NewzIntel.com

Category: Tourism

  • MIL-OSI Russia: The city has put two premises in historic buildings in the Central Administrative District up for auction

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    They put it up for city auction two commercial premises free-use in the Arbat district. They are located in buildings recognized as cultural heritage sites. This was reported by the head of the capital’s Department of Competition Policy Kirill Purtov.

    “The Arbat district is one of the main tourist spots in the capital. Business projects implemented here usually show high profitability. Now entrepreneurs can purchase premises located in historical buildings on Arbat Street and 2nd Smolensky Lane at auctions. The area of the objects is 233.3 and 358.8 square meters. The winners of the auctions will be able to open almost any type of business in them, taking into account the requirements for the preservation of cultural heritage sites,” said Kirill Purtov.

    The first room, with an area of 358.8 square meters, is located in the basement of the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker Revealed at 18/1 Arbat Street, Building 2. The building was constructed in 1912 under the direction of architect Leonid Stezhensky.

    The second lot is a 233.3 square meter space on the fourth floor of the Orlovs’ apartment building, built in 1906. This legacy of the architect Vladimir Sherwood is located at the address: 2nd Smolensky Lane, Building 1/4.

    Activities related to the protection, preservation and use of objects must be coordinated withDepartment of Cultural Heritage of the City of Moscow.

    The deadline for applications to participate in the auction will be April 3; open auctions will be held on April 15. To participate, you must register on the Roseltorg online platform and have an enhanced qualified electronic signature.

    The capital puts various properties up for auction, and the Moscow investment portal acts as a showcase for them. In the section “Property from the city” Information about the lots is published, including photographs, documentation, conditions and form of implementation.

    Development of electronic services for business corresponds to the objectives of the national project “Data Economy and Digital Transformation of the State” and the regional project of the city of Moscow “Digital Public Administration”.

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/151486073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Projects under PM-DevINE

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 19 MAR 2025 3:29PM by PIB Delhi

    The projects sanctioned under PM-DevINE are executed by the State Governments/Implementing Agencies (IAs) concerned in the North Eastern Region (NER) and the primary responsibility of monitoring of these projects lies with the concerned State Governments/IAs.

    The MDoNER also closely monitors the progress of the ongoing projects under PM-DevINE at different levels. The officials of Ministry of DoNER/NEC carry out inspection of the select projects on a regular basis.

    The Field Technical Support Units (FTSU) have been set up by the Ministry in all the 08 NE States, who regularly interact with project Implementing Agencies and maintain and update the database of projects on Gati Shakti Portal of MDoNER, and also carry out inspections of the ongoing projects.

    In order to further strengthen the monitoring mechanism and to ensure quality control of the ongoing projects under the various schemes of MDoNER inter-alia including PM-DevINE, the Project Quality Monitors/Third Party Technical Inspection (PQM/TPTI) Units have been engaged.

    Sanctioning of projects under PM-DevINE requires vetting of the DPR of a project by institute of repute like IIT, NIT etc. and subsequently recommended by SLEC and EIMC. This ensures that the project contains sustainability plan, targeted Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Statutory clearances like environment and forest clearance etc. so that the projects sanctioned under PM-DevINE are sustainable and eco-friendly.

    Projects sanctioned under PM-DevINE include those relating to education, health, tourism, connectivity and livelihood, which directly or indirectly improve employment generation and economic development in the NER.

    This information was given by the Minister of State of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region Dr. Sukanta Majumdar in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

    *****

    Samrat/Allen: donerpib[at]gmail[dot]com

    (Release ID: 2112746) Visitor Counter : 90

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: BFAC appreciates Tourism Commission and MPFA’s committed efforts in outlining long-term development for Hong Kong’s tourism industry and operating eMPF Platform

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    BFAC appreciates Tourism Commission and MPFA’s committed efforts in outlining long-term development for Hong Kong’s tourism industry and operating eMPF Platform 
         The Business Facilitation Advisory Committee held its 56th meeting today (March 19). At the meeting, the Tourism Commission briefed members on the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0 (Blueprint 2.0) promulgated at the end of last year. The Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Authority (MPFA) and eMPF Outreach Team also briefed members on the eMPF Platform.

         Blueprint 2.0 proposes four positions, four development strategies and 133 measures for Hong Kong’s tourism development in the coming five years. The four positions of Hong Kong’s tourism industry are (i) reinforcing the role of an international tourism hub and a core demonstration zone for multi-destination tourism; (ii) highlighting the unique elements of Hong Kong’s local cultural characteristics that are irreplaceable and unrepeatable and making good use of its positioning as the East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, with a view to achieving “shaping tourism with cultural activities and promoting culture through tourism”; (iii) upholding Hong Kong’s positioning as a city with high-quality tourism experiences; and (iv) stressing the importance of quality over quantity in development to build Hong Kong into a demonstration point for sustainable tourism.   
         The eMPF Platform was launched in June 2024 to centralise the administrative tasks dispersed across various trustees’ platforms by providing one-stop services, and facilitate the standardisation, streamlining and automation of the Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) scheme administration processes, thereby enhancing operational efficiency of the MPF System and reducing administration costs. The MPFA anticipated that all MPF trustees will complete onboarding the Platform by 2025. 
         The Committee also received the work reports of its three task forces:
     
    Wholesale and Retail Task Force (WRTF)
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       —————————————————————
     Task Force on Business Liaison Groups (BLGTF)
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          The Committee also expressed appreciation of the commitment and achievements of the bureaux and departments in continuously implementing the business facilitation measures under the Be the Smart Regulator Programme to enhance their business licensing services.

         Papers for the Committee meeting are available at 
    www.gov.hk/en/business/supportenterprises/bf/advisory/index.htmIssued at HKT 18:00

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ18: Places for religious activities in Hong Kong

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ18: Places for religious activities in Hong Kong 
    Question:
     
    According to the Hong Kong Fact Sheets issued by the Government in October 2024, more than three million people in Hong Kong adhere to a religion. It is learnt that, from time to time, various religious bodies have a demand for places to conduct religious activities. However, in recent years, some religious bodies have encountered difficulties with the approval processes and procedures when applying for the construction of permanent places for religious activities. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the number of applications received from religious bodies of different religions for the construction of permanent places for religious activities in the past five years; among such applications, the respective numbers of those that have been approved, those that are pending approval and those that have been rejected, as well as the reasons for the rejection of those applications (set out in a table);
     
    (2) whether the Government currently has established approval mechanisms in place, including a dedicated land allocation system for religious purposes and a special land premium system for the conversion of land designated for non-religious uses into places for religious activities; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that and whether the Government will consider introducing specific and relevant mechanisms in the future;
     
    (3) whether the Government will provide assistance or financial support to religious bodies for the construction of permanent religious places; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
     
    (4) whether the Government will provide funding schemes to religious bodies for the construction of religious places, expedite the vetting and approval of applications in this regard, and assist religious bodies in carrying out renovation or enhancement works for new or existing religious places, so as to promote tourism activities and enable more members of the public to visit and tour such places; if so, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?

    Reply:
     
    President,
     
    In consultation with the Development Bureau (DEVB), I give the consolidated reply to the Hon Benson Luk’s question on behalf of the Government as follows:
     
    Hong Kong is an open and inclusive city in which religious freedom is the fundamental rights enjoyed by Hong Kong residents as protected by the Basic Law and other relevant legislation. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been maintaining close liaison with religious groups and attends events organised by them with a view to promoting the communications with them and understanding their needs.

    The Home and Youth Affairs Bureau (HYAB) is responsible for liaising with local religious groups and plays a co-ordinating role in local religious affairs. While adhering to the principle of non-intervention of the freedom of religion and religious groups’ internal affairs, HYAB listens to the views of respective religious groups and, where necessary, renders assistance to them through appropriate channels. 
    Also, under the current land policy, if religious groups wish to develop religious facilities on Government land, they may apply to the Government by way of private treaty grant (PTG). When processing the relevant land grant applications, the LandsD would consult the relevant bureau(x)/department(s) with regard to the actual circumstances of the case, and seek the HYAB’s policy support. If the HYAB’s policy support can be secured for the project, there will be concessionary premium arrangement for the respective religious facilities. The HYAB does not provide any other financial support to religious groups for acquiring permanent religious facilities at present.
     
    As regards applications from religious groups to develop permanent religious facilities as mentioned in the question, the LandsD received a total of four PTG applications related to religious use in the past five years or so (three of which are solely for religious use, and the other application covers other facilities). So far, two applications have been withdrawn by the applicants while the remaining two are under processing. Separately, in the past five years the LandsD also approved two applications, both of which were received prior to 2021. The relevant information is set out in the table below:
     

    Year(as of March 2025)*The applications approved in a year do not necessarily correspond to the applications received in the same year.

    The relevant bureau(x)/department(s) will continue to expedite the processing of the applications. Meanwhile, the HYAB will continue to keep in touch with religious groups to render appropriate and practicable assistance. Regarding promoting tourism activities as mentioned in the question, it is stated in the Development Blueprint for Hong Kong’s Tourism Industry 2.0 promulgated in December 2024 that the Government will focus on diversified development of religious tourism to enrich Hong Kong’s tourism offerings, including engaging with religious groups to explore opening up religious venues as tourist attractions on a limited scale without affecting religious activities. The HYAB will assist in liaison with relevant religious groups to explore the feasible arrangements and actively collaborate with the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau’s work.
     
    Besides, to encourage the preservation of graded historic buildings, including religious premises, the Commissioner for Heritage’s Office of the DEVB launched the Financial Assistance for Maintenance Scheme on Built Heritage in 2008 to provide financial assistance to the owners of privately-owned graded historic buildings, as well as tenants, who are non-profit-making organisations, of Government-owned declared monuments and graded historic buildings for them to carry out minor maintenance works by themselves. Private owners of declared monuments may seek technical advice from the Antiquities and Monuments Office (AMO) or apply to the AMO for the AMO to carry out maintenance and repair works for their declared monuments, and the cost of which will be borne by the AMO.
    Issued at HKT 16:15

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ4: Kai Tak Sports Park

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ4: Kai Tak Sports Park 
    Question:
     
    It has been reported that at the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) Grand Opening Ceremony, some self-proclaimed “insiders” charged a fee of $1,000 per person to lead people without tickets to enter the venue “through the back door”, and they even claimed that there were ways to bring reporters to the scenes of other activities without tickets. Subsequently, at the World Snooker Grand Prix 2025 held in the KTSP, the word “curfew” appeared on the screen of the venue before the end of the competition, requesting the audience to leave the venue. Some foreign media reported the incident, and the foreign players in the venue also thought that Hong Kong had imposed a curfew. There are views that the incident has brought Hong Kong’s international image into disrepute. Moreover, it is learnt that a businessman lost his way when leaving the venue but did not receive any assistance from the staff. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) of the number of stress tests conducted by different government departments before the opening of the KTSP; the number of staff members involved, as well as the contents, objectives and public expenditure of each stress test;
     
    (2) whether it has examined why the aforesaid incidents of “passage without tickets”, “midnight curfew” and “nobody showing the way” still occurred after public money has been spent on stress tests; and
     
    (3) without incurring substantial public money, of the measures in place to ensure that the aforesaid mistakes will not recur when organising the concerts by the band Coldplay and major competitions such as the National Games in the future?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
    Being the largest sports infrastructure project in Hong Kong’s history, the Kai Tak Sports Park (KTSP) will boost sports development and inject impetus into related industries such as recreation, entertainment and tourism, and mega-event economy. The KTSP provides Hong Kong with the largest and state-of-the-art venues, including a 50 000-seat Kai Tak Stadium, a 10 000-seat Kai Tak Arena and a 5 000-seat Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground.
     
    With its official commissioning on March 1, the KTSP becomes a new hub for hosting major sports and entertainment events, creating favourable conditions for further promoting the mega-event economy. A series of mega events have been scheduled to take place in the KTSP, including the Hong Kong Sevens at the end of this month, followed by concerts of renowned bands and singers in Asia and around the world at the Kai Tak stadium. Competition events of the 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities and the 9th National Special Olympic Games will also be held in the KTSP towards the end of this year. Mega sports and entertainment events, one after another, will bring to the audience an exciting experience.
     
    My consolidated reply to the questions raised by the Hon Paul Tse is as follows:
     
    Since late October last year until February this year, the Government and the Kai Tak Sports Park Limited (the Operator) conducted almost 20 test events and stress tests of different nature and scale across the three major venues in a gradual and orderly approach, with a view to evaluating different operation and contingency arrangements of the KTSP to better prepare its official commissioning. Both sport and non-sport test events took place in the three major venues with particular objectives, allowing relevant departments, the Operator and all participating parties to familiarise themselves with the preparatory work of both the hardware and software of the Sports Park, such as entry and exit arrangements, transportation, stage setup and backstage facilities.
     
    In addition, to assess the maximum capacity of the KTSP and better understand the patterns of spectator flow after its full opening, the Government organised five large-scale stress tests involving civil servants, district personalities, youth groups, and stakeholders of the Operator, among which were two stress tests with 63 000 participants each and one with approximately 50 000 participants. The costs associated with these stress tests were covered by the construction cost of the KTSP, recurrent expenditure of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB) and other participating departments and hence, cannot be quantified separately.
     
    The Operator is responsible for the day-to-day operation of the KTSP after its opening. It has the duty to oversee the security, optimise operational arrangement, as well as maintain close liaison and co-ordination with event organisers to ensure a pleasant experience for visitors. Both the Operator and event organiser attach high importance to security checks and ticket verification. With respect to earlier reports of suspected unauthorised entry to the venue without valid tickets, the Operator has retrieved its records and referred the case to law enforcement agency for follow-up. We note that signage within the precinct and training for front-line staff have been improving during the test events and stress tests over the past months, which will be further enhanced taking into account the needs of different events upon commissioning, so as to provide the most appropriate assistance to visitors.
     
    The World Snooker Grand Prix 2025 concluded recently was the first major sport event staged at the KTSP after its commissioning. It was also the first time that the event organiser hosted the event in Hong Kong. There was obviously room for improvement in terms of internal and external communication, as well as event co-ordination and arrangements between the Operator and the event organiser, with a notable example being the spectators were asked to leave before the match concluded on the first day. As I have said earlier in public, the incident was highly undesirable. Having reviewed the arrangements on the day, the Operator and the event organiser responded immediately and revised the match arrangements afterwards to accommodate the needs of the match and spectators. Subsequent matches were completed smoothly and successfully, with both spectators and players commending the arrangements of the venue.
     
    The CSTB attaches great importance to ensuring a good experience for visitors attending events at the KTSP. Being the party responsible for day-to-day operations, the Operator must put in place a sound response and contingency mechanism for handling emergency matters to ensure effective internal communication of accurate information, allowing the team (including front-line staff) to execute directives accordingly. External communication of official information should also be sufficient and timely to avoid confusion. The CSTB has expressed serious concerns to the Operator’s management of the Sports Park thus far and has directed the Operator to make prompt adjustments to its structure, including improvements to its mechanism in decision-making, communication and crisis management. The CSTB has also requested the Operator to provide further training to its staff on their sensitivity and arrangements for external communication, including assigning a dedicated spokesperson, so as to enhance public knowledge and build their confidence in the operation of the KTSP.
     
    As the KTSP has officially commenced its operation, the Operator must learn from every experience and strive to improve operations, as well as maintain close communication with all stakeholders to ensure an enjoyable experience for visitors. The CSTB will continue to monitor the performance of the Operator and maintain close liaison with both the Operator and relevant stakeholders to realise the opportunities presented by this world-class infrastructure in joint hands, with a view to unleashing the potential of the KTSP to promote the development of sports and mega-event economy.
    Issued at HKT 12:50

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ19: Crackdown on black taxis in rural and tourist areas

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is a question by the Hon Vincent Cheng and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (March 19):

    Question:

         It has been reported that there are black taxis in quite a number of rural and tourist areas (e.g. Sai Kung and the Peak), and the unlawful acts of the drivers concerned (including overcharging, cherry-picking passengers, refusing hire and failing to take the most direct route) have seriously affected tourists’ experience and Hong Kong’s reputation as a “hospitable city”. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) of the number of complaints received by the authorities since the implementation of the Taxi-Driver-Offence Points system involving unlawful acts of black-taxi drivers in rural and tourist areas and, among them, the number of taxi drivers with points incurred; the respective offences in which those taxi drivers with points incurred are involved and the penalties imposed on them;

    (2) whether the authorities have stepped up law enforcement against black taxis in rural areas over the past three years; if so, of the details (including the number of law enforcement operations, the number of drivers arrested in each of such law enforcement operations, the reasons for their arrests, the number of drivers prosecuted and convicted, as well as the relevant penalties imposed); if not, the reasons for that;

    (3) as some tourists have indicated that they are not clear about how to lodge complaints against law-offending taxi drivers, whether the authorities will step up publicity and education, such as by providing tourists with clear information, including taxi fares and channels for lodging complaints, at the entrances and exits of the airport, various boundary control points and major rural tourist spots; and

    (4) as there are views pointing out that the problem of black taxis stems from the inadequacy of ancillary public transport facilities in rural and tourist areas (e.g. in the vicinity of High Island Reservoir in Sai Kung), whether the authorities have considered improving the public transport services in such areas, such as increasing the frequency of green minibus services, thereby combating black taxi operations in the market and tying in with the development of eco-tourism?

    Reply:

    President,

         After consulting the Security Bureau and the Hong Kong Police Force (HKPF), our reply to the Hon Vincent Cheng’s question is as follows:

    The Government has earlier reviewed the overall taxi operation and management, and put forward a series of measures to enhance taxi services. Such measures include introducing a Taxi-Driver-Offence Points (TDOP) system and a two-tier penalty system for certain taxi-driver-related offences, in order to combat taxi drivers’ illegal acts and strengthen the deterrent effect against repeat offenders. The relevant legislative provisions were passed by the Legislative Council and are in effect.

    In addition, with a view to enhancing taxi services, the Government proposes to mandate the installation of in-vehicle cameras, dash cameras and global navigation satellite systems in all taxi compartments. Installation of such devices can help caution the few black sheep in the taxi industry against violating the law, and facilitate the follow-up actions and investigations on suspected malpractices (e.g. overcharging, driving to a destination other than by the most direct practicable route, etc) by the Police or the Transport Department (TD), thus better protecting the rights of the passengers. We have consulted the Panel on Transport of the Legislative Council and the Transport Advisory Committee in end 2024, and Members have expressed support for the proposal. We are carrying out the law drafting work, and will endeavour to introduce the proposed legislative amendments into the Legislative Council in the second quarter of 2025.

    (1) The TDOP system has taken effect on September 22, 2024. It covers 11 taxi-driver related offences (e.g. overcharging, refusing to accept a hire and driving to a destination other than by the most direct practicable route, etc). If a taxi driver becomes liable to a fixed penalty for or is convicted of such taxi-driver-related offence, he or she will incur three, five or 10 points, depending on the offence committed. If a taxi driver incurs 15 or more points under the TDOP system within a two-year period, he or she will be disqualified from driving a taxi for a certain period of time.

    In accordance with the records of the TD, until March 9, 2025, 66 taxi drivers incurred points under the TDOP system. The relevant offences committed include overcharging, refusing to accept a hire or driving to a destination other than by the most direct practicable route. Among all, five taxi drivers incurred three points, 12 taxi drivers incurred five points and 49 taxi drivers incurred 10 points. So far, no taxi driver is liable to disqualification from driving a taxi due to incurrence of 15 or more points.

    The TD and the HKPF do not maintain the breakdown of the numbers of complaints about taxi services and the numbers of taxi drivers who incurred points under the TDOP system by countryside and tourism zone.

    (2) The numbers of enforcement actions taken as well as the numbers of prosecution and conviction against the offences related to taxi services during the period from 2022 to the third quarter of 2024 are set out at the Annex. The Security Bureau and the HKPF do not maintain the breakdown of the aforementioned figures by countryside and tourism zone.

    (3) To help tourists understand the taxi fare arrangements in Hong Kong, the TD has published leaflets showing the taxi fare rates and the reference fares for journeying to and from major tourist areas and attractions in Hong Kong for distribution to tourists at the airport, major border crossings and tourist spots (e.g. Shenzhen Bay Port, Lok Ma Chau Control Point, Heung Yuen Wai Boundary Control Point and Hong Kong Disneyland). The TD has also uploaded the leaflet onto its website for public viewing. The telephone numbers of the 1823 Call Centre, the Transport Complaints Unit (TCU), the Hong Kong Tourism Board and the HKPF are also provided on the leaflet for tourists to seek assistance and lodge complaints when needed. The Government has set up signs of the telephone number of the TCU at major public transport interchange as well. And the TD has also set up taxi information boards at major taxi stands to display information on taxi fares.

    If a member of the public suspects that a taxi driver has committed offences such as refusing to accept a hire or overcharging, he or she can record the name of the driver, vehicle registration mark of the taxi, time and location, etc, and report the matter to the HKPF. 

    (4) The Government attaches importance to the travelling needs of tourists to and from countryside and major tourist areas. Having regard to factors such as tourist traffic and overall operation of attractions, the relevant arrangement of public transport services is timely reviewed. In respect of the area of the High Island Reservoir in Sai Kung, apart from travelling by urban or New Territories taxi, citizens and tourists may make use of New Territories green minibus route no. 9A (Pak Tam Chung – the East Dam, High Island Reservoir) on Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays. Green minibus route no. 9A has been in service since July 2018. The TD has been liaising with the minibus operator continuously with regard to passenger needs, in order to coordinate with the operator on service enhancement in the form of extension of service period and service hours, as well as increasing the frequency of the services. 

    The timetable of green minibus route no. 9A which is temporarily implemented from December 7, 2024 to March 30, 2025 is as follows:

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ15: Supporting villages in organising mega events

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    LCQ15: Supporting villages in organising mega events 
    Question:
     
         It is learnt that every year, numerous festive and cultural events take place in villages throughout the New Territories. These events are hosted by the Rural Committees (RCs) and attract a large number of visitors from the Mainland and overseas for sightseeing. However, there are views pointing out that the organisation of such events requires significant human, material and financial resources, which places a considerable financial burden on the resource-constrained RCs. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
     
    (1) whether the Government provided financial and manpower support for the following rural mega events in the past three years: (i) the Lam Tsuen Wishing Festival, (ii) the Cheung Chau Bun Festival, (iii) ‍the Tin Hau Festival Parade of Yuen Long, (iv) the Hau Wong Festival of Tung Chung, (v) the Dragon Boat Races during the Dragon Boat Festival, and (vi) the Jiao Festivals of various villages; if so, of the details, and set out in a table the funding amount and number of support staff for each event; if not, the reasons for that;
     
    (2) whether, in order to fully implement the concept of “Tourism is everywhere in Hong Kong”, the Government will provide direct funding to various RCs and consider introducing a new project type of Rural Festive and Cultural Events under the Countryside Conservation Funding Scheme, so as to subsidise villages to organise events with distinctive festive characteristics; if not, of the reasons for that;
     
    (3) as there are views that the development of rural mega events and tourism in the New Territories requires the participation of various RCs, and yet it is learnt that the monthly subvention granted by the Government to each RC ranges from $15,300 to $16,700, with the last adjustment to the subvention amount made in 2018, whether the Government will adjust such amount upwards based on changes in the Composite Consumer Price Index; if not, of the reasons for that; and
     
    (4) whether, in addition to strengthening the promotion of rural mega events through the Tourism Commission and the Home Affairs Department, the Government will draw on the Mainland’s experience and use means such as live streaming and short video clips by rural online influencers to showcase the natural scenery, traditional culture and lifestyle of New Territories villages, so as to deepen the understanding of the public and tourists about the motherland and the New Territories, thereby promoting the development of rural mega events?
     
    Reply:
     
    President,
     
         In respect of the question raised by the Hon Kenneth Lau, in consultation with the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and the Environment and Ecology Bureau, a consolidated reply is as follows:
     
         The Government has always been supportive of the organisation of major rural events, with a view to promoting and preserving traditional culture. Among other things, the Home Affairs Department implements the Community Involvement Programme through which eligible organisations, including non-governmental organisations such as Rural Committees (RCs) and district organisations, may apply for funding support to organise projects featuring local characteristics and popular festive celebrations as well as cultural, artistic and recreational activities to promote district harmony. In the past three years, more than $14 million has been allocated under the Community Involvement Programme to subsidise RCs and other district organisations in the New Territories in organising some of the major rural events mentioned in the question. In addition, all District Offices (DOs) in the New Territories have been in close liaison and collaboration with RCs and relevant district organisations, including the provision of manpower support to assist the organisers in carrying out relevant activities upon their invitation. Other government departments have also made concerted efforts to provide assistance for the activities in accordance with their respective duties and remit, including venue arrangements, crowd management, traffic diversions and road closures, environmental hygiene and public order. All of the above work is undertaken by the DOs and other departments concerned with their existing resources and manpower. Hence, a breakdown of the subsidy amount and manpower involved is not available.
     
         Besides, the Countryside Conservation Office under the Environment and Ecology Bureau also subsidises local non-profit-making organisations to organise diverse and innovative countryside conservation and revitalisation projects through the Countryside Conservation Funding Scheme (CCFS). One of the project types funded under the CCFS is Cultural Rehabilitation/Revitalisation Projects, which aims at enhancing public appreciation and awareness in conservation of target cultural assets. This project type encompasses elements of organising countryside festive events for attracting villagers to return to their villages for gatherings. For instance, festive activities were organised in Kuk Po last year for the Kuk Po Spring Equinox Festival in celebration of the new year, introducing the public to the Hakka culture, the features of Hakka cuisine and other Chinese New Year traditions.
     
         With regard to the promotion of major rural events, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has been promoting mega events and festivals through various channels, including social media posts and invitation to KOLs for experiencing Hong Kong in person, as well as production of a series of promotional content, including videos, outdoor advertising, programmes in collaboration with renowned media, to carry out promotion in different source markets around the world and boost promotion impact by complementing with contents on HKTB’s one-stop travel information platform Discover Hong Kong. These include “Hong Kong Great Outdoors”, a promotional platform featuring hiking, beaches and outdoor activities, leisure and sightseeing, as well as island hopping. It also promotes traditional festivities, such as Cheung Chau Bun Festival, Dragon Boat Water Parade of Tai O, Hung Shing Festival. These promotional contents introduce to tourists the natural scenery, traditional culture and lifestyle of villages in the New Territories and attract them to come to Hong Kong. Efforts are also made by the DOs concerned in promoting activities in their respective districts through different channels, including websites, social media platforms and local networks.
     
         The Government has always attached great importance to rural affairs and, through the provision of monthly subvention to RCs since the 1960s, to recognise and support their work. The rates and Government rents of RCs are also paid in full by the Government. The subvention to RCs is not subject to an adjustment mechanism approved by the Legislative Council. In 2018, the Government increased the subvention to RCs with reference to the changes in the Composite Consumer Price Index. There are three levels of RC subventions at $15,300, $15,800 and $16,700 per month respectively, which were set according to factors like the size of the RCs to cover their daily operating expenses. RCs may also apply for government subsidies for eligible rural activities through the various funding programmes mentioned above.
    Issued at HKT 11:25

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Tourists enjoy blooming plum flowers in Xi’an, China’s Shaanxi

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

    Tourists enjoy blooming plum flowers in Xi’an, China’s Shaanxi

    Updated: March 19, 2025 17:24 Xinhua
    An aerial drone photo taken on March 18, 2025 shows tourists enjoying blooming plum flowers at a plantation in Huyi District of Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on March 18, 2025 shows blooming plum flowers at a plantation in Huyi District of Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on March 18, 2025 shows tourists enjoying leisure time amid blooming plum flowers at a plantation in Huyi District of Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on March 18, 2025 shows blooming plum flowers at a plantation in Huyi District of Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on March 18, 2025 shows tourists enjoying blooming plum flowers at a plantation in Huyi District of Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo taken on March 18, 2025 shows tourists enjoying blooming plum flowers at a plantation in Huyi District of Xi’an, northwest China’s Shaanxi Province. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Bahamas ambassador highlights growing cultural ties with China

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Paulette Bethel, ambassador of the Bahamas to China, delivers a speech before a documentary screening in Beijing, March 13, 2025. [Photo by Liao Jiaxin/China.org.cn]

    The Embassy of the Bahamas in Beijing marked International Women’s Day on March 13 with a documentary screening that celebrated women’s achievements while highlighting deepening cultural ties between China and the Bahamas. The event featured a compelling documentary titled “Womanish Ways,” directed by the Bahamian filmmaker Marion Bethel, which chronicles the suffrage movement and women’s historic struggle for the right to vote.

    The event brought together a diverse group of diplomats, international representatives and other guests, sparking vibrant discussions on women’s empowerment and cross-cultural dialogue. 

    In an interview with China.org.cn following the event, Paulette Bethel, ambassador of the Bahamas to China, shared her optimistic vision for the future of bilateral relations: “My wish is that they will grow and expand, and become wider, bigger, warmer and brighter.”

    Ambassador Bethel also emphasized the importance of cultural exchanges in diplomacy. “I personally believe that cultural exchanges are a very important part of diplomacy,” she said. “The Bahamas Embassy is very much engaged in that sort of undertaking. Tonight’s event of showing this documentary film is one such endeavor.”

    Bethel also revealed plans for future cultural initiatives, including an art exhibition in Beijing and possibly other Chinese cities early next year. “We are in the process of speaking with several artists from the Bahamas to bring their works to China,” she said. “We are definitely on a road to many cultural exchanges, and we’re hoping that, as a result of that particular activity, we will someday be able to invite some Chinese artists to go to the Bahamas and stay for a while and create while they’re there.”

    Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1997, China and the Bahamas have witnessed steady growth in their bilateral partnership. Recent years have seen strengthened cooperation in trade, agriculture and tourism.

    Cultural and educational exchanges have also flourished, further cementing ties between the two nations. In 2024, China launched capacity-building programs for 95 Bahamians, fully funding 34 participants to take part in specialized courses in China. Additionally, 12 faculty members and students from the University of the Bahamas were received as guests to visit China for cultural and educational exchanges, while over 40 Chinese government scholarships were offered to Bahamian students. Chinese cultural troupes, including acrobats, puppeteers and children’s art groups, have also performed in the Bahamas, earning widespread praise from local audiences.  

    Looking forward, Bethel expressed her hope for enhanced people-to-people exchanges, particularly among the younger generation. “The young people today have many opportunities because they travel a lot and meet a lot of people from other countries during their educational process,” she observed. “So, I think we’re on the right track. But I do believe that visiting a country and staying there for a while is probably the best way for young people to experience each other’s culture.”

    The event underscored the growing cultural synergy between China and the Bahamas. As the ambassador’s words suggest, these exchanges are laying the groundwork for a future defined by deeper understanding, collaboration and friendship between the two nations.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Press conference, Bruce Highway

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    GLEN KELLY: Well, this is a great honour today as the Member for Mirani. It’s my honour to welcome today, we have our Federal Member, Infrastructure Minister, Catherine King. We have our state transport minister, Brent Mickelberg. And it’s an honour to have our two colleagues here, Donna Kirkland from- member for Rockhampton, and our member for Keppel, Nigel Hutton. Today is a big announcement today on the Bruce. The Bruce Highway. The Bruce Highway is the busiest highway in Queensland, and today’s announcement is going to be very welcome to the electorate of Mirani, as Mirani has 400 kilometres of the Bruce. And today’s announcement is going to go a long way into supporting the area of Mirani. Thank you and I’ll welcome Catherine King. Thank you very much.

    CATHERINE KING: Thank you. Well, look, it’s terrific to be here today. Can I thank very much my state counterpart, Brent Mickelberg. This is the first press conference we’ve done together, and this is a great partnership on the Bruce Highway. Back in January, Prime Minister Albanese, and I announced the $7.2 billion to fix the Bruce after a significant campaign by the RACQ. And I thank and acknowledge that David is here with us, and all of the communities along the highway. Matched then, or put in by $1.8 billion by the Queensland state government, and we are getting on with it. We are getting on with fixing the Bruce.

    Today we’re announcing that we’re releasing $300 million for the first stage of projects. 23 projects, 16 of them are shoulder widening, dividing the road, making sure that we’re putting those safety improvements in place. And then a further number of projects are the planning stages of the next tranche. We’ve got the Bruce Highway Advisory Committee is meeting in Rockhampton today. Brent and I will both be meeting with them to work through what are the next stages of projects. We want to get this done. This, of course, the $9 billion safety program is in addition to the money that is already being spent on the Bruce Highway, over $10 billion of major projects that are already underway. And today, we’re announcing some additional money for some of those. 200 million to deal with some cost pressures that have occurred again on the Rocky Ring Road, and Minister Mickelberg will talk a little bit about those, but making sure that we didn’t have to reduce the scope of the Rocky Ring Road in any way, but putting that additional money in from the Commonwealth to make sure that full scope of the project is realised.

    We’re also- finally, we’ve got some agreement on what the projects are under the Beef Road corridors. This is a $500 million program between the Queensland Government and ourselves. So 38 million is being released for that today. And then some further money being released for the Rockhampton to Gladstone corridor projects. But this is a really good day for the Bruce. What we’re trying to do as a joint government initiative is to really fix this road. We know that its safety is not up to scratch. We hear it every single day, and the fact that 41 people lost their lives last year alone is way too many. A single life lost is too many, but 41 was certainly something that we were highly concerned about, hence the commitment. So really what we’re trying to do here is improve the safety of the Bruce substantially, lift it from where it is two star to at least three star. If we can get it higher, we will through road safety treatments, but really concentrating on the worst bits first. And that’s what these projects do. And I want to thank very much, Minister Mickelberg, for working so closely with ourselves to really get this first tranche $300 million released, for getting on with it. The work has started. I think you’ll see workers on the road either today or in the coming days actually getting on with these projects. I’ll hand over to Minister Mickelberg and then we’ll take some questions.

    BRENT MICKELBERG: Thank you very much, Minister. Well, it’s an absolute pleasure to join here today with the Australian government delivering on our commitment to better the Bruce Highway. We made it very clear over the last four years and through the recent election campaign that the Bruce Highway was one of our key priorities as a new Queensland Government, and it has been a tremendous privilege to be able to partner with the Australian government to deliver these critical works on the Bruce Highway. Nine billion dollars over the next six years to fix those worst parts of the Bruce Highway. And work has started today. We have workers on site now working on that early works package. So $300 million of funds, which has been released already, and they’re getting on with the job to address those immediate priorities.

    As the Federal Minister mentioned, we have the Bruce Highway Advisory Council here in Rockhampton today, our second meeting of the Bruce Highway Advisory Council, which has local representatives from up and down the Bruce Highway in every single region that the Bruce Highway passes; key stakeholders like the Queensland Trucking Association – we’ve got Gary Mahon here from the Queensland Trucking Association, who you’ll hear from soon; the RACQ – David Carter from the RACQ as well. This is a body by which we can consider what needs to be done to address the Bruce Highway and prioritise the work across the Bruce Highway. We know there is considerable amount of work that needs to be done on the Bruce.

    As the Federal Minister mentioned, over 40 lives were lost on the Bruce Highway last year. That is simply unacceptable. We’re committed to ending that toll which impacts Queenslanders every single- nearly every single week we lose a Queenslander on the Bruce Highway. That is simply unacceptable, and we can and must do more to make the Bruce Highway both safer and more resilient and more reliable. And that’s our commitment today. We’ve got a broader package of works outside this $9 billion program, projects like the Rockhampton Ring Road and others, and we’re committed to getting on with the job of delivering those projects on time and on budget. And it’s an absolute pleasure to be able to join with the Federal Government to kick off those works on the Bruce Highway here today, and hopefully we’ll see many more projects over the next six years delivered under this program. And I just want to thank the Federal Government for their commitment. It is a testament to being able to deliver for communities that we can work together to deliver a very considerable investment in Queensland’s major road network, of which- I think about 62 per cent of Queenslanders used the Bruce Highway in any given year. Many people use it every single day, including myself. I know the work that needs to go on the Bruce Highway, and we’re committed with getting on with the job of delivering that.

    I’ll hand over now to Gary Mahon from the Queensland Trucking Association to talk about what it means for Queensland’s trucking industry.

    GARY MAHON: Thank you, ministers. We’re absolutely delighted to be here today to see and acknowledge the state and federal ministers working together in partnership on what is the most critical road in the state as far as we’re concerned. It is the spine of the state in terms of road freight resupply, but it also has significant safety implications for everybody who uses that road. As far as we’re concerned, the safety improvements obviously are essential, but we also need to remind that other treatments that go to the sustainability of this route are vitally important as well. Overtaking lanes, you know, bridge treatments, bridge replacements, wide centreline marking and all of those treatments need to be dealt with together because we also have a situation unfolding right now in Far North Queensland where it’s cut off yet again. So Far North Queensland right now is fully cut off for the second time in about five weeks. So when you look at that section between Townsville and Cairns, it deserves a fair bit of remedial treatment as well, and it needs to be sooner rather than later. I heard the word unacceptable used before. It is unacceptable in today’s day and age that Far North Queensland has to live with being fully cut off more than twice a year. So if this event goes on up North Queensland the way it’s going, we could be in the order of 14-odd days where Far North Queensland cannot be supplied with daily normal replenishment. Supermarkets, hardware, pharmaceuticals, people getting to medical treatment, and all of those things that go with daily life. So we’re delighted to be endorsing this program of works. We’re even more pleased to see the state and federal governments working so closely together. And as a third point, to have that being done within the next six years is even better. So that will make a material difference to regional Queensland in a very quick space of time, and we couldn’t endorse that more strongly. Thank you.

    BRENT MICKELBERG: Thanks, Gary. Hand over now to David Carter from the RACQ.

    DAVID CARTER: Thank you. And I’d also like to start by just endorsing a lot of Gary’s comments there. It’s great to see federal and state governments working well together to sort out a problem that is significant for all of Queensland. The Bruce Highway needs work. It needs a long term program of work. The $9 billion commitment is a terrific signal from both governments about how important this road is. The package of works that’s been announced today, the $300 million of funding, allows for projects that are ready to go, that Main Roads have identified as ready to go, to start and get going on lifting the safety on these roads. There are so many places where we can improve from two stars to three. There’s no shortage of work. This allows work to commence now and more work to be done on the next phase of those projects that can be done as well.

    We also need to acknowledge, as RACQ, the great support and collaboration we had with Gary and the Queensland Truckers Association, with the Farmers’ Federation, with the Local Government Association of Queensland, the College of Surgeons, and indeed the tourism industry as well in this conversation about the importance of fixing the Bruce for the benefit of all Queenslanders, which is really- as Minister Mickelberg just said, this road is vital to all of us here in Queensland. So it is a very good day to see money actually hitting the ground now, to see the work commencing, and we look forward over the next six years or so to see this $9 billion spent well and safety on the Bruce Highway improved significantly.

    CATHERINE KING: Thank you. Happy to take questions. We’ll start with me or with-

    JOURNALIST: Catherine [indistinct]…

    CATHERINE KING: Yes, of course, of course.

    JOURNALIST: Gary just touched on Far North Queensland, with the flooding event up there. Will you make flood proofing work a priority as part of this package?

    CATHERINE KING: So separately to this package, there’s already- I’d have to check the figures, but there’s already a couple of billion dollars allocated to the Bruce Highway in Far North Queensland, including, I think, [indistinct] that’s yet to be allocated to a specific project. We’ll work, obviously, with the Queensland Government about how that money is to be spent on the Bruce on some of those bigger projects. Obviously, as part of our disaster recovery arrangements, we have now built in that we will build back better rather than just replacing what is existing. So obviously, around that particular area, there was some flooding earlier in the year. We’re still working our way through those disaster arrangements with the Queensland Government about what we do. But obviously, as we continue- as we do the safety work, we want to continue with those projects that are already existing within the pipeline to make sure we actually get some substantial improvements to the movement particularly of freight and people around the state.

    JOURNALIST: Do you think it’s good enough that regional Queenslanders, particularly in the north, has continually had their lives and businesses disrupted by the state of the highway?

    CATHERINE KING: Well, again, this is why we’re putting this investment in. This is a $9 billion investment on top of the $10 billion worth of projects that we’re already delivering along the highway. In particular, what we’ve tried to do with this package is to look at not down south, but really look to central and north because they are the areas where the road is at its worst, and that’s why we’re concentrating on those areas with these projects.

    BRENT MICKELBERG: I might just touch on that [indistinct]…

    CATHERINE KING: Yes, sure. Of course.

    BRENT MICKELBERG: Just in relation to the flooding in the north, obviously, we had a significant event about six weeks ago I think it was. And we had the Prime Minister and the Premier on the ground at Ollera Creek, which was washed away, and the commitment from both the Prime Minister and the Premier, as the Federal Minister alluded to, is to build back better. So we’re focused on building in flood mitigation and improvements to capacity where we can, where we need to rectify damage. For example, at Ollera Creek, we’re going to build that crossing back better and build flood resilience into it.

    Now, will we be able to make the Bruce Highway completely flood-proof? No, it’s built on a floodplain, but we can certainly reduce the impact and the incidence and the severity of the flooding that occurs in places like Ingham. And right now, the Bruce Highway is cut again at the Seymour Bridge, and as Gary spoke about, so too are the inland routes. So we need to be looking at all aspects of the routes, north and south, in North Queensland. So whether that is the Kennedy Development Road, the Hann Highway, the Bruce Highway, we need to be building in resilience wherever possible, and we’re committed to working with the Federal Government to delivering just that. And I think you’ve got a unity ticket from the Prime Minister and the Premier of Queensland to deliver better roads and more resilient roads, both on the Bruce Highway and on our inland routes as well.

    In relation to this package, though, one point I wanted to make. So this $9 billion, every single dollar of this package will be spent north of Gympie. None of this money will be spent in the south east. It will address critical concerns, safety issues from Gympie through to Cairns, and I think that’s a really important point to make. We know that those sections of the Bruce Highway are where the safety issues are greatest. And while we have flood impacts closing the Bruce Highway, so too do we have serious motor vehicle crashes which also closed the Bruce Highway, and this money will go a long way to reducing some of those instances.

    JOURNALIST: Minister, you’re here today to announce stage one works. Where will that work begin?

    BRENT MICKELBERG: Well, there’s 16 projects up and down the Bruce Highway. [Indistinct] So we actually inspected one of those sites yesterday, south of Tiaro, but there’s also works to the north of Townsville, south of Townsville, in Central Queensland here as well. We can provide you a map incidentally as well for your story subsequently. So the 16 early works packages, this is about getting on with the job of those areas where the work had already been done, the design work had been done. And we know there’s a critical need. Things like turning lanes off the Bruce Highway and onto the Bruce Highway, wide centreline, widening the shoulder, addressing the pavement where it is in a particularly bad state, these are projects that we could get on with the job of delivering straight away, and we have workers on site right now delivering those projects.

    JOURNALIST: Can you tell us a bit more about the committee meeting today?

    BRENT MICKELBERG: Yeah. So, one of the tasks I was given by the Premier was to re-establish the Bruce Highway Advisory Council. We had our first meeting in Townsville before Christmas. And one of the other tasks I was given was to seek 80-20 funding from the Federal Government. I’m very pleased that the Australian Government have come to the party and provided 80-20 funding for this package of $9 billion on the Bruce Highway. It’s a welcome investment, and it’s a recognition of the fact that we needed to invest in this critical road for Queensland’s future.

    Look, the committee meeting today will actually be considering where we can best target the spending for the balance, the $8.7 billion of the balance of this program. There are many, many works that need to be done up and down the Bruce Highway. My department, the Department of Transport and Main Roads, have done a considerable amount of work over many years working out where those critical needs are. And today we will be discussing – the Federal Minister and myself and committee members which, as I said, includes local representatives, people who use the Bruce Highway for all sorts of different reasons, whether they’re truck drivers, a local representative here, her mother was tragically or was seriously injured in a motor vehicle crash on the Bruce Highway – and so people are invested in making sure that the Bruce Highway is safer, more resilient and more reliable. So, today’s meeting we will be discussing how we can best roll out these funds. And then the Federal Government and the Queensland Government will work collaboratively to get work started as soon as possible. 

    JOURNALIST: So, how important is it having everyday Queenslanders who have been impacted by the Bruce on that committee?

    BRENT MICKELBERG: Well, I think it’s incredibly important to have local voices informing government policy wherever we can. And I was- one of the things I wanted to see when we re-established the Bruce Highway Advisory Council is to ensure that all sections of the Bruce Highway are representative- represented. So, whether that’s the Sunshine Coast right through to the far north, there’s our local representative from every single one of those districts on the Bruce Highway Advisory Council.

    They all bring a different approach and different challenges. The challenges on the Bruce Highway in my part of the world, on the Sunshine Coast, are fundamentally different to the challenges in the far north and in North Queensland, or here in central Queensland for that matter. And I think it’s really important that those who use the road every single day are listened to and that we take their views into account. Now, industry is a big part of that. Queensland Trucking Association, the RACQ, Local Government Association of Queensland, they’re really important stakeholders and they’re all members of the Bruce Highway Advisory Council as well. But so too are those local voices, because they bring a different way of looking at the problem. And they bring lived experience of having to drive the Bruce Highway every single day, in many cases.

    JOURNALIST: Minister, specifically in Paluma, near Townsville…

    BRENT MICKELBERG: Yes.

    JOURNALIST: …these residents have been taking three hour detours for a month now. Can you reassure them it’ll be fixed soon?

    BRENT MICKELBERG: Look, we’ve got massive issues on the Mount Spec Road, which is the road to Paluma. Considerable impacts as a consequence of the flooding and the rain associated with the event six weeks or so ago in the north. It is going to take a considerable amount of time to rectify those, the damage to that road. We’re committed to working with the local community to support them through that process [indistinct], but the reality is it will take time. We have had significant landslips and, as a consequence, the road is currently not safe to be able to traverse.

    However, that’s why we appointed a local disaster coordinator in Andrew Cripps, and I’ve been working with both Andrew and the local member, Nick Dametto, local state member Nick Dametto, to ensure, one, that the community is informed, and two, to ensure that we get those works completed as soon as possible. But it will take time. The damage is very, very considerable and- but we’re committed to ensuring that we both address the immediate concerns of reopening the roads for locals so they can get to and from home and to and from work, but also ensuring that we build in resilience in the long term so that we don’t repeat the same mistakes of the past.

    JOURNALIST: Two questions. How much has the Ring Road project in Rockhampton blown out to?

    BRENT MICKELBERG: So, the Federal Government have committed an additional $200 million today, and the federal minister may wish to speak to that. Look, my focus as the new Transport- Queensland Transport Main Roads Minister is to deliver this project. And far too many projects have run over budget and over time here in Queensland for too many years. And I have a very clear directive from the Premier, which is to end that. And part of that is getting on with the job of finishing the projects that are in train now. Another part is ensuring that we address the drivers that are driving cost overruns.

    Rocky Ring Road has exceeded budget again and that is unacceptable, but by the same token we’re focused on delivering the project. It’s an important project that will deliver benefit to, not just people from central Queensland but all road users who traverse through this part of the world. It’s a safety improvement. It takes trucks off the road through the Rockhampton CBD, where we’ve got schools right now, and I think 26 odd sets of traffic lights off the top of my head. It’s an important project that must be delivered. My focus is delivering that project now.

    We were on site earlier this morning actually having a look at one of the bridge- bridges at the northern end. They were going to do a concrete pour this morning but they’ve been interrupted as a consequence of the rain. But we’re just focused on delivering the project now that it’s well advanced, and ending the blow-outs that existed under the former government. Minister, so you want to add anything to that?

    CATHERINE KING: No.

    JOURNALIST: When will it be delivered?

    BRENT MICKELBERG: Well, we’re focused on delivering the project. The initial- so there’s two packages of works effectively at either end and the last package is for the centre which is for the bridge. We’re focused on ensuring that it’s delivered within the existing time frame. So at the moment, we’re working to a time frame of around 2029. However – and it is a complex project, I’m not going to shy away from the fact it’s a complex project. What we need to ensure, though, is that what we deliver reflects what the community needs, both here in central Queensland, and more broadly as a key spine of Queensland road- Queensland’s road transport network.

    JOURNALIST: When will the funding come through for the [indistinct] project?

    BRENT MICKELBERG: Well, Federal Minister, I think that’s included in this batch as well. I might let you talk to that.

    CATHERINE KING: Yeah. No, I think it is. Yeah.

    BRENT MICKELBERG: So, I understand that’s actually included in these announcements from the Federal Government as well.

    JOURNALIST: Can you tell us anything more about the beef corridor works?

    BRENT MICKELBERG: Yeah. Look, the Queensland beef corridors initiative is a tremendous initiative which aims to build capacity and reliability into some of our inland routes which are traversed right through central Queensland here. So, it’s a partnership between local councils, the state government and the Federal Government. Minister King will probably like to speak to this, and Glen might like to talk to it given much of it sits in his electorate as well. But it’s a really important project that will both boost capacity for the beef industry, hence its name. But it’s also about building resilience and capacity into the- those regional interconnecting roads, roads between Moranbah and Emerald and Rockhampton, and to the south. These are critical roads that should have been invested in and need to be invested in to unlock both productivity from an economic perspective, but also connect regional communities. I might…

    CATHERINE KING: Yeah, sure. We’ll get you a full list of the projects that have been announced under the beef roads corridor. But really, what this has required is for the local councils to work with TMR and the Queensland Government to decide where exactly the money is going to be spent.

    So, we’ve signed off on the release of $38 million today to start a range of projects, small and large, across that network. We know that, increasingly, our large freight vehicles are travelling on these local roads and that whether it’s weather, that it’s the weight of vehicles, that it’s the volume of vehicles we’re seeing erosion on those roads. And really this is designed to strengthen, widen, make sure that our freight routes for your magnificent beef industry here, which is the best not only in the country but in the world – my hometown of Ballarat will be upset that I’ve said that, there are beef producers there as well – but nothing quite like up here. We recognise this is the beef capital for a reason. But making sure that that fantastic produce can get to market both within the country and outside, and so that $38 million.

    But that’s really meant that we’ve got now local government all working together with TMR to identify where the money is to go. And that’s released today, and we’ll get you the full list.

    BRENT MICKELBERG: Glen might add to it.

    CATHERINE KING: Yeah.

    GLEN KELLY: Yeah, thank. Well, thank you, Minister, for acknowledging the beef capital of Australia. It means a lot to me, actually. But no, the development package is very important to the electorate of Mirani because of the amount of produce that does come out of there, whether it be beef, or grain. And the May Downs Road is a very important part of that development project. It’s- we’re sort of talking up to, I think in a couple of those regions in the electorate of Mirani, 50,000 head of beef cattle coming out of two feedlots. I mean, this package is very welcome into this region of ours, of Mirani, and certainly looking forward to councils and the state government working together to make sure that where these issues are in these roads are done correctly. Because I’m a big believer in of a little bit of time goes a long way, because we only want to do these things once. And I think with this development road package it’s going to be so important to the electorate of Mirani. Thank you.

    BRENT MICKELBERG: Any other questions?

    CATHERINE KING: You’re done. Lovely. Thank you.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Asian films scaling up content building with AI assistance

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    The role of artificial intelligence (AI) and technology will continue to be vital in shaping the future of the Asian film and content sectors with experts urging industry leaders to embrace the change to stay on top of their game, a Hong Kong summit heard on March 18.

    In his welcome remarks at the Asia Content Business Summit (ACBS) Working Group Meeting, Wilfred Wong Ying-wai, chairman of the Hong Kong Film Development Council, said that AI is going to “speed up development” and “unite Asia” across multiple languages as content becomes accessible to a broader audience.

    Wong noted that in the past, content had to be dubbed, but now with the help of AI, subtitles have been made easily accessible on-demand.

    “Second, we have to look at how to distribute. The movie business is a streaming platform. (We) have to be one step ahead. Otherwise, we are just following trends,” said Wong, as he also encouraged current industry leaders to share their knowledge and “pass the sword to the next generation”.

    Fred Wang Cheung-yue, chairman of Hong Kong-based pan-Asia movie services group Salon Film, encouraged attendees to “take new ideas” on the use of technology and AI in movie production from the ACBS event, where speakers from Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines also gave presentations on trends and initiatives in their respective countries.

    Dato Kamil Othman, chairman of the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia, said his organization had prioritized the training of film producers, with special attention paid to understanding legal issues such as copyright.

    Malaysia has no problems with sending films overseas and a new generation of successful movie professionals are emerging, he said. The main challenges they encounter are internal industry mechanisms, using AI and difficulties working on co-productions, he added.

    “Talent is already there. We just need a good proposition to move forward,” said Kamil, as he also urged the audience to “not be afraid of AI” as it “is not a trend, but a tool and humans are still part of it”.

    In Japan’s content industry, digitalization had also changed the content industry completely, according to Norihiko Saeki, director of the culture and creation industries division under Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI).

    He said Japanese overseas content sales are set to achieve a market size of 20 trillion yen ($6.7 billion) by 2033, under the “New Cool Japan Strategy” adopted in 2024. METI set up 100 action plans this year in consultation with Japanese content industry leaders in order to hit that target, he added.

    He also said they have a “Shooting with Japan Program” agreement with China and Italy, which gives an incentive grant of 1 billion yen.

    Novie Riyadi, chief operating officer at Indonesian animation and post-production company Mocca Studio said Indonesia’s game industry has grown rapidly, driven by government support that helped firms there become “early adopters of AI”.

    He said there were 156 animation companies in Indonesia in 2020 and expects the number to have tripled by now. Among these companies’ successes has been the animated children’s show Baby Zu, he added, which was created to help parents with children who were slow learning to speak.

    In the Philippines, Liza Dino-Seguerra, executive director of the Quezon City Film Commission, said over 120 Filipino films were produced and released in 2023 — a notable rebound following the COVID-19 pandemic.  

    “Streaming has become the dominant force shaping how content is produced, distributed and consumed,” said Dino-Seguerra, who is also former chairperson of the Film Development Council of the Philippines.

    She said international collaborations are also on the rise because of producers’ constant participation in international events and markets, allowing Filipino stories to reach a global audience. Her organization is looking to partner with companies in the Middle East and North Africa region, and Latin America, she added.

    Sirisak Koshpasharin, vice chairman of Thailand’s National Federation of Motion Pictures and Contents Associations, said content streaming in Thailand is also a growing market.

    He put the spotlight on “movie tourism” as many films have been shot in Thailand, bringing with them tourists. Japan topped the list of countries where film producers came from to shoot in Thailand, he said, followed by India, the United States, the Republic of Korea and China. Upgraded government film incentives introduced in December last year, increasing a cash rebate on movie production from 20 percent to 30 percent, had also encouraged the industry, he added.

    “All the big players in the market come to Thailand, but the best spender is Hong Kong,” said Koshpasharin. Last year alone, 490 projects shot in Thailand, generating 6.5 billion Baht ($194 million). Two of the most notable movies filmed there include Jurassic World 4, and Alien: Earth.

    Fred Chong, group CEO of WebTVAsia and award-winning Malaysian musician, said AI “has a face now”, and is capable of taking on real celebrities. The digital human market, he said, is expected to reach $440 billion by 2031.

    When asked what steps his company has taken to fight scams, Chong said on the sidelines of the ACBS summit that content owners need to fight for their own content.

    “If you are not the content owner, you cannot stop illegal uploads. So, it’s the same thing with AI. We talk about deepfake, we talk about illegal use of the face of a famous person. The original owner of the face has to copyright their intellectual property,” said Chong.

    Later on Tuesday a signing ceremony was held for the joint launch of Zheng He’s Voyages to the West by parties from Malaysia, China including Hong Kong, and Saudi Arabia. Zheng, a Chinese explorer and admiral dated hundreds of years ago, is credited for leading the largest fleet in the world then on seven voyages of exploration from Asia to Africa.

    Saudi World of Sounds and Visions Company President Abdullah Al Muheisen, also a Saudi pioneering filmmaker and director, inked a deal with Fred Wang of Salon Films.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Beefing up central Queensland’s road network

    Source: Australian Ministers 1

    The Albanese Labor Government tomorrow will announce the release of $38 million to get started on the early works package for the Central Queensland Beef Roads project. 

    The Central Queensland Beef Roads is a strategic road network that covers 218,000 square kilometres and supports the movement of around $1.7 billion in freight and agricultural produce – in particular Australian beef – each year from inland areas to saleyards, processing facilities and ports across the region.

    The network also supports other industries such as tourism, critical minerals and renewable energy.

    The $500 million project is being jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments, with Australian Government contributing $400 million, and the Queensland Government contributing the remaining $100 million.

    The early works package has been identified in partnership with local councils and industry stakeholders. 

    Projects selected will address immediate needs by sealing and widening sections of the network to provide all-weather access, improve productivity and safety. 

    This will have significant benefits for all road users, especially our freight drivers.  

    The early works package includes the following projects:

    • Upgrade 2.7 kilometres of Clermont-Alpha Road East
    • Upgrade 3.0 kilometres of Clermont-Alpha Road West
    • Upgrade 4.8 kilometres of Fitzroy Developmental Road
    • Upgrade 5.7 kilometres of Alpha-Tambo Road
    • Upgrade 7.6 kilometres of May Downs Road

    Construction on the early works package is expected to commence in mid-2025 and will be completed by mid-2027.

    Today’s announcement reveals the Commonwealth’s contribution is flowing. 

    A 10-year investment strategy is being developed for the Beef Roads project that will identify short, medium and long-term priorities and guide future investment decisions in consultation with local councils, industry stakeholders and the Queensland Government.

    The investment strategy is expected to be completed in mid-2025.

    Quotes from Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government, Catherine King: 

    “Queensland’s beef roads are as essential to the state as the cattle industry itself, which is why we’re getting on with delivering these critical upgrades. 

    “We know there is still work to do, but this first set of projects will make the roads wider, smoother and above all, safer for all road users.  

    “This is good for our nation’s freight productivity, good for central Queenslanders,  and good for our truckies who use these roads every day.”

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Yukon announces plans for new community sport and recreation facilities in Whitehorse

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Government of Yukon announces plans for new community sport and recreation facilities in Whitehorse
    jlutz
    March 12, 2025 – 10:27 am

    As sport groups across the territory continue to report record growth in participation numbers, the Government of Yukon is enhancing community access to quality athletic spaces and addressing increasing demand for recreational and competitive programming space.

    As part of the pre-design and conceptual design phases of the relocation of École Whitehorse Elementary School to the northwest corner of the Takhini Educational Land Reserve, the Government of Yukon will include the construction of a large-sized gymnasium located inside the school facility that will be accessible to sports groups outside of school hours.

    Additionally, the Government of Yukon will maintain the space in Riverdale currently occupied by the Polarettes Gymnastics Club as a community sport facility once the club moves to their brand new building in Whistle Bend later this year. The Riverdale facility, which is an annex of St. Francis of Assisi Secondary School, will be renovated so that it is better equipped to host a variety of sport competitions and events.

    Large-sized gymnasiums at elementary schools, with appropriate sidelines and bleacher space, are a cost-efficient way of building usable, multi-purpose community spaces. Increasing the number of large gymnasiums in Whitehorse will expand the capacity of Yukon sport organizations to increase programming and provide more opportunities to a greater number of participants.

    These new spaces will also contribute to the fast-growing sport tourism industry in the Yukon, enhancing the territory’s appeal as a premier destination for tournaments, championships, clinics, training and more.

    The Government of Yukon has identified the northwest corner of the Takhini Educational Land Reserve for the construction of the new École Whitehorse Elementary School, reflecting the Government of Yukon’s commitment to providing young learners with modern, state-of-the-art educational facilities that meet both community needs and environmental standards.

    While the new school site overlaps with two existing softball fields used by Softball Yukon, the Government of Yukon and Softball Yukon have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work together on solutions that will allow the organization to continue serving its nearly 2,000 members.

    As our population continues to grow, we need to grow our sport infrastructure to match the demand. By adding space for sport and recreation, we create communities where people want to live, work and play. The upcoming relocation of École Whitehorse Elementary School presents a welcome opportunity to expand recreational spaces in Whitehorse, ensuring Yukoners have greater access to facilities that promote active and healthy lifestyles.

    Minister of Community Services Richard Mostyn

    Sport Yukon is thankful to the Government of Yukon for working together to address the critical need to increase sport infrastructure in the territory. We are fortunate to live in such an active community and these spaces will help sport and recreation groups respond to the high demand for programming and growth in participation.

    President of Sport Yukon Stacy Lewis

    Quick facts

    • Currently, Whitehorse has 22 gymnasiums, but only six are large enough to accommodate a full basketball court. The smaller-sized gyms are not large enough for regulation volleyball or basketball. 

    • Sport groups across the territory are reporting growth in numbers over the past two years. 

    • École Whitehorse Elementary is over 70 years old and needs to be replaced. The estimated cost to renovate the existing facility is approximately 1.4 times more than the cost to build a new school. 

    • As announced in January 2024, the new École Whitehorse Elementary School will be built at the northwest corner of the Takhini Educational Land Reserve.

    Media contact

    Laura Seeley
    Cabinet Communications
    867-332-7627
    laura.seeley@yukon.ca

    John Tonin
    Communications, Community Services
    867-334-5816
    john.tonin@yukon.ca

    News release #:

    25-105

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Continued Chinese development boosts opportunities for China-UK relations: ambassador

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    Chinese Ambassador to the United Kingdom (UK) Zheng Zeguang has called on business communities in both countries to seize the opportunities presented by China’s continued stable development.

    Zheng made the statement at an event hosted on Monday briefing the “two sessions”: the annual meetings of the National People’s Congress – China’s top legislature, and the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

    Zheng said this year’s sessions have shown the world that China is committed to advancing the country’s modernization with high-quality development. China will firmly act as an “enabler,” providing “more stability and positive energy for the world,” in areas such as economic development, sci-tech innovation, green transition, and global peace and stability, he added.

    The “two sessions” also showed the success of China’s political system, the ambassador stressed, adding that it is “the secret behind the two miracles of rapid economic development and long-term social stability” in China.

    Highlighting the importance of a stable and constructive China-UK relationship in a chaotic and turbulent world full of challenges, the ambassador called on both sides to maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges, implement the outcomes of previous dialogues, and strengthen cooperation while properly handling differences between the two countries.

    Sherard Cowper-Coles, chairman of the China-Britain Business Council, said that a Chinese government report released during the sessions responds to tackling serious challenges in a coherent and disciplined way.

    “It talks about increasing consumption, putting more money in the pockets of the Chinese people, stimulating innovation and opening China up more to investment, and inviting visitors around the world not just commercial businesses, but the tourists and students as well, all very very important,” Cowper-Coles said.

    Michael Mainelli, former Lord Mayor of the City of London, acknowledged that this is a pivotal moment for the UK in the relationship between China, and the global community. He said the sessions “have set the stage for policies that will influence not only China’s trajectory, but also its interactions with the world.”

    As a global financial and technology center, London looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China in finance, green finance, artificial intelligence and other fields, Mainelli noted. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PHOTOS: Capito Makes Stops in Morgantown and Bridgeport

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for West Virginia Shelley Moore Capito
    MORGANTOWN/BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – Today, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), a leader on the Senate Appropriations Committee, made stops in Morgantown, W.Va. and Bridgeport, W.Va. During the visits, Senator Capito met with education and city leaders to receive updates on projects that will expand educational opportunities and contribute to economic growth.
    First, Senator Capito traveled to Morgantown, W.Va. to celebrate and announce the progress made for renovations at WVU’s School of Dentistry. The renovations, which Senator Capito supported through the Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) process, improved the educational needs and care of patients provided by WVU Medicine. About 82% of dentists practicing in the state of West Virginia are graduates from WVU’s School of Dentistry.
    “As West Virginia’s only dental school, WVU plays a critical role in training the next generation of dentists and expanding access to oral health care across our state,” Senator Capito said. “That’s why I was proud to support these renovations through the Congressionally Directed Spending process—because investing in this program means investing in the health and well-being of West Virginians. I was proud to celebrate these renovations at WVU today, and I look forward to seeing all the great work that will come from this facility in the years ahead.”
    “As the state’s flagship, land-grant university, and the only dental school in West Virginia, the WVU School of Dentistry is committed to providing excellence in student-centered education and patient-centered care. This renovation and modernization initiative will ensure we are able to meet the current and future needs of those entrusted to our care by transforming and improving access to oral healthcare across West Virginia,” Dr. Stephen Pachuta, Dean of the WVU School of Dentistry, said.
    In the afternoon, Senator Capito traveled to Bridgeport, W.Va. where she met with Bridgeport Mayor Andy Lang, as well as leadership from the Benedum Airport Authority and the City of Bridgeport, to discuss progress made on the new Airport Terminal Project at the North Central West Virginia Airport. The group also discussed the impact this project will have on both the aviation and tourism industries in the region and across the state.
    “I was glad to have the opportunity to sit down with leaders from the City of Bridgeport and the Benedum Airport Authority to discuss the exciting progress made on the new terminal at North Central West Virginia Airport. This project is a game-changer for our state’s aviation and tourism industries, improving connectivity, attracting new businesses, and making travel more efficient for residents and visitors alike. I’m proud to support investments like this that drive economic growth and open new opportunities for West Virginians,” Senator Capito said.
    Photos from today’s visits are below:

    U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) delivers remarks at the West Virginia University (WVU) School of Dentistry in Morgantown, W.Va. on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

    U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) tours the West Virginia University (WVU) School of Dentistry in Morgantown, W.Va. on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

    U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) meets with leadership from the Benedum Airport Authority and the City of Bridgeport to learn more about the progress made on a new terminal project at the North Central West Virginia Airport in Bridgeport, W.Va. on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: As the rescued astronauts return, space law is still in orbit over who’s responsible when missions go wrong

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Anna Marie Brennan, Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Waikato

    Getty Images

    Now back on Earth thanks to Space X’s Dragon capsule, astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore will be breathing fresh air again after a gruelling nine months onboard the International Space Station.

    Stranded in June 2024 after their experimental Boeing Starliner spacecraft malfunctioned and was deemed too risky to carry passengers back to Earth, their stay was further extended last week when the recovery mission was postponed due to launchpad problems.

    A successful rescue mission will be a relief to NASA, which had the unprecedented task of figuring out how to get the astronauts home. But the crisis has also raised difficult questions about space missions and what happens if they don’t go to plan.

    This is complicated by civilians now going into space, including actor William Shatner and business tycoons Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson. Later this year, pop star Katy Perry and talk show host Gayle King will blast off on board Blue Origin’s NS-31 Mission.

    Corporations such as SpaceX, Blue Origin, Rocket Lab and Virgin Galactic are increasingly at the forefront of the new space race, but they operate in a legal vacuum as well as an atmospheric one.

    With the law not keeping pace with this rapid rise in commercial space exploration and exploitation, just who has a duty to rescue so-called space tourists and astronauts is unclear. Urgent legal reform is needed.

    Privatisation of space

    International space law contains a special duty for countries to rescue astronauts, regardless of their nationality.

    According to the United Nations Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, all member countries of the treaty, not just the country that launched the mission, have a duty to take “all necessary steps” to assist spacecraft crew in distress.

    This includes missions still in space as well as spacecraft that crash land in another state’s territory or at sea. The state conducting the rescue mission must safely return the astronauts to Earth – and to the country they originally launched from.

    But it’s not clear whether private space companies will have a similar duty. Some experts worry space tourists may have no real legal protection.

    Space law dates from the 20th century, when the 1967 Outer Space Treaty was adopted. But the original space race involved superpowers, and the possibility of corporations one day crossing the “final frontier” wasn’t even considered.

    So, if space tourists become stranded like Williams and Wilmore have been, there’s a possibility – in law at least – they could be left to fend for themselves.

    NASA’s Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams on their way to the launch craft of the ill-fated mission in June 2024.
    Getty Images

    Who is an ‘astronaut’?

    Space policy experts are now calling on the international community to adopt a broad interpretation of the term “astronaut” to ensure anyone has a right to be rescued regardless of their legal status.

    They’re also calling for new rules to determine who is responsible for rescuing private citizens if they get into trouble. Despite the several treaties and conventions regulating space activity, none address space tourism.

    Currently, space tourism involves lower atmosphere travel, but SpaceX’s Elon Musk has talked about sending tourists to Mars. However realistic that is, space law is struggling to keep up with such ambitions.

    With the rise of private space missions, there is now a strong argument for the companies involved being required to shoulder or share the associated costs and responsibilities.

    Described by the UN Office of Outer Space Affairs as “envoys of humankind”, astronauts undergo years of arduous training before taking part in space missions. They are acutely aware of the risks of space travel – but have embraced it.

    The same can’t be said for civilians. Space tourism is still in its early days, but the companies promoting it will need to act responsibly and sustainably. This means making their customers aware of the dangers and implementing rescue procedures and protocols.

    Without proper regulatory oversight, however, space tourism companies could require prospective customers to sign legal agreements waiving their right to rescue if they are in danger.

    The challenge for space law now is to find a workable compromise between human safety and corporate profit motives.

    Anna Marie Brennan 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. As the rescued astronauts return, space law is still in orbit over who’s responsible when missions go wrong – https://theconversation.com/as-the-rescued-astronauts-return-space-law-is-still-in-orbit-over-whos-responsible-when-missions-go-wrong-252594

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Submissions: Australia – Beyond the belt: New hotspots emerge as movers migrate past commuter communities – CBA

    Source: Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)

    Regional living prevails as CommBank and the Regional Australia Institute’s latest Regional Movers Index reveals Australians are migrating further afield. 

    The latest Regional Movers Index (RMI) report reveals the emergence of several new regional destinations, as communities beyond the traditional ‘commuter belt’ surge in popularity for newcomers. 

    The Regional Australia Institute (RAI) CEO Liz Ritchie said the Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Gympie in Queensland, Richmond Valley and Wingecarribee in New South Wales, and East Gippsland in Victoria have made their debut as hotspots in the December 2024 quarter RMI report, highlighting relocators’ appetites for destinations further afield. 

    “The desire for regional living remains strong, with 32 per cent more people moving from big cities to regions than in the opposite direction, building on pre-existing data which shows the nation’s migration patterns are changing,” Ms Ritchie said.  

     “Regional Australia is the new frontier, and people are enthusiastic about the career opportunities and lifestyle benefits it offers. The RMI’s net migration index, which measures net population flow into regional Australia, is now sitting 51 per cent above the pre-Covid average.  

     “The emergence of new mover hotspots further out shows this increase of population into Australia’s regions is not isolated to a couple of places, rather that it’s happening all over the country. It’s why we must ensure communities have the infrastructure, funding and support they need to ensure they can continue to welcome new residents.”  

    The RMI is a partnership between the RAI and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA), which analyses quarterly and annual trends in people moving to and from Australia’s regional areas.  

    This latest report signifies a change in mover preferences, with communities such as Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, which has been the nation’s most popular regional mover destination for nine consecutive quarters, gradually reducing its share of net internal migration.   

     CBA’s Acting Executive General Manager Regional and Agribusiness Banking, Josh Foster, said while the Sunshine Coast remains a firm favourite, other communities in the Sunshine State are gaining movers like nearby Gladstone, Toowoomba, Fraser Coast, Mackay and Gympie.  

    “The lure of the Sunshine State has long attracted both city and regional movers, with the latest RMI proving the appeal of a scenic and often more balanced lifestyle extends beyond metropolitan areas, bringing renewed economic and social benefits to other areas of the state.    

     “This quarter saw the rise in popularity of several new growth hotspots within regional Queensland, demonstrating the diversification of the state’s economy. Fraser Coast’s deep roots in agriculture and Gladstone’s mining and green energy boom are just some of the sectors helping drive increased employment opportunities to these regions. With lower-than-average employment rates and limited housing supply, more investment is needed in construction, manufacturing and property development to support these growing communities.”  

    Mr Foster added: “Continued development in roads and transport infrastructure like the Gympie bypass are also integral to improving accessibility to these thriving regions and offer businesses a commercial opportunity to expand or relocate beyond major metro areas. CBA is working closely with local government, key industries and business customers to unlock new areas of investment across the state.” 

     Regional New South Wales and Victoria accounted for 71 per cent of all net regional inflows in the December 2024 quarter, while Queensland’s share stood at 19 per cent and there were small gains made in regional South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia.   

     Sydneysiders continue to lead the charge into the regions, accounting for 59 per cent of net city outflows, down from 65 per cent in the 2023 December quarter. Whilst Melbournians now account for 40 per cent of net city outflows, up from 35 per cent a year ago.  

     Ms Ritchie said this quarter’s report also highlighted city-dwellers are increasingly relocating to areas which have previously been more popular with regional movers, like Greater Bendigo and Maitland.  

     “It’s critical that decision-makers note this important, contemporaneous data to ensure plans can be made, both now and into the future for these growing communities. The better we are able to project Australia’s population movements, the better we can prepare for them, ensuring the needed skills and services are in the right place, at the right time,” Ms Ritchie said.  

    Mr Foster said regional Western Australia also continues to exhibit a strong lure for movers, including Albany, Bunbury, Harvey, Capel and York.  

    “Of note, Bunbury in the southwest corner of Western Australia has retained its position as the nation’s fastest growing hotspot for capital movers over the 12 month period to December 2024. The area’s appeal has been supercharged by major infrastructure developments such as the completion of the Wilman Wadandi Highway, helping ease travel times between city-to-region.  

     “The RMI has also shown that in this past quarter, people are willing to go further afield with the south coast LGA of Albany recording the third highest growth in net internal migration. Located almost five hours drive from Perth, Albany offers an idyllic lifestyle, reliable healthcare and education services, as well as strong employment opportunities across several sectors including agriculture, aquaculture, renewable energy and tourism.”  

    Mr Foster concluded: “This latest RMI proves that the great regional migration is being felt deep within our regions, with the economic and lifestyle gains no longer contained to areas within commuting distance. With the right commercial and industry investments, this offers a win-win for consumers as well as businesses.”    

    The December 2024 quarter saw a seasonal reduction in internal migration across all mover types, as people tend to stay put in the last three months of the year, with capital-to-regional migration as measured by the RMI down by 11 per cent.   

    Despite lower mobility across the country, capital-to-regional relocations remain 8 per cent higher than the pre-Covid average and 3 per cent higher than a year ago.  

    The reduction also of regional-to-regional and regional-to-capital relocations, suggests more regional movers are choosing to settle where they are, rather than relocate elsewhere.

    The Regional Movers Index, launched in 2021, tracks movements between Australia’s regions and capital cities, using Commonwealth Bank data from relocations amongst more than 14.3 million customers. This enables early identification of growth trends and flags places emerging as hot spots needing fresh thinking on housing and infrastructure.   

    Data based on CBA customer address changes over the past five years, with prior addresses resided in for at least six months. Greater Capital City/Regional Area based on ABS 1270.0.55.001 GCCSA. An LGA must have recorded net internal migration inflows in 2024 of 50 or more people to be included in the report.

    The RMI is used primarily to map population movements between Australia’s regional areas and its capital cities. For this reason, it uses an ABS classification of regional that includes areas in and around other centres of population, including the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Newcastle, Wollongong and Geelong.  

    MIL OSI – Submitted News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: New State Highway 2 roundabout to improve road safety in Eastern Bay of Plenty

    Source: New Zealand Government

    The intersection of State Highway 2 (SH2) and Wainui Road in the Eastern Bay of Plenty will be made safer and more efficient for vehicles and freight with the construction of a new and long-awaited roundabout, says Transport Minister Chris Bishop. 

    “The current intersection of SH2 and Wainui Road is on a sweeping bend with limited visibility. There were nine crashes at this intersection between 2014 and 2023, three of them were injury crashes, one of which was serious. Construction of a roundabout here will make a real difference to the safe and efficient travel of local road users,” Mr Bishop says. 

    “Delivering safe roading infrastructure that supports economic growth and productivity is a priority. SH2 between Ōpōtiki and Whakatāne is a main route for locals, tourists, and freight between Tauranga and Gisborne. Around 5,000 per day vehicles use SH2 between Ōpōtiki and Wainui Road, with 15 percent heavy vehicles. 

    “The 2024-27 National Land Transport Programme prioritises investment in road safety and efficiency by encouraging safer driving behaviour, vehicles and infrastructure. Funding is available for improvements at the highest-risk locations, which includes the intersection between SH2 and Wainui Road. 

    “The roundabout at SH2 and Wainui Road is expected to cost around $10 million from business case through to completion and will complement a raft of improvements already completed in the area, such as road widening, side barrier installation, and line marking.  

    “Construction is due to start in April and will take approximately 12 months to complete. Final costs for the roundabout will be confirmed once the contract is awarded this month. 

    “I want to thank the local community in advance for their patience as this important work to make SH2 safer is carried out, and I look forward to it being completed as soon as possible.” 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SCHEMES FOR AGRI RELATED TOURISM ACTIVITIES

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 18 MAR 2025 6:01PM by PIB Delhi

    Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare does not have any ‘Scheme for Agri Related Tourism Activities’.  However, Development and promotion of tourist destinations and products, including rural tourism is undertaken by the respective State Government/Union Territory (UT) Administration.  The Ministry of Tourism through its central sector schemes of ‘Swadesh Darshan (SD)’, ‘Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD)’ and ‘Assistance to Central Agencies for Tourism Infrastructure Development’ complements the efforts of tourism infrastructure development in the country by extending financial assistance to the State Governments/UT Administrations. Rural Circuit has been identified as one of the thematic circuits under Swadesh Darshan Scheme.

    Ministry of Tourism has revamped the Swadesh Darshan Scheme as Swadesh Darshan 2.0 (SD 2.0) with the objective to develop sustainable and responsible tourism destinations, following a destination & tourist-centric approach.

    Ministry of Tourism has also formulated national strategies for development of rural tourism and promotion of rural homestays in India.”

    This information was given by Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Shri Ramnath Thakur in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

    ******

     MG/KSR

    (Release ID: 2112396) Visitor Counter : 51

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India and New Zealand working on a comprehensive, mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement: Shri Piyush Goyal

    Source: Government of India

    India and New Zealand working on a comprehensive, mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement: Shri Piyush Goyal

    New Zealand Prime Minister and Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal address CEOs of India and New Zealand

    I feel incredibly optimistic about the future of both the countries and India for us is a game changer:The Right Honourable Christopher Luxon, PM of New Zealand

    Posted On: 18 MAR 2025 5:41PM by PIB Delhi

    India and New Zealand are working to finalize a comprehensive and mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement. Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal, said this while addressing the CEOs of India and New Zealand in New Delhi today. The two countries had announced the launch of negotiations for an FTA earlier this week. The event today was attended by the Right Honourable Christopher Luxon, Prime Minister of New Zealand, Hon’ble Mr. Todd McClay, New Zealand’s Minister for Trade and Investment, Agriculture and Forestry, business leaders and senior officers of the two countries.

    Addressing the business leaders, Shri Goyal emphasized the immense potential for collaboration between the two countries. He articulated an ambitious vision for the India-New Zealand partnership, targeting 10x growth in bilateral trade over the next decade.

    Prime Minister of New Zealand, The Right Honourable Christopher Luxon, while addressing the forum, stated that businesses play a critical role in both economies and in strengthening bilateral relations. The Prime Minister further emphasized the need to explore new frontiers and sectors where New Zealand holds a competitive advantage. “I feel incredibly optimistic about the future of both India and New Zealand. India for us is a game changer. As a smaller country in the world, India is a really consequential relationship for us. We all recognize that there is a lot more that these two countries should be doing together. When we look at the trading relationship today at $3 billion, there’s a huge opportunity for us here,” he added.

    The Commerce Minister called on business leaders from both countries to contribute towards achieving this goal. “There are hardly any areas where we compete with each other, and the few areas of sensitivity can be navigated with mutual respect. Given our different levels of development, there are limitless possibilities for cooperation in agri-tech, dairy, food processing, pharmaceuticals, renewable energy, critical minerals, forestry, horticulture, tourism, and sports,” he said.

    Discussing global challenges, Shri Goyal emphasized the importance of trusted partnerships. “The world is going through a lot of problems. A defining partnership between our two nations can serve as a model for how trusted partners work together. It’s not about the size of an economy; it’s about collaboration and shared values,” he said. He noted that India’s economy, currently at $4 trillion, is poised to grow to $30-35 trillion in the next 22-25 years, presenting immense opportunities for collaboration.

    Shri Goyal highlighted the role of tourism in fostering stronger relations between India and New Zealand. He praised the Prime Minister of New Zealand for his commitment to enhancing ties between the two nations and noted that their partnership could create significant economic opportunities. “Together, we can make a significant difference to our economies. Both countries will emerge as winners through this partnership,” he stated.

    Drawing a parallel with cricket, Shri Goyal described the partnership as “aggressive yet graceful, passionate but well-composed, and creating a strong innings.” He expressed confidence that India and New Zealand are ready to step up for a brighter future.

    The Minister underscored the importance of working with democracies where the rule of law prevails and businesses get fair opportunities. He mentioned the strong people-to-people linkages between India and New Zealand, citing Papatoetoe in Auckland as “Little India.” He expressed optimism about Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations, stating that they would be vibrant and add more depth to the relationship.

    He also stressed the importance of education and research in bringing people closer, highlighting the potential of New Zealand’s innovation to reach the world through India. He suggested that manufacturing in India for global markets at competitive prices could take the partnership to greater heights.

    Speaking on connectivity, Shri Goyal reaffirmed India’s commitment to strengthening financial and digital linkages, as well as facilitating swift mobility of manpower and technical talent. He noted that India produces the highest number of STEM graduates annually, with 43% of them being women, showcasing the diversity and strength of India’s workforce.

    “Our two countries have decisive leaders, and India’s young, aspirational population of 1.4 billion, combined with New Zealand’s innovative spirit, will create a potent partnership that the world will look up to. Walking into the future while respecting the past—this perfectly captures the essence of our collaboration,” he concluded.

    ***

     

    Abhishek Dayal/ Abijith Narayanan/ Ishita Biswas

    (Release ID: 2112372) Visitor Counter : 61

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Still time to take part in the Highland Visitor Levy Consultation

    Source: Scotland – Highland Council

    Image of Visitor Levy banner

    The Highland Council has been hosting a series of in-person and on-line engagement events as part of the current consultation process on the proposed Visitor Levy Scheme for Highland.

    The last of the Community Webinar sessions takes place on 19 March from 18:00 to 19:00 via this link:

    https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/ab67960b-8b01-43aa-b71c-513418382e29@89f0b56e-6d16-4fe8-9dba-176fa940f7c9

    The Convener of The Highland Council, Councillor Bill Lobban said: “I want to thank everyone who has attended the events in person and on-line. If anyone has been unable to attend any of the sessions, there is still time to feed your views into our consultation as it runs up until 31 March.

    “In addition to the public events, we’ve taken part in several sessions specifically for the business community. As well as getting feedback from businesses and the tourism sector, it is important that we gather as many views from individuals, community groups and businesses as possible to make the consultation inclusive and ensuring that it fairly and accurately captures opinion and feedback from across all communities.”

    As well as a link to the consultation portal – https://www.highland.gov.uk/visitorlevyconsultation, the information on the Council’s website includes helpful FAQs that have been updated with questions raised at the public engagement sessions.

    Cllr Lobban added: “All comments received from the on-line consultation and public engagement sessions will be analysed and included as part of a report that will be presented to council at a future date. I therefore encourage anyone who has not yet filled in the on-line consultation, to do so before the deadline.”

    A report will be considered at a future meeting of The Highland Council which will set out the findings of the consultation.”

    18 Mar 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – The Emilia Romagna Region’s LGBTQ+ tourism initiative’s potential violation of the principle of non-discrimination – E-001022/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001022/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Stefano Cavedagna (ECR)

    Authorities in Emilia-Romagna recently announced the first-ever Italian regional initiative that will focus exclusively on LGBTQ+ tourism. The project will be run in conjunction with specialised operators and involve the adoption of protocols and certification schemes, as well as the organisation of training initiatives for tour operators.

    The initiative’s stated objective is to turn Emilia-Romagna into the destination of choice for LGBTQ+ tourists by providing tailored services for this demographic.

    Given that publicly-funded initiatives that promote tourism should be predicated on equality and inclusion and should not give preferential treatment to tourists based on sexual orientation, and given also that Article 21 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union prohibits any form of discrimination, could the Commission answer the following questions:

    • 1.Are public initiatives which exclusively target a tourist demographic on the basis of sexual orientation compatible with EU laws on non-discrimination and fair competition?
    • 2.Could the Commission check whether any EU funds have been allocated to this project – which, despite claiming to be inclusive, risks excluding other tourist demographics – and, if this is indeed the case, how they have or will be used?

    Submitted: 10.3.2025

    Last updated: 18 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Balance between renewable energy and territorial sustainability: measures to avoid saturation of large-scale projects in Aragon and encourage self-consumption – E-001027/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001027/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Vicent Marzà Ibáñez (Verts/ALE)

    Aragon offers great potential for renewable energy, but the enormous pressure for the installation of large-scale wind and photovoltaic projects is destroying our landscapes (including in the regions around the Moncayo and Maestrazgo), damaging rural tourism, reducing arable land, damaging biodiversity and affecting people’s health and well-being through the acoustic impact of wind turbines.

    This is the result of pressure exerted by energy oligopolies to discourage generation, self-consumption and disposal of surpluses by households and SMEs. The recent European aid for the latter has been very successful, but it has fallen short, despite Europe’s need to eliminate our energy dependence and the strategic vulnerability of a generation and supply system based on large-scale installations.

    • 1.Does the Commission intend to promote mechanisms to limit the excessive concentration of huge installations in certain areas of the European Union that are already saturated, such as Aragon?
    • 2.Does the Commission not believe that support should be increased for individuals and businesses of all kinds, as a strategic and security measure, to enable them to form the primary basis of a system of generation and self-consumption?

    Submitted: 10.3.2025

    Last updated: 18 March 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Why I’m training Colombian Amazonians to become archaeology tourist guides

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By José Iriarte, Professor of Archaeology, University of Exeter

    Professor Jamie Hampson discusses the interpretation of rock art with diploma students in front of the Tapirs rock art panel. Jose Iriarte, CC BY-NC-ND

    Diana Vera, a passionate local guide from Serranía de la Lindosa, Colombia, leads a group of sweaty and panting European tourists through the hot, lush Amazonian rainforest. Together, they climb the flattop hill (known as tepui) of Nuevo Tolima. Their destination? A vast, ancient painted wall perched at the very top of the tepui that whispers stories from a time long past.

    As the tourists reach the site, Vera brings history to life. She recounts how archaeology tells us that the first humans arrived here some 13,000 years ago.

    She explains how they left their mark on these landscapes by painting their stories, beliefs and visions of the world on the walls of these hills. Because archaeologists have closely analysed the paintings and their chemical signatures, she can explain how paintings were crafted with local ochre using their fingers and brushes.

    She gestures towards the intricate depictions of animals, plants and people, pausing at an especially intriguing image – a now-extinct ice age “palaeolama” or prehistoric llama.

    Then, she shows them a fascinating hybrid figure – a fusion of bird, deer and human. Much of this artwork is probably shamanic in nature – possibly representing spiritual transformations, most likely induced by hallucinogenic rituals or prolonged fasting.

    After Colombia’s peace process was signed in 2016 between participants in a violent civil war, the rock art of Serranía de la Lindosa became a major draw for research and tourism.

    As well as attracting visitors, this cultural and natural heritage has sparked positive social change in the region. Families of more than 100 tourist guides benefit because tourism provides an economic alternative for these communities.

    It’s a path away from illicit activities such as coca cultivation, destructive deforestation for cattle ranching or joining dissident factions of the FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) guerrilla movement.

    Until now, these local guides have largely relied on self-taught knowledge. There are no universities in the region to provide formal education. Little archaeological research has been conducted in this area, so much of its history and heritage remains unexplored.

    To address this gap, my colleagues and I have co-created a diploma degree in cultural heritage management for local tourism guides.

    Our team at the University of Exeter worked closely with Colombian partners including the University of Antioquia, the Secretariat of Culture and Tourism of Guaviare Department and the Geographical Society of Colombia to make sure that the diploma met the needs of local people. This diploma is based on knowledge from our systematic study of archaeology and rock art of the region, as part of a European Research Council-funded project called the LastJourney project.

    A new cultural heritage diploma degree trains archaeology tourist guides in the Colombian Amazon.

    Local community archaeology tourism benefits the heritage, the people and the rainforest. As Colombian archaeologist Javier Aceituno states in The Painted Forest, the 2022 book we co-wrote: “The paintings need the people, and the people need the paintings.”

    The Colombian Institute of Anthropology and History, the national heritage authority, has officially designated la Lindosa as an archaeological protected area. However, like many national parks in the Amazon, there are very limited resources for enforcement and preservation of these large rural areas. Local communities can help protect these rock paintings by controlling access and providing guided visits to the sites.

    Forty people took part in the first iteration of this three-month-long diploma in 2023-2024. Each of three 30-hour modules are delivered in rural communities of Cerro Azul, Nuevo Tolima and Raudal del Guayabero in Guaviare department, Colombia.

    Alongside my colleagues from the University of Exeter and the University of Antioquia, I taught modules in communal village buildings, where we conducted experimental archaeology. This included manufacturing stone tools and recreating paint recipes from scratch, providing a practical, hands-on learning experience bringing archaeology to life.*

    This diploma has empowered communities to take a stronger role in managing their archaeological and bio-cultural heritage. By deepening their understanding of this unique history, communities can better protect and manage their heritage, ultimately enriching the tourist experience.

    Three graduates from the course also visited UK archaeological sites, including Stonehenge in Wiltshire, to explore how such sites are preserved and presented to tourists abroad. At the Ancient Technology Centre in Dorset they learnt how visitors can experience archaeology in creative ways through hands-on experiences and demonstrations of ancient crafts and sustainable building techniques.

    Archaeologists and rock art specialists aren’t just sharing their expertise. My colleagues and I are also learning from Indigenous participants. Victor Caycedo, of the Indigenous Amazonian Desana ethnicity, and Ismael Sierra, from the Tukano people of southern Colombia, bring invaluable ancestral knowledge to the diploma.

    They have shared insights into the shamanic and animistic worldviews that have shaped these landscapes for centuries. Their perspectives add a deeper, living dimension to the study of rock art, bridging past and present in a way that only those rooted in these traditions can reveal, as recently published in the journal Arts.

    For Diana Vera, this diploma represents “learning about heritage and the ancient lifeways of the people of La Lindosa”. She told me that she now better understands “the union of three villages with a single purpose of conservation and preservation” and has a greater sense of belonging to these ancestral places and nature. Most of all, this diploma marks the opportunity for “a new beginning” in this region by introducing more sustainable and responsible tourism, she said.

    Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?

    Get a weekly roundup in your inbox instead. Every Wednesday, The Conversation’s environment editor writes Imagine, a short email that goes a little deeper into just one climate issue. Join the 40,000+ readers who’ve subscribed so far.

    José Iriarte receives funding from the European Research Council, Arts and Humanities Research Council (UK), British Academy, National Geographic, Wenner Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research, FAPESP (Brazil), and CAPES (Brazil).

    – ref. Why I’m training Colombian Amazonians to become archaeology tourist guides – https://theconversation.com/why-im-training-colombian-amazonians-to-become-archaeology-tourist-guides-251651

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: Argentina: despite the scandals, Milei’s politics are here to stay

    Source: The Conversation – UK – By Juan Pablo Ferrero, Senior Lecturer in Latin American Politics, University of Bath

    The Argentinian president, Javier Milei, is going through the toughest moment of his short but remarkable political career. He is facing impeachment calls – as well as legal action – over his promotion of a cryptocurrency on social media.

    The cryptocoin $Libra, which Milei mentioned in a social media post on February 14, quickly rose in value before nosediving, causing severe losses for people who had invested in it. Milei has insisted that his post did not constitute an endorsement.

    “I’m a techno-optimist … and this was proposed to me as an instrument to help fund Argentine projects,” he said in a television interview. “It’s true that in trying to help out those Argentines, I took a slap in the face.”

    I doubt this is it for Milei. But even if it is the beginning of the end, Milei’s politics are here to stay. His leadership style, discourse and actions represent an emerging constituency with both a present and a future.

    This is because Milei is not, in my opinion, the effect of a crisis of representation. He is instead a faithful representative of a new reactive society emerging worldwide, which is largely sceptical of institutional mediation and values problem solvers and strong executives.

    People at the inauguration of Javier Milei in December 2023.
    Facundo Florit / Shutterstock

    To explore this phenomenon, imagine if you will, “Ricardo”, a fictitious yet representative member of a vulnerable segment of Argentina’s workforce. People like Ricardo returned to the labour market after the pandemic with precarious jobs and lower wages.

    He is a delivery worker who uses multiple digital platforms to earn a living. His life, characterised by the gig economy and labour informality, reflects a broader trend affecting around 50% of workers in Argentina.

    Ricardo had previously voted for Argentina’s left-wing leader, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. But he voted for Milei in the last election, as did many others, and says he would vote for Milei again today. His sympathy for Milei has grown over the year he has been in office.

    According to a recent poll put together by political consultancy firm Tendencias, 89.6% of those who voted for Milei in the 2023 general election were happy with their choice. A growing share of Argentina’s population seemingly approves of the Milei administration.

    During the pandemic, Ricardo’s ability to support his family was diminished by government-imposed restrictions on travel and movement. These restrictions, which were often violently enforced by security forces, pushed him into poverty. The rate of poverty in Argentina increased to over 40% during the pandemic.

    This experience led Ricardo to feel a sense of satisfaction when Milei began mass layoffs of public employees to cut public spending. He thought this was payback time for those in the public sector, with job security, who did not have to endure what he had to during the pandemic.

    For Ricardo, they were all ñoquis (gnocchi), a slang term widely used in Argentina to refer to public employees who receive a salary but allegedly do little work. These workers are called ñoquis because many Argentinians traditionally eat gnocchi on the 29th day of every month, around the time people receive their monthly paychecks.

    Ricardo consumes all of the short clips circulating online from television interviews and talks at international forums of Milei “destroying” career politicians, whom he calls la casta (the caste). Milei sees the main aim of the caste as the reproduction of themselves, so he advocates for a small state or no state at all. Milei believes that nearly everything should be privatised.

    While Ricardo thinks politicians should be compensated for their job, many from across Argentina’s political spectrum have become extremely wealthy, so he’s with Milei on this one too. He even wears a chainsaw as a key ring – a nod to Milei’s promise to slash the size of the state.

    Ricardo acknowledges that life has become very expensive in Argentina since Milei took office. This is because, while inflation has gone down, the Argentinian peso has gained value, making Argentina one of the most expensive countries in the world. However, he believes this remains a price worth paying for a stable and prosperous Argentina.

    The aforementioned poll suggests that many Argentinians feel that their economic situation is better than a year ago, and will improve over the course of the next six months. Inflation, which was the leading concern in most polls ahead of the election, has fallen to sixth place.

    Ricardo is persuaded by Milei’s mantra: “If printing money would end poverty, printing diplomas would end stupidity”. And in recent times, Ricardo has spent his scarce leisure moments watching videos on his phone where internet influencers teach him how to multiply his dwindling income by investing in cryptocurrencies that promise high returns in a short time.

    In Argentina, like many other areas of the world, the appetite for gambling or investing in highly risky ventures such as cryptocurrency has multiplied as a means to win money fast. This is especially true among young people, often with devastating consequences.

    Representation of a new society

    There is a new political subject emerging worldwide marked by the precariousness of new forms of work, whose socialisation occurs in the digital world dominated by influencers. These people see the state not only as unnecessary, but as an enemy to be destroyed and distrust all institutional political intermediaries. Milei represents this new society.

    The process by which an issue becomes a subject of political debate and action has also changed. Solutions to single issues have replaced political programmes with complex visions about the future as the main source of popular validation. Big personalities can carry this forward more successfully than bureaucratic political parties.

    Presidents have become more like city majors judged by their ability to provide solutions to a single issue. In the case of Milei, it’s inflation. For Nayib Bukele in El Salvador, it’s security. And for Donald Trump in the US, it’s China.

    The figureheads of new political formations might change, but the politics of these formations will not.

    Juan Pablo Ferrero 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. Argentina: despite the scandals, Milei’s politics are here to stay – https://theconversation.com/argentina-despite-the-scandals-mileis-politics-are-here-to-stay-250183

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Albanian alpine police officers undergo intensive training organized by OSCE Presence, Austria

    Source: Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe – OSCE

    Headline: Albanian alpine police officers undergo intensive training organized by OSCE Presence, Austria

    Training of Albanian Alpine Police, Korça, 13 March 2025. (OSCE) Photo details

    Thirty police officers from the alpine units of Tirana, Fier and Shkodra participated in a specialized training programme in the mountains of Korça from 10 to 13 March 2025. Organized by the OSCE Presence in Albania, in close co-operation with trainers from the Austrian Federal Police, this intensive course aimed to enhance Albanian police officers’ ability to navigate and operate in challenging alpine environments, ensuring the safety and security of both local communities and tourists.
    Building on the foundation laid by a previous training in Theth in 2022, this programme marked another significant step in Albania’s efforts to improve its law enforcement capabilities in mountainous terrains. The Theth training was a milestone in strengthening the operational readiness of Albania’s alpine police and this latest session further advanced those objectives.
    Austria, renowned for its expertise in alpine policing, provided highly experienced trainers who led participants through a combination of theoretical and practical exercises. Officers were trained in essential skills such as effective rescue operations, safety protocols and tactical mountain policing. The course also included rigorous endurance tests, quick-thinking drills and adaptability training for emergency situations. Participants gained hands-on experience in first aid, casualty evacuation and the use of specialized alpine equipment, including ropes and harnesses crucial for survival in extreme conditions.
    Speaking at the closing ceremony, Deputy Head of Presence Clarisse Pasztory emphasized that, in co-operation with the Austrian Ministry of Interior, the OSCE Presence will continue to support further training for Albania’s alpine police.
    Director of the National Security Force, Hamdi Fjora, highlighted that, following a joint needs assessment with Austrian experts, a selected group of officers will undergo a training-of-trainers programme. This initiative aims to integrate alpine training into the annual curriculum of Albania’s public security structures, ensuring continuous capacity-building in this field.
    The activity was part of a project implemented by the OSCE Presence in Albania and funded by the Austrian government.

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Marat Khusnullin: More than 215 thousand square meters of housing have been commissioned and 22 billion rubles have been attracted to the economy on the Crimean peninsula thanks to infrastructure projects

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Square on Novikov Street, Balaklava, Sevastopol

    Since the reunification of Crimea with Russia in 2014, a large-scale comprehensive work on infrastructure development has been carried out on the peninsula, aimed at creating comfortable living conditions for people and sustainable socio-economic development of the regions. Modern housing, roads, social institutions, housing and communal services facilities are being built, and public spaces are being improved, Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin reported.

    “Today we celebrate 11 years since the Crimean Peninsula returned to Russia. During this time, the peninsula has been transformed almost beyond recognition. The state program of socio-economic development, national projects and targeted support instruments have allowed us to create and update the peninsula’s infrastructure at an accelerated pace. This work has yielded results. I would like to note the good pace of housing construction. In particular, effective regional development instruments have contributed – infrastructure budget and special treasury loans (IBK and STK). The projects implemented since 2022 with their help have stimulated the commissioning of 215.5 thousand square meters of housing and attracted more than 22.1 billion rubles of private investment to the local economy,” said Marat Khusnullin.

    Thus, with the involvement of IBC and SKK funds, six housing and communal services facilities were commissioned in the Republic of Crimea. Among them are the reconstructed Moinaki electrical substations in Yevpatoria, Foton and Severnaya in Simferopol. They made it possible to ensure a stable and uninterrupted power supply to thousands of consumers, and also, due to the increase in capacity, to form a reserve for connecting new facilities to the power grid. In addition, the reconstruction of Mramorny Lane, leading to a developing residential area in Simferopol, was completed, and a kindergarten for 250 children was built in the city of Saki. At the expense of IBC, the construction of a kindergarten for 280 children in Yevpatoria and Antichny Prospekt in Sevastopol continues.

    When creating comfortable living conditions for people, much attention is also paid to the improvement of populated areas. This work was successfully carried out within the framework of the national project “Housing and Urban Environment”.

    “Since 2019, about 500 public areas and courtyards have been renovated in the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol. Moreover, the opinions of local residents are taken into account when choosing priority locations. Last year, more than 213 thousand residents of the peninsula took part in the voting for improvement sites. Now, work on creating a comfortable urban environment continues within the framework of the national project “Infrastructure for Life”. In 2025, it is planned to improve 100 public areas: 77 in Crimea and 23 in Sevastopol,” said Minister of Construction and Housing and Public Utilities Irek Fayzullin.

    For example, the central city square in Yalta was improved. A light and music fountain was installed there, an amphitheater was arranged, navigation systems, shaded areas, and places for tourist groups to gather appeared for the convenience of vacationers. Now this square can host small events and open-air film screenings.

    A promising mechanism for the high-quality renewal of cities, the formation of a comfortable environment for life, work and recreation of citizens is the integrated development of territories. This tool allows for the renewal of housing stock, modernization or creation of the necessary social, communal and transport infrastructure, and the involvement of inefficiently used areas in municipalities in circulation.

    “By the decision of the Government, the Territorial Development Fund, with the involvement of a subsidiary, is implementing the KRT project in the village of Privetnoye in the urban district of Alushta. The total area of the territory to be developed is 480.6 hectares. It is planned to build more than 3.2 million square meters of real estate there. The implementation of the project will contribute to the socio-economic development of the Republic of Crimea, create a year-round resort with beaches and berths for small vessels, as well as with modern infrastructure for comfortable living, increase the tourist flow and attract additional investment to the region. Currently, urban development documentation is being developed, support measures for the construction of infrastructure facilities are being worked out,” said Ilshat Shagiakhmetov, General Director of the Territorial Development Fund.

    In addition, large social facilities are being built on the peninsula. Thus, on the instructions of the President, the Federal Children’s Rehabilitation Center is being built in Yevpatoria. The work is being carried out under the supervision of the public-law company “Single Customer in the Sphere of Construction”.

    “The first stage of the center’s construction is currently being completed. A consultative and diagnostic building and a hospital building with 300 beds have already been erected. They are currently being equipped with new technological and medical equipment. The administrative building was previously put into operation. The construction of a boarding house for accommodating young patients with their parents and a dormitory for medical workers is also ongoing,” said Karen Oganesyan, General Director of the Unified Customer PPC.

    Construction and reconstruction of facilities is underway on the territory of the Kiparisny and Solnechny camps of the International Children’s Center Artek. The infrastructure for the Krymsky training center in Alushta is actively developing – a new sports complex with a swimming pool and a hotel are already ready, and reconstruction of the incline-cross track is ongoing.

    Also in Sevastopol, on Cape Khrustalny, a large cultural cluster with a total area of 150 thousand square meters will appear. The Academy of Choreography has already opened and is working. The museum complex, in which the Russian State Art Gallery will open, is at a high level of readiness.

    The work on the development of the peninsula is aimed not only at updating the infrastructure, but also at creating a favorable investment climate. The growth of the economy of Crimea and Sevastopol is also facilitated by the free economic zone, which has been operating since 2015, and which provides for a special legal regime for doing business. In 2024 alone, its participants invested 58.2 billion rubles in the economy. Today, there are 1,526 participants in the free economic zone, thanks to which 6.4 thousand infrastructure facilities have been commissioned and 111.5 thousand jobs have been created, and 481.2 billion rubles have been invested in the economy of the peninsula, including 272.4 billion rubles in capital investments.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Classical gardens in China’s Suzhou

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

    Classical gardens in China’s Suzhou

    Updated: March 18, 2025 22:08 Xinhua
    A tourist poses for a photo at the Humble Administrator’s Garden in Suzhou, east China’s Jiangsu Province, Feb. 25, 2025. Suzhou is known as a city of gardens, with its numerous classical gardens considered some of the most beautiful in the country, and nine of them serving as UNESCO world heritage sites. Throughout history, the garden design has always been intertwined with Chinese literature and the art of landscape painting. The protection and restoration of Suzhou’s old city and classical gardens have been carried on for decades. The height of buildings in the ancient city is kept below 24 meters so as to preserve historical skylines. Hundreds of ancient buildings and classical gardens have also been effectively protected. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo shows tourists visiting the Humble Administrator’s Garden in Suzhou, east China’s Jiangsu Province, Oct. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo shows the scenery of the Humble Administrator’s Garden in Suzhou, east China’s Jiangsu Province, Oct. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A girl makes a lacquer fan at the Lion Grove Garden in Suzhou, east China’s Jiangsu Province, Feb. 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A tourist visits the Lion Grove Garden in Suzhou, east China’s Jiangsu Province, Feb. 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists visit the Humble Administrator’s Garden in Suzhou, east China’s Jiangsu Province, Feb. 25, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists visit the Lion Grove Garden in Suzhou, east China’s Jiangsu Province, Feb. 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo shows the scenery of the Lion Grove Garden and its surroundings in Suzhou, east China’s Jiangsu Province, Feb. 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo shows the scenery of the Lion Grove Garden in Suzhou, east China’s Jiangsu Province, Feb. 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    A tourist visits the Humble Administrator’s Garden in Suzhou, east China’s Jiangsu Province, Feb. 25, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo shows the scenery of the Lion Grove Garden in Suzhou, east China’s Jiangsu Province, Feb. 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    This photo shows the scenery of the Master-of-Nets Garden in Suzhou, east China’s Jiangsu Province, Feb. 26, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]
    An aerial drone photo shows the scenery of the Huqiu scenic area in Suzhou, east China’s Jiangsu Province, Oct. 23, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Council Visit Winchester team showcases Jane Austen during English Tourism Week

    Source: City of Winchester

    A Morning of Jane Austen was led by Visit Winchester – which is managed by Winchester City Council’s Economy and Tourism team – to mark English Tourism Week, showcasing some of the local author-related highlights.

    2025 is the 250th anniversary of Jane Austen’s birth and a range of special events are taking place including the first-ever public access to the house in College Street where she died.

    Winchester’s year-long birthday celebration includes partners from across the city and surrounding district, who have come together to devise a series of over 35 special events, tours, and exhibitions to celebrate Austen’s life and works.

    The showcase, on Saturday 15 March, included a visit to Winchester Visitor Information Centre, and a themed Jane Austen tour by one of Winchester Tourist Guides which took in the key landmarks to Austen’s time in Winchester including College Street and Winchester Cathedral, where the author is buried, before finishing at Winchester City Museum.

    Visit Winchester has also recently launched a new self-guided trail around the city which highlights all places the author would have visited during her time in the city and gives visitors an insight into Winchester’s Georgian history. The trail has launched as part of English Tourism Week and is available to download on the Visit Winchester website or from the visitor information centre.

    Winchester City Council’s Cabinet Member for Business and Culture Councillor Lucille Thompson said: “Winchester district’s first-class tourism offering brings in millions for our economy each year, supporting thousands of jobs and driving growth into our local communities. A thriving visitor destination is also a welcome benefit for local residents, who can also access a year-round vibrant programme of experiences and events right on their doorstep.

    “This English Tourism Week we have a lot to celebrate – not only are we celebrating 250 years since the birth of one of the world’s most famous authors, but also all the hard work our visitor economy does, welcoming our visitors and showcasing Winchester to the world.”

    Louise West, Chair of Collections Committee and Trustee at Hampshire Cultural Trust, said: “Jane Austen was a Hampshire girl through and through, with an inextricable link to Winchester. 250 years on since her birth, her life, literature and legacy continue to be an irresistible draw to visitors from all over the UK and beyond. We are proud and honoured to have the privilege of counting some of her personal possessions among the collections that we care for, and are looking forward to showcasing these, along with our full programme of Austen-themed events, to visitors to the city throughout the year.”

    Dr Danny Chambers, MP for the Winchester Constituency, said: “Jane Austen’s novels and film adaptations have been enjoyed by fans for decades and bring so many people from around the whole world to Winchester. We’re fortunate to have a literary superstar bringing people to our city. Winchester City Council and other organisations across the city, including the amazing tour guides, have done an excellent job to promote this 250th anniversary celebration, and I thank them for showing me the work they’ve put in to make it happen.”

    To see a full list of Winchester’s attractions and businesses taking part in Jane Austen’s 250th anniversary celebrations, visit www.visitwinchester.co.uk/jane-austen-250.

    ENDS

    Notes to Editors

    Over eight million people visit the Winchester district every year, spending over £370 million in the local area and supporting over 5,760 jobs, both for local residents and those living nearby, making it one of Winchester’s largest and most valuable industries. – The Economic Impact of Tourism on Winchester, 2022, Tourism South East

    Visit England’s English Tourism Week – 14-23 March 2025 – celebrates this diverse, exciting and vibrant sector, and highlights the quality and value of English tourism. 

    Jane Austen was a Hampshire girl through and through, with an inextricable link to Winchester. 250 years on since her birth, her life, literature and legacy continue to be an irresistible draw to visitors from all over the UK and beyond. We are proud and honoured to have the privilege of counting some of her personal possessions in the collections that we care for, and are looking forward to showcasing these, along with our full programme of Austen-themed events, to visitors to the city throughout the year. For further information, please email tourism@winchester.gov.uk.

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Government of Yukon launches new tourism dashboard

    Source: Government of Canada regional news

    Government of Yukon launches new tourism dashboard
    jlutz
    March 17, 2025 – 9:48 am

    The Government of Yukon announces the launch of a new online service that provides a window into the territory’s active tourism sector.

    Informed by direct feedback from tourism stakeholders, the Yukon Tourism Indicators Dashboard is a new source for sharing Yukon tourism data. The dashboard highlights visitor numbers, spending patterns and seasonal trends to help inform decision making and industry plans.

    The new dashboard features data about border crossings, airport arrivals, hotel and short-term rental indicators, employment rates, restaurant and retail sales, business counts and consumer confidence. Data sources are updated weekly or monthly and the dashboard is also easily expandable as new datasets become available.

    For more information and to use the dashboard, people can visit yukon.ca/access-yukon-tourism-indicators-dashboard.

    Tourism is a key driver of the Yukon’s economy and having reliable data at our fingertips allows us to support the sector more effectively. This new dashboard makes it easy to track tourism activity and identify opportunities for sustainable development. Tourism operators, communities and stakeholders are encouraged to explore the dashboard and use the insights to help shape their strategies and investments.

    Minister of Tourism and Culture John Streicker

    The Yukon Tourism Advisory Board (YTAB) is thrilled with the launch of the Yukon Tourism Indicators Dashboard. The YTAB’s approach is to make recommendations to the Minister that are market-driven, research-based and industry-led. The collection and reporting of reliable data through the Yukon Tourism Indicators Dashboard will support timely, informed decision making that supports the priorities of Yukon tourism businesses, communities, First Nations and all Yukoners.

    Yukon Tourism Advisory Board Chair Denny Kobayashi

    Quick facts

    • Data on the dashboard comes from a variety of Yukon government sources as well as Statistics Canada, Destination Canada and other providers. The dashboard includes historical data going back as far as 30 years.

    • This service absorbs and improves upon the previous Yukon Sustainable Tourism Dashboard and replaces the old method of publishing quarterly reports. Reports from previous years have been added to the Government of Yukon’s Open Data platform. 

    Media contact

    Laura Seeley
    Cabinet Communications
    867-332-7627
    laura.seeley@yukon.ca

    Alicia Debreceni
    Communications, Tourism and Culture 
    867-3323670
    alicia.debreceni@yukon.ca 

    News release #:

    25-116

    Related information:

    Yukon Tourism Development Strategy: Sustainable Tourism. Our Path. Our Future.

    MIL OSI Canada News –