

    On the instructions of Sergei Sobyanin, special attention is being paid to residential properties under the renovation program in the capital. As Anton Slobodchikov reported, the buildings will be erected under the supervision of inspectors from Mosgosstroynadzor at all stages of the construction cycle. After the developer submits a notice to the committee about the start of construction and installation work, a schedule of inspections will be drawn up. Specialists from the subordinate Center of Expertise will be involved in the on-site events to carry out a set of laboratory and instrumental studies of building materials and structures for compliance with design documentation.

    The renovation program was approved in August 2017. It concerns about a million Muscovites and provides for the resettlement of 5,176 houses. Sergei Sobyanin ordered to increase the pace of implementation of the program in twice.

    Moscow is one of the leaders among regions in terms of construction volumes. High rates of housing construction correspond to the goals and initiatives of the national project “Infrastructure for life”.

    Get the latest news quickly official telegram channel the city of Moscow.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/156059073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Five sports facilities with swimming pools will be opened by the end of the year after major repairs

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Swimming remains one of the most popular sports among the capital’s residents. As part of the strategy for the modernization and development of the sports sector until 2030, Moscow plans to expand the network sports infrastructure, including increasing the number of swimming pools.

    During this time, 175 sports facilities will be renovated in the city under the comprehensive capital repair program, including 58 with swimming pools. This year, five centers with swimming pools will be opened for visitors after renovation. In 2026, repairs are planned for six more such facilities.

    During the works, the facades of buildings, utility networks, pool bowls and entrance groups will be modernized. Modern heating and water filtration systems will be installed. To improve safety, floor markers indicating the depth will appear in bypass zones.

    For visitors with limited mobility, there will be special lifts with a hydraulic mechanism and a ladder for an assistant. Electronic timing boards will be installed in the pools, displaying not only the time, air and water temperature, but also the results of the swims. In addition, the sports facilities will be equipped with modern equipment: starting blocks, turnaround stands, handrails. There will also be updated inventory: fins, pull-pull boards, noodles and rowing paddles.

    “Today, the capital pays much attention to the development of sports infrastructure and improvement of water facilities. Modern anti-slip tiles are appearing in the pools, the water filtration system and other communications are being improved, and the inventory is being updated. All this makes visiting the pool comfortable for visitors,” shared Vladislav Ivanov, instructor of the Pegas sports complex.

    As part of the implementation of the Moscow sports development strategy, in 2024, after major repairs, it resumed operations Moskvorechye swimming poolThe complex’s facades and swimming pool bowls were renovated, the roof was replaced, electrical installation work was carried out, and waterproofing was improved.

    Today, there are more than 2,700 free swimming groups for Moscow residents, organized by the capital Department of SportsYou can sign up through the “Services” section on the portal “Moscow Sport”.

    Get the latest news quicklyofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

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  • MIL-OSI Russia: Buses will temporarily replace trams between Krasnoselskaya metro station and Belorussky railway station

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    Five tram routes will be changed from July 10 during the construction of a new intersection at the intersection of Kalanchevskaya Street and Masha Poryvayeva Street. For up to 28 days, ground rail transport will not run between the Krasnoselskaya metro station and Belorussky Railway Station, as well as in the area of the Russian University of Transport (MIIT) and the Novoslobodskaya metro station. The changes will affect routes No. 7, 9, 13, 37 and 50.

    Trams will operate during this period:

    — No. 7 — from the metro station “Bulvar Rokossovskogo” to the metro station “Sokolniki”;

    — No. 9 — will not work;

    — No. 13 and 50 will be combined into a single route No. 13 50, which will run from Metrogorodok past the Krasnoselskaya, Baumanskaya and Aviamotornaya metro stations to the Compressor Culture Center;

    — No. 37 — from Novogireevo station of the fourth Moscow Central Diameter (MCD-4) to Lefortovo Bridge.

    Instead of trams, compensation buses will be launched. Bus No. 07 will run from Sokolniki metro station to Belorussky railway station, and the route of electric bus C510 will be extended from Tikhvinskaya street to Novoslobodskaya metro station.

    Passengers will also be able to use buses T88, T22, 604, the museum trolleybus T and the metro.

    Passengers are asked to plan their trips in advance, taking into account temporary restrictions and follow information about all changes in the operation of trams in the Telegram channel “Deptrans. Promptly”, on the website Moscow metro and other resources of the capital’s transport complex. Information will also be available at tram stops.

    Development of the tram network

    As a result of the work on the area of three railway stations, a three-track tram intersection will appear for the first time in the capital, said the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Transport and Industry Maxim Liksutov. Thanks to this, the routes towards the metro stations “Prospekt Mira” and “Chistye Prudy” will be divided into directions. The work is being carried out as part of the construction of a new section along Akademika Sakharova Avenue.

    “The construction of a tram line along Akademika Sakharova Avenue is the largest tram network development project in recent decades, which is being implemented in accordance with Sergei Sobyanin’s task. Thanks to this, for the first time in the capital, there will be diametric tram routes through the city center, and the Komsomolskaya metro stations of the Circle and Sokolnicheskaya lines will be relieved by 10 percent. Convenient stops will be built on the new section and a short transfer from trams to two MCD lines will be made,” added Maxim Liksutov.

    The new tram line will connect Komsomolskaya Square with Chistoprudny Boulevard. In total, it is planned to lay more than two kilometers of tracks. With the opening of the new line, the first diametric tram routes will appear in the capital, which will connect the eastern, southern and south-eastern districts and pass through the city center. The first route will run from Metrogorodok to the Chertanovskaya metro station, and the second – from the Novogireevo station of the fourth Moscow Central Diameter to the Universitet metro station. They will connect 19 districts of Moscow and will serve about two million residents. Along the new line there are many administrative and financial institutions, such as the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, the Federal Antimonopoly Service and the Federal Agency for State Property Management.

    Tram tracks on Academician Sakharov Avenue are being built on a separate track and will be separated from the roadway by markings. Builders are using seamless track laying technology to ensure quiet and smooth running of trams. Modern low-floor trams of Russian manufacture will be on the line. They will travel along the section on Academician Sakharov Avenue at an increased autonomous speed. This condition is included in the technical specifications for 100 new Lvenok-Moscow trams, which will arrive in the capital in 2025–2026.

    As part of the improvement of the capital’s streets, new turnouts have already been installed on Chistoprudny Boulevard in the city center, track laying continues on Academician Sakharov Avenue, and a large-scale reconstruction of tram tracks and the laying of a new section at the intersection of Kalanchevskaya Street and Masha Poryvayeva Street has begun. This will allow the new tram line along Academician Sakharov Avenue to be connected to the existing network.

    During the closure of tram traffic, specialists will also renew tram tracks in Protopopovsky Lane, on Durova and Palikha streets. Compensatory buses will run taking into account the work being carried out.

    The main reconstruction works of the tram turnaround on Chistoprudny Boulevard have been completedTram tracks are being reconstructed on Turgenevskaya Square

    Get the latest news quickly official telegram channel the city of Moscow.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/156142073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Theatrical Boulevard’s productions on Patriarch’s Ponds will be held in a unique format

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    On July 1, a new stage of the International Open Festival opened at Patriarch’s Ponds “Theater Boulevard”. Cultural events will be held here. The program focuses on a rare, unique theatrical format, where chamber performances involve contact between artists and spectators, and includes small productions and one-man shows, poetry readings and creative meetings.

    The first events were a one-man show “A Man Needs a Man” and a concert featuring theater and film stars. Honored figures in education, healthcare, and culture of the capital, as well as outstanding athletes, were invited to the opening – all those who make a significant contribution to the future of Moscow and Russia through their work.

    The stage is located in one of the most popular places in the city. For several years, concerts and other mass events have been held on Patriarch’s Ponds. Everyone can join in with art in the unique atmosphere of old Moscow.

    The program of events can be found atofficial website of the festival.

    The “Teatralny Bulvar” festival began on June 1 as part of the “Summer in Moscow” project and will last until autumn. The program includes more than 600 theatrical productions that will take place on city streets with the participation of more than three thousand artists.

    A special program has been prepared for the young guests of the Teatralny Boulevard festival

    Project “Summer in Moscow”— the main event of the season. It brings together the most vibrant events of the capital. Every day, charity, cultural and sports events are held in all districts of the city, most of which are free. The Summer in Moscow project is being held for the second time, and the new season will be more eventful: new, original and colorful festivals and events will be added to the traditional ones.

    Quickly find out the main news of the capital inofficial telegram channel the city of Moscow.

    Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    Please Note; This Information is Raw Content Directly from the Information Source. It is access to What the Source Is Stating and Does Not Reflect

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/156144073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ9: Measures on alienation restrictions for subsidised sale housing

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Leung Man-kwong and a written reply by the Acting Secretary for Housing, Mr Victor Tai, in the Legislative Council today (July 2):
     
    Question:
     
         Subsidised sale housing (e.g. the Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) and the Green Form Subsidized Home Ownership Scheme (GHS) of the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) as well as the Subsidised Sale Flats Project of the Hong Kong Housing Society (HS)) aim at offering affordable housing to low to middle-income families, whereas HA and HS have, over the years, adopted measures such as imposing alienation restrictions and requiring premium payment to ensure the efficient use of the relevant resources for people in need to acquire their homes. Regarding the measures on alienation restrictions for subsidised sale housing, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) in respect of each subsidised sale housing scheme launched by HA and HS in each of the past 10 years, of the total number of flats resold with premium (a) paid and (b) unpaid, together with a breakdown of such flats by (i) age distribution (i.e. within five years, between five to 10 ‍years and over 10 years), and (ii) distribution of transaction prices (i.e. less than $1 million, $1 million to $2 million, $2 million to $3 ‍million, $3 million to $5 million, $5 million to $7 million, and over $7 million);
     
    (2) of the current number of HOS flats which the alienation restriction period has expired and are eligible for application for resale upon payment of premium, and among them, the proportion of flats which have been resold with premium paid;
     
    (3) of the current number of HOS flats which have never been resold after purchase and its percentage in the total number of HOS flats, together with a breakdown by age of the flats; and
     
    (4) whether the Government will study prohibiting the resale of flats in the private market upon payment of premium in the future HOS and GHS projects, and changing to allow transactions in the secondary market of HOS flats only; if not, of the reasons for that?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         In response to the questions raised by the Hon Leung Man-kwong, our reply is as follows:
     
    (1) The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) has all along been striving to enhance the housing ladder, with a view to helping low to middle-income families achieve home ownership through the sale of subsidised sale flats (SSF). In the next five years (i.e. from 2025/26 to 2029/30), the HA and the Hong Kong Housing Society (HKHS) will have a completion of about 56 500 SSF. We believe that the relevant flats can facilitate people in need to achieve their dream of home ownership. We also encourage members of the public to move up the suitable housing ladder according to their own ability.
     
         In addition to sale of first-hand SSF, the HA also allows SSF owners to sell their flats with premium unpaid in the Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) Secondary Market, or to sell, let or otherwise assign their flats in other ways in the open market after payment of premium. The discount rate that HOS owners enjoyed in purchasing their flats will form the basis for premium assessment for removal of the alienation restrictions.
     
         On the other hand, the HKHS’ SSF with premium unpaid are also subject to alienation restrictions. In 1997, the HKHS launched the Flat-For-Sale Scheme (FFSS) Secondary Market, enabling flat owners under HKHS’ relevant projects to resell their flats to eligible persons with premium unpaid, subject to the conditions in the respective land lease and provided that such owners have fulfilled the designated ownership period since the date of first assignment.
     
         Since flats with payment of premium are regarded as private units, the HA and the HKHS do not hold the information on whether relevant flats have been resold, and do not maintain transaction figures of SSF for which premium has been paid in the open market.
     
         The numbers of transactions of HA’s HOS and Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme (GSH) flats in the HOS Secondary Market in the past 10 years are set out in Annex 1. The total number of transactions amounted to about 21 200. In fact, the HA has all along encouraged the circulation of SSF in the Secondary Market through various initiatives, including the relaxation of the mortgage arrangements for SSF in 2024 to extend the maximum mortgage default guarantee period for the secondary market from 30 years to 50 years, so that buyers can secure mortgage loans of a longer tenor. In the 12 months after the implementation of relevant arrangements, the average number of transactions of second-hand SSF was about 370 per month, which was about 60 per cent higher than the average number of transactions of about 230 per month in the 12 months before the implementation (i.e. from March 2023 to February 2024), representing a significant increase. The total number of transactions of HOS flats in the HA’s Secondary Market in 2024 was 3 380, representing an increase of about 1.6 times as compared with the total number of transactions of about 1 320 in 2015.
     
         The numbers of transactions of HKHS’ SSF flats without payment of premium in the FFSS Secondary Market in the past 10 years are set out by year in Annex 2.
     
    (2) As at the first quarter of 2025, the HA had about 320 000 HOS flats of which the alienation period has expired, which can be resold in the open market after payment of premium. Among them, 19 per cent of the flats have been paid with premium.
     
         As at the first quarter of 2025, the HKHS had about 22 000 SSF flats of which the alienation restriction period has expired and can be resold in the open market upon payment of premium. Among them, 22 per cent of the flats have been paid with premium.

    (3) As at the first quarter of 2025, the HA has about 230 000 HOS flats with premium not yet paid and have not been resold. For details of the figures categorised by building age and proportion, please see Annex 3.
     
         As at the first quarter of 2025, HKHS has about 15 000 SSF flats with premium not yet paid and have never been resold. For details of the figures categorised by building age and proportion, please see Annex 4.

    (4) In order to effectively curb short-term speculative activities, the HA tightened the alienation restrictions of HOS and GSH flats in January 2022. The period where the owners can only sell at no more than the original price in the Secondary Market with premium unpaid has been lengthened from the first two years since first assignment to the first five years since first assignment; while the restriction period for sale in the open market after payment of premium has also been lengthened from the first 10 years since first assignment to the first 15 years since first assignment. All HKHS SSF developments completed in 2024 or beyond also adopt the aforementioned tightened alienation restrictions introduced by the HA in 2022.
     
         Allowing HOS and GSH flat owners to sell their flats after the restriction period can facilitate the circulation of second-hand SSF, thereby increasing SSF supply in the market. On the other hand, this measure provides opportunities for owners to move on to the private property market on the housing ladder, which is an initiative to encourage owners’ upward mobility and strengthen social’s mobility.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Sanjay Malhotra: Convocation address – Indian Institute of Technology

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Chairman of the Board of Governors, Director of the Institute, Prof and Padma Shree Manindra Agrawal, winner of numerous awards, who was my senior here and who I hold in very high esteem, faculty members, staff, proud parents, family and friends of the graduating students, distinguished guests, and my dear graduating students, alumni, ladies and gentlemen.

    Today marks the culmination of an exciting chapter for the graduating students, where you have not only learnt new things – academic and extra-curricular – but have also had an enjoyable and memorable experience. I extend a very warm congratulations to all the graduating students. Please give yourselves a huge round of applause.

    To the parents and guardians, this moment belongs as much to you as it does to your children and wards. Your innumerable sacrifices, continuous support, unconditional love and unwavering encouragement have laid the foundation upon which these young achievers now stand. I know this is an emotional and proud moment for you. I have myself experienced these emotions when my sons graduated – one from IIT Bombay and the other from IIT Guwahati. My warmest congratulations to you as your ward steps into a new chapter in life.

    Dear graduates, it is a special day for you as you enter a new and exciting phase of life. It is an equally special day for me and doubly so. First, this institute has had a transformational impact on me, my life and my thoughts. I remember with nostalgia my years at IIT. I still vividly remember my first day at IIT when my mother came to drop me with another batchmate. I recollect my days at Hall III and then Hall I, the healthy rivalry between Hall II and Hall III, phatta cricket, bulla, the various celebrations at Red Rose Restaurant on the campus and Chung Fa restaurant in the city, movies at L7, DEC 10 of which we were so proud, the iconic library, Culfest and the many friends that I made and treasure till date. The steel trunk which carried my belongings to IIT and which my loving wife has preserved till date is still with me. I still have my Wilson tennis racket, with which I religiously played every evening at the clay courts on campus. IITK has a special place in my heart. This convocation ceremony is even more special as I did not attend our convocation ceremony; in fact, we did not have a proper convocation ceremony, perhaps the only batch not to have it. So, it’s an honour to be back here after thirty-six long years in a new and privileged role and be a part of the convocation ceremony today. Thank you, IIT, for this honour.

    Times have changed a lot since I graduated. But there are certainly lessons which endure time. As a fellow-alumnus, roll number 85213, who has experienced life after campus, I will speak about four learnings from my journey.

    Learning for Life

    Many of you would have got your dream jobs. Others, who plan to pursue further studies, would get them soon. With a degree from a prestigious institute and a good job in hand, please don’t think that you have arrived. The moment you think you have arrived, you will stagnate. The moment you believe you know everything, you will stop growing.

    This is just the beginning, only the first step. The degree has only laid a solid foundation and will take you thus far. You will need to build from here. You will need to learn when you change sectors, move across organisations within a sector, take up different roles within an organization and even within the same role in an organisation. Technology is advancing at a lightning speed. What you learnt yesterday would be outdated tomorrow as new ideas and tools emerge daily.

    I can assure you that the institute has prepared you well for your life ahead. It has not only imparted you with knowledge which will be of immense use but, more importantly, equipped you with the most important tool – the tool of self-learning.

    Like other IAS officers, I worked in diverse fields like urban management, land resources, industries, power, health, taxation, banking, finance, etc. Many of them were general management but many were highly technical and specialized, which had a steep learning curve. The IITK emphasis on basic sciences and core engineering subjects, its importance to the fundamentals of a subject, its priority to deriving the formulae rather than merely memorizing and applying them, its attention to problem-solving from first principles, and various other methods of problem solving have held me in good stead. IIT gave me the necessary tools for self-learning. I am sure it has given you too the same tools.

    So, continue your quest for knowledge. Remember that learning is for life. The moment one is not learning, it is a signal that one is not growing; one is not advancing. It is knowledge which will keep you ahead of others. Its importance cannot be over-emphasized. I urge you all, as Stephen Covey said, to continuously sharpen your saw and cut the grass under your feet.

    Question the status quo

    My second learning pertains to the period between 2003 and 2006, when I was working in the United Nations. I was managing a project to improve productivity in the hand tools clusters in India. We hired a Total Quality Management expert for some of our interventions. He had long and diverse experience across organisations.

    He challenged the forging units there to reduce the time taken in changing a die from about eight hours to less than an hour. All of them including the most advanced, productive and efficient forging units vehemently denied the possibility of reducing the time. When he failed after many days of trying to convince them to improve, he suggested some changes including installation of a video camera. This was tried in a unit. These small changes reduced the time to five hours. When asked, the supervisor, apart from other things, explained that the work started on time, as scheduled; no one was late; no one took an unscheduled tea break; all required equipment were pre-arranged and kept ready for use; there was no wastage of time. The small changes and videography did the trick as everyone was being watched. What followed was a series of improvements or what are called kaizens, not only in the exchange of dies, but also various other processes – forging, grinding, electroplating, packaging, etc, as every process was questioned. We ended up reducing costs by about 10%.

    I learnt to question the status quo. I learnt that there is always scope for improvement. This helped me improve efficiency in various organisations and departments that I worked in. It helped in reducing processing time of files. I reduced turnaround times for applications. It helped me make changes in laws, rules and procedures for the benefit of citizens and government alike, as I questioned the status quo.

    As Albert Einstein famously said, “The important thing is not to stop questioning.” When you question the status quo and ask questions, you open the door to new ideas and fresh perspectives. It is fuel for innovation; it drives you to explore, experiment, and create something better. So, no matter where you are in life or your career, never stop questioning the status quo and improving.

    Pursue virtuous Karma

    The third learning pertains to my tenure as Secretary, Department of Personnel in the Government of Rajasthan in 2007-08. Promotions from the state civil service to the IAS were plagued with disputes and court cases. For almost about 20 years, no one was promoted to the IAS. My predecessors did not take up this issue as they thought it would be an exercise in futility as some aggrieved officer will approach the doors of the judiciary. When I was given responsibility for this department, I took up the gauntlet. I studied all the disputes and judicial pronouncements meticulously; decided on claims of seniority and promotion, without fear or favour; finalized and published the seniority lists; and after spending months on this mammoth exercise, sent the proposals to UPSC for promotion. Just when we were about to convene the meeting for promotion, one officer again approached the court and got a stay. Months of my hard work was brought to nought. Even though many officers commended me for the hard work and getting the matter so close to finalization, I was disappointed.

    I had to leave for Princeton for my masters within a few days and could not pursue the case in the courts. After I returned, I was put in a different department. In a few years, the court lifted the stay. I was asked if I would be interested in giving finishing touches to the work I had initiated. Once bitten, twice shy, I did not take up the challenge this time. The work was completed by another officer. In recognition of his efforts, he was conferred with the state award for civil service.

    I realized I did not follow my karma as I feared failure. I realized I needed to follow my karma boldly and decisively without bothering about the results.

    Without going in to details of my journey thereafter, today, as I look back, I can confidently say that it is karma that largely determines outcomes and results. It is the path that one chooses that broadly determines the destination. Today, I appreciate how true Steve Jobs was when he said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward.” Right now, you may not fully grasp how your karma – each late-night lab session, each frustrating bug, and each decision that you take – will impact your journey. You may not appreciate, how delayed gratification, the hallmark of all great leaders, will deliver bigger success over the longer term for the instant rewards foregone. But trust me, over time, the dots will connect and it will be in large measure due to your karma.

    Trust

    My last learning is from the student days in IIT, when we were always short of money and under debt. Food at the mess was as good as it can be. We relied heavily on the hostel canteen. A samosa at that time costed 35 paise and a bottle of Thums Up 2 rupees and 25 paise. The canteen was managed by a person called Lala. Lala was loved by everyone. He would serve us till late in night and very generously gave us credit. Even outside hostel, we got credit from the juice vendor, the shops in Shopping Centre, etc. This may not be surprising. Lala knew us, recognizing us as hostelers. Other vendors too recognized us as students from the campus. What was surprising though was that we got credit even from some shopkeepers in Kanpur, who did not know us at all. Why did these shopkeepers give credit to us? It is because of their trust in the IIT students.

    It is because people do business with people they trust. Trust is the foundation on which any relationship is built, whether it is marriage, friendship, or at workplace – between the CEO and the employees, or between a company and its consumers.

    It is trust in a person that makes him a leader; it is trust which makes people follow a leader. Integrity and ethics are paramount to develop trust. It is not easy to gain trust. To earn trust, a leader must have the courage to take difficult decisions. He must act in the interest of the employees and other stakeholders. He must be willing to accept responsibility. He must lead by example. He must possess the humility to learn from his mistakes. He must be just, transparent and respectful. Trust takes time to build. But it is easy to lose trust. To be a successful person, a successful leader, graduating students, try to gain trust and having gained it, preserve trust.

    Your time to shine

    To conclude, dear graduating students, as you leave this campus today, have confidence in yourself. Dream big, but more importantly, act on those dreams. Make IIT Kanpur proud. Make your parents proud. Make India proud. But most importantly, make yourselves proud – proud by living lives of character, ethics and humility; lives filled with purpose, service and impact. As you step into tomorrow, carry with you the spirit of this institution, carry with you the love of your families, and carry with you the dreams of a billion Indians who believe in your potential.

    Your journey of transformation began here at IIT Kanpur. Now, transform the world as leaders who are trustworthy; who continue learning for life; who question the status quo and who pursue virtuous karma.

    May God bless you with all the very best in your journey ahead.

    Thank you.

    Jai Hind.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Sanjay Malhotra: Convocation address – Indian Institute of Technology

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Chairman of the Board of Governors, Director of the Institute, Prof and Padma Shree Manindra Agrawal, winner of numerous awards, who was my senior here and who I hold in very high esteem, faculty members, staff, proud parents, family and friends of the graduating students, distinguished guests, and my dear graduating students, alumni, ladies and gentlemen.

    Today marks the culmination of an exciting chapter for the graduating students, where you have not only learnt new things – academic and extra-curricular – but have also had an enjoyable and memorable experience. I extend a very warm congratulations to all the graduating students. Please give yourselves a huge round of applause.

    To the parents and guardians, this moment belongs as much to you as it does to your children and wards. Your innumerable sacrifices, continuous support, unconditional love and unwavering encouragement have laid the foundation upon which these young achievers now stand. I know this is an emotional and proud moment for you. I have myself experienced these emotions when my sons graduated – one from IIT Bombay and the other from IIT Guwahati. My warmest congratulations to you as your ward steps into a new chapter in life.

    Dear graduates, it is a special day for you as you enter a new and exciting phase of life. It is an equally special day for me and doubly so. First, this institute has had a transformational impact on me, my life and my thoughts. I remember with nostalgia my years at IIT. I still vividly remember my first day at IIT when my mother came to drop me with another batchmate. I recollect my days at Hall III and then Hall I, the healthy rivalry between Hall II and Hall III, phatta cricket, bulla, the various celebrations at Red Rose Restaurant on the campus and Chung Fa restaurant in the city, movies at L7, DEC 10 of which we were so proud, the iconic library, Culfest and the many friends that I made and treasure till date. The steel trunk which carried my belongings to IIT and which my loving wife has preserved till date is still with me. I still have my Wilson tennis racket, with which I religiously played every evening at the clay courts on campus. IITK has a special place in my heart. This convocation ceremony is even more special as I did not attend our convocation ceremony; in fact, we did not have a proper convocation ceremony, perhaps the only batch not to have it. So, it’s an honour to be back here after thirty-six long years in a new and privileged role and be a part of the convocation ceremony today. Thank you, IIT, for this honour.

    Times have changed a lot since I graduated. But there are certainly lessons which endure time. As a fellow-alumnus, roll number 85213, who has experienced life after campus, I will speak about four learnings from my journey.

    Learning for Life

    Many of you would have got your dream jobs. Others, who plan to pursue further studies, would get them soon. With a degree from a prestigious institute and a good job in hand, please don’t think that you have arrived. The moment you think you have arrived, you will stagnate. The moment you believe you know everything, you will stop growing.

    This is just the beginning, only the first step. The degree has only laid a solid foundation and will take you thus far. You will need to build from here. You will need to learn when you change sectors, move across organisations within a sector, take up different roles within an organization and even within the same role in an organisation. Technology is advancing at a lightning speed. What you learnt yesterday would be outdated tomorrow as new ideas and tools emerge daily.

    I can assure you that the institute has prepared you well for your life ahead. It has not only imparted you with knowledge which will be of immense use but, more importantly, equipped you with the most important tool – the tool of self-learning.

    Like other IAS officers, I worked in diverse fields like urban management, land resources, industries, power, health, taxation, banking, finance, etc. Many of them were general management but many were highly technical and specialized, which had a steep learning curve. The IITK emphasis on basic sciences and core engineering subjects, its importance to the fundamentals of a subject, its priority to deriving the formulae rather than merely memorizing and applying them, its attention to problem-solving from first principles, and various other methods of problem solving have held me in good stead. IIT gave me the necessary tools for self-learning. I am sure it has given you too the same tools.

    So, continue your quest for knowledge. Remember that learning is for life. The moment one is not learning, it is a signal that one is not growing; one is not advancing. It is knowledge which will keep you ahead of others. Its importance cannot be over-emphasized. I urge you all, as Stephen Covey said, to continuously sharpen your saw and cut the grass under your feet.

    Question the status quo

    My second learning pertains to the period between 2003 and 2006, when I was working in the United Nations. I was managing a project to improve productivity in the hand tools clusters in India. We hired a Total Quality Management expert for some of our interventions. He had long and diverse experience across organisations.

    He challenged the forging units there to reduce the time taken in changing a die from about eight hours to less than an hour. All of them including the most advanced, productive and efficient forging units vehemently denied the possibility of reducing the time. When he failed after many days of trying to convince them to improve, he suggested some changes including installation of a video camera. This was tried in a unit. These small changes reduced the time to five hours. When asked, the supervisor, apart from other things, explained that the work started on time, as scheduled; no one was late; no one took an unscheduled tea break; all required equipment were pre-arranged and kept ready for use; there was no wastage of time. The small changes and videography did the trick as everyone was being watched. What followed was a series of improvements or what are called kaizens, not only in the exchange of dies, but also various other processes – forging, grinding, electroplating, packaging, etc, as every process was questioned. We ended up reducing costs by about 10%.

    I learnt to question the status quo. I learnt that there is always scope for improvement. This helped me improve efficiency in various organisations and departments that I worked in. It helped in reducing processing time of files. I reduced turnaround times for applications. It helped me make changes in laws, rules and procedures for the benefit of citizens and government alike, as I questioned the status quo.

    As Albert Einstein famously said, “The important thing is not to stop questioning.” When you question the status quo and ask questions, you open the door to new ideas and fresh perspectives. It is fuel for innovation; it drives you to explore, experiment, and create something better. So, no matter where you are in life or your career, never stop questioning the status quo and improving.

    Pursue virtuous Karma

    The third learning pertains to my tenure as Secretary, Department of Personnel in the Government of Rajasthan in 2007-08. Promotions from the state civil service to the IAS were plagued with disputes and court cases. For almost about 20 years, no one was promoted to the IAS. My predecessors did not take up this issue as they thought it would be an exercise in futility as some aggrieved officer will approach the doors of the judiciary. When I was given responsibility for this department, I took up the gauntlet. I studied all the disputes and judicial pronouncements meticulously; decided on claims of seniority and promotion, without fear or favour; finalized and published the seniority lists; and after spending months on this mammoth exercise, sent the proposals to UPSC for promotion. Just when we were about to convene the meeting for promotion, one officer again approached the court and got a stay. Months of my hard work was brought to nought. Even though many officers commended me for the hard work and getting the matter so close to finalization, I was disappointed.

    I had to leave for Princeton for my masters within a few days and could not pursue the case in the courts. After I returned, I was put in a different department. In a few years, the court lifted the stay. I was asked if I would be interested in giving finishing touches to the work I had initiated. Once bitten, twice shy, I did not take up the challenge this time. The work was completed by another officer. In recognition of his efforts, he was conferred with the state award for civil service.

    I realized I did not follow my karma as I feared failure. I realized I needed to follow my karma boldly and decisively without bothering about the results.

    Without going in to details of my journey thereafter, today, as I look back, I can confidently say that it is karma that largely determines outcomes and results. It is the path that one chooses that broadly determines the destination. Today, I appreciate how true Steve Jobs was when he said, “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward.” Right now, you may not fully grasp how your karma – each late-night lab session, each frustrating bug, and each decision that you take – will impact your journey. You may not appreciate, how delayed gratification, the hallmark of all great leaders, will deliver bigger success over the longer term for the instant rewards foregone. But trust me, over time, the dots will connect and it will be in large measure due to your karma.

    Trust

    My last learning is from the student days in IIT, when we were always short of money and under debt. Food at the mess was as good as it can be. We relied heavily on the hostel canteen. A samosa at that time costed 35 paise and a bottle of Thums Up 2 rupees and 25 paise. The canteen was managed by a person called Lala. Lala was loved by everyone. He would serve us till late in night and very generously gave us credit. Even outside hostel, we got credit from the juice vendor, the shops in Shopping Centre, etc. This may not be surprising. Lala knew us, recognizing us as hostelers. Other vendors too recognized us as students from the campus. What was surprising though was that we got credit even from some shopkeepers in Kanpur, who did not know us at all. Why did these shopkeepers give credit to us? It is because of their trust in the IIT students.

    It is because people do business with people they trust. Trust is the foundation on which any relationship is built, whether it is marriage, friendship, or at workplace – between the CEO and the employees, or between a company and its consumers.

    It is trust in a person that makes him a leader; it is trust which makes people follow a leader. Integrity and ethics are paramount to develop trust. It is not easy to gain trust. To earn trust, a leader must have the courage to take difficult decisions. He must act in the interest of the employees and other stakeholders. He must be willing to accept responsibility. He must lead by example. He must possess the humility to learn from his mistakes. He must be just, transparent and respectful. Trust takes time to build. But it is easy to lose trust. To be a successful person, a successful leader, graduating students, try to gain trust and having gained it, preserve trust.

    Your time to shine

    To conclude, dear graduating students, as you leave this campus today, have confidence in yourself. Dream big, but more importantly, act on those dreams. Make IIT Kanpur proud. Make your parents proud. Make India proud. But most importantly, make yourselves proud – proud by living lives of character, ethics and humility; lives filled with purpose, service and impact. As you step into tomorrow, carry with you the spirit of this institution, carry with you the love of your families, and carry with you the dreams of a billion Indians who believe in your potential.

    Your journey of transformation began here at IIT Kanpur. Now, transform the world as leaders who are trustworthy; who continue learning for life; who question the status quo and who pursue virtuous karma.

    May God bless you with all the very best in your journey ahead.

    Thank you.

    Jai Hind.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Christopher J Waller: Welcoming remarks – IJCB Research Conference

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Thank you, Aleš, and thank you to the Czech National Bank (CNB) for hosting this year’s conference. The CNB also supported this conference in 2017. It is wonderful to have such a great relationship between the International Journal of Central Banking (IJCB) and one of our sponsoring institutions.

    I would like to take a few minutes as the outgoing managing editor of the IJCB to emphasize the importance of this journal and the research it supports.1 Central banks play an important role promoting the growth and effective functioning of their economies, and many of the decisions they make are influenced by careful and cutting-edge research. In fact, I recently gave a speech that discussed the importance of economic research in monetary policy decisions.2 The IJCB, through this conference and its volumes, provides an outlet to share and disseminate research that adds to public knowledge and understanding and informs the operational and policy decisions of central bankers.

    The value of central bank–focused research has long been known. In the summer of 2004, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the European Central Bank, and the Group of Ten central banks agreed to support the development of the IJCB to focus on the theory and practice of central banking. The journal has attracted distinguished managing editors, including my colleagues from the Federal Reserve; my immediate predecessor, Luc Laeven, from the European Central Bank; and the current managing editor, Antoine Martin, from the Swiss National Bank, who, unfortunately, could not be here today. We have the strong support now of nearly 55 sponsoring institutions, including the Czech National Bank and also the host of last year’s conference, the Central Bank of Italy. Among the ways that central banks serve the public interest is as an ongoing source of economic research, and the strong commitment to the IJCB here in Prague and other capitals advances our collective interest in strong economies and financial stability.

    Turning to this year’s conference, we chose the theme based on events that have been very much on the minds of central bankers: “Assessing the Effectiveness of Monetary Policy during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic.” The past several years have seen significant monetary policy actions across the globe in response to COVID-19–induced recessions, inflation higher than in several decades, unprecedented supply chain disruptions, and, in some countries, very tight labor markets. Early on, policymakers’ responses appeared quite in sync, but with differing speeds of recovery and varying challenges faced by different types of economies, that changed over time. Additionally, geopolitical tensions and energy price shocks have introduced new complexities. So we thought this conference could be a good place to come together and hear about the lessons we have learned from these common and different experiences.

    Today and tomorrow we will be discussing the yield curve, policy rules, and monetary policy transmission. We also will look into banking issues such as loan issuance and financial stability. And we are lucky to have the Fed’s Vice Chair for Supervision Miki Bowman here to give a keynote speech. As we go through these sessions, I hope we will all ask ourselves how this work can help policymakers do their jobs better. Through our conversation, I would ask you to share knowledge about each of these topics as they are pertinent around the world.

    But before we get to those presentations, and what I hope will be vigorous discussion, let me recognize several people who made this event possible. Here at the CNB, Simona Malovaná and Martin Hodula helped organize this conference. Year round, the IJCB co-editors devote many hours of their time to review papers to keep the journal at its high-quality and high-impact status. These individuals are Ana Babus, Diana Bonfim, Huberto Ennis, Carlos Garriga (who is here with us today), Refet Gürkaynak, Òscar Jordà, Robin Lumsdaine, Fernanda Nechio, Steven Ongena, and Enrico Sete. Finally, for the past three years, the day-to-day smooth running of the journal couldn’t have been accomplished without the editorial team at the BIS and the Board of Governors. A special thank you goes to my team: Kommaly Dias, Jane Ihrig, and Elie Singer, who worked to oversee the process.

    And with that, I will step away from the microphone and put the spotlight where it should be, on the scholars presenting their work today. Thank you, and I believe Martin has a few words to get us started.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Christopher J Waller: Welcoming remarks – IJCB Research Conference

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Thank you, Aleš, and thank you to the Czech National Bank (CNB) for hosting this year’s conference. The CNB also supported this conference in 2017. It is wonderful to have such a great relationship between the International Journal of Central Banking (IJCB) and one of our sponsoring institutions.

    I would like to take a few minutes as the outgoing managing editor of the IJCB to emphasize the importance of this journal and the research it supports.1 Central banks play an important role promoting the growth and effective functioning of their economies, and many of the decisions they make are influenced by careful and cutting-edge research. In fact, I recently gave a speech that discussed the importance of economic research in monetary policy decisions.2 The IJCB, through this conference and its volumes, provides an outlet to share and disseminate research that adds to public knowledge and understanding and informs the operational and policy decisions of central bankers.

    The value of central bank–focused research has long been known. In the summer of 2004, the Bank for International Settlements (BIS), the European Central Bank, and the Group of Ten central banks agreed to support the development of the IJCB to focus on the theory and practice of central banking. The journal has attracted distinguished managing editors, including my colleagues from the Federal Reserve; my immediate predecessor, Luc Laeven, from the European Central Bank; and the current managing editor, Antoine Martin, from the Swiss National Bank, who, unfortunately, could not be here today. We have the strong support now of nearly 55 sponsoring institutions, including the Czech National Bank and also the host of last year’s conference, the Central Bank of Italy. Among the ways that central banks serve the public interest is as an ongoing source of economic research, and the strong commitment to the IJCB here in Prague and other capitals advances our collective interest in strong economies and financial stability.

    Turning to this year’s conference, we chose the theme based on events that have been very much on the minds of central bankers: “Assessing the Effectiveness of Monetary Policy during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic.” The past several years have seen significant monetary policy actions across the globe in response to COVID-19–induced recessions, inflation higher than in several decades, unprecedented supply chain disruptions, and, in some countries, very tight labor markets. Early on, policymakers’ responses appeared quite in sync, but with differing speeds of recovery and varying challenges faced by different types of economies, that changed over time. Additionally, geopolitical tensions and energy price shocks have introduced new complexities. So we thought this conference could be a good place to come together and hear about the lessons we have learned from these common and different experiences.

    Today and tomorrow we will be discussing the yield curve, policy rules, and monetary policy transmission. We also will look into banking issues such as loan issuance and financial stability. And we are lucky to have the Fed’s Vice Chair for Supervision Miki Bowman here to give a keynote speech. As we go through these sessions, I hope we will all ask ourselves how this work can help policymakers do their jobs better. Through our conversation, I would ask you to share knowledge about each of these topics as they are pertinent around the world.

    But before we get to those presentations, and what I hope will be vigorous discussion, let me recognize several people who made this event possible. Here at the CNB, Simona Malovaná and Martin Hodula helped organize this conference. Year round, the IJCB co-editors devote many hours of their time to review papers to keep the journal at its high-quality and high-impact status. These individuals are Ana Babus, Diana Bonfim, Huberto Ennis, Carlos Garriga (who is here with us today), Refet Gürkaynak, Òscar Jordà, Robin Lumsdaine, Fernanda Nechio, Steven Ongena, and Enrico Sete. Finally, for the past three years, the day-to-day smooth running of the journal couldn’t have been accomplished without the editorial team at the BIS and the Board of Governors. A special thank you goes to my team: Kommaly Dias, Jane Ihrig, and Elie Singer, who worked to oversee the process.

    And with that, I will step away from the microphone and put the spotlight where it should be, on the scholars presenting their work today. Thank you, and I believe Martin has a few words to get us started.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Gabriel Makhlouf: Remarks – 100th anniversary of George Bernard Shaw winning the Nobel Prize for Literature

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Good morning everyone. Thank you to the Museum of Literature Ireland for hosting this event. Let me also extend a warm welcome to the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Emma Blain and to all our distinguished guests.

    We are here today to the launch our coin to commemorate the 100th anniversary of George Bernard Shaw winning the Nobel Prize for Literature. We issue commemorative coins on behalf of the Minister for Finance. Their aim is to recognise figures, or events, of national importance and we are here today to celebrate one of Ireland’s greatest literary geniuses, George Bernard Shaw. Shaw is one of Ireland’s four Nobel Literature winners and, in fact, until 2016, was the only person to have won both a Nobel Prize for Literature and an Academy Award (in 1939). Bob Dylan joined him in that club in 2016. 

    This coin is a tangible tribute to one of the brilliant minds of the 20th century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1925 “for his work which is marked by both idealism and humanity, its stimulating satire often being infused with a singular poetic beauty”. Fintan O’Toole described him as the “most globally influential Irish person in history”, noting praise from Jawaharlal Nehru, Albert Einstein and Winston Churchill.  

    Shaw was more than a literary figure. Thomas Mann, a fellow Nobel Laureate four years after Shaw, wrote in his obituary tribute that “when we add the floodtide of essays, commentary, and amplifying criticism, embodying an all-embracing encyclopedic knowledge that draws equally on the natural sciences, theology, religious and general history, and especially on the social-economic sphere, always artistically leavened, full of esthetic charm, and unfailingly entertaining – when we add all this, we find ourselves face to face with a lifework of astonishing scope, apparently the fruit of continued inspiration, unceasing merriness, and of an indefatigable will to work.” 

    Shaw was also an orator who “with his lyrical Irish accent [-] could turn the classical rhetorical tradition into something apparently intimate and conversatonal, without losing its rhythms and vigour” (O’Toole). He was a man of formidable intellect and sharp wit and his works continue to resonate with audiences and scholars around the globe. As Mann also wrote, Shaw “tirelessly wielded the shining sword of his word and wit” against stupidity and “did his best in redressing the fateful imbalance between truth and reality, in lifting mankind to a higher rung of maturity.” As O’Toole says, “the most important aspect of his influence is not what Shaw taught people to think but how he taught them to think.”

    In an era of alternative truths and disinformation bubbles, perhaps his work has become more relevant than ever. 

    Conclusion

    Before I conclude, I’d like to thank some of the people who’ve helped to organise this event. Specifically, I want to pay tribute to the Central Bank’s Currency Centre team for the immense work they do each year on the collector coin series and I’d like to acknowledge the ongoing work of the Numismatic Advisory Panel who support the Bank’s programme.

    George Bernard Shaw left a significant legacy of theatrical, fictional, polemical, critical and philosophical writing. He wrote that “an Irishman’s heart is nothing but his imagination” and his appreciation and understanding of Ireland had a profound influence on his career. We take great pride in the issuing of commemorative coins and we are delighted in issuing this coin today. Shaw would probably have found the notion of his face on a coin rather strange – and he would have complained that we were commemorating him at all, as he did when awarded the Nobel Prize – but I hope he would also appreciate the enduring recognition it represents. 

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Gabriel Makhlouf: Remarks – 100th anniversary of George Bernard Shaw winning the Nobel Prize for Literature

    Source: Bank for International Settlements

    Good morning everyone. Thank you to the Museum of Literature Ireland for hosting this event. Let me also extend a warm welcome to the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Emma Blain and to all our distinguished guests.

    We are here today to the launch our coin to commemorate the 100th anniversary of George Bernard Shaw winning the Nobel Prize for Literature. We issue commemorative coins on behalf of the Minister for Finance. Their aim is to recognise figures, or events, of national importance and we are here today to celebrate one of Ireland’s greatest literary geniuses, George Bernard Shaw. Shaw is one of Ireland’s four Nobel Literature winners and, in fact, until 2016, was the only person to have won both a Nobel Prize for Literature and an Academy Award (in 1939). Bob Dylan joined him in that club in 2016. 

    This coin is a tangible tribute to one of the brilliant minds of the 20th century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1925 “for his work which is marked by both idealism and humanity, its stimulating satire often being infused with a singular poetic beauty”. Fintan O’Toole described him as the “most globally influential Irish person in history”, noting praise from Jawaharlal Nehru, Albert Einstein and Winston Churchill.  

    Shaw was more than a literary figure. Thomas Mann, a fellow Nobel Laureate four years after Shaw, wrote in his obituary tribute that “when we add the floodtide of essays, commentary, and amplifying criticism, embodying an all-embracing encyclopedic knowledge that draws equally on the natural sciences, theology, religious and general history, and especially on the social-economic sphere, always artistically leavened, full of esthetic charm, and unfailingly entertaining – when we add all this, we find ourselves face to face with a lifework of astonishing scope, apparently the fruit of continued inspiration, unceasing merriness, and of an indefatigable will to work.” 

    Shaw was also an orator who “with his lyrical Irish accent [-] could turn the classical rhetorical tradition into something apparently intimate and conversatonal, without losing its rhythms and vigour” (O’Toole). He was a man of formidable intellect and sharp wit and his works continue to resonate with audiences and scholars around the globe. As Mann also wrote, Shaw “tirelessly wielded the shining sword of his word and wit” against stupidity and “did his best in redressing the fateful imbalance between truth and reality, in lifting mankind to a higher rung of maturity.” As O’Toole says, “the most important aspect of his influence is not what Shaw taught people to think but how he taught them to think.”

    In an era of alternative truths and disinformation bubbles, perhaps his work has become more relevant than ever. 

    Conclusion

    Before I conclude, I’d like to thank some of the people who’ve helped to organise this event. Specifically, I want to pay tribute to the Central Bank’s Currency Centre team for the immense work they do each year on the collector coin series and I’d like to acknowledge the ongoing work of the Numismatic Advisory Panel who support the Bank’s programme.

    George Bernard Shaw left a significant legacy of theatrical, fictional, polemical, critical and philosophical writing. He wrote that “an Irishman’s heart is nothing but his imagination” and his appreciation and understanding of Ireland had a profound influence on his career. We take great pride in the issuing of commemorative coins and we are delighted in issuing this coin today. Shaw would probably have found the notion of his face on a coin rather strange – and he would have complained that we were commemorating him at all, as he did when awarded the Nobel Prize – but I hope he would also appreciate the enduring recognition it represents. 

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK 🔴 PMQs LIVE: Prime Minister’s Questions – 2 July 2025

    Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

    Watch PMQs with British Sign Language (BSL) – https://youtube.com/live/B7qKlsjXNm8

    Prime Minister’s Question Time, also referred to as PMQs, takes place every Wednesday the House of Commons sits. It gives MPs the chance to put questions to the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer MP, or a nominated minister.

    In most cases, the session starts with a routine ‘open question’ from an MP about the Prime Minister’s engagements. MPs can then ask supplementary questions on any subject, often one of current political significance.

    The Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch MP, asks six questions and the leader of the second largest opposition party asks two. If another minister takes the place of the Prime Minister, opposition parties will usually nominate a shadow minister to ask the questions.

    Want to find out more about what’s happening in the House of Commons this week? Follow the House of Commons on:

    Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/HouseofCommons
    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ukhouseofcommons
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ukhouseofcommons

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCEpY7bGp9s

    MIL OSI Video –