NewzIntel.com

Category: Politics

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chad receives stadium built with Chinese help

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    N’DJAMENA, May 13 (Xinhua) — Chadian Youth and Sports Minister Maide Hamit Loni on Monday received from Chinese Ambassador Wang Xining the keys to the Manjafa Stadium, which was built and donated by China to Chad.

    Speaking on the occasion, Wang Xining said the 30,000-seat stadium now belongs to the government and people of Chad, which is a testament to the fraternal friendship between the peoples of the two countries and the bilateral strategic partnership.

    “This partnership was renewed during the visit of Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno to Beijing,” the ambassador noted.

    While acknowledging the value of the partnership between China and Chad, M.H. Loni recalled that the stadium is not just a structure made of concrete, steel and artificial grass, but, above all, a concrete fruit of the exemplary and productive cooperation between Chad and China.

    Over the years, cooperation has strengthened in the spirit of mutual respect, mutual trust and mutually beneficial partnership, the minister emphasized. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai interviewed by Japan’s Nikkei  

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    In a recent interview with Japan’s Nikkei, President Lai Ching-te responded to questions regarding Taiwan-Japan and Taiwan-United States relations, cross-strait relations, the semiconductor industry, and the international economic and trade landscape. The interview was published by Nikkei on May 13.
    President Lai indicated that Nikkei, Inc. is a global news organization that has received significant recognition both domestically and internationally, and that he is deeply honored to be interviewed by Nikkei and grateful for their invitation. The president said that he would like to take this rare opportunity to thank Japan’s government, National Diet, society, and public for their longstanding support for Taiwan. Noting that current Prime Minister Ishiba Shigeru and former Prime Ministers Abe Shinzo, Suga Yoshihide, and Kishida Fumio have all strongly supported Taiwan, he said that the peoples of Taiwan and Japan also have a deep mutual affection, and that through the interview, he hopes to enhance the bilateral relationship between Taiwan and Japan, deepen the affection between our peoples, and foster more future cooperation to promote prosperity and development in both countries.
    Following is the text of the questions and the president’s responses:
    Nikkei: What is your personal view regarding the free trade system and the recent tariff war?
    President Lai: Over the past few decades, the free economy headed by the Western world and led by the US has brought economic prosperity and political stability to Taiwan and Japan. At the same time, we have also learned or followed many Western values.
    I believe that Taiwan and Japan are exemplary students, but some countries are not. Therefore, the biggest crisis right now is China, which exploits the free trade system to engage in plagiarism and counterfeiting, infringe on intellectual property rights, and even provide massive government subsidies that facilitate the dumping of low-priced goods worldwide, which has a major impact on many countries including Japan and Taiwan. If this kind of unfair trade is not resolved, the stable societies and economic prosperity we have painstakingly built over decades, as well as some of the values we pursue, could be destroyed. I therefore think it is worthwhile for us to observe the recent willingness of the US to address unfair trade, and if necessary, offer assistance.
    Our national strategic plan for Taiwanese industries is for them to be rooted in Taiwan while expanding their global presence and marketing worldwide. Therefore, while the 32 percent tariff increase imposed by the US on Taiwan is indeed a major challenge, we are willing to address it seriously and find opportunities within that challenge, making Taiwan’s strategic plan for industry even more comprehensive.
    Nikkei: What is your view on Taiwan’s trade arrangements?
    President Lai: In 2010 China accounted for 83.8 percent of Taiwan’s outbound investment, but last year it accounted for only 7.5 percent. In 2020, 43.9 percent of Taiwan’s exports went to China, but that figure dropped to 31.7 percent in 2024. We have systematically transferred investments from Taiwanese enterprises to Japan, Southeast Asia, Europe, and the US. Therefore, last year Taiwan’s largest outbound investment was in the US, accounting for roughly 40 percent of the total. Nevertheless, only 23.4 percent of Taiwanese products were sold to the US, with 76.6 percent sold to places other than the US. 
    In other words, we don’t want to put all our eggs in one basket, and hope to establish a global presence. Under these circumstances, Taiwan is very eager to cooperate with Japan. At this moment, the Indo-Pacific and international community really need Japan’s leadership, especially to make the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) excel in its functions. We also ask Japan to support Taiwan’s CPTPP accession.
    Taiwan hopes to sign an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with Japan, to build closer ties in economic trade and promote further investment. We also hope to strengthen relations with the European Union, and even other regions. Currently, we are proposing an initiative on global semiconductor supply chain partnerships for democracies, because the semiconductor industry is an ecosystem. For example, Japan has materials, equipment, and technology; the US has IC design and marketing; Taiwan has production and manufacturing; and the Netherlands excels in equipment. We therefore hope to leverage Taiwan’s advantages in production and manufacturing to connect the democratic community and establish a global non-red supply chain for semiconductors, ensuring further world prosperity and development in the future, and ensuring that free trade can continue to function without being affected by dumping, which would undermine future prosperity and development.
    We want industries to expand their global presence and market internationally while staying rooted here in Taiwan. Having industries rooted in Taiwan involves promoting pay raises for employees, tax cuts, and deregulation, as well as promoting enterprise investment tax credits. We have also proposed Three Major Programs for Investing in Taiwan for Taiwanese enterprises. We are actively resolving issues regarding access to water, electricity, land, human resources, and professional talent so that the business community can return to Taiwan to invest, or enterprises in Taiwan can increase their investments. We are also actively signing bilateral investment agreements with friends and allies so that when our companies invest and expand their presence abroad, their rights and interests as investors are ensured. 
    Additionally, as I just mentioned, we hope to sign an EPA with Japan, similar to the Taiwan-US Initiative on 21st-Century Trade and the Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue, or the Enhanced Trade Partnership arrangement with the United Kingdom, or similar agreements or memorandums of understanding with Canada and Australia that allow Taiwanese products to be marketed worldwide. Those are our overall arrangements.
    Looking at the history of Taiwan’s industrial development, of course it began in Taiwan, and then moved west to China and south to Southeast Asia. We hope to take this opportunity to strengthen cooperation with Japan to the north, across the Pacific Ocean to the east, and develop the North American market, making Taiwan’s industries even stronger. In other words, while we see the current reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US as a kind of challenge, we also view these changes positively.
    Nikkei: Due to pressure from China, it is difficult for Taiwan to participate in international frameworks such as the CPTPP or sign an EPA with Japan. What is your view on this situation?
    President Lai: The key point is what kind of attitude we should adopt in viewing China’s acts of oppression. If we act based on our belief in free trade, or on the universal values we pursue – democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights – and also on the understanding that a bilateral trade agreement between Taiwan and Japan would contribute to the economic prosperity and development of both countries, or that Taiwan’s accession to the CPTPP would benefit progress and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region, then I personally hope that our friends and allies will strongly support us.
    Nikkei: Regarding the Trump administration’s “reciprocal tariff” policy and the possibility of taxing semiconductors, how do you interpret their intentions? How does Taiwan plan to respond?
    President Lai: Since President Trump took office, I have paid close attention to interviews with both him and his staff. Several of his main intentions are: First, he wants to address the US fiscal situation. For example, while the US GDP is about US$29 trillion annually, its national debt stands at US$36 trillion, which is roughly 124 percent of GDP. Second, annual government spending exceeds US$6.5 trillion, but revenues are only around US$4.5 trillion, resulting in a nearly US$2 trillion deficit each year, about 7 percent of GDP. Third, the US pays nearly US$1.2 trillion in interest annually, which exceeds the US$1 trillion defense budget and accounts for more than 3 percent of GDP. Fourth, he still wants to implement tax cuts, aiming to reduce taxes for 85 percent of Americans. This would cost between US$500 billion and US$1 trillion. These points illustrate his first goal: solving the fiscal problem.
    Second, the US feels the threat of China and believes that reindustrialization is essential. Without reindustrialization, the US risks a growing gap in industrial capacity compared to China. Third, in this era of global smart technology, President Trump wants to lead the nation to become a world center of AI. Fourth, he aims to ensure world peace and prevent future wars. So, if you ask me what the US seeks to achieve, I would say these four areas form the core of its intentions. That is why President Trump has raised tariffs, demanded that trading partners purchase more American goods, and encouraged friendly and allied nations to invest in the US, all in order to achieve these goals.
    The 32 percent reciprocal tariff poses a critical challenge for Taiwan, and we must treat it seriously. Our approach is not confrontation, but negotiation to reduce tariffs. We have also agreed to measures such as procurement, investment, resolving non-tariff trade barriers, and addressing origin washing in order to effectively reduce the trade deficit between Taiwan and the US. Of course, through this negotiation process, we also hope to turn challenges into opportunities. First, we aim to start negotiations from the proposal of zero tariffs and seek to establish a bilateral trade agreement with the US. Second, we hope to support US reindustrialization and its aim to become a world AI hub through investment, while simultaneously upgrading and transforming Taiwan’s industries. This would help further integrate Taiwan’s industries into the US economic structure, ensuring Taiwan’s long-term development. 
    As I have repeatedly emphasized, Taiwan’s national industrial strategy is for industries to stay firmly rooted in Taiwan while expanding their global presence and marketing worldwide. We have gone from moving westward across the Taiwan Strait, to shifting southbound, to working closer northward with Japan, and now the time is ripe for us to expand eastward by investing in North America. In other words, while we take this challenge seriously to protect national interests and ensure that no industry is sacrificed, we also hope these negotiations will lead to deeper Taiwan-US trade relations through Taiwanese investment in the US. These are our expectations.
    Naturally, the reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US will have an impact on Taiwanese industries. In response, the Taiwanese government has already proposed support measures for affected industries totaling NT$93 billion. In addition, we have outlined broader needs for Taiwan’s long-term development, which will be covered by a special budget proposal of NT$410 billion. This has already been approved by the Executive Yuan and will be submitted to the Legislative Yuan for review. This special budget proposal addresses four main areas: supporting industries, stabilizing employment, protecting people’s livelihoods, and enhancing resilience.
    As for tariffs on semiconductors, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) has committed to investing in the US at the request of its customers. I believe TSMC’s industry chain will follow suit. These are concrete actions that are unrelated to tariffs. However, if the US were to invoke Section 232 and impose tariffs on semiconductors or related industries, it would discourage Taiwanese semiconductor and ICT investments in the US. We will make this position clear to the US going forward.
    Among Taiwan’s exports to the US, there are two main categories: ICT products and electronic components, which together account for 65.4 percent. These are essential to the US, unlike final goods such as cups, tables, or mattresses. What Taiwan sells to the US are the technological products required by AI designers like NVIDIA, AMD, Amazon, Google, and Apple. Therefore, we will make sure the US understands clearly that we are not exporting end products, but the high-tech components necessary for the US to reindustrialize and become a global AI center. Furthermore, Taiwan is also willing to increase its defense budget and military procurement. We are committed to defending ourselves and are strongly willing to cooperate with friends and allies to ensure regional peace and stability. This is also something President Trump hopes to see.
    Nikkei: Could TSMC’s fabs overseas weaken Taiwan’s strategic position as a key hub for semiconductor manufacturing? And could that then give other countries fewer incentives to protect Taiwan?
    President Lai: Political leaders around the world including Japan’s Prime Minister Ishiba and former Prime Ministers Abe, Suga, and Kishida have emphasized, at the G7 and other major international fora, that peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait are essential for global security and prosperity. In other words, the international community cares about Taiwan and supports peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait because Taiwan is located in the first island chain in the Indo-Pacific, directly facing China. If Taiwan is not protected, China’s expansionist ambitions will certainly grow, which would impact the current rules-based international order. Thus, the international community willingly cares about Taiwan and supports stability in the Taiwan Strait. That is the reason, and it has no direct connection with TSMC. After all, TSMC has not made investments in that many countries. That point, I think, is clear. 
    TSMC’s investments in Japan, Europe, and the US are all natural, normal economic and investment activities. Taiwan is a democratic country whose society is based on the rule of law, so when Taiwanese companies need to invest around the world for business needs, the government will support those investments in principle so long as they do not harm national interests.
    After TSMC Chairman C.C. Wei (魏哲家) held a press conference with President Trump to announce the investment in the US, he returned to Taiwan to hold a press conference with me here at the Presidential Office, where he explained to the Taiwanese public that TSMC’s R&D center will remain in Taiwan and that the facilities it has already committed to investing in here will not change and will not be affected. So, to put it another way, TSMC will not be weakened by its investment in the US. I want to emphasize this once more: Taiwan has strengths in semiconductor manufacturing, and Taiwan is very willing to work alongside other democratic countries to promote the next stage of global prosperity and development.
    Nikkei: It feels as though we are returning to what was previously called the Cold War, with two opposing blocs – East and West – facing off again. Between the US and China, which side should we choose?
    President Lai: Some experts and scholars describe the current situation as entering a new Cold War era between democratic and authoritarian camps. Others assert that the war has already begun, including information warfare, economic and trade wars, and the ongoing wars in Europe – the Russo-Ukrainian War – and the Middle East, and the Israel-Hamas conflict. These are all matters experts have cautioned about. I am not a historian, so I will not attempt to define today’s political situation from an academic standpoint. However, I believe that every country has a choice. That is to say, Taiwan, Japan, or any other nation does not necessarily have to choose between the US and China. What we are deciding is whether our country will maintain a democratic constitutional system or regress into an authoritarian regime. This is essentially a choice of values – not merely a choice between two major powers.
    Taiwan’s situation is different from other countries because we face a direct threat from China. We have experienced military conflicts such as the August 23 Artillery Battle and the Battle of Guningtou – actual wars between the Republic of China and the People’s Republic of China. China’s ambition to annex Taiwan has never wavered. Today, China’s political and military intimidation, as well as internal united front infiltration, are growing increasingly intense. Therefore, to defend democracy and sovereignty, protect our free and democratic system, and ensure the safety of our people’s lives and property, Taiwan’s choice is clear.
    China’s military exercises are not limited to the Taiwan Strait, and include the East China Sea, South China Sea, and even the Sea of Japan, as well as areas around Korea and Australia. Taiwan, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines are all democratic nations. Taiwan’s choice is clear, and I believe Japan also has no other choice. We are all democratic countries whose people have long pursued the universal values of democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights. That is what is most important.
    Nikkei: As tensions between the US and China intensify, what roles can Taiwan and Japan play?
    President Lai: In my view, Japan is a powerful nation. I sincerely hope that Japan can take a leading role amid these changes in the international landscape. I believe that countries in the Indo-Pacific region are also willing to respond. I think there are several areas where we can work together: first, democracy and peace; second, innovation and prosperity; and third, justice and sustainability.
    In the face of authoritarian threats, we should let peace be our beacon and democracy our compass as we respond to the challenges posed by authoritarian states. Second, as the world enters an era characterized by the comprehensive adoption of smart technologies, Japan and Taiwan should collaborate in the field of innovation to further drive regional prosperity and development. Third is justice and sustainability. Because international society still has many issues that need to be resolved, Taiwan and Japan can cooperate for the public good, helping countries in need around the world, and cooperating to address climate change and achieve net-zero transition by 2050.
    Nikkei: Do you hope that the US will continue to be a leader in the liberal democratic system?
    President Lai: Although the US severed diplomatic ties with the Republic of China, for the past few decades it has assisted Taiwan in various areas such as national defense, security, and countering threats from China, based on the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances. Taiwan has also benefited, directly and indirectly, in terms of politics, democracy, and economic prosperity thanks to the US. Therefore, Taiwan naturally hopes that the US remains strong and continues to lead the world.
    When the US encounters difficulties, whether financial difficulties, reindustrialization issues, or becoming a global center for AI, and hopes to receive support from its friends and allies to jointly safeguard regional peace and stability, Taiwan is willing to stand together for a common cause. If the US remains strong, that helps Taiwan, the Indo-Pacific region, and the world as a whole.
    The vital role of the US on the global stage has not changed. However, after decades of shouldering global responsibilities, it has encountered some issues. Now, it has to make adjustments, and I firmly believe it will do so swiftly, and quickly resume its leadership role in the world.
    Nikkei: I remember you said during your election campaign that you would like to invite China’s President Xi Jinping for bubble tea. Have you changed your mind?
    President Lai: Taiwan is a peace-loving country, and Taiwanese society is inherently kind. Therefore, we hope to get along peacefully with China, living in peace and mutual prosperity. So, during my term as vice president, I was expressing the goodwill of Taiwanese society. Of course, I understand that China’s President Xi would have certain difficulties in accepting this. However, I must emphasize that the goodwill of Taiwanese society has always existed. If China reflects on the past two or three decades, it will see that its economy was able to develop with Taiwan as its largest foreign investor. Every year, 1 to 2 million Taiwanese were starting businesses or investing in China, creating numerous job opportunities and stabilizing Chinese society. While many Taiwanese businesses have profited, Chinese society has benefited even more. In addition, every time a natural disaster occurs, if China is in need, Taiwanese always offer donations. Therefore, I hope that China can face the reality of the Republic of China’s existence, and understand that the people of Taiwan hope to continue living free and democratic lives with respect for human rights. I also hope China can pay attention to the goodwill of Taiwanese society. We have not abandoned the notion that as long as there is parity, dignity, exchange, and cooperation, the goodwill of choosing dialogue over confrontation and exchange over containment will always exist.
    Nikkei: What is your view on the national security reforms in response to China’s espionage activities and infiltration attempts?
    President Lai: China’s united front infiltration activities in Taiwan are indeed very serious. China’s ambitions to annex Taiwan rely not only on the use of political and military intimidation, but also on its long-term united front and infiltration activities in Taiwanese society. Recently, the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office of the Ministry of Justice prosecuted 64 spies, which is three times the number in 2021. In addition to active-duty military personnel, many retired military personnel were also indicted. Moreover, Taiwan also has the Chinese Unification Promotion Party, which has a background in organized crime, Rehabilitation Alliance Party, which was established by retired military personnel, and Republic of China Taiwan Military Government, which is also composed of retired generals. These are all China’s front organizations, and they plan one day to engage in collaboration within Taiwan. This shows the seriousness of China’s infiltration in Taiwan. Therefore, in the recent past I convened a high-level national security meeting and proposed 17 response strategies across five areas. The five areas include the following: first, to address China’s threat to Taiwan’s sovereignty; second, to respond to the threat of China’s obscuring the Taiwanese people’s sense of national identity; third, to respond to the threat of China’s infiltrating and recruiting members of the ROC Armed Forces as spies; fourth, to respond to the threat of China’s infiltration of Taiwanese society through societal exchanges and united front work; and fifth, to respond to the threat of China using “integration plans” to draw Taiwan’s young people and Taiwanese businesses into its united front activities. In response to these five major threats, I have proposed 17 response strategies. One of which is to restore the military trial system. If active-duty military personnel commit military crimes, they must be subject to military trials. This expresses the Taiwanese government’s determination to respond to China’s united front infiltration and the subversion of Taiwan.
    Nikkei: What actions can Taiwan take to guard against China’s threats to regional security? 
    President Lai: Many people are worried that the increasingly tense situation may lead to accidental conflict and the outbreak of war. My view is that Taiwan is committed to facing China’s various threats with caution. Taiwan is never the source of these problems. If there is an accidental conflict and it turns into a full-scale war, it will certainly be a deliberate act by China by using an accidental conflict as a pretext. When China expanded its military presence in the East China Sea and South China Sea, the international community did not stop it; when China conducted exercises in the Taiwan Strait, the international community did not take strong measures to prevent this from happening. Now, China is conducting gray-zone exercises, which are aggressions against not only the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea, and the East China Sea, but also extending to the Sea of Japan and waters near South Korea. At this moment, Taiwan, the Philippines, Japan, and even the US should face these developments candidly and seriously. We must exhibit unity and cooperation to prevent China’s gray-zone aggression from continuing to expand and prevent China from shifting from a military exercise to combat. If no action is taken now, the situation may become increasingly serious.
    Nikkei: Some US analysts point out that China will have the ability to invade Taiwan around 2027. How do you assess the risk of a Chinese invasion at this stage?
    President Lai: As the country on the receiving end of threats and aggression, Taiwan must plan for the worst and make the best preparations. Our armed forces have a famous saying: “Do not count on the enemy not showing up; count on being ready should it strike.” This is why I proposed the Four Pillars of Peace action plan. First, we must strengthen our national defense. Second, we must strengthen economic resilience. Not only must our economy remain strong, but it must also be resilient. We cannot put all our eggs in the same basket, in China, as we have done in the past. Third, we must stand shoulder to shoulder with friends and allies such as Japan and the US, as well as the democratic community, and we must demonstrate the strength of deterrence to prevent China from making the wrong judgment. Fourth, I would like to emphasize again that as long as China treats Taiwan with parity and dignity, Taiwan is willing to conduct exchanges and cooperate with China and seek cross-strait peace and mutual prosperity through exchanges and cooperation.
    Nikkei: Amid intensifying US-China confrontation, in which areas do you think Taiwan and Japan should strengthen cooperation? In addition, Japan’s Ishiba administration is also a minority government. What are your expectations for the Ishiba administration?
    President Lai: In the face of rapid and tremendous changes in the political situation, every government faces considerable challenges, especially for minority governments. But the Japanese government led by Prime Minister Ishiba has quite adequately responded with various strategies. Furthermore, Japan is different from Taiwan. Although Japan’s ruling party lacks a majority, political parties in Japan engage in competition domestically while exhibiting unity externally. Taiwan’s situation is more challenging, because the ruling and opposition parties hold different views on the direction of the country, due to differences in national identity.
    In the future, I hope that Taiwan and Japan will enjoy even more comprehensive cooperation. I have always believed that deep historical bonds connect Taiwan and Japan. Over the past several decades, when encountering natural disasters and tragedies, our two nations have assisted each other with mutual care and support. The affection between the people of Taiwan and Japan is like that of a family. In addition, both countries face the threat of authoritarianism. We share a mission to safeguard universal values such as democracy, freedom, and respect for human rights. Our two countries should be more open to cooperation in various areas to maintain regional peace and stability as well as to strengthen cooperation in economic and industrial development, such as for semiconductor industry chains and everyday applications of AI, including robots and drones. We can also cooperate on climate change response, such as in hydrogen energy and other strategies. Our two countries should also continue to strengthen people-to-people exchanges. I would like to take this opportunity to once again invite our good friends from Japan to visit Taiwan for tourism and learn more about Taiwan. The Taiwanese people wholeheartedly welcome our Japanese friends.
     

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Nat’l security subsidiary laws in effect

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Acting Chief Executive-in-Council today approved the making of two pieces of subsidiary legislation under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO), which were gazetted and came into effect immediately.

    They provide specific details in respect of the provisions of the Hong Kong National Security Law (HKNSL) concerning the mandate of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People’s Government (CPG) in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (OSNS) and declare the premises where the OSNS performs its mandate as prohibited places.

    The Hong Kong SAR Government said national security risks to which the Hong Kong SAR is exposed can arise all of a sudden with the increasingly turbulent global geopolitical landscape.

    Therefore, the Hong Kong SAR Government must perform its constitutional duty to continue to improve the legal system and enforcement mechanisms for safeguarding national security and to formulate comprehensive measures for safeguarding national security to better implement the mechanisms for safeguarding national security, and prevent and tackle in a timely manner national security risks that may arise unexpectedly.

    The subsidiary legislation clearly outlines the Hong Kong SAR Committee for Safeguarding National Security (CSNS) making an overall plan for, and co-ordinating, the implementation of the opinions provided by the OSNS on the OSNS’s oversight and guidance, and the CSNS Secretariat’s assistance in giving effect thereto, for the better carrying into effect of the relevant provisions of the HKNSL.

    The HKNSL Aricle 55 provides that the OSNS shall, upon approval by the CPG, exercise jurisdiction over a case concerning the four types of offences endangering national security under the HKNSL under three specified special circumstances, which target a very small number of endangering national security cases that are of a serious and egregious nature and involve a significant impact.

    The subsidiary legislation provides for the implementation details, including requirements on public servants to provide all necessary and reasonable assistance to the OSNS in a timely manner; any person must comply with legal instrument issued by the OSNS under the HKNSL Article 57; and the provision of immunity from civil liability for complying with the OSNS’s legal instrument. Furthermore, the subsidiary legislation provides for relevant offences, including offences for failing to comply with legal instrument, providing false or misleading information, and disclosing information on the OSNS’s investigation.

    The subsidiary legislation also provides for specific details in respect of the provisions of the HKNSL regarding protection in respect of the OSNS and its staff in the performance of its mandate, including requirements on the Hong Kong SAR Government and any public servant to provide, in accordance with the law and in a timely manner, all necessary and reasonable assistance, facilitation, support, backing and protection; admissibility of an identification document or a document of certification created or issued by the OSNS to be in evidence in legal proceedings; making the acts of wilfully resisting or obstructing the OSNS in the performance of a duty, impersonating a staff member of the OSNS, or forging documents of the OSNS, an offence; and the obligation of any person to keep confidential the work-related information in connection with the OSNS.

    In addition, the subsidiary legislation clearly sets out the detailed addresses of the prohibited places and the clear coordinates of the points that can be linked to clearly define the entire prohibited area.

    Noting that the subsidiary legislation will go through the negative vetting procedure at the Legislative Council, the Hong Kong SAR Government said it will make every effort for the early completion of the scrutiny with a view to effectively safeguarding national security as soon as possible.

    It added that the subsidiary legislation will not affect the lives of the general public, nor the normal operation of any institution and organisation. Plus, the places designated as prohibited places do not involve private residences and will not cause any unreasonable impact on the surrounding community.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: African Mining Week (AMW) to Highlight Mineral Traceability as a Catalyst for Investment, Supply Chain Reform

    Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

    CAPE TOWN, South Africa, May 13, 2025/APO Group/ —

    The upcoming African Mining Week – Africa’s premier gathering for mining stakeholders, scheduled for October 1 – 3, 2025, in Cape Town – will feature a high-level panel focused on mineral traceability and supply chain optimization.

    Titled Mineral Traceability: Reshaping Global Supply Chains and Geopolitical Influence, the session will bring together key players from public and private sectors, including mineral traders and certification bodies. The discussion will explore how traceability frameworks are driving investment, improving transparency and creating real economic impact in Africa’s mineral-rich economies.

    African countries, in partnership with global partners, are implementing innovative traceability mechanisms to strengthen governance and ensure local beneficiation across the mining value chain. In Ghana, the government established the Ghana Gold Board in early 2025 to centralize the purchase and trade of domestically produced gold. Now the exclusive buyer, trader and exporter of the resource, the agency is designed to combat illegal gold trade, enhance transparency and ensure the gold sector contributes directly to GDP growth.

    In Botswana, a new partnership with the G7 Diamond Technical Team, announced in November 2024, aims to develop an export certification system for rough diamonds. The system, which will be operational by 2025, will ensure diamonds are traceable across the supply chain. Namibia and Angola have revealed plans to adopt similar platforms in 2025.

    Rwanda launched the Inkomane Trading System in October 2024 to enhance transparency across the mining lifecycle. The platform enables stakeholders to manage operations, payroll and mineral trades while complying with new laws around exploration, production and monetization. In February 2025, UK-based company Aterian resumed operations in Rwanda after aligning with the system’s requirements.

    In October 2024, the Copper Mark, the International Council on Mining and Metals, the Mining Association of Canada and the World Gold Council launched the Consolidated Mining Standard Initiative. The initiative aims to harmonize existing mining standards under one consolidated framework, promoting responsible sourcing and ensuring comprehensive traceability. Once finalized, the standard is expected to be adopted by nearly 100 companies operating across 600 sites in around 60 countries, including many in Africa.

    Further strengthening transparency in mineral reporting, the African Union’s African Minerals Development Centre introduced the Pan-African Resource Reporting Code in April 2024. The framework aims to ensure public reporting aligns with Africa’s development agenda, specifically the Africa Mining Vision and Agenda 2063, emphasizing sustainability, equity, and economic transformation.

    Private mining firms are also leveraging technology to support traceability. De Beers registers Botswana’s diamond output using Tracr, a blockchain-enabled platform. Meanwhile, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, companies like Cobalt Blockchain, Glencore and Eurasian Resources Group have piloted blockchain solutions to trace cobalt from source to market.

    As mineral traceability becomes increasingly crucial to securing sustainable investment and ensuring accountability in resource use, African Mining Week 2025 will spotlight the continent’s leading practices and ongoing efforts in building robust, transparent mineral value chains.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Video: UK Health impacts of breast implants and other cosmetic procedures – Women and Equalities Committee

    Source: United Kingdom UK Parliament (video statements)

    The Women and Equalities Committee hears evidence on the health impacts of breast implants and other cosmetic procedures.
    Listen to academics, medical professionals and campaigners discuss issues relating to breast implants and the regulatory framework for all cosmetic procedures, both surgical and non-surgical.

    Specifically, they will touch on:
    – the PIP implant scandal
    – liquid BBLs (Brazilian butt lifts)
    – liquid boob jobs
    – cosmetic tourism

    Head to the Committee’s website to find out more information and follow their work on this topic https://committees.parliament.uk/event/23498/formal-meeting-oral-evidence-session/

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

    MIL OSI Video –

  • MIL-Evening Report: View from The Hill: Ley says Liberals must ‘meet the people where they are’, but how can a divided party do that?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    Cynics point out that when a party turns to a woman leader, it is often handing her a hot mess. That’s certainly so with the federal Liberals, now choosing their first female leader in eight decades.

    For the Liberals, and for Sussan Ley, 63, this is a bittersweet milestone. The odds are overwhelmingly against her chances of taking the Liberals from opposition to government.

    Given Labor’s massive majority, it will be virtually impossible for the Liberals to regain office in under two terms (when Ley would be in her late 60s). The way these things go, there’s likely to be more than one opposition leader in the next half dozen years.

    Most immediately, Ley has to put the meagre talent pool available to best use. This is not just fitting the right people into the right spots but containing ambitions and discontents.

    Peter Dutton didn’t have to look over his shoulder in three years. Ley will be constantly glancing behind. Given the closeness of the vote, and his personality, Angus Taylor is unlikely to regard the result as closing the book. But for the moment, he said on Tuesday, “We must unify […] I will contribute the best way I can to help get us back in the fight.”

    Jacinta Price, after defecting from the Nationals in a bid to become deputy to Taylor, has had her hopes of dramatic advancement dashed. In the end, she didn’t even contest the deputyship. She said later she was “disappointed” Taylor was not elected. Talked up by the conservative base, she may also find her new Liberal kennel more flea-ridden than her previous fairly-comfy Nationals one. Certainly Price, used to running her own race, will require careful management. She told Sky on Tuesday night she looked forward to “robust debate” in the party room.

    Over coming days, there’ll be the opposition’s pain-filled policy overhaul. The nearly evenly divided leadership vote (29-25), in which the moderates supported Ley and the conservatives backed Taylor, highlights differences over policy.

    A large cloud hangs over the controversial nuclear policy. Some will want to ditch it entirely; others will argue it should be recalibrated. A complication is that Ted O’Brien, the new deputy, was its main architect.

    More seriously, the commitment to net zero emissions reduction by 2050 will be on the table.

    Ley told her joint news conference with O’Brien: “There won’t be a climate war. There will be sound and sensible consultation”. That sounds like wishful thinking. It certainly goes against the Coalition’s history.

    While there are some Liberal critics of net zero, this is particularly a debate for the Nationals, among whom there will be a strong push to ditch the commitment.

    Within the Coalition, the Nationals will have greater clout because they held almost all their seats. What they do on climate policy will substantially affect the joint party room. But will there be pressure to break the Coalition?

    Especially challenging for Ley – and at present looking almost impossible – is how the Liberals manage to appeal to two vital constituencies, women and younger voters. Many professional women in what were once solid Liberal areas have gone off to the teals. The under-50s have comprehensively rejected the Liberals.

    Ley said: “We have to have a Liberal Party that respects modern Australia, that reflects modern Australia, and represents modern Australia. And we have to meet the people where they are.”

    That’s exactly right, if the Liberal Party is to be successful. But the reality is that the party, as things stand, appears incapable of “meeting the people where they are.”
    The fundamental problem is that these constituencies – younger voters and women – are increasingly progressive in their politics, but the Liberals are not.

    It’s not as if Ley, when deputy leader, didn’t make an effort with women. After the 2022 election, she embarked on a “women’s listening tour”. But such efforts didn’t work, and the Liberals then further alienated women with the working-from-home debacle..

    Pitching to women in future will require the Liberals to consider whether they should swallow their objection to quotas for female candidates – and that will encounter fierce resistance.

    The Liberals need to thread the needle between the so-called “leafy” urban areas they must win back and the outer suburbs that Dutton thought, wrongly, could take him to power.

    Ley is a centrist and a pragmatist. She told her news conference she believed government “is ultimately formed in a sensible centre”.

    She will probably be able to navigate issues such as “welcome to country” and the flag better than Dutton, and she said that at the Liberal Party meeting “I committed to my colleagues that there would be no captain’s calls”.

    She has changed her views on issues, ranging from her previously strong support for the Palestinians (she was in the parliamentary friends of Palestine) to her opposition to the live sheep trade (she had a private member’s bill in 2018 restricting these exports).

    A massive problem Ley will confront is the weak and in parts feral Liberal organisation, which is a federation of states. Variously, these divisions are riven by factionalism, depleted, and incompetent, or all of those. In contrast, Labor excels in its ground game at elections. Ley won’t be able to drive the needed reform, and the party lacks the strong figures in the organisation to do so.

    Few people want to join political parties these days, and when a party is on the ropes, the traffic is the other way. This gives the ideologues and factional players even more power over candidate selection, often with bad outcomes.

    Adding to their organisational challenges, the Liberals will also have to find a new federal director, with Andrew Hirst, who has been in the post since 2017, expected to move on.

    When Ley was young she put an extra “s” in her name. She describes it as a joke in her rebellious youth. She told journalist Kate Legge in 2015, “I read about this numerology theory that if you add the numbers that match the letters in your name you can change your personality. I worked out that if you added an “s” I would have an incredibly exciting, interesting life and nothing would ever be boring.“

    However it turns out, her time as opposition leader won’t be boring.

    Michelle Grattan 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. View from The Hill: Ley says Liberals must ‘meet the people where they are’, but how can a divided party do that? – https://theconversation.com/view-from-the-hill-ley-says-liberals-must-meet-the-people-where-they-are-but-how-can-a-divided-party-do-that-256460

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: New Report: Record 83 Million People Living in Internal Displacement Worldwide

    Source: International Organization for Migration (IOM)

    Geneva, 13 May 2025 – An unprecedented 83.4 million people were living in internal displacement at the end of 2024, according to the newly released Global Report on Internal Displacement 2025 (GRID) from the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC).   

    Conflict continued to drive much displacement. Last year alone, 20.1 million new conflict-related internal displacements were recorded, with 9.1 million coming from just two countries:  Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).    

    “These figures are a clear warning: without bold and coordinated action, the number of people displaced within their own countries will continue to grow rapidly,” said IOM Director General Amy Pope. “The IDMC report is also a call for preventive action, to use data and other tools to anticipate displacement before it happens, and for the humanitarian and development sectors to work together with governments to develop longer-term solutions to prevent displacement.”    

    The total of 83.4 million internally displaced people at the end of 2024 is an increase of 7.5 million from the 2023 figure of 75.9 million people, which was also a record.   

    Disasters remained a major driver of internal displacement in 2024, and last year saw a record 45.8 million new disaster displacements, nearly double the annual average of the past decade. While most people were able to return home during the year, 9.8 million remained displaced due to disasters at the end of 2024.  

    A total of 29 countries and territories reported their highest disaster displacement figures on record, with cyclones accounting for 54 per cent of all disaster displacements last year. As the frequency, duration, and intensity of weather-related events continue to worsen, these figures are expected to continue to rise.   

    IOM provides key data for the GRID report, which is a crucial tool to shape policies, support evidence-based responses and inform durable solutions for the growing millions who are living in internal displacements worldwide.  

    Note to Editors  

    The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is a key partner of the GRID report and contributes significantly through its Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) – the world’s largest source of primary data on internal displacement. More than half of the estimates in this year’s report originate from IOM’s data collection and analysis.   
     

    Read the full GRID Report 2025 by IDMC here.   
     

    For more information, please contact IOM Media Centre
     

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Robert Aderholt Announces Constituent Services Day in Blount County

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

    Oneonta, AL — Congressman Robert Aderholt is pleased to announce that James Manasco, Field Representative, will be available for Constituent Services Day in Oneonta to assist residents with issues involving federal agencies.

    📍 Location: Blount County Courthouse 
    🗓️ Date: Wednesday, May 14, 2025
    ⏰ Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
    📍 Address: 220 Second Avenue East, Oneonta, AL

    “If you’re having trouble with a federal agency — whether it’s Social Security, Medicare, the VA, the IRS, or others — this is a great opportunity to get direct help from my office,” said Congressman Aderholt. “My staff is highly experienced and ready to assist anyone who needs help cutting through federal red tape.”

    Please note: Congressman Aderholt’s office can only assist with matters involving federal agencies. We are not able to provide assistance with state or local government issues.

    While walk-ins are welcome, appointments are preferred so we can better serve each person’s individual needs.

    📞 To set up an appointment, please call 256-546-0201 or email james.manasco@mail.house.gov.

    Helping constituents navigate federal services is a top priority for Congressman Aderholt and his team.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Congressman Robert Aderholt Announces Constituent Services Day in Marshall County

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Congressman Robert Aderholt (AL-04)

    Guntersville, AL — Congressman Robert Aderholt is pleased to announce that James Manasco, Field Representative, will be available for Constituent Services Day in Guntersville to assist residents with issues involving federal agencies.

    📍 Location: Marshall County Legislative Office
    🗓️ Date: Monday, May 12, 2025
    ⏰ Time: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
    📍 Address: 524 Gunter Avenue, Guntersville, AL

    “If you’re having trouble with a federal agency — whether it’s Social Security, Medicare, the VA, the IRS, or others — this is a great opportunity to get direct help from my office,” said Congressman Aderholt. “My staff is highly experienced and ready to assist anyone who needs help cutting through federal red tape.”

    Please note: Congressman Aderholt’s office can only assist with matters involving federal agencies. We are not able to provide assistance with state or local government issues.

    While walk-ins are welcome, appointments are preferred so we can better serve each person’s individual needs.

    📞 To set up an appointment, please call 256-546-0201 or email james.manasco@mail.house.gov.

    Helping constituents navigate federal services is a top priority for Congressman Aderholt and his team.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • Reaction to Virat Kohli’s retirement from test cricket

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Tributes poured in across the cricketing world after Virat Kohli, India’s talismanic batsman, announced his retirement from Test cricket, bringing to an end one of the modern era’s most illustrious careers. Below is a selection of the most notable responses to his announcement.

    SACHIN TENDULKAR, FORMER INDIA CAPTAIN

    “As you retire from Tests, I’m reminded of your thoughtful gesture 12 years ago, during my last Test. You offered to gift me a thread from your late father. It was something too personal for me to accept, but the gesture was heart-warming and has stayed with me ever since.

    “While I may not have a thread to offer in return, please know that you carry my deepest admiration and very best wishes.

    “Your true legacy, Virat, lies in inspiring countless young cricketers to pick up the sport.”

    JAY SHAH, INTERNATIONAL CRICKET COUNCIL CHAIRMAN

    “Thank you for championing the purest format during the rise of T20 cricket and setting an extraordinary example in discipline, fitness, and commitment.”

    RAVI SHASTRI, FORMER INDIA HEAD COACH AND ALL-ROUNDER

    “Can’t believe you are done. You are a modern-day GIANT and were a fantastic ambassador for Test match cricket in every way you played and captained.

    “Thank you for the lasting memories you’ve given to everyone, and to me in particular. It’s something I will cherish for life.”

    GREG CHAPPELL, FORMER AUSTRALIAN CAPTAIN

    “Kohli redefined expectations, challenged conventions, and symbolised the self-assured, unapologetic India of the 21st century,” Chappell said in a piece on ESPN CricInfo.

    “His departure leaves not only a statistical void but a seismic shift in energy, for there has never been another quite like him.

    “No Indian captain had ever marshalled a team to such commanding overseas dominance. And no batter since Tendulkar had so unequivocally ruled in every continent.”

    MICHAEL VAUGHAN, FORMER ENGLAND CAPTAIN

    “In my time playing and broadcasting, no individual has done as much for Test cricket as Virat Kohli. His passion, energy, and commitment to the greatest format have helped so much .. I hope the next generation of Indian players takes on his mantle.”

    SANATH JAYASURIYA, FORMER SRI LANKA CAPTAIN

    “While the world celebrates your cricketing brilliance and records, what I admire most is your unwavering commitment to fitness and the sacrifices you’ve made behind the scenes.”

    JASPRIT BUMRAH, INDIA BOWLER

    “From making my Test debut under your captaincy to reaching new heights together for our country, your passion and energy will be missed, but the legacy you leave behind remains unmatched.”

    DAVID WARNER, FORMER AUSTRALIAN BATTER

    “Absolute legend of our game. I’ll never forget our first game against each other when we were young. I thought this guy was a serious competitor and going to be great, someone everyone would admire.

    “You had to fill the shoes of some great players to ever play for India and carry the nation. Wow, did you not disappoint? Thank you for being you, who got the best out of all of us who competed against you.”

    HARBHAJAN SINGH, FORMER INDIA BOWLER

    “Virat, we’ve shared that era … faced the grind together, lived the long days of Test cricket with pride. Your batting in whites is special — not just in numbers, but in intent, intensity, and inspiration. Good luck going forward.”

    IRFAN PATHAN, FORMER INDIA ALL-ROUNDER

    “As captain you didn’t just win matches — you changed mindsets. You made fitness, aggression, and pride in whites the new standard. A true torchbearer of modern Indian Test cricket.”

    SHUBMAN GILL, INDIA BATTER

    “Anything I write for you, paji (brother), will never truly capture what I feel or the impact you’ve had on me.

    “From watching you bat when I was 13 and wondering how someone could bring that kind of energy to the field — to sharing the field with you and realizing no one else possibly can — you’ve not just inspired a generation, you’ve reshaped the mindset of millions.”

    YASHASVI JAISWAL, INDIA BATTER

    “The impact you’ve had on test cricket, and on cricket in India as a whole, is immeasurable. To have had the chance to share the pitch with you — someone I looked up to for so many years — was more than just a privilege; it was a moment I’ll carry with me forever.”

    –Reuters

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Public service work from home policies dispute heading to Employment Relations Authority

    Source: PSA

    Confidential mediation today failed to resolve the difference between the PSA and the government on public service work from home policies, and the issue is now heading to the Employment Relations Authority.
    Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi National Secretary, Fleur Fitzsimons, said they were dismayed to have not settled the matter quickly for public sector workers.
    “While we’re still open to settling this matter outside of the Authority, the government is digging in its heels on its arbitrary wish to force public servants, who have performed to a high standard for years now while working from home, back into the office.
    “Not having working from home as the default disadvantages women, who make up 62 per cent of the public service and who disproportionately hold whanau care responsibilities.
    “Working from home is good for women, good for people with chronic health conditions, and good for people with disabilities. It’s good for everyone including employers and even the government too.”
    In 2018, the PSA entered in into an agreement – the Gender Pay Principles, following legal action in the Employment Court to establish principles governing work performed by women in accordance with the Equal Pay Act 1972.
    The follow up agreement, Flexible Work by Default, gave effect to these principles and was signed by the PSA, CTU, the State Services Commission (as it then was) and the Ministry for Women in 2020.
    “The fact of the matter is, the government entered into the Gender Pay Principles and the Flexible Work by Default agreements.
    “You can’t just rip up these agreements when thousands of people rely on them to maintain their personal and whanau wellbeing.
    “But then – we didn’t see much care for women when the government also ripped up the Pay Equity Bill last week.”
    Previous media statements:
    The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan to review central schemes in Raipur, attend housing program in Ambikapur

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Minister of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, will review the implementation of central government schemes in Chhattisgarh during his visit to Raipur on Tuesday.

    According to an official release by the Ministry of Rural Development, the Union Minister will conduct the review meeting at the Naya Raipur Secretariat. Prior to the meeting, he will participate in a plantation drive on the Secretariat premises.

    Following the review, Chouhan is scheduled to visit Ambikapur, where he will take part in the “Mor Awas Mor Adhikar” program at the PG College ground.

    As the Chief Guest of the event, the Union Minister will distribute house keys to beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) and PM Janman schemes. He will also lay the foundation stone (bhoomi pujan) for housing units to be constructed under these schemes and distribute sanction letters to new beneficiaries.

    A key highlight of the program will be the Grih Pravesh ceremony for 51,000 new homeowners under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. In addition, self-help group members and Lakhpati Didis who have demonstrated exemplary contributions in rural development will be felicitated.

    The event will be presided over by Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai. Other dignitaries attending as special guests include Union Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Tokhan Sahu, Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Sharma and Arun Sao, and Assembly Speaker Dr. Raman Singh. Finance Minister O.P. Choudhary, Agriculture Minister Ram Vichar Netam, Health Minister Shyam Bihari Jaiswal, and Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Rajwade will also be present.

  • IPL 2025: Action resumes on May 17 with RCB vs KKR clash in Bengaluru; Matches across six venues, final on June 3

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has announced that the remainder of the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season will resume on May 17, following extensive consultations with the government, security agencies, and other key stakeholders. Matches will be held across six venues, culminating in the final on June 3.

    The season will restart at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, where Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) will face off against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

    The league was temporarily suspended due to escalating cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan, including missile and drone attacks from the latter, which were successfully thwarted by Indian forces.

    In the updated schedule, no matches will be held in Mohali or Dharamsala. The Punjab Kings vs Mumbai Indians match, previously relocated to Ahmedabad, will now be played at Sawai Mansingh Stadium, Jaipur, on May 26.

    The playoffs will begin with Qualifier 1 on May 29, followed by the Eliminator on May 30, and Qualifier 2 on June 1. The final is scheduled for June 3, with the venues for the playoff stage to be announced later.

    “A total of 17 matches will be played between May 17 and June 3, including two Sunday double-headers,” the BCCI stated in an official release on Monday.

    BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia added, “The Board takes this opportunity to salute the bravery and resilience of India’s armed forces, whose efforts have enabled the safe return of cricket. The BCCI remains committed to the national interest while ensuring the successful completion of the league.” 

    (With IANS inputs)

  • MIL-OSI China: Australian PM Albanese, ministers sworn in following election victory

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

    Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his ministers have been sworn in after the Labor Party won a second term in power at the federal election.

    Albanese, his Cabinet, outer ministry and assistant ministers were officially sworn in to their roles by Governor-General Sam Mostyn, the representative of the British monarchy in Australia, at a ceremony at Government House in Canberra on Tuesday morning.

    During the ceremony, the 42 members of the ministry took an oath of office, declaring that they will “well and truly serve” the Commonwealth of Australia in their respective offices.

    The 42 members consist of 23 members of the Cabinet, the innermost sanctum of the government, seven members of the outer ministry and 12 assistant ministers.

    The Cabinet and outer ministry is largely unchanged from the end of Albanese’s first term, with the vast majority of senior leadership figures continuing in their roles, including Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong.

    Announcing the list of ministers on Monday, Albanese said that it was the largest Labor caucus — referring to the number of the party’s politicians elected to the federal parliament — in history following the landslide result at the May 3 election.

    He said the ministers and party had an “extraordinary opportunity” to change Australia “for the better.”

    “I am deeply humbled by the trust that was put into my government with the election, and we certainly won’t take it for granted,” he said.

    Among the changes from Albanese’s previous ministry is the appointment of Michelle Rowland as Attorney-General, replacing Mark Dreyfus who was dumped from the ministry along with former Science and Industry Minister Ed Husic due to factional negotiations.

    The new ministry also includes a new assistant minister role for international education, which has been filled by Julian Hill. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Livestreaming plays key role in growth

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

    A woman sells Hanfu via livestreaming in Ancailou Township of Caoxian County, east China’s Shandong Province, July 6, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

    Livestreaming e-commerce, the practice of promoting products via live online broadcasts, has played a vital role in bolstering the growth of consumption and expanding employment, serving as an important force driving China’s high-quality economic development, a new report said.

    According to a report released by the research institute of the China International Electronic Commerce Center, a livestreaming room can generate more than 30 new occupations and create a large number of jobs in the upstream and downstream of industrial chains.

    These new professions include livestreaming hosts, video analysts, video editors and cost assessors, while new jobs related to the operation of livestreaming rooms include the selection of products, video script planning, content production and data traffic allocation.

    Based on the survey from short video platform Kuaishou, among the enterprises that have been continuously conducting livestreaming marketing, over 70 percent of new customers come from livestreaming e-commerce and the speed of product innovation after livestreaming sessions has doubled, the report noted.

    This indicates that livestreaming e-commerce has become a significant driving force for enterprises to acquire new users and promote industrial innovation.

    The report pointed out that by leveraging cutting-edge digital technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data, livestreaming has offered consumers an interactive, immersive and real-time shopping experience, and an increasing number of brands are starting their own livestreaming activities on platforms to forge a stronger emotional connection with shoppers.

    “E-commerce via livestreaming has not only profoundly changed consumers’ shopping habits, but also injected new impetus into the country’s economic growth,” said Zhai Weibin, deputy head of the China International Electronic Commerce Center.

    The report highlighted the significant role of livestreaming e-commerce in contributing to regional economic growth, driving industrial transformation and upgrades, supporting rural vitalization and expanding sales channels for agricultural products.

    Li Yongjian, a researcher at the National Academy of Economic Strategy under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said livestreaming e-commerce can help narrow the income gap between urban and rural residents, as research shows that if the gross merchandise value or GMV of fresh food increases by 1 percent during the livestreaming sessions, the per capita disposable income of rural residents will increase by 0.03 percent.

    Data from market consultancy iResearch showed that the revenue of China’s livestreaming e-commerce sector reached 5.8 trillion yuan ($803.3 billion) last year, with the compound annual growth rate reaching 18 percent between 2024 and 2026.

    Experts said short-video platforms are doubling down on efforts to expand their presence in livestreamed shopping, with online traffic shifting from traditional e-commerce platforms to video-sharing apps.

    Meanwhile, the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence has become a new engine bolstering the high-quality development of the livestreaming e-commerce sector, and is reshaping the landscape of the industry given that the technology has significantly improved operational efficiency, reduced labor costs and lifted purchasing conversion rates, the report said.

    The report stated that through data analysis and algorithm recommendations, AI can precisely match the goods or services that consumers are most interested in and predict their demand, providing data support for the design and production of new products.

    Livestreaming featuring AI-powered virtual hosts has also emerged as a new trend. Global consultancy Forrester said more business-to-consumer brands are using virtual hosts to attract digital-savvy and novelty-seeking young consumers, as they cost less than human talent and reduce risks such as celebrity scandals.

    “Livestreaming could allow hosts to interact with customers in real time and answer their queries immediately, which will greatly improve people’s shopping experiences and lure more shoppers to purchase online,” said Chen Tao, an analyst with internet consultancy Analysys in Beijing.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • Ousted Bangladesh PM Hasina’s party barred from election as party registration suspended

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Bangladesh’s Election Commission has suspended the registration of ousted former prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League, effectively barring the party from contesting the next national elections.

    The move comes after the interim government of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, banned all activities of the Awami League under the Anti-Terrorism Act after days of protests.

    The government cited national security threats and an ongoing war crimes investigation against the party’s top leadership over deaths of hundreds of protesters.

    “With the home ministry’s ban on all activities of the Awami League and its affiliated organisations, the Election Commission has decided to suspend the party’s registration,” Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed told reporters late on Monday.

    Under Bangladesh’s electoral laws, a political party must be registered with the Election Commission to participate in national polls. The suspension means the Awami League — which led the country for more than 20 years — is now officially disqualified from contesting future elections unless the ban is lifted and the registration restored.

    The Election Commission also issued a directive prohibiting the party and its affiliates from conducting any political activities, including publications, media appearances, online and social media campaigns, processions, rallies, or conferences, until the International Crimes Tribunal completes its proceedings.

    Hasina, credited with turning around the economy but accused of human rights violations and the suppression of dissent, won a fourth straight term in 2024, but the poll was boycotted by the main opposition, whose top leaders were in jail or in exile.

    The country has seen rising tensions and protests in recent months, after deadly protests forced Hasina to flee to India in August 2024 and an interim government led by Yunus took charge.

    Yunus, who is not aligned to any party, has pledged reforms and said national elections could be delayed until 2026 and that he is not interested in running.

    Political parties, including former prime minister Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh Nationalist Party, have demanded an early poll and return to a democratically-elected government.

    The newly formed student-driven National Citizen Party, which emerged from last year’s uprising that toppled Hasina, wants polls only after reforms are implemented.

    The unrest began in July with student protests against public sector job quotas, but quickly morphed into one of the deadliest periods of political violence since Bangladesh’s independence in 1971.

    The Awami League, founded in 1949 and once revered for leading Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War, has faced growing criticism in recent years over alleged authoritarianism, corruption, and human rights violations under Hasina’s leadership.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-Evening Report: It’s a hard job being environment minister. Here’s an insider’s view of the key challenges facing Murray Watt

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Peter Burnett, Honorary Associate Professor, ANU College of Law, Australian National University

    Australia’s new environment minister, Murray Watt, is reported to be a fixer. That’s good, because there’s a lot to fix.

    Being environment minister is a hard gig. It often requires difficult choices between environmental and economic priorities. In cabinet, the minister is often up against a phalanx of ministers with economic portfolios and overriding political imperatives such as jobs and growth. I saw this repeatedly over the 16 years when I held senior leadership roles in environment departments at territory and federal levels.

    In Labor’s first term, this tension played out again. Former environment minister Tanya Plibersek came to the role with big ideas. To that end, she tried to make Australia’s national environment laws fit for purpose and introduce a federal environmental protection agency (EPA).

    A cumbersome approach to consultation didn’t help, but ultimately it was development concerns led by big mining companies and West Australian Premier Roger Cook that saw the reform can kicked down the road. Perversely, the only legal reform we saw was an amendment to protect not a threatened species, but the salmon farms threatening it.

    Now it’s Watt’s turn. He has a reputation for getting things done and may drive a bargain to get some version of the EPA through. But that’s only one piece of the reform jigsaw and he’ll have to return to the mammoth task of reforming Australia’s national environment laws. He will have to push back against efforts by the Greens in the Senate to broaden the agenda to include climate and forests, and weather opposing pressures from industry and environment groups.

    Stalled reforms

    Watt’s largest challenge will be to revive the stalled Nature Positive Plan. This was the government’s response to the 2020 Samuel Review, which found Australia’s natural environment and iconic places were declining and under increasing threat, while national environmental laws were no longer fit for purpose.

    Samuel’s solution was groundbreaking: create new, legally enforceable national environmental standards to deliver better environmental protection. Last term, Labor committed to introducing the standards, reforming laws and introducing an EPA. Unfortunately, Plibersek ran out of time and most of the reforms were put on the backburner.

    Plibersek pitched an independent EPA as a tough cop on the beat, but it wasn’t independent enough for many environmentalists.

    Industry didn’t like it either. WA miners used their influence to attack the EPA for being unaccountable. Their lobbying worked and the EPA was pushed back. As one mining figure told the Australian Financial Review: “The heat [industry pressure] was no one’s first preference; it was just required because there was no other way to influence the actual policymaking.”

    Miners and other big businesses are likely worried the proposed independent EPA would reduce their influence. At present, the environment minister has near-complete discretion over approvals. Much of this discretion — and the political influence associated with it — would disappear with an independent EPA making decisions based on national environmental standards.

    More challenges are looming. Here are two:

    Gas extraction on the North West Shelf

    Watt will soon have to decide on Woodside’s application to expand gas extraction off Australia’s northwest coast. If approved, the North West Shelf Extension Project would be Australia’s largest resource project. Environmentalists hate it, describing it as a climate bomb. The WA government approved it last year.

    If Watt follows the pattern of his predecessors, we can expect to see the development approved subject to numerous conditions, pitched as strict environmental safeguards. Despite such safeguards applying to operations in Australia, the real damage done by the project will be global, not local, as the gas will be burned overseas.

    Murray-Darling Basin Plan

    The delayed ten-year review of the Murray-Darling basin plan is due in 2026. It will reopen old wounds. The basic problem is there’s not enough water for both the environment and irrigators.

    When the draft plan was first released in 2010, angry irrigators burned a copy of it. The government backpedalled furiously, eventually approving a plan with a lot less water returned to the environment. Experts say the plan hasn’t actually helped the environment.

    Watt is a former agriculture minister and will have insight into both sides. But he’ll need the wisdom of Solomon to come up with a successful approach.

    It’s hard to fix systems

    Making environmental headway is downright hard. The underlying problem is that politics is about trade-offs, but nature doesn’t negotiate. Nature is a system of systems, and if we take too much from it those systems begin to break down – usually irreversibly.

    In previous decades, governments often dealt with environmental problems by creating national parks and World Heritage areas. If only things were still that simple.

    Peter Burnett is affiliated with the Biodiversity Council, an independent expert group founded to provide evidence-based solutions to Australia’s biodiversity crisis.

    – ref. It’s a hard job being environment minister. Here’s an insider’s view of the key challenges facing Murray Watt – https://theconversation.com/its-a-hard-job-being-environment-minister-heres-an-insiders-view-of-the-key-challenges-facing-murray-watt-256465

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • US mission in Taipei says Trump’s ‘unification’ comment was about US-China trade

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump’s comment on “unification” was about the U.S.-China trade relationship, and U.S. policy towards Taiwan has not changed, the de facto embassy on the island said on Tuesday, after the wording caused unease in Taipei.

    China claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to “reunify” with the island, by force if necessary. Taiwan’s government rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only the island’s people can decide their future.

    Washington and Beijing on Monday agreed to slash steep tariffs for at least 90 days, pausing their trade war, a move Trump praised when speaking to reporters at the White House.

    “They’ve agreed to open China, fully open China, and I think it’s going to be fantastic for China, I think it’s going to be fantastic for us, and I think it’s going to be great for unification and peace,” he said, without mentioning Taiwan.

    In a statement, the American Institute in Taiwan, which operates as a de facto embassy in the absence of formal diplomatic ties, said Trump was speaking about U.S.-China trade.

    “It’s clear President Trump was speaking in the context of the U.S.-China trade relationship,” a spokesperson said. “U.S. policy on Taiwan remains the same, and the U.S. approach to Taiwan has remained consistent across decades and administrations.”

    Taiwan’s presidential office, in a separate statement, noted the U.S. comment that Trump was referring to trade talks with China and not Taiwan.

    “The U.S. commitment to Taiwan remains strong and unchanged,” spokesperson Karen Kuo said, adding that Taiwan’s understanding was that the U.S.-China trade talks did not touch on Taiwan-related issues.

    Trump’s remarks created concern in some government and diplomatic circles in Taiwan on whether U.S. policy towards the island had changed, seven sources told Reuters.

    “Is he going to change the status quo, accepting the annexation of Taiwan?” one of the sources said, a senior official who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.

    The U.S. government only officially recognises the government in Beijing, and does not take a position on Taiwan’s sovereignty, only acknowledging China’s position on the subject under Washington’s long-standing “one China policy”.

    Washington is bound by law to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself, and has repeatedly expressed condemnation of stepped-up Chinese military activities, including the latest round of war games in April.

    –Reuters

  • MIL-Evening Report: AWPA calls on Albanese to raise West Papuan human rights with Prabowo

    Asia Pacific Report

    An Australian solidarity group for West Papuan self-determination has called on Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to raise the human rights crisis in the Melanesian region with the Indonesian president this week.

    Albanese is visiting Indonesia for two days from tomorrow.

    AWPA has written a letter to Albanese making the appeal for him to raise the issue with President Prabowo Subianto.

    “The Australian people care about human rights and, in light of the ongoing abuses in West Papua, we are urging Prime Minister Albanese to raise the human rights situation in West Papua with the Indonesian President during his visit to Jakarta,” said Joe Collins of AWPA.

    He said the solidarity group was urging Albanese to support the West Papuan people by encouraging the Indonesian government to allow the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to visit West Papua to investigate the human rights situation in the territory.

    The West Papuan people have been calling for such a visit for years.

    Concerned over military ties
    “We are also concerned about the close ties between the ADF [Australian Defence Force] and the Indonesian military,” Collins said.

    “We believe that the ADF should be distancing itself from the Indonesian military while there are ongoing human rights abuses in West Papua, not increasing ties with the Indonesian security forces as is the case at present.”

    Collins said that the group understood that it was in the interest of the Australian government to have good relations with Indonesia, “but good relations should not be at the expense of the West Papuan people”.

    “The West Papuan people are not going to give up their struggle for self-determination. It’s an issue that is not going away,” Collins added.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • Indian rupee opens stronger against US dollar

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian rupee opened 75 paise stronger at 84.65 against the US dollar on Tuesday, compared to its previous close of 85.38 per dollar.
    According to analysts, the trading range for the day was expected to lie between 84.50 and 85.25. The dollar maintained its gains following a significant trade agreement between the United States and China.

    Under the pact, the US will reduce tariffs on Chinese goods from 145 per cent to 30 per cent for a period of 90 days, while China announced it would cut tariffs on US goods from 125 per cent to 10 per cent over the same duration. The two countries have agreed to establish a mechanism to continue dialogue on economic and trade relations.
    Analysts noted that any fresh developments on the geopolitical front are likely to significantly influence the rupee’s trajectory.

    In FY25, the rupee traded in the range of 83.10 to 87.60 against the greenback. It initially weakened following the US election results and depreciated by 2.4 per cent over the fiscal year due to persistent FPI outflows and a robust US dollar. 

    Despite these headwinds, the rupee remained relatively stable compared to other global currencies, supported by strong government finances, a narrowing current account deficit, improved liquidity, and moderating oil prices, among other factors, according to the NSE’s Market Pulse Report for April.

    Towards the end of the year, a reversal in dollar strength and renewed FPI inflows into debt instruments supported the rupee’s recovery, leading to an appreciation of 2.4 per cent in March 2025.
    The rupee’s average annualised volatility declined to 2.7 per cent in FY25, placing it among the least volatile major emerging market currencies and reflecting India’s robust external buffers and prudent forex management.

    “However, the rupee remained overvalued, with the 40-currency trade-weighted REER rising to 105.3. Nonetheless, both REER and NEER moderated gradually from H1FY25, indicating a softening of the overvaluation. The one-year forward premium for the rupee continued to moderate, reflecting shifting premium dynamics and India’s macroeconomic resilience,” the report stated.

    (IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CS calls for voter registration

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, together with representatives from the four civil service central consultative councils, today visited the Queensway Government Offices today to appeal to colleagues to register as voters and cast their votes in the Legislative Council General Election, due to be held on December 7 this year.

    Acting Secretary for Constitutional & Mainland Affairs Clement Woo was also present, distributing leaflets on voter registration.

    Mr Chan stressed that, as the backbone of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, civil servants bear the responsibility of implementing and supporting the administration in accordance with the law.

    The Chief Secretary said: “Today, together with the representatives from the four civil service central consultative councils, I visited colleagues in different government departments to appeal to those who are eligible but have not yet registered as voters to actively do so, and to remind those who have already registered as voters to check the accuracy of their registration details through the online system and submit an application to update their details in a timely manner if necessary, to ensure their voting rights are not affected.

    “We also appeal to our colleagues to convey this message to their families and friends to get well prepared for the LegCo General Election to be held at the end of this year and to vote enthusiastically to fulfil their civic duties and elect patriotic, capable and dedicated legislators devoted to serving the people, Hong Kong and our country.”

    The 2025 Voter Registration Campaign urges eligible individual and bodies who have not yet registered as voters to submit registration applications to the Registration & Electoral Office (REO) as early as possible – and on or before the statutory deadline of June 2.

    Registered voters who wish to record changes to their residential address or other registration particulars should also submit such applications to the REO on or before June 2.

    Both applications for new registration and changes to particulars can be submitted through the iAM Smart app, or by email, mail or fax with the correct forms.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview with Bridget Brennan, News Breakfast, ABC

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    Bridget Brennan:

    Hello Treasurer and welcome back to News Breakfast.

    Jim Chalmers:

    Thanks very much, Bridget.

    Brennan:

    Tell us about your biggest challenge as you enter a second term as Treasurer.

    Chalmers:

    I’m very grateful to the Prime Minister for asking me to serve again as Australia’s Treasurer and my immediate focus is all of this global economic uncertainty but also over the medium term and longer term trying to make our economy more productive as well.

    We’ve got a lot of work to do. Australians have made a lot of progress together in our economy over the course of the last 3 years but there’s lots more work to do because people are under pressure, the global environment is uncertain, our economy’s not productive enough. And so that will be the focus not just of me but this wonderful new economic team that the Prime Minister has appointed, and indeed the whole Cabinet and the whole government.

    Brennan:

    We’ll just let you get your earpiece set. Look, you’ve got a number of reports coming to you this year in terms of recommendations on how to boost productivity. What are some things you can do immediately to start getting to work on productivity?

    Chalmers:

    We’ve already got a big productivity agenda. Our agenda around skills and training and human capital is all about making our economy more productive and making sure there are more opportunities for more people. We’ve got an agenda when it comes to abolishing non‑compete clauses, a national regime for occupational licensing, the energy transformation, infrastructure investment.

    We’ve got a big agenda already for productivity, but there’s a real enthusiasm to do more and some of that work of the Productivity Commission will help us consider the next steps as well. There’s no switch that you can flick to instantly make an economy like ours – a complex economy – more productive overnight. It will take time, but we’ve already started, and we’ve got more work to do as well. And there’s a real difference here I think between the way that we’ve thought about productivity.

    Traditionally, the way our political opponents think about productivity in quite a narrow way, making people work longer and harder for less, versus the Labor way of making our economy more productive, which is investing in people, their ability to adapt and adopt technology, getting the energy transformation right, the care economy, our competition policy to make our economy more dynamic – all of this is part of our productivity agenda and I’m really looking forward to advancing that agenda through the course of this Parliamentary term.

    Brennan:

    You would have been watching closely overnight as the US and China hit pause at least temporarily on high tariffs against either nation. What opportunity is there for Australia in this news, is this a positive development at least in the short‑term?

    Chalmers:

    Oh, it’s a very positive development, a very welcome development, but we shouldn’t pretend that all of the issues in these trade tensions around the world have been resolved with this decision. There’s still a lot of uncertainty, a lot of volatility, a lot of unpredictability in the global economy but this is a welcome development.

    Now when it comes to Australia’s exposure to these trade tensions around the world, really the biggest concern for us is a trade war between the US and China, and what that means then for our own economy. So like the rest of the world, we welcome this announcement. But it’s tempered a little bit by the understanding, the realisation that there’s still a lot of uncertainty which is playing out in our own domestic economies around the world.

    Brennan:

    Today we’ll see that full reshuffled Cabinet sworn in. Was it a bit unedifying to see the factional war play out in the first week after you got that massive mandate? What sort of a taste do you think it left in voters’ mouths and minds when they saw 2 quite senior Cabinet ministers pushed aside by the factions?

    Chalmers:

    I do think it was unfortunate, and I think it was messy, I think that’s self‑evident. This is what happens when you’ve got more good people than you can fit into a Cabinet or a ministry or the broader ranks.

    I feel for those 2 guys in particular, and nobody really wants to see people left out in that fashion but this is what happens when we’ve got so many good people that we’ve got to fit into this Cabinet. We’ve got to strike the right balance between experience and new energy, new faces. We’ve more or less struck an effective balance there. So at a human level I feel for Ed and Mark and in the government, I think it reflects the strength that we have in personnel.

    Brennan:

    Just on Mr Dreyfus particularly before we let you go, obviously we’ve heard what Ed Husic has had to say, we haven’t yet heard from Mr Dreyfus. Do you think he was treated with dignity?

    Chalmers:

    I’m reluctant to go much further than I have already, Bridget. I appreciate the opportunity to say that both of those guys are good people, and like a lot of people in our team, they made a good contribution last term. No doubt this was a difficult decision for the party room to take. Beyond that, I don’t want to engage in a running commentary about that. I feel for those 2 guys today – and it will be a hard day for them today to see ministers sworn in.

    My focus today is on the really quite extraordinarily strong team that the Prime Minister has put together being sworn in at Government House and I’m especially grateful to him for the team that he’s appointed to the Treasury portfolio with all of this intellectual horsepower and talent and energy – Daniel Mulino, Andrew Leigh, Clare O’Neil, Anne Aly – these are really quite extraordinary people appointed and being sworn in today to the Treasury portfolio and I’m looking forward to working with them – that’s my focus.

    Brennan:

    All right, thanks for your time, Treasurer, and best wishes for today.

    Chalmers:

    Thank you.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview with Sarah Abo, Today, Channel 9

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    Sarah Abo:

    Well, the new Labor Cabinet will be sworn in this morning after a cut‑throat reshuffle saw several MPs booted from their portfolios.

    Joining us live from Canberra to discuss this is Treasurer, Jim Chalmers. Congratulations to you, Treasurer, you are back, and hasn’t your second term started without a hitch? Should we be worried about you – apparently there’s an assassin in your midst?

    Jim Chalmers:

    Good morning, Sarah, I don’t think I’m going to come at that, but I’m going to accept with good grace your congratulations. I appreciate it, looking forward to be sworn in today, and also I’m grateful to the PM for the first‑class team that he has assembled – including in my own Treasury portfolio – I’ve got some wonderful colleagues there, and I’m looking forward to working with them.

    Abo:

    It’s not quite the perfect start you were hoping for though, I imagine.

    Chalmers:

    I think inevitably when you’ve got so many good people to fit into a limited number of positions, then unfortunately, there are people, including very good people, who can get left out. And that’s what we saw last week; it was messy, and nobody would want that to happen, particularly to 2 people who are respected in our team.

    But my focus is on the colleagues I’ll be working with in the economic team. We’ll be sworn in today, and we’re already hard at work.

    Abo:

    Would you describe the Deputy PM as a factional assassin?

    Chalmers:

    No, I don’t describe my colleagues like that, but again, people can choose their own words and their own language. I understand that if you’ve missed out on the ministry, including the 2 guys that you’re referring to I think in your questions, then I feel for them. I respect them, and I feel for them, and they’ve got a right to say what they think about that. I choose different words.

    Abo:

    Ed Husic did double down on that last night saying it was gratuitous to dump Dreyfus. Let’s have a quick listen.

    [Excerpt]

    Ed Husic:

    Mark has been a big contributor, he should have been given dignity, there should have been some class extended to Mark frankly. I feel really bad for the way that he’s gone.

    [End of Excerpt]

    Abo:

    That’s twice now he’s gone on the public record to make the way he feels known. Does he have a right to air his grievances in such a way?

    Chalmers:

    I think Ed’s entitled to his view, and –

    Abo:

    It does make you wonder though, I guess, Treasurer, whether the Albanese government does have a problem with dissent?

    Chalmers:

    I think that would be an unusual conclusion to draw given the totality of the last 3 years. Yes, it was a difficult week last week, yes it’s hard when good people are excluded from a very strong team. I think I’ve acknowledged that in a number of different ways today.

    Our focus is on the team that we’ve put together, the hard work that we need to do for the Australian people at a time of global economic uncertainty, and that’s what I’ve been focused on, not on the internal machinations.

    Abo:

    All right. Well, let’s look at that new team in your Cabinet sworn in today. It does seem, I mean you can’t ignore it, some allies have been rewarded, others seemingly demoted. Did Tanya Plibersek get a bit of an unfair whack turfed from the environment portfolio?

    Chalmers:

    Not at all, and I’m delighted you asked me about this, Sarah. I spoke to Tanya yesterday; Tanya is absolutely delighted with this role. The social services role in a Labor government is absolutely key, and I see it and she sees it as a really terrific opportunity for Tanya.

    As I’ve said, I’ve spoken to her about it already, the work that we will do together in that portfolio, she’s replacing a wonderful Cabinet Minister in Amanda Rishworth who was on the show before me, and Tanya’s really looking forward to it.

    I read with a bit of curiosity this analysis about Tanya’s new job. In our government that job is absolutely key, and I think that she’s looking forward to getting stuck into it and I’m looking forward to working with her.

    Abo:

    Good to see her and the PM have kissed and made up then. All right. Well, meanwhile, China and the US have reached an agreement to pause tariffs for 90 days. Surely, Treasurer, the PM has to prioritise sitting down with Trump to talk trade now?

    Chalmers:

    We’re engaging with the Americans on trade, as you’d expected, we’ve been doing that for some time. The Prime Minister’s had a number of conversations with the President of the United States.

    What we saw between the US and China in the last day or so is a very welcome development, a very pleasing development, reassuring in a way. But we also need to recognise that it’s not resolved yet; this is a pause, not a resolution. It means that there’s still a lot of uncertainty, volatility, unpredictability in the global economy, and that’s impacting us here in our own economy as well.

    We’ve got a lot of skin in the game when it comes to a trade war between the US and China, we want to see these issues resolved in a permanent sense, not just in a temporary sense, but the developments of the last day or so have been very welcome and very pleasing.

    Abo:

    You have touched on that global uncertainty for a while, we know it was bad leading into this election, it’s unlikely to get much better in the months and perhaps years to come. But your portfolio has got some business leaders a little bit unhappy this morning. They reckon your timeline for improving productivity isn’t good enough. Are you dragging your feet here? You want a third term to fix this situation.

    Chalmers:

    Oh, there’s a business leader in The Australian called Chris Corrigan, we wouldn’t be surprised he’s got a different view of productivity to a Labor government. I’ve been engaging with business leaders on productivity, a number of them have reached out to me in the last week and a half to say how much they’re looking forward to working –

    Abo:

    It’s not just him, there are others. I mean you wanted to get this done, you wanted productivity lifted within this – by this second term. You’re now saying it might not be until the third?

    Chalmers:

    Not quite right, Sarah. We’ve got a productivity agenda, we’ve always said that it takes time to turn productivity around. This is a challenge that’s been in our economy for decades now, and it will take more than a couple of years to fix. We’ve been upfront about that all along.

    We work closely with the business community and with others to make our economy more productive over time. We’ve already got an agenda on skills and infrastructure and technology and energy and the care economy, but we know that we need to do more.

    Abo:

    It’s dropping though, Treasurer, I mean it’s the weakest it’s been in the last 35 years.

    Chalmers:

    Well, actually, the weakest decade for productivity growth was the Coalition decade to 2020. If we want to introduce those facts, Sarah, the weakest period for productivity growth was the wasted decade under our predecessors. And we’re working hard to turn that around. And I’ll work closely with business leaders, I already am, and I will continue to do that because living standards in our economy do depend on us making it more productive over time. And that’s why it’s a big focus, not just of me as Treasurer, but the whole Labor government.

    Abo:

    All right. You’ll be hoping to wipe the slate clean, I’m sure, today once Cabinet is sworn in, but what about the other side? Do you care who the Coalition chooses as their leader?

    Chalmers:

    I haven’t given it a lot of thought, but I think it’s unusual that 2 of the 3 people most responsible for the debacle which was the Coalition over the last 3 years have put their hands up for leader. I think it’s strange that instead of asking their colleagues for forgiveness, they’re asking their colleagues for votes.

    Abo:

    Ooh. Maybe it should be Tim Wilson then. Is that an endorsement to the re‑elected Tim Wilson?

    Chalmers:

    I don’t think that would be an improvement. I think whoever wins this battle of the duds today –

    Abo:

    Oh, battle of the duds.

    Chalmers:

    – the Liberal Party will still be the party of lower wages, higher income taxes and nuclear reactors. And that will show that whoever wins this ballot today, they haven’t learned the lesson of the last 3 years.

    Abo:

    Wow. Shots fired from the Treasurer. I like it. All right. Strap yourselves in, folks, it’s going to be an interesting 3 years ahead. Thank you so much for joining us, Treasurer, appreciate it.

    Chalmers:

    Thanks, Sarah.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Doorstop interview, Canberra

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    Jim Chalmers:

    I’m really grateful to the Prime Minister for the opportunity to serve as Australia’s Treasurer. Looking forward to being sworn in with my outstanding colleagues later this morning.

    I’m especially looking forward to working with the absolutely first‑class Treasury portfolio team that Anthony has appointed. Daniel Mulino is an absolutely first‑rate person to have in our team, working closely with Andrew Leigh, Clare O’Neil, Anne Aly will bring a dynamism to the small business portfolio as well. This is an outstanding team of colleagues. I’m looking forward to working closely with them. They have a lot of intellectual horsepower, a lot of experience, a lot of energy, a lot of dynamism, as I said. And so looking forward to being sworn in.

    The hard work has already begun. I think the first briefing I received after the election was at quarter to 7 in the morning, the Sunday morning after the election. And that’s because a big focus for me in the Treasury portfolio and for the government is navigating this global economic uncertainty at the same time as we continue to roll out our cost‑of‑living help and make our economy more productive over time as well, build more houses, get the energy transformation right. These are the priorities for me as Treasurer, but for the economic team more broadly, the Cabinet and the government as well.

    We welcome the opportunity to work for the Australian people for another term with a big focus on the economy. The economy was front and centre in the election campaign, it will be front and centre in the second term, just like it was in in the first term. Our Albanese Labor government is defined by responsible economic management and people should expect that to continue.

    Journalist:

    You said you’re pretty keen to get those superannuation tax changes through. Initially when you put that legislation forward, it was to come into effect by July 1 this year, but the Prime Minister said that parliament won’t necessarily sit until late July. So, when would those tax changes come into effect?

    Chalmers:

    It’s not unusual for tax changes to be legislated after a start date, there are other instances of that. What I’ve said today is the same point that I’ve made repeatedly, really more or less since we first announced these changes more than 2 years ago now. This is a modest change which impacts a tiny sliver of the population, about half a per cent of people with balances over $3 million in their superannuation. It’s still concessional tax treatment, just slightly less concessional.

    And it makes an important contribution to the budget, to priorities like strengthening Medicare, the tax cuts, building more homes. So it’s an important part of the budget as well. The government hasn’t changed its approach to it. We announced it more than 2 years ago. It’s been in the parliament for a long time now. It’s a modest change that impacts a tiny amount of people and still provides concessional tax treatment for people in super.

    Journalist:

    When you announced those tax changes a few years ago, did you expect the argument that’s happened since then? Did you expect it to generate the attention it has?

    Chalmers:

    I don’t get it raised with me much out and about in the community, and it wasn’t a big part of the election campaign. I know that it’s the obsession of a couple of newspapers, for example, and it’s an obsession of the Liberal Party. I understand that people have got views about policy changes. I’m respectful about that. I’m realistic about that. People have got views when you make changes. But it is a relatively modest change, impacts a very small amount of people. There are good reasons to go about it this way, and it helps to fund the country’s priorities. From time to time people will have different views about that, I don’t obsess about that, sometimes you have to take difficult decisions.

    Journalist:

    Mark Dreyfus – sorry, Ed Husic said last night that Mark Dreyfus’ dumping from the Cabinet was gratuitous and he should have been granted more dignity, do you agree?

    Chalmers:

    I do feel for those 2 guys, Mark and Ed, I respect them both and I understand how unhappy they would be. I think today will be a difficult day for them to see the colleagues sworn in at Government House. And so, Ed has a view about that, and he’s got a right to express his view. I think all of us understand his unhappiness about this, and he’s reflected that with his public comments.

    Journalist:

    Do you think Marles is a factional assassin?

    Chalmers:

    I don’t use those words to describe him. I work very closely with Richard. Richard is a very good Deputy Prime Minister. He works very hard for the people of Australia in his portfolio. And as Deputy Prime Minister, he works very closely with us in the Cabinet. And I wouldn’t use those words to describe him. But again, it’s not for me to kind of engage in a running commentary on Ed’s comments. I understand why Ed’s unhappy. I’d be unhappy too, if I was Ed and if I was Mark.

    It was a messy week last week, but I want to assure people that the overwhelming focus of the government is on the economic challenges before us at a time of extreme global economic uncertainty and opportunity for Australia. This is what happens when you’ve got more good people than you have spots in the Ministry and in the Cabinet. People will miss out from time to time.

    And this is the difference really between our team and our opponents. Our opponents are scratching around for a half‑credible person to lead them and can’t find one. We’ve got 60 or 70 or 80 people who could be good Ministers right away in our team. So, inevitably people will miss out and they’ll be unhappy about that. I do genuinely understand that. I do genuinely feel for them, particularly today.

    Journalist:

    Can I ask as well, are you considering or will you consider increasing the Jobseeker rate in this term again?

    Chalmers:

    That’s not something that we’re considering now, we’re rolling out cost‑of‑living help in other ways. It’s also important to remember, I think it’s frequently forgotten, that I did raise the Jobseeker rate, working with the colleagues. We have increased in a permanent way Jobseeker in addition to the indexation.

    And when we can find room to help people with the cost of living we’ve shown an ability to do that in all 4 of our Budgets. Whether it’s the permanent increase to Jobseeker, the increases to Commonwealth Rent Assistance, the change we made for single parents, the energy bill rebates, the tax cuts, the efforts on the minimum wage. We’ve shown across the board a willingness to help people with the cost of living. That’s one way that we can do it and we have done it. But there are other ways as well.

    Journalist:

    Any tips for the Liberal leader?

    Chalmers:

    I think whoever wins the battle of the duds today, the Liberal Party will still be the party of lower wages, higher income taxes and nuclear reactors. And this choice that the Liberal Party room is being asked to make today is a choice between 2 of the 3 people most responsible for the debacle which was the last 3 years in the Coalition. Not just the campaign, but the 3 years. Sussan Ley and Angus Taylor shouldn’t be asking their colleagues for votes, they should be asking them for forgiveness. Sussan Ley and Angus Taylor are 2 of the co‑architects of one of the worst performances we’ve ever seen from a major political party.

    Now in the last term they were asked to come up with a coherent, credible, costed economic policy and they weren’t able to do that. So, I think it’s strange and unfortunate that the Liberal Party is being asked to choose from these 2 who are as responsible as anyone for what we saw happen to the Coalition a couple of Saturdays ago.

    Now, obviously we don’t underestimate our opponents. I don’t underestimate anyone, and I don’t accept this commentary that says that the next election is already determined. I think elections in Australia are typically close, the last one notwithstanding. And so, we will take seriously whoever they elect, we don’t underestimate our opponents but the Liberal Party is effectively choosing from the reserve grade team. And the last opposition was the dregs of the Morrison government and now this is the dregs of the dregs of the Morrison government. And so, I think it’s a very strange and unfortunate choice that the Liberal Party is being asked to make today.

    Thanks very much.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Interview with Peter Stefanovic, First Edition, Sky News

    Source: Australian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry

    Peter Stefanovic:

    Thank you. Well, the Prime Minister will swear in his new team this morning, which features some familiar faces and some new ones as well. One of those maintaining his role is the federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers who joins us live from Canberra now. Treasurer, congratulations on your re‑election. Thank you for your time this morning.

    So you’ll be sworn in, then you do your morning stretches; you’re off and running. What’s the first thing you want in the kit bag in term?

    Jim Chalmers:

    Good morning, Pete. We’ve been off and running really, more or less since the day after the election. I think I got my first briefing from the Treasury Secretary at 6:45 am on the Sunday after the election. And that’s because a big focus for us is managing all of this global economic uncertainty that you and Tom just ran through a moment ago, not just on markets, but in the global economy more broadly.

    We’ve been working hard since the election was resolved a couple of Saturdays ago. I’m looking forward to getting sworn in today, and I’m particularly grateful to the PM for this opportunity, but also for the chance to work with some really terrific people who will be sworn in to the Treasury portfolio today.

    Stefanovic:

    Yeah.

    Chalmers:

    Clare O’Neil, Anne Aly, Daniel Mulino, Andrew Leigh, a lot of intellectual horsepower in those colleagues, a lot of energy, enthusiasm and talent, and so I’m looking forward to working with them.

    Stefanovic:

    Okay. What’s the one thing, the first thing that you want to achieve this term?

    Chalmers:

    We’ve got a number of priorities – first of all managing that uncertainty, also we’ve got a major focus on productivity, we need to make our economy more productive over time. I think in the most specific sense we’ve got to build more homes.

    I’ll work closely with Clare O’Neil to make sure that the billions of dollars that we’re investing as part of our broad and ambitious housing policy builds more homes in our communities right around Australia. So that’s a top priority as well.

    Stefanovic:

    Okay. Business leaders, they’re not letting you settle in, Treasurer. Some are already miffed that you’d need 2 more terms to boost productivity. Is that timeframe a worst case scenario for you or are you just trying to give some wriggle room?

    Chalmers:

    A couple of things about that. I don’t think anyone’s surprised to read in The Australian that Chris Corrigan has a different view on productivity to the Labor government.

    I’ve had some really terrific engagement with major business leaders in the last week or 2 about our focus on productivity. Overwhelmingly people want to work with us on it.

    The point that I’ve made is that productivity is a challenge which has been a feature of our economy for some decades, and it will take more than a couple of years to turn around. I think that’s just a realistic way of being upfront with people, that we can make our economy productive. It’s not one of those areas where you can just flick a switch and all of a sudden the economy is as productive as with want it to be. The problem’s been there for a couple of decades, the worst decade for productivity growth was the decade to 2020, the worst decade in the last half century or more.

    We’ve got a lot of work to do and that will take time, and I think that’s understood in the business community, and I’m going to work closely with business, with unions, with the community more broadly to do what we can this term to make our economy more productive over time.

    Stefanovic:

    Okay. Will you still go after unrealised gains in $3 million plus super accounts?

    Chalmers:

    We haven’t changed our policy on that. I know that that’s been a focus of some of the commentary since the election. I don’t think it’s particularly newsworthy that we haven’t changed our policy on that. We’ve made it clear that it’s a very modest change, it only affects 0.5 per cent of people with balances over $3 million.

    It’s still concessional tax treatment, just a little bit less concessiona. And it’s an important way that we fund some of our other priorities – including strengthening Medicare or providing income tax cuts, helping with the cost‑of‑living and building more homes. It’s an important part of our budget, we haven’t changed our approach to it. We know that there are elements of the media that are very focused on it, but we haven’t made a change there.

    Stefanovic:

    Well, I mean it’s just the idea of taxing something that hasn’t happened yet, which I think is a legitimate concern. But recent modelling by AMP found it’s not just retirees with over $3 million super, in the long run more and more Gen Z workers will be affected if it’s not indexed. Is that your calculation?

    Chalmers:

    A couple of things about that. First of all, on unrealised gains, there are other parts of the superannuation system where that is calculated, that’s a common misunderstanding which is repeated too frequently. And the second point about the long run, 30 or 40 years away, that assumes that there are never any changes to the threshold.

    There are a number of areas in our tax system where thresholds aren’t indexed, where they are changed from time to time by governments, and I would expect that to be the case again.

    It would be a strange assumption to assume that in the next 30 or 40 years nobody ever changes the threshold. That doesn’t happen in other parts of the tax system, and it wouldn’t happen in this part of the tax system over a period that long.

    Stefanovic:

    You just mentioned that you got some key appointments now in your brains trust, if you like. You’ve got, you know, Dan Mulino, Andrew Charlton as well is another one. How collaborative do you expect those economic discussions to be now?

    Chalmers:

    Perfectly collaborative, and ‘brains trust’ is a good way to describe them. I’m surrounded by brainiacs in the Treasury portfolio team, and I’m really excited about that.

    Mulino is an absolute gun, Andrew Leigh – experience, intellectual horsepower, Clare O’Neil similarly, Anne Aly is going to bring a real dynamism to the small business portfolio. We get to work closely with Katy Gallagher and with the Cabinet more broadly, and I couldn’t be happier with the team that Anthony has appointed, and I’m going to work really closely with them.

    I’ve already met with Dan Mulino, I’ve already met with Andrew Leigh, I’ve had discussions with a number of colleagues, and we’re looking forward to getting cracking.

    Stefanovic:

    But if they were to say to you, ‘Hey, Treasurer, taxing unrealised gains, there’s going to be a lot of blow‑back here, people are worried about the long‑term’, would you change course on that, or would you still plough ahead?

    Chalmers:

    I think I’ve answered this question already, Pete, you’ve come back to it for a second dig, but I’ve explained to you why we’re doing it.

    Stefanovic:

    No, but I’m just wondering if there’s more consternation behind the scenes, you know, would you change course at all in terms of that collaborative approach?

    Chalmers:

    It’s not something that you should anticipate, it’s not something that we’re considering or planning, for all of the reasons I ran through comprehensively a moment ago when you asked me the first time.

    Stefanovic:

    All right. US and China have paused their trade war for now, Treasurer. What’s your reaction to that, and what hope does that give you in terms of a reprieve for us?

    Chalmers:

    It’s a really welcome development, and I think the whole world is hopeful that this augurs well for the resolution of this effectively trade war between the 2 biggest economies in the world.

    But we have to be realistic about it as well – there’s still a lot of unpredictability, a lot of volatility and a lot of uncertainty in the global economy. This is not resolved, it’s been paused, in welcome ways, and you can see that the markets have reacted to that as Tom ran through with you a moment ago.

    These are welcome developments, they are good developments, but the situation is not resolved yet, and if you think about the concerns that we have for the impact of trade wars on the Australian economy, we are especially exposed to a trade war between the US and China. If you look at the analysis that we have done really the biggest part of our concern is the impact on the Chinese economy flowing through to our own economy. So we welcome these developments.

    Stefanovic:

    Okay.

    Chalmers:

    These are good developments, but we need to temper our expectations because there are a lot of issues still unresolved.

    Stefanovic:

    All right. Just a final one here, I know we’re squeezed for time, but – and this is not your problem – but the Libs’ leadership is up today in a couple of hours’ time. Have you got a thought on that this morning?

    Chalmers:

    Look, I haven’t given it a lot of thought – I think the 2 people that are up for election today shows that the Liberals haven’t learned a thing from the debacle which was their election campaign.

    Whoever wins the battle of the duds today, the Liberal Party will still be the party of lower wages, higher income taxes and nuclear reactors. And Sussan Ley and Angus Taylor, they should be asking their colleagues for forgiveness, not for their votes.

    You know, these 2 are 2 of the 3 people most responsible for the Liberal Party’s failure at the election, failure over the last 3 years to come up with anything that resembles a credible, coherent –

    Stefanovic:

    Okay.

    Chalmers:

    – economic policy, and so I find it bizarre that the Liberal Party members are being asked to choose between 2 of the worst performers in the Opposition over the last 3 years.

    Stefanovic:

    All right. Treasurer, I know we’re squeezed for time but thank you for your time this morning as always. We’ll chat again soon.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: New Federal Environment Minister can define Labor’s legacy on nature and ocean protection

    Source: Greenpeace Statement –

    SYDNEY, Tuesday 13 May 2025 — In response to the appointment of Senator Murray Watt as the new Federal Federal Environment Minister, Dr Susie Byers, Head of Advocacy at Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said: 

    “Greenpeace congratulates Senator Murray Watt on his appointment as the new Federal Environment Minister in the Albanese Government at this critical moment for our environment. 

    “There has never been a more important moment to lead this portfolio with grit and ambition, with the health of nature and oceans in sharp decline across the country. Minister Watt has no time to lose, and will be faced with potentially the most important decisions of his whole term within just a few weeks of starting the job.

    “First off the mark must be the rejection of Woodside’s unacceptable gas plans in Western Australia, including the North West Shelf extension, and Browse proposal which would see drilling for gas underneath the fragile and pristine Scott Reef, threatening species like the pygmy blue whale and green sea turtle.

    “We know the Albanese Government has unfinished business on both reforming our broken nature laws so they properly address the ongoing destruction of nature and wildlife; and on addressing dangerous fossil fuels. Australia is an aspiring host of COP31 and has a responsibility to meet its international obligations, including setting out its plan to “transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems’ as soon as possible.

    “Ahead of the UN Oceans Conference next month, Minister Watt has an opportunity to define Labor’s legacy on ocean protection by ratifying the Global Ocean Treaty with 100 days of government, and creating vast ocean sanctuaries where marine life can flourish and is protected from destructive industrial fishing.

    “Australians voted overwhelmingly for action to protect nature and climate — Minister Watt’s initial decisions will demonstrate what kind of government we’ll see this term. Greenpeace looks forward to working constructively with Minister Watt to deliver the bold action needed to protect our environment and iconic wildlife from destruction.

    “We also acknowledge the contribution of Tanya Plibersek in progressing ocean protection including the significant expansion of Macquarie Island Marine Park and Heard and McDonald Islands Marine Park, and laying the groundwork for nature law reform.”

    -ENDS-

    For more information or interviews contact Kate O’Callaghan on 0406 231 892 or [email protected]

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Chinese Foreign Minister Meets with Foreign Guests Participating in 4th China-CELAC Forum Ministerial Meeting

    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, May 13 (Xinhua) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, met with some foreign ministers and representatives of participating countries of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum in Beijing on Monday.

    At a meeting with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, Wang Yi said that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel held an important and fruitful meeting in Moscow, outlining directions for the further development of Chinese-Cuban relations.

    Wang said China will continue to support Cuba in its just struggle to safeguard national sovereignty and dignity, oppose the blockade and sanctions, and promote continuous achievements in building a China-Cuba community with a shared future.

    Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla expressed his sincere gratitude for China’s firm support to Cuba in countering the blockade and sanctions, as well as for its valuable assistance in helping Cuba overcome its economic difficulties.

    Cuba will continue to steadfastly adhere to the one-China principle and cooperate with China to properly implement the important agreements reached by the heads of the two states during their meeting in Moscow, the Cuban minister noted.

    At a meeting with Uruguayan Foreign Minister Mario Lubetkin, Wang Yi said China is willing to work with Uruguay to deepen high-quality cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative and continuously enrich the China-Uruguay comprehensive strategic partnership through stronger political mutual trust, higher-level mutually beneficial cooperation and closer multilateral coordination.

    M. Lyubetkin said that Uruguay highly values a number of global initiatives proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, supports free trade and is ready to jointly practice multilateralism, adding that the Uruguayan side firmly adheres to the one-China principle and supports the “one country, two systems” policy.

    At a meeting with Peruvian Foreign Minister Elmer Schialer Salcedo, Wang said that Chinese President Xi Jinping and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte paid mutual visits last year, noting that China is willing to properly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and advance the China-Peru comprehensive strategic partnership to continuously reach new heights.

    Elmer Schialer Salcedo said that Peru firmly adheres to the one-China principle and hopes to deepen all-round cooperation with China in the fields of politics, economy, trade, science and technology, culture, etc.

    During a meeting with Venezuelan Foreign Minister Ivan Gil Pinto, Wang Yi said that Chinese President Xi Jinping had a fruitful meeting with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Moscow, pointing out the direction for the development of bilateral relations in the next stage.

    China firmly supports the solidarity and self-strengthening of countries in the region and is willing to cooperate with Venezuela and other Latin American countries in opposing hegemonism and bullying and upholding international justice, Wang added.

    Noting that Venezuela is satisfied and proud to have established an all-weather strategic partnership with China and made important achievements in cooperation in various fields, I. Gil said that China plays an important role in ensuring compliance with international norms such as the UN Charter, and Venezuela firmly supports China’s fair position.

    At a meeting with Guyana’s Foreign Minister Hugh Todd, Wang Yi said China is willing to work with Guyana, guided by the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, to advance high-quality cooperation in the joint construction of the Belt and Road, explore cooperation in new areas such as the digital economy and green economy, and deepen exchanges and cooperation in health, education, culture, etc.

    Noting that Guyana views China as a reliable and good friend, H. Todd said Guyana is willing to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation with China and welcomes the influx of Chinese investment.

    During a meeting with Colombian Foreign Minister Laura Sarabia, Wang Yi noted that China has always viewed China-Colombia relations from a strategic perspective and in the long term, and is willing to regard the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to carry out cooperation in jointly building the Belt and Road.

    L. Sarabia, in turn, said that Colombia is ready to join the Belt and Road Initiative and contribute to achieving more tangible results in bilateral cooperation, and also hopes that China will increase investment in Colombia. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • Rush of diplomatic calls follow Trump’s offer to join potential Russia-Ukraine talks

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. and European diplomats went on a flurry of calls in the hours after U.S. President Donald Trump offered on Monday to join prospective Ukraine-Russia talks later this week, trying to find a path that would bring an end to the war in Ukraine.

    Trump’s surprise offer to join the talks on Thursday in Istanbul came a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in a fresh twist to the stop-start peace talks process, said he would travel Turkey and wait to meet President Vladimir Putin there.

    After Trump’s announcement, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio discussed the “way forward for a ceasefire” in Ukraine with European counterparts, including the foreign ministers of Britain and France, and the EU’s foreign policy chief, the State Department said on Monday.

    Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and his German and Polish counterparts were also on the call, according to the readout.

    Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held talks late on Monday with his Turkish counterpart Hakan Fidan to discuss Moscow’s direct talks with Kyiv – a proposal that came from Putin at the weekend, the Russian foreign ministry said.

    It remained unclear who would travel from Moscow to Istanbul to take part in the direct talks, which would be the first between the two sides since the early days of the war that Russia launched with its invasion on Ukraine in February 2022.

    There has been no response from the Kremlin to Zelenskiy’s offer to meet Putin in Istanbul and Moscow was yet to comment on Trump’s offer to join the talks.

    If Zelenskiy and Putin, who make no secret of their contempt for each other, were to meet on Thursday it would be their first face-to-face meeting since December 2019.

    “Don’t underestimate Thursday in Turkey,” Trump told reporters at the White House on Monday.

    Trump’s current schedule has him visiting Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar this week.

    Ukraine and its European allies have been seeking to put pressure on Moscow to accept an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from Monday, with the leaders of four major European powers travelling to Kyiv on Saturday to show unity with Zelenskiy.

    Earlier on Monday, the German government said Europe would start preparing new sanctions against Russia unless the Kremlin by the end of the day started abiding by the ceasefire.

    Ukraine’s military said on Monday that fighting along parts of the frontline in the country’s east was at the same intensity it would be if there were no ceasefire.

    Putin called the Western European and Ukrainian demands for a ceasefire “ultimatums” that the Kremlin said on Monday are for Russia an unacceptable language.

    Konstantin Kosachev, chairman of the international affairs committee of the Federation Council, the upper house of Russia’s parliament, told the Izvestia media outlet in remarks published on Tuesday that the talks between Moscow and Kyiv can move further than they did in the 2022.

    “If the Ukrainian delegation shows up at these talks with a mandate to abandon any ultimatums and look for common ground, I am sure that we could move forward even further than we did,” Izvestia cited Kosachev as saying.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Media release: Australian oil and gas sector congratulates Opposition Leader Sussan Ley – Australian Energy Producers

    Source: Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association

    Headline: Media release: Australian oil and gas sector congratulates Opposition Leader Sussan Ley – Australian Energy Producers

    Australia’s oil and gas industry congratulates Sussan Ley on her appointment as Leader of the Opposition and Ted O’Brien on his appointment as Deputy Leader.

    Australian Energy Producers Chief Executive Samantha McCulloch said the industry looked forward to working with the Coalition on policies that deliver more gas supply and investment to ensure Australian households and businesses have reliable and affordable energy.

    “Sussan Ley brings significant experience and leadership to this role and understands the critical role of natural gas in Australia’s economic and energy security,” Ms McCulloch said.

    “Similarly, as Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Ted O’Brien championed the role of gas in Australia’s long-term energy mix and advocated for the inclusion of gas in the Capacity Investment Scheme.”

    Ms McCulloch said industry welcomed the Coalition’s pre-election commitment to bring on more gas supply by streamlining environmental approvals, protecting critical energy projects from lawfare, including gas in the Capacity Investment Scheme, and supporting investment in gas infrastructure.

    Industry stands ready to work with both major parties to implement bipartisan policies that will:

    • Boost Australian gas supply to ease cost of living pressures
    • Restore Australia’s global competitiveness for investment
    • Deliver real emissions reductions with gas and carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS)
    • Remain a reliable energy partner in our region

    “Australia has abundant gas resources, yet we face gas shortfalls this decade due to regulatory uncertainty, approval delays and policy interventions that have delayed new gas supply and damaged Australia’s investment competitiveness.

    “Addressing these risks must be a priority for the new Parliament,” Ms McCulloch said.

    Media contact: 0434 631 511

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Senators Crapo and Reed Fighting for Nation’s Wounded Heroes with the Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    WASHINGTON, D.C.–U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island) introduced the Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act.  This bipartisan, bicameral bill would exempt payments to veterans for a service-connected disability from being included as income when applying for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) housing.
    “Veterans disabled in combat have laid their lives on the line in defense of this nation,” Senator Crapo said.  “The benefits they earned for injuries sustained fighting for liberty should not be used to deny them housing assistance they would otherwise qualify for following their service.  This act would help more disabled veterans receive the housing and dignity they deserve for their sacrifices for the United States.”
    “Our disabled veterans deserve a safe place to call home,” Senator Reed said.  “This bill will help open up more affordable housing opportunities by ensuring that disabled veterans’ earned benefits do not impact their eligibility to find housing.”
    This common-sense solution would ensure America’s disabled veterans can participate in federal housing programs they would otherwise qualify for were they not receiving disability payments.
    The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides funding to states and local governments to assist low- and moderate-income people with housing and other community resources.  Individuals and families who earn less than 50 percent of the area median income (AMI) and moderate-income families or people earning 50 to 80 percent AMI can qualify for assistance.
    The legislation also directs the Government Accountability Office to report to Congress in one year on how individuals with service-connected disabilities are treated in determining their eligibility for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development programs and provide recommendations for how the department could improve its service to veterans and other underserved communities.
    The U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the Disabled Veterans Housing Support Act on February 10, 2025, where it was led by Representatives Monica De La Cruz (R-Texas) and Brad Sherman (D-California).
    The full text of the bill is available here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –