Category: Natural Disasters

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ20: Cross-boundary marine tourism

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Tang Ka-piu and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, in the Legislative Council today (July 2):

Question:

It is learnt that the Mainland is actively developing the Nan’ao checkpoint pier project in the Dapeng New District of Shenzhen (the Nan’ao checkpoint), with plans to set up a number of routes to and from Hong Kong. On the other hand, the SAR Government has been promoting multi-destination cross-boundary tourism in recent years, while the Urban Renewal Authority has proposed to develop the waterfronts of Kwun Tong, Kowloon Bay, Kai Tak and To Kwa Wan along the Victoria Harbour into a world-class bay region known as “Victoria Cove Area”. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) whether the Working Group for Sha Tau Kok Co-operation Zone set up under the Task Force for Collaboration on the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy under the Guangdong-Hong Kong and Hong Kong-Shenzhen cooperation mechanism has discussed the development of the Nan’ao checkpoint and the routes to and from Hong Kong; if so, of the relevant progress; whether, in view of the opening of the Nan’ao checkpoint, it will consider setting up more sea control points in the eastern part of Hong Kong and introducing more streamlined immigration measures and policies, so as to create favourable conditions for multi-destination cross-boundary marine tourism across Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(2) as it has been reported that the Nan’ao checkpoint will set up a route connecting to Ma Liu Shui via Tung Ping Chau, which is only four kilometres away, while Tung Ping Chau, a tourist hotspot in Hong Kong, is yet to be supplied with tap water and electricity, whether the SAR Government will take advantage of the opportunity arising from the development of the Nan’ao checkpoint to work with the Shenzhen Municipality in providing Tung Ping Chau with infrastructure such as tap water and electricity to promote the development of the island; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(3) given that the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy proposes the establishment of the Mirs Bay/Yan Chau Tong Eco-‍recreation/tourism Circle, and there are views pointing out that the infrastructural facilities on the islands in such waters, particularly piers or landing facilities, are relatively outdated, whether the Government will allocate resources to upgrade the infrastructure on such islands so as to serve tourists’ needs; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;

(4) given that the Action Plan for High-Quality Development of the Yacht Industry (2024-2027) announced by the Guangdong Provincial Government proposes to strive for the implementation of a pilot prorgamme for the free flow of yachts among Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, of the progress of the SAR Government’s discussion with the Mainland authorities on the implementation of the plan, and whether additional measures conducive to cross-‍boundary high-end marine tourism will be pursued at the same time for Hong Kong’s tourism industry;

(5) whether, in the light of the establishment of the Nan’ao checkpoint, adjustments will be made to the planning for the Northern Metropolis to dovetail with the relevant development; and

(6) whether it will consider creating a “cross-boundary marine eco-‍tourism belt along the eastern waters of Hong Kong” through a multi-destination tourism approach, including but not limited to the development of tourism routes connecting the Nan’ao checkpoint with various scenic spots, such as Sai Kung, Lei Yue Mun (the Sam Ka Tsuen Ferry Pier), Kwun Tong (the Kwun Tong Public Pier and the Kwun Tong Ferry Pier), Kai Tak (the Runway Park Pier and the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal), the Kwun Tong Waterfront Water Sports Centre, the Kai Tak Water Sports Centre and the proposed yacht club in Yau Tong Bay, with a view to utilising existing or planned facilities in combination with eco-tourism and water sports activities in Hong Kong’s eastern waters to attract high-value added visitors to come and spend money in Hong Kong; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

Reply:

President,

As set out in the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0, the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) promotes in-depth integration of Hong Kong’s unique world-class resources with tourism, leveraging Hong Kong’s position as an international metropolis and tourism hub to promote the development of multi-destination travel itineraries and tourism products with other cities inside and outside the Greater Bay Area (GBA). According to the Northern Metropolis (NM) Action Agenda published in 2023, the Blue and Green Recreation, Tourism and Conservation Circle situated in the easternmost part of the NM comprises Robin’s Nest, Lin Ma Hang, Sha Tau Kok, Yan Chau Tong as well as coastal villages and the outlying islands. With abundant blue and green resources including country parks, marine parks and a geopark as well as a number of traditional rural townships, this zone has the potential for recreation and tourism development.

Having consulted the CSTB, the Environment and Ecology Bureau, the Security Bureau, and the Transport and Logistics Bureau, a consolidated reply in response to the questions raised by the Hon Tang Ka-piu is as follows:

(1) and (5) The Working Group for Sha Tau Kok Co-operation Zone (the Working Group) under the Task Force for Collaboration on the Northern Metropolis Development Strategy aims to promote cultural and tourism collaboration between Shenzhen and Hong Kong in Sha Tau Kok. The development of the proposed Nan’ao checkpoint, as mentioned in the question, includes routes to and from Hong Kong and is outside the scope of work of the Working Group. As regards setting up sea travel control points in the eastern part of Hong Kong and developing cross-boundary ferry routes between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, these will involve quite a number of considerations, including the long-term market demand for the ferry routes concerned and the carrying capacity of the region, the required infrastructure and supporting facilities and the cost-effectiveness, and the potential impacts on the ecological environment, etc, which warrant careful consideration.

(2) Regarding the power supply to Tung Ping Chau, the Scheme of Control Agreements signed between the Government and the two power companies stipulate that the power companies are obliged to contribute to the development of Hong Kong by providing, operating and maintaining sufficient electricity related-facilities and supplying electricity to meet the demand. This includes the conducting of feasibility studies and putting forward of proposals for supplying electricity to remote areas. The Government will conduct comprehensive assessments on the two power companies’ proposals, taking into account such factors as the supply method, cost-effectiveness and the impact on the environment, etc, with a view to achieving the balance of the four objectives of our energy policy, namely, safety, stability, reasonable prices and environmentally friendliness. Regarding the electricity supply to Tung Ping Chau, the Government has approved the proposals in the 2018-2023 Development Plan of the CLP Power Hong Kong Limited (CLP) to supply electricity generated from solar power systems for Tung Ping Chau. The Government has also urged the CLP to maintain close liaison with the local residents.

Regarding the water supply to Tung Ping Chau, as the permanent residence of the island is sparse, if a treated water supply system is to be constructed irrespective of whether the submarine pipeline is constructed from Shenzhen or Hong Kong to Tung Ping Chau, it is expected that the low water consumption will likely lead to stagnant water in water mains, resulting in deterioration of water quality. Preliminary study shows that the capital cost per capita for the construction of treated water supply system for Tung Ping Chau is very high. Factors such as cross-boundary project and management should also be considered for laying the cross-boundary submarine pipeline. In view of technical and financial feasibility of the water supply system, the Water Supplies Department (WSD) is actively exploring using technology to provide water supply to Tung Ping Chau. To this end, the WSD is providing assistance to a non-governmental organisation to carry out pilot use of domestic seawater filter devices to provide an alternative water source for the villagers of Tung Ping Chau.

(3) The Government launched the policy of Pier Improvement Programme (PIP) in 2017, aiming to upgrade the structural safety and facilities of a number of existing public piers at remote areas in the New Territories and outlying islands, with a view to enhancing accessibility of some scenic spots and natural heritage as well as meeting the basic needs of local villagers relying on boats as their main transportation mode and fishermen’s operation. Under the PIP, eight public piers are located within the Mirs Bay/Yan Chau Tong in the NM, of which the construction of Lai Chi Chong Pier, Sam Mun Tsai Village Pier and Sham Chung Pier are expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2025. The remaining five piers are at the investigation and design stage. Upon completion of the detailed design, the Government will apply to the Legislative Council for funding for individual pier projects at appropriate time, based on the resource priority and related engineering deployment of the public works projects.

(4) The CSTB supports the development and co-operation of yacht tourism in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA, with a view to expanding and promoting high value-added tourism activities in Hong Kong and demonstrating the role of Hong Kong as a core demonstration zone for multi-destination tourism. The Development Bureau (DEVB) and the departments under its purview would make appropriate preparation in relation to land use planning and hardware for disembarkation and shores facilities so as to support the future development of yacht tourism in Hong Kong. With regard to the hardware facilities, the DEVB invited the market to submit expressions of interest (EOIs) for the proposed yacht berthing facilities at the ex-Lamma Quarry site and the expansion area of Aberdeen Typhoon Shelter in the first half of this year, and are currently consolidating and analysing the feedback collected. The target is to firm up the development parameters and requirements, conduct the relevant statutory procedures as needed, and invite tender by the end of 2026 and 2027, or even earlier, for the two projects mentioned above respectively. At the same time, the DEVB released in April this year the preliminary land use proposals for the sites around Hung Hom Station and its waterfront areas, proposing to make use of the water body to the west of the former Hung Hom Railway Freight Yard site to provide yacht berthing facilities. The DEVB is currently consulting the public on the whole land use proposal which includes, amongst others, the yacht berthing facilities. The target is to commence town planning and other statutory procedures in the second half of 2026.

To promote yacht tourism, apart from providing more yacht berthing facilities to address the shortage of berths, the Government will also need to consider whether there is any need to improve the immigration clearance procedures for yachts, the visa requirements for crew members, as well as arrangements and ancillary facilities such as ship repairing and maintenance, which involve the work of various bureaux and departments. In this relation, the DEVB has already made use of the opportunity of the EOI exercises mentioned above to collect the industry’s views and improvement recommendations on the development of yacht tourism and the related ancillary facilities. We are currently consolidating and analysing the feedback collected, and will provide them to the relevant bureaux and departments for reference, with a view to facilitating the formulation of more facilitating measures in the future to promote yacht tourism.

(6) At present, Mainland visitors can conveniently enter Hong Kong through various boundary control points to join local tours, including eco-tourism itineraries in Hong Kong. The Government will, under the premise of striking a balance between ecological conservation and tourism development, unveil Hong Kong’s precious ecological resources to visitors and develop island tourism. We will also make good use of the coastline and waterfront resources and encourage the trade to develop diversified tourism products.

Under the Tourism Commission’s Lei Yue Mun Waterfront Enhancement Project, the public landing facility was opened for public use in June. It has provided better supporting facility for developing tourism products in the eastern waters of Victoria Harbour, and promoting the development of marine tourism. In particular, for the licensed ferry route plying between Sai Wan Ho and Sam Ka Tsuen, some of the existing departures from Sai Wan Ho to Sam Ka Tsuen has been operated via the new public landing facility at Lei Yue Mun on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The service has commenced since June 28 on a trial basis for six months.

In addition, the Legislation Council approved the amended Protection of the Harbour Ordinance (Cap. 531) recently. The introduction of a streamlined mechanism under the amended Ordinance has facilitated small-scale reclamations to promote harbourfront enhancement and to strengthen harbour functions. We will explore suitable locations for taking forward harbour enhancement works that can upgrade ancillary tourist facilities on both sides of the Victoria Harbour, by capitalising on the streamlined mechanism, with a view to better leveraging harbourfront resources and promoting tourism.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ3: Promoting development of “home-stay lodgings”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hok-fung and a reply by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, in the Legislative Council today (July 2):

Question:

There are views that expensive accommodation costs, as well as lack of variety and limited choices are related to the fact that only about 66 per cent of Mainland tourists stayed overnight in Hong Kong during this year’s Labour Day Golden Week, and that the Government should make good use of the natural resources in rural areas to develop home-stay lodgings, thereby extending tourists’ length of stay. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) as it has been reported that Japan has relaxed its regulations on home-stay lodgings in recent years to focus more on management requirements than on strict hardware facility standards for hotels and guesthouses, whether the Government has studied regulating home-stay lodgings in this direction; if so, of the details;

(2) as there are views that Hong Kong has many rural locations with natural scenic beauty and potential for developing home-stay lodgings, such as Pui O and Mui Wo, whether the Government will study allowing village houses in such locations that have been issued with a Certificate of Compliance to automatically be eligible to operate as home-stay lodgings, in order to streamline the administrative procedures for applying to operate home-stay lodgings; if so, of the timetable; and

(3) as it has been reported that a private kitchen in rural areas has encountered considerable difficulties when applying for restaurant licences, whether the Government will relax requirements in the light of the unique circumstances of rural areas, and proactively assist rural home-stay lodgings that also operate restaurants by processing licences for both simultaneously, so as to accelerate the development of home-stay lodgings?

Reply:

President,

In response to the three parts of the question raised by the Hon Chan Hok-fung, having consulted the Development Bureau and the Environment and Ecology Bureau, my consolidated reply is as follows:

The Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) under the Home Affairs Department is responsible for licensing and enforcement work under the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance (Cap. 349). The purpose of the Ordinance is to ensure that premises intended for use as hotels or guesthouses meet statutory building and fire safety standards to protect the safety of lodgers and the public. Moreover, as guests typically only stay in hotels or guesthouses during nighttime or for short periods and may not be familiar with escape routes, it is necessary to establish reasonable safety requirements to protect their safety. Under the current system, any premises providing paid short-term accommodation, including hotels, guesthouses or so-called “home-stay lodgings”, must comply with the building and fire safety standards stipulated in the Ordinance before being licensed to operate. The Ordinance does not impose special restrictions on or exclude “home-stay lodgings”. As long as the operation mode falls within the definition of hotel or guesthouse, an application for a licence to operate can be made, regardless of whether the premises is located in an urban or a rural area.

The OLA has long been adopting a flexible and pragmatic approach in processing all licence applications to facilitate the operation of licensed premises. When processing hotel and guesthouse licence applications, the OLA ensures that premises under the applications meet basic safety requirements such as building and fire safety standards, while taking into account the scale and operation mode of the premises. Additionally, premises must comply with relevant requirements of the Ordinance, in order to safeguard the safety of lodgers and the public while balancing the interests of other owners of premises in the same building. Most of these requirements were introduced by the Amendment Ordinance in 2020, including the no-use restriction requirement (i.e. there should be no restrictive clauses in the deed of mutual covenant or Government lease of the premises concerned) and the person responsible for operating, opening, or managing a hotel or guesthouse must meet the fit and proper requirement. The application process does not impose additional restrictions for “home-stay lodgings” type operations. Upon receiving a licence application, the OLA will conduct an on-site inspection and formulate applicable licensing requirements based on the specific circumstances of each premises. The Government has always prioritised public safety as its foremost consideration while striving to foster the healthy development of the industry. As long as the safety of guests, other persons in the same building and the general public is ensured, the OLA will proactively facilitate the application and approval processes for licences.

Currently, land leases for small houses in the New Territories generally permit non-industrial uses, including operation as guesthouses. Therefore, as long as the small house has obtained either a Certificate of Compliance or a “No Objection to Occupy” Letter from the Lands Department, no lease modification would be required. However, a guesthouse licence would still need to be applied for to operate a guesthouse so as to ensure the safety of lodgers and the general public.

However, we understand that village houses in rural areas have their own unique characteristics and constraints. The OLA has always adopted a flexible and pragmatic approach in processing such applications, allowing applicants to propose alternative solutions on a case-by-case basis to meet the requirements for licensing, provided that building and fire safety are ensured. As long as there is no compromise of public safety, relevant departments will consider local situations when processing applications for rural and old village houses, with a view to facilitating applicants to meet the licensing requirements.

As at May 31, 2025, 108 village houses in the New Territories or outlying islands in Hong Kong have been issued with guesthouse licences.

In fact, to promote eco-tourism, facilitate visitors, and help revitalise desolate villages, the Government’s inter-departmental task force has formulated a series of streamlined measures to facilitate guesthouse and food business licence applications for some 90 countryside villages in the New Territories that have no vehicular access, taking into account the uniqueness of remote rural areas. These streamlined measures cover various aspects, including town planning, land, fire safety, building safety and sanitary requirements. Currently, relevant licences have been obtained for some guesthouses in Lai Chi Wo, a takeaway shop in Yim Tin Tsai, and a restaurant in Kuk Po under these streamlined measures. Based on these actual cases, the Government is sorting out the requirements, details, and implementation procedures of the streamlined measures and will compile a set of Guide to Application for reference by interested operators. The Government will continue to review room for enhancement in the licence application process for guesthouses and food businesses in countryside areas, with a view to creating a more business-friendly environment to support the work of countryside conservation and revitalisation.

â€‹Under the inter-departmental collaboration mechanism, the first batch of guesthouse licences was successfully issued for 11 village houses in Lai Chi Wo between December 2021 and September 2022.

Thank you, President.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ3: Promoting development of “home-stay lodgings”

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hok-fung and a reply by the Secretary for Home and Youth Affairs, Miss Alice Mak, in the Legislative Council today (July 2):

Question:

There are views that expensive accommodation costs, as well as lack of variety and limited choices are related to the fact that only about 66 per cent of Mainland tourists stayed overnight in Hong Kong during this year’s Labour Day Golden Week, and that the Government should make good use of the natural resources in rural areas to develop home-stay lodgings, thereby extending tourists’ length of stay. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

(1) as it has been reported that Japan has relaxed its regulations on home-stay lodgings in recent years to focus more on management requirements than on strict hardware facility standards for hotels and guesthouses, whether the Government has studied regulating home-stay lodgings in this direction; if so, of the details;

(2) as there are views that Hong Kong has many rural locations with natural scenic beauty and potential for developing home-stay lodgings, such as Pui O and Mui Wo, whether the Government will study allowing village houses in such locations that have been issued with a Certificate of Compliance to automatically be eligible to operate as home-stay lodgings, in order to streamline the administrative procedures for applying to operate home-stay lodgings; if so, of the timetable; and

(3) as it has been reported that a private kitchen in rural areas has encountered considerable difficulties when applying for restaurant licences, whether the Government will relax requirements in the light of the unique circumstances of rural areas, and proactively assist rural home-stay lodgings that also operate restaurants by processing licences for both simultaneously, so as to accelerate the development of home-stay lodgings?

Reply:

President,

In response to the three parts of the question raised by the Hon Chan Hok-fung, having consulted the Development Bureau and the Environment and Ecology Bureau, my consolidated reply is as follows:

The Office of the Licensing Authority (OLA) under the Home Affairs Department is responsible for licensing and enforcement work under the Hotel and Guesthouse Accommodation Ordinance (Cap. 349). The purpose of the Ordinance is to ensure that premises intended for use as hotels or guesthouses meet statutory building and fire safety standards to protect the safety of lodgers and the public. Moreover, as guests typically only stay in hotels or guesthouses during nighttime or for short periods and may not be familiar with escape routes, it is necessary to establish reasonable safety requirements to protect their safety. Under the current system, any premises providing paid short-term accommodation, including hotels, guesthouses or so-called “home-stay lodgings”, must comply with the building and fire safety standards stipulated in the Ordinance before being licensed to operate. The Ordinance does not impose special restrictions on or exclude “home-stay lodgings”. As long as the operation mode falls within the definition of hotel or guesthouse, an application for a licence to operate can be made, regardless of whether the premises is located in an urban or a rural area.

The OLA has long been adopting a flexible and pragmatic approach in processing all licence applications to facilitate the operation of licensed premises. When processing hotel and guesthouse licence applications, the OLA ensures that premises under the applications meet basic safety requirements such as building and fire safety standards, while taking into account the scale and operation mode of the premises. Additionally, premises must comply with relevant requirements of the Ordinance, in order to safeguard the safety of lodgers and the public while balancing the interests of other owners of premises in the same building. Most of these requirements were introduced by the Amendment Ordinance in 2020, including the no-use restriction requirement (i.e. there should be no restrictive clauses in the deed of mutual covenant or Government lease of the premises concerned) and the person responsible for operating, opening, or managing a hotel or guesthouse must meet the fit and proper requirement. The application process does not impose additional restrictions for “home-stay lodgings” type operations. Upon receiving a licence application, the OLA will conduct an on-site inspection and formulate applicable licensing requirements based on the specific circumstances of each premises. The Government has always prioritised public safety as its foremost consideration while striving to foster the healthy development of the industry. As long as the safety of guests, other persons in the same building and the general public is ensured, the OLA will proactively facilitate the application and approval processes for licences.

Currently, land leases for small houses in the New Territories generally permit non-industrial uses, including operation as guesthouses. Therefore, as long as the small house has obtained either a Certificate of Compliance or a “No Objection to Occupy” Letter from the Lands Department, no lease modification would be required. However, a guesthouse licence would still need to be applied for to operate a guesthouse so as to ensure the safety of lodgers and the general public.

However, we understand that village houses in rural areas have their own unique characteristics and constraints. The OLA has always adopted a flexible and pragmatic approach in processing such applications, allowing applicants to propose alternative solutions on a case-by-case basis to meet the requirements for licensing, provided that building and fire safety are ensured. As long as there is no compromise of public safety, relevant departments will consider local situations when processing applications for rural and old village houses, with a view to facilitating applicants to meet the licensing requirements.

As at May 31, 2025, 108 village houses in the New Territories or outlying islands in Hong Kong have been issued with guesthouse licences.

In fact, to promote eco-tourism, facilitate visitors, and help revitalise desolate villages, the Government’s inter-departmental task force has formulated a series of streamlined measures to facilitate guesthouse and food business licence applications for some 90 countryside villages in the New Territories that have no vehicular access, taking into account the uniqueness of remote rural areas. These streamlined measures cover various aspects, including town planning, land, fire safety, building safety and sanitary requirements. Currently, relevant licences have been obtained for some guesthouses in Lai Chi Wo, a takeaway shop in Yim Tin Tsai, and a restaurant in Kuk Po under these streamlined measures. Based on these actual cases, the Government is sorting out the requirements, details, and implementation procedures of the streamlined measures and will compile a set of Guide to Application for reference by interested operators. The Government will continue to review room for enhancement in the licence application process for guesthouses and food businesses in countryside areas, with a view to creating a more business-friendly environment to support the work of countryside conservation and revitalisation.

â€‹Under the inter-departmental collaboration mechanism, the first batch of guesthouse licences was successfully issued for 11 village houses in Lai Chi Wo between December 2021 and September 2022.

Thank you, President.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Hlabisa to announce distribution of Municipal Disaster Response and Recovery Grant

Source: South Africa News Agency

Hlabisa to announce distribution of Municipal Disaster Response and Recovery Grant

The Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs (CoGTA), Velenkosini Hlabisa, will officially announce the disbursement of the Municipal Disaster Response Grant and the Disaster Recovery Grant to provinces and municipalities throughout the country on Monday, 7 July 2025.

These allocations are intended to bolster immediate relief and recovery measures in communities affected by recent disasters.

The department has announced that this intervention comes in response to a series of destructive incidents that have been officially recognised and declared as national disasters, in accordance with Section 23(3) of the Disaster Management Act, 2002 (Act No. 57 of 2002).

Funding for this initiative is being released under Section 25(3)(a) of the Division of Revenue Act, 2023 (Act No. 5 of 2023), as amended by the Division of Revenue Amendment Act, 2023 (Act No. 24 of 2023).

“The announcement forms part of government’s ongoing efforts to ensure an adequate and timely response to the devastating weather events of April 2025, which significantly affected several provinces, most notably the Eastern Cape.

“In addition to addressing the damage caused by these events, the grants will support broader recovery interventions aimed at restoring essential services and the dignity of affected communities,” the department said.

The Eastern Cape has officially been declared a national disaster zone in response to the widespread destruction caused by recent severe floods that claimed about 102 lives last month.

READ | Eastern Cape June floods declared a national disaster

Last week, the Eastern Cape CoGTA MEC, Zolile Williams, said the declaration was made under the Disaster Management Act (Act No. 57 of 2002).

To ensure the integrity and effectiveness of this funding, the national department said strict accountability mechanisms will be implemented to guarantee that the allocated resources are used solely for their intended purposes.

“Monitoring and reporting frameworks will be enforced in collaboration with relevant stakeholders to uphold transparency and good governance.

“This intervention reflects government’s commitment to moving from policy deliberation to decisive action and to building a resilient, responsive, and inclusive system of local governance that places the needs of communities at the centre of development,” CoGTA said. – SAnews.gov.za

Gabisile
Wed, 07/02/2025 – 11:04

MIL OSI Africa –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI NGOs: GAZA: Starvation or gunfire — not a humanitarian response
Source: Oxfam –

JOINT STATEMENT

Oxfam and over 170 other NGOs operating in Gaza call for immediate action to end the deadly Israeli distribution scheme (including the so-called Gaza Humanitarian Foundation) in Gaza, revert to the existing UN-led coordination mechanisms, and lift the Israeli government’s blockade on aid and commercial supplies. The 400 aid distribution points operating during the temporary ceasefire across Gaza have now been replaced by just four military-controlled distribution sites, forcing two million people into overcrowded, militarized zones where they face daily gunfire and mass casualties while trying to access food and are denied other life-saving supplies.

Today, Palestinians in Gaza face an impossible choice: starve or risk being shot while trying desperately to reach food to feed their families. The weeks following the launch of the Israeli distribution scheme have been some of the deadliest and most violent since October 2023.

In less than four weeks, more than 500 Palestinians have been killed and almost 4,000 injured just trying to access or distribute food. Israeli forces and armed groups – some reportedly operating with backing from Israeli authorities – now routinely open fire on desperate civilians risking everything just to survive.

The humanitarian system is being deliberately and systematically dismantled by the Government of Israel’s blockade and restrictions, a blockade now being used to justify shutting down nearly all other aid operations in favour of a deadly, military-controlled alternative that neither protects civilians nor meets basic needs. These measures are designed to sustain a cycle of desperation, danger, and death. Experienced humanitarian actors remain ready to deliver life-saving assistance at scale. Yet more than 100 days since Israeli authorities reimposed a near-total blockade on aid and commercial goods, Gaza’s humanitarian conditions are collapsing faster than at any point in the past 20 months.

Under the Israeli government’s new scheme, starved and weakened civilians are being forced to trek for hours through dangerous terrain and active conflict zones, only to face a violent, chaotic race to reach fenced, militarized distribution sites with a single entry point. There, thousands are released into chaotic enclosures to fight for limited food supplies. These areas have become sites of repeated massacres in blatant disregard for international humanitarian law. Orphaned children and caregivers are among the dead, with children harmed in over half of the attacks on civilians at these sites. With Gaza’s healthcare system in ruins, many of those shot are left to bleed out alone, beyond the reach of ambulances and denied lifesaving medical care.

Amidst severe hunger and famine-like conditions, many families tell us they are now too weak to compete for food rations. Those who do manage to obtain food often return with only a few basic items – nearly impossible to prepare without clean water or fuel to cook with. Fuel is nearly depleted, bringing critical lifesaving services – including bakeries, water systems, ambulances, and hospitals – to a standstill. Families are sheltering under plastic sheets, operating makeshift kitchens amid the rubble, without fuel, clean water, sanitation, or electricity.

This is not a humanitarian response.

Concentrating more than two million people into further confined areas for a chance to feed their families is not a plan to save lives. For 20 months, more than two million people have been subjected to relentless bombardment, the weaponization of food, water and other aid, repeated forced displacement, and systematic dehumanization – all under the watch of the international community. The Sphere Association, which sets minimum standards for quality humanitarian aid, has warned that the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s approach does not adhere to core humanitarian standards and principles.

This normalization of suffering must not be allowed to stand. States must reject the false choice between deadly, military-controlled food distributions and total denial of aid. States must uphold their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, including prohibitions on forced displacement, indiscriminate attacks, and obstruction of humanitarian aid. States must ensure accountability for grave violations of international law.

We, the undersigned organizations, once again call on all third states to:
- Take concrete measures to end the suffocating siege and uphold the right of civilians in Gaza to safely access aid and receive protection.
- Urge donors not to fund militarized aid schemes that violate international law, do not adhere to humanitarian principles, deepen harm, and risk complicity in atrocities.
- Support the restoration of a unified, UN-led coordination mechanism—grounded in international humanitarian law and inclusive of UNRWA, Palestinian civil society, and the wider humanitarian community—to meet people’s needs.
We reiterate our urgent calls for an immediate and sustained ceasefire, the release of all hostages and arbitrarily detained prisoners, full humanitarian access at scale, and an end to the pervasive impunity that enables these atrocities and denies Palestinians their basic dignity.

The signatories include:

1. American Friends Service Committee

2. Amnesty International

3. Anera

4. Bisan Center for Research and Development

5. Fund for Global Human Rights

6. Islamic Relief Worldwide

7. Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation

8. Médecins du Monde

9. Médecins Sans Frontières

10. MedGlobal

11. Medical Aid for Palestinians

12. Mennonite Central Committee

13. Middle East Children’s Alliance

14. Norwegian People’s Aid

15. Norwegian Refugee Council

16. Oxfam International

17. Pax Christi International

18. Saferworld

19. Save the Children

20. Terres des Hommes Italia

21. War Child
MIL OSI NGO –
July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: African Development Bank approves $47.5 million loan to spur Eswatini’s economic growth

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The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) has approved a $47.5 million loan to the Kingdom of Eswatini. The loan will support the government’s efforts to transform the economy, achieve sustainable growth, create jobs, improve service delivery, and enhance the livelihoods of its people.

The Enhancing Economic Resilience and Competitiveness Program (EERCP) represents a strategic intervention to support Eswatini’s National Development Plan (2023-2028).

This marks the first phase of a two-year program designed to strengthen the economic foundation of the southern African nation and foster sustainable growth, economic recovery, and sustainable livelihoods for Eswatini people, while addressing mounting fiscal pressures from declining Southern African Customs Union (SACU) revenues and economic headwinds.

“This operation comes at a critical juncture for Eswatini as the country navigates challenging economic conditions while implementing ambitious reforms,” said Moono Mupotola, African Development Bank Deputy Director General for Southern Africa “Our support will help the Kingdom build fiscal resilience while creating an enabling environment for private sector-led growth that can generate jobs for young people and women.”

Eswatini’s economy faces significant headwinds, with GDP growth declining from 5% in 2023 to an estimated 3.6% in 2024, primarily due to the impact of extreme droughts on agricultural output. The fiscal deficit has widened from 1.5% in 2023 to an estimated 1.7% in 2024, driven by underperformance in customs revenues and increased public spending pressures.

With youth unemployment reaching 48.7% and overall unemployment at 35.4%, Eswatini urgently needs structural reforms to unleash the potential of its private sector and create opportunities for its predominantly young population.

The program focuses on two complementary pillars: deepening fiscal and public financial management reforms, and enhancing competitiveness to promote private sector-led, inclusive, and green growth.

The program builds on the African Development Bank’s successful track record in Eswatini, including the Support for Economic Recovery and Inclusive Growth operation and ongoing technical assistance in state-owned enterprise reforms, procurement, and the implementation of gender policy.

The Enhancing Economic Resilience and Competitiveness Program places special emphasis on promoting inclusive growth and gender equality. Environmental sustainability is integrated throughout the program.

The program is expected to deliver measurable improvements by reducing domestic arrears, increasing private sector growth in GDP, boosting renewable energy share, and improving Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (https://apo-opa.co/44KEUgw) scores on fiscal policy and social inclusion. The Country Policy and Institutional Assessment of the African Development Bank is a diagnostic tool that assesses, every two years, the quality of policies and the performance of institutional frameworks in the 54 African countries.

The EERCP has been developed in close coordination with the World Bank, which provides complementary financing.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Development Bank Group (AfDB).

Media contact:
Emeka Anuforo
Communication and External Relations Department
media@afdb.org

About the African Development Bank Group:
The African Development Bank Group is Africa’s premier development finance institution. It comprises three distinct entities: the African Development Bank (AfDB), the African Development Fund (ADF) and the Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF). On the ground in 41 African countries with an external office in Japan, the Bank contributes to the economic development and the social progress of its 54 regional member states. For more information: www.AfDB.org

MIL OSI Africa –

July 2, 2025
Iranian President Pezeshkian Signs into Law Suspending Cooperation with UN Nuclear Monitor

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has signed into law a bill suspending cooperation with the United Nations’ nuclear monitor, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iranian state media reported on Wednesday. This is one of the most drastic steps Iran has made in its standoff with international powers on its nuclear activities.

State broadcaster of Iran reported that “Masoud Pezeshkian ratified the bill suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency,” Press TV, Mehr news agency, and semi-official Tasnim news agency stated. The legislation, which occurred after the recent military clashes with Israel and the United States, came into effect officially.

The suspension comes on the heels of Iran’s Parliament approving the legislation overwhelmingly, gaining 221 votes in support, one abstention, and no opposition from among those present in the 290-seat house. The parliamentary vote then got approval from Iran’s constitutional monitor before it could hit the president’s desk.

The action follows a build-up of tensions that started on June 13 when Israel bombed Iranian military and nuclear facilities. Iran retaliated with missile and drone attacks against Israeli targets, and the US retaliated with attacks on key Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan on June 22. Iran condemned the US attacks as a ‘savage assault’ and vowed not to abandon its nuclear program. The 12-day war finally came to an end under a US-facilitated ceasefire that took effect on June 24.

Iranian officials accused the IAEA of remaining silent throughout the military campaign, stoking Iran’s tensions with the UN nuclear agency over access and transparency. The implications for the IAEA’s ability to monitor Iran’s nuclear program are uncertain, but it is a stark escalation of Iran’s nuclear posture amid rising regional tensions.

July 2, 2025
Extremely heavy rainfall likely at several places in Rajasthan, Maharashtra: IMD

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Wednesday said that active monsoon conditions will continue over several parts of northwest, central, and east India for the next six to seven days, with widespread rainfall expected across multiple regions.

Extremely heavy rainfall (20 cm or more) is very likely at isolated places over east Rajasthan and the ghat areas of central Maharashtra today.

The IMD has also issued extremely heavy rainfall warnings for Meghalaya on July 5 and 6. Very heavy rainfall activity is also expected in several other parts of the country during this period.

Kerala and Karnataka are likely to receive heavy rainfall today. Himachal Pradesh is expected to witness heavy showers between July 5 and 7, while Punjab and Haryana may see intense rainfall on July 6 and 7.

East Rajasthan and Arunachal Pradesh are also expected to receive significant rainfall between July 2 and 4. Madhya Pradesh, Konkan & Goa, the ghat regions of central Maharashtra, Gujarat region, and northeastern states including Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, and Tripura will likely see heavy rainfall between July 2 and 6.

Assam and Meghalaya are expected to receive heavy rains from July 4 to 6, and Chhattisgarh and Odisha on July 2, 5, and 6.

Weather forecast for Delhi-NCR

In the Delhi-NCR region, partly cloudy skies and light rain accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning are expected through July 5.

Maximum temperatures are forecast to remain in the range of 35 to 38°C, consistently staying 1 to 2 degrees below normal. Minimum temperatures are also expected to be slightly below normal, ranging from 24 to 28°C.

Today, Delhi is likely to experience southeasterly winds with a speed of less than 15 kmph in the afternoon, gradually slowing to 8-10 kmph by evening and night.

On July 3 and 4, light rain and thunderstorms are likely to continue, with wind directions varying between southeast, east, and southwest at speeds generally under 10 kmph.

On July 5, both maximum and minimum temperatures in Delhi are expected to dip slightly further, with lows ranging between 24 and 26°C. Winds will predominantly come from the southwest, peaking at less than 20 kmph in the morning and gradually tapering off during the day.

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: 3D panoramas of Vorobyovy Gory have been published in the mobile application “Discover Moscow”

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

The mobile application “Discover Moscow” has appeared 3D panoramas of Vorobyovy Gory. Users will see how this area changed over several historical eras, learn what the Vorobyovsky Palace of the Russian tsars of the 18th century looked like, where the restaurant of the enterprising peasant Stepan Krynkin, popular in the city at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, was located, and how the main building of the Moscow State University (MSU) named after M.V. Lomonosov was erected in the mid-20th century. All this will help to imagine the various stages of the territory’s development.

“The 3D panoramas of Vorobyovy Gory allow you to imagine how this favorite vacation spot for Muscovites and visitors to the capital looked in different eras. For example, one of the panoramas recreates the construction process of the main building of Moscow State University – users can literally witness a historical moment. To enhance the immersion effect, specialists have worked out in detail not only architectural objects, but also elements of nature: birds in flight, grass swaying in the wind. You can see all this both on site and from home, but the most vivid impressions await those who go to the observation deck of Vorobyovy Gory – breathtaking views open up here and you can feel the connection of times,” the press service said.

Department of Information Technology of the City of Moscow.

An information stele has been installed on the observation deck of Vorobyovy Gory, which will help you to see the 3D panorama right there. To see it, you need to scan the QR code and download the “Discover Moscow” application. After installing the application, you need to scan the QR code again, click the “View 3D panorama” button and select the period of time you are interested in. Then you can look around through your smartphone camera — historical views will come to life right on the screen.

The panorama and key historical moments can be studied remotely – at any time and from anywhere in the country. To do this, in the “Discover Moscow” application, find the “Vorobyovy Gory: observation deck” object card, click the “View 3D panorama” button, select the era and explore the area through the screen of your device.

Sparrow Hills: from the Middle Ages to the present day

The picturesque Vorobyovy Gory with its panoramic views of Moscow has attracted Russian rulers for centuries. The village of Vorobyevo was mentioned in the 15th century, and in the 16th century, Prince Vasily III built a wooden palace here. Ivan the Terrible took refuge within its walls during the uprising of 1547, and later Boris Godunov and Mikhail Romanov used the residence. In 1684, Princess Sophia ordered a new palace to be built in the Moscow Baroque style.

It was here that young Peter I became interested in artillery, which largely determined his future interests. After the capital was moved to St. Petersburg, the palace gradually fell into disrepair, and after a fire in 1812, it finally disappeared. Its foundation was discovered in 1901 during the installation of a water pipe. Today, only archival documents and old engravings remind us of the building. But you can see it in the first 3D panorama – just click the button “Vorobyevsky Palace. 18th century”.

The second 3D panorama will introduce you to a virtual image of another Vorobyovy Gory structure — the Krynkin restaurant of the 19th–20th centuries. It was opened in 1891 by Stepan Krynkin, a native of the village of Vorobyevo. By 1904, the establishment had become a real entertainment center: gypsy choirs were heard here, illusionists performed, reindeer sleigh rides were offered in the winter, roller coasters were offered in the summer, and fireworks were displayed on New Year’s Eve. Krynkin thought through every detail: a narrow-gauge railway with a small locomotive known as the “cuckoo” was even laid for guests, and a boat service was organized. During the revolution, a reading room was built instead of the restaurant, but the building soon burned down, leaving behind only memories and quotes in classical literature.

The third 3D panorama in the Discover Moscow app visualizes the construction of the legendary Stalinist skyscraper — the main building of Lomonosov Moscow State University. Construction began in 1947. The project was developed by leading architects, including Boris Iofan and Lev Rudnev, and the sculptural design was entrusted to Vera Mukhina’s studio. Construction proceeded at a record pace: by 1949, the frame had already reached 10 floors. Chief engineer Nikolai Nikitin created a unique 15-meter-deep floating foundation and special columns that prevented the building from subsiding in unstable soils. From its construction in 1953 until 1990, the building remained the tallest in Europe. Learn more about the history of the university and the key figures associated with its creation, development, and transformation. Thematic quiz, dedicated to the 270th anniversary of the legendary university. The new stele on Vorobyovy Gory is also part of a special project prepared by the portal “Learn Moscow” and Lomonosov Moscow State University and dedicated to the university’s anniversary.

Today, Vorobyovy Gory is a unique historical area and a nature reserve in the very center of the capital, as well as one of the four territories of Gorky Park. More than 150 species of animals and birds, as well as about 400 species of plants, including those listed in the Red Book of Moscow, are found here. There are two ecological trails on the territory, each over one and a half kilometers long. This is one of the most picturesque places in the center of the capital, which is perfect for sports and leisurely walks in the forest.

“Moscow Parks” is a large-scale city initiative aimed at creating comfortable, modern and multifunctional places for recreation. It unites over 50 park areas where you can learn more about culture, play sports, take a walk with the whole family and find solitude in nature. Thanks to the project, unique landscapes and ecosystems are preserved, and bike paths, workout and sports grounds, art objects, children’s playgrounds and summer cafes appear.

“Get to Know Moscow” — a joint project of the departments of information technology, culture, cultural heritage, education and science. The interactive guide contains, for example, photographs and descriptions of more than 3.5 thousand buildings, monuments, historical sites, over 290 walking routes and information about more than 330 historical figures. Users also have access to mobile application “Get to know Moscow.”

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

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

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

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

https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/156158073/

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: SAPS welcomes ruling in Richmond municipal manager murder case

Source: South Africa News Agency

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

The South African Police Service (SAPS) has welcomed the judgment by the Pietermaritzburg High Court which found Sabelo Phewa guilty of murdering the late Richmond Local Municipality Manager, Sibusiso Sithole.

Sentencing is expected to take place on 31 July 2025, at the Durban High Court.

Sithole was shot and killed at the Richmond licensing office in 2017 while on his way to attend a meeting with the then council to discuss issues he was investigating, which included fraud and corruption involving tenders and kickbacks in the municipality.

The SAPS Political Killings task team took over investigations in 2018 and this led to the arrest of Phewa.

“The firearm found in his possession at the time of his arrest was found to be linked to several other murders, including that of Amos Ngcobo, whose wife had ordered the hit. The wife turned State witness and was sentenced to five years imprisonment,” SAPS said in a statement.

the Pietermaritzburg High Court found Phewa guilty of the murder of Sithole and Ngcobo; the attempted murder of police officers at the time they were effecting his arrest; possession of an unlicensed firearm, and unlawful possession of ammunition. – SAnews.gov.za

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MIL OSI Africa –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Young CCP members become torchbearers of the country’s future

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

BEIJING, July 2 (Xinhua) — Despite a busy schedule of exams and end-of-semester papers, Lin Jiajun finds time every day to read articles in Qiushi, a leading journal of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, to study the latest policies and guidelines for rural development in the country.

The 22-year-old student majoring in urban and rural planning at Nanjing University of Technology in east China’s Jiangsu Province applied to join the Communist Party of China two years ago and plans to work in a field related to rural revitalization strategy after graduation.

While doing fieldwork in Chinese villages earlier this year, Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province in southern China, native Lin Jiajun was deeply moved by what he saw.

Like many young Chinese, he is inspired and proud of the Party’s work in rural areas: between 2013 and 2020, China lifted nearly 99 million rural people out of poverty, contributing more than 70 percent to global poverty reduction during that period.

To consolidate the achievements in the fight against poverty, the party is now implementing a rural revitalization strategy in rural areas.

“The CCP was the driving force behind this transformation. I remember reading in high school about how young party members, many of them college graduates, would go to villages to support local communities,” Lin Jiajun said.

“There is still so much work to be done in the villages and I want to be part of that process,” he added.

Like Lin Jiajun, a growing number of young Chinese are applying to join the party, inspired by its ideals and the country’s development prospects.

Newly released data showed that more than 1.78 million people under the age of 35 joined the CPC, which celebrated its 104th anniversary on Tuesday, in 2024, accounting for 83.7 percent of the party’s net membership growth for the year.

By the end of 2024, the number of young Party members in this age group exceeded 23 million, accounting for more than one-fifth of the total CPC membership.

As a dynamic force, these members play a key role in the CPC’s modernization efforts. Since scientific and technological innovation is the centerpiece of China’s modernization, the Party aims to build a strong country in science and technology by 2035.

In this process, the Communist Party emphasizes the role of young professionals, entrusting them with responsible tasks within the framework of major national initiatives.

In 2020, during preparations for the launch of China’s Long March-5 carrier rocket at the Wenchang Satellite Launch Center in southern China’s Hainan Province, 24-year-old Zhou Chengyu, the first female subsystem commander at the site, calmly directed operations.

Zhou Chengyu’s rise through the ranks was rapid. In two years, she participated in five major launches, each in a different role, before being named commander.

The young woman lived up to the trust placed in her. During one mission, she had to climb more than 180 nearly vertical steel steps to reach an 8-square-meter test chamber filled with cables and pipes.

She made four such climbs a day for 60 days. In recognition of her dedication and results, her position was later designated as a “vanguard party member post.”

“I have chosen the right path. As a representative of the younger generation of Chinese, our aspirations must go hand in hand with the goals of the country,” the young commander said.

Official data show that the average age of key scientists behind China’s BeiDou satellite navigation system, quantum research and FAST radio telescope project is around 30.

Indeed, a new generation of CPC members is coming to the forefront, responding to the demands of the times and realizing their potential.

Deng Wenhao, a Communist Party member and doctoral student at Taiyuan University of Technology in north China’s Shanxi Province, remembers the day in 2024 when he gave a presentation at the United Nations headquarters in New York on his team’s technology aimed at solving climate change and food security.

“It was incredibly exciting to turn the knowledge I had gained into something meaningful. There is no greater reward for a researcher,” he said.

Born in 1991 in Datong, a traditional coal-producing city in Shanxi Province, Deng Wenhao grew up seeing how coal and coal-fired power plants affected people’s lives. Because his grandparents were farmers, he also saw vast stretches of barren, salt-marsh land covered in what he remembers as a “crust of salt.”

When his supervisor suggested exploring more natural methods of capturing carbon emissions, Deng Wenhao immediately thought of these saline soils. “I thought, why not capture carbon emissions and use them to reclaim alkaline soils?” he said.

His department found the idea unconventional, but the proposal received support. Li Ping, secretary of the CPC committee of the School of Safety Engineering and Emergency Management at Taiyuan University of Technology, said the topic met the needs of the local economy.

“We encourage our researchers to innovate and solve practical problems. We do not limit them in their choice of research direction,” Li Ping added.

“The CCP is constantly innovating and adapting to the spirit of the times. It is full of energy and vitality, and that is why it attracts so many young people,” Deng Wenhao said. -0-

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 2, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Supervision gaps can lead to child abuse – what can be done?
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Marg Rogers, Senior Lecturer, Early Childhood Education; Post Doctoral Fellow, Manna Institute, University of New England

Suwatchai Pluemruetai/Shutterstock

The horrific allegations of child abuse by an early childhood educator in Victoria came to light at a time when the early learning sector was already under fire for previous abuse revelations and safety breaches.

Parents of young children in early learning services have good reason to be concerned, and it’s important to understand the way learning environments and grooming behaviours interfere with supervision.

Recent worrying developments

In March this year, an ABC Four Corners investigation revealed a rising number of breaches and safety concerns in Australian early childhood services.

Recently, in Queensland, a paedophile was allowed to keep abusing children in services for years because agencies didn’t share complaints about an educator’s sexually abusive behaviour.

In Australia, 50.4% of children aged five and under, and 35.3% of children aged 12 and under use approved care services such as daycare or after-school care. That’s more than 1.4 million children from more than a million families.

The vast majority of services and educators are doing an excellent job of educating and caring for our children.

But due to the recent spate of incidents, many parents have raised important questions about the level of supervision of children, and how acts of abuse can occur in busy services where there are a large number of people.

Supervision policies and ratios

There are national standards, laws and regulations about ratios applicable to services in all states and territories, with some very minor variations.

The ratios between educators and children depend on the type of service and the age of the children. Babies up to 24 months need one educator for every four children. For 24-36 months, this generally increases to one educator for every five children.

Preschoolers (3-5 years) require one educator for up to 11 children.

According to government regulations, children should not be alone with educators.

But challenges to active supervision include:
- educator leave
- a lack of casual educators
- attrition
- educator burnout and busyness
- times of stress (including assessment and rating) when vast amounts of paperwork need to be done, reducing active supervision
- loopholes such as “under the roof” ratios where every adult in the building (such as cleaners, administration staff and cooks) are illegally counted as educators
- one-to-one times between children and educators, such as nappy changing and toileting
- quiet and secluded spaces for children which can be very difficult to supervise, like tents and cubby houses.
Grooming and supervision

Grooming interferes with effective supervision in early childhood services.

Abusers of children make the child feel special by giving them special presents, treats and sharing secrets with them. The child then feels cherished, seeking out the abuser.

Using a variety of tactics, they usually isolate the child from those they are closest to, meaning they are less likely to disclose abuse.

Abusers groom not only children but also parents, other educators and management. During this process, they are building trust and dependence.

Children who are being groomed seek out the abuser, which means the child looks happy spending time with the adult, which seems innocent to those supervising.

What changes are needed?

While some improvements have been made, much more needs to happen to fix the long-neglected issues that allow abuse in early learning settings.

Attracting more staff is a starting point, with more than 20,000 educators needed in Australia. This may require equal pay to school teachers with the same qualifications, and an overall improvement in wages.

And the status of early childhood educators needs to be lifted within the community.

Effective child protection training is also needed for educators that covers grooming behaviours.

Additionally, parents need training on these behaviours and how to recognise signs their child might be being abused.

Children need to learn ways to protect themselves from harm. They need to know what to do if someone asks them to keep secrets (different to surprises), pressures them to do something they don’t want to do, or uses threats.

Overall, we need agencies responsible for child protection within and between states and territories to talk to each other and systems that work together to keep our children safe.

If this story has raised any issues for you, please contact one of the services below:
- 1800 Respect, National counselling helpline: 1800 737 732
- Bravehearts, counselling and support for survivors of child sexual abuse: 1800 272 831
- Child Wise, counselling provider: 1800 991 099
- Lifeline, 24-hour crisis support and suicide preventio: 13 11 14
- Care Leavers Australia Network: 1800 008 774
- PartnerSPEAK, peer support for non-offending partners: (03) 9018 7872
Marg Rogers received Commonwealth funding for her postdoctoral fellowship with the Manna Institute.

– ref. Supervision gaps can lead to child abuse – what can be done? – https://theconversation.com/supervision-gaps-can-lead-to-child-abuse-what-can-be-done-260284
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
July 2, 2025

MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Customers to receive up to £2000 for water service failures

Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Press release

Customers to receive up to £2000 for water service failures

Uplifts to Guaranteed Service Standard Scheme will result in up to tenfold increase for customer compensation when they’ve been failed by water companies

Increase to water company reimbursements put more money back into customers’ pockets when their services are hit
Triggers for compensation to be expanded to include company failure to conduct meter readings and installations
One of Environment Secretary’s first promises in office delivered as government rolls out plan to reform the water sector

Water companies will increase compensation payments to customers up to tenfold from today (2 July), ensuring that the public are more fairly reimbursed for supply issues and low standards of service.

Customers will automatically receive more money for issues such as continued low water pressure and cancelled appointments.

A key step in the government’s mission to reform the water sector, the move marks the first uplift in compensation rates in 25 years, with the government recognising the urgent need to bring payments in line with inflation and properly compensate households for poor service.

Severe issues such as flooding will see customer compensation double from £1,000 to up to £2,000, while households suffering consistent low water pressure will be automatically eligible to receive up to £250 – a huge uplift from the previous compensation rate of just £25.

From today, no action will be needed from eligible customers as payments will automatically be credited back to their accounts.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed said:

Too many water companies are letting down their customers – with leaking pipes, poor water supply and low water pressure.

The Government is holding water companies to account by making them put money back into people’s pockets when they fail their customers.

The government is also working with water companies to expand the list of circumstances that will trigger compensation payments. Compensation for when customers are asked to boil their water due to contaminated supply will come into force later this year.

The standards, outlined in the Guaranteed Standards Scheme, set out a baseline for customer service in the water sector. They include providing timely restoration of water supply following an interruption, responding to written complaints and managing the risk of sewer flooding.

This comes as part of the government’s action to cut sewage spills and attract investment in the sector, including:

Strengthening regulation to ensure polluting water bosses who cover up their crimes now face two-year prison sentences.
Banning unfair bonuses for bosses of six polluting water companies.
Launching a record 81 criminal investigations into sewage pollution.
Securing £104bn in private sector investment to upgrade crumbling sewage pipes and cut sewage by nearly half by 2030.
Launching the Independent Water Commission led by Sir John Cunliffe to modernise the water industry and work with companies and their investors to make the industry one of growth and opportunity.

Mike Keil, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), said:

Customers expect to be treated fairly when their water company lets them down, so we’re delighted the Government has moved at pace to strengthen service standards.”

This should give people peace of mind they now have far stronger protection from a much broader range of water company service failures – from the slow installation of water meters to the mishandling of debt recovery. As well as bolstering payments for thousands of customers, these changes mark an important step towards restoring trust in the water sector which is at an all-time low.

David Black, Chief Executive of Ofwat said:

We welcome these improvements to guaranteed standards and payments for customers.

When customers suffer from problems like low pressure, disruptions to supply or sewer flooding they can experience major stress and inconvenience, and payment amounts must recognise the disruption to their lives when standards are not met.

These new changes are another way to make sure customers are protected when companies get it wrong.

Annex A

Summary of updates to payment levels for existing standards:

Existing Standards	Coming into force date	Old GSS payment		New GSS payments		Uplift
Existing Standards	Coming into force date	Household	Non-Household	Household	Non-Household	Household	Non-Household
Appointments not made properly	2 July	£20		£40		100%
Appointments not kept	Uprated payments to existing standard – 2 July Amended standard 1 Oct	£20		£50		150%
Account queries not actioned on time	Uprated payments to existing standard – 2 July Amended standard 1 Oct	£20		£40		100%
Requests to change payment arrangements not actioned on time	Uprated payments to existing standard – 2 July Amended standard 1 Oct	£20		£40		100%
Complaints not actioned on time	Uprated payments to existing standard – 2 July Amended standard 1 Oct	£20		£40		100%
Less than 48 hours’ notice of planned supply interruption of more than 4 hours	2 July	£20	£50	£50	£100	150%	100%
Supply not restored on time	2 July	£20, and £10 for each subsequent 24 hours	£50, and £25 for each subsequent 24 hours	£50, and £50 for each subsequent 12 hours	£100, and £100 for each subsequent 12 hours	150% for initial payment, 400% for subsequent payment and halved subsequent payment period	100% (for both initial and subsequent payment) and halved subsequent payment period
Low pressure	2 July	£25 (once per financial year)		£50, up to five payments per financial year – equivalent to just over the average water bill. Automatic £250pa for customers with ongoing low pressure		100% and increased annual maximum by 10x
Internal flooding from sewers	2 July	Payment equal to annual sewerage charges (Minimum payment of £150. Maximum of £1000)		Payment equal to annual sewerage charges, at minimum of £300 and maximum of £2000		Min and Max increased by 100%, with provision for repeated incidents in a year to warrant further increases to the maximum (see fig 1)
External flooding from sewers	2 July	Payment equal to 50% of annual sewerage charges (Minimum payment of £75. Maximum of £500)		Payment equal to 50% of annual sewerage charges, at minimum of £150 and maximum of £1000		Min and Max increased by 100%, with provision for repeated incidents in a year to warrant further increases to the maximum (see fig 1)
Failure to make automatic GSS payment	2 July	£10-20 depending on standard	£10-50 depending on standard	£40	£100	100-200% depending on standard, consolidating all payments to one value for households and one value for non-households

Figure 1 –Repeat Sewer Flooding payment bands

	Max	Min
Internal Sewer Flooding	£2000 + £500 per repeat occurrence within 12 months	£300 + £100 per repeat occurrence within 12 months
External Sewer Flooding	£1000 + £250 per repeat occurrence within 12 months	£150 + £50 per repeat occurrence within 12 months

Summary of new standards

New Standard	Coming into force	Information	GSS payments
New Standard	Coming into force	Information	Household	Non-Household
Core Priority Services	1 Oct	The company must keep a list of customers whose circumstances (such as medical or disability) are such that they require additional services to be provided in certain circumstances. The company must provide the relevant service to the customer in response to an incident and must inform the customer if they are added to the Core Priority Services Register.	£100	N/A
Domestic Customer in Arrears	1 Oct	Giving information relating to the customer’s non-payment to a Credit Reference Agency or beginning legal proceedings to recover the debt without giving the customer an ‘outstanding charges notice’ and an opportunity to make payment arrangements or make representations in connection with them.	£150	N/A
Reading of Meters	1 Oct	The water company must read a customer’s water meter (excluding smart meters) at least once every 13 months	£40 (£80 for each subsequent 13-month period)	£40 (£80 for each subsequent 13-month period)
Moving to Measured Charging Supply of Water	1 Oct	The water company must (subject to some exceptions) install a water meter upon request and then begin to charge the customer on the basis of the volume of water used. If the company fails to do this within the relevant time, the water company must pay the customer.	Payment equivalent to charges payable in the period from the date that charging by volume should have started until meter fitted and charging by volume begins.	N/A
Water Quality Notices	1 Oct	Payment is to be made to a customer if a water quality notice is served and supply is not restored by the end of a 48-hour period.	If a notice is in place for longer than 48 hours, £40 plus £20 per additional 24 hours that the notice is in place, up to a maximum of the customer’s annual water supply (not including sewerage services) bill	If a notice is in place for longer than 48 hours, £60 plus £40 per additional 24 hours that the notice is in place, up to a maximum of the customer’s annual water supply (not including sewerage services) bill
Indexation	2 July	The payment amounts will increase in line with the consumer price index when this increases by 10% (using September 2025 as the baseline) and rounded to the nearest £5

Published 2 July 2025

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

July 2, 2025

MIL-OSI Russia: In Moscow, almost 300 houses with pilasters have been renovated in 10 years

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

One of the distinctive features of many houses built in the capital in the first half of the 20th century are pilasters – a flat vertical projection of rectangular cross-section, often having a base at the base and a capital at the top. Over the 10 years of implementing the regional program for capital repairs of the housing stock, specialists from the Moscow city services complex have put in order about 300 residential buildings with pilasters.

House of 1958 on Mozhaisk highway

In 2024, the five-story building at 3/1 Mozhayskoye Shosse was renovated. It was built in 1958 according to an individual project in the style of Soviet neoclassicism. The street facades are decorated with architraves, pilasters, belts and bas-reliefs. A crowning cornice with dentils is installed along the perimeter.

During the major repairs, the facade, roof, basement and entrances were put in order, and the in-house engineering systems were replaced. The work on restoring the facade began with washing the open surfaces from all dirt, then the brickwork was repaired, the seams in the places of damage were expanded and the moisture was treated with an antiseptic. After that, the brickwork was hydrophobized so that the facade would stop collapsing under the influence of precipitation and was reliably protected from mold and mildew. The average service life of such a coating is 30 years.

Upon completion of the main volume of work, architectural elements were repaired, including pilasters, balconies and entrance groups were updated, and drainpipes were replaced. Particular attention was paid to the repair of the base: the old plaster layer was dismantled, antifungal protection was applied, the surfaces were plastered, using reinforcing mesh and painting.

On the roof, the continuous sheathing layer was replaced with a new structure, and the outdated roofing was replaced with a modern one. Then, all the wooden elements of the attic were treated with a fire-retardant composition, and the temperature and humidity conditions were established. The craftsmen also put the entrances and basement in order, replaced the hot and cold water supply systems, electricity supply, central heating, and drainage lines.

House of 1957 on Academician Pavlov Street

In addition, in 2024, renovation work was carried out on the four-story building 9 (building 1) on Akademika Pavlova Street. It was built in 1957 according to an individual project. The main façade has complex plasticity: protruding triangular bay windows, rustication, architraves and pilasters. The lower and upper floors are separated from each other by an interfloor belt. The balconies are supported by brackets of a complex profile. The building is completed by a crowning cornice and four symmetrically located attics with porthole windows.

The specialists of the capital repair fund (CRF) created an individual project for this object, which took into account the need to preserve the complex architectural decor and historical color of the building. The facade and roof were put in order.

During the façade work, the craftsmen cleared the walls, repaired the plaster layer and expanded the seams. Then they applied anti-corrosion protection in the place of the balcony slabs, restored the brickwork and tidied up the decorative elements. Finally, the walls were painted in their historical color: the brick part in the shade of “red ant”, and the bay windows and decorative elements, including the pilasters, in white.

In addition, the entrances and balconies were repaired. The ebbs were replaced, new drainpipes were hung and the facing covering of the base was changed. When repairing the roof, its wooden frame was restored and the roof covering was replaced. In the attic, the heat-insulating layer was also changed, restoring the temperature and humidity conditions, and the walking flooring was laid.

House of 1902 on 1st Brestskaya Street

Major repairs of buildings with pilasters will continue this year. Thus, it will affect a five-story residential building at 36 1st Brestskaya Street. It was built in 1902 according to an individual project in the neoclassical style. The facade is highlighted by pilasters. The windows are decorated with architraves and arched lintels. The building is completed with a crowning cornice.

FKR specialists have developed a unique project for the restoration of this object. All the nuances of the old building have been taken into account, and high-quality and reliable domestic materials have been selected. The facade, roof, basement will be put in order here, and a number of engineering systems will be replaced.

For the convenience of residents, the work will be carried out in stages. They will start with clearing the facade planes from accumulated dirt, then repair the plaster layer of the lower floor and architectural elements, restore damaged segments of the brickwork. Wet areas will be treated with a highly effective antiseptic. At the next stage, architectural elements made of brickwork will be updated.

Finally, the prepared facades will be painted, and the areas covered with ceramic tiles will be treated with a water-repellent compound. The building will retain its historical colors: a light ivory shade and classic white.

After the main works are completed, the slopes will be repaired, the ebbs and drainpipes will be replaced. A new entrance door will be installed in the entrance hall. During the roof repair, its wooden frame and roofing will be put in order. In the attic, the heat-insulating layer will be restored, the temperature and humidity conditions will be balanced. Inside the house, work will take place in the basement, where the cold water supply, central heating and drainage systems, as well as the electrical network, will be updated.

The Moscow City Services Complex noted that the regional housing stock capital repairs program being implemented in the capital is in line with the goals and objectives of the national project “Infrastructure for life”.

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

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MIL OSI Russia News –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Guirassy double as Dortmund down Monterrey to reach Club World Cup quarters

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

Serhou Guirassy scored two first-half goals as Borussia Dortmund beat Monterrey 2-1 on Tuesday to reach the FIFA Club World Cup quarterfinals.

German Berterame pulled one back early in the second half but the Mexican side failed to capitalize on several late chances.

The result means Dortmund will face Real Madrid in New Jersey on Saturday for a place in the last four while Monterrey bows out.

Borussia Dortmund’s Niklas Suele (R) vies with CF Monterrey’s Jesus Corona during the round of 16 match between Borussia Dortmund of Germany and CF Monterrey of Mexico at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia, the United States, July 1, 2025. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)

Monterrey had the first scoring opportunity of the match when Colombian midfielder Nelson Deossa fired a speculative long-range effort straight at goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

But most of the early attacking was done by Dortmund, whose fluid passing was causing problems for Monterrey’s defense.

Guirassy opened the Bundesliga club’s account in the 14th minute when he played a slick one-two with Karim Adeyemi before side-footing a low effort that beat Argentine goalkeeper Esteban Andrada at his near post.

The goal spurred Monterrey into action. Jesus Corona almost put his side on level terms when he miscued his cross from the left flank and instead hit the woodwork. Moments later, Deossa aimed a 25-yard rocket straight at Kobel.

But the Liga MX side was undone once more by the Adeyemi-Guirassy combination in the 24th minute as the Guinea international striker caressed a first-time shot past Andrada after Adeyemi’s layoff.

Deossa again tried his luck from distance, forcing a sharp save from Kobel, but most of the chances were at the other end as Dortmund maintained the pressure.

Guirassy continued to trouble Monterrey’s defense and squandered the chance for a first-half hat-trick when he slid Jobe Bellingham’s cross wide. He then saw another attempt blocked by Andrada.

Monterrey returned from the halftime interval with fresh urgency, reducing the deficit in the 48th minute through Berterame, who nodded in from close range after Daniel Svensson’s defensive header deflected off Erick Aguirre and into the path of the Mexico international.

The Rayados pushed forward in search of an equalizer and Jesus Corona drew a reflex save from Kobel after Sergio Canales’ deft through ball.

Corona then fired over after dribbling into the box, and Oliver Torres forced another stop with a clever volley.

Former Real Madrid defender Sergio Ramos had a gilt-edged chance to equalize in the 91st-minute but headed inches wide from Aguirre’s cross.

MIL OSI China News –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New river legacy project in York

Source: City of York

Published Tuesday, 1 July 2025

Ousewem has launched a new flagship initiative in York, designed to reconnect residents with their rivers and neighbourhoods, whilst inspiring action on flood resilience and climate change.

Building on the success of Natural Flood Management (NFM) projects across the Swale, Ure, Nidd and Upper Ouse catchments, this new riverside route will tell the story of how communities, landscapes and local leadership are coming together to shape a more climate-resilient future.

The project, will be co-designed with residents, schools and stakeholders, is being delivered in partnership with Innovate Educate – a creative consultancy known for embedding research, participation and place-based learning into every stage of their work.

Councillor Jenny Kent, Executive Member for Environment and Climate Emergency at City of York Council, added:

This project shows our commitment to working with York communities in visible and lasting ways.

“By telling the story of our rivers and the actions being taken to reduce flooding, we are helping people understand the value of nature-based solutions – not just in the countryside but here in the heart of the city.”

Karen Merrifield, Director of Innovate Educate, said:

We believe creativity is a core part of climate resilience -not an afterthought.

“This project is about more than signage or information, it is about co-creating something that belongs to York’s communities. From schoolchildren to heritage professionals, everyone has a part to play in imagining a future shaped by care, connection and the river itself.”

The route will feature creative elements and educational resources, helping residents and visitors of all ages explore how nature-based solutions, land use and local action are shaping a safer, greener future for York. It will also act as a platform for partnerships that connect climate resilience with the region’s rich cultural assets – from libraries and archives to heritage schools and local artists.

Opportunities for sponsorship may also be explored, supporting further investment in climate resilience and nature recovery across York and North Yorkshire. Just as rivers connect places upstream and downstream, this project links people across the catchment – from rural landowners to city residents – in a shared effort to live better with water.

Early engagement will begin this summer, with schools, community groups and partners invited to shape how the story of York’s rivers is shared.

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Vilo the puppy rescued from tenement destroyed in fire

Source: Scotland – City of Perth

The puppy called Vilo, which means “to live” or “to thrive and flourish” in Slovakian, was feared killed in the Scott Street fire which occurred in the early hours of Saturday 14 June.

However, the chihuahua was later spotted in the window of the building by nearby residents. Perth and Kinross Council reached out to charity Missing Pets Perth and Kinross for advice.

Once restrictions over the site of the fire were removed the charity’s volunteers flew a drone over the tenement and used thermal imaging to pinpoint its location.

They then provided traps for demolition workers to put out each night containing food and water. Cameras inside showed Vilo taking enough to survive – but not venturing far enough inside to set the traps off.

It was only when clothes belonging to her owners were placed in the crates that the rescue team were able to bring Vilo back down to ground level on Friday, 27 June, almost two weeks after the fire.

Katie McCandless from the charity said: “This is a little bit of hope in some dark times.

“Perth and Kinross Council contacted us for some help and advice about what the best thing to do was. I’ve been running this charity for 14 years but this is the first type of case like this I’ve ever been involved in.

“We knew it was a delicate situation and had to be handled sensitively, a lot of residents have lost everything.”

Following Vilo’s rescue, she was taken to a vet for a check over and, remarkably, is suffering no ill effects.

It also emerged Vilo had also managed to make herself a bed in a wardrobe, where she escaped the noise and disruption of the demolition work going on around her during the day.

Katie said: “She does not have a single mark on her and her paw pads are completely fine. She smells a bit of smoke but had minimal smoke inhalation. She really is a miracle dog”

The dog belongs to the Ridaj family, who stayed in the top-floor of the tenement. Dad Maros said: “We are very happy that the dog is safe and has been returned to us.”

Councillor Eric Drysdale, deputy leader of Perth and Kinross Council and ward member for Perth City Centre, said: “This really is a remarkable story.

“I would like to thank everyone who helped return Vilo to her family safely -, the neighbouring family who reported seeing her, Missing Pets Perth and Kinross, Council staff who supported the rescue and, of course, the team from Reigart Contracts who assisted while carrying out dangerous and urgent demolition work.

“We know there are people still grieving after the fire because of the loss of loved ones, the loss of their homes and the impact on businesses nearby.

“But this amazing rescues is emblematic of the kindness people have shown in the wake of the tragedy – and the extra mile people have been willing to go to help others affected by this awful situation.”

MIL OSI United Kingdom –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Oman Egypt Joint Committee meets in Cairo

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MIL OSI Africa –

July 2, 2025
Wimbledon: Sinner remains ice cool as Gauff, Pegula and Zverev join bonfire of seeds

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

In total, 10 British players have reached round two.

KREJCIKOVA TESTED

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

(Reuters)

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Gabriel Makhlouf: Remarks – 100th anniversary of George Bernard Shaw winning the Nobel Prize for Literature

Source: Bank for International Settlements

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

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

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

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

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

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

Conclusion

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

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

MIL OSI Economics –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Gabriel Makhlouf: Remarks – 100th anniversary of George Bernard Shaw winning the Nobel Prize for Literature

Source: Bank for International Settlements

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

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

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

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

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

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

Conclusion

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

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

MIL OSI Economics –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: How Muscovites are helping transform the capital’s parks with the help of the City of Ideas platform

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

Since the introduction of the Parks sphere on the platform in 2022, “City of Ideas” More than 280 proposals from Muscovites were implemented, which were aimed at developing the capital’s green areas. Thus, new bike paths, dog walking areas, play areas and summer open-air cinemas were built in the parks.

New opportunities for recreation and sports

Over three years, work on the proposals of city residents was carried out in many areas of Moscow. For example, additional lighting was installed in the Mitino landscape park, which made walks at night more comfortable. In the Shmelevsky Ruchey park, between the Zyablikovo and Orekhovo-Borisovo Yuzhnoye districts, the bank of the forest reservoir was cleaned and strengthened. This gave the park a well-groomed appearance and increased its attractiveness to visitors.

In Zelenograd, the area near Shkolnoye Lake was tidied up, where new sun loungers and benches were installed and the sand on the beach was replaced. Now you can comfortably relax by the water without leaving the city.

Changes also affected the sports infrastructure. Thus, in the Lianozovo Park, a volleyball court was equipped and table tennis tables were installed, and in Golyanovsky Park this year a recreation area with swimming pools appeared as part of the Moscow Seasons project.

Cultural events in the capital’s parks

The platform can also offer an idea for holding cultural events in parks. One of the striking examples is Otradnoye Park, which has become a real center of public life in the district. Now fairs, concerts, master classes and other events initiated by city residents are regularly held here.

For example, this spring the park hosted the “Russian Yard” festival, dedicated to Russian traditions. Visitors watched performances by folk groups, took part in folk games and amusements, and also tried tea from a wood-fired samovar and homemade bread baked according to old recipes.

Last year, other Moscow parks also hosted interesting events. In June, the Mossovet District Public Center organized painting workshops for children in Semenovsky Park, where young artists painted pictures inspired by nature and learned how important it is to protect the environment. And in August, a youth basketball tournament was held on the sports ground of the Zodiac Signs Park, following which the winners were awarded commemorative district cups.

Thanks to such initiatives by Muscovites, the capital’s parks are becoming not just a place for relaxation, but also a platform for entertainment, creativity and an active lifestyle.

How to propose an initiative

Any resident of the capital who has the right to propose an idea on the platform can account on the mos.ru portal. You can do this in the “Suggest an idea” section. To do this, you need to select an area “Parks” and one of three categories: “Park improvement”, “Recreation areas for adults and children” or “Events and services”. If the moderation process is successful, the ideas will be taken into work.

You can visually evaluate the transformations in the section “Gallery of realized ideas”. It contains photos of the best works carried out on the initiative of city residents. Thanks to a recent update of the section, navigation has become easier: now you can quickly find photo or video evidence on any topic using a convenient search and filters. This allows you to see the results of the transformation of the city and get inspired for your own initiatives.

“City of Ideas”: More than three thousand proposals from residents have been implemented since 2020

Platform “City of Ideas” has been operating since 2014. More than 620 thousand users have joined it. They share suggestions on how to make life in the capital even more comfortable. More than 8.6 thousand suggestions have already been implemented. City residents participated in projects dedicated to electronic services, culture, entrepreneurship, healthcare, education, transport and other topics. The projects are developed by the State Institution “New Management Technologies” andDepartment of Information Technology of the City of Moscow.

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

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

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

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

https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/156149073/

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai meets delegation from 2025 Taiwan International Ocean Forum

Source: Republic of China Taiwan

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. 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
2025-06-13
President Lai meets delegation led by French National Assembly Taiwan Friendship Group Chair Marie-Noëlle Battistel
On the morning of June 12, President Lai Ching-te met a delegation led by Marie-Noëlle Battistel, chair of the French National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group. In remarks, President Lai thanked the National Assembly for its long-term support for Taiwan’s international participation and for upholding security in the Taiwan Strait, helping make France the first major country in the world to enact legislation to uphold freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait. The president also said that exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and France are becoming more frequent, and that he hopes this visit by the Taiwan Friendship Group will inject new momentum into Taiwan-France relations and help build closer partnerships in the economy, trade, energy, and digital security. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: First, I would like to welcome Chair Battistel, who is once again leading a visiting delegation. Last year, Chair Battistel co-led a delegation to attend the inauguration ceremony for myself and Vice President Bi-khim Hsiao. This is her fourth visit, and first as chair of the Taiwan Friendship Group, which makes it especially meaningful. This delegation’s visit demonstrates strong support for Taiwan, and on behalf of the people of Taiwan, I want to express my sincerest welcome and thanks. France is a pioneer in promoting free and democratic values. These are values that Taiwan cherishes and is working hard to defend. I want to express gratitude to the French Parliament for their long-term support for Taiwan’s international participation, and for upholding security in the Taiwan Strait. The French Parliament’s two chambers have continued to strongly support Taiwan, with the passage of a resolution supporting Taiwan’s participation in international organizations in 2021, as well as the passage of the seven-year Military Programming Law in 2023. This has made France the first major country in the world to enact legislation to uphold freedom of navigation in the Taiwan Strait. Through it all, the Taiwan Friendship Group has played a key role, and I want to thank all of our distinguished guests for their efforts. Over the past few years, Taiwan and France have continued to deepen cooperation in areas including the economy, technology, culture, and sports. At the Choose France summit held in Paris last month, Taiwanese and French enterprises also announced they will launch cooperation in the semiconductor and satellite fields. The VivaTech startup exhibition, now being held in France, also has many Taiwanese vendors participating. Exchanges and cooperation between Taiwan and France, whether official or people-to-people, are becoming more and more frequent. I hope that this visit by the Taiwan Friendship Group will inject new momentum into Taiwan-France relations, building closer partnerships in the economy, trade, energy, and digital security. To address current geopolitical and economic challenges, Taiwan will continue to join forces with France and other like-minded countries to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, and contribute our concerted efforts to global prosperity and development. Once again, I want to welcome our visitors to Taiwan. I hope to continue our joint efforts to create a more prosperous future for both Taiwan and France. Chair Battistel then delivered remarks, thanking President Lai for extending this invitation. Last year on May 20, she said, she and her delegation attended the presidential inauguration ceremony, so she was delighted to visit Taiwan once again with the French National Assembly’s Taiwan Friendship Group and bear witness to their friendship with Taiwan. Chair Battistel noted that this visit has given them an opportunity to strengthen Taiwan-France relations in areas including the economy, culture, the humanities, and diplomacy, and conduct exchanges with numerous heads of government agencies and research institutes. It has also been an opportunity, she said, to witness the importance of exchanges and cooperation with Taiwan in areas including energy, semiconductors, youth, and culture, and the impact created by important issues of mutual concern, including AI and disinformation, on the security of many countries. Chair Battistel praised Taiwan for its youth development efforts, and said that under the Taiwan Global Pathfinders Initiative, 30 Taiwanese young people have embarked on a visit to France, with itineraries including the United Nations Ocean Conference and the VivaTech exhibition, as well as the city of Toulouse, which is strategically important for the aerospace industry. Members of the group are also conducting exchanges at the French National Assembly, she said. Chair Battistel stated that the Taiwan-France partnership is growing closer, and that she hopes to continue to strengthen bilateral exchanges and cooperation, as supporting peace for Taiwan supports peace around the world. The delegation also included Taiwan Friendship Group Vice Chair Éric Martineau, as well as National Assembly Committee on Foreign Affairs Vice Chair Laetitia Saint-Paul and Deputies Marie-José Allemand and Claudia Rouaux. The delegation was accompanied to the Presidential Office by French Office in Taipei Deputy Director Cléa Le Cardeur.

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 –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: Drivers urged to be ready for poor weather on Upper North Island roads

Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

With Heavy Rain and Strong Wind Warnings in place for the several North Island regions, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is urging drivers to take extra care on the roads and check for the latest road conditions before travelling.

Wet roads can be slippery, so road users should reduce their speed, increase their following distances, and be prepared for the possibility of slips, rockfalls, and flooding.

Strong winds can be hazardous for trucks, vans, campervans, towing vehicles, and motorcycles. Road users should be prepared for sudden gusts, crosswinds, fallen trees, and wind-blown debris – particularly in exposed areas.

With weather watches or warnings in place for parts of Northland, Bay of Plenty, Coromandel, Tairawhiti, Taumaranui/Taupo and Taranaki, people traveling throughout the Upper North Island need to stay up to date on road and weather conditions. Road conditions can change without warning, and routes can be closed at short notice due to slips and flooding.

Latest information on road and weather conditions

MIL OSI New Zealand News –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI New Zealand: More wet and windy weather on the way for Top of the South drivers
Source: New Zealand Transport Agency

2 July 2025 4:40 pm | NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi

With Orange Heavy Rain Warnings in place for Nelson and Tasman, NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) is urging drivers to take extra care on the roads and check for the latest road conditions before travelling.

Wet roads can be slippery, so road users should reduce their speed, increase their following distances, and be prepared for the possibility of slips, rockfalls, and flooding.

Road users should be prepared for the possibility of strong winds, fallen trees, and wind-blown debris – particularly in exposed areas.

People traveling in the region are urged to stay up to date on road and weather conditions. Road conditions can change without warning, and routes can be closed at short notice due to slips and flooding.

Latest information on road and weather conditions
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MIL OSI New Zealand News –
July 2, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Legends of a Nuclear-Free and Independent Pacific – Rev Mua Strickson-Pua
Pacific Media Watch

When advocates and defenders of a nuclear-free Pacific condemned the AUKUS military pact two years ago and warned New Zealand that the agreement would make the world “more dangerous”, a key speaker was Reverend Mua Strickson-Pua.

He was among leading participants at a Nuclear-Free and Independent Pacific (NFIP) movement teachers’ wānanga, which launched a petition against the pact with one of the “elders” among the activists, Hilda Halkyard-Harawira (Te Moana Nui a Kiwa), symbolically adding the first signature.

Speaking about the petition declaration in a ceremony on the steps of the Auckland Museum marking the 10 July 1985 bombing of the Greenpeace flagship Rainbow Warrior, Reverend Mua Strickson-Pua explained that the AUKUS agreement was a military pact between Australia-UK-US that was centred on Canberra’s acquisition of nuclear propelled submarines.

Reverend Mua Strickson-Pua and the NFIP petition has been featured in a new video report by Nik Naidu as part of a “Legends of NFIP” series by Talanoa TV of the Whanau Community Centre and Hub.
- This and other videos will be screened at the “Legends of the Pacific: Stories of a Nuclear-Free Moana 1975-1995” exhibition this month at Ellen Melville Centre, which will be opened on Saturday, July 12 at 3pm, and open daily July 13-18, 9.30am to 4.30pm.
- The exhibition is organised by the Asia Pacific Media Network (APMN), Whānau Community Centre and Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga.
[embedded content]
MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –
July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Kindergarten for 200 children to appear in Kommunarka

Translation. Region: Russian Federal

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

A project for the construction of a kindergarten in Kommunarka on a vacant plot of land has been approved. The facility will appear within the boundaries of Filatovsky Boulevard and Projected Driveway No. 7183 (plot No. 57), reported the Deputy Mayor of Moscow for Urban Development Policy and Construction Vladimir Efimov.

“A three-story kindergarten building will be built on the territory of the Kommunarka administrative and business center near the Olkhovaya metro station. The facility will be built as part of the Targeted Investment Program. According to the project, the preschool institution will be designed for 200 children. Eight groups will be created there, each of which will have a separate group cell with a playroom, sleeping area and changing room. In addition, the building will include a gym and music hall, a medical block, and a full-cycle food service unit,” said Vladimir Efimov.

The layout takes into account modern requirements for the design of social facilities. This ensures a comfortable and safe stay in the building and movement around it.

“When designing educational facilities, special attention should be paid to fire safety. This project meets all relevant norms and standards. In particular, the layout allows for the fastest possible evacuation of people from all floors thanks to safe isolated corridors with fire doors, and the ventilation system, according to the documentation, will be equipped with smoke dampers,” noted the Chairman of the Moscow City Committee for Pricing Policy in Construction and State Expertise of Projects

Ivan Shcherbakov.

The territory of the kindergarten will be improved. Each group will have areas for walks and games in the fresh air.

Earlier, Sergei Sobyanin spoke about the completion of construction kindergarten for 350 people in the Filimonkovsky district.

The construction of social facilities in Moscow corresponds to the goals and initiatives of the national project “Infrastructure for life”.

Schools, clinics and sports complexes: what social facilities are being built in the city

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

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

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

https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/156134073/

MIL OSI Russia News –

July 2, 2025
MIL-OSI USA: SPC Jul 2, 2025 0100 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

For best viewing experience, please enable browser JavaScript support.

Jul 2, 2025 0100 UTC Day 1 Convective Outlook

Updated: Wed Jul 2 00:56:50 UTC 2025 (Print Version | | )

Probabilistic to Categorical Outlook Conversion Table

Forecast Discussion

SPC AC 020056

Day 1 Convective Outlook
NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
0756 PM CDT Tue Jul 01 2025

Valid 020100Z – 021200Z

…THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS PARTS OF
THE NORTHERN/CENTRAL PLAINS…

…SUMMARY…
Scattered severe thunderstorms should continue this evening over
parts of the northern/central Plains, with large hail the primary
risk. Isolated damaging winds will also remain possible for a couple
more hours across portions of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast.

…Northern/Central Plains…
Multiple supercells developed this afternoon/evening across parts of
the northern/central High Plains, generally along/east of a surface
lee trough. Although low-level flow remains fairly modest per area
VWPs, sufficient west-northwesterly mid/upper-level flow will
continue to foster around 30-40 kt of deep-layer shear and updraft
organization. Persistent supercells will pose mainly a large hail
threat as they move slowly south-southeastward for at least the next
several hours. An increasing risk for isolated severe winds may also
develop given the well-mixed boundary layer and gradual upscale
growth anticipated. Reference Mesoscale Discussion 1538 for more
details on the short-term severe threat across this region. A
separate area of mainly elevated convection may develop later
tonight across a broader portion of SD in a low-level warm advection
regime. This activity may have an isolated hail threat.

…Mid-Atlantic into the Southeast…
Loosely organized convection should continue this evening from parts
of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast along/ahead of a cold front. An
isolated threat for damaging winds should persist where pockets of
moderate instability remain. But, generally modest deep-layer shear
and a gradually stabilizing boundary layer with the loss of daytime
heating will likely lead to a gradual reduction in the overall
severe threat this evening.

..Gleason.. 07/02/2025

CLICK TO GET WUUS01 PTSDY1 PRODUCT

.html”>Latest Day 2 Outlook/Today’s Outlooks/Forecast Products/Home

MIL OSI USA News –

July 2, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Parents are feeling anxious about men in childcare centres. Stronger rules would make everyone feel safer

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Martyn Mills-Bayne, Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education, University of South Australia

Getty Images

Horrific allegations of child sexual abuse in childcare centres across Melbourne have put the role of men in early childhood education back in the spotlight.

Coming after other major media reports of child mistreatment in care, many parents are feeling very anxious about the safety of their children.

Some may be deeply suspicious of men working so closely with children. That caution is totally justified.

But there are many innocent, well-intentioned and caring men working in centres across the country. They’re playing a vital role in a sector already plagued by well-documented staff shortages.

Driving them out of the workforce would be a mistake for the sector, for parents and for children.

Read more:
Parents of kids in daycare are terrified following Melbourne abuse allegations. What can they do?

Hyper-viligant behaviour

Men are still a rarity in childcare centres nationally.

The latest workforce data show about 8% of early childhood educators are male, though that statistic could include men who don’t work with children directly.

We don’t know precisely how many early childhood educators are male, but best estimates are somewhere between 2–4% of the total workforce.

Given there are so few of them, male educators often report being hyper-vigilant about how they do their jobs.

I was once an early childhood teacher myself. Now in my academic research, I’ve spent almost 20 years mentoring men in the sector, including close to 100 male students coming through initial teacher education programs.

They are extremely aware of protecting children and themselves. They talk about trying to make sure they’re never alone with children and use distancing strategies to keep themselves safe and in full view of colleagues and parents.

If they’re changing nappies, they do so in open spaces, where others can see them. If a child is hurt or needs support, they often think twice about the most appropriate way to provide it.

The men I hear from feel they are surveilled and monitored more closely than their female colleagues. Male educators must use a heightened degree of caution in their day-to-day caring work due to broad (largely unspoken) suspicions of sexual misconduct. This is an inherent part of being a male early childhood educator.

There’s been no research done to determine whether men are watched more closely than women, but regardless, most don’t begrudge it. They fear ever harming a child, and would rather the extra supervision, perceived or real, to make everyone feel safer.

Leaving the sector

But early childhood education has an issue with worker attrition.

This is especially concerning as pre-school for three-year-olds is rolled out in South Australia, Victoria and the ACT, increasing the demand for staff and pressure on services to meet staff ratios and keep children safe.

Against this backdrop, it’s crucial we stem the tide of workers leaving the sector, including men.

Unfortunately, men are often the first to leave, especially after cases of sexual abuse at other centres.

In New Zealand, Peter Ellis was jailed in the 1990s for child sexual abuse in a creche, though his conviction was overturned posthumously in 2022.

Read more:
What are working with children checks? Why aren’t they keeping kids safe at daycare?

The high profile case had long lasting negative impacts. Less than 1% of the childcare workforce in the country are men – one of the lowest participation rates in the world.

Parental and societal concerns around the risk of abuse have a profound impact on retaining and attracting more male educators in early childhood education.

This is also true at the student level. Typically, I see very few men enrol to study early childhood education (about four in a cohort of 150), but only about half that graduate. Many of these potential early childhood teachers drop their studies or move into primary teaching programs after they experience a sense of distrust during their professional placements in childcare.

Keeping children safer

Children who are abused experience lifelong trauma. Keeping them safe at all times should be the number one priority of educators and society at large.

The Melbourne case has left many parents rightly cautious and feeling uncertain about leaving their children in the care of men. We may well see less interest from centres in employing men, as has happened after similar cases in the past.

This would build on existing suspicions parents have of male educators.

There’s no easy answer to this. But there are some things that may make early education safer.

The first is to strengthen working with children screening checks, something the Victorian government has already flagged it will do.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has also announced a statewide register of childcare workers to introduce “an extra layer of checks and balances”.

Another is to ensure no educator, regardless of gender, is ever alone with a child. Though this may be challenging to achieve within tight staffing levels, it’s needed to prevent future abuse.

The Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse highlighted the need to make sure the physical environment minimises opportunity for abuse to occur. This includes glass walls around toilet and nappy change areas and no blind spots in centres.

And finally, for parents to be scared and angry about this is to be human. But it’s also important to remember many men are doing the right thing, and male educators in the sector are also angry and concerned about this.

Better processes and regulations would help restore confidence in parents that their children are safe in a man’s care. But it would also help male educators, who can do their work safe in the knowledge they’ve passed a robust set of requirements to get there.

The Victorian government has set up a dedicated website and advice line for parents whose children may have been involved in the alleged offences.

If this article has raised issues for you, or if you’re concerned about someone you know, you can call 1800 Respect on 1800 737 732, Lifeline on 131 114, Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800, or Bravehearts (counselling and support for survivors of child sexual abuse) on 1800 272 831.

Martyn Mills-Bayne 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. Parents are feeling anxious about men in childcare centres. Stronger rules would make everyone feel safer – https://theconversation.com/parents-are-feeling-anxious-about-men-in-childcare-centres-stronger-rules-would-make-everyone-feel-safer-260282

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

July 2, 2025
EU to add international CO2 credits to next climate goal

Source: Government of India

Source: Government of India (4)

The European Commission will on Wednesday propose an EU climate target for 2040 that for the first time will allow countries to use carbon credits from developing nations to meet a limited share of their emissions goal, a draft of the proposal showed.

The draft, seen by Reuters, said the European Union executive would propose a legally-binding target to cut net greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2040, from 1990 levels – with the aim of keeping the EU on course for its core climate aim to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

But following pressure from governments including France, Germany, Italy, Poland and the Czech Republic, the draft EU proposal includes flexibilities that would soften the 90% emissions target for European industries.

Previous EU emissions targets have been based entirely on domestic emissions cuts.

Reflecting Germany’s public stance, up to 3 percentage points of the 2040 target can be covered by carbon credits bought from other countries through a U.N.-backed market, the draft said, reducing the effort required by domestic industries.

The carbon credits would be phased in from 2036, and the EU will propose legislation “setting robust and high integrity criteria and standards, and conditions on origin, timing and use of such credits,” the draft said.

Countries would also get more flexibility on choosing which sectors in their economy contribute most towards the 2040 goal, it said.

Climate change has made Europe the world’s fastest warming continent and a heatwave this week has caused wildfires and disruption across the continent, but Europe’s ambitious policies to combat temperature rise have stoked tensions within the 27-member bloc.

While the European Commission has pitched its climate agenda as a way to improve Europe’s competitiveness and security, some governments and lawmakers say industries reeling from U.S. tariffs and high energy costs cannot afford tougher emissions rules.

“Decarbonisation is not only crucial for the planet, but also a key driver of economic growth when integrated with industrial, competition, and trade policies,” the draft said.

A Commission spokesperson declined to comment on the draft, which could change before it is published.

Carbon credits are generated by projects that reduce CO2 emissions abroad – for example, forest restoration in Brazil, and raise funds for such projects. However, investigations have shown some credits failed to deliver the environmental benefits they claimed.

The EU’s climate science advisers have opposed counting them towards the 2040 target, and said spending money on foreign carbon credits would divert investments from local industries.

EU countries and lawmakers must negotiate and approve the 2040 goal. That lawmaking process can take years, but the EU faces a deadline of mid-September to submit a new 2035 climate target to the U.N. – which the Commission has said should be derived from the 2040 goal.

(Reuters)

July 2, 2025

Category: Natural Disasters

JOINT STATEMENT

This is not a humanitarian response.

The signatories include:

Sparrow Hills: from the Middle Ages to the present day

Recent worrying developments

Supervision policies and ratios

Grooming and supervision

What changes are needed?

Customers to receive up to £2000 for water service failures

Environment Secretary Steve Reed said:

Mike Keil, Chief Executive of the Consumer Council for Water (CCW), said:

David Black, Chief Executive of Ofwat said:

Annex A

Summary of updates to payment levels for existing standards:

Figure 1 –Repeat Sewer Flooding payment bands

Summary of new standards

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House of 1957 on Academician Pavlov Street

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Conclusion

Conclusion

New opportunities for recreation and sports

Cultural events in the capital’s parks

How to propose an initiative

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Hyper-viligant behaviour

Leaving the sector

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