NewzIntel.com

Category: Europe

  • Tesla debuts in India with Model Y, starting at ₹59.89 Lakh

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Electric vehicle giant Tesla has officially entered the Indian market with the launch of its highly anticipated Model Y. The company introduced the rear-wheel drive (RWD) variant of the Model Y at a starting price of ₹59.89 lakh ($69,779) (ex-showroom), while the Long Range RWD version is priced at ₹67.89 lakh ($79,107) according to the company’s website.

    With this launch, India joins the growing list of countries offering Tesla’s popular all-electric SUV. Comparatively, the Model Y starts at $44,990 in the United States, 263,500 yuan ($36,764) in China, and €45,970 ($ 53,700) in Germany.

    Deliveries for the Model Y are scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2025, with the vehicle initially available in Mumbai, Delhi, and Gurugram. On Tuesday, Tesla opened its first showroom—dubbed the “Experience Centre”—at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai. A second showroom is expected to open soon in New Delhi.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the Mumbai Experience Centre, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed Tesla’s arrival, stating, “This is not just the inauguration of an Experience Centre, but a statement that Tesla has arrived in the city of Mumbai—India’s entrepreneurial capital.”

    The Model Y brings competitive specifications to the Indian EV market. The RWD version offers a claimed range of up to 500 kilometers on a full charge, while the Long Range RWD trim delivers up to 622 kilometers. Tesla’s fast-charging technology enables the addition of up to 238 kilometers of range in just 15 minutes for the RWD model, and 267 kilometers for the Long Range version.

    Performance-wise, the Model Y RWD accelerates from 0 to 100 kmph in 5.9 seconds, while the Long Range RWD achieves the same in 5.6 seconds. Both variants have an electronically limited top speed of 201 kmph.

    Inside the cabin, the Model Y is packed with premium features. These include a 15.4-inch front touchscreen infotainment system, an 8-inch rear touchscreen, ventilated powered front seats, a heated and powered second-row, ambient lighting in the footwell and door pockets, wrap-around ambient lighting, and a nine-speaker audio system.

    Tesla’s India debut comes amid increasing interest in electric vehicles and a push for cleaner mobility solutions. The company’s entry is expected to boost EV adoption and infrastructure development across the country.

    (With agencies inputs)

  • Tesla debuts in India with Model Y, starting at ₹59.89 Lakh

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Electric vehicle giant Tesla has officially entered the Indian market with the launch of its highly anticipated Model Y. The company introduced the rear-wheel drive (RWD) variant of the Model Y at a starting price of ₹59.89 lakh ($69,779) (ex-showroom), while the Long Range RWD version is priced at ₹67.89 lakh ($79,107) according to the company’s website.

    With this launch, India joins the growing list of countries offering Tesla’s popular all-electric SUV. Comparatively, the Model Y starts at $44,990 in the United States, 263,500 yuan ($36,764) in China, and €45,970 ($ 53,700) in Germany.

    Deliveries for the Model Y are scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2025, with the vehicle initially available in Mumbai, Delhi, and Gurugram. On Tuesday, Tesla opened its first showroom—dubbed the “Experience Centre”—at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai. A second showroom is expected to open soon in New Delhi.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the Mumbai Experience Centre, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed Tesla’s arrival, stating, “This is not just the inauguration of an Experience Centre, but a statement that Tesla has arrived in the city of Mumbai—India’s entrepreneurial capital.”

    The Model Y brings competitive specifications to the Indian EV market. The RWD version offers a claimed range of up to 500 kilometers on a full charge, while the Long Range RWD trim delivers up to 622 kilometers. Tesla’s fast-charging technology enables the addition of up to 238 kilometers of range in just 15 minutes for the RWD model, and 267 kilometers for the Long Range version.

    Performance-wise, the Model Y RWD accelerates from 0 to 100 kmph in 5.9 seconds, while the Long Range RWD achieves the same in 5.6 seconds. Both variants have an electronically limited top speed of 201 kmph.

    Inside the cabin, the Model Y is packed with premium features. These include a 15.4-inch front touchscreen infotainment system, an 8-inch rear touchscreen, ventilated powered front seats, a heated and powered second-row, ambient lighting in the footwell and door pockets, wrap-around ambient lighting, and a nine-speaker audio system.

    Tesla’s India debut comes amid increasing interest in electric vehicles and a push for cleaner mobility solutions. The company’s entry is expected to boost EV adoption and infrastructure development across the country.

    (With agencies inputs)

  • Tesla debuts in India with Model Y, starting at ₹59.89 Lakh

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Electric vehicle giant Tesla has officially entered the Indian market with the launch of its highly anticipated Model Y. The company introduced the rear-wheel drive (RWD) variant of the Model Y at a starting price of ₹59.89 lakh ($69,779) (ex-showroom), while the Long Range RWD version is priced at ₹67.89 lakh ($79,107) according to the company’s website.

    With this launch, India joins the growing list of countries offering Tesla’s popular all-electric SUV. Comparatively, the Model Y starts at $44,990 in the United States, 263,500 yuan ($36,764) in China, and €45,970 ($ 53,700) in Germany.

    Deliveries for the Model Y are scheduled to begin in the third quarter of 2025, with the vehicle initially available in Mumbai, Delhi, and Gurugram. On Tuesday, Tesla opened its first showroom—dubbed the “Experience Centre”—at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in Mumbai. A second showroom is expected to open soon in New Delhi.

    Speaking at the inauguration of the Mumbai Experience Centre, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis welcomed Tesla’s arrival, stating, “This is not just the inauguration of an Experience Centre, but a statement that Tesla has arrived in the city of Mumbai—India’s entrepreneurial capital.”

    The Model Y brings competitive specifications to the Indian EV market. The RWD version offers a claimed range of up to 500 kilometers on a full charge, while the Long Range RWD trim delivers up to 622 kilometers. Tesla’s fast-charging technology enables the addition of up to 238 kilometers of range in just 15 minutes for the RWD model, and 267 kilometers for the Long Range version.

    Performance-wise, the Model Y RWD accelerates from 0 to 100 kmph in 5.9 seconds, while the Long Range RWD achieves the same in 5.6 seconds. Both variants have an electronically limited top speed of 201 kmph.

    Inside the cabin, the Model Y is packed with premium features. These include a 15.4-inch front touchscreen infotainment system, an 8-inch rear touchscreen, ventilated powered front seats, a heated and powered second-row, ambient lighting in the footwell and door pockets, wrap-around ambient lighting, and a nine-speaker audio system.

    Tesla’s India debut comes amid increasing interest in electric vehicles and a push for cleaner mobility solutions. The company’s entry is expected to boost EV adoption and infrastructure development across the country.

    (With agencies inputs)

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Natural England promotes outdoor healthcare in Sussex

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Natural England promotes outdoor healthcare in Sussex

    Novel partnership takes treatment into green spaces, with a level 3 qualification available

    Healthcare professionals from across Sussex are being trained to make more use of outdoor settings in treating those with poor mental health.

    Less than half the population say they’ve been to the countryside or a local park recently[i].

    But the NHS is turning to places like that to help with certain treatments.  

    Natural England is funding courses aimed at nurses, therapists and other healthcare professionals from across Sussex to make more use of outdoor settings in treating those with poor mental health.

    The training builds on evidence being outside can help lead to lower blood pressure and a reduced risk of heart attacks and strokes[ii].

    Course-goers learn a variety of skills, from being able to adapt treatments to new surroundings to using their experience and training from many years inside, outside. 

    By the end of the sessions, which are spread over 5 months, those attending should have the confidence and competence to work with groups in a range of outdoor settings. 

    The course, which carries a formal training accreditation, is suited to professionals who support children, young people and adults, including, from psychiatrists and psychologists to social and youth workers, therapists and those working in family support.

    Healthcare staff have reported feeling more relaxed when outside, when not necessarily working, as well as refreshed and re-energised. It’s hoped these benefits can transfer themselves to the care they give patients.  

    The training is delivered by Circle of Life Rediscovery, a community interest company based in Laughton, near Lewes.

    Through the workshops, the partnership between Natural England and CLR is already highlighting the need to use green spaces where we live and work to improve health and wellbeing.   

    Sarah Davies, Natural England’s principal adviser for partnerships in Sussex and Kent, said:

    “The importance of open spaces cannot be underestimated. Nature can relax us, educate us, and help reduce anxiety and depression.

    “We know there are countless benefits to connecting with nature – it makes us feel better, physically and mentally.”

    Some 36 NHS staff in Sussex have done the course since 2023. It offers an ITC level 3 qualification, providing students with the necessary skills to work with individuals and groups of all ages.

    The 2024 cohort of 16 health service staff recently met at Laughton Greenwood to share personal experiences of what they learned in the sessions. The group also heard from professionals with long experience in using nature to aide healthcare.

    A senior nurse from Sussex who took part in the training said:

    “My experience doing this course has really transformed my thinking regarding nature-based practice. I have managed to apply parts of what I learnt within my work environment and have full backing from colleagues regarding trying to utilise what I learnt.

    “I never realised the true impact outdoors can have on an individual and team level and hope to see it being prescribed in the future as a treatment for certain health problems.”

    The course, which carries a formal training accreditation, is suited to professionals who support children, young people and adults.

    Marina Robb, director and founder of Circle of Life Rediscovery, said:

    “To be able to sustainably bring the benefits of nature-based practice into the NHS and provide access to nature for physical and mental health, training NHS staff is a sensible way forward for teams and their service-users.”

    This year’s sessions are underway, with bookings open for the 2026 courses, taking place at Laughton from late June: https://circleofliferediscovery.com/certificate-in-nature-based-practice/.

    This nature-based training for NHS staff coincides with a wide-ranging survey into how exposure to natural spaces positively affects people’s health, behaviour and attitude to the environment over an extended period of time.    

    The three-year study will involve a sample of approximately 18,000 adults across the country, in a partnership between Natural England, the University of Exeter and the Natural Environment Research Council, and developed by organisations from a range of sectors.

    [i] The People and Nature Survey for England 2024: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/the-people-and-nature-surveys-for-england-adults-data-y5q3-october-2024-december-2024

    [ii] Blog by Dr Sue Williams, Natural Resources Wales: Mending minds – the benefits of a ‘dose of nature’ for mental health

    Contact us:

    Journalists only 0800 141 2743 or communications_se@environment-agency.gov.uk.

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Youth delegation from Russian sister city visited Weihai

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 15 (Xinhua) — A youth delegation from Russia’s sister city of Sergiev Posad recently visited Weihai City in east China’s Shandong Province, learning about modern science and traditional culture at the Weihai Branch of Harbin Institute of Technology and an intangible cultural heritage exhibition at the city’s cultural center.

    According to the Weihai City Government website, the Weihai Branch of Harbin Institute of Technology held a robotics technology seminar, where participants visited laboratories, demonstrated developments, and exchanged experiences. At the intangible cultural heritage exhibition, delegates studied in detail the technique of making sea grass houses, observed the craftsmanship of making tin inlay, admired the art of making colorful steamed buns “bobo” and the beautiful performance of the traditional dance “yangge” of Rushan City, deeply feeling the historical and cultural heritage of the region.

    A spokesperson for the Weihai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office stressed the city’s intention to deepen the “sister city” cooperation model, using people-to-people and cultural exchanges to promote multilateral cooperation and create a new high of high-level openness.

    Sergiev Posad, one of the famous “Golden Ring cities” of Russia and an important industrial, scientific and agricultural center of the Moscow region, established sister city relations with Weihai in September 2023. Since then, the cities have successfully held a dialogue on trade and economic cooperation “Silk Road Cities: Weihai-Sergiev Posad”, organized an exhibition “Weihai Meets Russia: Cultural Features of Sister Cities”, and implemented a series of projects in the fields of education, culture and tourism. -0-

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Strategy launched to support autistic and ADHD people.

    Source: City of York

    Titled “A City That Works for All”, the five-year plan sets out a vision for a more inclusive, supportive, and understanding York.

    This all-age strategy, developed through extensive co-production with neurodivergent residents, families, and local organisations, outlines three key pillars:

    • Changing Society for Inclusion – Tackling stigma and improving public understanding of neurodiversity
    • Making Diagnosis and Assessment Work – Reducing waiting times and improving access to timely, effective assessments
    • Improving Support in Every Setting – Ensuring services in education, employment, housing, and healthcare meet the needs of neurodivergent people

    The strategy recognises that barriers in society are often at the root of exclusion and poorer outcomes for autistic people and those with ADHD, and these must be tackled alongside the need to improve health and care services.

    It draws on findings from York’s 2025 Health Needs Assessment, which revealed significant gaps in diagnosis, long waiting lists, and high rates of co-occurring mental health conditions.

    Councillor Lucy Steels-Walshaw, Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care, said:

    It’s absolutely vital that services meet everyone’s needs, including the approximately 1 in 7 neurodiverse people living in our city. Consultation on this strategy will ask all organisations, service providers and residents to support us in creating a city in which all neurodiverse people thrive and play an active part. Small changes can often make big differences”.

    Michael Ash-McMahon, NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) Interim Place Director for York, said:

    The draft strategy is a welcome step towards creating a City that celebrates neurodiversity and reaffirms the NHS shared commitment to improving diagnosis and tackling long waiting lists for assessment. The ICB and City of York Council are eager to hear what people think of the strategy to ensure the voice of our population is heard and fully understood, before a final version is published later in the year.”

    Ayesha, who is a neurodivergent student mentor living in York, and is a proud member of York’s thriving LGBTQIA+ community. Ayesha is neurodivergent and is encouraging other people to have their say:

    This strategy is important to me because I get to see the Council in action, working to make this city more accessible for the neurodivergent community, which is a vital step closer to a more fair and equitable society.”

    The draft strategy is now open for public consultation with feedback invited from residents, professionals, and community groups. The final version will be published in Autumn 2025.

    You can have your say in various ways:

    • In person: At the Gateway Centre in Acomb on Tuesday 15 July 11-1pm and Monday 21 July 5-7pm
    • Join the online session on Thursday 31 July 1-2pm
    • Complete an online survey
    • Complete a paper survey: Available from Customer Services at West Offices

    For more information and to view the draft strategy, visit the City of York Council website.

    City of York Council is also inviting children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their families in York to have their say on a new SEND strategy.

    You can have your say on the draft SEND strategy at the same in person or online events as for the Autism and ADHD Strategy, or complete the online survey

    The Autism and ADHD Strategy consultation will run until Monday 11 August. The SEND survey will run until Sunday 7 September.  Feedback will be used to shape the final strategies.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi meets Russian FM in Beijing

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

    Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, July 15, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    BEIJING, July 15 — Chinese President Xi Jinping said Tuesday that China and Russia should bolster mutual support within multilateral frameworks, safeguard their development and security interests, unite the Global South countries, and push the international order toward a more just and equitable direction.

    Xi made the remarks during his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Beijing, calling on both sides to support each other in steering the development direction of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), injecting new momentum into the SCO, and making the strategic platform more substantive and stronger.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: ExxonMobil has begun operating a major chemical complex in southern China /detailed version-1/

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    GUANGZHOU, July 15 (Xinhua) — Energy giant ExxonMobil on Tuesday commissioned its flagship chemical complex in southern China, the first major petrochemical project in the country that the U.S. company has wholly owned.

    The move underscores ExxonMobil’s confidence in the world’s second-largest economy and comes amid China’s ongoing efforts to promote high-level opening-up and attract foreign investment.

    The first phase of the project, located in the Dayawan Petrochemical Industrial Park in Huizhou City, Guangdong Province, southern China, includes a flexible feedstock steam cracker with an annual capacity of 1.6 million tons of ethylene, a key ingredient in the production of plastics and fibers used in a wide range of products such as packaging.

    The site also houses production facilities for high-performance polyethylene and polypropylene.

    At the launch ceremony, ExxonMobil Senior Vice President Jack Williams called the complex a “new chapter” in the company’s long history in China and said the project would be a key element in developing a powerful petrochemical industry in Guangdong Province.

    Construction of the complex in Huizhou began in April 2020 and includes two stages. -0-

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: V. Zelensky held telephone conversations with the US President and NATO Secretary General

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    Kyiv, July 15 /Xinhua/ — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Telegram on Tuesday night that he had telephone conversations with US President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

    According to V. Zelensky, during the conversation with the head of the White House, issues such as strengthening the air defense system of Ukraine, etc. were raised.

    The parties also agreed to call each other more often and continue to coordinate their steps.

    During the conversation with M. Rutte, V. Zelensky thanked the allies for their willingness to provide Ukraine with additional Patriot air defense systems. According to him, the United States, Germany and Norway are working together on this issue.

    Separately, the NATO Secretary General informed V. Zelensky about the details of his talks with D. Trump and cooperation between Europe and the United States to increase support for Ukraine. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: UN Security Council extends mandates of missions in Haiti and Yemen

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    UNITED NATIONS, July 15 (Xinhua) — The Security Council on Monday adopted two separate resolutions to extend the mandates of U.N. missions in Haiti and Yemen.

    Resolution 2785 extends the mandate of the UN Integrated Office in Haiti for six and a half months, until 31 January 2026. The document expresses the Security Council’s intention to consider the UN Secretary-General’s recommendations of February 2025 regarding options for a possible UN role in Haiti, in particular the establishment of a UN office to provide logistical and operational support to the multinational police force in Haiti.

    In accordance with resolution 2786, the mandate of the UN Mission to Support the Implementation of the Hodeida Agreement (UNMHA) is extended for six and a half months, until 28 January 2026.

    The resolution expresses the intention of the Security Council to consider the full range of options for the UNMHA mandate, including an assessment of the future viability and completion timeframe of the mission, and to make any necessary adjustments to improve efficiency, reduce costs, etc., as may be required in connection with developments on the ground, including a durable ceasefire throughout the country.

    The document calls on UN Secretary-General António Guterres to submit a further review of UNMHA to the Security Council by 28 November 2025.

    Both resolutions were adopted unanimously. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Agreement between Kazakhstan and China on simplifying customs procedures demonstrates the potential of the SCO – Kazakh expert

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    Astana, July 15 (Xinhua) — The agreement between Kazakhstan and China on simplifying customs procedures demonstrates the potential of the SCO as a platform for testing and implementing advanced solutions, Gulnar Shaimergenova, director of the Kazakhstan Center for China Studies, said at the 2025 SCO Think Tank Forum in Shanghai.

    In her speech, she emphasized the importance of expanding joint educational programs, including organizing schools for young leaders and retraining courses for civil servants in the field of sustainable development and digital governance at SCO universities.

    G. Shaimergenova also noted the need for legal harmonization, proposing to develop a model law for cross-border arbitration and unified law enforcement, which would simplify the interaction of businesses and institutions in the SCO space.

    In addition, she stressed the importance of active integration of business, banks and investors into SCO projects, as well as the need for synergy between regional and global initiatives, support for UN reforms and the promotion of the principles of justice, inclusiveness and sovereign equality in international affairs. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: US tech giant Nvidia CEO praises China’s AI development

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    BEIJING, July 15 (Xinhua) — U.S. tech giant Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang praised China’s rapid progress in artificial intelligence (AI) during his visit to Beijing on Tuesday, calling the Chinese market “big” and “dynamic.”

    “AI is growing very fast in China,” Jensen Huang said in an interview, highlighting China’s thriving AI ecosystem and pointing to the abundance of startups and large cloud service providers.

    He added that China has a strong talent pool, noting that the country is home to 50 percent of the world’s artificial intelligence researchers.

    “AI is everywhere, from consumer apps, online shopping, grocery delivery to self-driving cars and other incredible applications,” added Jensen Huang.

    He said he was “very happy” to see the development of artificial intelligence in China, citing the high level of education in science and mathematics.

    On Wednesday, Jensen Huang will attend the opening ceremony of the 3rd China International Supply Chain Exposition (CISCE) and participate in related activities. -0-

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI: Municipality Finance issues a NOK 250 million tap under its MTN programme

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Municipality Finance Plc
    Stock exchange release
    15 July 2025 at 10:00 am (EEST)

    Municipality Finance issues a NOK 250 million tap under its MTN programme

    On 16 July 2025 Municipality Finance Plc issues a new tranche in an amount of NOK 250 million to an existing series of notes issued on 6 June 2025. With the new tranche, the aggregate nominal amount of the notes is NOK 2.250 billion. The maturity date of the notes is 6 January 2031. The notes bears interest at a fixed rate of 4.125 % per annum.

    The new tranche is issued under MuniFin’s EUR 50 billion programme for the issuance of debt instruments. The offering circular, the supplemental offering circular and final terms of the notes are available in English on the company’s website at https://www.kuntarahoitus.fi/en/for-investors.

    MuniFin has applied for the new tranche to be admitted to trading on the Helsinki Stock Exchange maintained by Nasdaq Helsinki. The public trading is expected to commence on 16 July 2025. The existing notes in the series are admitted to trading on the Helsinki Stock Exchange.

    J.P.Morgan SE acts as the Dealer for the issue of the new tranche.

    MUNICIPALITY FINANCE PLC

    Further information:

    Joakim Holmström
    Executive Vice President, Capital Markets and Sustainability
    tel. +358 50 444 3638

    MuniFin (Municipality Finance Plc) is one of Finland’s largest credit institutions. The owners of the company include Finnish municipalities, the public sector pension fund Keva and the State of Finland.
    The Group’s balance sheet is over EUR 53 billion.

    MuniFin builds a better and more sustainable future with its customers. Our customers include municipalities, joint municipal authorities, wellbeing services counties, joint county authorities, corporate entities under the control of the above-mentioned organisations, and affordable social housing. Lending is used for environmentally and socially responsible investment targets such as public transportation, sustainable buildings, hospitals and healthcare centres, schools and day care centres, and homes for people with special needs.

    MuniFin’s customers are domestic but the company operates in a completely global business environment. The company is an active Finnish bond issuer in international capital markets and the first Finnish green and social bond issuer. The funding is exclusively guaranteed by the Municipal Guarantee Board.

    Read more: https://www.kuntarahoitus.fi/en/

    Important Information

    The information contained herein is not for release, publication or distribution, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, in or into any such country or jurisdiction or otherwise in such circumstances in which the release, publication or distribution would be unlawful. The information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of, any securities or other financial instruments in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration, exemption from registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

    This communication does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States. The notes have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) or under the applicable securities laws of any state of the United States and may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, within the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except pursuant to an applicable exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: CoinShares Announces Amendment to Financial Calendar

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Tuesday, 15 July 2025 | SAINT HELIER, Jersey – CoinShares International Limited (“CoinShares” or the “Company“) (Nasdaq Stockholm Market: CS; US OTCQX: CNSRF), a global investment firm specialising in digital assets, today announces an amendment to the Company’s financial calendar published on its website, https://coinshares.com.

    In addition to the quarterly earnings reports the Company has released since 2021, CoinShares has also historically elected to engage its auditors to provide an interim review opinion. While this was performed as part of the Q3 earnings during 2023 and 2024, it has been determined that the Company will now perform this review at the halfway point of the year. As such, the release date for the Q2 earnings as per the Company’s website has been amended from 19 August 2025 to 29 August 2025.

    This is to allow sufficient time for the requisite work to be performed by the Group’s auditors for provision of the review opinion.

    About CoinShares

    CoinShares is a leading global investment company specialising in digital assets, that delivers a broad range of financial services across investment management, trading and securities to a wide array of clients that includes corporations, financial institutions and individuals. Focusing on crypto since 2013, the firm is headquartered in Jersey, with offices in France, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the US. CoinShares is regulated in Jersey by the Jersey Financial Services Commission, in France by the Autorité des marchés financiers, and in the US by the Securities and Exchange Commission, National Futures Association and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority. CoinShares is publicly listed on the Nasdaq Stockholm under the ticker CS and the OTCQX under the ticker CNSRF.

    For more information on CoinShares, please visit: https://coinshares.com
    Company | +44 (0)1534 513 100 | enquiries@coinshares.com
    Investor Relations | +44 (0)1534 513 100 | enquiries@coinshares.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: StepStone Group Expands Investor Access to Evergreen Funds with Goji’s Technology

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    NEW YORK, July 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — StepStone Group (Nasdaq: STEP), a global private markets solutions provider, announced today that it is utilizing Goji’s technology to improve access to several of its European private market evergreen funds. Goji is a global provider of technology-enabled solutions to the private markets. Its end-to-end investment platform will simplify the complexities of the investor journey for several of StepStone’s funds:

    • StepStone Private Markets (Luxembourg) (“SPRIM Lux”) spans private equity, real assets and private debt, giving access to top investment managers worldwide, while seeking to provide long-term capital appreciation, ordinary income and substantial diversification through a single investment. As of May 31, 2025, SPRIM Lux had $351 million in assets under management, or AUM and had delivered a 43.81%1 total net return since inception in September of 2022.
    • StepStone Private Venture and Growth (Luxembourg) (“SPRING Lux”) is a broadly diversified venture and growth strategy fund leveraging an open architecture approach, selecting managers across the innovation economy. As of May 31, 2025, SPRING Lux had $427 million in AUM and had delivered a 70.65%2 total net return since inception in November of 2022.
    • StepStone Private Infrastructure (Luxembourg) (“STRUCTURE Lux”) seeks to provide current income and long-term capital appreciation by offering access to a global investment portfolio of private infrastructure assets. As of May 31, 2025, STRUCTURE Lux had $89.9 million in AUM and had delivered a 32.24%3 total net return since inception in September of 2023.
    • StepStone Private Credit Europe ELTIF (“SCRED Europe”) is structured to offer access to a broadly diversified, European-focused private credit strategy, with a primary focus on senior secured direct lending. The fund successfully launched in February 2025 with over €250 million in seed capital, backed by a robust pipeline of opportunities.

    “Goji shares our vision of delivering an industry-leading, tailor-made onboarding experience for our investors across the globe,” said Neil Menard, Partner and President of Distribution at StepStone Private Wealth. “Powered by Euroclear, their best-in-class digital infrastructure and deep understanding of regulatory requirements across different markets will enable us to provide our investors with a more streamlined, efficient investment experience.”

    About StepStone Group

    StepStone Group Inc. (Nasdaq: STEP) is a global private markets investment firm focused on providing customized investment solutions and advisory and data services to its clients. As of March 31, 2025, StepStone was responsible for approximately $709 billion of total capital, including $189 billion of assets under management. StepStone’s clients include some of the world’s largest public and private defined benefit and defined contribution pension funds, sovereign wealth funds and insurance companies, as well as prominent endowments, foundations, family offices and private wealth clients, which include high-net-worth and mass affluent individuals. StepStone partners with its clients to develop and build private markets portfolios designed to meet their specific objectives across the private equity, infrastructure, private debt and real estate asset classes.

    About Goji

    Goji is a leading provider of investor platform technology and services. With the private asset market opening to new classes of investors, Goji makes it easy for asset managers, fund administrators and asset owners to give all investors digital access to private funds and stay ahead of their industry competitors. Goji’s best-in-class platform, which is secure, scalable, and customizable, unlocks new topline revenue and reduces costs. The company serves over 30,000 investors from more than 86 jurisdictions. As part of the Euroclear group, Goji has helped build a global network for private funds, combining Goji’s platform technology and Euroclear’s financial markets infrastructure to create scalability and growth for all participants. Goji is headquartered in the UK and is regulated by the FCA.  

    Contacts

    Media:
    Brian Ruby / Chris Gillick / Matt Lettiero, ICR
    StepStonePR@icrinc.com
    1-203-682-8268

    ______________________________
    1 This figure reflects the returns of the Class A (EUR) shares of SPRIM Lux. The performance does not fully represent the performance across all of the share classes of SPRIM Lux.
    2 This figure reflects the returns of the Class A (USD) shares of SPRING Lux. The performance does not fully represent the performance across all of the share classes of SPRING Lux.
    3 This figure reflects the returns of the Class E (USD) shares of STRUCTURE Lux. The performance does not fully represent the performance across all of the share classes of STRUCTURE Lux. Class E (USD) shares are available for subscription only by employees or affiliates of the StepStone Group and are not subject to the investment management fee or the incentive fee. [Performance shown for the Class E (USD) shares assumes the Investment Management Fee or the Incentive Fee were charged since Class E (USD) shares inception on 27 September 2023.

    THIS DOCUMENT IS A MARKETING COMMUNICATION. PLEASE REFER TO THE OFFERING MEMORANDUM OF SPRIM LUX, SPRING LUX, STRUCTURE LUX AND SCRED EUROPE (COLLECTIVELY, THE “FUNDS”) BEFORE MAKING ANY FINAL INVESTMENT DECISIONS.

    PAST PERFORMANCE IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF FUTURE RESULTS. ACTUAL PERFORMANCE MAY VARY.

    This document is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation to buy, or a recommendation for any security, or as an offer to provide advisory or other services by StepStone Group Private Wealth LLC (“SPW”), StepStone Group LP (“StepStone”), StepStone Group Europe Alternative Investments Limited (“SGEAIL”) or their subsidiaries or affiliates (collectively, the “Managers”) in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation, purchase or sale would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. The information contained in this document should not be construed as legal, financial or investment advice on any subject matter. The Managers expressly disclaim all liability in respect to actions taken based on any or all of the information in this document.

    Before investing you should carefully consider the Funds’ investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. This and other information are explained in the relevant Offering Memorandum for each Fund, a copy of which may be obtained from SGEAIL upon request.

    Information contained herein is subject to change and amendment. An indication of interest in response to this advertisement will involve no obligation or commitment of any kind.

    Interests in the Funds are not registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended or any similar U.S. state securities statutes and the Funds are generally not offered to US Persons (as defined in the relevant Offering Memorandum).

    Prospective investors should inform themselves and obtain appropriate advice as to any applicable legal or regulatory requirements and any applicable taxation and exchange control regulations in the countries of their citizenship, residence or domicile which might be relevant to the suitability, subscription, purchase, holding, exchange, redemption or disposal of any investments.

    An investment involves a number of risks and there are conflicts of interest. Please refer to the risks outlined in detail in the relevant Offering Memorandum for each Fund.

    Marketing in the European Union

    The Funds are alternative investment funds (“AIFs”) for the purpose of Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive (“AIFMD”). SGEAIL is the alternative investment fund manager (“AIFM”) of the Funds.

    The Funds that do not qualify as ELTIFs can be marketed to Professional Investors in the EEA in accordance with the requirements set out in Article 32 of AIFMD.

    Marketing of the Funds outside the EEA or in the EEA to investors other than Professional Investors (where relevant) must comply with applicable national private placement regimes. Those investors are required to inform themselves of any applicable local requirements or restrictions before investing in the Funds and to assess the impact of any risks they may be exposed to when investing in the Funds.

    Notice to all European Economic Area (EEA) residents

    In the EEA, this document is disseminated by SGEAIL.

    The Funds may only be offered or placed in an EEA Member State: (1) to Professional Investors to the extent that they have been registered for marketing in the relevant EEA Member State in accordance with Article 32 AIFMD (as amended and as implemented into the local law/regulation of the relevant EEA Member State); (2) to non-professional investors who meet the requirements of any national law/regulation which permits them to invest in AIFs, as specifically identified below; or (3) as they may otherwise be lawfully offered or placed in that EEA Member State, including at the exclusive initiative of an investor where permitted in accordance with the AIFMD.

    A list of the EEA Member States in which the Funds are registered for marketing under Article 32 AIFMD is available from the Managers upon request.

    Notice to investors in Austria

    Certain of the Funds have been notified to the Austrian Financial Market Authority (FMA) for marketing to professional investors (Professionelle Anleger) within the meaning of § 2 para 1 no 33 of the Austrian Alternative Investment Funds Act (Alternative Investmentfonds Manager-Gesetz; AIFMG) in accordance with Article 32 AIFMD and § 31 AIFMG. In the Republic of Austria, the relevant Funds may only be offered or placed and any offering or marketing materials related thereto may only be distributed to investors who are either (a) professional investors (Professionelle Anleger) as defined in § 2 para 1 no 33 AIFMG or where relevant (b) qualified retail investors (Qualifizierte Privatkunden) as defined in § 2 para 1 no 42 AIFMG. Distribution of the relevant Funds and any offering or marketing materials related thereto to retail investors (Privatkunden) as defined in § 2 para 1 no 36 AIFMG in the Republic of Austria is not permitted. Subscriptions by retail investors (Privatkunden) will therefore not be accepted. None of the Managers or the relevant Funds are subject to supervision by the FMA or any other Austrian authority. Neither the relevant Offering Memorandum, nor the relevant key information document (KID) have been reviewed by the FMA or any other Austrian authority.

    Notice to professional and semi-professional investors in Germany

    Certain of the Funds have been notified to the German Financial Services Supervisory Authority (Bundesanstalt für Finanzdienstleistungsaufsicht, or BAFIN) in accordance with Section 323 of the German investment code (Kapitalanlagegesetzbuch – KAGB).

    The relevant Funds may only be marketed and offered to professional and, where relevant to semi-professional investors in the Federal Republic of Germany, as defined in Section 1 (19) nos. 32 and 33 of the KAGB. The relevant Funds have not been admitted for marketing to retail investors within the meaning of Section 1 (19) no. 31 of the KAGB in Germany. Accordingly, the relevant Funds may not be offered and marketed to retail investors in Germany. This disclosure, the relevant Offering Memorandum and any other document relating to the relevant Funds, as well as information or statements contained therein, may not be supplied to retail investors in Germany or any other means of public marketing. Any resale of the relevant Funds in Germany may only be made to professional and semi-professional investors in Germany and in accordance with the provisions of the KAGB and any other applicable laws in Germany governing the sale and offering of the relevant Funds.

    Notice to investors in Italy

    Certain of the Funds have been passported with the Commissione Nazionale per le Società e la Borsa (CONSOB) for the marketing in Italy vis-à-vis professional investors in accordance with Article 32 AIFMD, article 43 of the Italian Legislative Decree of 24th February 1998, no. 58 (testo unico della finanza, the “TUF”) and relevant local implementing regulations in Italy. The relevant Funds may be distributed exclusively to the following categories of investors: (i) “professional investors” as defined in the AIFMD; or where relevant (ii) “non-professional investors” who: (1) invest at least EUR 500,000 in the relevant Fund; or (2) invest at least EUR 100,000 in the relevant Fund, and in the case of the latter, either: (a) the investment is made by a licensed portfolio manager on behalf of the non-professional investor; or (b) the investment is made by the non-professional investor in the context of the provision of investment advice, and is subject to the requirement that the entirety of any investments by that same non-professional investor in EU AIFs does not exceed ten percent (10%) of his or her financial portfolio as a result of a subscription or investment in the relevant Fund.

    Notice to investors in Switzerland

    The offer and the marketing of the Funds in Switzerland will be exclusively made to, and directed at, qualified investors (the “Qualified Investors”), as defined in Article 10(3) and (3ter) of the Swiss Collective Investment Schemes Act (“CISA”) and its implementing ordinance, at the exclusion of qualified investors with an opting-out pursuant to Article 5(1) of the Swiss Federal Law on Financial Services (“FinSA”) and without any portfolio management or advisory relationship with a financial intermediary pursuant to Article 10(3ter) CISA (“Excluded Qualified Investors”). Accordingly, the Funds have not been and will not be registered with the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (“FINMA”) and no representative or paying agent have been or will be appointed in Switzerland. This document and/or any other offering or marketing materials relating to The Funds may be made available in Switzerland solely to Qualified Investors, at the exclusion of Excluded Qualified Investors. The legal documents of the Funds may be obtained free of charge from the Managers.

    Notice to investors in the United Kingdom

    The Funds are alternative investment funds for the purpose of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Regulations, 2013, as amended by the Alternative Investment Managers (Amendment, etc.) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (“UK AIFM Regulations”). SGEAIL is the alternative investment fund manager (“AIFM”) of the Funds. 

    The Funds have been registered for marketing under Regulation 59(1) of the UK AIFM Regulations. On that basis, the Funds may be marketed in the United Kingdom to UK persons who qualify as Professional Investors.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Israeli troops kill Palestinian in northern West Bank

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    RAMALLAH, July 15 (Xinhua) — Israeli troops killed a young Palestinian man near the northern West Bank town of Jenin on Monday, the Ramallah-based Health Ministry said.

    “The Palestinian Authority for Civil Affairs informed us of the killing of 20-year-old Yousef Walid Abdullah Sheikh Ibrahim from the town of Kafr Rai as a result of Israeli shelling near Jenin,” the press release said. It noted that the Israeli military had taken away the body of the deceased.

    The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Monday that “IDF troops found an armed terrorist near the community of Maoz Zvi,” a settlement in the northern West Bank. “The soldiers opened fire on the terrorist and killed him,” the statement said. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: US Supreme Court Allows Trump to Cut Education Department Staff

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    WASHINGTON, July 15 (Xinhua) — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Trump administration to move forward with its plan to dismantle the Education Department, staying a preliminary injunction issued by a U.S. District Judge in May.

    In an emergency decision by a vote of 6-3, the Supreme Court overturned a district judge’s order reinstating the mass-fired employees.

    On May 22, U.S. District Judge Meng Zong in Boston ordered the reinstatement of nearly 1,400 Education Department employees affected by the mass layoffs. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: GUU took part in the discussion of the future of business education

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Official website of the State –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The State University of Management took part in a joint open meeting of the Presidium of the National Accreditation Council for Business and Management Education (NASDOBR) and the Council for Professional Qualifications in Management and Law.

    The SUM was represented at the event by Rector Vladimir Stroyev, Vice-Rector Dmitry Bryukhanov and Academic Director of the SUM Higher School of Business and Technology, Vice-President of the Russian Association of Business Education Vladimir Godin.

    The meeting was also attended by First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation Alexander Zhukov; Chairman of the Presidium of NASDOBR, Vice-Rector of RANEPA Sergey Myasoedov; Vice-President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Alexander Murychev; Deputy Chairman, Head of the Executive Committee of Delovaya Rossiya Nonna Kagramanyan, Chairman of the Council of the Moscow City Branch of OPORA RUSSIA Dmitry Nesvetov, and General Director of the National Agency for Qualifications Development Alexey Vovchenko.

    The participants considered issues of NASDOBR activities in accreditation of MBA business education programs and preparation for pilot accreditation of the DBA program “Doctor of Business Administration”, development of professional and public accreditation of higher education programs, and intensification of work on development of business education in the regions.

    The results of the work of the specialized sections of NASDOBR and RABO at the Caucasus Investment Forum and the International IT Forum with the participation of BRICS and SCO countries were summed up. The high demand for business education programs in the regions was noted, especially in terms of developing management competencies and increasing labor productivity.

    In addition, those gathered discussed the expansion of the powers of the Council for Professional Qualifications in Management and Law: the creation of educational programs, their professional and public accreditation, and the formation of a system for independent assessment of qualifications in this area.

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: UNECE Workshop on Modernizing Statistical Legislation

    Source: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe

    09 – 10 September 2025

    Belgrade Serbia

    Register now

    Programme

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    Web Server at unngin.fifthestate.nz

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Foreign Minister Lin delivers remarks at opening of 2025 ILA-ASIL Asia-Pacific Research Forum, urges democracies to jointly address challenges posed by authoritarian expansion

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    July 8, 2025  
    No. 232  

    Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung on July 7 attended the opening of the 2025 International Law Association-American Society of International Law Asia-Pacific Research Forum, where he addressed more than 50 noted international scholars from over 20 nations.
     
    In his remarks, Minister Lin said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had been promoting the policy of integrated diplomacy, which aimed to deepen partnerships with like-minded countries based on the values of freedom, democracy, and human rights. He explained that Taiwan had proactively leveraged its diplomatic strengths—consolidating diplomatic ties, expanding its alliance of friendly nations, and integrating the resources of the public and private sectors with the goal of having Taiwan continue to be a Taiwan of the world.
     
    Noting the extreme turbulence of international relations and the severe geopolitical challenges facing the Indo-Pacific region, Minister Lin said that in recent years, China had repeatedly challenged the rules-based international order, gravely undermining democracy, the rule of law, human rights, freedom, and even fair trade. He observed that the world’s leading states had gone on alert and that an increasing number of countries had acted by sending warships through the Taiwan Strait, underscoring that the Taiwan Strait constituted international waters and demonstrating the great importance that they attached to the security of the Indo-Pacific region.
     
    Minister Lin also pointed out that China had long sought to pressure Taiwan in the international arena, enacting the Anti-Secession Law in 2005 and 22 guidelines on punishing independence in 2024, among other legal warfare tools. He said that China had inappropriately distorted UN General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758, seeking to weaponize the text and transform it into a tool to suppress Taiwan’s international participation and provide cover for an armed invasion. He stated that China had used the resolution as justification for its false claims that Taiwan was a part of China and that the Taiwan Strait was China’s internal waters, adding that such claims were clearly contrary to the facts and to democratic values.
     
    Minister Lin noted that in response to China’s efforts to distort UNGA Resolution 2758, last year the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, the European Parliament, and the parliaments of Australia, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the Czech Republic passed resolutions clearly opposing China’s misrepresentations. He said that senior US officials had also publicly expressed a similar position and that the international community had gradually gained an accurate understanding of Resolution 2758—that it neither mentioned Taiwan nor precluded Taiwan’s international participation.
     
    Looking back on history, Minister Lin remarked that following the Second World War, the signing of the San Francisco Peace Treaty, which was binding under international law, had supplanted the political statements contained in the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation. He also pointed out that the People’s Republic of China had never governed Taiwan. He said that since the mid-1980s, Taiwan had experienced political liberalization and democratization, leading to the completion of its first direct presidential election in 1996. At that point, he said, the central executive and legislative representatives of government of the Republic of China were all elected by the people of Taiwan—and since then, the Republic of China government had been the sole legitimate government exercising effective rule over Taiwan and representing Taiwan internationally. He added that this underscored the cross-strait status quo that the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the People’s Republic of China existed as equals, with neither being subordinate to the other. He said that the Republic of China (Taiwan) had experienced three changes of governing party—in 2000, 2008, and 2016—that had consolidated the democratic system and helped create a clearer sense of national identity, reflecting the Taiwanese people’s pursuit of and desire for freedom and democracy.
     
    Minister Lin went on to explain that, in response to dramatic changes in the international geopolitical landscape and the threat of authoritarian expansion, President Lai Ching-te had issued 17 national security measures. He said that China’s vaulting ambition had alerted the international community to the fact that Taiwan was not subordinate to the PRC. He observed that this had upended China’s cross-strait framework, making the issue of democratic Taiwan and authoritarian China not merely a regional matter, but a question the countries of the world must address together.
     
    Minister Lin emphasized that the more secure Taiwan was, the more secure the world would be, and that the stronger Taiwan grew, the more secure the world’s democracies would be. He reiterated that Taiwan was a Taiwan of the world and said that the Republic of China (Taiwan), as a democratic nation and a force for good in the world, had demonstrated that it was part of the global village through the continued application of democratic processes and through its international participation.
     
    Concluding his remarks, Minister Lin said that Taiwan would continue to be at the forefront of the global battle against authoritarian expansionism, adding that Taiwan would work with like-minded countries to defend the values of freedom and democracy and ensure regional peace, security, and prosperity. (E)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Supermarket treatments for depression don’t require a prescription. But do they work?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jon Wardle, Professor of Public Health, Southern Cross University

    Australians have long been some of the highest users of herbal and nutritional supplements that claim to boost mood or ease depression. These include omega-3s (found in fish oil), St John’s wort, probiotics and vitamin D.

    In fact, among Australians with depression, these supplements are more popular than prescription medicines.

    But do they actually work? And how do they compare to other treatments? A new review has assessed the evidence from 209 studies – here’s what it found.

    Do these supplements work?

    The new study aimed to assess the international evidence available for common over-the-counter products for depression in adults aged 18–60.

    Despite their widespread popularity and availability, the study found there is surprisingly little research on these therapies, compared with psychological therapies and prescription antidepressants.

    Only a few products had a relatively large body of evidence suggesting they were effective at treating symptoms. These were omega-3 supplements, St John’s wort, saffron, probiotics and vitamin D.

    However, most products had only a single trial examining their use.

    The researchers noted there was promising evidence for some herbal and nutritional supplements, where multiple studies did exist. These included folic acid, zinc, Rhodiola, lavender and lemon balm. But there is not enough evidence yet to recommend them, so more studies would be needed.

    What does other research say?

    These findings appear to support previous research assessing supplements for depression.

    In 2024, the Australian government’s review of natural therapies also found moderate evidence that several herbal medicines can relieve symptoms in mild to moderate depression. These include curcumin (from turmeric), saffron and St John’s wort.

    It also found moderate evidence St John’s wort was as effective as conventional antidepressants.

    However, the major caveat is that much of the existing evidence relates to mild to moderate depression.

    Mild to moderate depression usually means few symptoms beyond the minimum required for diagnosis (such as loss of pleasure and depressed mood). Major depression involves five or more symptoms along with significant distress and impact on day-to-day function.

    While some products were found to have some effect in major depressive disorders – probiotics, for example – there is little evidence to suggest they’re effective where a large number of symptoms exist.

    Dose and quality varies

    The dose and quality of over-the-counter products can also vary significantly, which can make it difficult to identify appropriate products or assess which ones work.

    In the United Kingdom, official advice for health-care practitioners acknowledges there is evidence St John’s wort can help with less severe forms of depression. But it also advises caution in recommending it, given how much the dose, preparation and quality can vary between different herbal products.

    Man takes a vitamin
    St John’s wort dosage and quality varies between products.
    photoroyalty/Shutterstock

    In Australia, guidelines for psychiatrists treating mood disorders such as depression note that good evidence exists for using omega-3 fatty acids (fish oils). But they highlight that there only seems to be a benefit when the product has 60% or more eicosapentaenoic acid (one of the main types of omega-3).

    Whether folate supplements are effective for depression can depend on their form, which active ingredient is used, and how well the body can absorb it.

    There may be other nuances in other supplements that we need more research to understand.

    Are there any risks or downsides?

    The study also concluded these products present few safety issues, whether used alone or in combination with other treatments. This is the reason most remain available over the counter.

    However, herbal medicines and dietary supplements also contain chemicals that can work like drugs and interact with other medications.

    For example, the way St John’s wort works on neurotransmitters (the body’s chemical messengers) is similar to many prescription antidepressants.

    So taking it alongside antidepressants can lead to serotonin syndrome, a condition which can lead to fever and seizures in extreme instances. In rare cases, you may experience similar side effects to taking antidepressants.

    However, many of these treatments are not only safe but more effective when used together with conventional treatments for depression.

    For instance, some studies suggest omega-3 supplements used in addition to standard antidepressant therapy resulted in the best outcomes. But more research is needed to explore this link.

    How do they stack up against other therapies?

    Pharmaceutical medications, such as antidepressants, and talk therapies remain the gold standard in Australian guidelines for mood disorders. They are the most studied interventions for these disorders, which means we have the most evidence for how well they work.

    However, emerging evidence is developing for other therapies too.

    Lifestyle interventions to improve diet and exercise have been shown to be as effective in addressing symptoms of depression as receiving psychological treatment alone.

    Nutrients are the building blocks of many body processes, and some nutrient deficiencies themselves (such as iron and B12) can cause depressive symptoms. So their potential role of nutritional supplements is perhaps unsurprising.

    However, research – including our own – increasingly demonstrates eating nutrient-rich foods (rather than taking supplements) can be enough to improve symptoms in mood disorders such as depression.

    The Australian government’s review of natural therapies also found the evidence for non-pharmacological treatments, such as yoga, was more certain than for herbal medicines and nutritional supplements in treating depression.

    It’s also important to note that depressive symptoms rarely present alone. They can be secondary to other underlying health conditions (such as hypothyroidism) or present with other conditions.

    Investigating and addressing these potential root causes and improving general health is essential in managing symptoms.

    What are the key takeaways?

    Some herbal and nutritional supplements do appear to have a potentially beneficial effect for less severe forms of depression. But for many of these therapies there is still not enough evidence to offer definitive recommendations.

    While the Therapeutic Goods Administration regulates the safety and quality of supplements, there is still variation in product quality, dose and how well the body can absorb it.

    If you’re thinking of using herbal or nutritional supplements, it’s important to consult a health professional, such as a GP, naturopath or even a psychologist.

    If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

    The Conversation

    Jon Wardle is Foundation Director of the National Centre for Naturopathic Medicine and the Maurice Blackmore Chair of Naturopathic Medicine at Southern Cross University, which undertakes training and research in nutritional and herbal therapies. He has received funding from multiple foundations and agencies to conduct research on nutritional and herbal medicines, including the National Health and Medical Research Council and Medical Research Future Fund. He was part of the both the National Health and Medical Research Council Natural Therapies Working Committee and the Department of Health Natural Therapies Review Expert Advisory Panel which supported Professor Kidd in conducting the reviews mentioned in this article. However, this article represents his personal academic opinion and does not represent the opinions of either of these organisations.

    Carrie Thomson-Casey is affiliated with both major psychology professional associations the Australian Psychological Society (APS) and the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPi). Carrie is also the past convenor and now treasurer of an APS interest group Psychology and Integrative Mental Health.

    Carrie is an author of one of the papers Jon has cited.

    Jessica Bayes has received funding from several organisations to conduct research exploring diet and mental wellbeing, in addition to research investigating nutritional supplements. Jessica has also authored some of the articles referenced here.

    – ref. Supermarket treatments for depression don’t require a prescription. But do they work? – https://theconversation.com/supermarket-treatments-for-depression-dont-require-a-prescription-but-do-they-work-261010

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Tyranny is an ever-present threat to civilisations. Here’s how Classical Greece and China dealt with it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shannon Brincat, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, University of the Sunshine Coast

    We’re just a few months into US president Donald Trump’s second term but his rule has already been repeatedly compared to tyranny.

    This may all feel very new to Americans, and to the rest of us watching on from around the world. But the threat of tyranny is an ancient one.

    We can learn much from how people in ancient Greece and China dealt with this issue.

    Where does tyranny come from?

    The peoples of classical Greece were separated into city-states known as the polis.

    A few of these, such as Athens and Argos, were democratic.

    Others, such as Rhodes or Chios, had had democratic features such as civic participation in public life.

    These city-states routinely faced external enemies but also the threat of tyrannical take-over from within.

    Things came to a head in 510 BCE under the rule of an oppressive tyrant known as Hippias. He was ultimately expelled, leading eventually to the establishment of democracy through reforms made under an Athenian statesmen called Cleisthenes.

    According to Plato, tyranny is the most degenerate political regime and emerges out of democracy’s excesses.

    He argued that as democratic citizens become accustomed to living by pleasure rather than reason or duty to the public good, society becomes fragmented.

    Demagogues – populist leaders who gain power by appealing to base desires and prejudices of the masses – promise the people more liberties. They turn citizens away from virtue and toward tyranny.

    Aristotle, who was Plato’s student, defines tyranny as the corrupted form of monarchy. The tyrant perverts the constitutional order to bring about self-serving rulership – the rule of one. Tyranny, he argued, destroys law and justice, eroding all public trust.

    The approach of Plato and Aristotle to combating tyranny was closely tied to their conception of the polis and the importance of citizenship.

    For the classical Greeks, citizenship was a binding relationship of reciprocal duties and obligations owed to all other citizens. The law, they believed, was king.

    It was these conventions that constrained political power, especially the arbitrary rule of one.

    Civic education by participation in daily democratic life promoted virtue, they believed. All citizens and the ruler were subservient to the law – a bond that tyranny destroyed.

    Aristotle said a strong middle class that could best prevent tyranny because they indicated a less unequal, and therefore more stable, society.

    Plato’s view was more inward looking. He saw tyranny as a political manifestation of a disordered “enslaved soul” governed by appetites rather than reason. For him, philosophical guidance back to harmony was required for the tyrant and for the people.

    Only through wisdom, he argued, could the people recognise and reject demagogues and populists.

    Protecting democracy from tyranny

    Some city-states learned from their institutional failings when tyranny had taken them over.

    For example, after a coup of aristocrats overtook Athenian democracy in 411 BCE, Athenians began to swear the Oath of Demophantos. This was among the first attempts at a constitutional safeguard of democracy against tyranny.

    It legally and morally obliged citizens to resist any attempt to overthrow democracy by force. The undertaking was a reciprocal duty; as other scholars have argued, each citizen could count on the support of all others to protect the democracy when a tyrant tried again.

    This made it far more likely for people to take action against a would-be-tyrant; they knew every other citizen had sworn an oath to have their back.

    The Greek historians of the time support these views. For example, Herodotus in the 5th century documented the rise of several tyrants across Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). He blamed the political vacuum created by the decline of aristocratic rule. Here, the personal ambition and luxury of elites laid the path to tyrannical behaviour.

    Another famous historian named Thucydides, writing at the same time, analysed the power and political corruption behind tyranny. He observed how times of crisis exposed vulnerabilities within Athens, leading to factionalism, instability, and the erosion of democracy.

    Tyranny in classical China

    In classical China we see a complementary, yet unique view of tyranny.

    During the Warring States period (475–221 BCE), when the Zhou Dynasty was divided amongst several competing states, preventing tyranny was a central concern.

    These states were mostly hereditary monarchies rather than democracies but they still emphasised accountability to the people.

    Mencius was a Chinese philosopher and disciple of Confucius.
    Mencius was a Chinese philosopher and disciple of Confucius.
    Pictures from History/Getty Images

    Mencius, a 4th-century BCE Chinese philosopher and Confucian scholar, argued the people’s welfare was the foundation of legitimate rule.

    There is, he argued, a responsibility to all under the Mandate of Heaven (天命, tiānmìng). This ancient Chinese doctrine asserted that heaven grants legitimacy to just rulers. If a ruler became despotic or failed to uphold harmony and virtue, the mandate can be withdrawn, justifying rebellion and dynastic change.

    Mencius famously said a ruler who oppresses the people is not a ruler but a “mere man” who could be violently overthrown.

    Xunzi, another Confucian philosopher writing in the late 4th to 3rd Centuries BCE, believed humans were inherently selfish and chaotic.

    To fend off tyranny he emphasised ritual, education, and rule of law. He believed in formal ceremonies and structured practices such as court etiquette, family rites, and daily ethical conduct. These, he believed, helped cultivate virtue, regulate behaviour, and maintain social harmony.

    Mozi, writing mostly in the 5th to early 4th centuries BCE, was a Chinese philosopher who opposed Confucianism and founded Mohism, offered a different view.

    Opposing all hierarchies, he emphasised jiān ài(兼爱) – universal obligation or care to all others – as a core ethical and political principle.

    According to Mozi, tyranny arises when rulers act selfishly – favoring their own families, states, or interests over the common good. He advocated for strong moral conduct and competence of leaders, rather than their lineage, wealth or status.

    Tyranny today

    Viewed together, these traditions suggest preventing tyranny requires more than just moral leadership.

    Rather, it requires a notion of reciprocity – of shared obligations between citizens – and systemic safeguards against the personal ambitions of rulers.

    Ethical governance, civic education, legal frameworks, and shared responsibilities are essential.

    The Conversation

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

    – ref. Tyranny is an ever-present threat to civilisations. Here’s how Classical Greece and China dealt with it – https://theconversation.com/tyranny-is-an-ever-present-threat-to-civilisations-heres-how-classical-greece-and-china-dealt-with-it-259680

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Kimberlite Magic”: NSU postgraduate student Alexey Tarasov became a laureate of the RAS medal for the study of deep mantle melts

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The Russian Academy of Sciences has announced the winners of the 2024 competition for medals with prizes for the best scientific works of young scientists and students. One of the laureates was a postgraduate student Faculty of Geology and Geophysics (FGG) of NSU Alexey Tarasov. He received the award in geology, geophysics, geochemistry and mining sciences for his research on melt inclusions in minerals of mantle peridotite xenoliths.

    We talked to Alexey about his scientific path, research topic, participation in the competition and plans for the future.

    — How did you end up at NSU?

    — I entered NSU in 2018 after finishing school in Barnaul, based on the results of the Unified State Exam. I studied for a bachelor’s degree at the Faculty of Geography and Geography, then entered the master’s program. Now I continue my studies in graduate school.

    — Why did you choose the Faculty of Geology and Geophysics?

    — I have been interested in minerals since childhood, I had a small collection at home. I attended the “Young Geologist” club — there was one in Barnaul. Gradually, my hobby turned into a professional interest. I knew that Novosibirsk had a strong school in geochemistry, and this played a decisive role. There was no doubt where to go.

    — Tell us about your scientific work for which you received the Russian Academy of Sciences medal.

    — The overall goal of all our work is to understand how diamond deposits are formed. Diamond is a form of carbon that is stable only under very high pressure, so it forms deep in the mantle, at depths of 150–160 kilometers and more. Most diamonds formed more than 2.5 billion years ago and are still in the mantle because it is too deep to mine them.

    But there are kimberlite magmas. They form in the mantle and, unlike most other magmas, rise to the surface very quickly. In doing so, they take with them fragments of mantle rocks – so-called xenoliths, and minerals – xenocrysts. Sometimes – with diamonds.

    When magma reaches the surface, it forms kimberlite pipes, which are the main source of diamonds in nature. But what is kimberlite magma? What it consists of, where it comes from, and under what conditions it originates – is still not exactly known. This is a key scientific question, and I am working on solving it.

    – How do you research this?

    — I study melt inclusions in xenolith minerals. These are tiny drops of magma that were “sealed” in crystals during their growth and preserved in their original form. These inclusions provide a unique opportunity to reconstruct the composition of kimberlite melts at the moment of their origin — before all the changes and contaminations that occur during their ascent to the surface.

    The composition of these inclusions can tell us about the temperature and pressure of formation, and the type of rock from which they formed. This helps us get closer to understanding where and how new kimberlite pipes can form, and therefore potentially predict where diamonds can be found.

    — What, in your opinion, helped you receive the RAS medal?

    — It’s hard to say how exactly the selection took place. But I think several factors played a role. I tried to show that my work was not just fundamental, but also had potential applied significance. In addition, at the time of application, I had six published articles in which I was the author or co-author.

    But, to be honest, the main thing is not “what”, but “who”. My scientific supervisor Alexander Viktorovich Golovin. He insisted that I participate in conferences, helped with writing articles, tolerated my mistakes, demanded high quality. It was he who convinced me to apply for the RAS competition. In addition to him, other colleagues at the institute and teachers at the faculty supported me. Without them, nothing would have happened.

    — How did the competition itself go?

    — It was quite simple: you had to prepare an application, attach a research paper (in my case, it was a master’s thesis), provide a list of publications, and sign documents. There were no in-person stages — everything was done in writing.

    — What are your plans next?

    — I am continuing my postgraduate studies and working at the Institute of Geology and Mineralogy of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. I plan to defend my PhD thesis in 2027. I am currently finishing my first article, where I am the first author, and I want to publish it in a foreign journal of the 1st–2nd quartile. I already sent it six months ago, but was rejected. The reviewers pointed out the weak discussion and insufficient English.

    Now I am rewriting the text, looking for a translator and funding for professional translation. In parallel, I am working on the following articles. My supervisor has set a task – five articles by the end of my postgraduate studies. To be honest, I am not sure that I will cope, but I will make every effort.

    The Russian Academy of Sciences holds an annual competition for medals and prizes for young scientists and students. In 2024, 21 young scientists and 21 students received awards. Each laureate receives a medal, a diploma, a badge, and a cash prize of 100,000 rubles for young scientists and 50,000 rubles for students.

    The competition covers key areas of natural, technical and human sciences and is held with the aim of encouraging young scientists, supporting professional growth and enhancing the prestige of research activities.

    We congratulate Alexey Tarasov on his well-deserved award and wish him success in his future scientific research!

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Kimberlite Magic”: NSU postgraduate student Alexey Tarasov became a laureate of the RAS medal for the study of deep mantle melts

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University –

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    The Russian Academy of Sciences has announced the winners of the 2024 competition for medals with prizes for the best scientific works of young scientists and students. One of the laureates was a postgraduate student Faculty of Geology and Geophysics (FGG) of NSU Alexey Tarasov. He received the award in geology, geophysics, geochemistry and mining sciences for his research on melt inclusions in minerals of mantle peridotite xenoliths.

    We talked to Alexey about his scientific path, research topic, participation in the competition and plans for the future.

    — How did you end up at NSU?

    — I entered NSU in 2018 after finishing school in Barnaul, based on the results of the Unified State Exam. I studied for a bachelor’s degree at the Faculty of Geography and Geography, then entered the master’s program. Now I continue my studies in graduate school.

    — Why did you choose the Faculty of Geology and Geophysics?

    — I have been interested in minerals since childhood, I had a small collection at home. I attended the “Young Geologist” club — there was one in Barnaul. Gradually, my hobby turned into a professional interest. I knew that Novosibirsk had a strong school in geochemistry, and this played a decisive role. There was no doubt where to go.

    — Tell us about your scientific work for which you received the Russian Academy of Sciences medal.

    — The overall goal of all our work is to understand how diamond deposits are formed. Diamond is a form of carbon that is stable only under very high pressure, so it forms deep in the mantle, at depths of 150–160 kilometers and more. Most diamonds formed more than 2.5 billion years ago and are still in the mantle because it is too deep to mine them.

    But there are kimberlite magmas. They form in the mantle and, unlike most other magmas, rise to the surface very quickly. In doing so, they take with them fragments of mantle rocks – so-called xenoliths, and minerals – xenocrysts. Sometimes – with diamonds.

    When magma reaches the surface, it forms kimberlite pipes, which are the main source of diamonds in nature. But what is kimberlite magma? What it consists of, where it comes from, and under what conditions it originates – is still not exactly known. This is a key scientific question, and I am working on solving it.

    – How do you research this?

    — I study melt inclusions in xenolith minerals. These are tiny drops of magma that were “sealed” in crystals during their growth and preserved in their original form. These inclusions provide a unique opportunity to reconstruct the composition of kimberlite melts at the moment of their origin — before all the changes and contaminations that occur during their ascent to the surface.

    The composition of these inclusions can tell us about the temperature and pressure of formation, and the type of rock from which they formed. This helps us get closer to understanding where and how new kimberlite pipes can form, and therefore potentially predict where diamonds can be found.

    — What, in your opinion, helped you receive the RAS medal?

    — It’s hard to say how exactly the selection took place. But I think several factors played a role. I tried to show that my work was not just fundamental, but also had potential applied significance. In addition, at the time of application, I had six published articles in which I was the author or co-author.

    But, to be honest, the main thing is not “what”, but “who”. My scientific supervisor Alexander Viktorovich Golovin. He insisted that I participate in conferences, helped with writing articles, tolerated my mistakes, demanded high quality. It was he who convinced me to apply for the RAS competition. In addition to him, other colleagues at the institute and teachers at the faculty supported me. Without them, nothing would have happened.

    — How did the competition itself go?

    — It was quite simple: you had to prepare an application, attach a research paper (in my case, it was a master’s thesis), provide a list of publications, and sign documents. There were no in-person stages — everything was done in writing.

    — What are your plans next?

    — I am continuing my postgraduate studies and working at the Institute of Geology and Mineralogy of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. I plan to defend my PhD thesis in 2027. I am currently finishing my first article, where I am the first author, and I want to publish it in a foreign journal of the 1st–2nd quartile. I already sent it six months ago, but was rejected. The reviewers pointed out the weak discussion and insufficient English.

    Now I am rewriting the text, looking for a translator and funding for professional translation. In parallel, I am working on the following articles. My supervisor has set a task – five articles by the end of my postgraduate studies. To be honest, I am not sure that I will cope, but I will make every effort.

    The Russian Academy of Sciences holds an annual competition for medals and prizes for young scientists and students. In 2024, 21 young scientists and 21 students received awards. Each laureate receives a medal, a diploma, a badge, and a cash prize of 100,000 rubles for young scientists and 50,000 rubles for students.

    The competition covers key areas of natural, technical and human sciences and is held with the aim of encouraging young scientists, supporting professional growth and enhancing the prestige of research activities.

    We congratulate Alexey Tarasov on his well-deserved award and wish him success in his future scientific research!

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New UK eVisas for Pakistani students and workers

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    World news story

    New UK eVisas for Pakistani students and workers

    Most main applicants travelling to the UK on study or work-related visas will no longer need a physical sticker visa in passports from today (15 July).

    The UK Government is replacing physical immigration documents for most student and worker visas with a digital proof of immigration status, an eVisa. An eVisa is an online record of a person’s immigration permission in the UK, and any conditions which apply, which can be viewed by creating and accessing an online UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) account.

    eVisas are part of an enhanced border and immigration system that will not only make the visa process easier, but is more secure, digital and streamlined. eVisas are tried and tested, with millions of people already using them on select immigration routes.

    British High Commissioner, Jane Marriott CMG OBE, said:

    These changes to the UK visa system will make it much simpler for students and workers to prove their identity and visa status. It also means applicants can hold onto their passports, saving them time.

    Updating from a physical document to an eVisa does not affect anyone’s immigration status or the conditions of their permission to enter or stay in the UK.

    E-visas are being rolled out for the main applicants for:

    • Students, including short term study for 11 months   

    • Global Business Mobility routes (specifically, Senior or Specialist Worker, Graduate Trainee, UK Expansion Worker, Service Supplier, Secondment Worker)   

    • Global Talent    

    • International Sportsperson    

    • Skilled Worker (including Health and Care)   

    • Temporary Work routes (specifically, Charity Worker, Creative Worker, Government Authorised Exchange, International Agreement, and Religious work routes)    

    • Youth Mobility Scheme   

    Holders can link their travel document (such as passport) to their UKVI account to facilitate straightforward international travel. People who have created a UKVI account will be able to use the view and prove service to prove their status securely with third parties, such as employers or landlords (in England).

    Applicants applying as a dependant, or as a main applicant for visas other than study or work, e.g. general visitor visas, will still need a physical sticker visa. Anyone with existing, in date, physical visa stickers do not need to take any action.

    This will eventually be rolled out to all visa routes meaning a more secure and streamlined process for all UK visa customers.

    For updates on the British High Commission, please follow our social media channels:

    Updates to this page

    Published 15 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Tyranny is an ever-present threat to civilisations. Here’s how Ancient Greece and China dealt with it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shannon Brincat, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, University of the Sunshine Coast

    Panasevich/Getty Images

    We’re just a few months into US president Donald Trump’s second term but his rule has already been repeatedly compared to tyranny.

    This may all feel very new to Americans, and to the rest of us watching on from around the world. But the threat of tyranny is an ancient one.

    We can learn much from how people in ancient Greece and China dealt with this issue.

    Where does tyranny come from?

    The peoples of classical Greece were separated into city-states known as the polis.

    A few of these, such as Athens and Argos, were democratic.

    Others, such as Rhodes or Chios, had had democratic features such as civic participation in public life.

    These city-states routinely faced external enemies but also the threat of tyrannical take-over from within.

    Things came to a head in 510 BCE under the rule of an oppressive tyrant known as Hippias. He was ultimately expelled, leading eventually to the establishment of democracy through reforms made under an Athenian statesmen called Cleisthenes.

    According to Plato, tyranny is the most degenerate political regime and emerges out of democracy’s excesses.

    He argued that as democratic citizens become accustomed to living by pleasure rather than reason or duty to the public good, society becomes fragmented.

    Demagogues – populist leaders who gain power by appealing to base desires and prejudices of the masses – promise the people more liberties. They turn citizens away from virtue and toward tyranny.

    Aristotle, who was Plato’s student, defines tyranny as the corrupted form of monarchy. The tyrant perverts the constitutional order to bring about self-serving rulership – the rule of one. Tyranny, he argued, destroys law and justice, eroding all public trust.

    The approach of Plato and Aristotle to combating tyranny was closely tied to their conception of the polis and the importance of citizenship.

    For the classical Greeks, citizenship was a binding relationship of reciprocal duties and obligations owed to all other citizens. The law, they believed, was king.

    It was these conventions that constrained political power, especially the arbitrary rule of one.

    Civic education by participation in daily democratic life promoted virtue, they believed. All citizens and the ruler were subservient to the law – a bond that tyranny destroyed.

    Aristotle said a strong middle class that could best prevent tyranny because they indicated a less unequal, and therefore more stable, society.

    Plato’s view was more inward looking. He saw tyranny as a political manifestation of a disordered “enslaved soul” governed by appetites rather than reason. For him, philosophical guidance back to harmony was required for the tyrant and for the people.

    Only through wisdom, he argued, could the people recognise and reject demagogues and populists.

    Protecting democracy from tyranny

    Some city-states learned from their institutional failings when tyranny had taken them over.

    For example, after a coup of aristocrats overtook Athenian democracy in 411 BCE, Athenians began to swear the Oath of Demophantos. This was among the first attempts at a constitutional safeguard of democracy against tyranny.

    It legally and morally obliged citizens to resist any attempt to overthrow democracy by force. The undertaking was a reciprocal duty; as other scholars have argued, each citizen could count on the support of all others to protect the democracy when a tyrant tried again.

    This made it far more likely for people to take action against a would-be-tyrant; they knew every other citizen had sworn an oath to have their back.

    The Greek historians of the time support these views. For example, Herodotus in the 5th century documented the rise of several tyrants across Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). He blamed the political vacuum created by the decline of aristocratic rule. Here, the personal ambition and luxury of elites laid the path to tyrannical behaviour.

    Another famous historian named Thucydides, writing at the same time, analysed the power and political corruption behind tyranny. He observed how times of crisis exposed vulnerabilities within Athens, leading to factionalism, instability, and the erosion of democracy.

    Tyranny in classical China

    In classical China we see a complementary, yet unique view of tyranny.

    During the Warring States period (475–221 BCE), when the Zhou Dynasty was divided amongst several competing states, preventing tyranny was a central concern.

    These states were mostly hereditary monarchies rather than democracies but they still emphasised accountability to the people.

    Mencius was a Chinese philosopher and disciple of Confucius.
    Pictures from History/Getty Images

    Mencius, a 4th-century BCE Chinese philosopher and Confucian scholar, argued the people’s welfare was the foundation of legitimate rule.

    There is, he argued, a responsibility to all under the Mandate of Heaven (天命, tiānmìng). This ancient Chinese doctrine asserted that heaven grants legitimacy to just rulers. If a ruler became despotic or failed to uphold harmony and virtue, the mandate can be withdrawn, justifying rebellion and dynastic change.

    Mencius famously said a ruler who oppresses the people is not a ruler but a “mere man” who could be violently overthrown.

    Xunzi, another Confucian philosopher writing in the late 4th to 3rd Centuries BCE, believed humans were inherently selfish and chaotic.

    To fend off tyranny he emphasised ritual, education, and rule of law. He believed in formal ceremonies and structured practices such as court etiquette, family rites, and daily ethical conduct. These, he believed, helped cultivate virtue, regulate behaviour, and maintain social harmony.

    Mozi, writing mostly in the 5th to early 4th centuries BCE, was a Chinese philosopher who opposed Confucianism and founded Mohism, offered a different view.

    Opposing all hierarchies, he emphasised jiān ài(兼爱) – universal obligation or care to all others – as a core ethical and political principle.

    According to Mozi, tyranny arises when rulers act selfishly – favoring their own families, states, or interests over the common good. He advocated for strong moral conduct and competence of leaders, rather than their lineage, wealth or status.

    Tyranny today

    Viewed together, these traditions suggest preventing tyranny requires more than just moral leadership.

    Rather, it requires a notion of reciprocity – of shared obligations between citizens – and systemic safeguards against the personal ambitions of rulers.

    Ethical governance, civic education, legal frameworks, and shared responsibilities are essential.

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

    – ref. Tyranny is an ever-present threat to civilisations. Here’s how Ancient Greece and China dealt with it – https://theconversation.com/tyranny-is-an-ever-present-threat-to-civilisations-heres-how-ancient-greece-and-china-dealt-with-it-259680

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Tyranny is an ever-present threat to civilisations. Here’s how Ancient Greece and China dealt with it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shannon Brincat, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, University of the Sunshine Coast

    Panasevich/Getty Images

    We’re just a few months into US president Donald Trump’s second term but his rule has already been repeatedly compared to tyranny.

    This may all feel very new to Americans, and to the rest of us watching on from around the world. But the threat of tyranny is an ancient one.

    We can learn much from how people in ancient Greece and China dealt with this issue.

    Where does tyranny come from?

    The peoples of classical Greece were separated into city-states known as the polis.

    A few of these, such as Athens and Argos, were democratic.

    Others, such as Rhodes or Chios, had had democratic features such as civic participation in public life.

    These city-states routinely faced external enemies but also the threat of tyrannical take-over from within.

    Things came to a head in 510 BCE under the rule of an oppressive tyrant known as Hippias. He was ultimately expelled, leading eventually to the establishment of democracy through reforms made under an Athenian statesmen called Cleisthenes.

    According to Plato, tyranny is the most degenerate political regime and emerges out of democracy’s excesses.

    He argued that as democratic citizens become accustomed to living by pleasure rather than reason or duty to the public good, society becomes fragmented.

    Demagogues – populist leaders who gain power by appealing to base desires and prejudices of the masses – promise the people more liberties. They turn citizens away from virtue and toward tyranny.

    Aristotle, who was Plato’s student, defines tyranny as the corrupted form of monarchy. The tyrant perverts the constitutional order to bring about self-serving rulership – the rule of one. Tyranny, he argued, destroys law and justice, eroding all public trust.

    The approach of Plato and Aristotle to combating tyranny was closely tied to their conception of the polis and the importance of citizenship.

    For the classical Greeks, citizenship was a binding relationship of reciprocal duties and obligations owed to all other citizens. The law, they believed, was king.

    It was these conventions that constrained political power, especially the arbitrary rule of one.

    Civic education by participation in daily democratic life promoted virtue, they believed. All citizens and the ruler were subservient to the law – a bond that tyranny destroyed.

    Aristotle said a strong middle class that could best prevent tyranny because they indicated a less unequal, and therefore more stable, society.

    Plato’s view was more inward looking. He saw tyranny as a political manifestation of a disordered “enslaved soul” governed by appetites rather than reason. For him, philosophical guidance back to harmony was required for the tyrant and for the people.

    Only through wisdom, he argued, could the people recognise and reject demagogues and populists.

    Protecting democracy from tyranny

    Some city-states learned from their institutional failings when tyranny had taken them over.

    For example, after a coup of aristocrats overtook Athenian democracy in 411 BCE, Athenians began to swear the Oath of Demophantos. This was among the first attempts at a constitutional safeguard of democracy against tyranny.

    It legally and morally obliged citizens to resist any attempt to overthrow democracy by force. The undertaking was a reciprocal duty; as other scholars have argued, each citizen could count on the support of all others to protect the democracy when a tyrant tried again.

    This made it far more likely for people to take action against a would-be-tyrant; they knew every other citizen had sworn an oath to have their back.

    The Greek historians of the time support these views. For example, Herodotus in the 5th century documented the rise of several tyrants across Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). He blamed the political vacuum created by the decline of aristocratic rule. Here, the personal ambition and luxury of elites laid the path to tyrannical behaviour.

    Another famous historian named Thucydides, writing at the same time, analysed the power and political corruption behind tyranny. He observed how times of crisis exposed vulnerabilities within Athens, leading to factionalism, instability, and the erosion of democracy.

    Tyranny in classical China

    In classical China we see a complementary, yet unique view of tyranny.

    During the Warring States period (475–221 BCE), when the Zhou Dynasty was divided amongst several competing states, preventing tyranny was a central concern.

    These states were mostly hereditary monarchies rather than democracies but they still emphasised accountability to the people.

    Mencius was a Chinese philosopher and disciple of Confucius.
    Pictures from History/Getty Images

    Mencius, a 4th-century BCE Chinese philosopher and Confucian scholar, argued the people’s welfare was the foundation of legitimate rule.

    There is, he argued, a responsibility to all under the Mandate of Heaven (天命, tiānmìng). This ancient Chinese doctrine asserted that heaven grants legitimacy to just rulers. If a ruler became despotic or failed to uphold harmony and virtue, the mandate can be withdrawn, justifying rebellion and dynastic change.

    Mencius famously said a ruler who oppresses the people is not a ruler but a “mere man” who could be violently overthrown.

    Xunzi, another Confucian philosopher writing in the late 4th to 3rd Centuries BCE, believed humans were inherently selfish and chaotic.

    To fend off tyranny he emphasised ritual, education, and rule of law. He believed in formal ceremonies and structured practices such as court etiquette, family rites, and daily ethical conduct. These, he believed, helped cultivate virtue, regulate behaviour, and maintain social harmony.

    Mozi, writing mostly in the 5th to early 4th centuries BCE, was a Chinese philosopher who opposed Confucianism and founded Mohism, offered a different view.

    Opposing all hierarchies, he emphasised jiān ài(兼爱) – universal obligation or care to all others – as a core ethical and political principle.

    According to Mozi, tyranny arises when rulers act selfishly – favoring their own families, states, or interests over the common good. He advocated for strong moral conduct and competence of leaders, rather than their lineage, wealth or status.

    Tyranny today

    Viewed together, these traditions suggest preventing tyranny requires more than just moral leadership.

    Rather, it requires a notion of reciprocity – of shared obligations between citizens – and systemic safeguards against the personal ambitions of rulers.

    Ethical governance, civic education, legal frameworks, and shared responsibilities are essential.

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

    – ref. Tyranny is an ever-present threat to civilisations. Here’s how Ancient Greece and China dealt with it – https://theconversation.com/tyranny-is-an-ever-present-threat-to-civilisations-heres-how-ancient-greece-and-china-dealt-with-it-259680

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Tyranny is an ever-present threat to civilisations. Here’s how Ancient Greece and China dealt with it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shannon Brincat, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, University of the Sunshine Coast

    Panasevich/Getty Images

    We’re just a few months into US president Donald Trump’s second term but his rule has already been repeatedly compared to tyranny.

    This may all feel very new to Americans, and to the rest of us watching on from around the world. But the threat of tyranny is an ancient one.

    We can learn much from how people in ancient Greece and China dealt with this issue.

    Where does tyranny come from?

    The peoples of classical Greece were separated into city-states known as the polis.

    A few of these, such as Athens and Argos, were democratic.

    Others, such as Rhodes or Chios, had had democratic features such as civic participation in public life.

    These city-states routinely faced external enemies but also the threat of tyrannical take-over from within.

    Things came to a head in 510 BCE under the rule of an oppressive tyrant known as Hippias. He was ultimately expelled, leading eventually to the establishment of democracy through reforms made under an Athenian statesmen called Cleisthenes.

    According to Plato, tyranny is the most degenerate political regime and emerges out of democracy’s excesses.

    He argued that as democratic citizens become accustomed to living by pleasure rather than reason or duty to the public good, society becomes fragmented.

    Demagogues – populist leaders who gain power by appealing to base desires and prejudices of the masses – promise the people more liberties. They turn citizens away from virtue and toward tyranny.

    Aristotle, who was Plato’s student, defines tyranny as the corrupted form of monarchy. The tyrant perverts the constitutional order to bring about self-serving rulership – the rule of one. Tyranny, he argued, destroys law and justice, eroding all public trust.

    The approach of Plato and Aristotle to combating tyranny was closely tied to their conception of the polis and the importance of citizenship.

    For the classical Greeks, citizenship was a binding relationship of reciprocal duties and obligations owed to all other citizens. The law, they believed, was king.

    It was these conventions that constrained political power, especially the arbitrary rule of one.

    Civic education by participation in daily democratic life promoted virtue, they believed. All citizens and the ruler were subservient to the law – a bond that tyranny destroyed.

    Aristotle said a strong middle class that could best prevent tyranny because they indicated a less unequal, and therefore more stable, society.

    Plato’s view was more inward looking. He saw tyranny as a political manifestation of a disordered “enslaved soul” governed by appetites rather than reason. For him, philosophical guidance back to harmony was required for the tyrant and for the people.

    Only through wisdom, he argued, could the people recognise and reject demagogues and populists.

    Protecting democracy from tyranny

    Some city-states learned from their institutional failings when tyranny had taken them over.

    For example, after a coup of aristocrats overtook Athenian democracy in 411 BCE, Athenians began to swear the Oath of Demophantos. This was among the first attempts at a constitutional safeguard of democracy against tyranny.

    It legally and morally obliged citizens to resist any attempt to overthrow democracy by force. The undertaking was a reciprocal duty; as other scholars have argued, each citizen could count on the support of all others to protect the democracy when a tyrant tried again.

    This made it far more likely for people to take action against a would-be-tyrant; they knew every other citizen had sworn an oath to have their back.

    The Greek historians of the time support these views. For example, Herodotus in the 5th century documented the rise of several tyrants across Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). He blamed the political vacuum created by the decline of aristocratic rule. Here, the personal ambition and luxury of elites laid the path to tyrannical behaviour.

    Another famous historian named Thucydides, writing at the same time, analysed the power and political corruption behind tyranny. He observed how times of crisis exposed vulnerabilities within Athens, leading to factionalism, instability, and the erosion of democracy.

    Tyranny in classical China

    In classical China we see a complementary, yet unique view of tyranny.

    During the Warring States period (475–221 BCE), when the Zhou Dynasty was divided amongst several competing states, preventing tyranny was a central concern.

    These states were mostly hereditary monarchies rather than democracies but they still emphasised accountability to the people.

    Mencius was a Chinese philosopher and disciple of Confucius.
    Pictures from History/Getty Images

    Mencius, a 4th-century BCE Chinese philosopher and Confucian scholar, argued the people’s welfare was the foundation of legitimate rule.

    There is, he argued, a responsibility to all under the Mandate of Heaven (天命, tiānmìng). This ancient Chinese doctrine asserted that heaven grants legitimacy to just rulers. If a ruler became despotic or failed to uphold harmony and virtue, the mandate can be withdrawn, justifying rebellion and dynastic change.

    Mencius famously said a ruler who oppresses the people is not a ruler but a “mere man” who could be violently overthrown.

    Xunzi, another Confucian philosopher writing in the late 4th to 3rd Centuries BCE, believed humans were inherently selfish and chaotic.

    To fend off tyranny he emphasised ritual, education, and rule of law. He believed in formal ceremonies and structured practices such as court etiquette, family rites, and daily ethical conduct. These, he believed, helped cultivate virtue, regulate behaviour, and maintain social harmony.

    Mozi, writing mostly in the 5th to early 4th centuries BCE, was a Chinese philosopher who opposed Confucianism and founded Mohism, offered a different view.

    Opposing all hierarchies, he emphasised jiān ài(兼爱) – universal obligation or care to all others – as a core ethical and political principle.

    According to Mozi, tyranny arises when rulers act selfishly – favoring their own families, states, or interests over the common good. He advocated for strong moral conduct and competence of leaders, rather than their lineage, wealth or status.

    Tyranny today

    Viewed together, these traditions suggest preventing tyranny requires more than just moral leadership.

    Rather, it requires a notion of reciprocity – of shared obligations between citizens – and systemic safeguards against the personal ambitions of rulers.

    Ethical governance, civic education, legal frameworks, and shared responsibilities are essential.

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

    – ref. Tyranny is an ever-present threat to civilisations. Here’s how Ancient Greece and China dealt with it – https://theconversation.com/tyranny-is-an-ever-present-threat-to-civilisations-heres-how-ancient-greece-and-china-dealt-with-it-259680

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Tyranny is an ever-present threat to civilisations. Here’s how Ancient Greece and China dealt with it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shannon Brincat, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, University of the Sunshine Coast

    Panasevich/Getty Images

    We’re just a few months into US president Donald Trump’s second term but his rule has already been repeatedly compared to tyranny.

    This may all feel very new to Americans, and to the rest of us watching on from around the world. But the threat of tyranny is an ancient one.

    We can learn much from how people in ancient Greece and China dealt with this issue.

    Where does tyranny come from?

    The peoples of classical Greece were separated into city-states known as the polis.

    A few of these, such as Athens and Argos, were democratic.

    Others, such as Rhodes or Chios, had had democratic features such as civic participation in public life.

    These city-states routinely faced external enemies but also the threat of tyrannical take-over from within.

    Things came to a head in 510 BCE under the rule of an oppressive tyrant known as Hippias. He was ultimately expelled, leading eventually to the establishment of democracy through reforms made under an Athenian statesmen called Cleisthenes.

    According to Plato, tyranny is the most degenerate political regime and emerges out of democracy’s excesses.

    He argued that as democratic citizens become accustomed to living by pleasure rather than reason or duty to the public good, society becomes fragmented.

    Demagogues – populist leaders who gain power by appealing to base desires and prejudices of the masses – promise the people more liberties. They turn citizens away from virtue and toward tyranny.

    Aristotle, who was Plato’s student, defines tyranny as the corrupted form of monarchy. The tyrant perverts the constitutional order to bring about self-serving rulership – the rule of one. Tyranny, he argued, destroys law and justice, eroding all public trust.

    The approach of Plato and Aristotle to combating tyranny was closely tied to their conception of the polis and the importance of citizenship.

    For the classical Greeks, citizenship was a binding relationship of reciprocal duties and obligations owed to all other citizens. The law, they believed, was king.

    It was these conventions that constrained political power, especially the arbitrary rule of one.

    Civic education by participation in daily democratic life promoted virtue, they believed. All citizens and the ruler were subservient to the law – a bond that tyranny destroyed.

    Aristotle said a strong middle class that could best prevent tyranny because they indicated a less unequal, and therefore more stable, society.

    Plato’s view was more inward looking. He saw tyranny as a political manifestation of a disordered “enslaved soul” governed by appetites rather than reason. For him, philosophical guidance back to harmony was required for the tyrant and for the people.

    Only through wisdom, he argued, could the people recognise and reject demagogues and populists.

    Protecting democracy from tyranny

    Some city-states learned from their institutional failings when tyranny had taken them over.

    For example, after a coup of aristocrats overtook Athenian democracy in 411 BCE, Athenians began to swear the Oath of Demophantos. This was among the first attempts at a constitutional safeguard of democracy against tyranny.

    It legally and morally obliged citizens to resist any attempt to overthrow democracy by force. The undertaking was a reciprocal duty; as other scholars have argued, each citizen could count on the support of all others to protect the democracy when a tyrant tried again.

    This made it far more likely for people to take action against a would-be-tyrant; they knew every other citizen had sworn an oath to have their back.

    The Greek historians of the time support these views. For example, Herodotus in the 5th century documented the rise of several tyrants across Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). He blamed the political vacuum created by the decline of aristocratic rule. Here, the personal ambition and luxury of elites laid the path to tyrannical behaviour.

    Another famous historian named Thucydides, writing at the same time, analysed the power and political corruption behind tyranny. He observed how times of crisis exposed vulnerabilities within Athens, leading to factionalism, instability, and the erosion of democracy.

    Tyranny in classical China

    In classical China we see a complementary, yet unique view of tyranny.

    During the Warring States period (475–221 BCE), when the Zhou Dynasty was divided amongst several competing states, preventing tyranny was a central concern.

    These states were mostly hereditary monarchies rather than democracies but they still emphasised accountability to the people.

    Mencius was a Chinese philosopher and disciple of Confucius.
    Pictures from History/Getty Images

    Mencius, a 4th-century BCE Chinese philosopher and Confucian scholar, argued the people’s welfare was the foundation of legitimate rule.

    There is, he argued, a responsibility to all under the Mandate of Heaven (天命, tiānmìng). This ancient Chinese doctrine asserted that heaven grants legitimacy to just rulers. If a ruler became despotic or failed to uphold harmony and virtue, the mandate can be withdrawn, justifying rebellion and dynastic change.

    Mencius famously said a ruler who oppresses the people is not a ruler but a “mere man” who could be violently overthrown.

    Xunzi, another Confucian philosopher writing in the late 4th to 3rd Centuries BCE, believed humans were inherently selfish and chaotic.

    To fend off tyranny he emphasised ritual, education, and rule of law. He believed in formal ceremonies and structured practices such as court etiquette, family rites, and daily ethical conduct. These, he believed, helped cultivate virtue, regulate behaviour, and maintain social harmony.

    Mozi, writing mostly in the 5th to early 4th centuries BCE, was a Chinese philosopher who opposed Confucianism and founded Mohism, offered a different view.

    Opposing all hierarchies, he emphasised jiān ài(兼爱) – universal obligation or care to all others – as a core ethical and political principle.

    According to Mozi, tyranny arises when rulers act selfishly – favoring their own families, states, or interests over the common good. He advocated for strong moral conduct and competence of leaders, rather than their lineage, wealth or status.

    Tyranny today

    Viewed together, these traditions suggest preventing tyranny requires more than just moral leadership.

    Rather, it requires a notion of reciprocity – of shared obligations between citizens – and systemic safeguards against the personal ambitions of rulers.

    Ethical governance, civic education, legal frameworks, and shared responsibilities are essential.

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

    – ref. Tyranny is an ever-present threat to civilisations. Here’s how Ancient Greece and China dealt with it – https://theconversation.com/tyranny-is-an-ever-present-threat-to-civilisations-heres-how-ancient-greece-and-china-dealt-with-it-259680

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Tyranny is an ever-present threat to civilisations. Here’s how Ancient Greece and China dealt with it

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shannon Brincat, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International Relations, University of the Sunshine Coast

    Panasevich/Getty Images

    We’re just a few months into US president Donald Trump’s second term but his rule has already been repeatedly compared to tyranny.

    This may all feel very new to Americans, and to the rest of us watching on from around the world. But the threat of tyranny is an ancient one.

    We can learn much from how people in ancient Greece and China dealt with this issue.

    Where does tyranny come from?

    The peoples of classical Greece were separated into city-states known as the polis.

    A few of these, such as Athens and Argos, were democratic.

    Others, such as Rhodes or Chios, had had democratic features such as civic participation in public life.

    These city-states routinely faced external enemies but also the threat of tyrannical take-over from within.

    Things came to a head in 510 BCE under the rule of an oppressive tyrant known as Hippias. He was ultimately expelled, leading eventually to the establishment of democracy through reforms made under an Athenian statesmen called Cleisthenes.

    According to Plato, tyranny is the most degenerate political regime and emerges out of democracy’s excesses.

    He argued that as democratic citizens become accustomed to living by pleasure rather than reason or duty to the public good, society becomes fragmented.

    Demagogues – populist leaders who gain power by appealing to base desires and prejudices of the masses – promise the people more liberties. They turn citizens away from virtue and toward tyranny.

    Aristotle, who was Plato’s student, defines tyranny as the corrupted form of monarchy. The tyrant perverts the constitutional order to bring about self-serving rulership – the rule of one. Tyranny, he argued, destroys law and justice, eroding all public trust.

    The approach of Plato and Aristotle to combating tyranny was closely tied to their conception of the polis and the importance of citizenship.

    For the classical Greeks, citizenship was a binding relationship of reciprocal duties and obligations owed to all other citizens. The law, they believed, was king.

    It was these conventions that constrained political power, especially the arbitrary rule of one.

    Civic education by participation in daily democratic life promoted virtue, they believed. All citizens and the ruler were subservient to the law – a bond that tyranny destroyed.

    Aristotle said a strong middle class that could best prevent tyranny because they indicated a less unequal, and therefore more stable, society.

    Plato’s view was more inward looking. He saw tyranny as a political manifestation of a disordered “enslaved soul” governed by appetites rather than reason. For him, philosophical guidance back to harmony was required for the tyrant and for the people.

    Only through wisdom, he argued, could the people recognise and reject demagogues and populists.

    Protecting democracy from tyranny

    Some city-states learned from their institutional failings when tyranny had taken them over.

    For example, after a coup of aristocrats overtook Athenian democracy in 411 BCE, Athenians began to swear the Oath of Demophantos. This was among the first attempts at a constitutional safeguard of democracy against tyranny.

    It legally and morally obliged citizens to resist any attempt to overthrow democracy by force. The undertaking was a reciprocal duty; as other scholars have argued, each citizen could count on the support of all others to protect the democracy when a tyrant tried again.

    This made it far more likely for people to take action against a would-be-tyrant; they knew every other citizen had sworn an oath to have their back.

    The Greek historians of the time support these views. For example, Herodotus in the 5th century documented the rise of several tyrants across Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey). He blamed the political vacuum created by the decline of aristocratic rule. Here, the personal ambition and luxury of elites laid the path to tyrannical behaviour.

    Another famous historian named Thucydides, writing at the same time, analysed the power and political corruption behind tyranny. He observed how times of crisis exposed vulnerabilities within Athens, leading to factionalism, instability, and the erosion of democracy.

    Tyranny in classical China

    In classical China we see a complementary, yet unique view of tyranny.

    During the Warring States period (475–221 BCE), when the Zhou Dynasty was divided amongst several competing states, preventing tyranny was a central concern.

    These states were mostly hereditary monarchies rather than democracies but they still emphasised accountability to the people.

    Mencius was a Chinese philosopher and disciple of Confucius.
    Pictures from History/Getty Images

    Mencius, a 4th-century BCE Chinese philosopher and Confucian scholar, argued the people’s welfare was the foundation of legitimate rule.

    There is, he argued, a responsibility to all under the Mandate of Heaven (天命, tiānmìng). This ancient Chinese doctrine asserted that heaven grants legitimacy to just rulers. If a ruler became despotic or failed to uphold harmony and virtue, the mandate can be withdrawn, justifying rebellion and dynastic change.

    Mencius famously said a ruler who oppresses the people is not a ruler but a “mere man” who could be violently overthrown.

    Xunzi, another Confucian philosopher writing in the late 4th to 3rd Centuries BCE, believed humans were inherently selfish and chaotic.

    To fend off tyranny he emphasised ritual, education, and rule of law. He believed in formal ceremonies and structured practices such as court etiquette, family rites, and daily ethical conduct. These, he believed, helped cultivate virtue, regulate behaviour, and maintain social harmony.

    Mozi, writing mostly in the 5th to early 4th centuries BCE, was a Chinese philosopher who opposed Confucianism and founded Mohism, offered a different view.

    Opposing all hierarchies, he emphasised jiān ài(兼爱) – universal obligation or care to all others – as a core ethical and political principle.

    According to Mozi, tyranny arises when rulers act selfishly – favoring their own families, states, or interests over the common good. He advocated for strong moral conduct and competence of leaders, rather than their lineage, wealth or status.

    Tyranny today

    Viewed together, these traditions suggest preventing tyranny requires more than just moral leadership.

    Rather, it requires a notion of reciprocity – of shared obligations between citizens – and systemic safeguards against the personal ambitions of rulers.

    Ethical governance, civic education, legal frameworks, and shared responsibilities are essential.

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

    – ref. Tyranny is an ever-present threat to civilisations. Here’s how Ancient Greece and China dealt with it – https://theconversation.com/tyranny-is-an-ever-present-threat-to-civilisations-heres-how-ancient-greece-and-china-dealt-with-it-259680

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –