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Category: housing

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Supporting people on their recovery journey from addiction

    Source: City of York

    City of York Council is leading by example to support more people on their journey to recovery from addiction.

    The council is actively working with a number of recovery organisations in York to bring a city centre recovery hub to life, as well as making steps towards becoming a champion for York as an Inclusive Recovery City, tackling stigma and discrimination against people with addictions and celebrating their recovery by making it visible.

    Drugs and alcohol continue to present major issues for health and wellbeing in York. They lead to early illness and death, and in fact are the two leading causes of death in York for those between the ages of 15 and 49.

    They give rise to thousands of hospital admissions a year, worsen or lead to the onset of mental health conditions, and precipitate a large range of consequent physical health issues.

    They also present a city issue, and interact considerably with significant issues around housing, criminal justice, community cohesion, employment and safety, holding people back from living thriving and empowered lives.

    Nationally, the approach to supporting people with drug and alcohol issues has developed significantly over the last decades, from a sole emphasis on treatment and clinical services, such as substitution therapy, to a much greater focus on recovery.

    The council wants to strengthen York’s community recovery model, to further these aims and improve the lives of people affected by addictions in York.

    Whilst there has been and continues to be various activities taking place around recovery in the city, they have never had a home to develop and grow.

    The hub, based on Wellington Row, will make it easier for people with substance use disorders to seek help. This is set to be endorsed by the council’s Executive when they’re asked to support a new contract at a public meeting on 15 July, to award York in Recovery CIC to lease and manage the Community Recovery Hub.

    Cllr Lucy Steels- Walshaw, Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care at City of York Council, said:

    The recovery hub is providing a recovery-oriented facility to those residents who need this type of specialist support, in the heart of York. Endorsement of the Inclusive Recovery Cities initiative shows a strong council commitment to making recovery accessible and sustainable for more people, while sending a strong signal that those in recovery in our city have the right support behind them on their journey.”

    These community connections have been going for many years, with pop-up cafes, meetings, activities, support and social events happening most days of the week.

    Organisations including SMART UK, Alcoholic Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Cocaine Anonymous, York in Recovery, Lived Insights, as well as charities such as Chocolate & Co and the treatment providers Change Grow Live and Emerging Futures, facilitate a vibrant recovery community in York involving many thousands of people.

    A pilot of how a Community Recovery Hub could work took place 18 months ago, and the opportunity has now come to The Hub, Wellington Row, which is owned by the council, as a more permanent base for this work

    Mark Green from York in Recovery said

    At York In Recovery, we know from lived experience that stigma is one of the greatest barriers preventing people from reaching out for the help they need when struggling with substance use.  Stigma isolates people, delays access to support and too often costs lives.

    “Recovery from addiction can be as lonely as when in addiction, we can all play our part in changing that narrative because recovery is real and when the right help support, and compassion are offered at the right time, people not only survive – they thrive.

    “The Recovery Hub will be a place for recovery curious individuals as much as for those who are already in the recovery community, it will be a beacon of hope to many and will support the work underway with the Inclusive Recovery Cities initiative.

    “York In Recovery are excited about the future and what will grow from the Recovery Hub.”

    Supporting the hub is one step towards supporting people’s journey in recover by the council wants to take this a step further.

    York wants to follow in the footsteps of other countries including America, Australia and New Zealand who have all championed the ‘inclusive recovery cities movement.’ Closer to home Middlesbrough – became the first official Inclusive Recovery City in 2024.

    Championed by Professor David Best, the movement makes recovery visible, giving hope to those currently experiencing substance use problems and providing ongoing support to those who are in recovery from substance use disorders.

    It challenges the stigma which can stop people coming forward for help, contributing to further harm, including as serious as death, for those with substance use disorders. It champions multiple pathways to recovery from substance use disorders and recognises that through doing this, the whole city will benefit.

    The Executive will be asked to express the council’s commitment to the Inclusive Recovery Cities approach and York’s Inclusive Recovery City Vision statement.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: City businesses and start-ups in line for quadruple Council grants boost

    Source: Scotland – City of Aberdeen

    Fledgling and established small and medium businesses are in line for a grant funding boost thanks to four Aberdeen City Council-led schemes aimed at developing environmentally friendly growth and strengthening communities.

    The schemes, being led by the council will see over £500,000 of UK Shared Prosperity Fund grants made available through to February 2026 or whenever the total allocations are fully disbursed.

    The four grant streams will help provide start-up funding, slash energy costs and boost sustainability, grow business through innovation and help businesses host events to energise the city centre and increase footfall through fostering community spirit.

    Councillor Alex McLellan, Finance and Resources Convener, said “These grant schemes are to help smaller businesses, and start-ups, in Aberdeen to grow sustainably, reduce energy costs and to help them play their part in revitalising our city centre.

    “Aberdeen is home to a huge number of successful businesses which contribute to making our city a vibrant place.

    “I would encourage businesses across the city to take this opportunity and apply for funding.”
    The four grant schemes are:  
    Aberdeen Energy Efficiency Programme – Aberdeen City Council, in partnership with Scarf is offering non-repayable grants of up to £10,000 to help businesses, sole traders and third sector organisations through covering up to 50% of their energy saving project costs. Applications will be accepted up until 23 November 2025 and should be made through

     https://www.scarf.org.uk/organisation/sustainable-business/aberdeen-energy-efficiency-programme/

    Business Start-up Grant Scheme– the Council is offering start up grants of up to £1,000 for home-based or mobile businesses and £3,000 for traders in rateable businesses premises, with businesses launched since 1 October 2024 also being eligible. Applications will be accepted up until 28 February 2026 and should be made via: 
    https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/services-business/business-start-grant-scheme

    Business Growth and Innovation Grant Scheme – offering businesses match-funded grants of up to £2,500 and 50% of eligible capital costs to help with expanding premises, adopting new technology, building a more sustainable future, workforce expansion and other business ambitions. Applications should be submitted by 28 February 2026 to https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services/services-business/business-growth-and-innovation-grant-scheme

    Support for City Centre Events and Markets – offers discretionary grant funding to businesses looking to host events boosting community spirit, attracting footfall and energising the city centre. Funding is £1,000 per business per event with up to two applications allowed if multiple businesses co-organise. Applications are welcomed up until 28 February and should be submitted to  
    https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/services-business/support-city-centre-events-and-markets

    Previous recipients of grant funding have highlighted their positive impacts.

    Philip Sutherland, Director, Freeland Freight Services, said: “We’re already seeing a significant impact from the new high-efficiency boiler installed by Aberdeen Gas Services. Our gas consumption has dropped by over 60% compared to the same period last year, which not only reduces our energy bills but also supports our efforts to lower carbon emissions.

    “The entire process, from application to installation, was straightforward and efficient. This upgrade marks a major step forward in our sustainability journey, and we’re extremely grateful to Scarf and for grant funding from Aberdeen City Council for making it possible”

    Harvey Logan, Founders Associate, Ember, said: “In March this year we installed a 145kWp solar array supplying power to our electric bus depot in Bridge of Don. The grant from Aberdeen City Council and support from Scarf was instrumental in our decision to go ahead with this installation as it supported the commercial case and provided momentum to the project.

    “Since the solar system went live it’s generated over 43MWh of renewable electricity. We’re delighted with this outcome and now plan to use lessons learnt to install solar at more Ember sites across Scotland”

    Brenda Young, Head of Income and Impact, Aberdeen Foyer, said: “Applying for the grant was a straightforward process, and we’re incredibly grateful for the support. The funding enabled us to upgrade our boiler, helping us create a warm, safe space for programme participants while also reducing our running costs. This means we can focus more of our resources on supporting those who need it most across Aberdeen City.” 
     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI China: SCIO briefing on China’s economic performance in April 2025

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

    中文

    Speakers:

    Mr. Fu Linghui, spokesperson of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and director general of the Department of Comprehensive Statistics of the NBS

    Chairperson:

    Zhou Jianshe, deputy director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO

    Date:

    May 19, 2025

    Zhou Jianshe:

    Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). This is a regular briefing on China’s economic data. Today, we are joined by Mr. Fu Linghui, spokesperson of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) and director general of the Department of Comprehensive Statistics of the NBS. Mr. Fu will brief you on China’s economic performance in April 2025 and then take your questions.

    First, I will give the floor to Mr. Fu for his introduction.

    Fu Linghui:

    Good morning, everyone. As usual, I will start by briefing you on the main economic indicators for this April and then take your questions.

    In April, the national economy withstood pressure and maintained stable growth.

    In April, in the face of a complicated situation marked by increasing external shocks and multiple domestic difficulties and challenges, under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, all regions and departments strictly implemented the decisions and arrangements made by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, adhered to the general principle of pursuing progress while ensuring stability, fully and faithfully applied the new development philosophy on all fronts, accelerated efforts to create a new pattern of development, took solid steps to promote high-quality development, stepped up the implementation of more proactive and effective macro policies, and responded to the external shocks effectively. As a result, production and demand grew steadily, employment was generally stable, and new growth drivers accumulated and grew. The national economy maintained stable growth despite pressure, sustaining the new and positive development momentum.

    Fu Linghui:

    First, industrial production grew quickly, with equipment manufacturing and high-tech manufacturing showing good growth momentum.

    In April, the total value added of industrial enterprises above designated size grew by 6.1% year on year, or 0.22% month on month. In terms of sectors, the value added of mining went up by 5.7% year on year, manufacturing up by 6.6%, and the production and supply of electricity, thermal power, gas and water up by 2.1%. The value added of equipment manufacturing increased by 9.8% year on year, and that of high-tech manufacturing increased by 10.0%, which were 3.7 percentage points and 3.9 percentage points faster than that of industrial enterprises above designated size, respectively. In terms of ownership, the value added of state holding enterprises was up by 2.9% year on year; that of share-holding enterprises was up by 6.6%; that of enterprises funded by foreign investors or investors from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan was up by 3.9%; and that of private enterprises was up by 6.7%. In terms of products, the outputs of 3D printing devices, industrial robots and new energy vehicles (NEVs) grew by 60.7%, 51.5% and 38.9% year on year, respectively. In the first four months, the total value added of industrial enterprises above designated size went up by 6.4% year on year. In April, the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers’ Index was 49.0%; and the Production and Operation Expectation Index was 52.1%. In the first three months, the total profits made by industrial enterprises above designated size were 1,509.4 billion yuan, up by 0.8% year on year.

    Second, the service sector grew steadily and modern services developed well.

    In April, the Index of Services Production grew by 6.0% year on year. In terms of sectors, that of information transmission, software and information technology services, leasing and business services, wholesales and retails, and finance grew by 10.4%, 8.9%, 6.8% and 6.1% year on year, respectively, which were 4.4 percentage points, 2.9 percentage points, 0.8 percentage point and 0.1 percentage point faster than that of the Index of Services Production. In the first four months, the Index of Services Production increased by 5.9% year on year. In the first three months, the business revenue of service enterprises above designated size went up by 7.0% year on year. In April, the Business Activity Index for Services was 50.1%, and the Business Activity Expectation Index for Services was 56.4%. Specifically, the Business Activity Index for industries like air transportation, telecommunication, broadcast, television and satellite transmission services, internet software and information technology services, and insurance stayed within the high expansion range of 55.0% and above.

    Third, market sales maintained steady growth and trade-in goods grew quickly.

    In April, the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 3,717.4 billion yuan, up by 5.1% year on year, or up by 0.24% month on month. Analyzed by different areas, the retail sales of consumer goods in urban areas reached 3,237.6 billion yuan, up by 5.2% year on year; and that in rural areas reached 479.8 billion yuan, up by 4.7%. Grouped by consumption patterns, the retail sales of goods were 3,300.7 billion yuan, up by 5.1%; and the income of catering was 416.7 billion yuan, up by 5.2%. Sales of basic living goods and certain upgraded goods showed sound growth. The retail sales of grain, oil and food and of sports and recreational articles by enterprises above designated size went up by 14.0% and 23.3%, respectively. The effect of trade-in of consumer goods continued to manifest, with the retail sales of household appliances and audiovisual equipment, cultural and office supplies, furniture, and communication equipment by enterprises above designated size growing by 38.8%, 33.5%, 26.9% and 19.9%, respectively. In the first four months, the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 16,184.5 billion yuan, up by 4.7% year on year. Online retail sales reached 4,741.9 billion yuan, up by 7.7% year on year. Specifically, the online retail sales of physical goods were 3,926.5 billion yuan, up by 5.8%, accounting for 24.3% of the total retail sales of consumer goods. In the first four months, the retail sales of services grew by 5.1% year on year.

    Fourth, investment in fixed assets continued to expand and investment in manufacturing grew quickly.

    In the first four months, investment in fixed assets (excluding rural households) reached 14,702.4 billion yuan, up by 4.0% year on year; and investment in fixed assets was up by 8.0% with the investment in real estate development deducted. Specifically, investment in infrastructure grew by 5.8% year on year, that in manufacturing grew by 8.8%, and that in real estate development declined by 10.3%. The floor space of newly-built commercial buildings sold was 282.62 million square meters, down by 2.8% year on year; and the total sales of newly-built commercial buildings were 2,703.5 billion yuan, down by 3.2%. By industry, investment in the primary industry increased by 13.2% year on year, that in the secondary industry up by 11.7%, and that in the tertiary industry down by 0.2%. Private investment increased by 0.2% year on year, or increased by 5.8% with the investment in real estate development deducted. In terms of high-tech industries, investment in information services, computer and office device manufacturing, aerospace vehicle and equipment manufacturing, and professional technical services grew by 40.6%, 28.9%, 23.9% and 17.6%, respectively. In April, investment in fixed assets (excluding rural households) increased by 0.10% month on month.

    Fifth, imports and exports of goods kept growing and the trade structure continued to be optimized.

    In April, the total value of imports and exports of goods was 3.84 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 5.6%. Specifically, the total value of exports was 2.26 trillion yuan, up by 9.3%. The total value of imports was 1.57 trillion yuan, up by 0.8%. In the first four months, the total value of imports and exports of goods was 14.13 trillion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 2.4%. Specifically, the total value of exports was 8.39 trillion yuan, up by 7.5%. The total value of imports was 5.74 trillion yuan, down by 4.2%. In the first four months, the imports and exports of general trade went up by 0.6%, accounting for 64% of the total value of imports and exports. Imports and exports by private enterprises went up by 6.8%, accounting for 56.9% of the total value of imports and exports, which is 2.3 percentage points higher than that of the same period last year. The exports of mechanical and electrical products grew by 9.5%, accounting for 60.1% of the total value of exports.

    Sixth, employment was generally stable and the surveyed urban unemployment rate declined.

    From January to April, the average surveyed unemployment rate in urban areas remained flat year on year at 5.2%. In April, the national surveyed urban unemployment rate was 5.1%, 0.1 percentage point lower than that of the previous month. The surveyed unemployment rate of population with local household registration was 5.2% and that of population with non-local household registration was 4.8%, of which the rate of population with non-local agricultural household registration was 4.7%. The surveyed urban unemployment rate across 31 major cities was 5.1%, 0.1 percentage point lower than that of the previous month. Employees of enterprises nationwide worked an average of 48.3 hours per week.

    Seventh, the consumer price index (CPI) fell slightly year on year, and the core CPI growth rate was stable.

    In April, the CPI decreased by 0.1% year on year, and increased by 0.1% compared to the previous month. By category, prices for food, tobacco and alcohol went up by 0.3%; clothing up by 1.3%; housing up by 0.1%; household goods and services for daily use up by 0.2%; transportation and communication prices down by 3.9%; education, culture and recreation up by 0.7%; medical services and health care up by 0.2%; and other articles and services up by 6.6%. In terms of food, tobacco and alcohol, prices for fresh vegetables fell by 5%, grain fell by 1.4%, pork up by 5%, and fresh fruits up by 5.2%. The core CPI, excluding the prices of food and energy, grew by 0.5% year on year. In the first four months, the CPI went down by 0.1% year on year.

    In April, the national producer price index (PPI) for industrial products went down by 2.7% year on year and 0.4% month on month. The purchasing price index for industrial producers went down by 2.7% year on year and 0.6% month on month. In the first four months, the national producer price and purchasing price indexes for industrial products both dropped by 2.4% compared with the same period last year.

    Overall, in April, despite increased external pressures, the coordinated efforts of macro policies ensured steady and relatively rapid growth in major indicators, sustaining the upward and improving trend of the national economy. It should also be noted that external instabilities and uncertainties still remain significant, and the foundation for the continuous improvement of the national economy needs to be further consolidated. In the next stage, we must adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, resolutely implement the decisions and deployments of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, and adhere to the general principle of seeking progress while maintaining stability. We must fully and accurately implement the new development philosophy, accelerate the construction of a new development paradigm, coordinate domestic economic work and international economic and trade efforts, unswervingly handle our own affairs well, unswervingly expand high-level opening up, focus on stabilizing employment, enterprises, markets and expectations, solidly promote high-quality development, and promote the continuous recovery and improvement of the economy. Thank you.

    Zhou Jianshe:

    The floor is now open for questions. Please identify your media outlet before raising your questions.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Rooftop solar innovation powers China’s clean energy shift

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

    On the rooftops of Shuangjing Village in the city of Xuzhou, east China’s Jiangsu Province, rows of gleaming solar panels shimmer under the summer sun, resembling a vast azure sea from a distance.

    The installation is part of a village-wide distributed solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation initiative led by the State Grid Xuzhou Power Supply Company. With a total installed capacity of 2,709 kilowatts, the network supplies steady renewable power to both the local homes and nearby industrial parks.

    “This village-wide rooftop solar program is very efficient,” said Liu Zhichuang, a company technician. “Farmers contribute their unused roof space and earn reliable rental income in return.”

    Over the solar panels’ lifetime, this village project is expected to generate more than 6.4 million yuan (about 890,000 U.S. dollars) in revenue, Liu explained. “At the same time, it cuts both construction and upkeep expenses by about 22 percent.”

    “Where land is scarce, massive solar farms just aren’t practical,” he noted. “That’s why distributed rooftop solar makes more sense. Xuzhou is proving it works, with panels already installed on 140,000 roofs across the city, leading all of Jiangsu province.”

    Distributed solar power is gaining traction across China, from rural homes to industrial parks. According to the National Energy Administration, by the end of 2024, the cumulative installed capacity of distributed PV had reached 370 gigawatts (GW), 121 times that of the end of 2013.

    Rooftop solar has become a significant player in China’s transition to clean energy. In March, China’s energy authorities highlighted the triple benefits of their initiatives: accelerating power sector reforms, increasing farmers’ earnings, and driving rural revitalization.

    As a major economic and manufacturing hub, Jiangsu boasts a complete photovoltaic industrial chain and has led the nation in distributed solar energy growth. Since 2024, the province has added an average of 1.5 gigawatts of distributed solar capacity per month. It has also developed seven village-wide pilot projects for distributed solar power.

    Factories are also tapping into the sun. At a Xuzhou-based new energy vehicle industrial park, a large digital display screen flashes real-time data on solar power output and carbon dioxide reduction.

    With 52,000 square meters of rooftop panels, the park generates an annual power output of nearly 7 million kilowatt-hours. “It’s enough to offset 2,800 tonnes of coal use and cut carbon emissions by about 7,500 tonnes,” Liu said, adding that businesses in the park have seen energy costs drop by more than 20 percent on average.

    As part of its accelerated green energy transition plan, Shanghai will comprehensively implement the “PV Plus” program, aiming to deploy over 4.5 GW of photovoltaic capacity citywide by 2027.

    In south China’s Guangdong Province, regulations require solar energy coverage on half of newly constructed factory rooftops by 2025, and full coverage by 2030. Existing industrial parks are also undergoing green retrofits to ensure at least 50 percent solar adoption by 2030.

    Technological innovation is further driving the surge of solar power adoption. In Jiangsu’s Wuxi, China’s first industrial park dedicated to perovskite PV — an emerging solar technology — recently opened. Perovskite solar modules can be integrated into building facades, transforming walls into energy generators.

    While solar panels were once confined to rooftops, technological breakthroughs now enable their seamless integration into building structures, said Jiang Weilong, vice president of the perovskite PV project developer.

    Jiang added that the industrial park’s pilot installation features hundreds of meters of boundary walls incorporating over 3,000 perovskite solar modules, which are expected to deliver an estimated annual carbon dioxide reduction of 110 tonnes.

    “Imagine a future where every fence, wall, rooftop, and even footpath doubles as a power generator,” said Jiang. “This will further unlock the space and potential for green transformation.” 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China-Egypt practical cooperation yields fruitful outcomes

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

    Under the strategic guidance of leaders of the two countries, China-Egypt relations have, over the past years, made great strides, becoming a model of solidarity, cooperation and mutual benefit between China and Arab, African, and other developing countries.

    By aligning China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with Egypt’s Vision 2030, the two countries have drawn up a promising blueprint for practical cooperation and achieved remarkable outcomes across various sectors.

    STRATEGIC COOPERATION

    Chinese Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang said that since the China-Egypt comprehensive strategic partnership was established in 2014, leaders of both countries have frequently met on bilateral and multilateral occasions, jointly steering Belt and Road cooperation and shaping a shared future in the new era.

    Frequent high-level exchanges have laid a solid foundation for deepening ties, anchored by both countries’ firm support for each other’s core interests, former Egyptian ambassador to China Magdy Amer told Xinhua, adding that under the BRI, bilateral trade has surged, and Chinese investment in Egypt has expanded rapidly.

    Waleed Gaballah, a member of the Egyptian Association for Political Economy, Statistics and Legislation, said that BRI projects, including the Central Business District in Egypt’s New Administrative Capital, and the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone within the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZone) located southeast of Cairo, have invigorated Egypt’s economy.

    On July 2, the foundation stone was laid for the Deli Glass production base in the TEDA zone. With a 70 million U.S. dollar investment, its first phase will include a high-grade glass furnace and advanced automated production lines.

    The site will produce high-quality household glassware and evolve into an industrial cluster integrating research and development, manufacturing, advanced processing, packaging, logistics, and export.

    SCZone chairman Waleid Gamal El-Dein said the project marks the latest outcome of deepening cooperation between the zone and global investors, especially Chinese ones, reflecting the growing bilateral relations, political trust and economic collaboration between Egypt and China.

    So far, 185 enterprises have settled in the TEDA zone, bringing total investment to around 3 billion U.S. dollars and generating over 5.3 billion U.S. dollars in sales, with key industries including building materials, petrochemicals, textiles and new energy, among others, according to Cao Hui, executive director of Egypt-TEDA SEZone Development Company.

    After touring Haier Egypt Ecological Park and the welding factory of Jetour Egypt in mid-June, former Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf described the projects as the fruits of a long-term partnership, strengthened by Belt and Road cooperation.

    “They reflect the initiative’s aim to promote shared development among participating countries,” he told Xinhua, emphasizing the importance of working with China to modernize Egypt’s industrial base.

    ACHIEVEMENTS ON MULTIPLE FRONTS

    In recent years, China and Egypt have jointly achieved several “firsts”: Chinese companies constructed Africa’s tallest skyscraper in Egypt, built Egypt’s first electrified light rail, and supported Egypt to become the continent’s leading fiberglass base. Chinese technology has also enabled Egypt to become the first African country with full satellite assembly and testing capabilities.

    In addition, Chinese firms helped drill over 680 desert water wells in Egypt over nine years, gradually turning barren land into farmland. Tech company Huawei has trained about 40,000 Egyptian youth through its ICT programs.

    Meanwhile, the flourishing cultural ties between the two countries have enhanced mutual understanding and added vitality to the partnership.

    Chinese has been formally integrated into Egypt’s national education system, with 30 universities offering Chinese courses and more than 20 secondary schools providing Chinese as an elective subject.

    Chinese cultural festivals and events held in Egypt, like “Happy Spring Festival,” “Tea for Harmony,” and “Chinese Film Week,” as well as various music performances, have attracted wide interest in Egypt and greatly promoted cultural interaction.

    Joint archaeological efforts have further deepened. In Luxor’s Karnak Temple complex, a Sino-Egyptian archaeological team revived the Montu Temple ruins, which had remained buried for over 3,000 years. Another collaborative initiative involves the digital documentation and study of thousands of anthropoid coffins discovered in the Saqqara necropolis, alongside efforts to restore the Ramses II statue at Karnak Temple.

    From museums and pyramids to southern temples and Red Sea resorts, Chinese tourists have been arriving in Egypt in growing numbers. To enhance their travel experience, Egypt has introduced Chinese-language signage in famous tourist sites, increased Chinese-speaking guides, and encouraged more hotels to offer Chinese cuisine.

    Last month, Air China announced a new direct flight between Beijing and Cairo, which is to be launched on Wednesday, operating three times weekly.

    “The new route will strengthen people-to-people exchanges and further deepen tourism cooperation between the two nations,” said Ahmed Youssef, chairman of the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: When lived experience speaks, everyone listens 

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    When lived experience speaks, everyone listens 

    How ACE drives mission impact at pace in some of the hardest-hitting situations facing government and wider society.

    On June 18th the Accelerated Capability Environment (ACE) brought together over 80 people across government, industry and academia, to tackle some of the most pressing issues facing government and wider society, with a focus on knife crime.  

    We demonstrated our ability to drive mission impact at pace through a range of work, from Rape and Serious Sexual Offences (RASSO) to the world of deepfakes.  

    We shared inspirational capabilities, tools and approaches already helping to solve some of these challenges, through 10 suppliers and universities from the ACE community. 

    We provided a collaborative space to have open conversations and share ideas on how we might pull together and intervene, to lead to better outcomes.  

    But there was one part of the day that really hit home. Where the emotion was so raw and the stories so powerful, that everyone stopped and listened. We got to hear stories from three people with lived experience about the devastating impact of knife crime. 

    Martin Cosser, the father of 17-year-old Charlie Cosser, who was murdered almost two years ago, shared his family’s story. Charlie’s death, perpetrated by someone who decided to carry and use a knife, led to the creation of Charlie’s Promise, a campaign against knife crime.  

    Chantell Hayles, a knife crime survivor, spoke about her own experiences of bullying and violence from other young girls, and an abusive relationship which only ended when her partner died suddenly. She now runs Living Without Limits, to provide young people with a platform to be heard and to support those living through similar experiences, especially young girls who are often overlooked in knife crime narratives. 

    Tim Haigh, a former gang member and knife carrier, told how his early potential was derailed by crime, leading to nine years in prison and a near fatal addiction. He now works through Lived Experience Speakers, helping others avoid the path he took. 

    At ACE we create experiences and connections to some of the hardest-hitting situations facing society. We don’t shy away from the cutting emotion or minimise the realities that people face. Instead, we give them a voice, a platform and access to the people that can make a difference and help others avoid similar situations.  

    Lived experiences working alongside industry, academia and government.  

    To find out more, get in touch with the team at ace@homeoffice.gov.uk.  

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ22: Support for public rental housing tenants

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is a question by the Hon Kingsley Wong and a written reply by Secretary for Housing, Ms Winnie Ho, in the Legislative Council today (July 9):

    Question:

    It has been learnt that a number of cases involving deaths of public rental housing (PRH) tenants in their own PRH flats occurred in Hong Kong in the past, in which the deaths of such tenants remained unknown for a long time, and there were even cases where their bodies had been reduced to skeletons by the time they were discovered; and there were also cases in which carers died suddenly in their PRH flats, but the relatives living with them were forced to “stay with the dead bodies” as their relatives were unable to seek assistance and report to the Police due to mental incapacity or other reasons. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) of the number of cases in each of the past 10 years, in which staff of the Housing Department (HD) found people dead in the flats concerned during home visits or flat recovery work (e.g. breaking into the flats concerned);

    (2) of the number of cases in each of the past 10 years, in which the Social Welfare Department (SWD) found people dead in the flats concerned in the course of following up the welfare service matters of PRH tenants;

    (3) it is learnt that, following the default on rental payment for two consecutive months by PRH tenants, HD will make several attempts to contact the tenants concerned by means of telephone, written notification or home visits, etc., of the criteria adopted by HD for determining whether it is necessary to refer the cases to other departments for follow-up or to report to the Police after repeated unsuccessful attempts to contact the tenants;

    (4) regarding cases in which HD is unable to contact the tenants successfully, whether HD will consider seeking assistance from the Police within a shorter period of time, so as to decide if further actions will be taken in respect of the tenants concerned (e.g. breaking into the flats); if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

    (5) as there are views that enhanced cooperation among different departments will facilitate early detection of death cases in PRH flats and even save lives, whether HD, SWD, the Home Affairs Department and the Police will consider setting up a mechanism for information sharing and cooperation; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

    (6) whether it will promote and encourage the District Services and Community Care Teams (Care Teams), management companies and PRH tenants to set up a system for assuring safety, so that PRH tenants who live alone or need relevant support may participate on a voluntary basis;

    (7) given that HD has launched the pilot scheme of Door Sensor Installation for Elderly Households to equip the elderly households who have voluntarily participated in the scheme with the system which allows designated relatives or friends to keep track of the movement of the elderly in and out of their flats, whether the authorities will extend the scheme to cover non-elderly PRH tenants in the future; whether they will promote and encourage the Care Teams and management companies to become one of the designated contact persons, so as to expeditiously follow up the situation of the tenants concerned; and

    (8) given that the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions and the Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited have joined forces to launch the Gas Guardian Care Network programme, which utilises smart meters to monitor the gas usage patterns of the elderly in real-time, whether the authorities will make reference to the programme and launch other projects in collaboration with the business sector and community organisations to enable carers to check the condition of the elderly, so as to enhance home safety of the elderly?

    Reply:

    President,

    The estate management staff of the Housing Department (HD) will contact public rental housing (PRH) tenants through daily management work, proactively understanding their living conditions in PRH units and will pay special attention to elderly residents living alone. Cases will be referred to other government departments and social welfare organisations as needed to provide assistance. 

    In response to the question raised by the Hon Kingsley Wong, in consultation with the Labour and Welfare Bureau (LWB) and the Home Affairs Department, our reply is as follows:

    (1), (2) and (5) In the past 10 years (i.e. 2015 to 2024), the number of natural deaths recorded in PRH units under the HD is listed in the Annex. These cases are mainly discovered through the HD’s routine management work (such as patrols, home visits, flat recovery operations, etc.), or were reported by the tenants’ relatives, friends, or neighbours to the estate offices, or referred by other government departments including the police and the Social Welfare Department (SWD) or social welfare organisations. The HD does not maintain statistical breakdowns of the means by which these cases are discovered.

    At present, the HD and the SWD have established an inter-departmental referral mechanism to handle special cases of housing assistance for PRH tenants. Liaison groups have been formed at both the headquarters and regional levels to regularly review and improve the cooperation mechanism for housing assistance cases. The HD is also closely collaborating with the LWB and is providing information of PRH tenants under the premise of protecting personal data privacy, with a view to facilitating the LWB to develop a database for following up on hidden and needy elderly individuals.

    (3) and (4) According to Section 19(1)(b) of the Housing Ordinance (Cap. 283), when the Housing Authority (HA) serves a notice-to-quit to tenant, at least one month’s notice for termination of tenancy should be given. Upon expiry of the notice, if the occupier still does not voluntarily surrender the unit, the HD can then deploy staff to proceed flat recovery action in accordance with the Housing Ordinance. For rent arrears cases, a series of actions will be taken initially by the HD before serving notice-to-quit, including communicating with tenants through home visits, phone calls or face-to-face interviews. If the tenants still cannot be reached, HD staff will try to reach their relatives and emergency contacts. For some singleton elderly tenants who live by themselves and have not provided any relatives or other contact persons, we will make every effort to contact them through alternative means, including slipping notes through the door gap and into the letter box to ask the tenants to contact the estate office as soon as possible, instructing security guards to monitor the tenants’ entry into and exit from the building, and recording their water and electricity consumption to more closely monitor their situation. If the tenants are in rent arrears due to financial difficulties, cases may be referred to the SWD for follow-up or be provided with assistance to apply for Rent Assistance Scheme, subject to their consent and fulfilment of eligibilities. If the tenants or any of their relatives still cannot be reached despite multiple attempts, the HD will inquire with other departments such as the SWD to check if the tenants are their care cases and their latest situation; or the Immigration Department to check the tenants’ immigration records, etc.; and will seek assistance from the police if necessary. In addition, if HD staff discover suspicious cases during daily management work (e.g. unusual odours emanating from the unit), they will notify the police immediately to take appropriate action, including breaking into the unit as necessary.

    (6), (7) and (8) In order to encourage property management companies and security service contractors to be more proactive in assisting PRH tenants in need, we give bidders who can provide effective suggestions for caring the tenants, e.g. establishing volunteer teams to provide volunteer services to the community in the estate and to visit the elderly or individuals/ families in need, etc., additional marks during the tender evaluation, thereby increasing their chances of winning the bid. In addition, the HD organises the annual Estate Management Services Contractor Awards and the Best Security Staff election to commend service contractors and security personnel who have performed well and actively assisted needy residents in the estate. This aims to encourage them to go the extra mile and take the initiative to care for the estates’ PRH residents.

    Starting from April this year, the HD launched the pilot scheme of Door Sensor Installation for Elderly Households in Wan Hon Estate in Kwun Tong and Sheung Lok Estate in Ho Man Tin. The elderly households who voluntarily participate in the scheme are equipped with the system which allows designated relatives or friends to keep track of the movement of the elderly in and out of their flats so as to provide timely support when needed. The HD will actively explore the feasibility of implementing other similar schemes in collaboration with other government departments and social welfare organisations, with a view to benefitting more elderly households in other PRH estates.

    In addition, the HA also provides subsidies to eligible elderly tenants for the installation of emergency alarm system (Safety Bell), allowing the tenants to seek help timely in case of emergencies. Elderly tenants who require to install Safety Bell but are not receiving Comprehensive Social Security Assistance can apply for the Emergency Alarm System (EAS) Grant from the HA. Since February 2021, the grant has been extended to mobile devices, including mobile phones and watches equipped with EAS, smartphones with dedicated EAS mobile app installed and other products, allowing elderly tenants to purchase suitable emergency alarm system products on their own. Since the implementation of the grant scheme, approximately 26 000 applications have been approved. The HD has also installed fall detection systems in accessible toilets in some housing estates on a pilot basis to detect situations such as falls, fainting, prolonged stays, etc.

    The estate offices under the HA actively assist the Care Teams in promoting care activities, organising community events and providing visits and services to families in need (including elderly households). In addition, the HA collaborates with non-governmental organisations annually to organise activities in various PRH estates.  These activities include outreach visits to identify elderly singleton and hidden elders, providing them with support services such as meal delivery, home repair and cleaning services, escort service for medical appointments, etc., so as to help them maintain basic living needs, expand their social networks and provide emotional support.

    The HA will continue to implement the aforementioned measures and will conduct timely reviews, striving to meet the needs of tenants.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Heihe Port handled record number of cross-border e-commerce parcels in first half of 2025

    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 9 (Xinhua) — A total of 29.596 million pieces of cross-border e-commerce mail were exported through Heihe Port in northeast China’s Heilongjiang Province in the first half of 2025, up 4,824.3 percent year on year, the Heihe Daily reported.

    During the reporting period, the total weight of these parcels was 4,302 tons, and their value was 2.38 billion yuan (approximately 332.68 million US dollars), an increase of 482 percent and 1,552.8 percent year-on-year, respectively. Notably, all of these figures reached record highs.

    According to Heihe Customs, the maximum daily number of processed cross-border e-commerce parcels at the border crossing reached 829,000 units.

    The cities of Heihe and Blagoveshchensk are separated by the border river Heilongjiang /Amur/. Due to the geographical advantage and the efficient operation of local customs, it takes only 7-8 days to export postal items through the Heihe automobile checkpoint and undergo customs clearance, which ensures the timeliness of land transportation of goods sold within the framework of cross-border e-commerce.

    Convenient logistics channel allows Heihe to attract many enterprises engaged in cross-border e-commerce. To date, the city has built border warehouses for CET /cross-border e-commerce/ with an area of almost 20 thousand square meters, and 38 e-business entities have been registered. -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 Asia-Pac: LCQ10: Home ownership by public

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    (2) whether it has compiled statistics for each year over the past 10 years on the median monthly income and the median value of monthly mortgage repayment of local owner-occupied households; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

    (3) as there are views that home ownership can enhance people’s sense of belonging to community and foster strong work values, but according to a research brief published by the Legislative Council Secretariat in March 2021 and data from the Census and Statistics Department, the overall local home ownership rate and the home ownership rate among young people aged below 35 have both declined in recent years, whether the authorities will consider setting a home ownership rate afresh in LTHS in the future; if not, of the reasons for that; and 
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         Hong Kong’s housing policy has all along been an important cornerstone of social development. The current-term Government put in place measures to enhance quantity, speed, efficiency and quality in land production. With our unremitting efforts in the past three years, the problem of back-loaded public housing supply (including public rental housing (PRH) and subsidised sale flats (SSF)) has completely turned around. Coupled with Light Public Housing (LPH), the total public housing supply (including also PRH and SSF) in the coming five years (i.e. 2025-26 to 2029-30) will reach 197 000 units, which is a significant increase of 85 per cent as compared with the first five year period since the current-term Government took office (i.e. 2022-23 to 2026-27). In addition, we have successfully capped the waiting time for PRH, which has reduced from the peak of 6.1 years to 5.3 years. The oversubscription rate of Home Ownership Scheme (HOS) has also dropped from the peak of 62 times in HOS 2019 to 14 times in HOS 2024. Looking ahead, with the completion of various public housing (including PRH and SSF) as well as LPH projects, the Composite Waiting Time for Subsidised Rental Housing will gradually decline. Therefore, we have more confidence to provide more SSF to further meet the home ownership aspiration of the public.
     
         Currently, about half of the households are residing in accommodations that they own. For most people, buying a property is a major life decision involving many considerations, such as family and childbearing plans as well as the pursuit of a more independent and modern lifestyle, etc. For low- to middle-income persons who cannot afford private housing, SSF is a very suitable first step in realising their dream of home ownership. In this regard, we have all along been striving to enhance the housing ladder through the provision of various types of SSF in response to the home ownership aspiration of households with different income and encourage citizens from all walks of life to move up the social ladder according to their abilities.
     
         In consultation with the Financial Services and the Treasury Bureau and the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), our reply to the questions raised by Dr the Hon Wendy Hong is as follows:
     
    (1) and (2) Results of the 2016 Population By-census and the 2021 Population Census conducted by C&SD provide statistics regarding home ownership and related demographic and socio-economic characteristics of Hong Kong’s domestic households in the past decade. The number of owner-occupier domestic households by age group of household head and type of housing are listed in Annex 1. Over the past five years, the number of owner-occupier households and households owning SSF increased by over 80 000 and nearly 30 000 respectively, representing growth rates of 6 per cent and 7 per cent. This reflects a rising trend of homeownership among families. The median monthly income and the median mortgage payment and loan repayment of owner-occupier domestic households are listed in Annex 2.
     
         It is worth noting that between 2016 and 2021, only an average of about 4 200 flats were put up for sale under each HOS sale exercise, and the oversubscription rate was as high as about 43 times on average. However, the current-term Government is very determined to tackle the housing problem in Hong Kong. As a result, in the coming five years (i.e. 2025-26 to 2029-30), in addition to PRH/Green Form Subsidised Home Ownership Scheme (GSH) flats, the Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) and the Hong Kong Housing Society (HS) will have a completion of about 56 500 SSF, averaging about 11 000 units annually. This is 2.6 times of the annual output before the current-term Government took office.
     
    (3) and (4) As stated above, the current-term Government is very determined to resolve housing problem in Hong Kong and we also care about our young people. Therefore, we have introduced a number of policy measures to assist citizens (especially young people) in realising their home ownership aspiration through various aspects, such as supply, allocation and financial arrangements. Since the current-term Government took office, more than 33 000 applicants have purchased SSF, and the difficulties faced by low- and middle-income families in acquiring their own properties over the past decade or so have been clearly reversed by the concerted efforts of the various teams of the current-term Government in providing more land and housing. With the increasing supply of SSF in the coming years, more residents will experience the happiness and sense of fulfillment brought by homeownership over the next decade, enabling more families to settle securely and thrive in our city.
     
         In addition, in terms of supply, the Chief Executive announced in the 2024 Policy Address that the HA would adjust the ratio between PRH (including GSH units) and SSF to gradually adjust the ratio from 7:3 to 6:4 in order to increase the supply of SSF. In the next five years (i.e. 2025-26 to 2029-30), the HA and the HS will complete about 56 500 SSF. As stated above, we believe that a continuous and stable supply of SSF led by the Government is conducive to the upward mobility along the housing ladder and it will help those in need realise their dream of owning a home according to their respective needs and abilities.
     
         At the same time, we have also proposed a series of policy measures to meet the housing needs and demands of different citizens, including revising the ratio between Green Form and White Form in respect of HOS flats from the current 4:6 to 5:5 so as to allow more PRH tenants who would like to purchase HOS flats to move upwards; and increasing the chance of young people and applicants who have made repeated attempts to purchase SSF by optimising the sales arrangements.
     
         Starting from HOS 2024, the HA has implemented the Families with Newborns Flat Selection Priority Scheme which was announced in the 2023 Policy Address. A quota of about 40 per cent of the new flats for sale (i.e. 2 900 flats) under HOS 2024 were set aside for eligible applicants under the Families with Newborns Flat Selection Priority Scheme and the Priority Scheme for Families with Elderly Members for balloting and priority flat selection. During the application period of HOS 2024, the HA received a total of around 106 000 applications. Among them, around 50 000 came from family applicants, in which around 19 000 applied under the Priority Scheme for Families with Elderly Members and Families with Newborns Flat Selection Priority Scheme, representing around 40 per cent of family applicants. If eligible families applying under the Families with Newborns Flat Selection Priority Scheme fail to purchase a flat under HOS 2024, they may still apply under the Scheme for priority flat selection as long as their children are aged three or below on the closing day of the application of subsequent SSF sale exercises. In addition, following GSH 2024, the HA will allocate an extra ballot number to applicants who had failed to purchase a flat in the last two consecutive sale exercises starting from the next HOS exercise, so as to increase their chances of success in purchasing SSF. Based on the figures of HOS 2024, assuming all factors remain constant (including the number of applicants, their age, etc), the success rate of eligible families applying under the of Families with Newborns Flat Selection Priority Scheme in purchasing a flat will increase by about 60 per cent, after obtaining an extra ballot number.
     
         The HA has also been assisting low- to middle-income families in purchasing homes through pricing and financial arrangements. First of all, the Government revised the pricing mechanism of SSF in 2018. The pricing of SSF is calculated on the basis of applicants’ affordability, which is delinked from the private housing market. Under the current pricing mechanism, at least 75 per cent of the flats for sale can allow non-owner occupier households earning the median monthly household income to spend no more than 40 per cent of their monthly income on mortgage payment. Based on affordability calculations, the selling prices of the flats offered under latest GSH and HOS sale exercises were set at 60 per cent and 70 per cent of their assessed market value respectively.
     
         On top of this, the HA relaxed mortgage arrangements for SSF in 2024, including extending the maximum mortgage default guarantee from 30 years to 50 years and extending the maximum mortgage repayment period from 25 years to 30 years to enable purchasers of first-hand and second-hand SSF to obtain mortgage loans from banks and authorised financial institutions participating in the provision of mortgage loans for such flats. After the implementation of relevant arrangements, the number of HOS/GSH flats with a residual guarantee period of more than 10 years increased substantially from about 14 per cent to about 98 per cent. As at May 2025, the average number of transactions of second-hand SSF was about 360 per month, which was about 60 per cent higher than the average number of transactions of about 230 per month in the 12 months before the implementation. Besides, after extending the maximum mortgage repayment period for flats sold under the secondary market from 25 years to 30 years, among buyers who applied for mortgages to purchase SSF in the secondary market, more than half of the cases have a repayment period of 25 years or more. This shows that the above measures have successfully revitalised the secondary market and facilitated the turnover of SSF in the secondary market.
     
         For the secondary market, starting from White Form Secondary Market Scheme (WSM) 2024, the HA has also significantly increased the quota by 1 500 to 6 000, all of which will be allocated to young family applicants and one-person applicants aged below 40. Of all the applications for WSM 2024, more than 80 per cent (i.e. about 28 000 applications) were from young applicants who chose to participate in Youth Scheme (WSM), reflecting that the scheme is well received by young people.
     
         In addition, the Government also responds to the home ownership aspirations of higher-income persons who are not eligible for the HOS and yet cannot afford private housing through Starter Homes for Hong Kong Residents (SH) projects. Apart from the first two SH projects offered for sale by the Urban Renewal Authority (i.e. eResidence Towers 1 and 2, as well as eResidence Tower 3) with a total of over 600 SH units sold, the Government is also taking forward a few other SH projects, which will provide a total of around 5 000 SH units from the next few years onwards. Amongst applicants and final purchasers of SH units offered for sale in the past, around 85 per cent were youth aged 40 or below. We believe that this initiative may help another batch of youngsters from the middle class with higher income yet still cannot afford private housing achieve home ownership with more available options.
     
         Having regard to changes in the overall situation of the property market, the current-term Government has since February 2024 abolished all demand-side management measures for residential properties. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has also since October 2024 adjusted the countercyclical macroprudential measures for property mortgage loans. The maximum loan-to-value (LTV) ratio and debt servicing ratio (DSR) limit were reverted to the pre-2009 levels before the countercyclical macroprudential measures were first introduced, with the maximum LTV ratio for all residential properties adjusted to 70 per cent, regardless of the value of the property, and the DSR limit adjusted to 50 per cent, providing facilitation to persons with different needs for property purchase. Individuals may also obtain high LTV ratio mortgage loans through the Mortgage Insurance Programme according to their own needs. In particular, for first-time homebuyers with regular income purchasing properties priced at $10 million or below, the LTV ratio can be up to 90 per cent, which greatly reduces their down payment burden.
     
         Furthermore, to ease the burden on buyers of properties at lower values, the Government has since 26 February 2025 adjusted the value bands of Ad Valorem Stamp Duty payable for sale and purchase or transfer of residential and non-residential properties, raising the maximum value of properties chargeable to $100 stamp duty from $3 million and $4 million, facilitating those who wish to purchase flats. As most SSF units are priced below $4 million, buyers may benefit from the aforementioned reduction in stamp duty to $100, with savings up to over $59 000. According to the information from the Inland Revenue Department, there were 3 780 duly stamped sale and purchase agreements for residential properties valued between $3 million and $4 million from March to May 2025, which represents a significant increase of over 70 per cent as compared to the same period last year (March to May 2024) where 2 183 sale and purchase agreements were duly stamped.
     
         We will continue to review whether there is room to optimise various relevant arrangements having regard to factors including developments of the property market, the home ownership needs of different citizens, etc.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK 🔴 LIVE: Prime Minister’s Questions with British Sign Language (BSL) – 9 July 2025

    Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

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

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

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

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

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

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coSC0NX1QKI

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK 🔴 PMQs LIVE: Prime Minister’s Questions – 9 July 2025

    Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

    Watch PMQs with British Sign Language (BSL) – https://youtube.com/live/coSC0NX1QKI

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

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

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

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

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

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TADdw1XCKso

    MIL OSI Video –

  • European heatwave caused 2,300 deaths, scientists estimate

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Around 2,300 people died of heat-related causes across 12 European cities during the severe heatwave that ended last week, according to a rapid scientific analysis published on Wednesday.

    The study targeted the 10 days, ending July 2, during which large parts of Western Europe were hit by extreme heat, with temperatures breaching 40 degrees Celsius (104°F) in Spain and wildfires breaking out in France.

    Of the 2,300 people estimated to have died during this period, 1,500 deaths were linked to climate change, which made the heatwave more severe, according to the study conducted by scientists at Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

    “Climate change has made it significantly hotter than it would have been, which in turn makes it a lot more dangerous,” said Dr Ben Clarke, a researcher at Imperial College London.

    The study covered 12 cities including Barcelona, Madrid, London and Milan, where the researchers said climate change had increased heatwave temperatures by up to 4 degrees Celsius.

    The researchers used established epidemiological models and historical mortality data to estimate the death toll, which reflects deaths where heat was the underlying reason for mortality, including if exposure exacerbated pre-existing health conditions.

    The scientists said they used peer-reviewed methods to quickly produce the estimated death toll, because most heat-related deaths are not officially reported and some governments do not release this data.

    Last month was the planet’s third-hottest June on record, behind the same month in 2024 and 2023, the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service said in a monthly bulletin on Wednesday.

    Western Europe experienced its warmest June on record, with much of the region experiencing “very strong heat stress” – defined by conditions that feel like a temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or more, Copernicus said.

    “In a warming world, heatwaves are likely to become more frequent, more intense and impact more people across Europe,” said Samantha Burgess, Copernicus’ strategic lead for climate.

    Researchers from European health institutes reported in 2023 that as many as 61,000 people may have died in Europe’s sweltering heatwaves in 2022, according to new research, suggesting countries’ heat preparedness efforts are falling fatally short.

    The build-up of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere – which mostly come from the burning of fossil fuels – means the planet’s average temperature has increased over time. This increase in baseline temperatures means that when a heatwave comes, temperatures can surge to higher peaks.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-Evening Report: Ice baths are booming in popularity – but they come with health risks

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samuel Cornell, PhD Candidate in Public Health & Community Medicine, School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney

    Michele Ursi/Getty Images

    Walk through any trendy suburb and you might find a new “wellness” studio offering ice baths or “contrast therapy” (a sauna and ice bath combo).

    Scroll social media, and you’re likely to come across influencers preaching the cold plunge gospel with cult-like zeal.

    Ice baths have gone mainstream. Initially practised mainly among high-performance athletes, cold water immersion is now a booming business model: sold as recovery, discipline and therapy all in one.

    But the benefits are questionable and, importantly, ice baths can have health risks – particularly for people who have limited experience using them.

    From Roman times to today

    Cold water immersion isn’t a new concept.

    The “frigidarium” – a room with a cold plunge pool or bath – was a feature in most Roman bathhouses.

    For decades, athletes have used cold water immersion, such as swims in cold water, for recovery.

    But in recent years, with the proliferation of commercial cold plunge centres, there’s been an explosion in people using ice baths recreationally.

    Many people are even setting up their own ice baths at home. The global cold plunge tub market was valued at close to US$338 million in 2024 and is projected to reach nearly $483 million by 2033.

    Social media shows serene influencers meditating through the pain, claiming it boosts mental health, serotonin, testosterone, and their metabolism. But does the evidence stack up?

    Ice baths can reduce muscle soreness after intense training, however the effect is modest and short-lived.

    Some research shows cold water immersion can improve mood after a single exposure in young, healthy people, but other research doesn’t find these benefits.

    Most claims about mental health, testosterone and weight loss aren’t backed by strong evidence. Rather, they’re anecdotal and amplified by influencers.



    Read more:
    Cold water therapy: what are the benefits and dangers of ice baths, wild swimming and freezing showers?

    What does an ice bath involve?

    At commercial establishments, patrons can often use the ice baths as they please during a booked session. Ice bath temperatures often range anywhere from 3°C to 15°C. There normally isn’t actual ice in the bath, but some people add blocks of ice to their ice baths at home.

    Businesses offering ice baths don’t always actively supervise patrons or monitor a person’s time in the ice bath. They may leave their customers to self-regulate, assuming people will know to get out of the water before they pass their body’s limits.

    So what are the risks?

    Cold water immersion triggers a powerful physiological response. When you hit cold water below 15°C, your body launches into cold shock. Gasping occurs and breathing becomes rapid and uncontrollable. Heart rate spikes. Blood pressure rises.

    Staying in the water for too long can lead to hypothermia, a condition where a person’s core body temperature drops dangerously low.

    Shivering may begin within minutes in cold water. Confusion or fainting are more serious signs that hypothermia may be developing.

    Occasionally, this “cold shock” response can lead to a heart attack or stroke – especially if you have an undiagnosed condition affecting your heart, blood vessels or brain.

    As far back as 1969, researchers found even experienced swimmers could struggle after just a few minutes in cold water. Participants were immersed in water at 4.7°C while fully clothed and asked to swim as if trying to reach safety. Some developed serious respiratory distress and had to stop swimming within as little as 90 seconds, well before any measurable drop in core body temperature.

    Even after you get out, your core temperature can continue to fall – a phenomenon known as afterdrop. So you can encounter problems, such as collapse, even after leaving the water.

    And even young, healthy people can be caught off guard. The body isn’t designed to endure freezing water for extended periods.

    Recently one of us (Sam Cornell) had to provide first aid at an ice bath venue in Sydney. A young man collapsed after staying in an ice bath for ten minutes. He was shivering uncontrollably and clearly suffering from cold shock.

    Cold exposure can also cause long-term damage to nerves and blood vessels in the hands and feet, known as non-freezing cold injury. This is more likely if someone spends an extended period immersed in cold water. Symptoms such as numbness, pain and sensitivity to cold can persist for years.

    6 tips for safer recreational ice bath use

    The ice bath trend is part of a broader wellness movement, promoted to young men in particular, where discomfort is repackaged as discipline. Push through the pain. Master your body. If you feel terrible, you must be doing it right.

    But behind the hype lies a less appealing truth. Ice baths can be dangerous.

    We advise caution, but if you do choose to try an ice bath, treat it seriously and follow these tips to reduce the risk of harm.

    1. Talk to your doctor: get checked out first. If you or your family have any heart, stroke or respiratory risk, skip it

    2. Know your limits: being fit doesn’t protect you from cold shock

    3. Start gradually: begin with short warm to cold showers before full immersion

    4. Never go alone: always have someone with you, especially if you’re new to ice baths

    5. Keep it short and watch the temperature: limit sessions to 3–5 minutes and remember, problems can still occur after you get out

    6. Recognise the signs of danger: symptoms such as shivering, numbness and confusion can all seem like part of the experience to someone bent on pushing themselves. But these can be signs of hypothermia.

    Samuel Cornell receives funding from Meta Platforms, Inc. His research is supported by a University of New South Wales Sydney, University Postgraduate Award. His research is supported by Royal Life Saving Society – Australia to aid in the prevention of drowning. Research at Royal Life Saving Society – Australia is supported by the Australian government. He has been affiliated with Surf Life Saving Australia and Surf Life Saving NSW in a paid and voluntary capacity.

    Michael Tipton has previously received funding from organisations working in drowning prevention and water safety. He is Chair of the UK National Water Safety Forum, hosted by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), and a member of Council of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI).

    – ref. Ice baths are booming in popularity – but they come with health risks – https://theconversation.com/ice-baths-are-booming-in-popularity-but-they-come-with-health-risks-260206

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Israel’s Rafah camp – ‘humanitarian city’ or crime against humanity?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Shannon Bosch, Associate Professor (Law), Edith Cowan University

    Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz has announced a controversial plan to move up to 600,000 Palestinians in Gaza into a designated “humanitarian area” on the ruins of the southern city of Rafah.

    Access to the camp would be through strict security screening to ensure entrants were not Hamas operatives. Once inside, the perimeter would be sealed off by the Israeli military. Palestinians would not be allowed to leave.

    Eventually the camp would house the entire 2.1 million population of Gaza.

    Camp construction would begin during the proposed 60-day ceasefire being negotiated by Israel and Hamas

    ‘Illegal and inhumane’

    The plan is illegal, inhumane and risks worsening the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

    The forced displacement and containment of any civilian population in an occupied territory is a violation of international humanitarian law.

    Done on this scale would constitute a war crime and a crime against humanity under the Rome Statute.

    The UN Security Council, UN General Assembly and UN Commission on Human Rights have all condemned instances of forced transfer in armed conflicts.

    So too, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent, which have stressed the fundamental prohibition of forced displacement of a civilian population and the need for all parties to respect this prohibition.

    For their own protection?

    Katz is describing the camp as a “humanitarian city”. The Israeli military says Palestinians would only be contained for their own protection.

    As we have seen, civilian displacement is prohibited. But there is an exception if a case can be made either for military reasons or the protection of the population.

    However, this exception only exists for as long as the conditions warrant for it to exist. Anyone subject to such an evacuation must be transferred back to their homes as soon as possible.

    Imperative military reasons never justify the removal of a civilian population in order to persecute it. The Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement entrenches the duty of international actors to avoid creating the conditions that might lead to the displacement of people.

    Aid dilemma

    Katz has indicated international organisations would be responsible for managing aid and services inside the area.

    But Israel has a history of defying even orders from the International Court of Justice to allow humanitarian aid to reach the Palestinians in Gaza.

    If international humanitarian agencies were called upon to service the camp, they would face a dilemma.

    They would need to decide whether to cooperate in managing aid under conditions that compromise their neutrality and ethical standards, deny basic human rights and are built on violations of international law.

    Aid groups would risk being complicit in a process that sets up a transit camp for Palestinians before possibly expelling them from Gaza altogether.

    This “humanitarian city” would essentially become an open-air prison. Palestinians would be reliant on international aid under strict Israeli military control.

    Mass expulsion?

    Could the Rafah camp be a precursor to mass expulsion from Gaza and what does international law say about that?

    Katz has been quoted saying Israel aims to implement “the emigration plan, which will happen” – meaning Gazans will eventually be forced to leave for other countries.

    Changing the demographic composition of a territory – ethnic cleansing – achieved through the displacement of the civilian population of a territory is strictly prohibited under international law.

    The idea of displacing Palestinians has long been part of Israeli strategic thinking, but this announcement signals a dangerous escalation and intention to permanently alter Gaza’s demographic landscape through displacement and containment.

    Voluntary exodus?

    According to Katz, Gazans would have the option of “voluntary” emigration.

    Indeed, speaking at the White House this week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there would be no forced exodus from Gaza:

    If people want to stay, they can stay, but if they want to leave, they should be able to leave.

    But the scale of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is incomprehensible.

    The population has been displaced multiple times and 90% of homes in Gaza are damaged or destroyed. The healthcare, water, sanitation and hygiene systems have collapsed.

    On average 100 Palestinians are killed daily as they try to access food.

    These crisis circumstances negate the voluntary nature of any person’s consent to either the transfer to the Rafah camp or ultimately, the departure from Gaza.

    According to Amos Goldberg, historian of the Holocaust at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, what the defence minister laid out was clear plans for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza:

    [it is] a transit camp for Palestinians before they expel them. It is neither humanitarian nor a city.

    Shannon Bosch 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. Israel’s Rafah camp – ‘humanitarian city’ or crime against humanity? – https://theconversation.com/israels-rafah-camp-humanitarian-city-or-crime-against-humanity-260809

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Supporting flood-affected populations in Democratic Republic of Congo to recover

    Source: APO


    .

    Salima, a mother of four, was severely affected by the floods that hit Kinshasa, the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in April 2025. She had previously fled violence and insecurity in the country’s eastern provinces to seek refuge in Kinshasa “A few days after I arrived, the rains caught us by surprise. We lost everything. The entire neighbourhood was heavily flooded. People had to flee to seek refuge elsewhere.”   

    Many of the flood-affected Kinshasa residents were provided with temporary shelter in Kinkole, a neighbourhood in Kinshasa where the government set up a site. More than 100 families were relocated to the shelters. With ambulances mobilized under the World Health Organization’s (WHO) SURGE system – a mechanism project for public health emergency preparedness and response – many patients, including pregnant women, were transferred promptly to referral health facilities, ensuring timely and appropriate care. 

    “Less than 24 hours after the disaster, we were on the ground for a rapid assessment of the situation,” said Dr Guy Kalambayi, Emergency Preparedness and Response Officer with WHO in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. “We helped set up a care unit with the minimum resources needed to relieve the population. Our responsiveness was greatly appreciated by the communities, both in terms of addressing their immediate needs and safeguarding their health.”

    WHO supported the health authorities to develop public health situation analysis, provide health services to those affected, assess the health needs and provide safe drinking water to the displaced and the households hosting them. 

    By June 2025, more than 5000 people were still living at the Kinkole site, out of the over 10 000 people affected by the floods in the sprawling capital city and its surroundings.

    Over than two months after the devastating floods that affected at least five major cities in the country, the authorities, supported by WHO and partners, continue to assist those affected to recover from the disaster. 

    In total, about 1.5 million people were affected across the country by the floods, which also damaged more than 200 schools, over 100 health centres, as well as houses and markets. WHO provided essential medical supplies, including emergency medical equipment, to cover the health needs of 10 000 people for three months. WHO also supplied four tents for emergency shelter.

    “With access to health services disrupted by the disaster, it is critically important to care for vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, children, the elderly and persons with disabilities or chronic conditions who require regular care,” says Dr Kalmbayi. 

    The authorities launched emergency efforts to repair damaged infrastructure and mobilize teams to coordinate humanitarian assistance. In Kinkole and elsewhere, the government and its partners are taking measures to ensure appropriate and dignified living conditions, providing continuity of health services and care, including vaccination and psychosocial support. 

    “We needed safe shelter, water and food. That’s what we received, not to mention the care we received with free medicines,” says Albertine, a medical student in Kinshasa affected by the disaster. 

    For Dr Emilia Sana, Flood Incident Manager at the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare, the coordinated response to the floods “marks a turning point towards a more effective multisectoral framework for our efforts, bringing key ministries together at the highest level.”

    WHO and partners continue to support the government strengthen outbreak prevention measures, including securing the supply of safe drinking water, sanitation and reinforcing of community-based disease surveillance systems.

    “We may have lost all our material possessions, but we are still alive and in good health. That’s what matters,” says Salima.

    The Democratic Republic of the Congo remains vulnerable to climate-linked disasters. Off-season rains in June, for instance, claimed at least 29 lives in three districts of Kinshasa, with more than 500 households affected.

    “One of the key takeaways from this emergency, both in Kinshasa and other provinces, is that there is power in collaboration, particularly in managing potentially epidemic diseases and chronic conditions, thereby ensuring continuity of care. WHO’s support through providing medicines to the affected communities has been invaluable,” says Dr Sana of the Ministry of Public Health, Hygiene and Social Welfare. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of World Health Organization (WHO) – Democratic Republic of Congo.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Five people missing after heavy rains trigger landslide in Sichuan province

    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

    CHENGDU, July 9 (Xinhua) — A rain-triggered landslide buried a house in Shizhuang Village, Xuyong County, southwest China’s Sichuan Province early Wednesday, leaving five people missing, local authorities said.

    Heavy rains hit Zhengdong Township, Xuyong County, from Tuesday evening to Wednesday morning. According to the county government, 24 people from 11 households living near the landslide zone were evacuated.

    Intensive search efforts are currently underway to find the missing persons.

    Local emergency management and health departments, as well as geological experts, fire and rescue teams and local disaster response forces were mobilized to the scene. -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 Asia-Pac: President Lai meets delegation led by Foreign Minister Jean-Victor Harvel Jean-Baptiste of Republic of Haiti

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    Details
    2025-07-01
    President Lai meets delegation from 2025 Taiwan International Ocean Forum
    On the afternoon of July 1, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation from the 2025 Taiwan International Ocean Forum (TIOF). In remarks, President Lai noted that the people of Taiwan will continue to work with democratic partners throughout the world in a maritime spirit of freedom and openness to contribute to ocean governance and jointly ensure maritime security. He expressed hope that their visit will help forge stronger friendships between Taiwan and international maritime partners, so that all can work together to spur shared maritime prosperity and sustainable development for the next generation. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I want to thank our guests for coming here to the Presidential Office. The 2025 TIOF will take place tomorrow and the day after, and I thank you all for making the long trip to Taiwan to attend the event and share your valuable insights and experiences. This year’s forum will focus on strategies for strengthening maritime security and pathways to achieving a sustainable blue economy. By attending this forum, our guests are highlighting their commitment to safeguarding the oceans, and beyond that, taking concrete action to demonstrate support for Taiwan. I once again offer deepest gratitude on behalf of the people of Taiwan. Taiwan holds a key position on the first island chain, is one of the world’s top 10 shipping nations, and accounts for close to 10 percent of global container shipping by volume. As such, Taiwan occupies a unique and important position in maritime strategy. For Taiwan, the ocean is more than just a basis for survival and development; it is also an important driver of national prosperity. In my inaugural address last year, I spoke of a threefold approach to further Taiwan’s development. One of these involves further developing our strengths as a maritime nation. Our government must actively help deepen our connections with the ocean, and must continue to promote green shipping, a sustainable fishing industry, marine renewable energy, and other forms of industrial transformation. It must also make use of marine technology and digital innovation to create a new paradigm that balances environmental, economic, and social inclusion concerns. This will help enhance Taiwan’s responsibilities and competitiveness as a maritime nation. Taiwan is surrounded by ocean, and our territorial waters are a natural protective barrier. However, continued gray-zone aggression from China creates serious threats and challenges to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Our government continues to invest resources to deal with increasingly complex maritime security issues. In addition to building coast guard patrol vessels, we must also step up efforts to build underwater, surface, and airborne unmanned vehicles and smart reconnaissance equipment, so as to demonstrate Taiwan’s determination to defend democracy and freedom and commitment to maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. Oceans are Taiwan’s roots, and provide the channels by which we engage with the world. The people of Taiwan will continue to work with democratic partners throughout the world in a maritime spirit of freedom and openness to contribute to ocean governance and jointly ensure maritime security. The TIOF was first launched in 2020, and has now become an important platform for enhancement of cooperation between Taiwan and other countries. I hope that our distinguished guests will reap great benefits at this year’s forum, and further hope that this visit will help forge stronger friendships between Taiwan and international maritime partners, so that all can work together to spur shared maritime prosperity and sustainable development for the next generation. Chairman of The Washington Times Thomas McDevitt, a member of the delegation, then delivered remarks, noting first that July 4th, this Friday, is Independence Day in America. Independence is a sacred, powerful word which has great meaning in this part of the world, he said. Chairman McDevitt indicated that Taiwan has truly become a global beacon of democracy and a key partner for many nations. He then quoted President Lai’s 2024 inaugural address: “We will work together to combat disinformation, strengthen democratic resilience, address challenges, and allow Taiwan to become the MVP of the democratic world.” Chairman McDevitt went on to say that he appreciated the president’s speech with regard to his philosophical depth, sensitivity, and both moral and political clarity. He said that he was deeply moved by the speech, but within a few days of it, China responded with military activities and many threats. The chairman then emphasized that we are in a civilization crisis. Chairman McDevitt mentioned that President Lai has begun a series of 10 lectures, and remarked that they would help the world to understand the identity and the nature of Taiwan, as well as the situation we are in in the world. On behalf of all the delegation, Chairman McDevitt thanked the president for his leadership in dealing with these issues thoughtfully. Chairman McDevitt concluded with a line from the Old Testament which states that if the people have no vision, they will perish. He said that he believes Taiwan’s president has led the people of Taiwan, and the world, with a vision of how to navigate this great civilization crisis together. The delegation also included Members of the Japanese House of Representatives Kikawada Hitoshi, Aoyama Yamato, and Genma Kentaro, and Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom Gavin Williamson.

    Details
    2025-06-30
    President Lai meets Minister of State at UK Department for Business and Trade Douglas Alexander  
    On the morning of June 30, President Lai Ching-te met with Douglas Alexander, Minister of State at the Department for Business and Trade of the United Kingdom. In remarks, President Lai thanked the UK government for its longstanding support for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, demonstrating that Taiwan and the UK share similar goals. Noting that two years ago, Taiwan and the UK signed an enhanced trade partnership (ETP) arrangement, the president said that today Taiwan and the UK have signed three pillars under the ETP, which will help promote bilateral economic and trade cooperation. He expressed hope of the UK publicly supporting Taiwan’s accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) so that together we can create an economic and trade landscape in the Indo-Pacific characterized by shared prosperity and development. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: First, on behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend a warm welcome to Minister Alexander and wish a fruitful outcome for the 27th round of Taiwan-UK trade talks later today. Taiwan-UK relations have grown closer in recent years. We have not only continued to strengthen cooperation in such fields as offshore wind power, innovative technologies, and culture and education but also have established regular dialogue mechanisms in the critical areas of economics and trade, energy, and agriculture. The UK is currently Taiwan’s fourth-largest European trading partner, second-largest source of investment from Europe, and third-largest target for investment in Europe. Two years ago, Taiwan and the UK signed an ETP arrangement. This was particularly meaningful, as it was the first institutionalized economic and trade framework between Taiwan and a European country. Today, this arrangement is yielding further results. I am delighted that Taiwan and the UK have signed three pillars under the ETP covering investment, digital trade, and energy and net-zero. This will help promote bilateral economic and trade cooperation and advance industrial development on both sides. I also want to thank the UK government for its longstanding support for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. This month, the UK published its Strategic Defence Review 2025 and National Security Strategy 2025, which oppose any unilateral attempts to change the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. These not only demonstrate that Taiwan and the UK share similar goals but also show that security and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region are inseparable from those of the transatlantic regions. In addition, last November, the House of Commons passed a motion which made clear that United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Resolution 2758 neither established the sovereignty of the People’s Republic of China over Taiwan nor determined Taiwan’s status in the United Nations. The UK government also responded to the motion by publicly expressing for the first time its position on UNGA Resolution 2758, opposing any attempt to broaden the interpretation of the resolution to rewrite history. For this, on behalf of the people of Taiwan, I once again want to extend my deepest gratitude. Taiwan and the UK have the advantage of being highly complementary in the technology sector. In facing the restructuring of global supply chains and other international economic and trade developments, I believe that Taiwan and the UK are indispensable key partners for one another. I look forward to the UK publicly supporting Taiwan’s accession to the CPTPP so that together, we can create an economic and trade landscape in the Indo-Pacific characterized by shared prosperity and development. In closing, I wish Minister Alexander a pleasant and successful visit. And I hope he has the opportunity to visit Taiwan for personal travel in the future. Minister Alexander then delivered remarks, saying that it is a great personal honor to meet with everyone today to discuss further deepening the UK-Taiwan trade relationship and explore the many opportunities our two sides can pursue together. He mentioned that he traveled to Taiwan in 2022 when he was a private citizen, a visit he thoroughly enjoyed, so he is delighted to be back to see the strength of the UK-Taiwan relationship and the strengthening of that relationship. He said that relationship is built on mutual respect, democratic values, and a shared vision for open, resilient, and rules-based economic cooperation. As like-minded partners, he pointed out, our collaboration continues to grow across multiple sectors, and he is here today to further that momentum. Minister Alexander stated that on trade and investment, he is proud that this morning we signed the ETP Pillars on Investment, Digital Trade, Energy and Net Zero, which will provide a clear framework for our future cooperation and lay the foundation for expanded access and market-shaping engagement between our two economies. The minister said he believes that together with our annual trade talks, this partnership will help UK’s firms secure new commercial opportunities, improve regulatory alignment, and promote long-term investment in key growth areas, which in turn will also support Taiwan’s efforts to expand high-quality trade relationships with trusted partners. Minister Alexander said that President Lai’s promotion of the Five Trusted Industry Sectors and the UK’s recently published industrial and trade strategies are very well-aligned, as both cover clean energy and semiconductors as well as advanced manufacturing. He then provided an example, saying that both sides plan to invest in AI infrastructure and compute power-creating opportunities for great joint research in the future. By combining our strengths in these areas, he said, we can open the door to innovative collaboration and commercial success for both sides. He mentioned that yesterday he visited the Taiwan Space Agency, commenting that in sectors such as satellite technology, green energy, and cyber security, British expertise and trusted standards can provide meaningful solutions. Noting that President Lai spoke in his remarks of the broader challenge of peace and security in the region, Minister Alexander stated that the United Kingdom has, of course, also continued to affirm its commitment to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, along with its G7 partners. The UK-Taiwan relationship is strategic, enduring, and growing, he stated, and they reaffirm and remain firm in their longstanding position and confident in their ability to work together to support both prosperity and resilience in both of our societies. Minister Alexander said that, as Taiwan looks to diversify capital and build global partnerships, they believe the UK represents a strong and ambitious investment destination, particularly for Taiwanese companies at the very forefront of robotics, clean tech, and advanced industry. He pointed out that the UK’s markets are stable, open, and aligned with Taiwan’s vision of a high-tech, sustainable future, adding that he looks forward to our discussion on how we can further deepen our cooperation across all of these areas and more. The delegation also included Martin Kent, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific at the UK Department for Business and Trade. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by British Office Taipei Representative Ruth Bradley-Jones.   

    Details
    2025-06-27
    President Lai confers decoration on former Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Chairman Ohashi Mitsuo
    On the morning of June 27, President Lai Ching-te conferred the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon upon former Chairman of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Ohashi Mitsuo in recognition of his firm convictions and tireless efforts in promoting Taiwan-Japan exchanges. In remarks, President Lai stated that Chairman Ohashi cares for Taiwan like a family member, and expressed hope that Taiwan and Japan continue to deepen their partnership, bring about the early signing of an economic partnership agreement (EPA), and jointly build secure and stable non-red supply chains as we boost the resilience and competitiveness of our economies and jointly safeguard the values of freedom and democracy. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: Every meeting I have with Chairman Ohashi, with whom I have worked side by side for many years, is warm and friendly. I recall that when we met last year, Chairman Ohashi said that he often thinks about what Japan can do for Taiwan and what Taiwan can do for Japan, and that it is that mutual concern that makes us so close. This was a truly moving statement illustrating the relationship between Taiwan and Japan. Chairman Ohashi has also said numerous times that our bilateral relations may very well be the best in the entire world, and that in fact they may serve as a model to other countries. Indeed, Chairman Ohashi is himself an exemplary model for friendly relations between Taiwan and Japan. His spirit of always working tirelessly to promote Taiwan-Japan exchanges is truly admirable. Assuming the position of chairman of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association in 2011, he served during the terms of former Presidents Ma Ying-jeou and Tsai Ing-wen, continuously making positive contributions to Taiwan-Japan relations. Over these past 14 years, Taiwan and Japan have signed over 50 major agreements, spanning the economy and trade, fisheries, and taxes, among other areas. In 2017, the Taiwan-Japan Relations Association and the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association underwent name changes, strengthening the essence and significance of Taiwan-Japan relations. These great achievements were all made possible thanks to the firm convictions and tireless efforts of Chairman Ohashi. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I am delighted to confer upon Chairman Ohashi the Order of Brilliant Star with Grand Cordon to express our deepest thanks for his outstanding contributions. Chairman Ohashi is not just a good friend of Taiwan, but someone who cares for Taiwan like a family member. When a major earthquake struck in 2016, he personally went to Tainan to assess the situation and meet with the city government. This outpouring of friendship and support across borders was deeply moving. As we look to the future, I hope that Taiwan and Japan can continue to deepen our partnership. In addition to bringing about the early signing of an EPA, I also hope that we can expand collaboration in key areas such as semiconductors, energy, and AI, continue building secure and stable non-red supply chains, and boost the resilience and competitiveness of our economies as well as peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. As Chairman Ohashi has said, the close bilateral relationship between Taiwan and Japan is one the world can be proud of. I would like to thank him once again for his contributions to deepening Taiwan-Japan ties. Taiwan will continue to forge ahead side by side with Japan, jointly safeguarding the values of freedom and democracy and mutually advancing prosperous development. I wish Chairman Ohashi good health, happiness, peace, and success in his future endeavors, and invite him to return to Taiwan often to visit old friends. Chairman Ohashi then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai for his kind words. He stated that the Taiwan-Japan relationship is not only worthy of praise; it can also serve as a superb model in the world for bilateral relations that is worthy of study by other countries. He added that this is the result of the collective efforts of President Lai as well as many other individuals. Chairman Ohashi said that the current international situation is rather severe, with wars and conflicts occurring between many neighboring countries. He said that there is a growing trend of nuclear weapon proliferation, emphasizing that use of such weapons would cause significant harm between nations. He also pointed out that some countries even use nuclear weapons as a threat, leading to instability and impacting the global situation. Chairman Ohashi said that neither Taiwan nor Japan possesses nuclear weapons, which is something to be proud of. That is why, he said, we can declare that a world without nuclear weapons is a peaceful world. He also mentioned that during his tenure as chairman of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association, he consistently upheld this principle in his work. Chairman Ohashi said that the mission of the World Federalist Movement (WFM) is to promote world peace. He said that the WFM has branches in countries worldwide, with the WFM of Japan being one of the most prominent, and that it also aspires to achieve the goal of world peace. Having served as chairman of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association for 14 years, he said, he is now stepping down from this role and will serve as the chairman of the WFM of Japan, aiming to promote peace in countries around the world. Chairman Ohashi said that both Taiwan and Japan can take pride in our friendly bilateral relationship, emphasizing that if the good relationship between Japan and Taiwan could be offered as an example to countries around the world, there would be no more wars. He expressed his sincere hope that under President Lai’s leadership, Taiwan and Japan can work together to jointly promote world peace. Also in attendance at the ceremony was Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office Chief Representative Katayama Kazuyuki.

    Details
    2025-06-25
    President Lai meets Japan’s former Economic Security Minister Kobayashi Takayuki
    On the afternoon of June 25, President Lai Ching-te met with Kobayashi Takayuki, Japan’s former economic security minister and a current member of the House of Representatives. In remarks, President Lai expressed hope to combine the strengths of the democratic community to build resilient, reliable non-red supply chains, and ensure a resilient global economy and sustainable development. He also expressed hope that Taiwan and Japan can bring about the early signing of an economic partnership agreement (EPA), and that Japan will continue supporting Taiwan’s bid to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), enhancing our own bilateral partnership, as doing so would create win-win situations and further contribute to regional economic security and stability. The following is a translation of President Lai’s remarks: I welcome Representative Kobayashi back to Taiwan for another visit after seven years. During his last visit, he was with a delegation from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) Youth Division, and we met at the Executive Yuan. I am very happy to see him again today. Representative Kobayashi has long paid close attention to matters involving economic security, technological innovation, and aerospace policy. He also made a stunning debut in last year’s LDP presidential election, showing that he is truly a rising star and an influential figure in the political sphere. With this visit, Representative Kobayashi is demonstrating support for Taiwan with concrete action, which is very meaningful. Taiwan and Japan are both part of the first island chain’s key line of defense. We thank the many Japanese prime ministers, including former Prime Ministers Abe Shinzo, Suga Yoshihide, and Kishida Fumio, as well as current Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru, for the many times they have highlighted the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait at important international venues, and for expressing opposition to the use of force or coercion to unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. I hope that Taiwan and Japan can engage in more cooperation and exchanges to promote peace and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region in all aspects. In particular, China in recent years has been actively expanding its red supply chains, which threaten the global free trade system and advanced technology markets. Taiwan hopes to combine the strengths of the democratic community to build resilient, reliable non-red supply chains. In the semiconductor industry, for example, Taiwan has excellent advanced manufacturing capabilities, while Japan plays an important role in materials, equipment, and key technologies. I am confident that, given the experience that Taiwan and Japan have in cooperating, we can build an industrial supply chain composed of democratic nations to ensure a resilient global economy and sustainable development. I hope that Taiwan and Japan can bring about the early signing of an EPA in order to deepen our bilateral trade and investment exchanges and cooperation. I also hope that Japan will continue supporting Taiwan’s bid to join the CPTPP, enhancing our own bilateral partnership, as doing so would create win-win situations and further contribute to regional economic security and stability. Taiwan and Japan are democratic partners that share the values of freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights. I firmly believe that so long as we work together, we can certainly address the challenges posed by authoritarianism, and bring prosperity and development to the Indo-Pacific region. In closing, I welcome Representative Kobayashi once again. I am certain that this visit will help enhance Taiwan-Japan exchanges and deepen our friendship. Representative Kobayashi then delivered remarks, first thanking President Lai for taking the time to meet with him, and noting that this was his second visit to Taiwan following a trip seven years prior, when he came with his good friend from college and then-Director of the LDP Youth Division Suzuki Keisuke, now Japan’s minister of justice. Representative Kobayashi mentioned a Japanese kanji that he is very fond of – 絆 (kizuna) – which means “deep ties of friendship.” He emphasized that a key purpose of this visit to Taiwan was to reiterate the deep ties of friendship between Taiwan and Japan. In addition to deep historical ties, he said, Taiwan and Japan also enjoy a like-minded partnership in terms of economic, personnel, and friendship-oriented exchanges. He went on to say that at the strategic level, Taiwan and Japan also have deep ties of friendship, and that for Japan, it is strategically important that Taiwan not be isolated under any circumstances. Representative Kobayashi emphasized that cooperation between Taiwan and Japan, and even cooperation among Taiwan, Japan, and the United States, are more important now than ever, and that another important focus of this visit is the non-red supply chains referred to earlier by President Lai. He said that as Japan’s first economic security minister and the person currently in charge of the LDP’s policy on economic security, he is acutely aware of the important impact of economic security on national interests, and therefore looks forward to further exchanging views regarding Taiwan’s concrete steps to build non-red supply chains. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Deputy Representative Takaba Yo.

    Details
    2025-06-16
    President Lai meets delegation led by Representative Bera, co-chair of US Congressional Taiwan Caucus
    On the morning of June 16, President Lai Ching-te met with a delegation led by Representative Ami Bera, co-chair of the US Congressional Taiwan Caucus. In remarks, President Lai thanked the representatives in Congress for actively voicing support for Taiwan and proposing numerous Taiwan-friendly initiatives to strengthen Taiwan-US ties, helping expand Taiwan’s international space and continuing to place focus on peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The president said that we will continue to strengthen bilateral investment and industrial cooperation and create a more comprehensive environment for economic and trade exchanges to jointly enhance economic and developmental resilience. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: I am delighted to meet with the delegation and welcome Congressman Bera back to the Presidential Office. Last January, he visited after the presidential election, demonstrating the steadfast backing of the US Congress for democratic Taiwan. This time, as head of a delegation of new members of the House Armed Services Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee, he is continuing to foster US congressional support for Taiwan. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I extend a sincere welcome to Congressman Bera and all our esteemed guests. Over the years, staunch bipartisan US congressional backing of Taiwan has been a key force for steadily advancing our bilateral relations. I thank the representatives in Congress for actively voicing support for Taiwan and proposing numerous Taiwan-friendly initiatives, thereby strengthening Taiwan-US ties, helping expand Taiwan’s international space, and continuing to place focus on peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. I want to emphasize that Taiwan has an unwavering determination to safeguard peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. Over the past year, the government and private sector have been working together to enhance Taiwan’s whole-of-society defense resilience and accelerate reform of national defense. The government is also prioritizing special budget allocations to ensure that our defense budget exceeds three percent of GDP this year. I hope that Taiwan-US security cooperation will evolve beyond military procurement to a partnership that encompasses joint research and development and joint production, further strengthening cooperation and exchange in the defense industry. Regarding industrial exchanges, last month, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and Minister of Economic Affairs Kuo Jyh-huei (郭智輝) each visited Texas to see firsthand Taiwan-US collaboration in AI and semiconductors. And the delegation led by Executive Yuan Secretary-General Kung Ming-hsin (龔明鑫) sent by Taiwan to this year’s SelectUSA Investment Summit in Washington, DC, was again the largest of those attending. All of this demonstrates Taiwan’s commitment to working alongside the US to create mutual prosperity. In the future, we will continue to strengthen bilateral investment and industrial cooperation. And I hope that the legislation addressing the issue of Taiwan-US double taxation will become law this year. I want to thank Congressman Bera for co-leading a joint letter last November signed by over 100 members of Congress calling for such legislation. I believe that by creating a more comprehensive environment for economic and trade exchanges, Taiwan and the US can enhance economic and developmental resilience. In closing, I thank you all for making the long journey here to advance Taiwan-US relations. Let us continue working together to promote the prosperous development of this important partnership. Congressman Bera then delivered remarks, saying that on behalf of the delegation, it is an honor for him to be here once again, it being last January that he and Congressman Mario Díaz-Balart visited and congratulated President Lai on his election victory, noting that theirs was the first congressional delegation to do so. Congressman Bera said that this is an important time, not just for the US and Taiwan relationship, but for all relationships around the world. When we look at conflicts in Europe and in the Middle East, he said, it is incumbent upon democracies to hold the peace in Asia. He emphasized that is why it is important for them to bring a delegation of members of the Foreign Affairs Committee and the Armed Services Committee, adding that he believes for all of them it is their first trip to Taiwan.  Congressman Bera said that while this is a delegation of Democratic members of Congress, in a bipartisan way all of Congress continues to support the people of Taiwan. As such, in this visit he brings support from his co-chairs on the Taiwan caucus, Congressman Díaz-Balart and Congressman Andy Barr. He also took a moment to recognize the passing of Congressman Gerald Connolly, who was a longtime friend of Taiwan and one of their co-chairs on the caucus. Congressman Bera mentioned that there is always a special bond between himself and President Lai because they are both doctors, and as doctors, their profession is about healing, keeping the peace, and making sure everybody has a bright, prosperous future. In closing, he highlighted that it is in that spirit that their delegation visits with the president. The delegation also included members of the US Congress Gabe Amo, Wesley Bell, Julie Johnson, Sarah McBride, and Johnny Olszewski.

    Details
    2025-05-20
    President Lai interviewed by Nippon Television and Yomiuri TV
    In a recent interview on Nippon Television’s news zero program, President Lai Ching-te responded to questions from host Mr. Sakurai Sho and Yomiuri TV Shanghai Bureau Chief Watanabe Masayo on topics including reflections on his first year in office, cross-strait relations, China’s military threats, Taiwan-United States relations, and Taiwan-Japan relations. The interview was broadcast on the evening of May 19. During the interview, President Lai stated that China intends to change the world’s rules-based international order, and that if Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted. Therefore, he said, Taiwan will strengthen its national defense, prevent war by preparing for war, and achieve the goal of peace. The president also noted that Taiwan’s purpose for developing drones is based on national security and industrial needs, and that Taiwan hopes to collaborate with Japan. He then reiterated that China’s threats are an international problem, and expressed hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war. Following is the text of the questions and the president’s responses: Q: How do you feel as you are about to round out your first year in office? President Lai: When I was young, I was determined to practice medicine and save lives. When I left medicine to go into politics, I was determined to transform Taiwan. And when I was sworn in as president on May 20 last year, I was determined to strengthen the nation. Time flies, and it has already been a year. Although the process has been very challenging, I am deeply honored to be a part of it. I am also profoundly grateful to our citizens for allowing me the opportunity to give back to our country. The future will certainly be full of more challenges, but I will do everything I can to unite the people and continue strengthening the nation. That is how I am feeling now. Q: We are now coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, and over this period, we have often heard that conflict between Taiwan and the mainland is imminent. Do you personally believe that a cross-strait conflict could happen? President Lai: The international community is very much aware that China intends to replace the US and change the world’s rules-based international order, and annexing Taiwan is just the first step. So, as China’s military power grows stronger, some members of the international community are naturally on edge about whether a cross-strait conflict will break out. The international community must certainly do everything in its power to avoid a conflict in the Taiwan Strait; there is too great a cost. Besides causing direct disasters to both Taiwan and China, the impact on the global economy would be even greater, with estimated losses of US$10 trillion from war alone – that is roughly 10 percent of the global GDP. Additionally, 20 percent of global shipping passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, so if a conflict breaks out in the strait, other countries including Japan and Korea would suffer a grave impact. For Japan and Korea, a quarter of external transit passes through the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, and a third of the various energy resources and minerals shipped back from other countries pass through said areas. If Taiwan were invaded, global supply chains would be disrupted, and therefore conflict in the Taiwan Strait must be avoided. Such a conflict is indeed avoidable. I am very thankful to Prime Minister of Japan Ishiba Shigeru and former Prime Ministers Abe Shinzo, Suga Yoshihide, and Kishida Fumio, as well as US President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden, and the other G7 leaders, for continuing to emphasize at international venues that peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait are essential components for global security and prosperity. When everyone in the global democratic community works together, stacking up enough strength to make China’s objectives unattainable or to make the cost of invading Taiwan too high for it to bear, a conflict in the strait can naturally be avoided. Q: As you said, President Lai, maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait is also very important for other countries. How can war be avoided? What sort of countermeasures is Taiwan prepared to take to prevent war? President Lai: As Mr. Sakurai mentioned earlier, we are coming up on the 80th anniversary of the end of WWII. There are many lessons we can take from that war. First is that peace is priceless, and war has no winners. From the tragedies of WWII, there are lessons that humanity should learn. We must pursue peace, and not start wars blindly, as that would be a major disaster for humanity. In other words, we must be determined to safeguard peace. The second lesson is that we cannot be complacent toward authoritarian powers. If you give them an inch, they will take a mile. They will keep growing, and eventually, not only will peace be unattainable, but war will be inevitable. The third lesson is why WWII ended: It ended because different groups joined together in solidarity. Taiwan, Japan, and the Indo-Pacific region are all directly subjected to China’s threats, so we hope to be able to join together in cooperation. This is why we proposed the Four Pillars of Peace action plan. First, we will strengthen our national defense. Second, we will strengthen economic resilience. Third is standing shoulder to shoulder with the democratic community to demonstrate the strength of deterrence. Fourth is that as long as China treats Taiwan with parity and dignity, Taiwan is willing to conduct exchanges and cooperate with China, and seek peace and mutual prosperity. These four pillars can help us avoid war and achieve peace. That is to say, Taiwan hopes to achieve peace through strength, prevent war by preparing for war, keeping war from happening and pursuing the goal of peace. Q: Regarding drones, everyone knows that recently, Taiwan has been actively researching, developing, and introducing drones. Why do you need to actively research, develop, and introduce new drones at this time? President Lai: This is for two purposes. The first is to meet national security needs. The second is to meet industrial development needs. Because Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines are all part of the first island chain, and we are all democratic nations, we cannot be like an authoritarian country like China, which has an unlimited national defense budget. In this kind of situation, island nations such as Taiwan, Japan, and the Philippines should leverage their own technologies to develop national defense methods that are asymmetric and utilize unmanned vehicles. In particular, from the Russo-Ukrainian War, we see that Ukraine has successfully utilized unmanned vehicles to protect itself and prevent Russia from unlimited invasion. In other words, the Russo-Ukrainian War has already proven the importance of drones. Therefore, the first purpose of developing drones is based on national security needs. Second, the world has already entered the era of smart technology. Whether generative, agentic, or physical, AI will continue to develop. In the future, cars and ships will also evolve into unmanned vehicles and unmanned boats, and there will be unmanned factories. Drones will even be able to assist with postal deliveries, or services like Uber, Uber Eats, and foodpanda, or agricultural irrigation and pesticide spraying. Therefore, in the future era of comprehensive smart technology, developing unmanned vehicles is a necessity. Taiwan, based on industrial needs, is actively planning the development of drones and unmanned vehicles. I would like to take this opportunity to express Taiwan’s hope to collaborate with Japan in the unmanned vehicle industry. Just as we do in the semiconductor industry, where Japan has raw materials, equipment, and technology, and Taiwan has wafer manufacturing, our two countries can cooperate. Japan is a technological power, and Taiwan also has significant technological strengths. If Taiwan and Japan work together, we will not only be able to safeguard peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and security in the Indo-Pacific region, but it will also be very helpful for the industrial development of both countries. Q: The drones you just described probably include examples from the Russo-Ukrainian War. Taiwan and China are separated by the Taiwan Strait. Do our drones need to have cross-sea flight capabilities? President Lai: Taiwan does not intend to counterattack the mainland, and does not intend to invade any country. Taiwan’s drones are meant to protect our own nation and territory. Q: Former President Biden previously stated that US forces would assist Taiwan’s defense in the event of an attack. President Trump, however, has yet to clearly state that the US would help defend Taiwan. Do you think that in such an event, the US would help defend Taiwan? Or is Taiwan now trying to persuade the US? President Lai: Former President Biden and President Trump have answered questions from reporters. Although their responses were different, strong cooperation with Taiwan under the Biden administration has continued under the Trump administration; there has been no change. During President Trump’s first term, cooperation with Taiwan was broader and deeper compared to former President Barack Obama’s terms. After former President Biden took office, cooperation with Taiwan increased compared to President Trump’s first term. Now, during President Trump’s second term, cooperation with Taiwan is even greater than under former President Biden. Taiwan-US cooperation continues to grow stronger, and has not changed just because President Trump and former President Biden gave different responses to reporters. Furthermore, the Trump administration publicly stated that in the future, the US will shift its strategic focus from Europe to the Indo-Pacific. The US secretary of defense even publicly stated that the primary mission of the US is to prevent China from invading Taiwan, maintain stability in the Indo-Pacific, and thus maintain world peace. There is a saying in Taiwan that goes, “Help comes most to those who help themselves.” Before asking friends and allies for assistance in facing threats from China, Taiwan must first be determined and prepared to defend itself. This is Taiwan’s principle, and we are working in this direction, making all the necessary preparations to safeguard the nation. Q: I would like to ask you a question about Taiwan-Japan relations. After the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011, you made an appeal to give Japan a great deal of assistance and care. In particular, you visited Sendai to offer condolences. Later, you also expressed condolences and concern after the earthquakes in Aomori and Kumamoto. What are your expectations for future Taiwan-Japan exchanges and development? President Lai: I come from Tainan, and my constituency is in Tainan. Tainan has very deep ties with Japan, and of course, Taiwan also has deep ties with Japan. However, among Taiwan’s 22 counties and cities, Tainan has the deepest relationship with Japan. I sincerely hope that both of you and your teams will have an opportunity to visit Tainan. I will introduce Tainan’s scenery, including architecture from the era of Japanese rule, Tainan’s cuisine, and unique aspects of Tainan society, and you can also see lifestyles and culture from the Showa era.  The Wushantou Reservoir in Tainan was completed by engineer Mr. Hatta Yoichi from Kanazawa, Japan and the team he led to Tainan after he graduated from then-Tokyo Imperial University. It has nearly a century of history and is still in use today. This reservoir, along with the 16,000-km-long Chianan Canal, transformed the 150,000-hectare Chianan Plain into Taiwan’s premier rice-growing area. It was that foundation in agriculture that enabled Taiwan to develop industry and the technology sector of today. The reservoir continues to supply water to Tainan Science Park. It is used by residents of Tainan, the agricultural sector, and industry, and even the technology sector in Xinshi Industrial Park, as well as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company. Because of this, the people of Tainan are deeply grateful for Mr. Hatta and very friendly toward the people of Japan. A major earthquake, the largest in 50 years, struck Tainan on February 6, 2016, resulting in significant casualties. As mayor of Tainan at the time, I was extremely grateful to then-Prime Minister Abe, who sent five Japanese officials to the disaster site in Tainan the day after the earthquake. They were very thoughtful and asked what kind of assistance we needed from the Japanese government. They offered to provide help based on what we needed. I was deeply moved, as former Prime Minister Abe showed such care, going beyond the formality of just sending supplies that we may or may not have actually needed. Instead, the officials asked what we needed and then provided assistance based on those needs, which really moved me. Similarly, when the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 or the later Kumamoto earthquakes struck, the people of Tainan, under my leadership, naturally and dutifully expressed their support. Even earlier, when central Taiwan was hit by a major earthquake in 1999, Japan was the first country to deploy a rescue team to the disaster area. On February 6, 2018, after a major earthquake in Hualien, former Prime Minister Abe appeared in a video holding up a message of encouragement he had written in calligraphy saying “Remain strong, Taiwan.” All of Taiwan was deeply moved. Over the years, Taiwan and Japan have supported each other when earthquakes struck, and have forged bonds that are family-like, not just neighborly. This is truly valuable. In the future, I hope Taiwan and Japan can be like brothers, and that the peoples of Taiwan and Japan can treat one another like family. If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem; if Japan has a problem, then Taiwan has a problem. By caring for and helping each other, we can face various challenges and difficulties, and pursue a brighter future. Q: President Lai, you just used the phrase “If Taiwan has a problem, then Japan has a problem.” In the event that China attempts to invade Taiwan by force, what kind of response measures would you hope the US military and Japan’s Self-Defense Forces take? President Lai: As I just mentioned, annexing Taiwan is only China’s first step. Its ultimate objective is to change the rules-based international order. That being the case, China’s threats are an international problem. So, I would very much hope to work together with the US, Japan, and others in the global democratic community to prevent China from starting a war – prevention, after all, is more important than cure.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Affordable housing set to benefit from £100 million following CMA probe

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Affordable housing set to benefit from £100 million following CMA probe

    Consultation underway on payment by housebuilders and changes to how they handle sensitive information to address CMA’s concerns.

    • Seven housebuilders have agreed to pay a total of £100 million to affordable housing programmes across all 4 nations following a CMA investigation 

    • This is the largest payment secured by the CMA as part of a commitments package, which could fund hundreds of new homes – helping low-income households, first-time buyers and vulnerable people 

    • The housebuilders have also agreed to legally binding commitments which will prevent anticompetitive behaviour and promote industry-wide compliance 

    The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an investigation last year following concerns that 7 housing developers – Barratt Redrow, Bellway, Berkeley Group, Bloor Homes, Persimmon, Taylor Wimpey and Vistry – exchanged details about sales including pricing, number of property viewings and incentives offered to buyers such as upgraded kitchens or stamp duty contributions.  

    The housebuilders have offered a package of commitments to address the CMA’s concerns which it will now consult on until 24 July 2025. Under the proposed commitments, the 7 housebuilders will: 

    • Make a combined £100 million payment – the largest secured through commitments from companies under investigation – which will be split between affordable housing programmes across all 4 nations. 

    • Work with the Home Builders Federation and Homes for Scotland to develop industry-wide guidance on information sharing. 

    • Agree not to share certain types of information with other housebuilders, including the prices houses have been sold for, except in limited circumstances. 

    If accepted, the commitments will become legally binding and mean that it is not necessary for the CMA to decide whether the housebuilders broke competition law – allowing the investigation to conclude swiftly and benefits to be felt quickly. 

    This payment will directly support the delivery of affordable housing across the UK, helping to fund hundreds of new homes for those who need them such as low-income households, first-time buyers and vulnerable people. 

    It is important that competition works well in the housebuilding market to keep prices fair, improve the quality of homes and support the delivery of essential infrastructure. This outcome sends a clear message to other companies that the CMA will take action where it has concerns that the law is being broken. 

    Sarah Cardell, Chief Executive at the CMA, said: 

    Housing is a critical sector for the UK economy and housing costs are a substantial part of people’s monthly spend, so it’s essential that competition works well. This keeps prices as low as possible and increases choice.  

    As a result of the CMA’s investigation, housebuilders are taking clear and comprehensive steps to ensure they comply with the law and don’t share competitively sensitive information with their rivals. 

    Alongside these measures, the housebuilders we investigated have agreed to pay £100 million towards affordable homes programmes, which will help communities up and down the country.

    The CMA will now consult on the proposed commitments before deciding whether to accept them. Any payments will be made within 3 months once agreed. For more information, visit the investigation page. 

    Notes to editors: 

    1. The CMA’s investigation was launched following concerns identified during its housebuilding market study. 

    2. Two of the housebuilders involved in the CMA’s investigation – Barratt and Redrow – merged to form Barratt Redrow in August 2024. The original investigation involving 8 housebuilders was subsequently reduced to 7 to reflect this merger. 

    3. The Parties do not admit any liability or wrongdoing for the conduct subject to investigation. Formal acceptance of the commitments would result in the CMA not continuing its investigation and not proceeding to a decision on whether the CA98 has been infringed. Any decision by the CMA to accept binding commitments will not include any statement as to whether or not the housebuilders’ conduct has infringed the CA98. 

    4. The UK government will allocate the payment to affordable homes programmes across all 4 nations, including giving funding directly to the devolved governments. For example, some funding will be given to the Affordable Homes Programme in England which is administered by Homes England. Registered bodies, such as housing associations, charities and local authorities, can bid for funds from the programmes to support the capital costs of building affordable homes for rent or sale. 

    5. The Home Builders Federation and Homes for Scotland were not under investigation. The housebuilders have agreed to work with these industry associations to develop industry-wide guidance to help ensure that all businesses are clear on the types of information they cannot share with their competitors.    

    6. The CMA has previously secured commitments, including payments, from pharmaceutical companies Vifor Pharma and Aspen. The £100 million from housebuilders is the highest payment the CMA has secured through commitments.

    Updates to this page

    Published 9 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI: Coop Pank AS will hold an investor webinar to introduce the results for the Q2 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    Coop Pank invites shareholders, investors, analysts and other stakeholders to join its investor webinar, scheduled on 18 July 2025 at 9 am (EET). The webinar will be held in Estonian.

    The webinar will be hosted by the Interim Chairman of the Management Board, Heikko Mäe, and the Chief Financial Officer, Paavo Truu, who will present the unaudited financial results of the Second Quarter of 2025.

    During the webinar all attendees can ask questions. All questions will be answered after the presentation.

    To join the webinar, you need to register in advance via following link: https://bit.ly/CP-veebiseminar-registreeru-18072025

    Registrants will be sent a link to the webinar and a reminder email one hour before the start of the webinar. The webinar will be recorded and published on the company’s website www.cooppank.ee and on our YouTube account.

    Coop Pank, based on Estonian capital, is one of the five universal banks operating in Estonia. The number of clients using Coop Pank for their daily banking has reached 216,000. Coop Pank aims to put the synergy generated by the interaction of retail business and banking to good use and to bring everyday banking services closer to people’s homes. The strategic shareholder of the bank is the domestic retail chain Coop Eesti comprising 320 stores.

    Additional information:
    Katre Tatrik
    Communication Manager
    Tel: +372 5151 859
    E-mail: katre.tatrik@cooppank.ee

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: A Year On, Guinean Activists Still Missing

    Source: APO – Report:

    .

    Guinea’s military authorities should credibly investigate the disappearances of two political activists, make their whereabouts known, and either charge them with a recognizable crime or release them immediately, Human Rights Watch said today.

    One year ago, security forces arbitrarily detained three members of the opposition coalition National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (Front National pour la Défense de la Constitution, FNDC), Oumar Sylla (known as Foniké Menguè), Mamadou Billo Bah, and Mohamed Cissé, in Conakry, Guinea’s capital, and transferred them to an unidentified location. Human Rights Watch received credible information, confirmed by national and international media, that security forces had tortured the three men. Cissé was released on July 10, 2024, while Sylla and Bah remain missing.

    “It’s been one year since Sylla and Bah went missing, and the Guinean authorities have yet to carry out a credible investigation,” said Ilaria Allegrozzi, senior Sahel researcher at Human Rights Watch. “Guinean authorities should thoroughly and independently investigate the disappearances and prosecute those responsible.”

    The authorities have opened an investigation into the disappearance of the three men. But they have denied any responsibility and failed to acknowledge the men’s detention or disclose their whereabouts, despite requests for information by lawyers representing the men, and by international and national human rights organizations.

    On July 9, 2024, dozens of soldiers, gendarmes, and armed men in civilian clothes, stormed Sylla’s home and arbitrarily detained him and the others. The security forces repeatedly beat the three political activists, then took them to the gendarmerie headquarters in Conakry, and then to an army camp on Kassa island, off Conakry’s coast.

    The FNDC has been calling for the restoration of democratic rule in Guinea following a military coup in September 2021. In August 2022, Guinea’s junta, headed by Gen. Mamady Doumbouya, dissolved the FNDC on politically motivated grounds, but it has continued its activities.

    On the morning of his disappearance, Sylla, who is the FNDC coordinator, had urged his supporters to go out and protest on July 11, 2024, against media shutdowns by the authorities and the high cost of living.

    Sylla was one of a number of people arrested in 2022 on charges of “illegal protest and destruction of public and private buildings” following violent demonstrations in Conakry in which at least five people were killed. Bah, the FNDC outreach coordinator, was previously arrested in January 2023 on charges of “complicity in the destruction of public and private property, assault, and battery” for taking part in protests. Both were released in May 2023 and cleared of all charges.

    Since taking power, the junta has suspended independent media outlets, arbitrarily arrested and forcibly disappeared journalists and political opponents. Security forces have used excessive force, including tear gas and gunfire, to disperse peaceful protesters, leading to dozens of deaths since January 2024.

    On June 21, gunmen abducted and tortured Mohamed Traoré, a prominent lawyer and former bar association president, in apparent reprisal against his decision to resign from the National Transitional Council, the junta’s leading transitional body.

    The military authorities promised to hold elections before the end of 2024, but failed to meet the deadline, sparking opposition-led protests in Conakry in January. Following the protests, officials announced a new election timeline. Gen. Doumbouya has set September 21 as the date for a constitutional referendum and Prime Minister Amadou Oury Bah announced in May that presidential elections would take place in December.

    “Four years into military rule, the suppression of rights and freedoms has only intensified,” said a prominent FNDC member who is in hiding. “The government has stifled free expression and assembly; it has incapacitated the political opposition through arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearance, harassment, and intimidation. Enough is enough.”

    Enforced disappearances under international law occur when people acting on behalf of the government arrest, detain, or abduct people and then refuse to acknowledge the act or conceal their whereabouts or what happened to them. International law prohibits enforced disappearances, which violate fundamental rights to liberty and security and the right to be free from torture or cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.

    The International Convention for the Protection on All Persons from Enforced Disappearances provides that “no one shall be subjected to enforced disappearance” and imposes an absolute ban on secret detention. It also requires countries to end abusive practices that facilitate enforced disappearances including arbitrary incommunicado detention, torture, and extrajudicial executions.

    Guinea is not a party to the treaty but is still bound by international human rights law prohibiting unlawful arrests, abduction, arbitrary detention, ill-treatment of detainees, and other due process violations. It guarantees victims of abuse the right to an effective remedy.

    “When authorities deny knowledge of the detentions, they deprive detainees of any protections and make them vulnerable to even worse crimes, like torture,” Allegrozzi said. “The authorities should take immediate, concrete steps by credibly investigating the disappearances and ratifying the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance.”

    – on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI China: 60 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza

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

    Palestinians mourn over a victim killed in an Israeli airstrike, outside the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, on July 8, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    At least 60 Palestinians, including six freed prisoners and a paramedic, were killed in Israeli airstrikes and gunfire across Gaza on Tuesday, according to Palestinian sources.

    Six people were killed by Israeli shelling on two tents housing displaced persons in Khan Younis, southern Gaza and the town of al-Zawaidain, central Gaza, Spokesperson for the Civil Defense in Gaza Mahmoud Basal told Xinhua.

    Hamas said in a press statement that the six were prisoners released from Israeli prisons and deported from the West Bank to Gaza.

    West of Gaza City, an Israeli airstrike on a gathering of Palestinians in the al-Rimal neighborhood killed six people, including two children and two women, and an Israeli airstrike on a house in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood killed four, including an infant, Basal said.

    Five people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a house in al-Tuffah, east of Gaza City, whereas three were killed when a bomb dropped by an Israeli drone hit a residential area in the al-Zeitoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City, Basal said, adding that two people, including a child, were killed in an Israeli bombing on al-Tuffah and Sheikh Radwan neighborhoods.

    A vehicle bombing in the city of Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, killed two people, Basal added.

    Meanwhile, Nasser Medical Complex reported in a brief press statement that 25 Palestinians were killed since dawn of Tuesday as a result of separate airstrikes on the Al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Younis.

    A paramedic was also killed while performing his duty as a result of Israeli shelling on Al-Mawasi, according to Palestinian medical sources.

    Six Palestinians, including three children, were killed by Israeli army fire near a U.S.-backed aid distribution center in north of Rafah, southern Gaza, said the sources.

    There was no immediate comment from the Israeli side on these incidents.

    Since Israel resumed its military campaign in Gaza on March 18, at least 7,013 Palestinians have been killed and 24,838 others injured, bringing the overall death toll in Gaza since the conflict began in October 2023 to 57,575, with a total of 136,879 people injured, according to data released Tuesday by health authorities in Gaza. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 60 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza

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

    Palestinians mourn over a victim killed in an Israeli airstrike, outside the Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, on July 8, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    At least 60 Palestinians, including six freed prisoners and a paramedic, were killed in Israeli airstrikes and gunfire across Gaza on Tuesday, according to Palestinian sources.

    Six people were killed by Israeli shelling on two tents housing displaced persons in Khan Younis, southern Gaza and the town of al-Zawaidain, central Gaza, Spokesperson for the Civil Defense in Gaza Mahmoud Basal told Xinhua.

    Hamas said in a press statement that the six were prisoners released from Israeli prisons and deported from the West Bank to Gaza.

    West of Gaza City, an Israeli airstrike on a gathering of Palestinians in the al-Rimal neighborhood killed six people, including two children and two women, and an Israeli airstrike on a house in the Tal al-Hawa neighborhood killed four, including an infant, Basal said.

    Five people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a house in al-Tuffah, east of Gaza City, whereas three were killed when a bomb dropped by an Israeli drone hit a residential area in the al-Zeitoun neighborhood, south of Gaza City, Basal said, adding that two people, including a child, were killed in an Israeli bombing on al-Tuffah and Sheikh Radwan neighborhoods.

    A vehicle bombing in the city of Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, killed two people, Basal added.

    Meanwhile, Nasser Medical Complex reported in a brief press statement that 25 Palestinians were killed since dawn of Tuesday as a result of separate airstrikes on the Al-Mawasi area, west of Khan Younis.

    A paramedic was also killed while performing his duty as a result of Israeli shelling on Al-Mawasi, according to Palestinian medical sources.

    Six Palestinians, including three children, were killed by Israeli army fire near a U.S.-backed aid distribution center in north of Rafah, southern Gaza, said the sources.

    There was no immediate comment from the Israeli side on these incidents.

    Since Israel resumed its military campaign in Gaza on March 18, at least 7,013 Palestinians have been killed and 24,838 others injured, bringing the overall death toll in Gaza since the conflict began in October 2023 to 57,575, with a total of 136,879 people injured, according to data released Tuesday by health authorities in Gaza. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council saves taxpayers £2.9million in tenancy fraud crackdown

    Source: City of Wolverhampton

    Working in close collaboration with Wolverhampton Homes, investigators tackled a range of fraudulent activities, including the illegal subletting of council properties, false applications for social housing, fraudulent Right to Buy applications, tenants not residing at their registered addresses and unlawful succession claims to council tenancies.

    As a result, 30 council homes were recovered and re-let to families in genuine need, nine fraudulent housing applications were cancelled, five Right to Buy applications were stopped, and legal action was taken in three cases, including one successful prosecution where the offender was convicted of subletting and ordered to pay £8,209.38 in costs.

    Councillor Louise Miles, the council’s Cabinet Member for Resources, said: “The City of Wolverhampton Council and Wolverhampton Homes take a zero-tolerance approach to fraud and we will not hesitate to take action as appropriate – because we know that every pound saved from fraud is a pound that can be invested in vital public services.

    “The true victims of tenancy fraud are those who are genuinely unable to access affordable housing – those on social housing waiting lists or living in temporary accommodation.

    “The financial burden of providing accommodation for homeless families is paid for from the public purse, which is why it is so important to ensure anyone who tries to cheat the system is detected and enforcement action is taken.

    “All reports of fraud are thoroughly investigated, and individuals found to be in breach of tenancy agreements or who have provided false or misleading information will be held accountable.”

    Anyone who suspects tenancy fraud is encouraged to report it online by visiting How to report fraud. 
     

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • Trump to attend Club World Cup final, FIFA opens office in Trump Tower

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump will attend Sunday’s Club World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, he said at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, as world soccer’s ruling body FIFA announced it had opened an office in New York’s Trump Tower.

    The expanded tournament featuring many of the world’s best club teams has been widely seen as a dry run for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico with a record 48 national teams taking part.

    Sunday’s Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium will be a preview of next year’s championship match, with the home of the NFL’s New York Jets and Giants also hosting the 2026 finale.

    “I’ll be going to the game,” Trump told reporters.

    The news came a day after FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the opening of a representative office at Trump Tower, where the Club World Cup trophy will be on display until the final.

    “We have received such a big support from the government and from the President with the White House Task Force for the FIFA Club World Cup (now) and for the FIFA World Cup next year,” Infantino said.

    Trump has not shied away from sport’s super-sized spotlight during his second term, becoming the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl in February, and in May announcing D.C. as the host for the 2027 NFL Draft from the Oval Office.

    His immigration crackdown and travel ban on 12 countries have prompted concerns ahead of the 2026 World Cup, however, even as Infantino offered assurances that the world will be welcomed in the U.S. for the quadrennial global showpiece event.

    A memo obtained by Reuters last month showed that the Trump administration was considering significantly expanding its travel restrictions by potentially banning citizens of 36 additional countries from entering the U.S.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ11: Care workers in residential care homes

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Chau Siu-chung and a written reply by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, in the Legislative Council today (July 9):
     
    Question:
     
         Regarding the care workers in various types of residential care homes (RCHs), will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) of the number of (i) local care workers and (ii) imported care workers in all RCHs in Hong Kong in the past three years (up to the end of that year) and at present, together with a breakdown by type of RCHs (i.e. residential care homes for the elderly, residential care homes for persons with disabilities and nursing homes) and mode of operation of RCHs (i.e. (a) subvented RCHs, (b) contract RCHs, (c) non-profit-making self-financing RCHs and (d) private RCHs) (if applicable) (set out in Table 1);(2) in respect of the first to the sixth rounds of applications under the Special Scheme to Import Care Workers for Residential Care Homes (the Special Scheme), of (i) the number of applications, (ii) the number of imported care workers applied for (set out by new quotas and quotas for contract renewal), (iii) the number of approved applications, and (iv) the number of imported care workers approved (set out by new quotas and quotas for contract renewal), together with a breakdown by three types of RCHs and four types of mode of operation of RCHs (if applicable) as mentioned in (1) (set out in Table 2); and the main reasons for not approving the applications;

    Table 2    Type of RCHs:    (3) since the implementation of the Special Scheme, of the following information on the spot checks conducted by the authorities on applicant RCHs in accordance with the mechanism of spot checks of local recruitment records during the processing of each round of application: (i) the staffing establishment and strength of personnel conducting the spot checks, (ii) the number of RCHs which had been requested by the Social Welfare Department in its letters to submit detailed local recruitment records, and (iii) their percentage in the total number of applicant RCHs; whether the authorities had found malpractices such as RCHs being suspected of having provided false information or withheld any information during such spot checks; if so, of the details, including the number and nature of the cases, and whether the authorities had imposed administrative sanctions on or instituted prosecutions against the RCHs concerned, together with a breakdown by type of RCHs and their mode of operation;

    (4) given that according to the requirements of the Special Scheme, RCHs must not displace their existing local care workers with imported care workers and they must comply with the specified ratio of local employees to imported care workers, of the number of RCHs alleged or substantiated to have breached the aforesaid requirements since the implementation of the Special Scheme, as well as the details of the relevant follow-up actions (including the number of cases in which written warnings were issued to and administrative sanctions were imposed on non-compliant RCHs), together with a breakdown by type of RCHs and their mode of operation; 
    President,

         To address the manpower shortage and new manpower demand in residential care homes (RCHs), and to assist the RCH sector in enhancing their service quality, the Government, on the premise of safeguarding the employment priority for local workers, launched the Special Scheme to Import Care Workers for RCHs (the Special Scheme) in June 2023 to allow residential care homes for the elderly (RCHEs) and residential care homes for persons with disabilities (RCHDs) to import care workers on an appropriate scale. The Special Scheme set 7 000 importation quotas when launched, including around 4 000 care workers previously imported through the Supplementary Labour Scheme (SLS), and the relevant quotas were nearly exhausted by the first half of 2024. The Government, having reviewed the demand for and supply of care workers in the sector, announced in July of the same year that the quota ceiling would be adjusted to 15 000 for RCHs to apply for by batches in the following three years.

         Our reply to the Member’s questions, with consolidated information and data of the Social Welfare Department (SWD), Labour Department (LD) and Census and Statistics Department (C&SD), is as follows:

    (1) to (3) The number of local and imported care workers employed by the RCHEs and the RCHDs in Hong Kong in the past three years are set out at Annex 1. The details of the first five rounds of applications and approval results under the Special Scheme are set out at Annex 2, with about 400 rejected cases mainly because the quotas available for that round of applications were exhausted, or the applications did not comply with the requirements of the Special Scheme. The sixth round of applications ended on May 6, 2025, and the SWD is processing the applications for around 500 new quotas.

         There are five staff members in the SWD designated to implement the Special Scheme, including the Social Work Officer grade, the Executive Officer grade and the Clerical grade. To safeguard job opportunities of local care workers, the SWD will conduct random checks on the “Confirmation of Local Recruitment” submitted by the RCHs that apply for joining the Special Scheme, with a view to ensuring that they have conducted local recruitment through channel(s) specified by the Director of Social Welfare but have been unsuccessful in filling the vacancies. Up to March 2025, the SWD has conducted random checks on about 300 local recruitment records of the RCHs, accounting for more than 10 per cent of the total number of applications, and found no case of RCH’s intentionally or knowingly submitting inaccurate information. Nor has any RCH been imposed administrative sanction during that period of time.

    (4) to (6) The LD’s Labour Inspectors (LIs) inspect the workplaces of imported workers and the accommodation provided by employers in Hong Kong for imported workers. The establishment and strength of the LIs responsible for the above work is 37. In the past two years, LIs have carried out a total of 4 407 inspections relating to imported care workers (including cases under the SLS/Enhanced Supplementary Labour Scheme (ESLS) and the Special Scheme), including 2 298 workplace inspections and 2 109 accommodation inspections. Should suspected deprivation of imported workers’ rights and benefits be detected during inspection, the LD will promptly conduct follow-up investigation. Complaints received during the inspections are counted towards the overall number of complaint cases.

         Since the launch of the Special Scheme in June 2023 and up to May 2025, the LD and the SWD have received a total of 47 complaints against the RCHs suspected to have breached the law or the requirements of the Special Scheme. The complaints mainly involved wages (including wage rebates and underpayment of wages) and work arrangements. Among them, there were eight complaints received about the displacement of serving local care workers by imported care workers, of which the Government has completed investigation of seven cases and no irregularities were found. The remaining one case is still under investigation. During the same period, the LD successfully prosecuted an employer that had engaged imported care workers under the Special Scheme. The employer violated the Employees’ Compensation Ordinance by failing to take out employees’ compensation insurance policies and was fined $2,500 by the court. The SWD is examining the case concerned and will consider imposing administrative sanctions as appropriate.

         Since the launch of the Special Scheme, the number of complaint, prosecution and conviction cases per year are tabulated as follows:

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • Trump says steep copper tariffs in store as he broadens his trade war

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he would impose a 50% tariff on imported copper and soon introduce long-threatened levies on semiconductors and pharmaceuticals, broadening his trade war that has rattled markets worldwide.

    One day after he pressured 14 trading partners, including powerhouse U.S. suppliers like South Korea and Japan, with fresh tariff letters, Trump reiterated his threat of 10% tariffs on products from Brazil, India and other members of the BRICS group of countries.

    He also said trade talks have been going well with the European Union and China, though he added he is only days away from sending a tariff letter to the EU.

    Trump’s remarks, made during a White House cabinet meeting, could inject further instability into a global economy that has been shaken by the tariffs he has imposed or threatened on imports to the world’s largest consumer market.

    U.S. copper futures jumped more than 10% after Trump’s announcement of new duties on a metal that is critical to electric vehicles, military hardware, the power grid and many consumer goods. They would join duties already in place for steel, aluminum and automobile imports, though it was unclear when the new tariffs might take effect.

    U.S. pharmaceutical stocks also slid following Trump’s threat of 200% tariffs on drug imports, which he said could be delayed by about a year.

    Other countries, meanwhile, said they would try to soften the impact of Trump’s threatened duties after he pushed back a Wednesday deadline to August 1.

    Trump’s administration promised “90 deals in 90 days” after he unveiled an array of country-specific duties in early April. So far only two agreements have been reached, with the United Kingdom and Vietnam. Trump has said a deal with India is close.

    Trump said countries have been clamoring to negotiate.

    “It’s about time the United States of America started collecting money from countries that were ripping us off … and laughing behind our back at how stupid we were,” he said.

    He said late Tuesday that “a minimum of seven” tariff notices would be released on Wednesday morning, and more in the afternoon. He gave no other details in his Truth Social post.

    Trading partners across the globe say it has been difficult to negotiate even framework agreements with the U.S. given the haphazard way new tariffs are announced, complicating their internal discussions about concessions.

    HIGHEST LEVELS SINCE 1934

    Following Trump’s announcement of higher tariffs for imports from the 14 countries, U.S. research group Yale Budget Lab estimated consumers face an effective U.S. tariff rate of 17.6%, up from 15.8% previously and the highest in nine decades.

    Trump’s administration has been touting those tariffs as a significant revenue source. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Washington has taken in about $100 billion so far and could collect $300 billion by the end of the year. The United States has taken in about $80 billion annually in tariff revenue in recent years.

    The S&P 500 finished slightly lower on Tuesday, a day after Wall Street markets sold off sharply following Trump’s new tariffs announcement.

    Trump said he will “probably” tell the European Union within two days what rate it can expect for its exports to the U.S., adding that the 27-member bloc had been treating his administration “very nicely” in trade talks.

    The EU, the largest bilateral trade partner of the U.S., aims to strike a deal before August 1 with concessions for key export industries such as aircraft, medical equipment and spirits, according to EU sources. Brussels is also considering an arrangement that would protect European automakers with large U.S. production facilities.

    However, German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil warned that the EU was prepared to retaliate if necessary.

    “If we don’t reach a fair trade deal with the U.S., the EU is ready to take counter measures,” he said in the lower house of parliament.

    Japan, which faces a possible 25% tariff – up from 24% first threatened in April – wants concessions for its large automobile industry and will not sacrifice its agriculture sector, a powerful domestic lobby, for the sake of an early deal, top trade negotiator Ryosei Akazawa said on Tuesday.

    South Korea, which also faces a possible 25% tariff, said it planned to intensify trade talks over the coming weeks “to reach a mutually beneficial result.”

    Washington and Beijing agreed to a trade framework in June, but with many of the details still unclear, traders and investors are watching to see if it unravels before a separate, U.S.-imposed August 12 deadline or leads to a lasting detente.

    “We have had a really good relationship with China lately, and we’re getting along with them very well. They’ve been very fair on our trade deal, honestly,” Trump said, adding that he has been speaking regularly with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

    Trump said the United States would impose tariffs of 25% on goods from Tunisia, Malaysia and Kazakhstan; 30% on South Africa and Bosnia and Herzegovina; 32% on Indonesia; 35% on Serbia and Bangladesh; 36% on Cambodia and Thailand; and 40% on Laos and Myanmar.

    (Reuters)

  • UK and France must end dependency on US and China, Macron warns

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday Britain and France must work together to counter the world’s many destabilising threats and protect Europe from “excessive dependencies” on the United States and China.

    Macron, in a rare address to both houses of the British parliament, celebrated the return of closer ties between the two countries as he became the first European leader to be invited for a British state visit since Brexit.

    Having been greeted earlier by the British royal family, Macron set out to parliament where he said the two countries needed to come together to strengthen Europe, including on defence, immigration, climate, and trade.

    “The United Kingdom and France must once again show the world that our alliance can make all the difference,” he said.

    “The only way to overcome the challenges we have, the challenges of our times, will be to go together hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder.”

    Listing the geopolitical threats the countries face, Macron argued they should also be wary of the “excessive dependencies of both the U.S. and China,” saying they needed to “de-risk our economies and our societies from this dual dependency.”

    But he also set out the opportunities of a closer union, saying they should make it easier for students, researchers and artists to live in each other’s countries, and seek to work together on artificial intelligence and protect children online.

    The speech symbolised the improvement in relations sought by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s centre-left Labour Party, as part of a broader reset of ties with European allies following the rancour over Britain’s departure from the European Union.

    ‘ENTENTE AMICALE’

    Macron, who enjoys a strong personal relationship with King Charles, was earlier greeted by the royal family, including heir-to-the-throne Prince William and his wife Princess Catherine, before they travelled in horse-drawn carriages to Windsor Castle.

    Charles used his speech at the evening’s opulent state banquet to christen a new era of friendly relations, upgrading the “entente cordiale” – an alliance dating from 1904 that ended centuries of military rivalries – to an “entente amicale.”

    “As we dine here in this ancient place, redolent with our shared history, allow me to propose a toast to France and to our new entente. An entente not only past and present, but for the future – and no longer just cordiale, but now amicale,” he said.

    The 76-year-old monarch, who is undergoing treatment for cancer, had a noticeably red right eye. A Buckingham Palace source said he had suffered a burst blood vessel that was unrelated to any other health condition.

    Britain and France marked the three-day visit with an announcement that French nuclear energy utility EDF would invest £1.1 billion ($1.5 billion) in a nuclear power project in eastern England.

    The two also said France would lend Britain the Bayeux Tapestry, allowing the 11th-century masterpiece to return for the first time in more than 900 years, in exchange for Britain loaning France Anglo-Saxon and Viking treasures.

    The state visit comes 16 years after the late Queen Elizabeth hosted then-French president Nicolas Sarkozy.

    Despite tensions over post-Brexit ties and how to stop asylum seekers from crossing the Channel in small boats, Britain and France have been working closely to create a planned military force to support Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia.

    Starmer is hoping that will help persuade Macron to take a different approach to stopping people smuggling, with London wanting to try out an asylum seekers’ returns deal. This would involve Britain deporting one asylum seeker to France in exchange for another with a legitimate case to be in Britain.

    A record number of asylum seekers have arrived in Britain on small boats in the first six months of this year.

    Starmer, whose party is trailing Nigel Farage’s right-wing Reform UK party in the polls, is under pressure to find a solution.

    France has previously refused to sign such an agreement, saying Britain should negotiate an arrangement with all EU countries.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: expert reaction to ‘rapid heat death attribution study’ as released by Imperial’s Grantham Institute

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Scientists comment on a heat-related death attribution study released by the Grantham Institute at Imperial College London. 

    Dr Akshay Deoras, Research Scientist at the University of Reading, said:

    “Robust techniques used in this study leave no doubt that climate change is already a deadly force in Europe. Think of the Earth like an oven. In the past, heatwaves were like turning the oven up for a short burst. But with climate change, it is as if we have permanently set the oven to a higher temperature. It takes much less to reach dangerous levels of heat that can be fatal.

    “The June 2025 heatwave across parts of Europe and the UK was not simply a natural disaster—it was supercharged by fossil fuel emissions, costing countless lives in major cities. Heatwaves are now more frequent and intense because our planet’s baseline temperature is higher due to greenhouse gas emissions. Without urgent action to reduce fossil fuel emissions, these extreme heat events will become even more common and severe, putting greater pressure on health systems, disrupting daily life, and threatening the safety of communities across Europe.”

    Prof Richard Allan, Professor of Climate Science at the University of Reading, said:

    “A warming climate sure as hell makes heatwaves worse.  This forensic analysis combining observations, simulations and health data has shown how much more dangerous the recent European heatwave was across several cities with the higher levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.  

    “Even without these rapid attribution studies, it is blindingly obvious from the multiple lines of evidence that when weather conditions generate heatwaves, they are more intense, meaning that moderate heat becomes dangerous and record heat becomes unprecedented. The other side of the coin is that as one part of the globe bakes and burns, another region can suffer intense rainfall and catastrophic flooding as a warmer, thirstier atmosphere saps the moisture from one region and winds blow this excess moisture into storm systems elsewhere.  

    “Communities need to adapt to an increasingly dangerous world through more resilient infrastructure and improved warning systems, yet it is only with rapid and massive cuts in greenhouse gases through collaboration across all sectors of society that worsening of weather extremes can be reined in.”

     

    Dr Chloe Brimicombe, climate scientist at the Royal Meteorological Society, said:

    “The study quickly shows how 65% of heatwave deaths in the last European heatwave can be linked to human-induced climate change in different cities. This is important because it shows that reducing emissions, which would stop an increase in heatwaves, could save lives. 

    “We are facing more heatwaves this summer across Europe, with many regions also moving towards drought which increases heat and risk of wildfires increase too. We could see more deaths in heatwaves this summer. Research like this is important and being used more in climate litigation cases where groups take countries and companies to court over climate change. 

    “It’s possible this study has even underestimated deaths slightly because it’s not taking into account the built environment and we know that often poorer parts of cities are more impacted because they are less “green” which means they heat up even more. 

    “The results are a model summary of an increase in deaths over populations of cities during a heat period. But in reality the realisation of the risk of cardiac arrest is different to someone drowning. And that is why it’s important to issue heat warnings to everyone because there are a lot of different ways someone dies during a heatwave. 

    “We need to talk about other heatwave impacts like pressure on transport, energy and food supplies. And we quickly need to think about how heat impacts economies as part of loss and damage. We also need to consider the rise in people attending hospital. We don’t really know enough about how heat impacts breastfeeding women and newborns, for example. 

    “Heatwaves silently pressure our society. For some individuals this is now from before birth to the day they die.”

    ‘Climate change tripled heat-related deaths in early summer European Heatwave’ by Ben Clarke et al. is an unpublished ‘rapid heat death attribution study’ led by scientists at Imperial College London and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.  The embargo lifted at 5am UK time on Wednesday 9 July 2025.

    Declared interests

    Richard Allan: “No conflicting interests”

    Chloe Brimicombe: “No disclosures”

    For all other experts, no reply for our request for DOIs was received. 

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: 60 Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza – sources

    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

    GAZA, July 9 (Xinhua) — At least 60 Palestinians, including six freed prisoners and a medical worker, were killed in Israeli airstrikes and shelling in the Gaza Strip on Tuesday, Palestinian sources said.

    Six people were killed in Israeli shelling of two tents housing displaced persons in Khan Younis in southern Gaza and the town of Al-Zawayda in the central part of the enclave, Gaza Civil Defense spokesman Mahmoud Bazal told Xinhua.

    Hamas said in a press statement that the six were prisoners released from Israeli jails and deported from the West Bank to Gaza.

    According to M. Bazal, in western Gaza City, an Israeli airstrike on a Palestinian gathering in the Rimal area killed six people, including two children and two women, while an Israeli airstrike on a house in the Tal al-Hawa area killed four, including a baby.

    Five people were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a house in al-Tuffa in eastern Gaza City. Three others were killed when an Israeli drone bomb hit a residential neighborhood in the al-Zeitoun neighborhood in southern Gaza City, Bazal said. He said two people, including a child, were killed in Israeli bombing of the al-Tuffa and Sheikh Radwan neighborhoods.

    A car bombing in the city of Deir el-Balah in the heart of the Palestinian enclave killed two more people, he added.

    Meanwhile, the Nasser Medical Complex said in a brief press statement that 25 Palestinians had been killed since dawn on Tuesday in separate airstrikes on the al-Mawasi area in western Khan Younis.

    According to Palestinian medical sources, a medical worker was also killed while on duty as a result of Israeli shelling in the same area.

    Six Palestinians, including three children, were killed in Israeli shelling near a US-backed aid distribution centre in the northern town of Rafah in the southern enclave, sources said.

    The Israeli side has not yet commented on these incidents. –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 Nations: In South Asia, anaemia threatens women’s health and economic futures

    Source: United Nations 4

    The warning, issued jointly by UN agencies and the regional socio-economic bloc SAARC on Wednesday, underscores South Asia’s status as the “global epicentre” of anaemia among adolescent girls and women.

    An estimated 259 million already suffer from the condition, which impairs the body’s ability to carry oxygen, contributing to chronic fatigue, poor maternal outcomes, and reduced educational and economic participation.

    “This is a clarion call for action,” said Sanjay Wijesekera, Regional Director for the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), which together with the UN World Health Organization (WHO) and SAARC prepared the analysis.

    “When half of all adolescent girls and women in South Asia are anaemic, it is not only a health issue – it is a signal that systems are failing them.”

    A far-reaching but preventable condition

    Anaemia doesn’t just affect women and girls – it contributes to 40% of the world’s low birth weight cases and affects child growth and learning, particularly in poorer households.

    The economic toll is staggering: anaemia costs South Asia an estimated $32.5 billion annually, perpetuating cycles of poverty and poor health.

    Yet, the condition is preventable and treatable. Proven solutions include iron and folic acid supplementation, iron- and vitamin-rich diets, better sanitation and infection control, and stronger maternal health services.

    Experts stress that multi-sector collaboration is critical for sustained progress.

    A nurse speaks to women about nutritious food in western India’s Sabarkantha district, were many women and girls suffer from iron deficiency.

    Integrated efforts crucial

    In nearly every country, progress hinges on strengthening health systems, expanding nutrition programmes, and reaching adolescent girls and women in marginalised communities.

    Sri Lanka, where 18.5 per cent of women of reproductive age are anaemic, is scaling up its national nutrition initiative, focusing on the most affected districts.

    India and Pakistan are also seeing encouraging signs. In India, high-burden states are integrating iron supplementation into school and maternal care programmes. Pakistan has piloted community-based nutrition initiatives linked to reproductive health services, enabling early detection and follow-up care.

    In Bangladesh, school-based health initiatives are reaching adolescents with fortified meals and health education, coordinated across health, education, and agriculture ministries.

    Community-driven action works

    The Maldives and Bhutan are prioritising early prevention through childhood nutrition, food fortification, and public awareness campaigns. Though smaller in population, both are investing in anaemia surveillance and inter-ministerial collaboration.

    Nepal stands out for its equitable results: since 2016, the country has cut anaemia among women of reproductive age by 7 per cent, with larger declines in poorer areas. Its female community health volunteers are key, providing counselling and referrals in remote regions and linking vulnerable households to public services.

    Man Kumari Gurung, a public health nurse in Karnali Province, credits the achievements to a range of community-driven efforts.

    “Pregnant women receive eggs, chicken and nutritious food through programmes like Sutkeri Poshan Koseli (Nutrition Gift for New Mothers),” she said. “Cash grants also help with transport to hospitals, supporting safer births and better nutrition.”

    © UNICEF/InceptChang

    A nurse checks a pregnant woman’s weight and vital signs at a clinic in Galigamuwa, Sri Lanka.

    Everyone has a role

    Ending anaemia requires leadership and teamwork. Governments must lead, but communities, health workers, schools, and families all play a part.

    Stronger health systems, better data, and coordinated action across sectors can help girls and women reach their full potential – building healthier communities and stronger economies.

    “Young people and mothers are at the heart of South Asia’s development goals. Ensuring that they are healthy, nourished and empowered is not just a moral imperative, it is a strategic investment in the future of our societies,” said Md. Golam Sarwar, Secretary General of SAARC.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –