Source: European Parliament
Source: European Parliament
Source: European Parliament
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, continued her visit to Lisbon, Portugal, yesterday (July 3, Lisbon time).
Ms Ho attended a business luncheon co-organised by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office under the Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Bureau and the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels to promote the vast opportunities for Portuguese companies arising from the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and how Hong Kong can play its important roles as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” between the two places with its unique advantages of having the strong support of the motherland while maintaining unparalleled connectivity with the world. Around 130 participants attended the luncheon, with representatives from over 80 Portuguese enterprises from the construction sector, information technology sector, commercial sector and professional organisations, as well as representatives from 17 relevant Hong Kong enterprises.
During the luncheon, Ms Ho highlighted that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been actively promoting the use of innovative construction technologies to enhance the speed, quantity, quality and efficiency in increasing the supply of affordable housing. Under the Housing•I&T initiative this year, the Housing Bureau (HB) will organise a series of activities to foster exchanges between Hong Kong and other countries and regions in areas such as smart construction, smart estate management, energy saving and green buildings. She encouraged Portuguese enterprises to seize these opportunities and strengthen collaborations with the Mainland and Hong Kong.
Ms Ho expressed her gratitude in particular to the trade representatives from Hong Kong, including those participating in the construction of public housing, Light Public Housing (LPH) and transitional housing, for attending the luncheon in Lisbon and taking the opportunity to share in person with the participants Hong Kong’s opportunities and advantages in connecting the Mainland and the world. By complying with international standards, stipulating local regulations and harnessing the strengths of the GBA in smart construction, Hong Kong can further advance in its development of Modular Integrated Construction (MiC), the transfer of on-site construction processes to factories and the application of construction robotics. With the expeditious building of LPH and transitional housing, the living conditions and quality of life of people living in inadequate housing can be improved as soon as practicable. The significant housing production target of 308 000 public housing units over the next 10 years also enables the HB and the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA) to promote the adoption of innovative technologies and advance public housing developments in a new era of smart construction.
Earlier in the day, Ms Ho visited EntreCampos, a local redevelopment project jointly developed by the public and private sectors, comprising social housing for middle-class residents, offices, retail, community facilities and green spaces. The project adopted Building Information Modelling (BIM) during construction. She also visited the new headquarters of an insurance company in the project. The building employs smart technologies and innovative sustainable energy systems to enhance energy efficiency. Ms Ho stated that the HKHA has strived to promote greener and more energy-efficient designs, aiming to attain a “gold” rating or above under BEAM Plus for all new housing developments. The measures include adopting MiC in construction with modules manufactured accurately and effectively in factories, and other innovative technologies such as BIM to facilitate planning throughout the construction process and enhance management, which can save energy, reduce waste and make the construction process more environmentally friendly. To improve energy efficiency, the HKHA has also implemented various green initiatives such as smart lighting control systems, light emitting diode lighting and solar photovoltaic systems. In estate management, the application of the Internet of Things and AI for collecting and analysing data has also enhanced estate management quality and efficiency. She said she looked forward to continued exchanges between Hong Kong and Portugal on innovative construction technologies and green building designs.
Ms Ho has arrived in Barcelona, Spain, last night and will begin her visit there today (July 4, Barcelona time).
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Secretary for Justice, Mr Paul Lam, SC, will depart for Europe tomorrow (July 5) to begin his visit to the Netherlands, France and Italy. He will meet with local senior government officials and leaders of various international organisations to introduce Hong Kong’s latest legal developments, strengthen exchanges and co-operation with all parties, promote Hong Kong’s strengths in legal and dispute resolution services, and explore collaboration on international capacity building.
During his visit, Mr Lam will attend local seminars organised by the Department of Justice and other exchange sessions. He will deliver speeches to the local legal and business sectors to introduce Hong Kong’s unique advantages in the practice of the common law system under the “one country, two systems” principle, its strategic positioning as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region, and its important role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” between the Mainland and the rest of the world.
Accompanying Mr Lam on the visit will be the Law Officer (International Law) of the Department of Justice (DoJ), Dr James Ding, the Director of the Hong Kong International Legal Talents Training Office of the DoJ, Dr Yang Ling, and government counsel.
​Mr Lam will conclude his visit in Rome, Italy, and return to Hong Kong on the morning of July 13. During his absence, the Deputy Secretary for Justice, Dr Cheung Kwok-kwan, will be the Acting Secretary for Justice.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region – 4
The Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, commenced her first official trip to Europe with a visit to Disneyland Paris on the morning of July 3 (Paris time) upon her arrival in Paris, France. There, she gained first-hand insights of the latest developments of Disneyland Paris. During the tour, she shared with the President of Disneyland Paris, Ms Natacha Rafalski, that Hong Kong Disneyland Resort has just launched its 20th-anniversary celebrations, which will bring all-new experiences to visitors. She also noted the shared appeal of both resorts as world-class tourist destinations.
Afterwards, Miss Law paid a courtesy call on the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the French Republic and the Principality of Monaco, Mr Deng Li. Miss Law expressed her hope to foster closer exchanges between Hong Kong and France, highlighting opportunities for collaboration across various sectors. Mr Deng talked about his views on the significance of Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchanges, highlighting that the city should make good use of its uniqueness. He also noted that Hong Kong is a potential market as an art trading centre.
In the afternoon, Miss Law met with the Secretary General of the Ministry of Culture of France, Mr Luc Allaire. During the meeting, Miss Law underscored Hong Kong’s dedication to fostering cultural exchanges on both the regional and global levels. She emphasised Hong Kong’s role as a dynamic platform for welcoming diverse cultures into its community, while showcasing Chinese culture on the world stage. Miss Law also shared her vision of transforming Hong Kong into a hub for hosting large-scale museum events. Both parties recognised the strong and vibrant cultural ties between Hong Kong and France, spanning areas such as cultural performances, art and museum exhibitions, film production, fashion and design. They expressed a shared enthusiasm for expanding collaboration and reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening cultural connections and partnerships in the future.
Miss Law will continue her visit to Paris today (July 4, Paris time).
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Russia pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people and damaging buildings across the capital only hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, officials said on Friday.
Air raid sirens, the whine of kamikaze drones and booming detonations reverberated from early evening until dawn as Russia launched what Ukraine’s Air Force said was a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles.
Residents huddled with families in underground metro stations for shelter. Acrid smoke hung over the city centre.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is due to speak to Trump later on Friday about the war and a U.S. pause in some deliveries of air defence missiles, called the attack “deliberately massive and cynical.”
“Notably, the first air raid alerts in our cities and regions yesterday began to blare almost simultaneously with media reports discussing a phone call between President Trump and Putin,” Zelenskiy said on X.
“Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,” he added, calling for increased pressure on Russia and more air defence equipment.
Kyiv officials said the attack damaged about 40 apartment blocks, passenger railway infrastructure, five schools and kindergartens, cafes and many cars in six of Kyiv’s 10 districts. Poland said the consular section of its embassy was damaged in central Kyiv, adding that staff were unharmed.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that fourteen of the injured were hospitalised.
Ukraine’s state-owned railway Ukrzaliznytsia, the country’s largest carrier, said on Telegram that the attack on Kyiv forced them to divert a number of passenger trains, causing delays.
Damage was recorded on both sides of the wide Dnipro River bisecting the city and falling drone debris set a medical facility on fire in the leafy Holosiivskyi district, Klitschko said.
Russian air strikes on Kyiv have intensified in recent weeks and included some of the deadliest assaults of the war on the city of three million people.
CALL FOR SANCTIONS
Trump said that the call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war, while the Kremlin reiterated that Moscow would keep pushing to solve the conflict’s “root causes”.
A decision by Washington earlier this week to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv that the move would weaken its ability to defend against intensifying airstrikes and battlefield advances.
On Friday, Zelenskiy called for increased pressure on Moscow to change its “dumb, destructive behavior”.
“For every such strike against people and human life, they must feel appropriate sanctions and other blows to their economy, their revenues, and their infrastructure,” he said.
SHELTERED
Ukraine’s Air Force said that it destroyed 478 of the air weapons Russia launched overnight. However air strikes were recorded in eight locations across the country with nine missiles and 63 drones, it added.
Social media videos showed people running to seek shelter, firefighters fighting blazes in the dark and ruined buildings with windows and facades blown out.
Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian. Many more soldiers are believed to have died on the frontlines, although neither side releases military casualty figures.
Late on Thursday, Russian shelling killed five people in and near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a key target under Russian attack for months, Ukraine said.
(Reuters)
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Russia pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people and damaging buildings across the capital only hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, officials said on Friday.
Air raid sirens, the whine of kamikaze drones and booming detonations reverberated from early evening until dawn as Russia launched what Ukraine’s Air Force said was a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles.
Residents huddled with families in underground metro stations for shelter. Acrid smoke hung over the city centre.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is due to speak to Trump later on Friday about the war and a U.S. pause in some deliveries of air defence missiles, called the attack “deliberately massive and cynical.”
“Notably, the first air raid alerts in our cities and regions yesterday began to blare almost simultaneously with media reports discussing a phone call between President Trump and Putin,” Zelenskiy said on X.
“Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,” he added, calling for increased pressure on Russia and more air defence equipment.
Kyiv officials said the attack damaged about 40 apartment blocks, passenger railway infrastructure, five schools and kindergartens, cafes and many cars in six of Kyiv’s 10 districts. Poland said the consular section of its embassy was damaged in central Kyiv, adding that staff were unharmed.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that fourteen of the injured were hospitalised.
Ukraine’s state-owned railway Ukrzaliznytsia, the country’s largest carrier, said on Telegram that the attack on Kyiv forced them to divert a number of passenger trains, causing delays.
Damage was recorded on both sides of the wide Dnipro River bisecting the city and falling drone debris set a medical facility on fire in the leafy Holosiivskyi district, Klitschko said.
Russian air strikes on Kyiv have intensified in recent weeks and included some of the deadliest assaults of the war on the city of three million people.
CALL FOR SANCTIONS
Trump said that the call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war, while the Kremlin reiterated that Moscow would keep pushing to solve the conflict’s “root causes”.
A decision by Washington earlier this week to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv that the move would weaken its ability to defend against intensifying airstrikes and battlefield advances.
On Friday, Zelenskiy called for increased pressure on Moscow to change its “dumb, destructive behavior”.
“For every such strike against people and human life, they must feel appropriate sanctions and other blows to their economy, their revenues, and their infrastructure,” he said.
SHELTERED
Ukraine’s Air Force said that it destroyed 478 of the air weapons Russia launched overnight. However air strikes were recorded in eight locations across the country with nine missiles and 63 drones, it added.
Social media videos showed people running to seek shelter, firefighters fighting blazes in the dark and ruined buildings with windows and facades blown out.
Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian. Many more soldiers are believed to have died on the frontlines, although neither side releases military casualty figures.
Late on Thursday, Russian shelling killed five people in and near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a key target under Russian attack for months, Ukraine said.
(Reuters)
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Russia pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people and damaging buildings across the capital only hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, officials said on Friday.
Air raid sirens, the whine of kamikaze drones and booming detonations reverberated from early evening until dawn as Russia launched what Ukraine’s Air Force said was a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles.
Residents huddled with families in underground metro stations for shelter. Acrid smoke hung over the city centre.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is due to speak to Trump later on Friday about the war and a U.S. pause in some deliveries of air defence missiles, called the attack “deliberately massive and cynical.”
“Notably, the first air raid alerts in our cities and regions yesterday began to blare almost simultaneously with media reports discussing a phone call between President Trump and Putin,” Zelenskiy said on X.
“Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,” he added, calling for increased pressure on Russia and more air defence equipment.
Kyiv officials said the attack damaged about 40 apartment blocks, passenger railway infrastructure, five schools and kindergartens, cafes and many cars in six of Kyiv’s 10 districts. Poland said the consular section of its embassy was damaged in central Kyiv, adding that staff were unharmed.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that fourteen of the injured were hospitalised.
Ukraine’s state-owned railway Ukrzaliznytsia, the country’s largest carrier, said on Telegram that the attack on Kyiv forced them to divert a number of passenger trains, causing delays.
Damage was recorded on both sides of the wide Dnipro River bisecting the city and falling drone debris set a medical facility on fire in the leafy Holosiivskyi district, Klitschko said.
Russian air strikes on Kyiv have intensified in recent weeks and included some of the deadliest assaults of the war on the city of three million people.
CALL FOR SANCTIONS
Trump said that the call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war, while the Kremlin reiterated that Moscow would keep pushing to solve the conflict’s “root causes”.
A decision by Washington earlier this week to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv that the move would weaken its ability to defend against intensifying airstrikes and battlefield advances.
On Friday, Zelenskiy called for increased pressure on Moscow to change its “dumb, destructive behavior”.
“For every such strike against people and human life, they must feel appropriate sanctions and other blows to their economy, their revenues, and their infrastructure,” he said.
SHELTERED
Ukraine’s Air Force said that it destroyed 478 of the air weapons Russia launched overnight. However air strikes were recorded in eight locations across the country with nine missiles and 63 drones, it added.
Social media videos showed people running to seek shelter, firefighters fighting blazes in the dark and ruined buildings with windows and facades blown out.
Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian. Many more soldiers are believed to have died on the frontlines, although neither side releases military casualty figures.
Late on Thursday, Russian shelling killed five people in and near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a key target under Russian attack for months, Ukraine said.
(Reuters)
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Russia pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people and damaging buildings across the capital only hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, officials said on Friday.
Air raid sirens, the whine of kamikaze drones and booming detonations reverberated from early evening until dawn as Russia launched what Ukraine’s Air Force said was a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles.
Residents huddled with families in underground metro stations for shelter. Acrid smoke hung over the city centre.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is due to speak to Trump later on Friday about the war and a U.S. pause in some deliveries of air defence missiles, called the attack “deliberately massive and cynical.”
“Notably, the first air raid alerts in our cities and regions yesterday began to blare almost simultaneously with media reports discussing a phone call between President Trump and Putin,” Zelenskiy said on X.
“Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,” he added, calling for increased pressure on Russia and more air defence equipment.
Kyiv officials said the attack damaged about 40 apartment blocks, passenger railway infrastructure, five schools and kindergartens, cafes and many cars in six of Kyiv’s 10 districts. Poland said the consular section of its embassy was damaged in central Kyiv, adding that staff were unharmed.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that fourteen of the injured were hospitalised.
Ukraine’s state-owned railway Ukrzaliznytsia, the country’s largest carrier, said on Telegram that the attack on Kyiv forced them to divert a number of passenger trains, causing delays.
Damage was recorded on both sides of the wide Dnipro River bisecting the city and falling drone debris set a medical facility on fire in the leafy Holosiivskyi district, Klitschko said.
Russian air strikes on Kyiv have intensified in recent weeks and included some of the deadliest assaults of the war on the city of three million people.
CALL FOR SANCTIONS
Trump said that the call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war, while the Kremlin reiterated that Moscow would keep pushing to solve the conflict’s “root causes”.
A decision by Washington earlier this week to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv that the move would weaken its ability to defend against intensifying airstrikes and battlefield advances.
On Friday, Zelenskiy called for increased pressure on Moscow to change its “dumb, destructive behavior”.
“For every such strike against people and human life, they must feel appropriate sanctions and other blows to their economy, their revenues, and their infrastructure,” he said.
SHELTERED
Ukraine’s Air Force said that it destroyed 478 of the air weapons Russia launched overnight. However air strikes were recorded in eight locations across the country with nine missiles and 63 drones, it added.
Social media videos showed people running to seek shelter, firefighters fighting blazes in the dark and ruined buildings with windows and facades blown out.
Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian. Many more soldiers are believed to have died on the frontlines, although neither side releases military casualty figures.
Late on Thursday, Russian shelling killed five people in and near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a key target under Russian attack for months, Ukraine said.
(Reuters)
Source: Government of India
Source: Government of India (4)
Russia pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people and damaging buildings across the capital only hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, officials said on Friday.
Air raid sirens, the whine of kamikaze drones and booming detonations reverberated from early evening until dawn as Russia launched what Ukraine’s Air Force said was a total of 539 drones and 11 missiles.
Residents huddled with families in underground metro stations for shelter. Acrid smoke hung over the city centre.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who is due to speak to Trump later on Friday about the war and a U.S. pause in some deliveries of air defence missiles, called the attack “deliberately massive and cynical.”
“Notably, the first air raid alerts in our cities and regions yesterday began to blare almost simultaneously with media reports discussing a phone call between President Trump and Putin,” Zelenskiy said on X.
“Yet again, Russia is showing it has no intention of ending the war and terror,” he added, calling for increased pressure on Russia and more air defence equipment.
Kyiv officials said the attack damaged about 40 apartment blocks, passenger railway infrastructure, five schools and kindergartens, cafes and many cars in six of Kyiv’s 10 districts. Poland said the consular section of its embassy was damaged in central Kyiv, adding that staff were unharmed.
Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Telegram that fourteen of the injured were hospitalised.
Ukraine’s state-owned railway Ukrzaliznytsia, the country’s largest carrier, said on Telegram that the attack on Kyiv forced them to divert a number of passenger trains, causing delays.
Damage was recorded on both sides of the wide Dnipro River bisecting the city and falling drone debris set a medical facility on fire in the leafy Holosiivskyi district, Klitschko said.
Russian air strikes on Kyiv have intensified in recent weeks and included some of the deadliest assaults of the war on the city of three million people.
CALL FOR SANCTIONS
Trump said that the call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday resulted in no progress at all on efforts to end the war, while the Kremlin reiterated that Moscow would keep pushing to solve the conflict’s “root causes”.
A decision by Washington earlier this week to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv that the move would weaken its ability to defend against intensifying airstrikes and battlefield advances.
On Friday, Zelenskiy called for increased pressure on Moscow to change its “dumb, destructive behavior”.
“For every such strike against people and human life, they must feel appropriate sanctions and other blows to their economy, their revenues, and their infrastructure,” he said.
SHELTERED
Ukraine’s Air Force said that it destroyed 478 of the air weapons Russia launched overnight. However air strikes were recorded in eight locations across the country with nine missiles and 63 drones, it added.
Social media videos showed people running to seek shelter, firefighters fighting blazes in the dark and ruined buildings with windows and facades blown out.
Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Thousands of civilians have died in the conflict, the vast majority of them Ukrainian. Many more soldiers are believed to have died on the frontlines, although neither side releases military casualty figures.
Late on Thursday, Russian shelling killed five people in and near the eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a key target under Russian attack for months, Ukraine said.
(Reuters)
Source: Government of South Africa
The State Visit to South Africa by Austria President Alexander van der Bellen and his delegation presents an opportunity for the two countries to deepen trade and investment relations.
This according to President Cyril Ramaphosa who welcomed the delegation at the Union Buildings on Friday morning.
In his opening remarks, President Ramaphosa described the visit as a “new chapter in relations”.
“Through the bilateral consultations we have maintained cordial relations rooted in mutual respect, shared values and a common commitment to multilateralism. We are also committed to deepening investment and trade between our two countries.
“South Africa is Austria’s largest economic and trade partner in Africa. Our country accounts for almost a third of Austria’s total exports to the continent. There are more than 70 Austrian companies with subsidiaries or agencies in South Africa across a range of sectors.
“There is significant potential to deepen investment and trade links in areas such as the green economy, energy, manufacturing, infrastructure development and tourism,” President Ramaphosa said.
He highlighted the two countries’ commitment to a transition towards low carbon climate economies – noting the European country’s move towards green hydrogen which South Africa is also pursuing.
“As South Africa strives to achieve energy security through investment in renewable and clean energy, we look forward to expanding our cooperation with Austria.
“We noted with interest the launch of Austria’s first green hydrogen production facility in 2023. We are eager to share our Green Hydrogen Economy Strategy and explore avenues for cooperation,” he said.
The global environment
President Ramaphosa noted that the state visit takes place at a time of “heightened global insecurity, exacerbated by geopolitical tensions, the climate emergency and conflicts in many parts of the world”.
“These events reinforce the need for multilateralism to remain at the centre of world affairs. They further underscore the need for the urgent reform of the institutions of global governance, including the United Nations Security Council.
“South Africa and Austria share a common commitment to a world free of conflict and war, where sustainable development is a reality for all,” he said.
The President reflected on South Africa’s presidency of the Group of 20 (G20) under the theme ‘Solidarity, Equality and Sustainability’.
“It reflects our commitment to advancing the African Agenda, multilateral cooperation and the interests of all countries and peoples.
“Austria is a valued partner of South Africa and we look forward to taking this partnership to even greater heights,” President Ramaphosa concluded.
The state visit will culminate in the South Africa-Austria Business Forum to be held later on Fridaya. – SAnews.gov.za
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Leaseholders to be better protected and more able to challenge excessive service charges to address cost of living concerns
Millions of leaseholders will receive stronger rights, powers and protections to better challenge extortionate service charges thanks to major reforms to the feudal leasehold system.
Leaseholders are required to pay a service charge to cover the upkeep of shared areas in their building, however in too many cases they are left facing very unclear and unaffordable fees.
By switching on measures in the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act 2024, almost five million leaseholders in England and Wales will receive the transparency they need to hold their landlords to account and easily challenge these costs.
Leaseholders will receive standardised service charge documentation, which will spell out clear and detailed information about how their service charges are calculated and spent.
This will make it easier for them to challenge unreasonable bills and potentially save money where expenses are unjustified, with further reforms to stop them having to automatically pay for landlords’ litigation costs even where they have won their case.
“The cost of living remains a pressing concern for leaseholders and many are struggling financially as a result of high and rising service charges, and other opaque and excessive leasehold costs.
“This bold package of reforms will arm leaseholders with greater rights and protections and empower them to challenge poor practice and unreasonable charges and fees – driving up leaseholder living standards as we work to bring the feudal leasehold system to an end as part of our Plan for Change.”
Demands for service charges are currently only required by law to include a limited amount of details, which can leave leaseholders in the dark over what services or works make up their bill.
This can leave leaseholders at risk of being overcharged for poor quality work, or out of pocket for work that has not been carried out in some of the worst cases, on top of existing cost of living pressures.
The government is today (Friday) pushing ahead to implement these reforms and is consulting over the best way forward to ensure they are robust, workable and protect leaseholders effectively.
Queries about service charges accounted for one in three of all enquiries to the Leasehold Advisory Service (LEASE) last year, showing the need for the government to act and drive-up transparency.
Further reforms – in addition to measures in the Act – will see the Section 20 ‘major works’ process improved to ensure leaseholders are not hit by one-off, unexpected and very large bills with little or no notice as is the case currently. LEASE will shortly be publishing an insight report into the challenges currently experienced by leaseholders going through this process.
Other measures will give leaseholders the power to demand a switch or veto a landlord’s choice of managing agent and introduce mandatory qualifications for the role to stamp out bad practice in line with Lord Best’s 2019 recommendations. This reform will ensure all managing agents have the knowledge and skills they need to do their jobs effectively, and put an end to leaseholders and residential freeholders suffering abuse and poor service.
These reforms will help drive up living standards in our Plan for Change and complement work to bring the feudal leasehold system to an end and make commonhold the default for new flats, ahead of publication of a draft Leasehold and Commonhold Reform Bill later this year.
Source: City of Plymouth
Two local schools have been recognised nationally for their efforts to create a culture of welcome and belonging for children from families seeking asylum and refuge in Plymouth.
Mount Street Primary and Millbay Academy are the first schools in the city to gain the national School of Sanctuary accreditation.
In each school pupils, parents, staff and governors have worked together, supported by the Plymouth Ethnic Minority Achievement (EMA) Team at the council to create caring communities in which children learn positive messages about equality and diversity.
This week, at the EMA Team Hub, hosted by Plymouth Teacher and Schools Alliance, Councillor Sally Cresswell, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships, presented certificates to the two successful schools, and other schools keen to gain this award, joined the celebration.
She said: “We are working hard to make Plymouth a welcoming city, and it is great to see how our schools are going even further by achieving this excellent recognition of Schools of Sanctuary.
“We are really keen to encourage more of our schools to get involved. This acknowledgement and presentation will hopefully create even more interest and awareness. We know our schools do so much in this area, and this is the opportunity to celebrate that work. Mount Street Primary and Millbay Academy are true pioneers.
“It is important that schools provide the very best learning opportunities for the children while they settle in – this is why the council are working with the Schools of Sanctuary to guide schools through the whole process towards accreditation.
“I would like to say a huge congratulations to the schools for achieving this award, and for all their hard work.”
Matthew Bisco, Senior Deputy Head at Millbay Academy, said: “Millbay Academy are incredibly proud to be recognised for our continuous work in this area.
“The School of Sanctuary values are those we live and breathe. I hope that this accreditation gives further confidence to our city’s refugee, asylum seeker and migrant families, demonstrating our commitment to them, and recognising the gift of having such a rich and diverse set of lived experiences within our community.
“Congratulations and full gratitude to all the staff, students and parents who are so committed and learn so much from this work together.”
The Headteacher from Mount Street Primary added: “We are delighted to be re-accredited as a School of Sanctuary. This recognition reflects the values we live by every day of inclusion, compassion and community. It’s a journey we began years ago and one we are committed to continuing.”
We hope that many more schools will engage with this project. You can learn more about the School of Sanctuary awards at: https://schools.cityofsanctuary.org/
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
BERLIN, July 4 (Xinhua) — Good China-Germany relations will not only promote the overall positive development of China-EU relations, but will also be of great significance to global stability and development, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said here on Thursday at the 8th round of the China-Germany Strategic Dialogue on Diplomacy and Security, which he co-chaired with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul.
Wang Yi recalled that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, and the China-Germany comprehensive strategic partnership has also entered a new decade.
As the world’s second and third largest economies respectively, China and Germany bear important international responsibilities and are the focus of all parties’ hopes, Wang Yi said. He said the two countries should join hands to reaffirm mutual trust, further strengthen cooperation and further deepen bilateral relations.
Wang Yi stressed that in the current turbulent international environment, particularly the growing protectionism, anti-globalism and unilateral pressure, China and Germany should strengthen strategic communication and coordination.
The Chinese foreign minister added that the two countries should bring more certainty to the world based on stable relations between them, jointly uphold and practice multilateralism, uphold the international system with the UN at its core, as well as the international order based on international law and the basic norms governing international relations based on the UN Charter, and be committed to developing a more reliable, stable and predictable comprehensive strategic partnership.
Wang also mentioned the phone conversation between Chinese President Xi Jinping and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, in which the leaders set the direction and tone for the next stage of China-Germany relations.
Despite the changing international landscape, Sino-German relations continue to develop steadily. According to Wang Yi, this is mainly due to their approach to each other, which is characterized by mutual respect, finding common ground while maintaining differences, and striving for win-win cooperation. All this is the basis for the stable development of Sino-German relations, the diplomat emphasized.
China attaches an important place to relations with Germany in its diplomacy and appreciates the positive and rational approach of the new German government to developing relations with China, the Chinese minister said.
He expressed the hope that the German side will support China’s efforts to achieve complete national reunification just as China unconditionally supported the reunification of Germany, and strictly adhere to the one-China principle.
As a leading country in the European Union, Germany has made positive efforts to develop China-EU relations. Wang also expressed hope that Germany will continue to play a constructive role in the development of China-EU relations.
J. Wadephul, in turn, stated that Germany is ready to be a reliable and predictable cooperation partner for China.
According to him, in the era of crises and various challenges, the two countries need to maintain close contacts and coordination.
“The two countries have a long history of relations and a solid foundation for partnership,” Wadephul said, adding that Germany and China share consensus on many issues and can properly resolve differences based on mutual respect and a constructive approach.
According to him, Germany hopes to expand exchanges with China and continuously strengthen bilateral cooperation.
The German government is firmly committed to the one-China policy, a German diplomat confirmed.
During the talks, the heads of the foreign policy departments also held an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukrainian crisis, the Iranian nuclear issue, the situation in the Middle East and multilateral strategic coordination. They agreed to intensify contacts and coordination in order to ensure a ceasefire, end conflicts and peacefully resolve disputes. –0–
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law yesterday started the first leg of her visit to France in Paris, by touring Disneyland Paris and meeting French Ministry of Culture Secretary General Luc Allaire.
Apart from gaining first-hand insights of the theme park’s latest developments during her tour, Miss Law shared with Disneyland Paris President Natacha Rafalski that Hong Kong Disneyland Resort has just launched its 20th-anniversary celebrations, which will bring all-new experiences to visitors.
This was followed by a courtesy call on Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the French Republic and the Principality of Monaco Deng Li.
Miss Law expressed her hope to foster closer exchanges between Hong Kong and France, highlighting the opportunities for collaboration across various sectors.
At her afternoon meeting with Mr Allaire, Miss Law underscored Hong Kong’s dedication to fostering cultural exchanges on both the regional and global levels, and shared her vision of transforming the city into a hub for hosting large-scale museum events.
Both parties expressed a shared enthusiasm for expanding collaboration, and reaffirmed their commitment to further deepening cultural connections and partnerships in the future.
Source: United Kingdom London Metropolitan Police
Officers will be deployed across Westminster on Saturday to ensure the Pride in London celebrations can take place safely.
The Met has been working closely with the event organisers, key partners and the other emergency services for many months in preparation for the event which is expected to see more than a million people head into the capital.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Dr Alison Heydari, who is leading the policing operation for Pride in London, said: “The public can expect to see a significant policing presence in central London. Officers are there to ensure everyone taking part in the celebrations can do so in safety and security.
“Our primary role is to provide a reassuring presence while being able to respond swiftly and effectively to any incidents.
“Pride is a celebration of the LGBT+ community and those attending should be able to do so free from discrimination, abuse or fear. There will be no tolerance of hate crime – we would urge anyone who is a victim of it to speak to an officer immediately so we can take action.
“Any of our officers are able to help and support, but we will also have specialist LGBT+ Community Liaison Officers deployed as part of the policing operation to assist where particular expertise is required.
“The areas around the parade and the various stages will be extremely busy, with Soho in particular likely to be very crowded. Please plan your travel to and from the event in advance, look out for each other and ask for help if you need it.
“As with any large public event, we would urge people attending to be alert and keep their eyes open. If you see something that doesn’t that look or feel right, please trust your instincts and bring it to the attention of an officer or a steward. In an emergency, always call 999.”
Pride in London will include a parade and a number of entertainment stages.
The parade, which will go from Hyde Park Corner to Whitehall Place via Piccadilly, will see hundreds of groups taking part. Among them will be contingents from the emergency services, including the Met, as well as other public bodies.
The Met contingent will be made up of officers and staff from the Met LGBT+ Network and allies. They will be off-duty and won’t be in uniform. They are not part of the policing operation on the day.
Seven entertainment stages will be running, at Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Golden Square, Soho Square, Dean Street and Victoria Embankment Gardens. Pubs and bars across Westminster will be open as usual and are expected to be very busy.
Information for anyone planning to come to Pride in London, including maps and details of key timings, is available on the official event website.
Information on travel options, including live updates on any delays or diversions, can be found on the Transport for London website.
Source: City of Wolverhampton
The newly refurbished four-screen venue, inside the historic Grade II-listed Chubb Building, will be showing its first films from Friday 11 July.
Keep an eye on the Lockworks Cinema website to find out when the first tickets will go on sale.
Experienced independent commercial operator, PDJ, has converted the 8,000sqft council-owned space from an out-dated two-screen venue to a state-of-the-art facility.
They have recruited locally for the three permanent and 20 part-time jobs created.
PDJ already run successful cinemas in Worthing (The Dome Cinema), Kings Lynn (The Majestic Cinema) and Lytham St Annes (Island Cinema), and recently reopened the former Empire Cinemas in Walthamstow (Forest Cinemas) and Sutton Coldfield (Royal Cinema).
They and the council have made a £2million joint investment in the critical refurbishment and fit-out programme of the Lockworks Cinema and have entered into a 30-year lease.
The new-look venue is predicted to attract up to 130,000 visitors a year to the city centre at full flow and boost the local economy by half-a-million-pounds annually.
James Jervis, Director at PDJ Management, said: “We’re incredibly excited to welcome film lovers back to Wolverhampton city centre from next week. We’re just adding the final touches as we prepare for lift-off with the opening of Superman on Friday 11th July.
“Throughout the summer, we’ll be showing all the major releases – and plenty more besides – so there really will be something for everyone. We’re confident audiences will love what we’ve done with the cinema, and we’re committed to delivering the very best experience for our customers. Follow us on social media and sign up on our website to be the first to know when tickets go on sale next week.”
Councillor Stephen Simkins, City of Wolverhampton Council Leader, said: “PDJ have delivered an exciting, affordable luxury offer in our city centre that will bring joy to thousands and thousands of movie-goers, young and old.
“It is all part of a transformation creating new destinations, better public spaces and inner-city living opportunities, coupled to a broader entertainment and events programme, to attract more visitors – helping both existing and new businesses to thrive and grow.”
Councillor Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, added: “This is a massive investment by the council and PDJ in our city centre that puts Wolverhampton back at the heart of the cultural map.
“Alongside the new cinema, the city centre has also recently been boosted by the opening of a new leisure hub at the Mander Centre – anchored by Superbowl UK.
“Working alongside popular venues like the art gallery, Grand Theatre and University of Wolverhampton at The Halls, this will all drive footfall to support local businesses.”
The council has also worked closely with the Chubb Building landlord, Midlands Industrial Association (MIA), who oversee a range of businesses already within the buildings, on the scheme.
Andy Munro, Chairman of Midlands Industrial Association said: “Midland Industrial Association are proud to be the landlords of this iconic Wolverhampton building and it is fitting that amongst the many creative businesses who are based at Chubb, the addition of a flagship cinema now forms an integral part of our Chubb community.”
Check out Lockworks Cinemas on Facebook and @lockworkscinemas on Instagram.
Source: Scottish Greens
You can use this template for your response to the Scottish Government’s Housing Bill consultation. However, personalise your responses if possible to ensure maximum impact. You can email your response to rentcontrolconsultation@gov.scot or you can complete the consultation online.
Exemptions – properties let below market rent – mid-market rent properties
1. Should MMR properties be exempted from the application of rent controls under the Bill?
No. Rent Controls should apply equally.
Rents across all types of private-rented tenancies have soared, leaving many people in crisis. Exempting any type of property would deprive tenants of the right to live in a home that doesn’t trap them in poverty. Many tenants may not know whether or not their property is a Mid-Market Rent, making a basically fairly simple system excessively complicated.
2. We have set out some possible criteria which could be incorporated into a definition of MMR for the purpose of a possible exemption. Do you agree with these criteria?
No. I oppose any and all exemptions, but if a MMR exemption is included, it should offer the exemption only to MMRs not charging more than Local Housing Allowance.
Exemptions – purpose-built rental housing – build to rent
6. Should build to rent properties be exempted from the application of rent controls under the Bill?
No. Rent Controls should apply equally. Rents across all types of private-rented tenancies have soared, leaving many people in crisis. Exempting any type of property would deprive tenants of the right to live in a home that doesn’t trap them in poverty. Many tenants may not know whether or not their property is a Build-to-Rent property, making a basically fairly simple system excessively complicated.
Other circumstances where exemptions would be appropriate
7. Do you agree with the criteria we have set out which could be incorporated into a definition of build to rent for the purpose of a possible exemption?
No. I oppose any and all exemptions.
But if a BtR exemption is included, “Build-to-Rent” must be classed the same as other rented housing after 2 years and quality improvements must be linked to a point based system that evaluates a property’s quality.
Other circumstances where exemptions would be appropriate
11. Excluding mid-market rent and build to rent/purpose built private rented accommodation, are there other categories of housing provision that should be exempted from rent controls?
No.
Modified rent control area restrictions – landlords who charge rent significantly below advertised rate
16. Should landlords be able to increase their rent by more than the level of the rent cap at the beginning of a new tenancy, where the previous tenancy was let significantly below market rates?
No. This would create an incentive to evict tenants and would again make the system too complicated for tenants and landlords to understand easily.
Modified rent control area restrictions – landlords who make improvements to their property
18. Should landlords be able to increase rents by more than the level of the rent cap to recover costs, where they have undertaken certain improvements which may enhance the rental value or bring additional benefit to the tenant?
No. This would likely be subject to gaming, whereby landlords may make minor changes to justify increases in rent.
Again, it would also take away from the simplicity of the current proposed system, which is one of its major advantages.
It is difficult to see how such a system would work in practice. Unless there is a flat-rate system, which would lead to the perverse incentives outlined above, there would need to be an excessively complicated system of classing different types of improvement and then linking them to different rent caps. There would then need to be inspections done to check the improvements have been made, which would be a major burden on the Local Authority. Such a system is unlikely to be practicable.
20. Are there any other types of improvements that should potentially qualify for this kind of increase above the level of the cap?
No
Modified rent control area restrictions – other costs a landlord may face
24. Are there any other cost increases for rental properties that would justify raising the rent above the level of the rent cap?
No.
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: International Atomic Energy Agency –
Thanks to support from the IAEA initiative “Rays of Hope” Cancer patients around the world can now more easily receive the life-saving care they need, participants were told at the forum “Rays of Hope”.
The Rays of Hope initiative aims to increase access to cancer care where it is needed most by helping low- and middle-income countries build and strengthen their capacity in medical imaging, radiotherapy and nuclear medicine. Since its launch in Ethiopia three years ago, more than 90 countries have applied for support.
“Cancer kills 2,000 people a day in Africa, making it the leading cause of death on the continent,” IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said Monday at the opening of the forum in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. “Three years ago, we launched the Rays of Hope initiative here at the African Union headquarters. Today, we are helping to bring cancer care to countries where it was previously unavailable.”
Temesgen Tirune, Deputy Prime Minister, said: “This forum must be a signal to work together. Let it inspire us to strengthen cooperation, increase investment and continue to show solidarity – so that no child dies from curable cancer, no mother has to wait forever for a diagnosis and no country is left behind simply because of its geography or the size of its GDP.”
The opening of the Rays of Hope forum was also addressed by Ethiopian Health Minister Mekdes Daba Feissa and African Union Chief of Staff Mohamed Al-Amin Suef.
During the morning sessions, representatives of countries supported by the Rays of Hope initiative shared their experiences. Among them were: the Minister of Health of Benin Benjamin Hunkpatin, Minister of Scientific Research and Technology of the Democratic Republic of the Congo Gilbert Kabanda Kurhenga, Minister of Health of Ethiopia Mekdes Daba Feissa, Minister of Health of Lesotho Selibe Mokhoboroane, Minister of Health and Social Welfare of Senegal Ibrahima Say, Deputy Minister of Health of Botswana Lawrence Ookeditse and Principal Secretary of the Kenyan Ministry of Health Fredrick Uma Oluga.
The importance of the Rays of Hope initiative was also underscored by the countries that have made contributions to it. The forum was addressed by the German Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Observer to the African Union in Ethiopia Jens Hanefeld, the Permanent Representative of Italy to the African Union and the UN Economic Commission for Africa in Ethiopia Maurizio Busanelli, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the African Union Tsutomu Nakagawa and the First Counsellor of the French Embassy in Ethiopia and the African Union Julien Voiturier.
Please note: This information is raw content directly from the source of the information. It is exactly what the source states and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
Pengshui Miao and Tujia autonomous county in southwestern China’s Chongqing welcomed a delegation of foreign diplomats and international representatives from July 2 to 3, as part of an initiative to promote local industries and expand global cooperation.
A delegation of foreign diplomats and international representatives visits Pengshui Miao and Tujia autonomous county in southwestern China’s Chongqing to learn about the county’s socioeconomic development and find new cooperation opportunities from July 2 to 3, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
The trip was jointly organized by the Foreign Affairs Office of the Chongqing Municipal Government and the Pengshui County Government. Nearly 70 representatives from consulates, international chambers, and media outlets across 11 countries—including Japan, Canada, Brazil, Myanmar, and Vietnam—took part in the visit.
The delegation explored Pengshui’s growing potential in specialty agriculture, traditional Miao medicine, and cultural tourism.
A delegation of foreign diplomats and international representatives visits Pengshui Miao and Tujia autonomous county in southwestern China’s Chongqing to learn about the county’s socioeconomic development and find new cooperation opportunities from July 2 to 3, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
At Shan’gan township’s “Miao Medicine Valley,” the delegation was introduced to locally grown wasabi—an uncommon crop in the region. Takada Mari, Consul-General of Japan in Chongqing, said that wasabi typically requires very specific conditions and said she had not expected it to grow successfully in Pengshui. She described the flavor as developing slowly with a natural taste, and noted that local production of wasabi, along with ongoing exchanges with Japanese businesses, could pave the way for deeper cooperation in trade, culture, and talent development.
A delegation of foreign diplomats and international representatives visits Pengshui Miao and Tujia autonomous county in southwestern China’s Chongqing to learn about the county’s socioeconomic development and find new cooperation opportunities from July 2 to 3, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
The delegation also visited Pengshui’s sweet potato development center, an agricultural product exhibition hall, and rural revitalization demonstration areas. Many participants said that the opening of a high-speed rail line to Pengshui has greatly improved accessibility and opened new opportunities for collaboration.
U Kyaw Zay Yar Lin, Consul-General of Myanmar in Chongqing, noted that Pengshui’s traditional attire and music reminded him of his own home country. He expressed strong interest in exploring trade possibilities for local specialty products such as Miao herbal medicine and sweet potatoes, emphasizing the cultural connection between ethnic communities in both countries.
A delegation of foreign diplomats and international representatives visits Pengshui Miao and Tujia autonomous county in southwestern China’s Chongqing to learn about the county’s socioeconomic development and find new cooperation opportunities from July 2 to 3, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]
Birgit Murr, head of the commercial section at the Austrian Consulate General in Chengdu, highlighted the high quality of Pengshui’s organic agricultural products, particularly those with national geographical indication status. She said such credentials could serve as a strong marketing point for expanding sales to other regions in China and into international markets.
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho attended a business luncheon during her visit to Lisbon, Portugal, to promote development opportunities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA).
At the business luncheon co-organised by the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Development Office under the Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Bureau and the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Brussels, Ms Ho promoted the vast opportunities for Portuguese companies arising from the development of the GBA, and how Hong Kong can play its important roles as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” between the two places with its unique advantages of having the strong support of the motherland while maintaining unparalleled connectivity with the world.
Around 130 participants attended the luncheon, with representatives from over 80 Portuguese enterprises from the construction sector, information technology sector, commercial sector and professional organisations as well as representatives from 17 relevant Hong Kong enterprises.
During the luncheon, Ms Ho highlighted that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been actively promoting the use of innovative construction technologies to enhance the speed, quantity, quality and efficiency in increasing the supply of affordable housing.
Under the Housing • I&T initiative this year, the Housing Bureau will organise a series of activities to foster exchanges between Hong Kong and other countries and regions in areas such as smart construction, smart estate management, energy saving and green buildings. She encouraged Portuguese enterprises to seize these opportunities and strengthen collaborations with the Mainland and Hong Kong.
Ms Ho expressed her gratitude to the trade representatives from Hong Kong, including those participating in the construction of public housing, Light Public Housing (LPH) and transitional housing, for attending the luncheon in Lisbon and taking the opportunity to share in person with the participants Hong Kong’s opportunities and advantages in connecting the Mainland and the world.
By complying with international standards, stipulating local regulations and harnessing the strengths of the GBA in smart construction, Hong Kong can further advance in its development of Modular Integrated Construction (MiC), the transfer of on-site construction processes to factories and the application of construction robotics.
With the expeditious building of LPH and transitional housing, the living conditions and quality of life of people living in inadequate housing can be improved as soon as practicable. The significant housing production target of 308,000 public housing units over the next 10 years also enables the bureau and the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HKHA) to promote the adoption of innovative technologies and advance public housing developments in a new era of smart construction.
Earlier in the day, Ms Ho visited EntreCampos, a local redevelopment project jointly developed by the public and private sectors, comprising social housing for middle-class residents, offices, retail, community facilities and green spaces. The project adopted Building Information Modelling (BIM) during construction. She also visited the new headquarters of an insurance company in the project. The building employs smart technologies and innovative sustainable energy systems to enhance energy efficiency.
Ms Ho stated that the HKHA has strived to promote greener and more energy-efficient designs, aiming to attain a gold rating or above under BEAM Plus for all new housing developments.
The measures include adopting MiC in construction with modules manufactured accurately and effectively in factories, and other innovative technologies such as BIM to facilitate planning throughout the construction process and enhance management, which can save energy, reduce waste and make the construction process more environmentally friendly.
The housing chief said she looked forward to continued exchanges between Hong Kong and Portugal on innovative construction technologies and green building designs.
Source: Hong Kong Information Services
Secretary for Justice Paul Lam will depart for Europe tomorrow to visit the Netherlands, France and Italy to introduce Hong Kong’s latest legal developments, promote its strengths in legal and dispute resolution services, and explore collaboration on international capacity building.
Mr Lam plans to attend seminars organised by the Department of Justice and other exchange sessions.
He will also deliver speeches to legal and business sectors to introduce Hong Kong’s unique advantages in the practice of the common law system under the “one country, two systems”, the strategic positioning of the city as an international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region, and its important role as a “super connector” and “super value-adder” between the Mainland and the rest of the world.
The Secretary for Justice will return to Hong Kong on July 13 upon conclusion of his visit in Rome. Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan will be Acting Secretary during his absence.
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador, July 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Bitget Wallet has teamed up with payments leader Mastercard and infrastructure provider Immersve to launch a new crypto-linked card that allows users to make payments directly from their digital wallets at the more than 150 million merchants that accept Mastercard globally. The product aims to drive ease of use and efficiency in the crypto card space.
The card will be available through the Bitget Wallet app and supports real-time funding via onchain swaps and deposits. Leveraging Mastercard Digital First technology, users can apply for the card digitally and within minutes add it to their mobile wallets for use at both physical and online merchants.
Powered by Immersve, a Mastercard-licensed issuer, transactions are settled onchain through crypto to fiat conversion while adhering to Mastercard’s regulatory framework, including KYC and AML requirements. The card will first be rolled out in the United Kingdom and European Union, with plans to expand to Latin America, Australia, and New Zealand in the coming months.
The launch comes amid continued interest in practical crypto applications and efforts by the payments ecosystem to connect blockchain-enabled solutions to the financial mainstream. Bitget Wallet, which reports over 80 million users globally, is positioning the card as a way to extend self-custodied assets into everyday commerce. The product also includes optional incentives such as transaction-based rewards, yield on idle balances in wallet, and one-time bonuses for completing identity verification.
“Crypto payments should be as seamless and secure as traditional transactions. With this partnership, Bitget Wallet users can now pay with crypto anywhere Mastercard is accepted,” said Jamie Elkaleh, CMO at Bitget Wallet. “We’re seeing massive demand for real-world crypto utility, and this collaboration with Mastercard and Immersve provides the infrastructure to make that vision a reality.”
“Digital wallets are quickly becoming as ubiquitous as email addresses. At Mastercard, we’re committed to working with innovative companies like Bitget Wallet and Immersve to make crypto transactions simple, secure, and accessible at scale,” said Scott Abrahams executive vice president, Global Partnerships at Mastercard. “This is a critical step in bringing digital assets closer to mainstream utility.”
“Partnering with forward-thinking teams like Mastercard and Bitget Wallet is exactly how we scale real-world crypto use,” said Jerome Faury, CEO of Immersve. “We’re bridging the gap between Web3 and traditional finance, allowing users to spend crypto as easily as they spend fiat—on a global scale.”
For more information on how Bitget Wallet is enabling seamless crypto payments, visit Bitget Wallet website web3.bitget.com and blog.
About Bitget Wallet
Bitget Wallet is a non-custodial crypto wallet designed to make crypto simple, seamless and secure for everyone. With over 80 million users, it brings together a full suite of crypto services, including swaps, market insights, staking, rewards, a DApp browser, and crypto payment solutions. Supporting 130+ blockchains, 20,000+ DApps, and a million tokens, Bitget Wallet enables seamless multi-chain trading across hundreds of DEXs and cross-chain bridges. Backed by a $300+ million user protection fund, it ensures the highest level of security for users’ assets. Its vision is Crypto for Everyone — to make crypto simpler, safer, and part of everyday life for a billion people.
For more information, visit: X | Telegram | Instagram | YouTube | LinkedIn | TikTok | Discord | Facebook
About Immersve
Immersve is a principal member of the Mastercard network. Its issuing-as-a-service platform supports both centralised and decentralised payment experiences. Exchanges, web3 wallets and DeFi protocols can easily integrate with Immersve’s APIs and smart contracts to transact anywhere Mastercard is accepted. Immersve is a registered Financial Services Provider. For more information on the APIs go to docs.immersve.com.
Join our waitlist and Discord community for more information: https://discord.gg/HZZJjsBk
About Mastercard www.mastercard.com
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we’re building a resilient economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
Media Contacts:
Mastercard Communications Contact: Biz.Cozine@mastercard.com
Bitget Communications Contact: media.web3@bitget.com
A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eca20f1d-d156-4594-a96b-dc99ee024060
Source: Government of South Africa
Minister Leon Schreiber has outlined the key achievements recorded in the Department of Home Affairs at Thursday’s Budget Vote presentation.
“It has been a year of remarkable progress for the Home Affairs ecosystem. I am here to confidently report to the House that the progress we have made over the last 12 months, by working as one team with one dream, has exceeded the expectations of cynics and optimists alike,” Schreiber said.
The department has cleared a backlog of over 306 000 visa applications dating back more than a decade.
“We produced and delivered just under 3.6 million Smart IDs, surpassing the previous annual record by nearly half a million.
“We deployed advanced drone and body camera technology at the border for the first time, leading to an increase of up to 215% in the detection and prevention of attempted illegal border crossings.
“We launched Operation New Broom as part of intensified operations to restore the rule of law, leading to over 46 000 deportations — the highest figure in more than five years and more than countries like France and Germany combined,” the Minister said.
Schreiber said the department launched the Trusted Tour Operator Scheme to boost tourism from the major source markets of China and India where South Africa has underperformed for years.
“We enabled over 1.4 million naturalised citizens and permanent residents to obtain secure Smart IDs for the first time. We activated the Immigration Advisory Board for the first time in a decade by appointing a diverse group of seasoned experts to help shape better policies,” Schreiber said.
Schreiber said the department dismissed 37 crooked officials and launched the dedicated Border Management and Immigration Anti-Corruption Forum that brings together law enforcement, the Special Investigating Unit, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations and the National Prosecuting Authority to ensure corrupt officials and fraudsters are put behind bars.
“Our anti-corruption work has led to the conviction of eight offenders, with sentences ranging from four to 18 years in prison.
“We built a working prototype of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system that will digitalise the visa processes from beginning to end, eliminating corruption and inefficiency,” the Minister said.
Schreiber said the reforms that his department will deliver in the next 12 months will begin to redefine the quality of services that South Africans expect from their government.
“The endpoint of these reforms is to enable both South Africans and legitimate visitors to apply and obtain enabling documents online, including in digital format, from the comfort of their own homes,” Schreiber said. – SAnews.gov.za
Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian – People’s Republic of China in Russian –
Source: People’s Republic of China – State Council News
ROME, July 4 (Xinhua) — The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has “shaken” the world order in three key areas: tariffs, international taxation and the financial dimension linked to the U.S. dollar, Italian Economy and Finance Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti said on Thursday.
“The first is tariffs, the second is international taxation. The third is the financial dimension and the relative strength of the US dollar, which is a form of implicit tariff,” he said. “We need to pay attention to these three aspects,” the official added.
The minister stressed that a weak dollar effectively acts as an implicit tariff, making American goods cheaper and imported goods more expensive and disrupting international trade flows.
Giorgetti’s comments come amid ongoing trade tensions between the United States and the European Union that have arisen since D. Trump’s return to the White House at the beginning of the year.
Market data reflect the minister’s concerns. The euro was trading at around $1.175 apiece at the end of the day on Thursday, down about 14 percent since the start of the year.
Against a broader basket of currencies, the US dollar has fallen 10.8 per cent this year, the worst first six months since 1973 and the worst half-year since the second half of 1991, the Guardian newspaper reports.
According to Italy’s National Institute of Statistics, the country’s imports from the United States rose 18.5 percent year-on-year in May, while Italian exports to the United States increased by just 2.5 percent. –0–
Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)
Following discussions on the High Seas Treaty at the UN Ocean Conference, Fiona Thomas from Marine Conservation Society @MarineConservationSociety joins the Chair of the Environmental Audit Committee, Toby Perkins MP, on the latest Committee Corridor podcast episode. Fiona reflects that the UK has announced some positive measures recently, such as a proposed ban on bottom trawling in Marine Protected Areas, and funding towards Small Island Developing States and coral reefs, but says “we really need to maintain that momentum and keep our foot on the pedal”.
Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts
#MarineConservation #Oceans #HighSeasTreaty #BlueEconomy #SelectCommittees #UKPolitics
Source: United Kingdom UK House of Lords (video statements)
‘The demand for journalism is unprecedented in the whole of human history. But what’s got much harder is to work out what the best media for it is, and where the money lies and where the future lies.’
Former editor of the Daily Telegraph, Lord Moore of Etchingham, is the latest guest on Lord Speaker’s Corner.
Charles Moore, now Lord Moore of Etchingham, also previously edited the Spectator and the Sunday Telegraph and is the authorised biographer of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.
‘For the Conservative Party, Thatcher is the ‘big one’, as Churchill was and still is. It’s been very difficult for women leaders – of whom there have now been three in the Conservative Party. Should you be like Mrs Thatcher or not like Mrs Thatcher, as a woman leader?’
In this episode, Lord Moore talks to the Lord Speaker about Britain’s first female Prime Minister, his career and journalism today. He also reflects on changes in the style of government and former Prime Ministers David Cameron and Boris Johnson.
See more from the series https://www.parliament.uk/business/lords/house-of-lords-podcast/
#HouseOfLords #UKParliament #LordSpeakersCorner #LordsMembers
W1251BJETI7BCZQT
Source: University of Aberdeen
The Covid-19 pandemic affected women’s mental and physical health more than men’s, according to research from the University of Aberdeen.
Published in Social Science & Medicine, the study aimed to understand whether the pandemic had differing effects on the health behaviours of women and men.
The research team, led by Professor Paul McNamee from the University of Aberdeen and collaborators from Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore and the University of Turin, analysed Understanding Society national data from January 2015 to March 2023 to compare results pre- and post-pandemic.
Researchers examined a range of health behaviours including fruit and vegetable consumption, alcohol use and physical activity as part of the study as well as comparing measures of mental health. They found that on both counts women were more negatively affected by the pandemic than their male counterparts.
The study found women reported fewer days of fruit consumption and smaller reductions in alcohol intake during the Covid pandemic.
Psychological distress increased for both women and men during the pandemic, with women experiencing a greater rise. And the link between health behaviours and mental health weakened for women during the pandemic, with a healthy lifestyle no longer showing a significant connection to mental health.
In contrast, these relationships remained consistent for men. Prior to the pandemic, health behaviours offered greater protective benefits for women’s mental health, but during the pandemic, this protective effect became stronger for men.
Professor Paul McNamee who led the research at the University of Aberdeen said: “We found that women reported poorer overall changes in health behaviours than men during the pandemic. Specifically, women reported fewer days of fruit consumption and smaller reductions in alcohol intake. We also found that psychological distress increased for both women and men during the pandemic, with women experiencing a greater rise.”
Dr Karen Arulsamy from Duke-NUS Medical School said: “The adverse changes in women’s health behaviours compared to men persist through to May 2023, suggesting longer-term effects were likely worsened by financial pressures during this period. It’s important we keep tracking these trends.”
Dr Silvia Mendolia from the University of Turin said: “Our study also shows that the pandemic considerably weakened the protective effect of health behaviours on mental health for women but not for men. For women, adopting a healthy lifestyle was strongly correlated with mental health before the pandemic, but this relationship was no longer significant during the pandemic.”
Professor McNamee concludes: “Although conducted using data before and during the pandemic, these findings still have relevance today – they suggest that at times of heightened stress, women from lower socio-economic backgrounds with caregiving responsibilities that limit their ability to maintain levels of social engagement face more challenges in engaging in healthier behaviours. Therefore, targeted interventions such as social prescribing, accessible through referral from primary care providers and other voluntary agencies, could be made more widely available.”
The research was funded by a research award from the Scottish Government Rural & Environmental Science and Analytical Services’ (RESAS) Strategic Research Programme 2022-27. Financial support was also provided by the University of Aberdeen and the Chief Scientist Office of the Scottish Government Health & Social Care Directorates.
Source: City of York
First Bus and City of York Council have announced extended hours for all six of York’s Park & Ride services to support residents, commuters, visitors and York’s hospitality industry.
The highlights include:
From Sunday 20 July, the first bus will leave each Park & Ride site at 5.30am. The new timings will allow shift workers and those catching early trains to use the Park & Ride, which costs just £3.90 for an adult return. For example for residents travelling out of York, 5 of the 6 sites directly serve York Railway Station and the first service will arrive at the station by 5.45am – Rawcliffe (bus number 2 / 2A), Monks Cross (bus number 9), Designer Outlet (bus number 7), Poppleton (bus number 59) and Askham Bar (bus number 3). The remaining one, Grimston (bus number 8), serves Piccadilly, in the city centre.
In the evening, the last services will leave the city centre at 10.30pm, bringing all sites up to the same time for the first and last bus.
The timings extension is being funded by York’s Bus Service Improvement Plan, supported by the Department for Transport.
Cllr Kate Ravilious, Executive Member for Transport at City of York Council, said:
Residents, commuters and visitors have asked us to run the Park & Ride earlier in the morning and later into the evening, and we’re delighted to confirm these extended hours will start from 20 July.
“Whether you’re catching an early morning train, finishing an overnight shift or enjoying a night out in York, this expansion is part of our commitment to giving people more travel options and making York a cleaner, more affordable and more sustainable city.
“The 6 Park & Ride sites cover every corner of York and with up to 3 children traveling free with a paying adult, offers an excellent alternative to driving in to York. They also make an invaluable contribution to reducing congestion across our city. We’ve also recently unveiled plans to open up 2 sites for overnight parking and will be announcing the next steps on these shortly.”
Andy Cullen, Managing Director of First Bus North & West Yorkshire, said:
This will help commuters and shift workers with connections to train services at the very start and end of the day.
“The extension of services into the late evening will also be a real boost for visitors to York’s leisure and entertainment venues, as well as supporting the hospitality sector.
“It reflects our continued commitment to work in partnership with City of York Council to build the Park & Ride network for the benefit of local people and visitors to help grow the city’s economy.”
David Skaith, the Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, said:
For too long, public transport hasn’t always worked for everyone, especially those with early starts or late finishes.
“For the first time all of York’s Park & Ride sites will operate on a single, consistent timetable from 5.30am right up until 10.30pm. It’s the kind of public transport our region deserves.
“We’re putting passengers first, with more affordable and greener journeys that everyone can benefit from – from shift workers and commuters to those enjoying the city’s night life.”
Local Transport Minister, Simon Lightwood, said:
When public transport is affordable and reliable, it transforms lives – helping people get to work, attend medical appointments, access opportunities and stay connected with their community.
“I’m delighted that Mayor Skaith is already delivering major improvements with our £12 million investment and moving ahead with their plans to bring buses under local control.
“From cheaper fares to extended Park & Ride hours, these changes are kickstarting a bus revolution that drives economic growth and ensures people have proper access to jobs and opportunities, as we deliver the Plan for Change.”
Sarah Loftus, Managing Director of Make It York, said:
York Park & Ride is a vital link in supporting our hospitality and tourism sectors, making it easier and more affordable for everyone to access the city centre, this helps all businesses to recruit and retain talent.
“The new operating hours of York Park & Ride improves accessibility for everyone, offering a reliable and inclusive transport option.
“For visitors, it’s a convenient way to explore the wider city, stay longer and enjoy more of what York has to offer, and these longer running hours will offer a real boost to our local economy.”
First Bus is also introducing more frequency on the Park & Ride network to support anticipated demand during the school holidays and summer tourism season.
From Sunday 20 July until Sunday 7 September, additional buses will operate Monday to Friday on all services and also Saturdays on routes 7 and 8. Normal timetables will run on Sundays.