NewzIntel.com

Category: Security

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Concern for Welfare – Berry Springs

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Northern Territory Police Force holds concerns for the welfare of 15-year-old boy, Christopher, who was last seen within the vicinity of the Berry Springs Reserve swimming area this afternoon.

    He was last seen wearing a white t-shirt, Chicago Bulls shorts and no shoes as pictured.

    He is of Asian appearance and medium build and may not be receptive to being approached.

    Police are urging anyone who may know of his whereabouts or who may have seen him to make contact on 131 444.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Address to the Maritime Industry Australia Decarbonisation Summit, Melbourne

    Source: Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions

    **CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY**

    Thank you, Angela for your kind introduction, and congratulations to you and your team on organising this important event for the maritime industry.

    I begin by respectfully acknowledging the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we meet today. 

    I pay my respects to their Elders past and present, and I extend that respect to any and all First Nations people joining us today.

    Australia’s First Nations people were our first maritime traders. 

    This rich and deep history included trade with Macassan ships from Indonesia along our Northern frontier, and seafaring trade in the Torres Strait, and along the coast of Papua New Guinea. Our modern maritime industry builds on this tradition.

    I’d also like to acknowledge, from the Victorian Government, Melissa Horne MP, Minister for Health Infrastructure, Ports and Freight, and Roads and Road Safety.

    And Professor Rod Sims AO, from the Crawford School of Public Policy at the ANU – thank you for joining us today.

    The theme of this Summit is ‘progress’ and we come together on the International Day of the Seafarer. 

    It couldn’t be more timely given the current geopolitical state of the world and the imperative of decarbonisation. 

    These are the realities of our times.

    It is more important than ever for Australia to have a strong and sovereign maritime sector, and for us to embrace both the challenges and the opportunities of decarbonisation. 

    The maritime industry is absolutely vital for Australia’s prosperity. 

    As the lyrics of our national anthem state, ours is a nation ‘girt by sea’.

    Our coastline extends across some 60,000 kilometres and includes 12,000 islands.

    It is the great sea roads and maritime highways leading from our shores that connect Australia with the world, and centres us in the Asia-Pacific region. 

    Our society and economy depend utterly on the ships that ply these routes. 

    These are our supply chains.

    Shipping is responsible for over 99 per cent of our nation’s international trade.

    We are the fifth largest user of shipping services in the world, and the world’s largest bulk commodities exporter.

    Our ports handle over 1.6 billion tonnes of cargo, and welcome 29,000 visits every year from international trading ships. 

    A substantial proportion of our domestic freight also depends on coastal shipping. 

    And let’s not forget that the maritime sector is an important employer – ports activities alone account for an extraordinary one in 20 jobs in our country.

    This morning, I’d like to give you an overview of what our government is doing to support your vital industry.

    The Prime Minister has made clear a major focus this term would be supporting industries across the economy to drive productivity, and to do that while also lifting job security and job quality. 

    In the lead up to the Treasurer’s upcoming Reform Roundtable, I intend to host a meeting with key transport and logistics industry representatives, including the maritime sector, to discuss ways to grow the economy and increase productivity. 

    We want to build an economy where growth, wages and productivity rise together.

    And we are committed to modernising Australia’s maritime sector; including through its regulatory framework.

    The Shipping Registration Act came into being in 1981, in very different times.

    Modernising it is another of our Government’s priorities, to ensure it is fit for purpose and supports the long-term sustainability of an Australian strategic fleet. 

    Our independent review of the Shipping Registration Act is now complete. 

    I’d like to thank its leaders — Former Public Service Commissioner Lynelle Briggs, and Nicholas Gaskell, Emeritus Professor of Maritime and Commercial Law at the University of Queensland — for their efforts.

    Lynelle and Nick conducted comprehensive stakeholder consultation as part of their review, and they have incorporated extensive feedback into their report. 

    They are continuing with their parallel review of the Coastal Trading Act 2012, which is due to report later this year.

    Another crucial step we are taking to improve maritime resilience and capability is the establishment of a strategic fleet ― 12 Australian flagged and crewed vessels that will enable the movement of critical cargo during crises and emergencies.  

    Our Government committed funding in the 2024-25 Budget to establish a five-year Strategic Fleet Pilot Program comprising three vessels.

    These will be privately owned, commercially operated and will be available to the Australian Government to requisition in times of need. 

    Tenders for the Pilot program are currently being evaluated through a competitive, open and transparent process that will ensure the government achieves value for money.

    The Strategic Fleet provides the opportunity for growth and transformation in Australia’s maritime sector in a way that supports Australia’s economic prosperity, security and way of life well into the future.

    The Pilot will provide an evidence-base for future proposals to expand the fleet and fully deliver on our Government’s commitment.

    Once procurement for the Pilot Fleet is complete we will make a public announcement regarding the outcome and indicative timing for the first vessels on the water.

    Industry has been heavily involved in shaping the government’s Strategic Fleet policy through consultation processes, and this engagement will continue in the implementation stage.

    Our domestic policy needs to progress our national interests, and it also needs to be in-step with global developments.

    Australia’s presence at International Maritime Organisation enables this.

    Shipping is by nature a global industry, and Australia’s interests are represented in this world forum.

    Australia’s presence at the IMO also enables our engagement with international efforts to reduce emissions and prevent ship-based pollution of all kinds.

    During our first term, our Government supported the IMO to adopt a Revised Strategy on the Reduction of Emissions from Ships, and reach Net Zero emissions by 2050.

    The Strategy’s decarbonisation pathway includes mid‑term measures such as annual fuel intensity targets, a greenhouse gas emissions economic measure, and a reward system for sustainable fuel adoption.

    It sets target reductions of 30 per cent by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2040 compared to 2008 levels, as well as a target of 10 percent for the uptake of zero-emission fuels by 2030.

    In April, the IMO made the historic decision to circulate measures that will achieve these targets.

    Interestingly, the measures also include a ‘feebate’ mechanism that will subsidise green maritime fuels, which supports our Government’s Low Carbon Liquid Fuels policy.

    As our Government was in caretaker mode in April, Australia abstained from voting on these measures at the time. 

    They will be further considered by IMO in October, and if agreed will establish the world’s first ever truly international carbon market. 

    The Government is carefully considering what role it will play in October, and I understand that my department is hosting a roundtable with industry later this week to continue the conversation on how the measures might impact industry.

    The Secretary-General of the IMO is also visiting Australia in August and I hope to catch up with him to discuss Australia’s maritime interests.

    The year 2030, the deadline for the first of the IMO’s targets, is not that far away.

    Our government recognised this in our first term, and we laid plans to ensure that Australia’s maritime industry is prepared for the future, ready to contribute to our national emissions targets, and able to thrive in a decarbonised global economy.

    Now in our second term, we have a strong mandate to continue the work we’ve started.

    There are challenges to meet on the road to decarbonisation, but also incredible opportunities in new jobs and new industries. 

    Our Government’s ambition for a Future Made in Australia will form a comprehensive, coordinated and practical strategy to seize all the benefits on offer.

    As part of the Future Made in Australia plan, the Government is fast-tracking support for our nation’s growing domestic Low Carbon Liquid Fuels, or LCLFs. 

    In March, we announced the delivery of $250 million to accelerate the pace of Australia’s growing domestic LCLF industry. 

    This funding is part of the $1.7 billion Future Made in Australia Innovation Fund, and is being provided as grants to support pre-commercial innovation, demonstration and deployment.

    Australia has all the ingredients to support a thriving biofuels sector – especially if the IMO measure for a global subsidy is adopted and provided.

    We have an abundance of renewable energy resources and significant refining and port infrastructure.

    We have the potential to grow LCLF production for domestic consumption and for export.

    And our Government is committed to supporting a sovereign biofuel industry that Australia controls, and which serves our interests.

    Our Government is committed to maritime decarbonisation, as part of our drive to reach our legislated target of Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

    Our Government will soon release its Net Zero Plan for the economy, along with six sector-decarbonisation plans.

    Amongst these sector plans is one for the Transport and Infrastructure Net Zero Roadmap.

    And within that plan is one that speaks specifically to the unique challenges and opportunities of the maritime industry – the Maritime Emissions Reduction National Action Plan, or MERNAP for short.

    The MERNAP will outline how we aim to support Australia’s national emissions reduction targets, contribute to the global decarbonisation of shipping, and future-proof the Australian maritime sector to avoid costly and disruptive transitions later.

    It will ensure an equitable transition, particularly for the maritime workforce, and it will safeguard jobs and skills for the future.

    Our vision is that by 2050, Australia will fully leverage the global maritime decarbonisation transition, for the benefit of our ports, vessels, and the broader energy sector.

    Work on the MERNAP began in 2023-24, with an industry consultation process, and the MERNAP Consultative Group has played a vital role in shaping this action plan.

    They engaged with us on topics such as:

    • regulatory challenges and gaps
    • energy sources and technologies
    • skills and training
    • and international partnerships.

    I’d like to thank those stakeholders who were part of the group, and especially Angela Gilham and MIAL for the key role they’ve played in this process. 

    I am now considering the MERNAP, and the timing of its release. 

    Our next step will be to develop an implementation plan to progress the MERNAP’s proposed action items. 

    Our Government will continue to progress reform in the maritime sector. We must. 

    There are so many cross currents reshaping global maritime trade right now, and addressing these requires comprehensive and future-focused action.

    No doubt these issues ― and the opportunities ― facing the sector will be discussed at length in coming days, and I wish you well in these.

    Thank you once again for the invitation to speak this morning. 

    I look forward to working with all industry stakeholders in our government’s second term. 

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: Poland, divided between Trump and the EU

    Source: The Conversation – France – By Jacques Rupnik, Directeur de recherche émérite, Centre de recherches internationales (CERI), Sciences Po

    Karol Nawrocki in the Oval Office with Donald Trump on May 25th 2025, ten days before the first round of the Polish presidential election. It is very rare for a sitting US president to receive a candidate in a foreign election.
     White House X account

    Nawrocki’s narrow victory (50.89%) over Trzaskowski, the mayor of Warsaw and candidate of the government coalition, illustrates and reinforces the political polarisation of Poland and the rise of the populist “Trumpist” right in Central and Eastern Europe. Since the start of the war in Ukraine, there has been much speculation about whether Europe’s geopolitical centre of gravity is shifting eastwards. The Polish election seems to confirm that the political centre of gravity is shifting to the right.

    A narrow victory

    We are witnessing a relative erosion of the duopoly of the two major parties, Civic Platform (PO) and Law and Justice (PiS), whose leaders – the current Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, and Jarosław Kaczyński respectively – have dominated the political landscape for over twenty years.

    Kaczyński’s skill lay in propelling a candidate with no responsibilities in his party, who was little known to the general public a few months ago, and, above all, who is from a different generation, to the presidency (a position held since 2015 by a PiS man, Andrzej Duda). Nawrocki, a historian by training and director of the Polish Institute of National Remembrance, has helped shape PiS’s memory policy. He won the second round, despite his troubled past as a hooligan, by appealing to voters on the right.

    In the first round, he won 29.5% of the vote, compared to Trzaskowski’s 31.36%, but the two far-right candidates, Sławomir Mentzen (an ultra-nationalist and economic libertarian) and Grzegorz Braun (a monarchist, avowed reactionary, and anti-Semite), won a total of 21% of the vote. They attracted a young electorate (60% of 18–29-year-olds), who overwhelmingly transferred their votes to Nawrocki in the second round.


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    Despite a high turnout of 71% and favourable votes from the Polish diaspora (63%), Trzaskowski was unable to secure enough votes from the first-round candidates linked to the governing coalition, including those on the left (who won 10% between them) and the centre-right (Szymon Hołownia’s Third Way movement, which won 5% in the first round).

    A Tusk government struggling to implement its programme

    There are two Polands facing each other: the big cities, where incomes and levels of education are higher, and the more rural small towns, which are more conservative on social issues and more closely linked to the Catholic Church.
    The themes of nationhood – Nawrocki’s campaign slogan was “Poland first, Poles first” – family, and traditional values continue to resonate strongly with an electorate that has been loyal to PiS for more than twenty years. The electoral map, which shows a clear north-west/south-east divide, is similar to those of previous presidential elections and even echoes the partition of Poland at the end of the eighteenth century. The PiS vote is strongest in the part of the country that was under Russian rule until 1918. A more traditional Catholicism in these less developed regions, coupled with a strong sense of national identity, partly explains these historical factors.

    The economic explanation for the vote is unconvincing. Over the past 25 years, Poland has undergone tremendous transformation, driven by steady economic growth. GDP per capita has risen from 25% to 80% of the EU average, although this growth has been unevenly distributed. Nevertheless, a relatively generous welfare state has been preserved.

    Clearly, however, this growth, driven by investment from Western Europe (primarily Germany) and European structural funds (3% of GDP), does not provide a sufficient electoral base for a liberal, centrist, pro-European government.

    It is precisely the government’s performance that may hold the key to Trzaskowski’s failure. Having come to power at the end of 2023 with a reformist agenda, Donald Tusk’s government has only been able to implement part of its programme, and it is difficult to be the candidate of an unpopular government. Conversely, the governing coalition has been weakened by the failure of its candidate.

    The main reason for the stalling of reforms is the presidential deadlock. Although the president has limited powers, he countersigns laws and overriding his veto requires a three fifth majority in parliament, which the governing coalition lacks.

    The president also plays a role in foreign policy by representing the country, and above all by appointing judges, particularly to the Supreme Court. This has hindered the judicial reforms expected after eight years of PiS rule. It is mainly in this area that Duda has obstructed progress. The election of Nawrocki, who is known for his combative nature, suggests that the period of cohabitation will be turbulent.

    What are the main international implications of Nawrocki’s election?

    Donald Tusk is now more popular in Europe than in Poland; in this respect, we can speak of a “Gorbachev syndrome”. In Central Europe, the Visegrad Group (comprising Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia) is deeply divided by the war in Ukraine, but it could find common ground around a populist sovereignty led by Hungary’s Viktor Orbán. Orbán was the first to congratulate Nawrocki on his victory, followed by his Slovak neighbour Robert Fico. The Czech Republic could also see a leader from this movement come to power if Andrej Babiš wins the parliamentary elections this autumn. Nawrocki would fit right into this picture.

    Since Donald Tusk returned to power, particularly during Poland’s EU presidency, which ends on 30 June, the focus has been on Poland’s “return” to the heart of the European process. Against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine and Poland’s pivotal role in coordinating a European response, the Weimar Group (comprising Paris, Berlin, and Warsaw) has emerged as a key player. Three converging factors have made this possible: the French president’s firm stance toward Russia; the new German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, breaking a few taboos on defence and budgetary discipline; and Donald Tusk, the former president of the European Council, regaining a place at the heart of the EU that his predecessors had abandoned. A framework for a strategic Europe was taking shape.

    However, President Nawrocki, and the PiS more generally, are taking a different approach to the EU: they are positioning themselves as Eurosceptic opponents defending sovereignty. They are playing on anti-German sentiment by demanding reparations 80 years after the end of the Second World War and asserting Poland’s sovereignty in the face of a “Germany-dominated Europe”. The Weimar Triangle, recently strengthened by the bilateral treaty between France and Poland signed on 9 May 2025, could be weakened on the Polish–German flank.

    As a historian and former director of the Second World War Museum in Gdansk and the Institute of National Remembrance, Nawrocki is well placed to exploit this historical resentment. He has formulated a nationalist memory policy centred on a discourse of victimhood, portraying Poland as perpetually under attack from its historic enemies, Russia and Germany.

    While there is a broad consensus in Poland regarding the Russian threat, opinions differ regarding the government’s desire to separate the traumas of the past, particularly those of the last war, from the challenges of European integration today.

    Memory issues also play a prominent role in relations with Ukraine. There is total consensus on the need to provide military support to Ukraine, under attack: this is obvious in Poland, given its history and geography – defending Ukraine is inseparable from Polish security. However, both Nawrocki and Trzaskowski have touched upon the idea that Ukraine should apologise for the crimes committed by Ukrainian nationalists during the last war, starting with the massacre of more than 100,000 Poles in Volyn (Volhynia), north-western Ukraine) by Stepan Bandera’s troops.

    Alongside memory policy, Nawrocki and the PiS are calling for the abolition of the 800 zloty (190 euros) monthly allowance paid to Ukrainian refugees. Poland had more than one million Ukrainian workers prior to the war, and more than two million additional workers have arrived since it started, although around one million have since relocated to other countries, primarily Germany and the Czech Republic.

    Prior to the second round of the presidential election, Nawrocki readily signed the eight demands of the far-right candidate Sławomir Mentzen, which included ruling out Ukraine’s future NATO membership. Playing on anti-Ukrainian (and anti-German) sentiment, alongside Euroscepticism and sovereignty, is one of the essential elements of the new president’s nationalist discourse.

    A Central and Eastern European Trumpism?

    Certain themes of the Polish election converge with a trend present throughout Central and Eastern Europe. We saw this at work in the Romanian presidential election, where the unsuccessful far-right nationalist candidate, George Simion, came to Warsaw to support Nawrocki, just as the winner, the pro-European centrist Nicușor Dan, lent his support to Trzaskowski. Nawrocki’s success reinforces an emerging “Trumpist” movement in Eastern Europe, with Viktor Orbán in Budapest seeing himself as its self-proclaimed leader. A year ago, Orbán coined the slogan “Over there (in the United States), it’s MAGA; here, it will be MEGA: Make Europe Great Again”. The “Patriots for Europe” group, launched by Orbán last year, is intended to unify this movement within the European Parliament.

    American conservative networks, through the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), a gathering of international hard-right figures, and the Trump administration are directly involved in this process. Shortly before the presidential election, Nawrocki travelled to Washington to arrange a photo opportunity with Trump in the Oval Office.

    Most notably, two days before the election, Kristi Noem, the US Secretary of Homeland Security, was dispatched on a mission to Poland. Speaking at the CPAC conference in Rzeszów, she explicitly linked a vote for Nawrocki to US security guarantees for Poland:

    “If you (elect) a leader that will work with President Donald J. Trump, the Polish people will have a strong ally that will ensure that you will be able to fight off enemies that do not share your values. […] You will have strong borders and protect your communities and keep them safe, and ensure that your citizens are respected every single day. […] You will continue to have a U.S. presence here, a military presence. And you will have equipment that is American-made, that is high quality.”

    “Fort Trump”, that is how the outgoing President Andrzej Duda named the US military base financed by Poland after a bilateral agreement was signed with Donald Trump during his first term in office, in 2018. Similarly, the US House Committee on Foreign Affairs sent a letter to the President of the European Commission accusing her of applying “double standards”, pointing out that EU funds had been blocked when the PiS was in power, and claiming that European money had been used to influence the outcome of the Polish presidential election in favour of Trzaskowski. The letter was posted online on the State Department website. Prioritising the transatlantic link at the expense of strengthening Europe was one of the issues at stake in the Warsaw presidential election.

    CPAC is playing a significant role in building a Trumpist national-populist network based on rejecting the “liberal hegemony” established in the post-1989 era, regaining sovereignty from the EU, and defending conservative values against a “decadent” Europe. Beyond the Polish presidential election, the goal seems clear: to divide Europeans and weaken them at a time when the transatlantic relationship is being redefined.

    Jacques Rupnik ne travaille pas, ne conseille pas, ne possède pas de parts, ne reçoit pas de fonds d’une organisation qui pourrait tirer profit de cet article, et n’a déclaré aucune autre affiliation que son organisme de recherche.

    – ref. Poland, divided between Trump and the EU – https://theconversation.com/poland-divided-between-trump-and-the-eu-260007

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom announces appointments 6.26.25

    Source: US State of California 2

    Jun 26, 2025

    SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom today announced the following appointments:

    Kira Younger, of Fair Oaks, has been appointed Chief Financial Officer and Director of the Finance and Accounting Division at the California Department of Social Services. Younger has been Chief of Fiscal Forecasting at the California Department of Social Services since 2021, where she has held several roles since 2016, including Budget Officer and Staff Services Manager. She was Financial Manager at the California Office of Systems Integration from 2018 to 2019. Younger earned a Master of Business Administration degree in Strategic Management and a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from Western Governors University. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $176,160. Younger is a Democrat. 

    Lauren Gavin Solis, of Los Angeles, has been appointed Deputy Director of the Office of Medicare Innovation and Integration at the Department of Health Care Services. Solis has been Acting Group Director for the Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office at Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services since 2025, where she has held several roles since 2013, including Team Lead and Health Insurance Specialist. She was a Health Policy Scholar at the National Coalition on Health Care from 2012 to 2013. Solis was a Presidential Management Fellow at the National Institutes of Health from 2011 to 2013. She held several roles at Triage Consulting Group from 2005 to 2010, including Legal Services Manager, Senior Associate, and Associate. Solis earned a Master of Public Health degree in Health Systems and Policy from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from the University of California, Davis. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $187,020. Solis is a Democrat. 

    Julia Parish, of Oakland, has been appointed Deputy Director of Legislation, Regulation, and Policy at the California Civil Rights Department. Parish has been a Senior Staff Attorney at Legal Aid at Work since 2019, where she has held multiple positions since 2011, including Staff Attorney, and Equal Justice Works AmeriCorps Legal Fellow. She was a Research Assistant to Professor David Oppenheimer at University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 2010. Parish earned a Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, a Master of Science degree in Education from Pace University, and a Bachelor of the Arts in Political Science and Spanish from University of California, Berkeley. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and compensation is $146,268. Parish is a Democrat.

    Juliet Michelson Wahleithner, of Fresno, has been appointed Director of Research, Evaluation, and Assessment at the Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Wahleithner has been a Special Consultant for the Office of Policy and Continuous Improvement at the Commission on Teacher Credentialing since 2025. Wahleithner has been an Associate Professor for Literacy Education at California State University, Fresno since 2021, where she has held several roles since 2015 including Director of Educator Preparation and Accreditation, Director of San Joaquin Valley Writing Project, and Assistant Professor. She held several roles at University of California, Davis School of Education from 2008 to 2015, including Postdoctoral Researcher, Lecturer, Accreditation coordinator, and Graduate Student Assistant. Wahleithner held several roles at Lodi Unified School District from 1999 to 2007, including Differentiated Instruction Curriculum Coach and an English and Journalism Teacher. She is a Member of the American Educational Research Association, California Council on Teacher Education, and Board of Directors of Saint Agnes Child Development Center. Wahleithner earned a Doctor of Philosophy degree in Education, a Master of Arts degree in Education, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from University of California, Davis. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $163,788. Wahleithner is a Democrat.

    Sophear Price, of Santa Rosa, has been appointed Skilled Nursing Facility Administrator at the Yountville Veterans Home of California. Price has been the Standards Compliance Coordinator at the Yountville Veterans Home of California since 2018. Price held multiple roles at the Sonoma Development Center from 2014 to 2017, including Community Programs Specialist II and Individual Programs Coordinator. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from California State University, Sonoma. This position does not require Senate confirmation, and the compensation is $159,120. Price is registered without party preference. 

    Press releases, Recent news

    Recent news

    Jun 26, 2025

    News What you need to know: La Passeggiata on Lindsey Street in Stockton is the latest site to be transformed from excess, underutilized state land into affordable housing under Governor Newsom’s executive order. STOCKTON — Today, state leaders broke ground on a new…

    Jun 25, 2025

    News What you need to know: There are many disingenuous claims swirling about California gas prices “set to soar” – the truth is that gas prices won’t come anywhere close to increasing by 65 cents, as many would have you believe.   SACRAMENTO – California gas prices…

    Jun 25, 2025

    News What you need to know: Governor Newsom announced $135 million is available for wildfire prevention grants – protecting communities from catastrophic wildfire at the same time as President Trump adds new strain to firefighting resources. SACRAMENTO – As President…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Office of the Governor – News Release – Gov. Green Bolsters the Judiciary Through Signing of Key Legislation

    Source: US State of Hawaii

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    June 26, 2025

    HONOLULU – Governor Josh Green, M.D., signed three bills into law today in support of the Hawai‘i State Judiciary’s efforts to facilitate fair and effective justice, promote rehabilitation and reduce recidivism.

    The signed legislation includes the Judiciary’s budget bill, which appropriates funds to meet the resource needs — ensuring that the courts function efficiently and continue to serve the people of our state at a time when demand for judicial services is increasing. Additional measures support initiatives aimed at bridging gaps in the justice system, particularly for nonviolent offenders who are disproportionately affected and face a higher risk of recidivism due to their circumstances.

    “This is a proud moment. Signing these bills demonstrates the power of collaboration between all branches of government to advance legislation that strengthens Hawai‘i’s judiciary and benefits the people we serve,” said Governor Green. “We are not only facilitating change — we are doing so through a restorative approach that addresses the root causes of recidivism.”

    “These justice reform bills strengthen the support systems that help people avoid legal trouble in the future and make the community safer,” said Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Karl Rhoads (District 13 – Dowsett Highlands, Pu‘unui, Nu‘uanu, Pacific Heights, Pauoa, Punchbowl, Pālama, Liliha, Iwilei, Chinatown and Downtown). “By expanding key programs like the Adult Client Services Branch, Community Outreach Court and Women’s Court, we are building a more effective justice system that helps keep our communities in Hawai‘i safer and stronger.”

    HB 400: RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY
    House Bill 400, Act 227, appropriates $214 million for fiscal year 2026 and $212 million for fiscal year 2027 for the Judiciary’s operating budget. The funds established in this bill will support operating costs and new permanent staff positions, including an additional District Court Judge and support staff in Kona. The bill also funds the permanent establishment of three specialty courts on O‘ahu: Women’s Court, Driving While Impaired Court, and Truancy Court and Early Education Intervention Court, as well as essential support for cybersecurity and technology costs across the judiciary.

    Additional funds are appropriated in the budget for the planning and design of a new South Kohala District Courthouse to improve access to judicial services for residents on the Hawaiʻi island.

    By signing this measure, Governor Green ensures that residents across the island chain continue to have access to essential judicial services that grow in step with the evolving needs of the judicial system.

    HB 727: RELATING TO THE WOMEN’S COURT
    In response to the increasing number of women in the criminal justice system, a need arose to assist nonviolent women in the criminal justice system by providing resources and guidance to those who have suffered abuse, trauma, poverty, substance-use disorders and mental illness. From Session Laws of Hawai‘i 2022, Act 243 established Mohala Wahine, a three-year pilot program that offers women at high risk of recidivism access to critical resources such as substance abuse treatment, housing assistance, and therapy, while helping nurture and educate participants throughout the program.

    HB 727, now Act 228, makes the Mohala Wahine pilot program permanent in the First Circuit Court of O‘ahu, continuing its invaluable work supporting the most vulnerable women. To further expand access to trauma-informed, evidence-based practices, HB 727 additionally establishes a two-year Women’s Court pilot program in the Third Circuit Court in Kona. This new program addresses a critical need for community-based services on Hawai‘i Island and offers the same supportive services established under Mohala Wahine. This measure appropriates $514,900 for fiscal year 2026 and $557,000 for fiscal year 2027.

    “HB727, championed by the Women’s Legislative Caucus, seeks to permanently establish the Mohala Wahine program in the First Circuit as a proven alternative to incarceration and a pathway to reintegration for women,” said Representative Mahina Poepoe, introducer of the bill and vice chair of the House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee. “I believe that all women who find themselves in a position of being involved with our court system for nonviolent offenses could benefit from having the option of a pathway that avoids incarceration. Many of these women are mothers and caregivers  and with personalized, supportive care focused on healing rather than punishment, we can help them rehabilitate. Expanding this program to Hawaiʻi Island will strengthen families and communities across our state.”

    The complete list of bills signed includes the following. Click the links to see full details of the bills enacted into law.

    HB280 HD3 SD1 CD1 RELATING TO THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH COURT – Act 229

    HB398 HD1 SD2 CD1 – RELATING TO COMPENSATION FOR COURT-APPOINTED REPRESENTATION – Act 230
    HB399 HD1 SD2 CD1 – RELATING TO DISTRICT COURT JUDGES – Act 231
    HB401 HD1 SD2 CD1 – RELATING TO DISTRICT COURT JUDGES – Act 232
    SB304 SD1 HD2 CD1 – RELATING TO THE JUDICIARY – Act 233

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: Hungary: “World is watching” as tens of thousands prepare to march in defiance of attempted ban on Budapest Pride

    Source: Amnesty International –

    • Police must ensure that people can celebrate in safety
    • 81+ Amnesty International delegates to march, including Secretary General  
    • Global petition with more than 120,000 signatures handed into police HQ

    Authorities must ensure people’s right to protest is protected, as is their ability to take part safely in Saturday’s Budapest Pride, free from intimidation, harassment or violence, said Amnesty International ahead of tomorrow’s 30th anniversary Budapest Pride March, which has been banned by the police.

    More than 200 Amnesty International delegates from 17 of the organization’s sections will join the march, including the organization’s Secretary General, Agnès Callamard. A petition, signed by more than 120,000 people from 73 countries, was handed in to the Police Headquarters on Wednesday by Dávid Vig, Director of Amnesty International Hungary, reminding the city’s chief of police of his duty to respect, protect and facilitate people’s right to peacefully protest.

    “The attempted ban on Budapest Pride has exposed the depths to which the Hungarian authorities will sink to try and roll back fundamental rights. But it has also shown the heights that can be achieved when we come together to resist,” said Agnès Callamard, Amnesty International’s Secretary General.

    The full-frontal attack on Hungary’s LGBTI people and the right to peaceful assembly has been met with a steely response by so many people across the country. I am proud to march alongside them through the streets of Budapest. As the outpouring of solidarity from across the globe has shown, the world is watching.

    Agnès Callamard, Secretary General

    In April, discriminatory legislation came into force that has already been used to ban Pride marches and other protests supporting equal rights of LGBTI people in Hungary. Under its terms it is ‘forbidden to hold an assembly in violation’ of 2021 legislation banning the ‘depiction and promotion’ of homosexuality and diverse gender identities to people under 18. The law grants authorities the power to use facial recognition technology to identify participants and to fine those who participate in any prohibited assembly. According to the Criminal Code, organizers of an assembly which is banned may risk criminal charges and up to one year of imprisonment. 

    On 17 June, Budapest’s mayor announced that the city would host the official Pride as a municipal event and therefore not require police approval. Police issued a ban on the event arguing that it is actually a public assembly. On 19 June, Budapest’s mayor announced that Pride will go ahead anyway.

    “We will not be intimidated by bans, threats and strong-arm tactics. Instead, those of us marching, and those cheering us on from afar, will draw strength from one another and from our shared certainty that, ultimately, humanity  will win,” said Agnès Callamard.

    “For the last 30 years, people in Hungary have celebrated Pride in Budapest peacefully. Hungarian authorities must stop this attempt to turn the clock back. They must   lift the bans, repeal the discriminatory laws, and ensure people taking part in Budapest Pride can march free from intimidation, harassment or violence.”

    “Amnesty International will be at Pride with a delegation of more than 200 people because no matter where we live, we all believe in equality, love and justice. This is a historic moment for Hungary where authorities must guarantee the human rights of the people, rather than pleasing a government which wants to silence us,” said Dávid Vig, Director of Amnesty Hungary.

    Background

    The Amnesty International delegation to Budapest Pride includes over 200 people from 17 countries.

    As revealed in a 2024 Amnesty report, Hungary is one of several European countries flouting its international and regional human rights obligations to respect, protect and facilitate peaceful assemblies, to remove obstacles and to avoid unwarranted interferences with people’s right to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression.

    The Budapest municipality announced that Budapest Pride will take place as a municipal event. This means that, formally, it does not require police notification, unlike regular assemblies. However, the Budapest police interpreted this announcement as a notification for a demonstration and issued a ban, claiming it is an unauthorized assembly. At the same time and location, a counter-protest has also been organized, with their notification to the police submitted before the municipality’s announcement. The police have stated that this counter-protest will take precedence over the Pride.

    The Mayor of Budapest responded by saying that since the Pride is a municipal event, it does not require notification, therefore the police’s decision should not affect it.

    For more information contact [email protected] in Hungary or [email protected] in London.

    The hand-in of the petition to the Police Headquarters took place on 25 June. For footage and AV material click here.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The sentencing of Cassius Turvey’s killers shows courts still struggle to deal with racism

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thalia Anthony, Professor of Law, University of Technology Sydney

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people.

    The brutal homicide of 15-year-old Noongar Yamatji boy, Cassius Turvey, by a group of white men revealed the racial schisms in Western Australian society. Turvey was walking home from school in October 2022 when he was abruptly beaten to death.

    On Friday, the Western Australian Supreme Court sentenced the three perpetrators. Twenty-nine-year-old Brodie Palmer and 24-year-old Jack Brearley were found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.

    A third man, 27-year-old Mitchell Forth, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years behind bars.

    This was an opportunity for the Supreme Court to send a strong message against racial violence. While the punishment of the men involved is clear, the role of race, and what legally qualifies as racially motivated crime, is muddier.

    Wrong place, wrong time?

    Racism has been front and centre of the public discussion of this tragedy from the outset.

    Shortly after the 2022 attack, Western Australian Police Commissioner Col Blanch said of the homicide:

    it may be a case of mistaken identity, it may be a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

    This was met with strong condemnation from the First Nations community.

    Rallies in solidarity with Turvey’s family were held across the country, with Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung, and Dunghutti activist Lizzie Jarrett declaring:

    no black child is ever, ever, ever in the wrong place at the wrong time on their own land.

    Racism at trial

    Over the course of the trial, the court heard Turvey and his peers, a group of Aboriginal high school students, were approached by an angry group.

    This comprised the three men convicted and a woman, 23-year-old Aleesha Gilmore, who was acquitted of homicide, and 21-year-old Ethan McKenzie, who with Gilmore, was convicted of other offences relating to the attack.

    Turvey was chased and Brearly fatally beat him with a metal pole.

    Earlier this year, the trial of the three perpetrators heard arguments by the defendants that the actions were not racially motivated.

    Rather, the defence argued they were acting out of self-defence on the basis that Brearly had his car window smashed a few days prior.

    In contrast, the prosecution brought evidence of a phone call that revealed Brearley was bragging about beating Turvey, stating that “he learnt his lesson”.

    The prosecution argued the homicide was not a personal gripe, but a collective response.

    The prosecution didn’t allege the attack was racially motivated, but it was open to the judge to consider this basis for the homicide.

    At trial, 91 witnesses came forward. Witnesses gave evidence that the accused were using racial slurs.

    This direct racism raises the issue of race as a motive in the attack, and is consistent with evidence of systemic racism in Western Australia.

    The killing of Turvey comes after 14-year-old Elijah Doughty was targeted and killed in Kalgoorlie in 2016.

    Both cases show white male motorists seeking to avenge Aboriginal children for alleged vehicle offences.

    This is reinforced by a penal system in which Aboriginal children are 53 times more likely to be detained than non-Aboriginal children.

    What did the judge say?

    On the morning of the sentence hearings, Cassius Turvey’s mother, who described her son as respected, bright, loving and compassionate, said the killing was a “racially motivated” and based on “discriminatory targeting”.

    This sentiment has been echoed across the country, including by June Oscar, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission, in 2022.

    Chief Justice Peter Quinlan strongly condemned the attacks.

    However, he stated the attack was not racially motivated, despite recognising that the perpetrators were “calling them n-words and black c—ts — you in particular Mr Brearley used language like that”.

    He noted that it creates a “fear” of racial vilification:

    it’s no surprise […] that the kids would think they were being targeted because they were Aboriginal, and the attack would create justifiable fear for them and for the broader community that this was a racially motivated attack.

    This amounts to a message of general deterrence about violence and vigilante behaviour.

    But messages to deter racial targeting and racial violence specifically were omitted from the public safety concerns expressed by the court.

    Making racial violence invisible

    Munanjahli and South Sea Islander professor Chelsea Watego, and colleagues, have remarked that the Australian psyche is more comfortable with an “abstract concern with racism; racism without actors, or rather perpetrators”.

    This, they argue, sanitises racial violence and holds no one responsible.

    The court demonstrated this abstract concern for racism.

    This Supreme Court’s reasoning has set an impossibly high bar for racial vilification, and specifically racial violence, to be identified, denounced and redressed.

    The judgement seems to relegate racism to being an unfortunate and unintended incident of co-existence, rather than willed harm.

    The failure to regard the racial slurs, the targeting of a group of Aboriginal children, and the killing of one of these children, as “racially motivated”, upholds the idea that white people’s racist treatment and crimes against Aboriginal people exist in a vacuum free of a long history of colonial violence, massacres and occupation.

    Thalia Anthony receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Matthew Walsh 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. The sentencing of Cassius Turvey’s killers shows courts still struggle to deal with racism – https://theconversation.com/the-sentencing-of-cassius-turveys-killers-shows-courts-still-struggle-to-deal-with-racism-259541

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: The sentencing of Cassius Turvey’s killers shows courts still struggle to deal with racism

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Thalia Anthony, Professor of Law, University of Technology Sydney

    Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this article contains names and images of deceased people.

    The brutal homicide of 15-year-old Noongar Yamatji boy, Cassius Turvey, by a group of white men revealed the racial schisms in Western Australian society. Turvey was walking home from school in October 2022 when he was abruptly beaten to death.

    On Friday, the Western Australian Supreme Court sentenced the three perpetrators. Twenty-nine-year-old Brodie Palmer and 24-year-old Jack Brearley were found guilty of murder and sentenced to life imprisonment.

    A third man, 27-year-old Mitchell Forth, was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 12 years behind bars.

    This was an opportunity for the Supreme Court to send a strong message against racial violence. While the punishment of the men involved is clear, the role of race, and what legally qualifies as racially motivated crime, is muddier.

    Wrong place, wrong time?

    Racism has been front and centre of the public discussion of this tragedy from the outset.

    Shortly after the 2022 attack, Western Australian Police Commissioner Col Blanch said of the homicide:

    it may be a case of mistaken identity, it may be a case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

    This was met with strong condemnation from the First Nations community.

    Rallies in solidarity with Turvey’s family were held across the country, with Gumbaynggirr, Bundjalung, and Dunghutti activist Lizzie Jarrett declaring:

    no black child is ever, ever, ever in the wrong place at the wrong time on their own land.

    Racism at trial

    Over the course of the trial, the court heard Turvey and his peers, a group of Aboriginal high school students, were approached by an angry group.

    This comprised the three men convicted and a woman, 23-year-old Aleesha Gilmore, who was acquitted of homicide, and 21-year-old Ethan McKenzie, who with Gilmore, was convicted of other offences relating to the attack.

    Turvey was chased and Brearly fatally beat him with a metal pole.

    Earlier this year, the trial of the three perpetrators heard arguments by the defendants that the actions were not racially motivated.

    Rather, the defence argued they were acting out of self-defence on the basis that Brearly had his car window smashed a few days prior.

    In contrast, the prosecution brought evidence of a phone call that revealed Brearley was bragging about beating Turvey, stating that “he learnt his lesson”.

    The prosecution argued the homicide was not a personal gripe, but a collective response.

    The prosecution didn’t allege the attack was racially motivated, but it was open to the judge to consider this basis for the homicide.

    At trial, 91 witnesses came forward. Witnesses gave evidence that the accused were using racial slurs.

    This direct racism raises the issue of race as a motive in the attack, and is consistent with evidence of systemic racism in Western Australia.

    The killing of Turvey comes after 14-year-old Elijah Doughty was targeted and killed in Kalgoorlie in 2016.

    Both cases show white male motorists seeking to avenge Aboriginal children for alleged vehicle offences.

    This is reinforced by a penal system in which Aboriginal children are 53 times more likely to be detained than non-Aboriginal children.

    What did the judge say?

    On the morning of the sentence hearings, Cassius Turvey’s mother, who described her son as respected, bright, loving and compassionate, said the killing was a “racially motivated” and based on “discriminatory targeting”.

    This sentiment has been echoed across the country, including by June Oscar, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission, in 2022.

    Chief Justice Peter Quinlan strongly condemned the attacks.

    However, he stated the attack was not racially motivated, despite recognising that the perpetrators were “calling them n-words and black c—ts — you in particular Mr Brearley used language like that”.

    He noted that it creates a “fear” of racial vilification:

    it’s no surprise […] that the kids would think they were being targeted because they were Aboriginal, and the attack would create justifiable fear for them and for the broader community that this was a racially motivated attack.

    This amounts to a message of general deterrence about violence and vigilante behaviour.

    But messages to deter racial targeting and racial violence specifically were omitted from the public safety concerns expressed by the court.

    Making racial violence invisible

    Munanjahli and South Sea Islander professor Chelsea Watego, and colleagues, have remarked that the Australian psyche is more comfortable with an “abstract concern with racism; racism without actors, or rather perpetrators”.

    This, they argue, sanitises racial violence and holds no one responsible.

    The court demonstrated this abstract concern for racism.

    This Supreme Court’s reasoning has set an impossibly high bar for racial vilification, and specifically racial violence, to be identified, denounced and redressed.

    The judgement seems to relegate racism to being an unfortunate and unintended incident of co-existence, rather than willed harm.

    The failure to regard the racial slurs, the targeting of a group of Aboriginal children, and the killing of one of these children, as “racially motivated”, upholds the idea that white people’s racist treatment and crimes against Aboriginal people exist in a vacuum free of a long history of colonial violence, massacres and occupation.

    Thalia Anthony receives funding from the Australian Research Council.

    Matthew Walsh 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. The sentencing of Cassius Turvey’s killers shows courts still struggle to deal with racism – https://theconversation.com/the-sentencing-of-cassius-turveys-killers-shows-courts-still-struggle-to-deal-with-racism-259541

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The 16th session of the 14th NPC Standing Committee closed in Beijing

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: People’s Republic of China in Russian –

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

    BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) — The 16th session of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) of China concluded in Beijing on Friday.

    At the final meeting, the revised Law on Penalties for Violating Public Order and the Law on Combating Unfair Competition were adopted by vote.

    The meeting also decided to remove Miao Hua from his position as a member of the Central Military Commission.

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai confers decoration on former Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Chairman Ohashi Mitsuo

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

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

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

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

    Details
    2025-06-05
    President Lai hosts state banquet for President Bernardo Arévalo of Republic of Guatemala  
    At noon on June 5, President Lai Ching-te hosted a state banquet at the Presidential Office for President Bernardo Arévalo of the Republic of Guatemala and his wife. In his remarks, President Lai noted that Taiwan and Guatemala have both undergone an arduous democratization process, and therefore, in face of the continuous expansion of authoritarian influence, must join hands in brotherhood and come together in solidarity to safeguard our hard-earned freedom and democracy. President Lai also expressed hope that both countries will work together and continue to deepen various exchanges and cooperation, taking a friendship that has lasted over 90 years to new heights. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: Once again, I would like to offer a warm welcome to President Arévalo and First Lady Lucrecia Peinado, who are leading this delegation to Taiwan. President Arévalo’s previous visit to Taiwan was 31 years ago. Back then, Taiwan did not have direct presidential elections, and the nation was continuing to make progress toward democratization. Today, 31 years later, Taiwan has conducted direct presidential elections eight times, with three transfers of power between political parties. On this visit, I am sure that President Arévalo will gain a deep appreciation for Taiwan’s free and democratic atmosphere.  Taiwan and Guatemala have both undergone an arduous democratization process. A little over 200 years ago, the people of Guatemala took a stand against colonial oppression, seeking national dignity and the freedom of its people. Eighty-one years ago, President Arévalo’s father, Juan José Arévalo, became Guatemala’s first democratically elected president, establishing an important foundation for subsequent democratic development.  Our two peoples have democracy in their blood. Both know the value of freedom and democracy and are willing to take a stand for those values. Therefore, in face of the continuous expansion of authoritarian influence, our two countries must join hands in brotherhood to respond to threats and challenges, and come together in solidarity to safeguard our hard-earned freedom and democracy. I hope that both countries will work together to continue to deepen various exchanges and cooperation, taking a friendship that has lasted over 90 years to new heights. I hope that on this visit, in addition to gaining a deeper understanding of Taiwan’s political, economic, and social development, President Arévalo can also reacquaint himself with the democratic vitality and cultural diversity of Taiwan by sampling various gourmet delicacies and once again experiencing the beauty of our scenery and warmth of our people. Guatemala is a very beautiful country. In the future, I hope to have a chance to personally experience that beauty, explore Mayan civilization, and savor local Guatemalan coffee. In closing, I wish the visiting delegation a smooth and successful trip, and beautiful, unforgettable memories. May President Arévalo enjoy the best of health, and may the diplomatic friendship between our two countries endure. President Arévalo then delivered remarks, stating that at different times and by different means, the people of Taiwan and Guatemala have relentlessly sought to defend freedom and democracy. We share the same expectations, he said, and are walking the right path amid today’s complex international circumstances.  President Arévalo stated that Taiwan and Guatemala are true democratic nations, where the government’s goal is to serve all the people. He noted that this is far from easy under current circumstances, as many authoritarian regimes use their long-term hold on power to safeguard the interests of select groups and neglect the wellbeing of the population as a whole. President Arévalo said that last week Guatemala commemorated the 40th anniversary of its constitution, which was enacted in 1985 and is Guatemala’s ultimate guide, setting the foundation for democracy and clearly outlining the path ahead. He said that over the past 40 years, Guatemala has continued to follow the democratic blueprint established by the constitution and end the civil war so that the nation could make the transition to real democracy. Although more than a few ambitious people have attempted to destroy that process from within, he noted, the people of Guatemala have never given up the pursuit of democracy as an ideal. President Arévalo stated that our two sides’ coming together here is due to such shared values as freedom and democracy as well as the idea of serving all the people. He underlined that the governments of both countries will continue to work hard and provide mutual support to smooth out each other’s path of democracy, freedom, and justice. President Arévalo emphasized that the government of Guatemala will always be Taiwan’s ally, and that he firmly believes Taiwan is Guatemala’s most reliable partner on the path of democracy and economic prosperity and development. The president said he hopes this visit will be the first step towards setting a new course for the governments and peoples of both countries. Also in attendance at the banquet were Guatemala Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Ramiro Martínez, Minister of the Economy Gabriela García, and Guatemala Ambassador Luis Raúl Estévez López.  

    Details
    2025-06-05
    President Lai welcomes President Bernardo Arévalo of Republic of Guatemala with military honors  
    On the morning of June 5, President Lai Ching-te welcomed with full military honors President Bernardo Arévalo of the Republic of Guatemala and his wife, who are leading a delegation of cabinet members visiting Taiwan for the first time, demonstrating the deep and enduring alliance between our nations. In remarks, President Lai noted that over the past few years, bilateral cooperation between Taiwan and Guatemala has grown closer and more diverse, and said that moving forward, based on a foundation of mutual assistance for mutual benefit, we will continue to promote programs in line with international trends, spurring prosperity and development in both our nations. The military honors ceremony began at 10:30 a.m. in the Entrance Hall of the Presidential Office. After a 21-gun salute and the playing of the two countries’ national anthems, President Lai and President Arévalo each delivered remarks. A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows: Today, President Arévalo and First Lady Lucrecia Peinado are leading a delegation of cabinet members visiting Taiwan for the first time, demonstrating the deep and enduring alliance between our nations. On behalf of the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I want to extend my sincerest welcome. Last year, our two countries celebrated the 90th anniversary of diplomatic ties, providing mutual support all along the way. Especially over the past few years, bilateral cooperation has grown closer and more diverse. We have a long record of remarkable results, whether in terms of medicine and public health, education and culture, technological cooperation, or economic and trade exchanges. Moving forward, based on a foundation of mutual assistance for mutual benefit, Taiwan and Guatemala will continue to promote programs in line with international trends. We will continue to strengthen exchange and cooperation for young people, as well as scholarship programs, and actively cultivate high-tech and information and communications technology industry talent, spurring prosperity and development in both our nations. Although separated by a great distance, the peoples of both countries are closely connected by their ideals and values. I am confident that with President Arévalo’s support, bilateral exchanges and cooperation will become closer and more diverse, beginning a very promising new chapter. I wish the visiting delegation a smooth and successful trip. President Arévalo then delivered remarks, saying that on behalf of the government and people of Guatemala, he is honored to visit the Republic of China (Taiwan), this beautiful nation, and to receive full military honors, which reflects the mutual respect between our two nations as well as our solid friendship. Especially as this state visit comes as we celebrate 90 years of formal diplomatic ties, he said, he has brought the foreign minister, economics minister, private secretary to the president, and social communication secretary as members of his delegation, in the hope of our ties embarking on a new chapter. President Arévalo said that Guatemala-Taiwan ties have in recent years been growing steadily on a foundation of mutual understanding and cooperation, making significant progress, and that our peoples have also cultivated sincere friendships and cooperative relationships across many fields. Our nations are especially promoting public health, education, agricultural technology, and infrastructure, he said, key fields which are conducive to economic and social development. He expressed his hope that on such good foundations of the past, we can further strengthen our bilateral ties for the future. President Arévalo stated that through this state visit they not only want to reaffirm the good bilateral ties between our nations, but that they also hope to define a trajectory for the future of our cooperation in the direction of expanding economic cooperation, building economic and trade alliances, and facilitating investment to foster a Taiwan-Guatemala relationship that benefits both peoples. He then expressed gratitude to the people of Taiwan for helping Guatemala over the past 90 years and reaffirmed the unwavering support of Guatemala for the Republic of China (Taiwan). On the occasion of this visit, he said, he hopes to extend a friendly hand to the people of Taiwan, adding that he looks forward to our nations continuing to take major steps forward on the road of mutual assistance and prosperity. Also in attendance at the welcome ceremony were Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador Andrea Clare Bowman, and members of the foreign diplomatic corps in Taiwan.  

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

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Appointments to Harbourfront Commission announced

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Appointments to Harbourfront Commission announced 
    The newly appointed individual members are Mr Kyran Sze, as well as Miss Lam Ching-yi and Miss Law Lok-yi, who were recruited under the Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth (MSSY). The reappointed individual members are Mr Francis Lam Ka-fai, Professor Becky Loo Pui-ying and Mr Wilson Or Chong-shing.
     
    Welcoming the above appointments, the Secretary for Development, Ms Bernadette Linn, said, “I am confident that the newly appointed and reappointed members will provide inspiring insights for the future harbourfront development. These members include veterans with extensive experience and expertise, as well as youth who can bring in innovative thinking. The Government will continue to work closely with the HC to build an attractive, vibrant, accessible and sustainable harbourfront.”
     
    Ms Linn also expressed gratitude to the outgoing members, Mr Mac Chan Ho-ting and Ms Angela So Wing-kwan, for their contributions to promoting harbourfront development in the past six years.
     
    Established in 2010, the HC advises the Government on harbourfront planning, design, management and other related matters with the objective of fostering and facilitating the development of Victoria Harbour’s harbourfront.
     
    Following is the full membership of the HC commencing July 1, 2025, including incumbent members whose term of service straddles July 1:
     
    Chairperson
    ———————————————
    Mr Ivan Ho Man-yiu
     
    Vice-Chairperson
    ———————————————
    Secretary for Development
     
    Non-official Members (Organisation Members nominated by the following organisations)
    ———————————————
    Business Environment Council Limited
    Friends of the Earth (HK) Charity Limited
    Hong Kong Institute of Urban Design
    Society for Protection of the Harbour
    The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Hong Kong
    The Conservancy Association
    The Hong Kong Institute of Architects
    The Hong Kong Institute of Landscape Architects
    The Hong Kong Institute of Planners
    The Hong Kong Institute of Surveyors
    The Hong Kong Institution of Engineers
    The Real Estate Developers Association of Hong Kong
     
    Non-official Members (Individuals)
    ———————————————
    Miss Lam Ching-yi#
    Mr Francis Lam Ka-fai
    Ms Sunnie Lau Sing-yeung
    Miss Law Lok-yi#
    Mr Leung Chun
    Dr Lawrence Li Kwok-chang
    Professor Becky Loo Pui-ying
    Mr Wilson Or Chong-shing
    Mr Jason Shum Jiu-sang
    Mr Kyran Sze*
    Mr Bondy Wen Tsz-kit
    Mr Eric Yeung Chuen-sing
    Dr Frankie Yeung Wai-shing
    Mr Yiu Pak-leung
     
    * new member
    # new members recruited under the MSSY
     
    Official Members
    ———————-
    Permanent Secretary for Development (Planning and Lands) or representative
    Commissioner for Tourism or representative
    Commissioner for Transport or representative
    Director of Civil Engineering and Development or representative
    Director of Leisure and Cultural Services or representative
    Director of Marine or representative
    Director of Planning or representative
     
    Secretary
    ————
    Commissioner for Harbourfront
    Issued at HKT 11:05

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Leasing arrangements announced for public market stalls in July

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Leasing arrangements announced for public market stalls in July
    Kowloon (1)
    ————–
    Auction date: July 7 (Monday) (am)
    Number of stalls: 63————–
    Auction date: July 7 (Monday) (pm)
    Number of stalls: 26————–
    Auction date: July 8 (Tuesday) (pm)
    Number of stalls: 43———————
    Auction date: July 9 (Wednesday) (am)
    Number of stalls: 90———————
    Auction date: July 10 (Thursday) (am)
    Number of stalls: 85————————————————–
    Auction date: July 11 (Friday) (pm)
    Number of stalls: 101————————————————–
    Auction date: July 14 (Monday) (am)
    Number of stalls: 92——————-
    Auction date: July 14 (Monday) (pm)
    Number of stalls: 17

    The open auctions will be held at Room 410, 4/F, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department Nam Cheong Offices and Vehicle Depot, 87 Yen Chow Street West, Kowloon. Limited seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The admission tickets will be issued 30 minutes prior to the commencement of each auction. Persons who want to attend the auctions must wait at the waiting area of the auction venue and produce their Hong Kong identity card or passport for registration. The registered person will then be provided with an admission ticket for the auctions. In addition, eligible bidders after verification will be issued with a bidding paddle for the auction. The FEHD has also invited representatives of the Police and the Independent Commission Against Corruption to monitor the auctions at the auction venue in order to ensure that the open auctions are conducted in an orderly and fair manner. 

    Districts in which the market stalls are located 8/F, Lockhart Road Municipal Services Building,
    225 Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, Hong KongRoom 301-302,
    3/F, Food and Environmental Hygiene Department Nam Cheong Offices and Vehicle Depot,
    87 Yen Chow Street West, Kowloon9/F, Kwai Hing Government Offices,
    166-174 Hing Fong Road, Kwai Chung, New Territories4/F, Shek Wu Hui Municipal Services Building,
    13 Chi Cheong Road, Sheung Shui, New Territories7/F, Sai Kung Tseung Kwan O Government Complex,
    38 Pui Shing Road, Tseung Kwan O, New TerritoriesUnits 1201-1207 and 1220-1221, 12/F,
    Tower 1, Grand Central Plaza,
    138 Sha Tin Rural Committee Road, Sha Tin, New Territories3/F, Tai Po Complex,
    8 Heung Sze Wui Street, Tai Po, New Territories3/F, Yeung Uk Road Municipal Services Building,
    45 Yeung Uk Road, Tsuen Wan, New Territories1/F, Tuen Mun Government Offices Building,
    1 Tuen Hi Road, Tuen Mun, New Territories2/F, Yuen Long Government Offices,
    2 Kiu Lok Square, Yuen Long, New TerritoriesA spokesman for the FEHD said, “Bidders or applicants for the market stalls must be at least 18 years old and ordinarily reside in Hong Kong. To allow more people to bid for or select the stalls and increase customer choices by enhancing the diversity in terms of the variety of stalls, there will be a restriction on the number of stalls to be rented in the same market by a single tenant. Any person who is currently a stall tenant is not allowed to bid in the first round of auction for any stall in the same market, and will only be allowed to bid for one stall in the second round of auction or to select one stall in the same market on a first-come, first-served basis. The existing tenants under the new three-year fixed term tenancy scheme (i.e. those persons who became stall tenants through the market open auctions after August 2022) are allowed to bid for a stall in the auction or select a stall on a first-come, first-served basis in the same market, but shall vacate the current stall and return it to the FEHD before the effective date of commencement of the new tenancy agreement.”

    Details of the open auctions and the public market stalls concerned (including stalls for open auction at reduced upset prices) have been uploaded to the FEHD website (www.fehd.gov.hk/english/pleasant_environment/tidy_market/open_auction_coming.htmlIssued at HKT 16:30

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: REPORT on the 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on North Macedonia – A10-0118/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    MOTION FOR A EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT RESOLUTION

    on the 2023 and 2024 Commission reports on North Macedonia

    (2025/2021(INI))

    The European Parliament,

    – having regard to the Stabilisation and Association Agreement between the European Communities and their Member States, of the one part, and the Republic of North Macedonia, of the other part[1],

    – having regard to North Macedonia’s application for membership of the European Union, submitted on 22 March 2004,

    – having regard to the European Council decision of 16 December 2005 to grant North Macedonia EU candidate country status,

    – having regard to the European Council conclusions of 19-20 June 2003, including the annex thereto entitled ‘The Thessaloniki agenda for the Western Balkans: Moving towards European integration’,

    – having regard to Regulation (EU) 2021/1529 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 15 September 2021 establishing the Instrument for Pre-Accession assistance (IPA III)[2],

    – having regard to Regulation (EU) 2024/1449 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 May 2024 on establishing the Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans[3],

    – having regard to the Commission communication of 5 February 2020 entitled ‘Enhancing the accession process – A credible EU perspective for the Western Balkans’ (COM(2020)0057),

    – having regard to the Commission communication of 8 November 2023 entitled ‘2023 Communication on EU Enlargement Policy’ (COM(2023)0690), accompanied by the Commission staff working document entitled ‘North Macedonia 2023 Report’ (SWD(2023)0693),

    – having regard to the Commission communication of 8 November 2023 entitled ‘New growth plan for the Western Balkans’ (COM(2023)0691),

    – having regard to the Commission communication of 20 March 2024 on pre-enlargement reforms and policy reviews (COM(2024)0146),

    – having regard to the Commission communication of 24 July 2024 entitled ‘2024 Rule of Law Report’ (COM(2024)0800), accompanied by the Commission staff working document entitled ‘2024 Rule of Law Report – Country Chapter on the rule of law situation in North Macedonia’ (SWD(2024)0830),

    – having regard to the Commission communication of 30 October 2024 entitled ‘2024 Communication on EU enlargement policy’ (COM(2024)0690), accompanied by the Commission staff working document entitled ‘North Macedonia 2024 Report’ (SWD(2024)0693),

    – having regard to the Reform Agenda of North Macedonia as approved by the Commission under the Reform and Growth Facility on 23 October 2024,

    – having regard to the declarations of the EU-Western Balkans summits of 13 December 2023 and of 18 December 2024 in Brussels as well as the declarations of the EU-Western Balkans summits held in Sofia, Zagreb and Brdo pri Kranju in 2018, 2020 and 2021 respectively, and the Declaration on the Common Regional Market and the Declaration on the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans agreed on 10 November 2020 at the Sofia Summit within the Berlin Process,

    – having regard to the Council conclusions of 18 July 2022 on Enlargement – North Macedonia and Albania  and the Council conclusions on Enlargement of 17 December 2024,

    – having regard to the final report of 23 September 2024 of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Election Observation Mission on North Macedonia’s presidential election on 24 April 2024 and parliamentary elections on 8 May 2024,

    – having regard to the Berlin Process launched on 28 August 2014,

    – having regard to the Treaty of friendship, good neighbourliness and cooperation between Bulgaria and North Macedonia, signed on 1 August 2017 and ratified in January 2018;

    – having regard to the Final Agreement for the settlement of the differences as described in the United Nations Security Council resolutions 817 (1993) and 845 (1993), the termination of the Interim Accord of 1995, and the establishment of a strategic partnership between Greece and North Macedonia, agreed on 17 June 2018, also known as the Prespa Agreement,

    – having regard to the joint staff working document entitled ‘Objectives and Indicators to frame the implementation of the Gender Action Plan III (2021-25)’ (SWD(2020)0284) accompanying the joint communication of the Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy of 25 November 2020 entitled ’EU Gender Action Plan (GAP) III – An ambitions vision for gender equality and women’s empowerment in EU external action (JOIN(2020)0017), as well as the Country Level Implementation Plan (CLIP) for North Macedonia,

    – having regard to the 2023 European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) Report on North Macedonia, adopted on 29 June 2023 and published on 20 September 2023,

    – having regard to the declaration and joint recommendations adopted at the 23rd meeting of the EU-North Macedonia Joint Parliamentary Committee, held on 27 and 28 February 2025 in Skopje,

    – having regard to its previous resolutions on North Macedonia, and in particular its resolution of 24 October 2019 on opening accession negotiations with North Macedonia and Albania[4],

    – having regard to Rule 55 of its Rules of Procedure,

    – having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A10-0118/2025),

    A. whereas North Macedonia has held EU candidate country status since 2005 and successfully completed the screening process in December 2023;

    B. whereas the aspirations of citizens of North Macedonia to become part of the EU have led to progress in terms of democracy and socio-economic reforms, while the EU accession process continues to experience regrettable delays for various reasons;

    C. whereas the EU has mobilised approximately EUR 210 million in macro-financial assistance loans since 2020, aimed at stabilising the Macedonian economy, aiding its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and accelerating its reform progress;

    D. whereas North Macedonia is a partner that is aligned with the EU’s common foreign and security policy in the vast majority of cases and has played a constructive role in the region; whereas North Macedonia’s recent abstention from United Nations General Assembly Resolution ES-11/7 of 24 February 2025 on Ukraine and its co-sponsorship of an alternative resolution led by the United States indicates an unexpected and regrettable shift in its foreign policy alignment;

    E. whereas North Macedonia participates in EU military crisis management operations, including EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina;

    F. whereas the Council reached new conclusions in July 2022 which mean that North Macedonia needs to adopt the outstanding constitutional changes, in line with its commitments, so that the opening phase of accession negotiations can be completed immediately;

    G. whereas the geopolitical changes, the war in Ukraine, disinformation and misinformation have a strong impact on all European countries, both politically and economically;

    H. whereas North Macedonia remains a target of foreign malign influence operations, including efforts to fracture the country’s social fabric and weaponise anti-EU sentiment, notably via Serbian-language tabloids and media outlets, which function as regional amplifiers of Kremlin narratives and enjoy considerable influence; whereas North Macedonia expelled 13 Russian diplomats between 2018 and 2023 for activities incompatible with their diplomatic status, suggesting an ongoing presence of covert influence networks; whereas China has sought to expand its influence through information control, investment diplomacy and coercive clauses in infrastructure loan agreements;

    I. whereas North Macedonia’s authorities have proposed solutions for constitutional change that did not meet the conditions of the July 2022 Council conclusions;

    J. whereas any accession country is expected to respect democratic values, the rule of law and human rights, and to abide by EU law;

    K. whereas the Council has not excluded unequivocally the adoption of further new conditions for the starting of accession negotiations;

    L. whereas the EU has consistently demonstrated its recognition of the Macedonian language and identity;

    1. Reiterates its full support for North Macedonia’s continued and persistent commitment to join the EU and for the necessary transformative changes that are required to fulfil the accession criteria; commends the country’s commitment to European integration and encourages continued efforts in advancing EU-aligned reforms, despite the challenges and setbacks that have tested the patience and trust of the Macedonian society;

    2. Underlines that EU accession remains a matter of political will in fulfilling the criteria and implementing the commitments undertaken, in terms of both making the necessary reforms and adopting the necessary constitutional amendments;

    3. Recalls the need to maintain the momentum and credibility of the EU integration process; notes that North Macedonia continues to demonstrate commitment to EU integration and alignment with EU policies; calls for the swift advancement of accession negotiations, while noting the importance of adopting the constitutional amendments; urges the European Council to signal, publicly and unequivocally, that the Council intends to swiftly and unconditionally take the positive decision to enter into the next phase of accession negotiations with North Macedonia once the conditions of its conclusions of 18 July 2022 have been fulfilled, while fully respecting the Macedonian language and identity; encourages all political parties in North Macedonia to engage in constructive dialogue to achieve the necessary consensus on these amendments, which would strengthen the country’s multi-ethnic character and accelerate its progress towards EU membership; believes that strengthening the links between the multiple ethnicities is essential for improving social cohesion and ensuring more effective governance; calls on the Member States, the Council and the Commission to safeguard the predictability and credibility of the accession process, also with a view to maintaining popular support for accession in enlargement countries;

    4. Welcomes the successful completion of the screening process for North Macedonia at the end of 2023; encourages North Macedonia to adopt the constitutional amendments that the country committed to making and implementing, as required by the Council, in order for the accession negotiation process to proceed;

    5. Commends the commitment of the Macedonian people to EU integration and the support they show to this project two decades on from starting the process; urges the Commission to do the utmost to help the authorities of North Macedonia accomplish the necessary steps before entering into the next negotiation phase as well as further along the negotiation process, to help deliver on the expectations of citizens and the country and to explore all measures for gradual integration into the EU structures, thus increasing trust in the EU and its democratic values;

    6. Recalls that the accession process should not be used to settle bilateral disputes, obstruct merit-based progress on the European path or outweigh the broader strategic interests of the Union, but that such disputes must rather be addressed through open dialogue and genuine cooperation; underlines that accession negotiations should follow a clear path, guided by objective criteria and solely based on merit and the fulfilment of the accession criteria (Copenhagen criteria), which require in-depth reforms across fundamental areas, as well as the presence of stable institutions that guarantee democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and the protection of minorities;

    7. Affirms the importance of unequivocally recognising and respecting the Macedonian language and identity as an integral part of the nation’s heritage and constitutional order, but also of European values; notes that the European institutions, in country reports and official documents, consistently refer to the Macedonian language in line with international recognition and the implementation of the Prespa Agreement; reaffirms that the respect for linguistic, cultural and national identity is a fundamental component of the EU accession process and a cornerstone of democratic societies which will be further affirmed with the accession to the family of European nations;

    8. Repeats its calls for the EU’s capacity to act to be enhanced through a reform of its decision-making, including through the introduction of qualified majority voting on the intermediate steps in the accession process, in particular at the start of negotiations and the opening and closing of individual negotiating clusters and chapters;

    9. Welcomes the new Reform and Growth Facility for the Western Balkans which will provide EUR 750 million in grants and loans to North Macedonia when it meets the conditions set out in its Reform Agenda; welcomes, in this context, the excellent and ambitious Reform Agenda, which sets clear, transparent goals and targets, and calls on the authorities to focus on its rigorous implementation; underlines the need to focus on incentivising reforms and reinforcing economic stability as well as on public administration, governance, the rule of law and the fight against corruption, decarbonisation and the green transition, digitalisation, connectivity and human capital development, while addressing social challenges;

    10. Notes the funds being received by North Macedonia from individual Member States and the good cooperation between them; warns however about strengthening alliances with illiberal regimes;

    11. Commends North Macedonia on its continued commitment to the EU integration process and regrets the delays in the accession process; welcomes the stability of and encourages continued efforts to secure interethnic relations and the implementation of the Ohrid Framework Agreement;

    12. Encourages North Macedonia to achieve tangible results in complying with the EU’s expectations under the negotiating framework and the Council conclusions of July 2022, including relevant constitutional changes, in line with the country’s commitments;

    13. Urges North Macedonia to intensify efforts to strengthen the rule of law and judicial independence, including in judicial appointments and the functioning of the Judicial Council, to counter corruption, reform its public administration and improve the transparency and concentration of media ownership; encourages further implementation of systemic measures to ensure transparency and efficiency in governance;

    14. Expresses its profound sorrow and heartfelt solidarity following the tragic Kočani nightclub fire that led to the death of more than 50 young people and injuries to more than 150 others and offers its condolences to the victims and their families; commends the rapid use of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and the help provided by the Member States to save as many lives as possible; commends neighbouring and EU countries, in particular Greece and Bulgaria, for the immediate support and solidarity they showed and the medical treatment they provided to victims;

    Functioning of democratic institutions

    15. Notes that, while democratic institutions in North Macedonia function satisfactorily, political polarisation remains a major stumbling block to necessary reforms; calls on the political parties represented in the country’s parliament to work together to reach an agreement on those reforms;

    16. Welcomes the adoption of new rules of procedure by the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia (Sobranie), facilitated by the European Parliament within the framework of the Jean Monnet Dialogue; stresses, however, that persistent political polarisation continues to delay important reforms and appointments; emphasises that cross-party collaboration and an improved political climate remain vital to accelerate the implementation of EU-related reforms and strengthen democratic institutions;

    17. Notes with concern that about half of all laws enacted by the Sobranie in 2023 were approved through shortened procedures; calls on the Sobranie to improve its legislative planning, coordination and quality through proper consultation procedures and parliamentary oversight, in particular with a view to the conclusions of the Jean Monnet Dialogue and to avoid fast-track procedures;

    18. Stresses that, while the 2024 parliamentary and presidential elections were competitive, and democratic and amendments to the Electoral Code have been made, comprehensive electoral reform is still needed; calls strongly for the implementation of the outstanding recommendations made by the OSCE/ODIHR and the Venice Commission through an inclusive revision of the Electoral Code, while underlining the importance of insulating future electoral processes from malign foreign interference and information manipulation, including through the adoption of robust cybersecurity and online campaign transparency rules;

    19. Calls for improved regulation of the financing of political parties and campaigns, including measures to increase transparency regarding the funds and expenses of political parties; urges a revision of the rules on state advertising in commercial media and paid political advertisement; emphasises the need for functioning oversight mechanisms to ensure integrity in party financing and for equal and adequate media access for political parties and independent candidates;

    20. Calls for the continued modernisation of a merit-based public administration, addressing systemic challenges of politicisation, strengthening transparent recruitment processes, and reforming local self-government to provide better social services for citizens and to develop tailor-made local and regional development strategies; urges the authorities to step up their efforts and adopt and implement the necessary legislation with a view to improving public trust in the administration and fostering a resilient and capable public service that can effectively respond to contemporary challenges and serve the needs of the community; commends the 2023-2030 public administration strategy and the related action plan for 2023-2026 adopted in July 2023; acknowledges that they cover all relevant reform areas and set out a clear baseline, objectives and targets, thus identifying crucial policy challenges; regrets, however that the implementation rate remains low;

    21. Calls for further steps to ensure the systemic accountability of public institutions through meaningful and public stakeholder consultations, including with regard to the implementation of the Reform Agenda, and to provide feedback from the consultations conducted; commends the law on general administrative procedures that is providing for simplification, but strongly recommends that it be implemented systematically across the administration;

    22. Urges the authorities of North Macedonia to refrain from opaque, politicised dismissals from, and appointments to, positions within independent bodies and agencies, as well as to ensure that the institutions are adequately funded and that decisions and recommendations are implemented consistently; notes with regret the continued lack of progress in strengthening the office of the Ombudsman;

    Media and civil society

    23. Welcomes North Macedonia’s steady progress in assuring media freedom; recalls however, the need for continued reforms to ensure an independent and resilient media landscape, including reforming the legal framework governing online and offline media to align fully with the European Media Freedom Act[5], addressing persistent challenges in media ownership transparency, digital media disclosure and media concentration; underlines the need for media reform that prioritises anti-concentration measures to safeguard journalistic integrity; emphasises the urgent need to counter malign foreign influence in the media landscape, including disinformation disseminated by actors linked to Russia and China;

    24. Calls on the authorities to adopt a legal framework that effectively protects journalists, human rights defenders, environmental activists and other stakeholders from strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), and to implement the provisions of the EU Anti-SLAPP Directive[6];

    25. Urges the authorities to ensure full transparency and unimpeded access to information for citizens;

    26. Notes with concern the reinstatement of government advertising in commercial media in North Macedonia; stresses the heightened risk of this measure opening the media market to disruption and undue political influence, thus endangering media independence and media pluralism; reiterates its calls for the comprehensive reform of the rules governing state financing and political party advertising in the media, noting the lack of transparency, the ongoing misuse of state funds for political advertising, and the continued risk of compromising media independence through opaque funding mechanisms; calls strongly for these reforms to be adopted and implemented before the local elections planned for autumn 2025;

    27. Underlines the need to strengthen the independence and capacity of the media regulator, the public service broadcaster and the regulator of electronic communication;

    28. Encourages action to enhance the editorial and financial independence, impartiality and professionalism of public service broadcasters and media regulators, while noting the continued delay in appointing key oversight bodies and the need for comprehensive modernisation efforts; calls for stricter transparency and ownership rules to expose covert influence, including foreign-sponsored media content, and for the establishment of mechanisms to identify and disrupt coordinated foreign disinformation networks;

    29. Notes that certain Chinese diplomatic entities have financed paid content and opinion pieces in Macedonian media outlets without clear labelling; recalls that a 2023 analysis found that Russian state-affiliated actors had used Serbian media proxies to disseminate narratives hostile to NATO and to claim that the EU is pressuring North Macedonia to ‘abandon its identity’;

    30. Expresses concern over the ongoing threats and attacks against independent journalists and media professionals, including misogynistic online harassment targeting women journalists, often targeting those reporting on the rule of law, corruption and justice; welcomes the assignment of a dedicated prosecutor to monitor these attacks on journalists and oversee the establishment of cyberbullying reporting mechanisms; calls for stronger measures to protect media professionals from physical and non-physical threats, harassment and the inappropriate use of language by public figures;

    31. Encourages North Macedonia to continue the efforts to combat hate speech in all of its forms and targeting all groups, to proactively prevent and thoroughly investigate all instances of hate speech, hate crimes and intimidation, systematically prosecute related attacks, with a view to achieving convictions and ensuring the safety and security of their targets, such as journalists, people belonging to minorities, communities such as Bulgarians, and other vulnerable groups;

    32. Expresses concern about the rise in hate speech and growing threats from disinformation in online media, over which the national Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services has no regulatory authority; calls for strengthened measures to support investigative journalism, fact-checking capabilities and media literacy and to improve the legal framework and interinstitutional capacity in order to combat hate speech, disinformation and foreign interference; is concerned by widespread disinformation campaigns which call into question democratic values and the country’s goal of EU membership; calls, in this regard, for the support of the EU institutions to help the country mitigate these malicious effects; welcomes civil society initiatives promoting media fact-checking, digital literacy in schools and the combating of the spread of hate speech, and notes that nearly 50 % of the citizens of North Macedonia have adopted false narratives about international events, particularly regarding the war in Ukraine, underscoring the urgency of reinforcing societal resilience against malign information manipulation;

    33. Underlines that civil society is vital in fostering democracy and pluralism and promoting good governance and social progress; welcomes the country’s vibrant and constructive civil society, which plays a very crucial and positive role in the reform process, and recalls that further efforts are needed to ensure inclusive, timely and meaningful consultation and transparency, as well as formal mechanisms for cooperation; welcomes, against this backdrop, the recent initiation of the process for re-establishing the Council for Cooperation with and Development of the Civil Society Sector and calls for enhanced cooperation between the government and civil society, especially in mitigating the implications for civil society of the recent ‘freeze’ of US Agency for International Development (USAID) funds; notes that, while civil society organisations operate in an overall enabling environment, legal and financial frameworks need to be implemented to ensure that their public funding is increased and that public funding mechanisms are transparent; is concerned about reports of an increase in hostile statements towards civil society and encourages the Ministry of Internal Affairs to work with civil society organisations to develop a security protocol for human rights defenders to ensure their protection against threats from non-state actors; calls strongly for further enhancement of the role of civil society by ensuring that it continues to be meaningfully included in the decision-making process and by consulting the Venice Commission before adopting future legislation related to non-governmental organisations (NGOs);

    Fundamental rights

    34. Commends North Macedonia for ratifying most international human rights instruments; expresses concern, however, about the level of implementation, the lack of progress in gender equality, the rise of anti-gender movements and the increase in their influence, which have a negative impact on legislative and policymaking processes; urges the government to fully implement the Istanbul Convention; calls on the authorities to adopt the new Law on Gender Equality and to strengthen formal government structures designed to promote gender equality and improve the status and rights of women at all levels, as well as to ensure the effective implementation of the gender equality strategy and the national action plan, notably by ensuring adequate funding, enhancing interinstitutional coordination and aligning national policies with the EU acquis;

    35. Urges the authorities to ensure the full and effective implementation of the existing legal framework for the protection of victims of gender-based and domestic violence, by allocating sufficient budgetary resources for prevention, and by improving access to support services, protection mechanisms and the enforcement of legally guaranteed social and economic rights of survivors; notes, against this background, the adoption in 2023 of the Law on Payment of Monetary Compensation to Victims of Violent Crimes, which integrates the standards of the Istanbul Convention to provide better protection for victims of gender-based violence; urges the authorities, furthermore, to strengthen their efforts to reduce and mitigate gender-based violence and domestic violence, and to increase shelter capacity and personnel, as well as the number of well-trained and gender-sensitive law enforcement officers, judges, medical personnel and social workers;

    36. Notes, with concern, the dire situation of young women in prison, including juvenile girls aged between 14 and 16, who lack education and job skills training and are often overmedicated, with insufficient healthcare; urges the authorities of North Macedonia to take urgent measures to improve the detention conditions for all inmates, to reduce corruption and stop inhuman treatment, and to enhance the probation and reintegration of ex-prisoners into society;

    37. Urges North Macedonia to fully implement the recommendations outlined in the 2023 ECRI report on North Macedonia in order to effectively address the human rights violations identified;

    38. Welcomes the fact that interethnic relations remain stable and the Ohrid Framework Agreement continues to be implemented; commends North Macedonia’s efforts in strengthening minority rights protections, while encouraging further financial support; calls for adequate funding and staffing for institutions protecting the rights of non-majority communities; calls on political representatives of minority communities to avoid promoting divisive ethnic narratives echoing policies that caused profound suffering and wars in the region’s recent past; urges North Macedonia to fully implement the recommendations of the Advisory Committee on the Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities as regards the ‘One society for all and interculturalism’ strategy; calls on North Macedonia to provide sufficient funding and staff for the Language Implementation Agency and the Agency for Community Rights Realization; regrets that North Macedonia did not ratify the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages; awaits a final decision on the contested Law on the Use of Languages, which may have an impact on interethnic relations;

    39. Welcomes the progress the country has achieved in aligning its legislative and institutional framework for the rights of the child with the EU acquis and international human rights standards; notes the progress in implementing the strategy for deinstitutionalisation and welcomes the successful relocation of children from institutions to foster care or small group homes; notes with concern, however, the continued instances of child violence and discrimination, including against Roma children; calls, therefore, for the country to set up a national body responsible for coordinating all policies relating to the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the optional protocols thereto;

    40. Encourages North Macedonia to take meaningful steps toward recognising and incorporating national minorities and communities into its constitution, fostering inclusivity, protecting diversity, fighting discrimination and strengthening social cohesion in line with European values and democratic principles; calls on North Macedonia to fully guarantee equal rights and opportunities for all ethnic communities in the country;

    41. Notes that persons with disabilities continue to face significant barriers as the country’s legislation is still not aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities; welcomes the national strategy for the rights of persons with disabilities for 2023-2030 and calls strongly for its proper implementation, including in regard to ensuring a sufficient number of educational assistants, in order to effectively and smoothly include children with disabilities in the education process;

    42. Welcomes the first court ruling on hate speech against the LGBTIQ+ community, but calls strongly for the systematic prosecution of all instances of hate speech, hate crimes and intimidation, as well as for the inclusion of hate speech in the Criminal Code and for the state institutions responsible to keep adequate statistics on cases of hate speech and hate crimes;

    43. Notes with concern the widespread hate speech on social media, particularly towards Roma, LGBTIQ+ persons and other marginalised groups; urges all political actors to amend the Law on Civil Registry and ensure swift and unimpeded legal gender recognition on the basis of self-determination, to uphold human rights, ensure dignity, and establish a clear and accessible legal process in line with international standards; recommends that the new Law on Primary Education maintain explicit protection against discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation and gender identity, ensuring alignment with national and international commitments; encourages the Assembly of North Macedonia to promptly (re-)establish an active interparliamentary LGBTIQ+ group to support and advance LGBTIQ+ rights;

    44. Calls on North Macedonia to strengthen migration management, improve alignment with the EU acquis and address persistent challenges in handling regular and irregular migration while upholding fundamental human rights; welcomes enhanced cooperation on border management and the strengthening of the country’s capacity to manage migration flows and combat migrant smuggling, human trafficking and other organised crime; encourages the continued development of asylum procedures and integration policies and the improvement of reception conditions, in alignment with EU migration frameworks; stresses the importance of regional cooperation in migration management and urges the EU to provide further support in terms of resources, technical assistance and capacity-building in order to address migration challenges effectively;

    45. Calls on North Macedonia to step up its efforts in the fight against human trafficking, notably by further aligning the Criminal Code with the EU acquis and its legislation on drugs;

    Rule of law

    46. Notes, with serious concern, that the country’s track record in fighting corruption, including high-level corruption, has worsened, as also evidenced by its decline in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index, particularly owing to Criminal Code amendments that have weakened the legal framework, resulting in the termination of many ongoing cases; reiterates that this decline underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms; calls strongly for the anti-corruption framework to be strengthened and for effective accountability to be ensured, in particular in high-level corruption cases, through proper investigation, prosecution and convictions; urges a review of recent amendments to the Criminal Code in relation to sentencing standards and the statute of limitations, in order to ensure that the prosecution of corruption, especially of complex and high-level cases, is not negatively affected;

    47. Recalls that sufficient financial and human resources are needed to ensure effective and consistent application of dissuasion, prevention, detection, investigation and sanction mechanisms for public office holders through broad measures covering conflicts of interest, lobbying, codes of ethics and whistle-blower protection;

    48. Notes that the perceived level of trust in the judiciary remains very low and that further efforts are needed to prevent undue influence and intimidation; underlines the lack of progress in the implementation of the 2020 strategies for human resources management in the courts and in the public prosecutor’s office; calls strongly for the critical shortage of judges and prosecutors, which impacts the quality and efficiency of justice, to be addressed; calls for the independence and transparency of judicial bodies to be strengthened and for the funds necessary for their effective functioning to be allocated;

    49. Calls for the strengthening of the Judicial Council and the Council of Prosecutors and for the allocation of necessary funds, while ensuring their independence; strongly urges political actors to cease interfering in judicial institutions;

    50. Notes, with concern, the lack of progress in preventing and fighting corruption, and that financial investigations remain problematic; underlines how corruption continues to severely affect crucial policy areas; calls for the operational capacity and cooperation of agencies responsible for fighting organised crime and financial crime to be significantly strengthened, including through ensuring the necessary financial resources; encourages the country to improve its fight against organised and economic crime and cybercrime through a strengthened partnership with Europol, the European Cybercrime Centre and Eurojust; calls on North Macedonia to enhance its efforts to combat money laundering;

    51. Calls for all necessary measures to be put in place to effectively counter organised crime; urges the authorities to improve coordination through the National Coordination Centre for the Fight Against Organised Crime as well as to allocate the necessary funds and staffing to the Office of the Basic Public Prosecutor for Organised Crime and Corruption; underlines the need to direct particular attention and resources towards uncovering money-laundering schemes;

    52. Notes, with concern, North Macedonia’s partial alignment with the EU acquis in the fight against organised crime; reiterates its call for further alignment with the EU acquis and for systematic financial investigations, stepping up the freezing, confiscation, management and disposal of illegally acquired assets;

    53. Calls for a thorough and transparent investigation of the Kočani nightclub fire on 16 March 2025, to bring to justice the persons responsible, and also for the legislation to be updated and thoroughly implemented to prevent similar tragedies and ensure better public safety and regulatory compliance to protect citizens;

    54. Calls for the swift implementation of the ongoing reforms in the security and intelligence sectors, and for the independence of security and intelligence bodies to be strengthened through the establishment of appropriate regulatory frameworks, while also enhancing democratic oversight mechanisms; notes, with concern, that the National Security Agency is still located on the premises of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, calling into question its status as an independent state administration body;

    55. Commends North Macedonia’s strong determination to counter hybrid threats; welcomes the government’s initiative to create a national strategic framework to counter disinformation as well as the adoption of the national cybersecurity strategy 2025-2028; calls for further efforts to build resilience against foreign interference and information manipulation; underlines the need to work on a national strategy to build resilience against disinformation as a security threat to the state, including through enhanced cybersecurity measures and strategic communication as well as education and media literacy; calls for the full operationalisation of EU mechanisms, such as the rapid alert system, to detect malign foreign influence in real time during key democratic processes, including elections;

    56. Is deeply concerned that North Macedonia and other EU accession countries in the Western Balkans are being particularly hard hit by foreign interference and disinformation campaigns, including hybrid threats, strategic corruption, opaque financial flows and coercive investment practices, notably originating in Russia and China; is alarmed by Hungary’s and Serbia’s roles in advancing China’s and Russia’s geopolitical objectives; notes, in this context, the risk of dependence on China caused by asymmetrical loan agreements, as well as the recent loan from Hungary, which  appears to be sourced from China;

    Socio-economic reforms

    57. Recommends that North Macedonia continue to pursue steps to improve the business climate and infrastructure, strengthen education and digital infrastructure, and enhance social protection systems and their connection to employment initiatives; welcomes the inclusion of human capital-related reforms in the Growth Plan Reform Agenda and calls on North Macedonia to dedicate sufficient effort to implementing these reforms to achieve sustainable results in the development of human capital for children and young people, as the foundation of resilient societies and sustainable growth;

    58. Welcomes the adoption of the Reform Agenda and the multiannual work programme under the Reform and Growth Facility for North Macedonia, which will provide support for small and medium-sized enterprises, cut red tape and digitalise the public system, and welcomes the steps provided for in the Reform Agenda regarding the digital infrastructure roll-out and the new Law on Electronic Communications, aligning the national legislation with the relevant EU acquis and keeping up with the digital transition worldwide;

    59. Encourages labour market activation strategies for young people, the long-term unemployed, and low-skilled individuals, as well as for women, persons with disabilities and Roma, and calls for these measures to be properly evaluated; takes note of the long-term improvement in unemployment rates, notes, however, that this must be accompanied by a rise in real wages, the improvement of working conditions and the protection of workers’ rights, including trade union rights; calls for the full implementation of the Law on the Peaceful Settlement of Labour Disputes;

    60. Encourages North Macedonia to advance its digital transformation, particularly by improving the digital skills of all citizens and by providing online access to public services; recognises the demographic challenges faced by North Macedonia, including population decline, the emigration of young professionals, and an ageing workforce, and underlines the need to address the brain drain, especially in the medical, technological and educational fields; calls for the implementation of targeted policies to reverse the brain drain, enhance family-friendly social policies and attract return migration; encourages cooperation with the EU on demographic resilience strategies, including labour market incentives, housing support for young families, and investment in education and skills development to align with future job market needs; calls for increased support for innovation and competitiveness;

    61. Welcomes the positive effects of the Youth Guarantee on the reduction of youth unemployment; calls on North Macedonia to intensify its efforts to reduce the unemployment rate of young people aged between 15 and 24, which remains high at 29.3 %; underlines the need to address social challenges, ensure quality employment policies, foster upward social cohesion and convergence towards EU standards and support progress on the principles of the European Pillar of Social Rights;

    62. Welcomes the efforts to amend the labour law; urges full alignment of the Law on Working Relations with EU directives to effectively guarantee the right to equal pay for equal work, ensure pay transparency and enhance protection against discrimination based on pregnancy and maternity; insists on the need to strengthen the competencies and capacities of the State Labour Inspectorate to ensure effective protection of workers’ rights, including safeguards against labour discrimination;

    63. Commends North Macedonia for joining the single euro payments area (SEPA), recognising this as an important step toward deeper financial integration with the European market and the facilitation of faster, more efficient cross-border transactions; urges North Macedonia to introduce structural reforms to strengthen the economy and secure the country’s debt sustainability;

    64. Welcomes the calls for the prompt integration of all of the Western Balkans into the EU’s digital single market at the earliest opportunity, which would crucially benefit the creation of a digitally safe environment;

    65. Urges the authorities to fully implement existing legal provisions to ensure access to primary healthcare services, with a particular focus on sexual and reproductive health for women, mothers and children, and eliminate barriers related to geography, finances or other hardships; calls for targeted measures to support vulnerable groups of women in accessing healthcare, including Roma women, rural women and those living in poverty;

    66. Welcomes the progress made in the implementation of the Strategy for Inclusion of Roma 2022-2030; regrets, however, that the strategy lacks a clear approach to participation, empowerment and capacity building; calls on the authorities to implement the respective action plans, ensuring proper monitoring and meaningful and transparent participation of civil society organisations, notably from the Roma community;

    Environment, biodiversity, energy and transport

    67. Welcomes the adoption of the Energy Law in 2025 and underscores its importance for guaranteeing a safe, secure and high-quality supply of energy as well as for creating an efficient, competitive and financially sustainable energy sector; encourages the authorities to continue on this ambitious path and recalls that additional efforts are needed to fully meet the targets for energy efficiency, renewable energy, security of supply and emissions reductions; urges the country’s authorities to align their environment and climate change legislation with the EU acquis and to ensure its enforcement; notes, with concern, the lack of progress on climate action and the pending adoption of key legislation; stresses the need to integrate gender equality and social inclusion into climate action planning so that women, low-income households and marginalised communities are actively consulted and benefit equitably from the transition;

    68. Welcomes the European Investment Bank’s continued financial and technical support in North Macedonia, including strategic infrastructure projects such as the Rail Corridor VIII, the Skopje wastewater treatment plant, and municipal water infrastructure development; calls for an inclusive and just transition which protects the socially vulnerable, by mobilising public and private financing for the green transition, fully operationalising dedicated funding mechanisms and leveraging EU and international support; stresses the need to address the problems of a lack of specialised staff and weak institutional and administrative capacity, which undermine quality control and the adequate performance of environmental impact assessments;

    69. Notes, with concern, that air and water quality and wastewater management remain particularly challenging issues for the country; urges the central government and local authorities to step up their efforts in order to improve air quality and reduce potentially lethal pollution; recalls that the situation is particularly alarming in Skopje, which has consistently been one of the most polluted cities in Europe;

    70. Recognises North Macedonia’s great potential as a regional hub with regard to the use of renewable energy sources; urges North Macedonia to fully align its environmental impact assessment with the EU acquis, with a particular focus on secondary legislation concerning small hydropower projects;

    71. Stresses the urgent need to prioritise environmental protection; strongly urges the authorities to adopt the necessary legislation and to step up measures on biodiversity, water, air and climate action, and regional waste management, including through comprehensive impact assessments, rigorous prosecution of environmental crime and proper public consultation that allows for the meaningful and transparent involvement of local communities, NGOs and scientific institutions;

    72. Calls on North Macedonia to establish legal protections for Emerald Sites designated under the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats (the Bern Convention) to safeguard them from environmentally harmful projects; encourages the country to expand its protected areas, with a view to fulfilling the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets; reiterates the urgent need to adopt the law on the re-proclamation of Mavrovo National Park to ensure the continuation and completion of its essential conservation efforts; encourages North Macedonia to include Jablanica on its list of protected areas, thus ensuring the conservation of habitats that are critical to the survival of species;

    73. Encourages the authorities of North Macedonia to implement stricter protection and management strategies for the habitats of endangered species, as well as for the species themselves, particularly the Balkan lynx, including rigorous enforcement of laws against wildlife crimes, specifically illegal killing and poaching, to safeguard biodiversity;

    74. Welcomes North Macedonia’s continued cooperation with Kosovo and Albania regarding the transboundary Sharr Mountains National Park; encourages North Macedonia to intensify and speed up collaborative efforts with its neighbouring countries to designate transboundary protected areas and establish coherent transboundary management plans;

    75. Stresses the need to tackle financial challenges faced by national parks to improve various aspects, including human resources and overall management, with the aim of strengthening their role in biodiversity conservation, providing recreational opportunities and supporting local economies;

    76. Welcomes the progress made in the construction of the Corridor VIII of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) and commends the completion of the Kriva Palanka–Dlabochica–Stracin expressway; urges, however, the authorities of North Macedonia to step up their efforts to prioritise sustainable transport and upgrade energy infrastructure work towards integration in European networks and regional connectivity as well as to address persistent delays in the development of critical infrastructure, including through bilateral negotiations; calls on the Commission to assist in these efforts where needed;

    77. Calls for additional efforts to accelerate progress on all priority sections of the core network for both rail and road, including by increasing the number of border crossings wherever possible; notes the strategic importance of Corridor VIII for the EU’s and NATO’s geostrategic autonomy, serving as a key logistics route along NATO’s southern flank;

    Regional cooperation and foreign policy

    78. Welcomes North Macedonia’s valuable and significant contributions to regional cooperation and stability via its engagement in regional economic and diplomatic initiatives such as the Berlin Process, the Growth Plan for the Western Balkans, and the implementation of common regional market agreements, underlining the importance of their inclusiveness;

    79. Welcomes the country’s commitment to nurturing good neighbourly relations and acknowledges its role as a model for the peaceful resolution of bilateral disputes through dialogue and mutual understanding; emphasises, in this regard, the importance of full implementation of international agreements with tangible results in good faith by all sides, including the Prespa Agreement with Greece and the Treaty of friendship, good neighbourliness and cooperation with Bulgaria; calls for consistent commitment to dialogue and cooperation with neighbouring countries to strengthen regional stability and foster mutual trust; calls for the further promotion of people-to-people contacts across south-eastern Europe;

    80. Expresses concern about the so-called ‘Serbian world’ project and that some representatives of the Government of North Macedonia have been advocating and promoting this concept; condemns the participation in meetings that attempt to establish a sphere of influence undermining the sovereignty of other countries and the stability of the region;

    81. Recalls the need to open up Yugoslav secret service archives (UDBA and KOS), kept in both North Macedonia and Serbia; emphasises the need to open these archives region-wide to deal with the totalitarian past in a transparent way, with a view to strengthening democracy, accountability and institutions in the Western Balkans;

    82. Welcomes North Macedonia’s continued commitment to Euro-Atlantic security; commends North Macedonia’s active role in the OSCE, in particular its chairmanship of the OSCE in 2023 in a complex geopolitical environment, and substantial contributions to EU crisis management missions and military operations; commends the country’s alignment with the EU’s foreign, security and defence policy, including its clear-cut response to  Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine by aligning with the EU’s restrictive measures against Russia and Belarus and providing support to Ukraine; welcomes the signing of a security and defence partnership with the EU in 2024;

    83. Regrets, however, that North Macedonia, was the only country in the Western Balkans to abstain on the European resolution on Ukraine in the UN General Assembly in February 2025 and instead co-sponsored the US resolution, alongside countries such as Georgia and Hungary, representing a negative signal regarding North Macedonia’s alignment with the EU’s common foreign and security policy and with the collective European commitment to upholding peace, international law and democratic principles;

    84. Acknowledges North Macedonia’s NATO membership as a significant geostrategic contribution to regional security and Euro-Atlantic stability, including through the country’s active participation in NATO missions and operations and its strategic role in fostering peace and cooperation in the Western Balkans, as well as through the ongoing modernisation of its armed forces and reforms in the fields of crisis management, critical infrastructure and cyber defence; highlights the fact that NATO membership strengthens North Macedonia’s defence capabilities, enhances security coordination with EU and NATO allies, and serves as a deterrent against external destabilisation efforts; encourages North Macedonia to deepen cooperation with the EU and NATO on countering hybrid threats, including through cybersecurity coordination, joint disinformation tracking and resilience-building, and to pursue its efforts to deter external destabilisation attempts; encourages North Macedonia to continue its investment in defence modernisation and alignment with NATO strategic priorities in order to further solidify its role as a reliable security partner;

    85. Welcomes the agreement concluded at the EU-Western Balkans summit in Tirana on reduced roaming costs; calls, in this respect, on the authorities, private actors and all stakeholders to facilitate achieving the agreed targets of a substantial reduction of data roaming charges between the Western Balkans and the EU and further reductions leading to prices close to the domestic prices by 2027; welcomes the entering into force of the first phase of implementation of the roadmap for roaming between the Western Balkans and the EU;

    86. Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the President of the European Council, the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the governments and parliaments of the Member States, and the President, Government and Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Briefing – Hungary’s Pride ban – 27-06-2025

    Source: European Parliament

    On 18 March 2025, a law was adopted in Hungary restricting the freedom of assembly, by connecting it to a previous controversial law from 2021 that prohibited the public portrayal to children of ‘divergence from self-identity corresponding to sex at birth, sex change or homosexuality’. An amendment to the Hungarian Constitution adopted on 14 April 2025 further reinforced this. On the basis of this law, Budapest police decided to ban Budapest Pride. While at first some of the police’s decisions were annulled by the Hungarian Supreme Court on procedural grounds and required new decisions, the Supreme Court later upheld these decisions and refused to check the law against the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) or make a preliminary reference to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU). The Supreme Court considered that this case is not within the CJEU’s jurisdiction. The mayor of Budapest announced that Budapest Pride will be held as a municipal event, but the Budapest police have issued a decision prohibiting this.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI China: SCIO briefing on plans for marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War

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

    中文

    Speakers:

    Mr. Hu Heping, executive deputy director of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee

    Major General Wu Zeke, deputy director of the Leading Group Office of Military Parade and deputy director general of the Operation Bureau of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission

    Chairperson:

    Ms. Shou Xiaoli, director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO

    Date:

    June 24, 2025

    Shou Xiaoli:

    Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO). This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. A series of commemorative activities will be held and have drawn widespread public attention across all sectors of society. Today we have invited Mr. Hu Heping, executive deputy director of the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, and Major General Wu Zeke, deputy director of the Leading Group Office of Military Parade and deputy director general of the Operation Bureau of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, to brief you on plans for the commemorative activities and take your questions.

    Now, I’ll give the floor to Mr. Hu for his introduction.

    Hu Heping:

    Good afternoon. I am very pleased to introduce the plans for marking the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

    Eighty years ago, after 14 years of arduous and heroic struggle, the Chinese people secured a great victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, marking the full triumph in the World Anti-Fascist War. This great victory belonged not only to the Chinese people, but also to the peoples of the world. On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, grand commemorative events will be held to bear history in mind, honor all those who laid down their lives, and carry forward the great spirit of patriotism and resistance against aggression. These efforts carry profound and lasting significance. In March this year, the CPC Central Committee and the State Council issued a special notice, making overall arrangements for the commemorative activities. Now, let me give you a brief overview.

    First, on the morning of Sept. 3, in the name of the CPC Central Committee, the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress (NPC), the State Council, the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), and the Central Military Commission, a grand ceremony to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War will be held at Tian’anmen Square in Beijing, including a military parade. General Secretary Xi Jinping will deliver an important speech. At noon on Sept. 3, a reception will be held in Beijing, and General Secretary Xi Jinping will deliver an important speech. On the evening of Sept. 3, a commemorative gala will be held in Beijing, to be attended by Party and state leaders.

    Second, in the name of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission, the “80th Anniversary of the Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression” commemorative medals will be awarded to surviving veterans, comrades and generals of the war or their surviving family members. Authorities across all regions and relevant departments will organize commemorative visits to honor surviving veterans, comrades and generals of the war, their bereaved families, and the relatives of martyrs.

    Third, on July 7, a ceremony commemorating the 88th anniversary of the beginning of China’s whole-nation resistance war against Japanese aggression will be held at the Museum of the War of Chinese People’s Resistance Against Japanese Aggression in the name of the CPC Central Committee, the State Council and the Central Military Commission. The event will concurrently inaugurate a themed exhibition titled “For National Liberation and World Peace: Commemorating the 80th Anniversary of Victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.”

    Fourth, around Sept. 3, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, symposiums will be held with compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, as well as overseas representatives. An international academic conference will also be convened.

    Fifth, on Sept. 18, a bell-tolling and siren ceremony to remember September 18 Incident will be held at the 9.18 Historical Museum in Shenyang, Liaoning province, in the name of the CPC Liaoning provincial committee and the Liaoning provincial government.

    Sixth, around Oct. 25, a gathering will be held to mark the 80th anniversary of Taiwan’s recovery from Japanese occupation. Overseas Chinese will be supported in organizing related commemorative activities locally.

    Seventh, on Dec. 13, a national memorial ceremony for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre will be held at the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders in Nanjing, in the name of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council.

    Eighth, the fourth batch of national-level anti-Japanese aggression war memorial facilities and sites, and a new list of renowned martyrs and heroic groups from the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression will be officially released. Restoration and preservation efforts will be undertaken to repair and protect war memorial facilities, sites and relics. And a batch of high-quality war-themed exhibitions will be promoted.

    Ninth, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, a series of cultural works and themed publications will be produced and released, while academic research will be intensified with the establishment of priority research projects. In addition, commemorative coins and stamps will also be issued.

    Tenth, local authorities and departments will organize community-based commemorative activities tailored to their specific contexts. Hong Kong and Macao will also organize a series of commemorative activities.

    These events make up the main schedule. The CPC Central Committee has clearly required that all commemorative activities must strictly comply with the Party Central Committee’s eight-point decision on conduct and its rules for implementation, rigorously enforce the Regulations on Practicing Thrift and Opposing Waste in Party and Government Organs, prevent formalism and avoid extravagance, ensuring that the events are both solemnly conducted and pragmatically modest.

    That is all from me. Thank you.

    Shou Xiaoli:

    Now, let’s invite Mr. Wu to give his introduction.

    Wu Zeke:

    Good morning everyone, and welcome all our friends from the media. It’s my pleasure to present the details of the military parade to you all.

    The CPC Central Committee and the Central Military Commission have decided that a grand military parade will be held at Tian’anmen Square in Beijing on Sept. 3. General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, President of the People’s Republic of China, and Chairman of the Central Military Commission Xi Jinping will inspect the troops at the military parade.

    This parade is an important part of the activities commemorating the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. The theme is to commemorate the great victory and promote the great spirit of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. The purpose is to highlight the historical significance of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression as the main theater in the East during the Global War against Fascism and its significant contribution to victory in the World Anti-Fascist War, to underscore the pivotal role of the CPC during the war, to demonstrate China’s firm commitments to safeguarding the fruits of World War II and upholding international fairness and justice, as well as its active efforts in building a community with a shared future for mankind. It also aims to fully demonstrate the firm political awareness and practical actions of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in absolute loyalty to the core leadership of the CPC Central Committee, as well as the excellent conduct through enhancing its political loyalty, the new structure of military strength, new progress in its modernization, and the new achievements in its training under combat conditions. It further demonstrates China’s strong will and capabilities to resolutely safeguard its national sovereignty, security and development interests, and to firmly maintain world peace. All of this is intended to inspire the entire Party, army, and people of all ethnic groups in the country to unite more closely around the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, strive to achieve the centenary goal of building a strong military on schedule, accelerate the building of the PLA into a world-class military, and to strive for the comprehensive promotion of the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation through Chinese modernization.

    The military parade will consist of foot formations, equipment formations and aerial formations. In its overall design, the parade has made well-coordinated arrangements for the participation of units from the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the People’s Armed Police Force, with each formation and echelon carefully organized. It features three main characteristics: First, it highlights both historical legacy and contemporary features. On the one hand, by showcasing the historical designations, honors and unique spirit of the wartime units, the parade will pay tribute to fallen heroes, honor military merits and carry forward the indomitable spirit of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression. It reflects the enduring legacy forged by the sacrifice and blood of heroes, a legacy that remains deeply rooted in the hearts of the Chinese people and continues to inspire the armed forces to resolutely safeguard the nation and national dignity. On the other hand, the parade will highlight the PLA’s new organizational structure, enhanced capabilities and fresh image, showcasing the historic achievements and transformative progress of the military in the new era, as well as its firm strides toward becoming a world-class military. Second, it reflects the distinctive features of various military branches while demonstrating integrated joint operations. The foot formations will focus on presenting the new structure and composition of military branches following reforms, as well as the integration of standing forces, reserve forces and militia. The equipment formations will highlight the latest advances in China’s weapons systems, and the integration of multiple platforms and units will showcase new models of joint command, joint operations and joint support, demonstrating the PLA’s capability for independent innovation in defense technologies. The aerial formations will display the systematic strength and rapidly improving combat capabilities of China’s air-based combat capabilities. Third, the parade will feature both traditional mainstay combat forces and emerging strategic forces. All weapons and equipment on display are domestically developed and currently in service. In addition to showcasing the new generation of conventional weaponry, the parade will also feature emerging forces, including unmanned and intelligent systems, undersea combat units, cyber electronic operations and hypersonic weapons, demonstrating the PLA’s strong capacity to adapt to technological advances, the evolution of warfare and the demands of future battlefields. In addition, the design of the review procedures, the ceremonial atmosphere and the integration of elements commemorating the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression will feature several innovative touches. For example, a joint military band has been formed to perform classic songs popular during the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, as well as military pieces rich in contemporary and combative spirit. These arrangements aim to evoke historical memory, pay tribute to the fallen heroes and experience the powerful, uplifting atmosphere of the parade, creating a solemn and grand commemorative occasion.

    At present, preparations are being carried out in an orderly manner in accordance with the overall plans approved by the CPC Central Committee and the Central Military Commission. The relevant work has received strong support from central Party and government departments as well as the Beijing municipal government. This parade upholds the principle of building the military in a diligent and thrifty manner. It makes full use of existing resources and conditions to maximize efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

    We firmly believe that under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee, the Central Military Commission and General Secretary Xi Jinping, and through the joint efforts of all the officers and soldiers participating in the parade, we will present a grand military parade that promotes the great spirit of resisting aggression, embodies the characteristics of the times and has the demeanor of a major country to both Chinese people and people all over the world. 

    That’s all for my introduction. Thank you.

    Shou Xiaoli:

    Now, the floor is open for questions. Please identify the media outlet you represent before asking your question.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: SFO and DOJ affirm commitment to joint working to tackle crime

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    SFO and DOJ affirm commitment to joint working to tackle crime

    The Director of the Serious Fraud Office met with the Head of the Criminal Division at the US Department of Justice this week.

    The Director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) met with the Head of the Criminal Division at the US Department of Justice (DOJ) this week as part of strengthening their important partnership in tackling financial crime.

    The meeting covered the DOJ’s latest white collar crime policies and the SFO and DoJ’s shared commitment to encouraging voluntary self-disclosure from companies as well as positive action to reduce the length of complex investigations to deliver swifter justice.    

    The meeting comes soon after the DOJ published its new white collar crime enforcement plan.   

    Director of Serious Fraud Office, Nick Ephgrave QPM, said:

    I was delighted to meet with Matthew Galeotti, Head of Criminal Division at the US Department of Justice. 

    Fraud, bribery, and corruption have a deeply damaging impact on people’s lives and our respective economies. This week we re-affirmed our long-standing commitment to working together wherever possible to tackle this threat.   

    This meeting marks a significant milestone for us as we continue to strengthen our international approach to fighting financial crime with key partners. Together, we can more effectively pursue criminals and deliver justice.

    Head of the Department of Justice’s Criminal Division, Matthew Galeotti, said:

    This week, I met with Nick Ephgrave, Director of the UK’s Serious Fraud Office, and we discussed the strategies and tools available to combat fraud and restore the integrity of our markets and bring justice to victims. 

    The Criminal Division and SFO have been partners in this fight for many years, and I look forward to strengthening our cooperation and our shared commitment to root out insidious white-collar crime.

    Press Office

    Email news@sfo.gov.uk

    Out of hours press office contact number +44 (0)7557 009842

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Serious crash, Kumeu

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Emergency services were called to an address on Coatesville-Riverhead Highway at around 8:20pm to reports of a car crashing into a house.

    Initial indications suggest that four people have serious to critical injuries.

    The Serious Crash Unit has been notified.

    The road is currently closed, motorists are advised to avoid the area if possible, and follow diversions.

    ENDS.

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Japan: Cruel execution a stain on country’s human rights record – Amnesty International

    Source: Amnesty International

     

    In response to today’s execution in Japan of a man convicted of the murder of nine people, Chiara Sangiorgio, Death Penalty Advisor at Amnesty International, said:

     

    “The execution of Takahiro Shiraishi – the first in Japan in nearly three years – is the latest callous attack on the right to life in Japan and a major setback for the country’s human rights record.

     

    “Last year’s acquittal of Hakamada Iwao, formerly the world’s longest-serving death row prisoner, laid bare the unfairness of Japan’s criminal justice system and use of the death penalty and was an ideal opportunity to change course. 

     

    “But instead of moving to reform and ensure full protection of human rights, the government has chosen to resume executions. This is a significant setback to efforts to end the use of the death penalty in Japan.

     

    “As of today, 113 countries worldwide have completely abolished the death penalty in law, and more than 144 have abandoned it in law or practice, yet Japan continues to use this inhuman punishment.

     

    “The secrecy that continues to surround the notification of executions make the use of this punishment in Japan additionally cruel. The Japanese authorities must immediately introduce a moratorium on executions as a first step toward abolishing the death penalty entirely —and commute all death sentences to terms of imprisonment.”

     

     

    Background

     

    According to Japan’s Ministry of Justice, the execution of Takahiro Shiraishi was carried out on 27 June 2025.

    Shiraishi was convicted in 2020 of the killing of nine people in 2017 by Tokyo District Court and sentenced to death.

    This is the first execution under Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, who came to power in October 2024, and the first since July 2022.

     

    Executions in Japan are shrouded in secrecy, with prisoners typically given only a few hours’ notice and given no warning at all before their death sentences are carried out. Their families are usually notified about the execution only after it has taken place.

     

    Japan is one of a small group of countries that has carried out executions in recent years. Amnesty International recorded 1,518 executions in 15 countries in 2024 (excluding the thousands believed to have been carried out in China), an increase by 32% from the 1,153 recorded in 2023 largely driven by a spike in three countries in the Middle East – Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.  

     

    On 26 September 2024, a long-awaited ruling was delivered by Shizuoka District Court to acquit Hakamada Iwao, described as the world’s longest-serving death row prisoner.

     

    Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception regardless of the nature or circumstances of the crime, guilt, innocence or other characteristics of the individual, or the method used by the state to carry out the execution.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: 2024-03-27 at 16h49 The four crises and seven structural shifts of the last eight years Prime Minister António Costa took stock of the last years in government

    Source: Government of Portugal (PM)

    António Costa took stock of the government’s action in the last eight years, where he was Prime Minister, during a press conference held in the official residence.<.>

    António Costa also referred to the financial system’s greater stability. “The state-owned bank, which many felt should be privatised and that it would be impossible to capitalise, is today not only solvent, but also generated due revenue for the Portuguese economy and citizens”, the Prime Minister claimed. 

    The wildland fires crisis 

    The second crisis noted by the Prime Minister was that of wildland fires, the answer to which included restructuring the civil protection system and a budget reform, which offered prevention a clear priority over fighting. As a result, “if we were to add up the entire area burnt down in the six years between 2018 and 2023 [the result] is 60.7% of the area burnt down in 2017 alone”, he stressed.

    The Covid-19 pandemic 

    The country’s response to this third crisis was “worthy of note”, claimed the Prime Minister. “We were the first country in the world to reach a vaccination coverage of 85%. And the efforts to support the economy and households allowed us to be one of the countries that best came out of the pandemic”, he added. 

    The inflationist crisis

    The fourth crisis arose from the effects of the pandemic, which was still felt, and the war between Russia and Ukraine. This conflict “worsened a situation that came from the pandemic, with the breakdown in supply chains, which led us to the greatest inflationist crisis of the last 30 years”. 

    The rises in interest rates by the European Central Bank to respond to rising inflation “in a society such as hours where mortgages have a high significance and the variable rates are clearly dominant”, together with rising food costs, shot up household costs. 

    “From the start of 2022 to October 2022, inflation soared. We hit 10.1% inflation in October 2022 and since then we have been on a slow, yet sure, trajectory to lower inflation, until we hit 2.1% last February and the forecast is we will remain on that lowering trajectory”, said the Prime Minister.

    SEVEN STRUCTURAL SHITS

    Higher growth

    The Prime Minister stated that between 2000 and 2015 the country alternated between recession and stagnation. “Only in one year of these 15 did we grow above the European average: in 2009. From 2016 onwards, the reality has been quite different “, he said. “In these eight years, the country grew ten times more than what it had grown in the previous 15”, he signalled, noting the 2.1% growth, including in the two pandemic years, “where product naturally fell drastically”. 

    More jobs and more income

    The creation of jobs and improvement in employment conditions contributed to this economic growth. “Today, we have a record number of people working in Portugal: 5 million people. That is an additional 629 thousand jobs than in 2015. And in a context where it was possible to not just to have minimum wages grow 62%, but also average wages having grown 27.7%”, the Prime Minister indicated.

    In addition to the rise in the minimum wage, the Prime Minister also noted rising pensions and improvement in net income. 

    Always in line with the Social Security Basis Law, in these eight years, average pensions rose 23.3%, “with all the rises set down in the law, as well as extraordinary rises to counter inflation”. 

    The improvement in net income came from the “successive drops in income tax IRS” and the “successive measures of non-monetary transfers that cut household expenses”, such as making school books free, reforming the costs of public transports, increasing the number of households that benefit from energy social rates and the “significant” cut in pubic university fees, that went from more than one thousand euros to 697 euros per annum.

    A more qualified country

    This was the shift the Prime Minister considered “perhaps brings the greatest consequences for the future”. António Costa mentioned the “highly significant” drop in early dropouts, where this year we are below the EU average for 2030, and the rise in the number of youths aged 30 to 34 years who completed higher educaiton in 2015, which can only rise, since “if we look at the youths who are 20 years old, 39% attended university in 2015, and today it’s 54%”. 

    A more competitive economy

    “Every year, we beat records in attracting foreign direct investment. Every year, we beat corporate investment records and corporate investment went up 85% between 2015 and 2023”, the Prime Minister stated, advocating that “what offers a modern economy competitiveness is its capacity to have qualified jobs, being more innovative, and this is what enables that innovation”. 

    António Costa also added that the rise in exports, which in 2022 accounted for more than 50% of GDP, and the change in the nature of exports. “Exports of high and medium tech goods increased 71% over these last eight years, which means that complexifying, qualifying, and the added value of our economy have been clearly on the rise”.

    Less inequality

    “Today we have 600 thousand people less in poverty or social exclusion, and especially 226 thousand children less living in poverty or social exclusion”, said the Prime Minister.

    Taking the lead in fighting climate change

    The sixth shift had to do with the country’s position in taking the lead in fighting climate change. “We were the first country in the world, at the2016 Marrakesh COP to undertake the goal of being carbon neutral by 2050. Our Climate Law imposed on us a greater ambition of hitting that target in 2045 rather than 2050”. 

    Since 2017, Portugal has cut back its GHG emissions by 17% “due to the public transport policy and bringing targets such as closing down coal-fuelled power stations forward and increasing the capacity to generate energy using renewables”, the Prime Minister signalled.

    Advances in the State reform 

    The last structural shift mentioned by the Prime Minister had to do with the advances in the State reform, namely concerning the decentralisation of powers, such as transferring the PSP’s traffic tasks to the Lisbon and Porto municipal police, making Carri or STCP (public transport) municipal, or the agreement with the National Portuguese Municipalities Association (ANMP) to transfer powers. Lastly, António Costa referred to the reform of the Regional Development Coordination Committees (CCDR), that are now more democratised and with greater autonomy. 

    View the Prime Minister’s presentation here 

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: 2024-03-27 at 16h49 The four crises and seven structural shifts of the last eight years Prime Minister António Costa took stock of the last years in government

    Source: Government of Portugal (PM)

    António Costa took stock of the government’s action in the last eight years, where he was Prime Minister, during a press conference held in the official residence.<.>

    António Costa also referred to the financial system’s greater stability. “The state-owned bank, which many felt should be privatised and that it would be impossible to capitalise, is today not only solvent, but also generated due revenue for the Portuguese economy and citizens”, the Prime Minister claimed. 

    The wildland fires crisis 

    The second crisis noted by the Prime Minister was that of wildland fires, the answer to which included restructuring the civil protection system and a budget reform, which offered prevention a clear priority over fighting. As a result, “if we were to add up the entire area burnt down in the six years between 2018 and 2023 [the result] is 60.7% of the area burnt down in 2017 alone”, he stressed.

    The Covid-19 pandemic 

    The country’s response to this third crisis was “worthy of note”, claimed the Prime Minister. “We were the first country in the world to reach a vaccination coverage of 85%. And the efforts to support the economy and households allowed us to be one of the countries that best came out of the pandemic”, he added. 

    The inflationist crisis

    The fourth crisis arose from the effects of the pandemic, which was still felt, and the war between Russia and Ukraine. This conflict “worsened a situation that came from the pandemic, with the breakdown in supply chains, which led us to the greatest inflationist crisis of the last 30 years”. 

    The rises in interest rates by the European Central Bank to respond to rising inflation “in a society such as hours where mortgages have a high significance and the variable rates are clearly dominant”, together with rising food costs, shot up household costs. 

    “From the start of 2022 to October 2022, inflation soared. We hit 10.1% inflation in October 2022 and since then we have been on a slow, yet sure, trajectory to lower inflation, until we hit 2.1% last February and the forecast is we will remain on that lowering trajectory”, said the Prime Minister.

    SEVEN STRUCTURAL SHITS

    Higher growth

    The Prime Minister stated that between 2000 and 2015 the country alternated between recession and stagnation. “Only in one year of these 15 did we grow above the European average: in 2009. From 2016 onwards, the reality has been quite different “, he said. “In these eight years, the country grew ten times more than what it had grown in the previous 15”, he signalled, noting the 2.1% growth, including in the two pandemic years, “where product naturally fell drastically”. 

    More jobs and more income

    The creation of jobs and improvement in employment conditions contributed to this economic growth. “Today, we have a record number of people working in Portugal: 5 million people. That is an additional 629 thousand jobs than in 2015. And in a context where it was possible to not just to have minimum wages grow 62%, but also average wages having grown 27.7%”, the Prime Minister indicated.

    In addition to the rise in the minimum wage, the Prime Minister also noted rising pensions and improvement in net income. 

    Always in line with the Social Security Basis Law, in these eight years, average pensions rose 23.3%, “with all the rises set down in the law, as well as extraordinary rises to counter inflation”. 

    The improvement in net income came from the “successive drops in income tax IRS” and the “successive measures of non-monetary transfers that cut household expenses”, such as making school books free, reforming the costs of public transports, increasing the number of households that benefit from energy social rates and the “significant” cut in pubic university fees, that went from more than one thousand euros to 697 euros per annum.

    A more qualified country

    This was the shift the Prime Minister considered “perhaps brings the greatest consequences for the future”. António Costa mentioned the “highly significant” drop in early dropouts, where this year we are below the EU average for 2030, and the rise in the number of youths aged 30 to 34 years who completed higher educaiton in 2015, which can only rise, since “if we look at the youths who are 20 years old, 39% attended university in 2015, and today it’s 54%”. 

    A more competitive economy

    “Every year, we beat records in attracting foreign direct investment. Every year, we beat corporate investment records and corporate investment went up 85% between 2015 and 2023”, the Prime Minister stated, advocating that “what offers a modern economy competitiveness is its capacity to have qualified jobs, being more innovative, and this is what enables that innovation”. 

    António Costa also added that the rise in exports, which in 2022 accounted for more than 50% of GDP, and the change in the nature of exports. “Exports of high and medium tech goods increased 71% over these last eight years, which means that complexifying, qualifying, and the added value of our economy have been clearly on the rise”.

    Less inequality

    “Today we have 600 thousand people less in poverty or social exclusion, and especially 226 thousand children less living in poverty or social exclusion”, said the Prime Minister.

    Taking the lead in fighting climate change

    The sixth shift had to do with the country’s position in taking the lead in fighting climate change. “We were the first country in the world, at the2016 Marrakesh COP to undertake the goal of being carbon neutral by 2050. Our Climate Law imposed on us a greater ambition of hitting that target in 2045 rather than 2050”. 

    Since 2017, Portugal has cut back its GHG emissions by 17% “due to the public transport policy and bringing targets such as closing down coal-fuelled power stations forward and increasing the capacity to generate energy using renewables”, the Prime Minister signalled.

    Advances in the State reform 

    The last structural shift mentioned by the Prime Minister had to do with the advances in the State reform, namely concerning the decentralisation of powers, such as transferring the PSP’s traffic tasks to the Lisbon and Porto municipal police, making Carri or STCP (public transport) municipal, or the agreement with the National Portuguese Municipalities Association (ANMP) to transfer powers. Lastly, António Costa referred to the reform of the Regional Development Coordination Committees (CCDR), that are now more democratised and with greater autonomy. 

    View the Prime Minister’s presentation here 

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Former attorney convicted of stealing RAF payouts

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Former attorney convicted of stealing RAF payouts

    A former attorney has been convicted on four counts of theft by the Mpumalanga Specialised Commercial Crimes Court after defrauding clients of their Road Accident Fund (RAF) claims.

    According to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Mantladi Jo-Anne Mmela, committed the crimes when she was practising as a sole practitioner between June 2019 and March 2022.

    “The accused lodged claims against the Road Accident Fund on behalf of her clients, which were subsequently paid out. The money was paid by the Road Accident Fund into the trust account of Mmela Incorporated Attorneys for the benefit of her clients, totalling an amount of over R4.1 million.

    “The incident came to light after one of the victims reported that Mmela failed to pay her. An investigation ensued and led to the arrest of the accused in 2022,” the NPA said in a statement.

    Mmela was subsequently granted bail. However, after absconding, she was re-arrested and remained in custody.

    “During trial, the accused pleaded not guilty, and Senior State Advocate Henry Nxumalo presented evidence of the witnesses to prove the allegations levelled against her. The accused was convicted on four counts of theft, and the matter was postponed to 21 August 2025 for sentencing in the same court.

    “The National Prosecuting Authority welcomes the conviction as a significant step in the fight against the theft of trust monies by attorneys as breach of trust, more so the victims of motor vehicle accidents. The collaboration against fighting such crimes yielded positive results in this matter. 

    “The NPA remains committed to fighting financial crimes and ensuring that those who deprive claimants of their monies are prosecuted,” the NPA said. – SAnews.gov.za

    NeoB

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Analysis: 1 in 3 Tuvaluans is bidding for a new ‘climate visa’ to Australia – here’s why everyone may ultimately end up applying

    Source: The Conversation – Global Perspectives – By Jane McAdam, Scientia Professor and ARC Laureate Fellow, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney

    Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images for Lumix

    In just four days, one-third of the population of Tuvalu entered a ballot for a new permanent visa to Australia.

    This world-first visa will enable up to 280 Tuvaluans to move permanently to Australia each year, from a current population of about 10,000. The visa is open to anyone who wants to work, study or live in Australia. Unlike other visa schemes for Pacific peoples, a job offer in Australia is not required.

    While the visa itself doesn’t mention climate change, the treaty that created it is framed in the context of the “existential threat posed by climate change”. That’s why when it was announced, I described it as the world’s first bilateral agreement on climate mobility.

    The Australian government, too, has called it “the first agreement of its kind anywhere in the world, providing a pathway for mobility with dignity as climate impacts worsen”.

    The high number of ballot applications may come as a surprise to many, especially given there were multiple concerns within Tuvalu when the treaty was first announced. Even so, some analysts predicted all Tuvaluans would apply eventually, to keep their options open.

    Tuvalu is one of the world’s smallest countries, covering just 26 square kilometres.
    Hao Hsiang Chen, Shutterstock

    Grabbing the chance

    The visa highlights the importance of creating opportunities for people to move in the context of climate change and disasters. The dangers of rising sea levels are clearly apparent, including coastal flooding, storm damage and water supplies. But there is a lot more at play here.

    For many, especially young families, this will be seen as a chance for education and skills training in Australia. Giving people choices about if, when and where they move is empowering and enables them to make informed decisions about their own lives.

    For the government of Tuvalu, the new visa is also about shoring up the economy. Migration is now a structural component of many Pacific countries’ economies.

    The money migrants send back to their home countries to support their families and communities is known as remittances. In 2023, remittances comprised 28% of GDP in Samoa and nearly 42% of GDP in Tonga – the highest in the world. Currently, Tuvalu sits at 3.2%.

    A long time coming

    Well before climate change became an issue of concern, Tuvalu had been lobbying Australia for special visa pathways. Demographic pressures, combined with limited livelihood and educational opportunities, made it a live policy issue throughout the 1980s and ‘90s. In 1984, a review of Australia’s foreign aid program suggested improved migration opportunities for Tuvaluans may be the most useful form of assistance.

    By the early 2000s, the focus had shifted to the existential threats posed by climate change. In 2006, as then-shadow environment minister, Anthony Albanese released a policy discussion paper called Our Drowning Neighbours. It proposed that Australia create Pacific migration pathways as part of a neighbourly response. In 2009, a spokesperson for Penny Wong, then minister for climate change, stated permanent migration might eventually be the only option for some Pacific peoples.

    When combined with other Pacific pathways to Australia and New Zealand, nearly 4% of the population could migrate each year. This is “an extraordinarily high level”, according to one expert. Within a decade, close to 40% of the population could have moved – although some people may return home or go backwards and forwards.

    How will the new arrivals be received?

    The real test of the new visa’s success will be how people are treated when they arrive in Australia.

    Will they be helped to adjust to life here, or will they feel isolated and shut out? Will they be able to find work and training, or will they find themselves in insecure and uncertain circumstances? Will they feel a loss of cultural connection, or will they be able to maintain cultural traditions within the growing Tuvaluan diaspora?

    Ensuring sound and culturally appropriate settlement services are in place will be crucial. These would ideally be co-developed with members of the Tuvaluan community, to “centralise Tuvaluan culture and values, in order to ensure ongoing dialogue and trust”.

    It has been suggested by experts that a “liaison officer with Tuvaluan cultural expertise and language skills could assist in facilitating activities such as post-arrival programs”, for instance.

    Learning from experience

    There are also many important lessons to be learned from the migration of Tuvaluans to New Zealand, to reduce the risk of newcomers experiencing economic and social hardship.

    Ongoing monitoring and refinement of the scheme will also be key. It should involve the Tuvaluan diaspora, communities back in Tuvalu, service providers in Australia, as well as federal, state/territory and local governments.

    By freeing up resources and alleviating stress on what is already a fragile atoll environment, migration may enable some people to remain in Tuvalu for longer, supported by remittances and extended family networks abroad.

    As some experts have suggested, money sent home from overseas could be used to make families less vulnerable to climate change. It might help them buy rainwater tanks or small boats, or improve internet and other communications. Remittances are also beneficial when they are invested in services that lift the level of education of children or boost social capital.

    Australia is offering ‘climate visas’ to 280 residents of Tuvalu (10 News First)

    Delaying a mass exodus

    It is difficult to know when a tipping point might be reached. For instance, some have warned that if too few people remain in Tuvalu, this could constrain development by limiting the availability of labour and skills. A former president of Kiribati, Teburoro Tito, once told me migration was “a double-edged sword”. While it could help people secure employment overseas and remit money, “the local economy, the local setup, also has to have enough skilled people” – otherwise it’s counterproductive.

    With visas capped at 280 a year – and scope to adjust the numbers if concerns arise – we are still a long way from that point. Right now, the new visa provides a safety net to ensure people have choices about how they respond to climate change. With the visa ballot open until July 18, many more people may yet apply.



    Read more:
    Fresh details emerge on Australia’s new climate migration visa for Tuvalu residents. An expert explains

    Jane McAdam receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and is the Director of the ARC Evacuations Research Hub at the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney.

    – ref. 1 in 3 Tuvaluans is bidding for a new ‘climate visa’ to Australia – here’s why everyone may ultimately end up applying – https://theconversation.com/1-in-3-tuvaluans-is-bidding-for-a-new-climate-visa-to-australia-heres-why-everyone-may-ultimately-end-up-applying-259990

    MIL OSI Analysis –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: AI Airlock, CERSIs and a new global AI network for health regulators

    Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

    News story

    AI Airlock, CERSIs and a new global AI network for health regulators

    Med Tech Regs blog, June 2025: A focus on Software and AI.

    Marinos Ioannides, Head of Software and AI Medical Devices, at the London Healthcare Innovation Forum earlier this year.

    Marinos Ioannides, Head of Software and AI Medical Devices:

    If you’re anything like me, Summer in Britain is a season of transformation and hope. Gone are the frozen, damp morning dog walks in darkness. Coats and jackets are locked away, half-empty half-forgotten tubes of sun cream emerge from deep cupboards, radiators are joyfully turned off.

    The same feeling suffuses the Software and AI team here at the MHRA. Our recent AI Airlock webinar and this week’s opening of our new call for applications boldly announces a new year of inspiration, exploration and progress in innovative regulation. Building on the successes of last year’s excellent pilot programme, we’re eager to unlock and expand insights with industry and see first hand how innovative products and teams can help identify regulatory challenges in the Software as Medical Devices space.

    The Centres of Excellence for Regulatory Science and Innovation (CERSIs) are further enhancing MHRA delivery. RADIANT announced their Innovator Support Programme, giving companies the opportunity to trial open-source tools, educational materials and workshops to demystify regulations and make sure that regulatory complexity does not stand between patients and life-changing technologies.

    For clarity, the two programmes deliver subtly different changes “behind the scenes” here at MHRA. The direct engagement MHRA has with members of the AI Airlock allows the findings to inform our foundational thinking for the regulation of Software and AI Medical Devices. The information and detail delivered by RADIANT is downstream of this – augmenting what tools, educational material and guidance is provided to help innovators navigate the broader regulatory landscape.

    Not to be outdone, CERSI-AI have also ramped up their productivity, coordinating key meetings between academics, clinicians and MHRA to unpick the nuances of AI regulation, now and in the future. With a clear path to sustainability and deliverables already being met, both CERSIs continue to improve and inform this rapidly developing space.

    This is part of a broader perspective at MHRA – that innovation and patient safety are not in opposition. Rather, innovation, driven by competition, delivers better products which make patients safer. Demands for patient safety, through clear documentation and proportionate regulation that provides a level playing field and secure, protective framework, create a more transparent market ensuring innovative products excel.

    In the spirit of Summer, our work alongside Health AI presents a real growth opportunity. This week we were proud to announce that we became the first country in the world to join Health AI’s new global network of health regulators focussed on the safe and effective use of AI in healthcare. As a founding pioneer nation, we will work with regulators around the world to share early warnings on safety, monitor how AI tools perform in practice, and shape international standards together – helping make AI in healthcare safer and more effective for patients around the world.

    Our work in the Digital Mental Health space continues to bear fruit. As we progress and deliver key, actionable insights through our specific guidance, we continue our engagement with experts to direct and augment our publications. If you’re attending the Royal College of Psychiatrists International Conference in Newport this week, you’ll see MHRA representatives there, eager to hear how we can enhance our work to deliver useful insights in this essential HealthTech space.

    Just as no good summer holiday is possible without a translation phrasebook, we will shortly be publishing our Good Machine Learning Practice (GMLP) guidance to ease translation between regulatory frameworks. By transparently outlining our logic, we hope that industry, users and other regulators will be reassured of our alignment with international principles in this emergent space and get insights into our thinking and processes. As we refine this piece of keystone guidance, we also continue to progress our CyberSecurity and AI development and deployment guidance and we look forward to publishing that soon.

    Beyond software, the innovative devices team moves from success to success with a clear, tangible deliverable from our accelerated Innovative Devices Access Pathway (IDAP). Revolutionary technologies like HistoSonics’ ultrasound device, which breaks up tumours without surgery or radiation, is the sort of thing once considered science fiction. Yet, thanks to the excellent work of IDAP partners and MHRA colleagues, patients now have access to a game changing treatment for liver cancer – an example of smart, agile regulation in action.

    And, of course, no Summer would be complete without London Tech Week. It’s a genuine pleasure to see the wonders that innovators continue to create. The opportunity to exchange ideas, debate economics and regulations, and get hands-on experiences with new developments is a real privilege. Presenting our regulatory strategy alongside leaders like David Lawson from the Department of Health and Social Care and Richard Phillips from the Association of British HealthTech Industries at Australia House was an opportunity only surpassed by a chance to see the Lord Mayor of the City of London in the flesh – bedecked with full ceremonial chain and garb!

    Whether you’re out in a park turning red while trying to get a year’s supply of Vitamin D, or gritting your teeth as your laptop overheats, don’t curse the season of the sun. The MHRA are here learning, innovating and applying international best practices to maximise patient safety today and tomorrow, whatever the weather!

    Updates to this page

    Published 27 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Appointments to second term of Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers announced

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Government announced today (June 27) the appointment of 34 members to the Chief Executive’s Council of Advisers. The term will take effect from July 1 and end on June 30, 2027.
     
         The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, said, “The Council was established in 2023, comprising members who are distinguished and eminent leaders in their respective fields, or internationally renowned scholars or experts. They have been providing me with valuable insights and wise counsel to the benefit of the strategic development of Hong Kong. I look forward to Council members continuing to offer advice on strategic issues such as how Hong Kong can further consolidate its competitiveness during the period of economic restructuring, actively dovetail with national strategies and integrate into the national development, deepen international exchanges and co-operation, and enhance regional co-operation, with a view to building a better Hong Kong together.”
     
         The membership of the Council is as follows:
     
    Chairperson
     
    Chief Executive
     
    Members (in alphabetical order of surnames, with the new members marked with an asterisk (*))
     
    Economic advancement and sustainability
     
    Mr Brian David Li Man-bun
    Professor Frederick Ma Si-hang
    Mr Robert Ng Chee-siong
    Mr Andrew Sheng Len-tao
    Mr Jack So Chak-kwong
    Mr Henry Tang Ying-yen
    Mr Jean-Pascal Tricoire
    Mr Peter Woo Kwong-ching
    Ms Marjorie Yang Mun-tak
    Mr John Zhao
    Dr Zhu Min*
     
    Innovation and entrepreneurship
     
    Dr Sunny Chai Ngai-chiu
    Mr Shing Chow Shing-yuk
    Dr Han Bi-cheng*
    Professor Nancy Ip Yuk-yu
    Dr Lee Kai-fu
    Mr Shan Weijian
    Professor Michael Spence
    Ms Winnie Tam Wan-chi, SC
    Mr Joseph Tsai
    Mr Wang Xing-xing*
    Dr Allan Wong Chi-yun
    Dr Allan Zeman
     
    Regional and global collaborations
     
    Mr Guy Bradley
    Mr Bernard Charnwut Chan
    Dr Jonathan Choi Koon-shum
    Mr Victor Chu Lap-lik
    Dr Victor Fung Kwok-king
    Mr Benjamin Hung Pi-cheng
    Mr Colm Kelleher
    Dr Peter Lam Kin-ngok
    Dr Edmund Tse Sze-wing
    Mr Mark Tucker
    Mr Andrew Tung Lieh-cheung
     
    In attendance
     
    Chief Secretary for Administration
    Financial Secretary
    Secretary for Justice
    Director, Chief Executive’s Office
    Head, Chief Executive’s Policy Unit (CEPU)
     
    Biographical notes on the three new members of the Council are in the annex.
     
    The Council is a high-level advisory body to advise the Chief Executive on the strategic development of Hong Kong, leveraging on opportunities from national and global developments. The Council is organised along three broad streams, namely economic advancement and sustainability, innovation and entrepreneurship as well as regional and global collaborations to facilitate more focused and in-depth dialogues. As the Secretariat of the Council, the CEPU is responsible for providing research and secretariat support to the Council.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: 1 in 3 Tuvaluans is bidding for a new ‘climate visa’ to Australia – here’s why everyone may ultimately end up applying

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane McAdam, Scientia Professor and ARC Laureate Fellow, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney

    Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images for Lumix

    In just four days, one-third of the population of Tuvalu entered a ballot for a new permanent visa to Australia.

    This world-first visa will enable up to 280 Tuvaluans to move permanently to Australia each year, from a current population of about 10,000. The visa is open to anyone who wants to work, study or live in Australia. Unlike other visa schemes for Pacific peoples, a job offer in Australia is not required.

    While the visa itself doesn’t mention climate change, the treaty that created it is framed in the context of the “existential threat posed by climate change”. That’s why when it was announced, I described it as the world’s first bilateral agreement on climate mobility.

    The Australian government, too, has called it “the first agreement of its kind anywhere in the world, providing a pathway for mobility with dignity as climate impacts worsen”.

    The high number of ballot applications may come as a surprise to many, especially given there were multiple concerns within Tuvalu when the treaty was first announced. Even so, some analysts predicted all Tuvaluans would apply eventually, to keep their options open.

    Tuvalu is one of the world’s smallest countries, covering just 26 square kilometres.
    Hao Hsiang Chen, Shutterstock

    Grabbing the chance

    The visa highlights the importance of creating opportunities for people to move in the context of climate change and disasters. The dangers of rising sea levels are clearly apparent, including coastal flooding, storm damage and water supplies. But there is a lot more at play here.

    For many, especially young families, this will be seen as a chance for education and skills training in Australia. Giving people choices about if, when and where they move is empowering and enables them to make informed decisions about their own lives.

    For the government of Tuvalu, the new visa is also about shoring up the economy. Migration is now a structural component of many Pacific countries’ economies.

    The money migrants send back to their home countries to support their families and communities is known as remittances. In 2023, remittances comprised 28% of GDP in Samoa and nearly 42% of GDP in Tonga – the highest in the world. Currently, Tuvalu sits at 3.2%.

    A long time coming

    Well before climate change became an issue of concern, Tuvalu had been lobbying Australia for special visa pathways. Demographic pressures, combined with limited livelihood and educational opportunities, made it a live policy issue throughout the 1980s and ‘90s. In 1984, a review of Australia’s foreign aid program suggested improved migration opportunities for Tuvaluans may be the most useful form of assistance.

    By the early 2000s, the focus had shifted to the existential threats posed by climate change. In 2006, as then-shadow environment minister, Anthony Albanese released a policy discussion paper called Our Drowning Neighbours. It proposed that Australia create Pacific migration pathways as part of a neighbourly response. In 2009, a spokesperson for Penny Wong, then minister for climate change, stated permanent migration might eventually be the only option for some Pacific peoples.

    When combined with other Pacific pathways to Australia and New Zealand, nearly 4% of the population could migrate each year. This is “an extraordinarily high level”, according to one expert. Within a decade, close to 40% of the population could have moved – although some people may return home or go backwards and forwards.

    How will the new arrivals be received?

    The real test of the new visa’s success will be how people are treated when they arrive in Australia.

    Will they be helped to adjust to life here, or will they feel isolated and shut out? Will they be able to find work and training, or will they find themselves in insecure and uncertain circumstances? Will they feel a loss of cultural connection, or will they be able to maintain cultural traditions within the growing Tuvaluan diaspora?

    Ensuring sound and culturally appropriate settlement services are in place will be crucial. These would ideally be co-developed with members of the Tuvaluan community, to “centralise Tuvaluan culture and values, in order to ensure ongoing dialogue and trust”.

    It has been suggested by experts that a “liaison officer with Tuvaluan cultural expertise and language skills could assist in facilitating activities such as post-arrival programs”, for instance.

    Learning from experience

    There are also many important lessons to be learned from the migration of Tuvaluans to New Zealand, to reduce the risk of newcomers experiencing economic and social hardship.

    Ongoing monitoring and refinement of the scheme will also be key. It should involve the Tuvaluan diaspora, communities back in Tuvalu, service providers in Australia, as well as federal, state/territory and local governments.

    By freeing up resources and alleviating stress on what is already a fragile atoll environment, migration may enable some people to remain in Tuvalu for longer, supported by remittances and extended family networks abroad.

    As some experts have suggested, money sent home from overseas could be used to make families less vulnerable to climate change. It might help them buy rainwater tanks or small boats, or improve internet and other communications. Remittances are also beneficial when they are invested in services that lift the level of education of children or boost social capital.

    Australia is offering ‘climate visas’ to 280 residents of Tuvalu (10 News First)

    Delaying a mass exodus

    It is difficult to know when a tipping point might be reached. For instance, some have warned that if too few people remain in Tuvalu, this could constrain development by limiting the availability of labour and skills. A former president of Kiribati, Teburoro Tito, once told me migration was “a double-edged sword”. While it could help people secure employment overseas and remit money, “the local economy, the local setup, also has to have enough skilled people” – otherwise it’s counterproductive.

    With visas capped at 280 a year – and scope to adjust the numbers if concerns arise – we are still a long way from that point. Right now, the new visa provides a safety net to ensure people have choices about how they respond to climate change. With the visa ballot open until July 18, many more people may yet apply.



    Read more:
    Fresh details emerge on Australia’s new climate migration visa for Tuvalu residents. An expert explains

    Jane McAdam receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and is the Director of the ARC Evacuations Research Hub at the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney.

    – ref. 1 in 3 Tuvaluans is bidding for a new ‘climate visa’ to Australia – here’s why everyone may ultimately end up applying – https://theconversation.com/1-in-3-tuvaluans-is-bidding-for-a-new-climate-visa-to-australia-heres-why-everyone-may-ultimately-end-up-applying-259990

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: 1 in 3 Tuvaluans is bidding for a new ‘climate visa’ to Australia – here’s why everyone may ultimately end up applying

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jane McAdam, Scientia Professor and ARC Laureate Fellow, Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney

    Photo by Fiona Goodall/Getty Images for Lumix

    In just four days, one-third of the population of Tuvalu entered a ballot for a new permanent visa to Australia.

    This world-first visa will enable up to 280 Tuvaluans to move permanently to Australia each year, from a current population of about 10,000. The visa is open to anyone who wants to work, study or live in Australia. Unlike other visa schemes for Pacific peoples, a job offer in Australia is not required.

    While the visa itself doesn’t mention climate change, the treaty that created it is framed in the context of the “existential threat posed by climate change”. That’s why when it was announced, I described it as the world’s first bilateral agreement on climate mobility.

    The Australian government, too, has called it “the first agreement of its kind anywhere in the world, providing a pathway for mobility with dignity as climate impacts worsen”.

    The high number of ballot applications may come as a surprise to many, especially given there were multiple concerns within Tuvalu when the treaty was first announced. Even so, some analysts predicted all Tuvaluans would apply eventually, to keep their options open.

    Tuvalu is one of the world’s smallest countries, covering just 26 square kilometres.
    Hao Hsiang Chen, Shutterstock

    Grabbing the chance

    The visa highlights the importance of creating opportunities for people to move in the context of climate change and disasters. The dangers of rising sea levels are clearly apparent, including coastal flooding, storm damage and water supplies. But there is a lot more at play here.

    For many, especially young families, this will be seen as a chance for education and skills training in Australia. Giving people choices about if, when and where they move is empowering and enables them to make informed decisions about their own lives.

    For the government of Tuvalu, the new visa is also about shoring up the economy. Migration is now a structural component of many Pacific countries’ economies.

    The money migrants send back to their home countries to support their families and communities is known as remittances. In 2023, remittances comprised 28% of GDP in Samoa and nearly 42% of GDP in Tonga – the highest in the world. Currently, Tuvalu sits at 3.2%.

    A long time coming

    Well before climate change became an issue of concern, Tuvalu had been lobbying Australia for special visa pathways. Demographic pressures, combined with limited livelihood and educational opportunities, made it a live policy issue throughout the 1980s and ‘90s. In 1984, a review of Australia’s foreign aid program suggested improved migration opportunities for Tuvaluans may be the most useful form of assistance.

    By the early 2000s, the focus had shifted to the existential threats posed by climate change. In 2006, as then-shadow environment minister, Anthony Albanese released a policy discussion paper called Our Drowning Neighbours. It proposed that Australia create Pacific migration pathways as part of a neighbourly response. In 2009, a spokesperson for Penny Wong, then minister for climate change, stated permanent migration might eventually be the only option for some Pacific peoples.

    When combined with other Pacific pathways to Australia and New Zealand, nearly 4% of the population could migrate each year. This is “an extraordinarily high level”, according to one expert. Within a decade, close to 40% of the population could have moved – although some people may return home or go backwards and forwards.

    How will the new arrivals be received?

    The real test of the new visa’s success will be how people are treated when they arrive in Australia.

    Will they be helped to adjust to life here, or will they feel isolated and shut out? Will they be able to find work and training, or will they find themselves in insecure and uncertain circumstances? Will they feel a loss of cultural connection, or will they be able to maintain cultural traditions within the growing Tuvaluan diaspora?

    Ensuring sound and culturally appropriate settlement services are in place will be crucial. These would ideally be co-developed with members of the Tuvaluan community, to “centralise Tuvaluan culture and values, in order to ensure ongoing dialogue and trust”.

    It has been suggested by experts that a “liaison officer with Tuvaluan cultural expertise and language skills could assist in facilitating activities such as post-arrival programs”, for instance.

    Learning from experience

    There are also many important lessons to be learned from the migration of Tuvaluans to New Zealand, to reduce the risk of newcomers experiencing economic and social hardship.

    Ongoing monitoring and refinement of the scheme will also be key. It should involve the Tuvaluan diaspora, communities back in Tuvalu, service providers in Australia, as well as federal, state/territory and local governments.

    By freeing up resources and alleviating stress on what is already a fragile atoll environment, migration may enable some people to remain in Tuvalu for longer, supported by remittances and extended family networks abroad.

    As some experts have suggested, money sent home from overseas could be used to make families less vulnerable to climate change. It might help them buy rainwater tanks or small boats, or improve internet and other communications. Remittances are also beneficial when they are invested in services that lift the level of education of children or boost social capital.

    Australia is offering ‘climate visas’ to 280 residents of Tuvalu (10 News First)

    Delaying a mass exodus

    It is difficult to know when a tipping point might be reached. For instance, some have warned that if too few people remain in Tuvalu, this could constrain development by limiting the availability of labour and skills. A former president of Kiribati, Teburoro Tito, once told me migration was “a double-edged sword”. While it could help people secure employment overseas and remit money, “the local economy, the local setup, also has to have enough skilled people” – otherwise it’s counterproductive.

    With visas capped at 280 a year – and scope to adjust the numbers if concerns arise – we are still a long way from that point. Right now, the new visa provides a safety net to ensure people have choices about how they respond to climate change. With the visa ballot open until July 18, many more people may yet apply.



    Read more:
    Fresh details emerge on Australia’s new climate migration visa for Tuvalu residents. An expert explains

    Jane McAdam receives funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and is the Director of the ARC Evacuations Research Hub at the Kaldor Centre for International Refugee Law, UNSW Sydney.

    – ref. 1 in 3 Tuvaluans is bidding for a new ‘climate visa’ to Australia – here’s why everyone may ultimately end up applying – https://theconversation.com/1-in-3-tuvaluans-is-bidding-for-a-new-climate-visa-to-australia-heres-why-everyone-may-ultimately-end-up-applying-259990

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • 148th Jagannath Rath yatra rolls through Ahmedabad

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The 148th Rath Yatra of Lord Jagannath commenced in Ahmedabad on Friday, seamlessly blending centuries-old tradition with state-of-the-art security arrangements.

    Held annually on Ashadha Shukla Dwitiya (Ashadhi Bij), the Rath Yatra is India’s second-largest chariot festival after Puri, attracting lakhs of devotees from across Gujarat and beyond.

    The day began with the sacred Mangla Aarti, performed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah at around 4:00 a.m., continuing his longstanding personal tradition.

    Soon after, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel performed the symbolic ‘Pahind Vidhi’—the ceremonial sweeping of the road with a golden broom—before officially flagging off the Yatra by pulling Lord Jagannath’s chariot from the 400-year-old Jagannath Temple in Jamalpur.

    The Yatra follows a 16-kilometre route through key parts of Ahmedabad’s walled city, with the holy chariots of Lord Jagannath, his brother Balbhadra, and sister Subhadra passing landmarks such as Jamalpur Chakla, Khadia, Kalupur Circle, and Saraspur, where locals traditionally host a grand feast for the deities and devotees.

    The procession will be monitored through heightened surveillance.

    This year, the Rath Yatra has evolved into a full-fledged Lokotsav (people’s festival), showcasing Gujarat’s rich cultural heritage. The grand spectacle features 18 decorated elephants, 100 tableau trucks, 30 akhadas performing martial arts, along with bhajan mandalis, raas-garba troupes, and traditional music bands.

    The sacred duty of pulling the chariots continues to be led by the Khalashi community, upholding a revered centuries-old tradition.

    To ensure safety and smooth conduct, the Ahmedabad Police have implemented one of the most extensive security operations in recent years. More than 23,800 personnel, including State Reserve Police (SRP) battalions, Rapid Action Force (RAF), and Chetak Commandos, are deployed. An additional 4,500 police officers are escorting the procession, with 1,000 traffic police managing vehicular movement across the city.

    For the first time, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being used for crowd management, enabling real-time monitoring of overcrowding and fire hazards.

    A comprehensive surveillance system has been put in place with 227 CCTV cameras, 41 drones, 2,872 body-worn cameras, and 25 watchtowers keeping constant watch along the route. Precautionary barricading has been erected around 484 structurally weak buildings, and public assistance centers have been activated to support the crowd.

    The run-up to the Yatra saw extensive community engagement efforts by the police, who conducted over 450 outreach meetings, including Peace Committees, Mohalla Committees, and Women’s Committees. In addition, interactive events such as cricket matches, blood donation camps, and volleyball tournaments were organised to foster civic unity and communal harmony.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • MIL-Evening Report: Celebrities, blue jeans and couture: how Anna Wintour changed fashion over 37 years at Vogue

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jye Marshall, Lecturer, Fashion Design, School of Design and Architecture, Swinburne University of Technology

    After 37 years at the helm, fashion industry heavyweight Anna Wintour is stepping down from her position as editor-in-chief of American Vogue.

    It’s not a retirement, though, as Wintour will maintain a leadership position at global fashion and lifestyle publisher Condé Nast (the owner of Vogue and other publications, such as Vanity Fair and Glamour).

    Nonetheless, Wintour’s departure from the US edition of the magazine is a big moment for the fashion industry – one which she has single-handedly changed forever.

    Fashion mag fever

    Fashion magazines as we know them today were first formalised in the 19th century. They helped establish the “trickle down theory” of fashion, wherein trends were traditionally dictated by certain industry elites, including major magazine editors.

    In Australia, getting your hands on a monthly issue meant rare exposure to the latest European or American fashion trends.

    Vogue itself was established in New York in 1892 by businessman Arthur Baldwin Turnure. The magazine targeted the city’s elite class, initially covering various aspects of high-society life. In 1909, Vogue was acquired by Condé Nast. From then, the magazine increasingly cemented itself as a cornerstone of the fashion publishing.

    Cover of a 1921 edition of Vogue.
    Wikimedia, CC BY

    The period following the second world war particularly opened the doors to mass fashion consumerism and an expanding fashion magazine culture.

    Wintour came on as editor of Vogue in 1988, at which point the magazine became less conservative, and more culturally significant.

    Not afraid to break the mould

    Fashion publishing changed as a result of Wintour’s bold editorial choices – especially when it came to the magazine’s covers. Her choices both reflected, and dictated, shifts in fashion culture.

    Wintour’s first cover at Vogue, published in 1988, mixed couture garments (Christian Lacroix) with mainstream brands (stonewashed Guess jeans) – something which had never been done before. It was also the first time a Vogue cover had featured jeans at all – perfectly setting the scene for a long career spent pushing the magazine into new domains.

    Wintour also pioneered the centring of celebrities (rather than just models) within fashion discourse. And while she leveraged big names such as Beyonce, Madonna, Nicole Kidman, Kate Moss, Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey, she also featured rising stars as cover models – often helping propel their careers in the process.

    Wintour’s legacy at Vogue involved elevating fashion from a frivolous runway to a powerful industry, which is not scared to make a statement. Nowhere is this truer than at the Met Gala, which is held each year to celebrate the opening of a new fashion exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute.

    The event started as a simple fundraiser for the Met in 1948, before being linked to a fashion exhibit for the first time in 1974.

    Wintour took over its organisation in 1995. Her focus on securing exclusive celebrity guests helped propel it to the prestigious event it is today.

    This year’s theme for the event was Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. In a time where the US faces great political instability, Wintour was celebrated for her role in helping elevate Black history through the event.

    Not without controversy

    However, while her cultural influence can’t be doubted, Wintour’s legacy at American Vogue is not without fault.

    Notably, her ongoing feud with animal rights organisation PETA – due to the her unwavering support for fur – has bubbled in the background since the heydays of the anti-fur movement.

    Wintour has been targeted directly by anti-fur activists, both physically (she was hit with a tofu cream pie in 2005 while leaving a Chloe show) and through numerous protests.

    This issue was never resolved. Vogue has continued to showcase and feature fur clothing, even as the social license for using animal materials starts to run out.

    Fashion continues to grow increasingly political. How magazines such as Vogue will engage with this shift remains to be seen.

    A changing media landscape

    The rise of fashion blogging in recent decades has led to a wave of fashion influencers, with throngs of followers, who are challenging the unidirectional “trickle-down” structure of the fashion industry.

    Today, social media platforms have overtaken traditional media influence both within and outside of fashion. And with this, the power of fashion editors such as Wintour is diminishing significantly.

    Many words will flow regarding Wintour’s departure as editor-in-chief, but nowhere near as many as what she oversaw at the helm of the world’s biggest fashion magazine.

    Rachel Lamarche-Beauchesne has been affiliated with the Animal Justice Party.

    Jye Marshall 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. Celebrities, blue jeans and couture: how Anna Wintour changed fashion over 37 years at Vogue – https://theconversation.com/celebrities-blue-jeans-and-couture-how-anna-wintour-changed-fashion-over-37-years-at-vogue-259989

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Revised Anti-Unfair Competition Law of China to Take Effect on October 15, 2025

    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, June 27 (Xinhua) — The Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China on Friday voted to adopt the revised Anti-Unfair Competition Law, which will take effect on Oct. 15, 2025.

    The revised document consists of five chapters, including general provisions, actions falling under the definition of “unfair competition”, investigations into suspected such practices, legal liability and additional provisions.

    The law stipulates that China will improve the rules and systems for combating unfair competition, strengthen law enforcement and judicial work in this area, maintain the order of market competition, and improve a unified, open, competitive and orderly market system. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China passes revised Law on Punishment for Disturbing Public Order

    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, June 27 (Xinhua) — The current session of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee on Friday voted to adopt the revised Law on Punishment for Disrupting Public Order.

    The revised document, consisting of 6 chapters and 144 articles, will enter into force on January 1, 2026.

    Following the revision, new forms of conduct affecting public order were introduced into the scope of regulation, and procedural rules for considering cases related to public safety were improved.

    The current version of the law was developed in 2005 and came into force on March 1, 2006. This is the first major revision of the document since its adoption. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –