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Category: Tourism

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: FS attends Summer Davos in Tianjin

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Financial Secretary Paul Chan today attended the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting of the New Champions 2025 in Tianjin, and led representatives from about 20 startups and enterprises to visit the Tianjin Binhai High-tech Industrial Development Area for business matching activities.

    At the annual meeting, also known as the Summer Davos, Mr Chan joined the Informal Gathering of World Economic Leaders where he exchanged views on the current international financial and trade landscape and developments with other international and regional leaders.

    In the afternoon, Mr Chan participated as a keynote speaker in a discussion session on the economic and investment relationship and development prospects between the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) and China.

    He pointed out that Hong Kong can serve as a “super connector” in trade, investment, finance, and innovation and technology (I&T) between China and the MENA.

    Specifically, with the increasing popularity of trade settled in local currencies among economies in the region, renminbi liquidity, the range of renminbi investment products and risk management tools, and custodian services can be enhanced to support renminbi investment and funding needs of MENA countries.

    Furthermore, as the region invests heavily in infrastructure and green transformation, Hong Kong can act as a financing centre for quality enterprises and projects. Collaboration between I&T enterprises can also help countries in the region achieve their development goals in various fields.

    Separately, the Financial Secretary, leading representatives from startups from the Hong Kong Science & Technology Parks Corporation, Cyberport and the Hong Kong Investment Corporation, visited the Tianjin Binhai High-tech Industrial Development Area in the morning.

    They toured two enterprises and held a roundtable meeting with about 30 Tianjin-based tech companies to discuss further co-operation directions and strategies between Tianjin and Hong Kong’s innovation sectors, and promote exchanges and interface between enterprises of the two places.

    During the roundtable meeting, Mr Chan said Hong Kong welcomes Tianjin’s I&T companies to leverage Hong Kong’s platform for international expansion. He emphasised that enterprises can utilise Hong Kong’s vibrant and comprehensive fundraising market and high-quality financial services to connect with global funds and investors. He also encouraged them to collaborate with Hong Kong’s I&T enterprises to make use of Hong Kong’s internationalised application scenarios and global business networks, thereby accelerating the pace of their international expansion.

    In the evening, Mr Chan met Tianjin Municipal Committee Deputy Secretary Liu Guiping for in-depth exchanges on strengthening co-operation in trade, finance, shipping, I&T and tourism between Tianjin and Hong Kong.

    Additionally, Mr Chan met Xi’an Mayor Ye Niuping, also attending the Summer Davos, to exchange views on further fostering co-operation.

    The Financial Secretary will continue to attend the Summer Davos in Tianjin tomorrow and depart for Beijing in the evening.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Monkey Biz-ness’: Pop culture helped fan the flames of the Scopes ‘monkey trial’ 100 years ago − and ever since

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ted Olson, Professor of Appalachian Studies and Bluegrass, Old-Time and Roots Music Studies, East Tennessee State University

    The star attorneys of the Scopes trial: Clarence Darrow, left, for the defense and William Jennings Bryan for the prosecution. Historica Graphica Collection/Heritage Images/Getty Images

    Ask Americans about the Scopes trial, and they might have heard of it as the “trial of the century,” a showdown over teaching human evolution.

    Less well known are its origins. As historian Edward J. Larson observed in “Summer for the Gods,” his Pulitzer Prize-winning book: “Like so many archetypal American events, the trial itself began as a publicity stunt.”

    Held during July 1925 in the tiny railroad town of Dayton, Tennessee, located not far from the public university where I teach Appalachian studies, the trial was a “stunt” prompted by the state legislature’s passage of the Butler Act, which forbade educators in public schools from teaching “any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals.” Tennessee was the first state to enact this type of legislation.

    This “monkey trial” – so dubbed by journalist H. L. Mencken, for humans’ common ancestor with apes – exposed a cultural rift in the United States, as many Christians wrestled with how to reconcile biblical beliefs with Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. That rift would be widened by media coverage and national response. Over the past century, collective memories of the trial, as interpreted through music, film and literature, have proven a bellwether of the ongoing “culture wars” in American society.

    Publicity stunt

    In Tennessee, support for the Butler Act was hardly universal. Not in favor was George Rappleyea, manager of a Dayton-area coal and iron mining operation. Rappleyea lobbied other community leaders, some of whom supported the new law, to collectively stage a trial, hoping media attention would generate economic activity in the town.

    Those instigators approached John T. Scopes, a social science and math teacher at the local public high school who had also substitute-taught some biology lessons. The 24-year-old could not recall if his lectures had in fact violated the Butler Act, but the textbook in use at his school included evolutionary theory. Scopes agreed to participate.

    Testifying against their teacher were three students who had clearly been coached to do so. Nevertheless, the presiding judge persuaded the grand jury to indict.

    As an early indication of outside interest, Paul Patterson, the publisher of The Baltimore Sun, paid Scopes’ bail, and the ACLU announced it would defend him.

    Center of the storm

    Arguments started on July 10, 1925, at the Rhea County Courthouse. The trial may have begun as a determination of whether Scopes had violated the Butler Act, but both sides soon focused on debating the relative merits of biblical cosmology versus Darwinian theory.

    American teacher John Scopes, second from left, stands during his trial for teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution.
    Hulton Archive/Getty Images

    Representing the creationist perspective was prosecuting attorney Tom Stewart, a future senator from Tennessee. Special counsel William Jennings Bryan, a former U.S. secretary of state, was included on the prosecution team at the behest of a Christian fundamentalist organization.

    The evolutionary theory position was argued by prominent trade union lawyer Clarence Darrow. An agnostic who distrusted religious fundamentalism, Darrow wrote that “there was no limit to the mischief that might be accomplished unless the country was aroused to the evil at hand.”

    A circuslike atmosphere enveloped Dayton. Embodying the “monkey trial” was the performing chimpanzee Joe Mendi, whose trainers posed him for photographs around town. More than 200 journalists attended the trial, with articles appearing in The New York Times, The New Yorker and other publications around the nation.

    Joe Mendi, a monkey who performed in films and theater, was brought to Dayton during the trial.
    Looking Back at Tennessee Photograph Collection, 1890-1981/Tennessee State Library & Archives

    Receiving the most attention was Mencken, whose reportage for The Baltimore Sun did not attempt to disguise his bias against the cultural values of rural America. Dayton’s people, he wrote, “are simply unable to imagine a man who rejects the literal authority of the Bible.”

    Updates were circulated in real time via radio – the first U.S. trial to be broadcast live nationally. Filmed footage was rushed from Dayton to be shared in the nation’s theaters as newsreels.

    The trial ended on July 21, 1925, with a conviction and a fine. Scopes’ conviction was eventually overturned on a technicality. Since the trial had not challenged the legality of the Butler Act, however, that law remained on the books in Tennessee for more than four decades.

    ‘Monkey Biz-Ness’

    Commenting on the Scopes trial were two 1925 recordings by major singers of the day: a comedic jazz ditty entitled “Monkey Biz-Ness (Down in Tennessee),” performed by the International Novelty Orchestra with singer Billy Murray; and the country hit “The John T. Scopes Trial (The Old Religion’s Better After All),” sung by Vernon Dalhart. The latter song’s lyrics, composed by Carson Robison, warned listeners that “you may find a new belief, it will only bring you grief.”

    Other songs of the era – with titles such as “The Bible’s True,” “You Can’t Make a Monkey Out of Me,” “You Talk Like a Monkey and You Walk Like a Monkey” and “Ain’t No Bugs on Me” – echoed that same line of thought: “rural” skepticism toward the “urban,” pro-science perspective on the origins of humankind.

    Supporters of the ‘Anti-Evolution League’ amid the Scopes trial. From Literary Digest, July 25, 1925.
    Mike Licht/Flickr via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY

    Whereas Scopes was the subject of ridicule in those songs, he and his defenders were celebrated as heroes in “Inherit the Wind,” a 1955 Broadway play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee. A fictionalized portrayal of the Scopes trial, the play powerfully defended free speech – veiled criticism of Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s recent investigations of various American citizens for their political positions and beliefs.

    “Inherit the Wind” inspired a 1960 film of the same name, directed by Stanley Kramer. Its “fanaticism and ignorance” speech depicts the character based on Darrow – played by Spencer Tracy – arguing that without science, society would regress back to a time of unconstrained bigotry. The film received its debut American screening in Dayton on the 35th anniversary of the end of the Scopes trial; Scopes himself was the guest of honor.

    ‘Fanaticism and ignorance is forever busy, and needs feeding.’

    Representations of rural Tennessee in popular culture depictions and in media coverage of the trial drew from a font of stereotypes about Appalachia that have continued into the present century. Condescending depictions of the region have been present in American culture since before the Civil War.

    Centennial commemoration

    Memory of the Scopes trial endures in popular culture. Take, for instance, a reference in Bruce Springsteen’s 1990 song “Part Man, Part Monkey,” or Ronald Kidd’s 2006 “Monkey Town,” a historical novel for young adults.

    Dayton did benefit from the notoriety of the Scopes trial, thanks to sustained cultural tourism. Proud of its unique history, the town today boasts a historical marker to alert passersby to the significance of the landmark event that took place in the Rhea County Courthouse. And in 2025, Dayton has been hosting a series of events to commemorate the trial’s centennial.

    Back in 1925, even the Baltimore journalist Mencken begrudgingly praised Dayton and its townspeople, admitting, “It would be hard to imagine a more moral town than Dayton.”

    “I expected to find a squalid Southern village … What I found was a country town of charm and even beauty,” he wrote.

    Ted Olson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. ‘Monkey Biz-ness’: Pop culture helped fan the flames of the Scopes ‘monkey trial’ 100 years ago − and ever since – https://theconversation.com/monkey-biz-ness-pop-culture-helped-fan-the-flames-of-the-scopes-monkey-trial-100-years-ago-and-ever-since-255946

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Global: ‘Monkey Biz-ness’: Pop culture helped fan the flames of the Scopes ‘monkey trial’ 100 years ago − and ever since

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Ted Olson, Professor of Appalachian Studies and Bluegrass, Old-Time and Roots Music Studies, East Tennessee State University

    The star attorneys of the Scopes trial: Clarence Darrow, left, for the defense and William Jennings Bryan for the prosecution. Historica Graphica Collection/Heritage Images/Getty Images

    Ask Americans about the Scopes trial, and they might have heard of it as the “trial of the century,” a showdown over teaching human evolution.

    Less well known are its origins. As historian Edward J. Larson observed in “Summer for the Gods,” his Pulitzer Prize-winning book: “Like so many archetypal American events, the trial itself began as a publicity stunt.”

    Held during July 1925 in the tiny railroad town of Dayton, Tennessee, located not far from the public university where I teach Appalachian studies, the trial was a “stunt” prompted by the state legislature’s passage of the Butler Act, which forbade educators in public schools from teaching “any theory that denies the story of the Divine Creation of man as taught in the Bible, and to teach instead that man has descended from a lower order of animals.” Tennessee was the first state to enact this type of legislation.

    This “monkey trial” – so dubbed by journalist H. L. Mencken, for humans’ common ancestor with apes – exposed a cultural rift in the United States, as many Christians wrestled with how to reconcile biblical beliefs with Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution. That rift would be widened by media coverage and national response. Over the past century, collective memories of the trial, as interpreted through music, film and literature, have proven a bellwether of the ongoing “culture wars” in American society.

    Publicity stunt

    In Tennessee, support for the Butler Act was hardly universal. Not in favor was George Rappleyea, manager of a Dayton-area coal and iron mining operation. Rappleyea lobbied other community leaders, some of whom supported the new law, to collectively stage a trial, hoping media attention would generate economic activity in the town.

    Those instigators approached John T. Scopes, a social science and math teacher at the local public high school who had also substitute-taught some biology lessons. The 24-year-old could not recall if his lectures had in fact violated the Butler Act, but the textbook in use at his school included evolutionary theory. Scopes agreed to participate.

    Testifying against their teacher were three students who had clearly been coached to do so. Nevertheless, the presiding judge persuaded the grand jury to indict.

    As an early indication of outside interest, Paul Patterson, the publisher of The Baltimore Sun, paid Scopes’ bail, and the ACLU announced it would defend him.

    Center of the storm

    Arguments started on July 10, 1925, at the Rhea County Courthouse. The trial may have begun as a determination of whether Scopes had violated the Butler Act, but both sides soon focused on debating the relative merits of biblical cosmology versus Darwinian theory.

    American teacher John Scopes, second from left, stands during his trial for teaching Darwin’s theory of evolution.
    Hulton Archive/Getty Images

    Representing the creationist perspective was prosecuting attorney Tom Stewart, a future senator from Tennessee. Special counsel William Jennings Bryan, a former U.S. secretary of state, was included on the prosecution team at the behest of a Christian fundamentalist organization.

    The evolutionary theory position was argued by prominent trade union lawyer Clarence Darrow. An agnostic who distrusted religious fundamentalism, Darrow wrote that “there was no limit to the mischief that might be accomplished unless the country was aroused to the evil at hand.”

    A circuslike atmosphere enveloped Dayton. Embodying the “monkey trial” was the performing chimpanzee Joe Mendi, whose trainers posed him for photographs around town. More than 200 journalists attended the trial, with articles appearing in The New York Times, The New Yorker and other publications around the nation.

    Joe Mendi, a monkey who performed in films and theater, was brought to Dayton during the trial.
    Looking Back at Tennessee Photograph Collection, 1890-1981/Tennessee State Library & Archives

    Receiving the most attention was Mencken, whose reportage for The Baltimore Sun did not attempt to disguise his bias against the cultural values of rural America. Dayton’s people, he wrote, “are simply unable to imagine a man who rejects the literal authority of the Bible.”

    Updates were circulated in real time via radio – the first U.S. trial to be broadcast live nationally. Filmed footage was rushed from Dayton to be shared in the nation’s theaters as newsreels.

    The trial ended on July 21, 1925, with a conviction and a fine. Scopes’ conviction was eventually overturned on a technicality. Since the trial had not challenged the legality of the Butler Act, however, that law remained on the books in Tennessee for more than four decades.

    ‘Monkey Biz-Ness’

    Commenting on the Scopes trial were two 1925 recordings by major singers of the day: a comedic jazz ditty entitled “Monkey Biz-Ness (Down in Tennessee),” performed by the International Novelty Orchestra with singer Billy Murray; and the country hit “The John T. Scopes Trial (The Old Religion’s Better After All),” sung by Vernon Dalhart. The latter song’s lyrics, composed by Carson Robison, warned listeners that “you may find a new belief, it will only bring you grief.”

    Other songs of the era – with titles such as “The Bible’s True,” “You Can’t Make a Monkey Out of Me,” “You Talk Like a Monkey and You Walk Like a Monkey” and “Ain’t No Bugs on Me” – echoed that same line of thought: “rural” skepticism toward the “urban,” pro-science perspective on the origins of humankind.

    Supporters of the ‘Anti-Evolution League’ amid the Scopes trial. From Literary Digest, July 25, 1925.
    Mike Licht/Flickr via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY

    Whereas Scopes was the subject of ridicule in those songs, he and his defenders were celebrated as heroes in “Inherit the Wind,” a 1955 Broadway play by Jerome Lawrence and Robert Edwin Lee. A fictionalized portrayal of the Scopes trial, the play powerfully defended free speech – veiled criticism of Sen. Joseph McCarthy’s recent investigations of various American citizens for their political positions and beliefs.

    “Inherit the Wind” inspired a 1960 film of the same name, directed by Stanley Kramer. Its “fanaticism and ignorance” speech depicts the character based on Darrow – played by Spencer Tracy – arguing that without science, society would regress back to a time of unconstrained bigotry. The film received its debut American screening in Dayton on the 35th anniversary of the end of the Scopes trial; Scopes himself was the guest of honor.

    ‘Fanaticism and ignorance is forever busy, and needs feeding.’

    Representations of rural Tennessee in popular culture depictions and in media coverage of the trial drew from a font of stereotypes about Appalachia that have continued into the present century. Condescending depictions of the region have been present in American culture since before the Civil War.

    Centennial commemoration

    Memory of the Scopes trial endures in popular culture. Take, for instance, a reference in Bruce Springsteen’s 1990 song “Part Man, Part Monkey,” or Ronald Kidd’s 2006 “Monkey Town,” a historical novel for young adults.

    Dayton did benefit from the notoriety of the Scopes trial, thanks to sustained cultural tourism. Proud of its unique history, the town today boasts a historical marker to alert passersby to the significance of the landmark event that took place in the Rhea County Courthouse. And in 2025, Dayton has been hosting a series of events to commemorate the trial’s centennial.

    Back in 1925, even the Baltimore journalist Mencken begrudgingly praised Dayton and its townspeople, admitting, “It would be hard to imagine a more moral town than Dayton.”

    “I expected to find a squalid Southern village … What I found was a country town of charm and even beauty,” he wrote.

    Ted Olson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

    – ref. ‘Monkey Biz-ness’: Pop culture helped fan the flames of the Scopes ‘monkey trial’ 100 years ago − and ever since – https://theconversation.com/monkey-biz-ness-pop-culture-helped-fan-the-flames-of-the-scopes-monkey-trial-100-years-ago-and-ever-since-255946

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Angola Becomes Shareholder in Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), Reinforcing Commitment to Africa-Led Development

    Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) (www.AfricaFC.org), Africa’s leading infrastructure solutions provider, today announced that the Republic of Angola has become its latest sovereign shareholder. This strategic equity investment further strengthens Angola’s partnership with AFC and underscores the country’s confidence in AFC’s mandate to accelerate sustainable development and regional integration through transformational infrastructure.

    As a member of the Africa Finance Corporation since 2022, Angola has deepened its strategic partnership with the institution through a landmark equity investment commitment of US$184.8 million. This bold move reflects Angola’s confidence in the AFC’s institutional strength and its ambition to help shape Africa’s development agenda from within. It builds on nearly US$1 billion in AFC investments across Angola’s priority sectors—power, rail, logistics, and critical minerals—core to the country’s industrialization and economic diversification strategy. The investment also signals growing momentum for African-led capital solutions to drive long-term, transformative growth across the continent.

    Earlier this year, the Fundo Soberano de Angola, Angola’s Sovereign Wealth Fund, also made a US$25 million equity investment in AFC. Together, these investments reflect a cohesive national strategy to advance Angola’s infrastructure and industrial development agenda through close collaboration with the Corporation.

    With this milestone investment, Angola becomes the second Lusophone African nation, after Cape Verde, to join the growing list of equity investors in AFC. This underscores the Corporation’s expanding pan-African footprint and its commitment to accelerating the continent’s structural transformation through strategic, high-impact partnerships.

    “Angola’s capital commitment underscores the impact of sovereign alignment with AFC’s mandate to catalyse Africa’s transformation. It affirms the value of combining national vision with AFC’s model of delivering critical infrastructure, deploying innovative financing solutions, and forging catalytic partnerships across the public and private sectors”, said Samaila Zubairu, President & CEO of Africa Finance Corporation. “This marks a significant step in AFC’s journey to broaden shareholder representation across Africa”.

    Dr. Vera Daves de Sousa, Angola’s Minister of Finance, said: “Angola’s shareholding investment in AFC signals our strong belief in the power of partnerships to deliver lasting economic transformation. The Corporation has been a trusted ally over the last few years, financing strategic sectors including infrastructure, energy, and industrial projects critical to our diversification efforts, and we look forward to a continued, mutually beneficial partnership”.

    AFC and Angola have had a strong collaborative history over the years, exemplified by initiatives such as the Lobito Corridor project, where AFC is acting as lead developer alongside other partners. This transformational multi-country transport network connecting Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has the potential to unlock new industrial and value-chain opportunities across key sectors, including mining, agriculture, energy, and tourism. 

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Finance Corporation (AFC).

    Media Enquiries:
    Yewande Thorpe
    Communications
    Africa Finance Corporation
    Mobile: +234 1 279 9654
    Email: yewande.thorpe@africafc.org

    About AFC:
    AFC was established in 2007 to be the catalyst for pragmatic infrastructure and industrial investments across Africa. AFC’s approach combines specialist industry expertise with a focus on financial and technical advisory, project structuring, project development, and risk capital to address Africa’s infrastructure development needs and drive sustainable economic growth.

    Eighteen years on, AFC has developed a track record as the partner of choice in Africa for investing and delivering on instrumental, high-quality infrastructure assets that provide essential services in the core infrastructure sectors of power, natural resources, heavy industry, transport, and telecommunications. AFC has 45 member countries and has invested over US$15 billion in 36 African countries since its inception.

    www.AfricaFC.org

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: African leaders urge United States (U.S.) to embrace investment-driven partnerships and review tariffs


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    African leaders have called on Monday for an urgent review of U.S. tariffs on African exports, urging a shift towards transformative partnerships and investment in Africa’s economic potential.

    Addressing more than 2,000 government and business leaders, and other delegates at the U.S.-Africa business summit in the capital Luanda, Angolan President João Lourenço said: “It is time to replace the logic of aid with the logic of investment and trade.”

    He urged U.S. companies to diversify beyond traditional oil and mineral extraction and invest in sectors such as automotive manufacturing, shipbuilding, tourism, cement production, and steel production.

    African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, added, “We’re not seeking aid, but building co-created solutions.” He called for the removal of punitive tariffs and visa restrictions, noting that Africa’s 1.3 billion people and abundant resources remain among the world’s most significant untapped economic opportunities.

    “This should not just be a summit, but a call to action. Together, let’s walk the pathways to prosperity—with unity, purpose, and Agenda 2063 as our guide,” he told the summit.

    In his remarks, African Development Bank Group President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina said, “We should review the high tariffs on African countries. What is needed is more trade between Africa and the U.S., not less.”

    African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretary General Wamkele Mene reinforced Africa’s integration agenda, highlighting the importance of open regional markets. “The undertaking of the AfCFTA is an ambitious one—It has to be ambitious,” Mene said. He emphasized that the success of AfCFTA is essential to scale investment, reduce fragmentation, and accelerate industrial development across the continent.

    From rhetoric to action: Building real partnerships

    The central message was clear: the era of aid dependency is over, and the time for transformative investment partnerships has arrived. The leaders called for bold, strategic investments to unlock Africa’s trillion-dollar potential.

    Responding to the call for deeper engagement, U.S. officials acknowledged Africa’s growing economic importance and the need to reset perceptions. Senior State Department Bureau Official Troy Fitrell said, “There are business leaders in the U.S. who need to understand the opportunities that lie in doing business with Africa. Our mission going forward will be to find them—and bring them in.”

    The U.S.-Africa Business Summit promotes economic cooperation and investment between the United States and Africa with a focus on fostering sustainable and inclusive economic growth. By bringing together leaders from government, business, and civil society, the summit provides a platform to discuss key issues and opportunities in the U.S.–Africa relations, ultimately driving growth and development on both sides.

    Adesina pointed to the Lobito corridor as a concrete example of strategic investment already underway.

    “That is why the African Development Bank is a key strategic partner with the U.S., Angola, and Zambia on the development of the Lobito corridor,” he said. This critical corridor will link the vast areas of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the port of Angola, improving mineral supplies, unlocking agricultural potential, and creating jobs.

    The African Development Fund, the soft loan arm of the Bank Group, will be providing $500 million in support of the development of the Lobito Corridor. Additionally, the African Development Bank will provide $1 billion over five years for complementary investments around the corridor, including agricultural value chains, roads, and energy infrastructure.

    Act on the data, not perceptions

    The Bank President went further: “As we build transport corridors, let us also build strategic partnership corridors. Strategic partnerships that prioritize capital investments in infrastructure, agriculture, minerals industrialization, and development of digital infrastructure, as well as capital markets.”

    He charged U.S. investors: “Act on the data, not perceptions. Think Africa. Think opportunities. Think competition. From the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation to the Export-Import Bank of the United States, as well as institutional investors and capital allocations, invest in Africa. Let’s make America and Africa great again.”

    Corporate Council on Africa President Florie Liser challenged summit delegates to embrace true partnership: “Beyond deals, let’s strive for lasting transformation.” As part of the opening ceremony of the Summit, the Corporate Council on Africa honored Dr. Adesina with its Distinguished Economic Leadership Award, recognizing his significant contributions to Africa’s transformation.

    Council Deputy Chairman, Mr. Jean Raymond Boulle, conferred the award, describing how the African Development Bank has impacted millions of Africans under Adesina’s leadership, while transforming the Bank to a world-class institution and a partner of choice.

    Akinwumi Adesina, who will complete his second and final five-year term as President of the African Development Bank Group on 31 August, has led for the past decade transformative projects across Africa under the Bank’s five strategic priorities, the “High 5s”. They have positively impacted the lives of more than 565 million people on the continent.

    Speaking at a high-level event hosted by Africa50, a pioneering infrastructure investment platform dedicated to accelerating project development and delivery across Africa, Adesina emphasized the urgent need to scale local financing solutions—especially in local currencies—to mitigate forex volatility, reduce risk mismatches, and enhance the bankability and stability of infrastructure projects for global investors.

    The event, titled “Unlocking Capital for Africa’s Infrastructure through Innovative Finance,” featured a high-level panel discussion on asset recycling, moderated by CNN’s Richard Quest, with insights from Alain Ebobissé, CEO of Africa50; Brook Taye, Director General of Ethiopia Investment Holdings; and Armando Manuel, Chairman of Fundo Soberano de Angola.

    Together, they explored how innovative models, such as asset recycling, can unlock capital and accelerate infrastructure development across Africa.

    Alain Ebobissé stated that the asset recycling model has been successfully implemented in many countries worldwide.

    “In implementing this initiative in Africa, we are pursuing three objectives. First, monetizing assets—ensuring that, instead of owning only a bridge, you receive cash that you can reinvest in your assets. Second, improving the efficiency of the asset by bringing in first-class operators to help us manage those assets. Third, and most importantly, we aim to bring pension funds and other investors interested in cash flow-generating assets to finance these projects,” Ebobissé explained.

    Adesina said over the past decade, the African Development Bank Group has invested over $55 billion in infrastructure, including regional projects, making the Bank the largest financier of infrastructure in Africa.

    The African Development Bank established Africa50 as a private equity infrastructure platform, comprising a project development company and a project finance company, to support the development of infrastructure with market-rate returns.

    Africa’s missing share of a $2.9 trillion opportunity

    The Bank President informed the audience that, in the past eight years since its establishment, Africa50 has invested in a portfolio of infrastructure projects worth over $8 billion.

    “But more is needed, especially from private sector investors,” stated Adesina. “Africa should be well positioned to attract some of the $2.9 trillion global green bonds. However, the continent represents less than 1% of global green bond issuance. Because most of Africa’s infrastructure is yet to be built, this represents a huge opportunity for green bond issuances to build green infrastructure, reduce carbon emissions, and build climate resilience.”

    The African Development Bank launched the Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa (AGIA) to mobilize $500 million for project preparation and development, as well as $10 billion for green infrastructure investments. Africa50 is the General Partner for the AGIA-Project Development Fund, with several Limited Partners, including the G7 countries.

    To mitigate risks at scale across Africa, the African Development Bank is establishing the Africa Risk Mitigation Agency, which will consolidate all banks’ guarantee instruments into a single entity. The entity will support guarantees for equity risk, climate risk, refinancing risk, and political risk.

    He emphasized that Africa50 is also pioneering asset recycling, enabling governments to recover their investment in infrastructure by transferring brownfield assets to the private sector. This can help to reduce debt burdens and provide liquidity for governments.

    “The Senegambia bridge, which the African Development Bank financed with $104 million, was the first to be used for the asset recycling program. It worked successfully, as Gambia received $104 million it spent back through Africa50,” he added. “Following this, several asset recycling initiatives are being proposed for many infrastructure projects financed for governments by the African Development Bank Group.”

    The renewed momentum for U.S.-Africa business partnerships received strong political backing, with the participation of seven Heads of State, several Prime Ministers, and leaders of key regional organizations.

    Attending dignitaries included Presidents Denis Sassou Nguesso (Republic of the Congo), Faustin-Archange Touadéra (Central African Republic), Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Taye Aske Selassie (Ethiopia), Duma Gideon Boko (Botswana), Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah (Namibia), and Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema (Gabon); Prime Ministers Gervais Ndirakobuca (Burundi), Robert Beugré Mambé (Côte d’Ivoire), Russell Mmiso Dlamini (Eswatini), Manuel Osa Nsue Nsua (Equatorial Guinea), Christian Louis Ntsay (Madagascar), and Deputy Prime Minister Nthomeng Justina Majara (Lesotho); as well as Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Ambassador Gilberto Da Piedade Verissimo, Chairperson of the Economic Community of Central African States, and Elias M. Magosi, Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community.

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

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

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

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: International Congress on Business Tourism Meet Global MICE Congress to be held in Moscow in December

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    A major international forum, Meet Global MICE Congress, will be held in the capital on December 17 and 18. This was reported by Natalia Sergunina, Deputy Mayor of Moscow. The event will bring together Russian and foreign experts in the field of business tourism, representatives of specialized companies and departments for the third time.

    The congress will be dedicated to the MICE industry, related to the organization and holding of business events.

    “15 business sessions are planned. They will cover key issues for the development of the industry – from interstate cooperation to the use of modern technologies and promotion in new markets,” noted Natalia Sergunina.

    The main topic of the first day will be interaction with government institutions of different countries and cities, and the second day – business partnership and industry initiatives. Traditionally, a cultural program will be prepared for the participants. For example, they will get to know Moscow as one of the international tourist centers.

    For the first time, the event will feature an exhibition space for Russian and foreign companies. Entrepreneurs will be able to present their proposals and hold business negotiations. Separate stands will be dedicated to the festival “Moscow Tea Party” and the project “Made in Moscow”.

    The congress will feature intensive training sessions and expert presentations in an open microphone format. Specialists will share best practices and the most successful cases.

    In 2024, the event brought together more than 1,300 representatives of the business tourism industry from Russia and 16 other countries, including Brazil, India and China.

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

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/155733073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Australia: 2025–26 ACT Budget – what’s in it for Canberrans

    Source: Northern Territory Police and Fire Services

    The Budget includes support for the revitalisation of Telstra Tower.

    In Brief

    • The 2025–26 ACT Budget has been handed down.
    • This article provides an overview of the key initiatives supported through this year’s Budget.

    The 2025–26 ACT Budget is investing in the services and infrastructure our growing city needs.

    This year’s Budget makes a record investment in the ACT’s public health system. This will ensure Canberrans have access to the health care they need, when they need it.

    The Budget will enable the delivery of more homes for Canberra. Practical initiatives will boost supply, increase affordability and deliver diverse housing options to suit all stages of life.

    There is continued cost of living support for those who need it most, as well as new and upgraded suburban infrastructure.

    This year’s ACT Budget also invests in a new pool and convention centre for Canberra, and the revitalisation of Telstra Tower.

    Health

    The 2025–26 ACT Budget will deliver more affordable GP services for families.

    A new pilot program to support general practices that commit to bulk billing children will reduce out-of-pocket costs for families.

    Junior doctors will start training rotations in general practices, allowing them to begin practising in primary care in the community sooner in their training.

    There will be more professional development and wellbeing support for the general practice workforce, ensuring they can keep delivering the best care possible.

    The Budget includes support to enable the ACT Government’s commitment of 70,000 elective surgeries over four years.

    The ACT Government will also continue to invest in health infrastructure across Canberra, including:

    • planning and detailed design work for the new northside hospital in Bruce
    • planning and design work for a new pathology and clinical services building at Canberra Hospital
    • a new public medical imaging outpatient service at Belconnen Community Health Centre.

    Housing

    The ACT Government is committed to enabling 30,000 homes by 2030.

    The Budget supports a range of practical initiatives to deliver more homes for Canberrans – now and in the future.

    Key Budget initiatives include:

    • an increase of the stamp duty concession threshold to $1.02 million for eligible buyers
    • 85 new public housing dwellings delivered through community housing providers under the Housing Australia Future Fund Facility (HAFFF)
    • additional funding for the Affordable Housing Project Fund
    • 300 affordable Build-to-Rent homes
    • 17 new social housing townhouses acquired in Coombs under the Social Housing Accelerator
    • ongoing investment in the Growing and Renewing Public Housing Program to maintain and expand Canberra’s public housing portfolio.

    Cost of living

    The ACT Government will deliver new and continuing cost of living measures through the 2025–26 ACT Budget. The measures focus support where it’s needed most.

    These include:

    The 2025–26 ACT Budget also includes investment in:

    For all your ACT Budget news in one place, visit the Our CBR website.

    To read the 2025-26 ACT Budget papers visit the Budget website.

    What’s in it for your region?

    The Budget invests in new and improved suburban infrastructure across Canberra – from playgrounds to paths, shops and sporting facilities.

    Click on the map below to find out what’s been funded in the 2025–26 ACT Budget for your region.

    Get ACT news and events delivered straight to your inbox, sign up to our email newsletter:


    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: From Concerts to a Poetry Marathon: Youth Day Program Launched in Moscow

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    During the week, the capital will host a program dedicated to Youth Day. It will unite 250 places throughout the city, including the sites of the Summer in Moscow project. Among them are VDNKh, parks, museums, cultural centers, streets and boulevards. This was reported by Natalia Sergunina, Deputy Mayor of Moscow. The largest event will be the festival “Youth Day”, the main events of which are organized on Bolotnaya Square.

    “The festival will be dedicated to patriotism, career, creativity, sports and volunteering. Its main theme is “Know. Love. Be proud. Multiply.” The children will meet with participants of the special military operation, take excursions, attend charity events, competitions and master classes. There will be many interesting things in other areas of the capital,” noted Natalia Sergunina.

    Young musicians and already popular artists will perform at the Youth Day festival. Experts will conduct career consultations and help decide on a future profession. Guests will be invited to join artistic plein airs and create magnets.

    More than 40 events have been prepared by the city’s cultural venues – VDNKh, museums and parks. The interactive program includes quizzes, master classes, lectures and sports tournaments.

    Several excursions will be organized at VDNKh, including the Cosmonautics and Aviation Center. Visitors will be told about the first cosmonauts, their childhood and development. Muscovites and tourists will also be welcome at the book exhibition “Youth is Fantasy” at the ZIL Cultural Center and at a poetry marathon at the A.F. Losev House, where young authors will read their poems.

    Izmailovsky Park will host a youth interethnic festival. Sports and dance competitions, a graffiti contest, master classes in spray painting, yoga classes and concerts have been prepared for guests. Orchestras and jazz bands will perform in the Kolomenskoye Museum-Reserve. Children are invited to reveal their talents in creative interactive activities, join board games and team competitions.

    The State Darwin Museum will host a video tour with special effects “The Diversity of Life on Earth” and a quest. Its participants will select exhibits for the natural science museum of the future and learn about modern trends in the development of science. The Cultural Center, with the support of the Znanie society, will show a documentary film dedicated to Russian student brigades. The Mikhailovskoye Culture Center will host the TiNAO. Attraction festival, within the framework of which youth groups and soloists from Moscow and the Moscow Region will perform concerts. On the summer veranda of the Zelenograd Cultural Center, novice and experienced drummers will present the musical project “Rhythms of the City”.

    Volleyball, table tennis, and chess tournaments, yard Spartakiads, and friendly football matches will be held at district venues.

    You can find out the conditions of visiting and see the list of events atportal “Youth of Moscow” and websites of institutions.

    Project “Summer in Moscow”— the main event of the season. It brings together the most vibrant events of the capital. Every day, charity, cultural and sports events are held in all districts of the city, most of which are free. The Summer in Moscow project is being held for the second time, and this season will be more eventful: new, original and colorful events will be added to traditional festivals and events.

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

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

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

    https: //vv.mos.ru/nevs/ite/155727073/

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • Thailand closes border crossings with Cambodia as dispute deepens

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Thailand’s military has closed border crossings into Cambodia to almost all travellers, including tourists and traders, citing security concerns as tensions between the two Southeast Asian neighbours remain escalated over a simmering border dispute.

    The deterioration in ties was sparked by brief armed clashes in a border area that left one Cambodian soldier dead late last month. Both governments have since announced measures designed to punish the other, including Cambodia’s recent suspension of all Thai fuel and gas imports.

    Thailand will now restrict all vehicles, tourists and traders from crossing at all land border checkpoints in seven provinces bordering Cambodia, the military said in a statement issued late on Monday, citing security concerns.

    There are exemptions for humanitarian reasons, such as for those needing medical attention, students and other urgent matters at the discretion of security units at checkpoints, the statement said.

    The restrictions “matched the current security situation, particularly in addressing the conflict in areas between Thailand and Cambodia that continue to intensify politically, diplomatically and militarily,” the statement said.

    The military said the measures would also assist in a crackdown on illegal scam centres in Cambodia flagged by Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra on Monday.

    Paetongtarn said Thailand would stop cross-border supplies of essentials, including electricity, to areas where illicit operations were taking place.

    The prime minister has been under fire for her handling of the border row, particularly after the leaking of a phone call between her and Hun Sen, Cambodia’s former leader, that appeared to show her denigrating a senior Thai military commander.

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Scientists and NSU graduates have developed an algorithm for controlling a swarm of drones using the “detection-delivery” scheme

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Novosibirsk State University – Novosibirsk State University –

    Scientists from NSU, engineers from Smart Drones LLC (SmartDrones platform) and specialists from the Siberian Fire and Rescue Academy of the State Fire Service of the Russian Emergencies Ministry presented a joint development — an algorithm for controlling a swarm of drones, online detection and determination of the coordinates of detected objects using AI. The technology was tested at an off-site meeting dedicated to the introduction of innovative technologies in the work of agricultural producers, which took place in the Ordynsky District on June 20 with the participation of Deputy Governor of the Novosibirsk Region Irina Manuilova, Minister of Science and Innovation Policy of the Novosibirsk Region Vadim Vasiliev and Minister of Agriculture of the region Andrei Shindelov. The off-site meeting of representatives of science, developers of advanced technologies and innovative projects was held at the production site of Dary Ordynska OPKh LLC.

    The researchers demonstrated the ability of drones to interact in space using the detection-delivery scheme, distributing tasks: one of them detects an object, determines and transmits coordinates to another drone, which carries out delivery according to the specified coordinates. The control algorithm can be scaled to any number of devices and different types of recognized objects.

    The joint development is the result of agreements that were reached after testing drone delivery in April. Then, a new model of an unmanned aerial vehicle, developed by NSU scientists for delivering goods to hard-to-reach areas, successfully covered a distance of 4.5 km across the Ob River and delivered the goods to their destination. The test flight was part of the first tests in Siberia of SmartDrones Fires technology for detecting and extinguishing fires using a swarm of drones and AI technologies, jointly with the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia for the Novosibirsk Region.

    — Based on the results of the tests, we decided to combine the two technologies and try to work them out in a complex, namely: one drone, controlled using specialized SmartDrones software developed by our company, automatically analyzes data from a video camera, detects a person and transmits his coordinates to the second drone developed by NSU. The second UAV automatically delivers the necessary parcel, which may include water, medicine, etc., according to the specified coordinates. In two months, we took the necessary steps for integration and presented the new technology in action at an off-site meeting that took place at the end of last week, — said Alexey Meleshikhin, founder of the Smart Drones company, a graduate of the Physics Department of NSU.

    In the future, NSU researchers and engineers from the SmartDrones startup will work together to improve the technology for controlling a swarm of drones using the “detection-delivery” scheme and plan to create a full-fledged digital platform that will find application in various areas – agriculture, tourism, emergency prevention, etc.

    — Now we have worked out the interaction of two drones and tested the algorithm “detection and delivery of water”. We have shown how the automatic data transfer from the first drone to the second one works, so that the latter arrives at these coordinates and makes the delivery. In the future, we plan to conduct testing on a larger number of devices, when we can have several drones, each of them monitoring its own square and solving the problem of detecting different types of objects that need different types of delivery – water, medicine, life jacket, etc. In the future, the technology can be scaled to an unlimited number of devices. In addition, the platform being developed will allow drones to make various joint decisions. For example, to calculate the distance of an object and determine who will fly to it faster and deliver, for example, a first aid kit to a victim; what to do in case of loss of communication with one of the UAVs, etc. All these algorithms will be worked out and implemented on the basis of the SmartDrones digital platform, — explained Alexey Meleshikhin.

    The Smart Drones company, founded by NSU graduates and developing the SmartDrones Fires hardware and software complex for automatic fire detection and calculation of the forces and means required to extinguish them using a swarm of drones and AI technologies, is a resident of AkademPark and the winner of the spring, 30th, anniversary accelerator A:START.

    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: Defying all odds, “Desert Poplar Spirit” works green miracles in Taklimakan

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

    An aerial drone photo taken on Oct. 25, 2024 shows the autumn scenery of the desert poplar forest at the Huludao (Gourd Island) scenic spot in Yuli County, northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Hu Huhu)

    In the vast wilderness of Xinjiang’s Taklimakan Desert, the populus euphratica, or the desert poplar, thrives against harsh conditions, withstanding cold, heat, alkali, and extreme drought while serving as a natural barrier against sandstorms.

    Mirroring the indomitable nature of the trees, a dedicated group has taken root there, tirelessly working to transform sand into greenery. Their perseverance has crystallized into what locals call the “Desert Poplar Spirit.”

    Nurjamal Emdulla is one of them. After graduating from college in 2010, she returned to her hometown of Awati County in Aksu Prefecture to join the local forestry and grassland bureau.

    In 2021, local authorities initiated a sand control project in the county’s Aiximan region on the northwestern margin of the Taklimakan, an area characterized by extensive sand dunes resulting from desertification. This was when Nurjamal Emdulla’s war against the sands began.

    For days on end, she would spend over ten hours in the field. “I teach workers planting techniques — how to dig holes, plant saplings, and water them correctly,” she explained. “And how to secure each sapling’s base with wire mesh to prevent wildlife from damaging the young plants.”

    The commute to and from work was no easy feat. “When sandstorms rage, visibility drops greatly, and even fresh footprints vanish instantly. Getting lost was routine,” she recalled. “My mom would always complain that ‘as a girl, you don’t even have a chance to wear dresses.’”

    For Nurjamal Emdulla, the harsh working conditions were never the real challenge. What truly unsettled her was the seeming impossibility of life taking root in those barren sands.

    For desert control workers, failure is a daily companion. One strong sandstorm can uproot freshly planted saplings in minutes. And the scorching heat and lack of water can also claim the fragile seedlings.

    “Oftentimes, it felt like what we were doing was pointless,” she even considered quitting.

    The turnaround came in spring 2022. One day, Nurjamal Emdulla discovered some new green on the branches of the saxaul shrubs, although it was too pale to be seen. “The trees were alive! I saw hope,” she recalled, with tears brimming in her eyes.

    Nowadays, vast stands of saxaul trees and tamarisk flourish across the once-barren lands, and long-absent wild animals such as hares, foxes and pheasants can be spotted occasionally.

    The same kind of despair that once bothered Nurjamal Emdulla was also felt by people in Wenaletaikushi village in Kashgar Prefecture.

    The village was encircled by desert on three sides, with encroaching dunes just 50 meters from the nearest homes. Villagers tried to plant trees but failed due to drought. Cotton and wheat yields withered season after season. Many abandoned their homes in search of a better life.

    Dai Zhigang, 55, from the forestry and grassland bureau of Kashgar, was sent to work as head of the village in 2023 with a battle cry: “We will tame this desert!”

    With the township government’s backing, the village implemented drip irrigation systems to resolve the water shortage issue. And a trial planting of saxaul trees and Russian olive shrubs began in earnest.

    “At the beginning, villagers were doubtful,” he said; some call him “bottle gourd head,” which in the Uygur language means a stubborn, silly person.

    Indeed, the campaign was not without its struggles: the newly leveled sand dunes would reclaim their heights overnight after sandstorms; the freshly planted saplings were often uprooted by shifting sands.

    After facing one defeat after another, a forest comprised of sand-fixation trees had successfully taken root last year.

    “Now the villagers are convinced and as determined as I am to continue with our planting,” Dai said. More and more villagers have voluntarily joined the desert prevention and control team. By this spring, over 160 hectares of desert had been regreened.

    The resilience and perseverance are evident not only on the frontlines of desert control but also within research institutions, where science is waging its campaign against the encroaching sands.

    Li Zhijun, a professor of Tarim University in Aral City, is called the “Desert Poplar Princess” by her colleagues.

    Over the past 25 years, she has traveled across the Tarim Basin to collect wild poplar germ plasm resources, leading multiple studies on the conservation and restoration of populus euphratica forests.

    Li and her team spend over six months each year conducting field surveys. When their cars get stuck in the soft sands, they pick up their heavy ladders and sampling gear, and trek the remaining kilometers.

    They climb up and down the trees to collect samples and conduct measurements. When encountering strong winds, the team could only hold hands with one another and push forward against wind and sand.

    “The desert poplar is a part of my life. Their resilience and vitality inspire me, enabling me to persist,” said the 62-year-old.

    Over the years, she led her team to over 60 counties and cities, collecting over 4,000 samples of poplar genetic resources. She developed conservation plans for various genetic resources of the species and established a gene pool for China’s poplar resources.

    Every day, such stories of failure, success, struggle and perseverance unfold across the vast deserts of Xinjiang.

    Thanks to decades of sand control efforts, China completed a 3,046-km green belt of trees and sand-blocking technologies last November to fully encircle the Taklimakan Desert.

    A brighter prospect is emerging for the sand fighters.

    “We not only work to control the sand, but will also make money from it,” said Dai Zhigang. Besides planting saxaul and poplar trees to fix the sand, the village is also cultivating economic crops such as licorice, roses, and watermelons. He also set aside a section of vacant sandy land with plans to create a desert park to attract tourists.

    Asked about his plans to retire, he replied, “I’ll keep working with the desert until the day these old bones turn to dust!”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: World embraces ‘cool’ Chinese creativity with zeal

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

    Right beside the Louvre in Paris, a limited-edition Mona Lisa-inspired collectible toy known as Labubu was fueling a buying frenzy at a store of Chinese toy giant Pop Mart.

    Also, in Times Square, New York, the fiery-wheeled Ne Zha appeared on a giant screen earlier this year, kicking off a wave of overseas screenings of this Chinese animated hit.

    Additionally, at the ongoing Expo 2025 in Osaka, China-chic interactive experiences such as a Wukong with artificial intelligence (AI) at the China Pavilion have attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors within just a month of its opening.

    Notably, an increasing number of creative and diverse Chinese cultural products have become global sensations in recent times. Empowered by this trend, China’s cultural presence abroad is undergoing a paradigm shift while unveiling a youthful image, with many overseas audiences expressing admiration for how “cool” the country is becoming.

    LABUBU’S GLOBAL REACH

    At the Pop Mart store in K11 Art Mall in Hong Kong Special Administrative Region in south China, long queues form regularly. Thai tourist Bonn patiently followed the crowd and finally secured her shopping fix after nearly 30 minutes of waiting. During her trip to Hong Kong, she had spent around 3,000 Hong Kong dollars (about 382 U.S. dollars) on merchandise.

    “Wherever I go, I always visit the local Pop Mart to stock up,” Bonn said. She especially adores the cute Labubu character and has collected hundreds of differently costumed figurines since getting hooked last year.

    “I dress the figurines up and even take them traveling with me,” she added.

    Recently, this sharp-toothed, rabbit-eared forest sprite has gained global popularity. Stores frequently sell out, while prices surge in secondary markets. According to Pop Mart, thanks to original IPs like Labubu, the company’s overseas revenue in the first quarter of 2025 had surged by 475 to 480 percent year on year.

    Created by a Hong Kong artist and blending Nordic mythology with Chinese design, Labubu has struck a global emotional chord. Thai authorities labeled it an “Amazing Thailand Experience Explorer,” its theme song was sung on the streets of Barcelona, and it was even “invited” to attend Milan Fashion Week.

    “Great intellectual properties (IPs) have the power to transcend cultures,” said Chen Xiaoyun, vice president of Pop Mart International Group Limited, adding that the company is committed to creating IPs with diverse aesthetics and gathering global creativity.

    “The export of such new mass culture shows the world what a ‘Cool China’ looks like, while offering universal appeal that resonates through cultural creativity,” wrote Zhang Yiwu, a professor at Peking University.

    TECH-DRIVEN CULTURAL INNOVATION

    The video game “Black Myth: Wukong” is another recent cultural phenomenon from China that is yielding international acclaim. Not long after the game was released, a reaction clip posted by British gaming streamer “itsjavachip” went viral, as she was moved to tears by the emotional storyline of Bajie in the game, earning her a fanbase of Chinese followers.

    Last month, “itsjavachip” was invited to China to visit the production set of another original martial arts-themed Chinese game. At the studio, she learned martial arts moves, donned a black outfit and experienced wire-assisted motion capture firsthand.

    Calling it an “absolutely amazing” experience, she said that playing a character in the game would be a dream come true.

    Employing cutting-edge simulation technologies, “Black Myth: Wukong” immerses players in scenes such as ancient buildings in Shanxi and the picturesque landscapes of the Jiangnan region. As of the end of last year, the game had sold 28 million copies worldwide, generating over 9 billion yuan (about 1.24 billion U.S. dollars) in revenue within five months of its release.

    In 2024, domestically developed Chinese games generated actual overseas sales revenue of more than 18.55 billion U.S. dollars, marking a year-on-year increase of 13.39 percent. The success of Chinese games abroad highlights the dual driving forces of traditional culture and intelligent digital technology.

    In the realm of traditional culture, digitization is also breaking geographical barriers and becoming a “digital window” helping global audiences to better understand China.

    As of May this year, the Palace Museum had digitized about 52 percent of its collection; the flying apsaras of Dunhuang “dance gracefully” on the screen through digital technology; the Zenghouyi chime bells are “struck” in a digital world…

    “I can directly scan artifacts and learn relevant information through it,” said Italian blogger Massimo, who couldn’t help but exclaim while holding the AR guide at Henan Museum.

    Such “coolness” can help China’s content industry attract a wider global audience, said Kevin Kelly, founding executive editor of Wired magazine.

    FROM CONNECTION TO CO-CREATION

    Through China’s cultural exports, global audiences are not only able to connect and empathize with their content, but are also co-creating something even bigger.

    British web fiction writer JKSManga was initially a devoted reader of Eastern fantasy web novels such as “Soul Land.” A few years ago, he registered on WebNovel, an online literature platform under China Literature Limited, and started writing his own works. His breakout series “My Vampire System” has garnered over 73 million reads and has been adapted into multiple formats.

    For JKSManga, being urged by readers to update his stories is a source of great joy. He describes the writing process as a form of social interaction, a sharing based on shared values.

    As of November last year, WebNovel had around 6,000 translated Chinese web novels and was home to nearly 450,000 overseas authors and 680,000 original works by overseas authors.

    Hou Xiaonan, CEO and president of China Literature Limited, said that online literature has become a global cultural phenomenon, not only because of the global spread of Chinese IP, but also thanks to the globalization of the Chinese IP model itself.

    Meanwhile, Ye Xiu, protagonist of the popular Chinese web novel “The King’s Avatar,” was recently “invited” by Swiss authorities to serve as a “travel ambassador,” offering fans an innovative immersive experience.

    Wei Pengju, senior researcher at the Central University of Finance and Economics in Beijing, said China’s cultural trade has evolved into a hybrid export model of “digital content + IP operations + technological services,” and that Chinese cultural exports have entered a new phase highlighting content, empowered by technology, and featuring co-creation.

    Via such cultural interactions, with wider opening up, broader innovation and deeper cooperation, China stands ready to share with the rest of the world an ever-cooler China. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: ER Report: A Roundup of Significant Articles on EveningReport.nz for June 24, 2025

    ER Report: Here is a summary of significant articles published on EveningReport.nz on June 24, 2025.

    Calls for New Zealand to denounce United States attack on Iran
    By Lillian Hanly, RNZ News political reporter Prominent lawyers are joining opposition parties as they call for the New Zealand government to denounce the United States attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. Iranian New Zealander and lawyer Arman Askarany said the New Zealand government was showing “indifference”. It comes as acting Prime Minister David Seymour told

    Warm-ups, layered clothes, recovery: 4 tips to exercise safely in the cold
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Harry Banyard, Senior Lecturer in Exercise and Sports Science, Swinburne University of Technology Maridav/Shutterstock Temperatures have dropped in many parts of Australia which means runners, cyclists, rowers, hikers, or anyone physically active outside need to take extra precautions to stay safe and exercise in relative comfort. Cold

    Sharks freeze when you turn them upside down – and there’s no good reason why
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Jodie L. Rummer, Professor of Marine Biology, James Cook University Rachel Moore Imagine watching your favourite nature documentary. The predator lunges rapidly from its hiding place, jaws wide open, and the prey … suddenly goes limp. It looks dead. For some animals, this freeze response – called

    Drone footage captured orcas crafting tools out of kelp – and using them for grooming
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vanessa Pirotta, Postdoctoral Researcher and Wildlife Scientist, Macquarie University Sara Jenkins/500px/Getty The more we learn about orcas, the more remarkable they are. These giant dolphins are the ocean’s true apex predator, preying on great white sharks and other lesser predators. They’re very intelligent and highly social. Their

    Inaccurate and misogynistic: why we need to make the term ‘hysterectomy’ history
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Theresa Larkin, Associate Professor of Medical Sciences, University of Wollongong Panuwat Dangsungnoen/Getty Images Have you had a tonsillectomy (your tonsils taken out), appendectomy (your appendix removed) or lumpectomy (removal of a lump from your breast)? The suffix “ectomy” denotes surgical removal of the named body part, so

    More women are using medical cannabis – but new research shows barriers push some into illegal markets
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vinuli Withanarachchie, PhD candidate, College of Health, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University Getty Images The number of women using medicinal cannabis is growing in New Zealand and overseas. They use cannabis treatment for general conditions such as pain, anxiety, inflammation and nausea, as well as

    It’s time to face an uncomfortable truth: maybe our pampered pets would be better off without us
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nancy Cushing, Associate professor, University of Newcastle ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images Pet-keeping is often promoted for the benefits it brings humans. A close association with another animal can provide us with a sense of purpose and a daily dose of joy. It can aid our health,

    Work, wages and apprenticeships: sifting for clues about the lives of girls in ancient Egypt
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Julia Hamilton, Lecturer in History and Archaeology, Macquarie University Weavers in the Tomb of Khnumhotep II, Beni Hassan, Egypt. Painted by Norman de Garis Davies (MMA 33.8.16) We know surprisingly little about the lives of children in ancient Egypt. And what records we do have about them

    Archetyp was one of the dark web’s biggest drug markets. A global sting has shut it down
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Elena Morgenthaler, PhD Candidate, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Griffith University Operation Deep Sentinel Last week, one of the dark web’s most prominent drug marketplaces – Archetyp – was shut down in an international, multi-agency law enforcement operation following years of investigations. It was touted as

    How do sleep trackers work, and are they worth it? A sleep scientist breaks it down
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Dean J. Miller, Senior Lecturer, Appleton Institute, HealthWise Research Group, CQUniversity Australia Many smartwatches, fitness and wellness trackers now offer sleep tracking among their many functions. Wear your watch or ring to bed, and you’ll wake up to a detailed sleep report telling you not just how

    ‘It feels like I am being forced to harm a child’: research shows how teachers are suffering moral injury
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Glenys Oberg, PhD candidate in education and trauma, The University of Queensland SolStock/Getty Images Australia is in the grip of a teacher shortage. Teachers are burning out, warning the job is no longer sustainable and leaving the profession. We know this is due to excessive workloads, stress

    NZ Greens call on state to condemn US over ‘dangerous’ attack on Iran
    Asia Pacific Report New Zealand’s opposition Green Party has called on the government to condemn the United States for its illegal bombing of Iran and inflaming tensions across the Middle East. “The actions of the United States pose a fundamental threat to world peace,” said Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson in a statement. “The rest

    View from the Hill: Albanese supports US bombing, reluctantly
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra When Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong went out on Monday to back the United States attack on Iran, it was obvious their support was through gritted teeth. Albanese told their joint news conference: “The world has

    Woodside’s North West Shelf gas extension is being challenged in the courts. Could it be stopped?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Samantha Hepburn, Professor, Deakin Law School, Deakin University The controversial extension of Woodside’s North West Shelf gas project off Western Australia faces two legal challenges. Both raise significant concerns about the validity of government approvals. One could even seek an injunction, preventing federal environment minister Murray Watt

    Australian CEOs are still getting their bonuses. Performance doesn’t seem to matter so much
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Richard Denniss, Adjunct Professor, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University RomanR/Shutterstock Almost all of Australia’s top chief executives are, according to their boards at least, knocking it out of the park in terms of performance. That is despite sluggish productivity, persistently high carbon emissions, rising

    Strait of Hormuz: closing vital oil and gas route would disrupt global supplies. How will Australia be affected?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Sanjoy Paul, Associate Professor in Operations and Supply Chain Management, UTS Business School, University of Technology Sydney Below the Sky/Shutterstock The Iranian parliament has approved the closure of key shipping route the Strait of Hormuz, in a move that could further escalate the Israel/Iran war. The strait

    MIT researchers say using ChatGPT can rot your brain. The truth is a little more complicated
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Vitomir Kovanovic, Associate Professor and Associate Director of the Centre for Change and Complexity in Learning (C3L), Education Futures, University of South Australia Rroselavy / Shutterstock Since ChatGPT appeared almost three years ago, the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies on learning has been widely debated. Are

    Why the US strikes on Iran are illegal and can set a troubling precedent
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Donald Rothwell, Professor of International Law, Australian National University After the United States bombed Iran’s three nuclear facilities on Sunday, US President Donald Trump said its objective was a “stop to the nuclear threat posed by the world’s number one state sponsor of terror”. US Defence Secretary

    How do I get started in the gym lifting weights?
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Mandy Hagstrom, Senior Lecturer, Exercise Physiology. School of Health Sciences, UNSW Sydney Thomas Barwick/Getty So you’ve never been to a gym and are keen to start, but something’s holding you back. Perhaps you don’t know what to actually do in there or feel like you’ll just look

    NZ’s plan to ‘welcome anyone, from anywhere, anytime’ is not a sustainable tourism policy
    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Regina Scheyvens, Professor of Development Studies, Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – Massey University Getty Images Attracting more Chinese tourists to New Zealand, including during the off-season, was a major part of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s trade agenda during his visit to China last week. As Tourism Minister

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI China: Tourists enjoy summer across China

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

    Tourists enjoy summer across China

    Updated: June 24, 2025 08:38 Xinhua
    An aerial drone photo taken on June 16, 2025 shows tourists taking boats for sightseeing in the Baofeng Lake of Wulingyuan District in Zhangjiajie, central China’s Hunan Province. [Photo/Xinhua]
    Tourists enjoy themselves at sunset on the beach in Weihai City, east China’s Shandong Province, June 22, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Chinese premier holds talks with Singaporean PM

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

    Chinese Premier Li Qiang holds talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is on an official visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 23, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    BEIJING, June 23 — Chinese Premier Li Qiang held talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is on an official visit to China, in Beijing on Monday.

    Noting that China and Singapore are friendly neighbors and important partners, Li said that under the strategic guidance of their leaders, the traditional friendship between China and Singapore has been continuously deepened since the establishment of diplomatic relations 35 years ago, with bilateral relations enhanced and practical cooperation achieving fruitful results.

    He said that China is willing to work with Singapore to uphold the traditions of mutual respect and trust, equality and mutual benefits, while maintaining close high-level exchange, enhancing strategic communication, and consolidating political mutual trust.

    Li said that China stands ready to make full use of its bilateral cooperation mechanism with Singapore, implement their cooperation plan for the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative, and expand and strengthen flagship cooperation projects. China is also ready to increase the scale of two-way trade and investment, actively expand cooperation in third-party markets, and foster new cooperative initiatives in areas such as the digital economy, the green economy, artificial intelligence, smart cities and ocean energy.

    He called on the two countries to strengthen exchange in education, culture, tourism and media, and to adhere to open regionalism and true multilateralism, actively promote the liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, and maintain the stability and smooth operations of global industrial and supply chains.

    China is willing to work with ASEAN member states, including Singapore, to promote the timely signature and implementation of the upgraded Version 3.0 China-ASEAN Free Trade Area pact, implement the high-quality Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, and accelerate the process of regional economic integration, Li said.

    Wong said that Singapore looks forward to maintaining close high-level exchange and cooperation in various fields with China, deepening friendship and mutual trust, and promoting flagship cooperation projects such as the Suzhou Industrial Park. It is also willing to explore cooperation potential in emerging fields such as the digital economy, the green economy, artificial intelligence and biomedicine, and to expand third-party cooperation and enhance people-to-people and cultural exchange.

    Wong noted that Singapore is full of confidence in the Chinese economy, and is willing to enhance communication and collaboration with China on regional and multilateral platforms to safeguard free trade and the multilateral trading system.

    Chinese Premier Li Qiang holds talks with Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who is on an official visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, June 23, 2025. [Photo/Xinhua]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Tourism Strategy Committee holds fourth meeting (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Tourism Strategy Committee holds fourth meeting  
         Members expressed their recognition to the KTSP since its commissioning, which was well received by both the tourism industry and the visitors. Members put forward suggestions for optimising the transportation and catering arrangements during mega events as well as strengthening cross-sector collaboration with the tourism industry.
     
         Regarding the preliminary land use proposal of the sites around Hung Hom Station and its waterfront areas, members considered that with panoramic views of Victoria Harbour, the waterfront areas were well-positioned to be re-planned and developed into a new harbourfront landmark that would integrate leisure and entertainment, dining and retail, and water-friendly elements. As for the utilisation of water body, members agreed that the water body adjacent to the former Hung Hom Freight Yard site should be put to good use. The proposed world-class yacht berthing facilities to be provided thereat could be integrated with land-based facilities for retail, dining and entertainment so as to promote yacht tourism. Members also recommended the Government to provide space for setting up land-side ancillary facilities to support the operation of the yacht berthing facilities. The DEVB is currently consulting the public and stakeholders on the preliminary land use proposal. The consultation period will end on July 5, 2025. The Government will take into account members’ recommendations and the feedback received during the consultation period when refining the development proposal and finalising the detailed development parameters. The target is to commence the relevant statutory procedures in the second half of 2026.
     
    In addition, members also exchanged views with Hong Kong Tourism Board’s representatives regarding Hong Kong’s latest tourism performance and relevant statistics. For the first five months of 2025, Hong Kong received more than 20 million visitor arrivals, a 12 per cent increase year-on-year. Among the visitors, about 15 million came from the Mainland, a 10 per cent rise year-on-year. Growth momentum is sustained across various non-Mainland markets, with around 5 million visitor arrivals in the first five months, an 18 per cent rise year-on-year. Number of visitor arrivals from Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia and Taiwan and increasing more than 20 per cent year-on-year respectively. For Australia, a significant growth of more than 30 per cent was recorded.
     
    The Committee is tasked to provide the Government with strategic advice and foster collaboration among different stakeholders in tourism and related sectors for further promoting the long-term and sustainable development of Hong Kong’s tourism industry. Members include prominent figures and key leaders from the tourism and other related sectors such as culture, sports, retail and catering.
    Issued at HKT 21:45

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Cabo Verde: Unlocking Inclusive Growth Through Increased Resilience and Equal Opportunities


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    Cabo Verde’s economy continues on a strong recovery path, according to the latest Cabo Verde Economic Update 2025, released today by the World Bank. Real GDP in Cabo Verde grew by 7.3% in 2024, supported by robust tourism activity and a modest recovery in agriculture. However, while the country has made notable strides – particularly in macroeconomic management, debt reduction, and poverty alleviation – key vulnerabilities remain. These include reliance on tourism, exposure to external shocks, and fiscal pressures from state-owned enterprises (SOEs).

    The report, titled Unlocking Women’s Economic Potential, analyses the country’s economic growth projections, highlights progress on poverty alleviation, and outlines the structural reforms needed to ensure sustained and inclusive growth. The report also includes a special topic, focused on leveraging women’s economic potential.

    “Cabo Verde’s recovery is a testament to the resilience of its people and institutions. But to transform this rebound into lasting and inclusive prosperity, bold reforms are needed – particularly to improve SOE governance, support women’s economic participation, and diversify the economy,” said Indira Campos, World Bank Resident Representative for Cabo Verde.

    The report notes that inflation dropped to 1% in 2024 – its lowest level in recent years – helping to bring poverty down to 14.4% ($3.65 a day 2017PPP line). Public investment execution increased, debt levels continued to decline, and the current account posted a surplus for the first time in four years.

    Looking ahead, GDP growth is projected at 5.9% in 2025, with poverty expected to fall further. However, the report warns that global uncertainties, commodity price shocks, and climate risks could affect the pace of growth and reform. Among the recommendations, the report calls for accelerated efforts to improve SOE performance, prudence in creating new ventures, and for maintaining fiscal discipline while investing in high-impact projects.

    The report highlights the critical need for policies to ensure growth is inclusive. Despite progress in education and health, Cabo Verdean women continue to face labor market barriers. The report finds that closing gender gaps in employment and earnings could boost GDP by up to 12.2% in the long-term.

    To achieve this, the report recommends:

    • Expanding access to childcare and flexible work arrangements.
    • Promoting women’s skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), as well as in technical and vocational education and training.
    • Tackling employer discrimination and transforming social norms.

    “By aligning reform efforts with inclusive policies, Cabo Verde has a unique opportunity to strengthen resilience, empower more citizens – especially women – and build a more sustainable and equitable future,” said Anna Carlotta Massingue, Senior Country Economist.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of The World Bank Group.

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • India to conduct first comprehensive household income survey in 2026

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a landmark step to bridge critical data gaps in the Indian economy, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has announced that the National Sample Survey (NSS) will undertake its first full-fledged Household Income Survey in 2026. The initiative, announced today, aims to generate detailed insights into income distribution and assess the impact of structural changes in the Indian economy over the last 75 years.

    Since its inception in 1950, the NSS has built a global reputation for its wide-ranging and methodically rigorous household surveys, conducted on an annual and quarterly basis. However, despite this legacy, the NSS has yet to implement a nationwide survey focused solely on income distribution. Past attempts, including pilot surveys and efforts in the 9th and 14th rounds in the 1950s, and more structured surveys on receipts and disbursements in the 19th and 24th rounds during the 1960s and 70s, failed to yield reliable data. The key issue was the consistent underreporting of income compared to household consumption and savings.

    Recognizing the growing importance of understanding household income for policy design and economic planning, the Ministry has now resolved to address these long-standing limitations. This survey forms part of a broader initiative by MoSPI to strengthen India’s statistical infrastructure, which has recently included annual surveys on the unincorporated and services sectors, private capital expenditure, and domestic travel and tourism.

    To guide the successful execution of this ambitious survey, MoSPI has constituted a Technical Expert Group (TEG) under the chairmanship of Dr. Surjit S. Bhalla, former Executive Director for India at the International Monetary Fund. Drawing from international best practices adopted in countries such as Australia, the United States, Canada, and South Africa, the TEG will oversee the conceptual framework, survey methodology, sampling design, and estimation techniques. It will also guide the integration of digital technology in measuring wage and income impacts.

    The group is empowered to co-opt additional subject matter experts and invite special invitees to its meetings as needed, ensuring a robust and inclusive consultation process.

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Tourism Strategy Committee meets

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Tourism Strategy Committee, chaired by Secretary for Culture, Sports & Tourism Rosanna Law, held its fourth meeting today.

     

    During the meeting, representatives from Kai Tak Sports Park Limited and the Development Bureau briefed the committee on matters relating to the sports park, and the preliminary land use proposal for sites around Hung Hom Station and nearby waterfront areas.

     

    Members praised the sports park, highlighting that it has impressed visitors and boosted the tourism industry. They also put forward suggestions for optimising transportation and catering arrangements during mega events and for strengthening cross-sector collaboration with the tourism industry.

     

    Regarding the preliminary land use proposal for sites around Hung Hom Station and nearby waterfront areas, committee members remarked that given their location on Victoria Harbour, the waterfront areas are well-positioned for redevelopment into a new harbourfront landmark that can integrate leisure, entertainment, dining, retail, and water-friendly elements.

     

    Members agreed that the water body adjacent to the former Hung Hom Freight Yard should be put to use, and commented that the proposed world-class yacht berthing facilities could be integrated with land-based facilities for retail, dining and entertainment so as to promote yacht tourism. They also recommended that the Government provide space for land-side ancillary facilities to support the operation of the yacht berthing facilities.

     

    The bureau is currently consulting the public and stakeholders on the preliminary land use proposal, and the Government will take into account members’ recommendations and the feedback received during the consultation period when refining the proposal and finalising the development parameters. The target is to commence relevant statutory procedures in the second half of 2026.

     

    Separately, members exchanged views with Tourism Board representatives regarding the city’s latest tourism performance and statistics.

     

    For the first five months of 2025, Hong Kong had more than 20 million visitor arrivals, a 12% increase year on year. Among these visitors, about 15 million came from the Mainland, a 10% rise on the same period in 2024. Visitor arrivals from Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia and Taiwan rose more than 25%. For Australia, growth of 35% was recorded.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: ICC elects four new members to the Executive Board

    Source: International Chamber of Commerce

    Headline: ICC elects four new members to the Executive Board

    The new members were formally elected during the annual meeting of the ICC World Council on 19 June 2025 and will each serve a three-year term effective 19 June 2025. The diverse experience of new members will enrich ICC’s roadmap to enable peace and prosperity through trade and reflects ICC’s continued commitment to geographic representation and diversity of expertise as the world’s largest and most inclusive business organisation.

    The ICC Executive Board is responsible for developing and implementing ICC’s strategy, policy and programme of action as well as for overseeing the financial affairs of ICC. 

    ICC Chair Philippe Varin said:

    “I’m very pleased to welcome this exceptional group of global leaders who bring deep expertise and fresh perspectives to ICC. Their leadership will be vital as we continue charting a path forward in delivering real-world solutions for business in a changing global environment. My thanks also to our outgoing Board members for their contributions.”

    The new Board members are: 

    Mohammad Lootah

    Mohammad Ali Rashed Lootah is the President and CEO of Dubai Chambers, where he leads strategic initiatives to enhance Dubai’s business environment, attract foreign investment, support global business expansion, and promote the digital economy. Prior to this role, he held several key leadership positions within Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, including CEO of Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection, overseeing areas such as consumer rights, business protection, and intellectual property. He also served in senior roles at the Department of Economic Development and the Dubai Land Department. 

    Zhang Hui

    Zhang Hui is Vice Chairman, Executive Director and President of the Bank of China, roles he assumed between December 2024 and January 2025. He also serves as Vice Chairman of BOC Hong Kong (Holdings) Limited. Mr Zhang joined the Bank of China in 2024 after serving as Executive Vice President of China Development Bank from 2021 to 2024. Prior to that, he spent many years at Bank of Communications, where he held various senior roles including as Chief Risk Officer, general manager of several risk management departments, and president of regional branches including in Guizhou and Shanghai. 

    Anousheh Ansari

    Anousheh Ansari is the CEO of XPRIZE, where she leads global innovation competitions addressing some of humanity’s most pressing challenges. A tech entrepreneur and space pioneer, Ms Ansari co-founded and led Prodea Systems, an IoT company recognised among Inc. Magazine’s 500 fastest-growing firms. In 2006, she became the first female private space explorer, the first astronaut of Iranian descent, and the first Muslim woman in space. Under her leadership, XPRIZE has awarded over US$81 million and launched US$361 million in active competitions. Ms Ansari also serves in various global advisory roles, including with the World Economic Forum, GESDA and UNESCO, and is an advocate for women entrepreneurs through initiatives like The Billion Dollar Fund for Women.

    Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul

    Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul is a Thai business leader and former Minister of Tourism and Sports, known for her contributions to both public policy and corporate governance. As Thailand’s tourism minister from 2014 to 2017, Ms Wattanavrangkul championed sustainable tourism and cultural heritage. She currently serves as Chair of the Board of Directors at Kasikornbank and Toshiba Thailand, and plays an active role in advancing education, innovation and international cooperation through various institutional boards. Ms Wattanavrangkul’s career reflects a strong commitment to inclusive and sustainable development in Thailand.

    Term renewals

    Elected to serve on the ICC Executive Board for a second term during the World Council meeting were Holger Bingmann (Germany), Managing Partner, Bingmann Pflüger International GmbH, Rebecca Enonchong (Cameroon), CEO, AppsTech and Chair of Afrilabs, Marjorie Yang (Hong Kong), Chair, Esquel Group, Lama Al Sulaiman (Saudi Arabia), Shareholder and Board Member of Rolaco Holdings, KSA and LUX and Justin D’Agostino (Hong Kong), Global CEO, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer.

    Outgoing Board members are Candace Johnson (United States/Luxemburg), Vice-Chair, NorthStar Earth and Space, Fredrik Cappelen (Sweden), Chairman and Board Member in the Swedish and Nordic industry, Valentina Mintah (Ghana), Founder West Blue Consulting, Zhang Xiaolun (China) Chair, China National Machinery Industry Corporation (SINOMACH).

    Leading chambers worldwide

    The ICC World Council also ratified the re-election of Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu as Chair of the ICC World Chambers Federation (WCF) for a second three-year term commencing 20 June 2025. Mr Hisarcıklıoğlu is Chair of ICC Türkiye and President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB).

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: The proposed Transformation Fund levels the economic playing field for emerging black businesses

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    By Parks Tau 

    In 1994, South Africa inherited an economy that was structurally designed to exclude the vast majority of South Africans. Apartheid’s distorted policies had created a dual economy: one of wealth and privilege and another of poverty and exclusion.

    This calculated economic strategy, structured along racial lines, created white-owned mines, farms, and factories while many black South Africans languished on the fringes of the economy in an underdeveloped informal sector.

    Their meaningful participation in our nation’s wealth was further eroded by discriminatory laws that restricted Black South Africans from owning land, accessing quality education, and entering skilled professions.

    These economic distortions which were implemented over hundreds of years continue to plague our nation today as we grapple with one of the highest levels of economic inequality in the world, worsened by alarmingly high unemployment, especially among Black youth.

    The country’s Gini coefficient of 0.63 shows that our nation’s income remains unevenly distributed, with the top 10 percent of the population holding more than 85 percent of household wealth. This persistent disparity undermines the development of an inclusive economy where all citizens participate and benefit.

    The transformation we seek is about positive change and is the only logical path to long-term growth and the reduction of inequality. In deracialising ownership across our economy, we open more opportunities for black people, in particular women and the youth.

    While the Constitution guides our work in creating a society with equal opportunities, we require a deliberate removal of structural obstacles to draw more people into the economy and mechanisms that advance our constitutional commitment to economic redress and transformation.

    In this regard, government plans to introduce the Transformation Fund to help level the economic playing field for emerging Black businesses, particularly those in key economic sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture and tourism who struggle to secure funding due to stringent lending requirements.

    The fund will provide financial support, infrastructure and capacity-building to Black-owned businesses – in particular Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises, women and youth entrepreneurs, and people living with disabilities – who are often locked out of meaningful economic participation due to their lack of access to capital.

    In fostering greater access to capital, business owners can invest in equipment, hire skilled staff, expand into new markets and ultimately quicken the pace of transformation in South Africa’s economy. It is also expected to stimulate meaningful economic activities across all regions of our country.

    A similar transformation initiative took place in South Korea, whose government actively worked with companies in the country to address market failures. Local businesses known as Chaebol were guaranteed loans from the banking sector, backed by the government. In the late 1980s, this led to rapid industrialisation with Chaebol businesses dominating the industrial sector in manufacturing, trading and heavy industries

    There was also great success in Malaysia’s empowerment initiative, demonstrating what can be achieved through transformation. The country in 1970 found itself in a similar position we face today and began to transform its society and economy through economic empowerment. Its empowerment plan, the National Economic Policy, assisted with the redistribution of the country’s wealth to the indigenous Malays known as Bumiputeras. Today Malaysia is among the richest countries in Southeast Asia by GDP per capita.  

    The Transformation Fund we are proposing will operate through a transparent application process, where qualifying businesses as well as partnerships, can apply for funding based on the project’s potential for social impact, sustainability, and alignment with national development goals.

    The fund will be anchored in contributions already made to the Enterprise Supplier Development and Equity Equivalent Investment Programme as part of our nation’s B-BBEE policy.  While no additional contributions are required over and above those made under our B-BBEE commitments, the voluntary co-funding by government and business of our transformation efforts can quicken the change we want in our economy.

    In supporting the Transformation Fund, both the public and private sectors stand to benefit from the investment in future suppliers, customers, and innovators who will, in turn build resilience and relevance in a fast-changing society.

    In advancing the establishment of the fund, it is proposed that the fund will be managed by a dedicated governance structure to ensure transparency. A Special Purpose Vehicle will be established to ensure accountability to an Oversight Committee and a board that possesses the required skills and capacity.

    The fund’s draft concept document was released for public comment on 19 March 2025 and the comment period concluded on 28 May 2025. South Africans are encouraged to continue to actively engage on the fund, and more details can be found on the website www.dtic.gov.za.

    Government plans to have the fund operational by the end of the year and capacitated with R100 billion. Once operational, it will assist in helping to bring real change in our economy and the lives of people. Let us turn transformation from a concept into practice as we make a real difference in others’ lives and create a fairer society.

    *Parks Tau is the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Valor Hospitality Partners signs three deals in Namibia, expanding its continental footprint

    Valor Hospitality Partners (www.ValorHospitality.com), a global leader in full-service hospitality solutions, today announced the signing of three new hotel management contracts in Namibia. This follows an announcement earlier this week of two new properties in West Africa that’s been added to its portfolio on the continent, signed at the Future Hospitality Summit (FHS) in Cape Town this week.  

    The three deals are all with IHG Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading hospitality companies, to manage three new-build properties in Namibia, namely the Vignette Collection Dunes Resort Swakopmund making its debut in the country, Holiday Inn Walvis Bay, and voco Windhoek CBD. 

    The debut of a Vignette Collection property in Namibia bears testament to the country’s growing appeal as a destination of choice for the discerning traveller.  

    The combined capital expenditure for the development and establishment of the three new-build properties in the Southern African country is a significant R1.3 billion.  

    Not only do these agreements strengthen Valor’s relationship with IHG in the region, it also expands their footprint across the continent and attests to the growing preference for fully-integrated hospitality management services.  

    Valor will oversee the successful opening and management of each of the Namibian properties, drawing on their deep global experience to bring a best-in-class offering to the agreement.  

    Michael Pownall, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Valor Hospitality Partners, says the signing of these agreements reflect not only confidence in the continent’s hospitality sector but also its appreciation for the value fully-integrated management services offer. “These partnerships are about value first and foremost, and how that value enhances the entire sector for all stakeholders. Of course we’re also immensely pleased – and proud – to grow and diversify our regional presence even further” he says.  

    Valor brings global insights and strategy to the table. Combined with their deep understanding of how to blend the big-picture with regional and cultural nuances in each location, it’s an approach that ensures global best-in-class management and operational practices at every level.  

    Haitham Mattar, Managing Director, IMEA, IHG Hotels & Resorts , said: ” Namibia is one of the most promising growth markets in southern Africa, and we are proud to enhance our presence in the country with three distinctive brands. With strategic locations in Swakopmund, Walvis Bay, and Windhoek, these hotels will cater to the full spectrum of traveller needs, from lifestyle seekers and leisure guests to business executives. This deal shows our ambition to expand our footprint in high-potential African markets through strong local partnerships and a diversified brand portfolio. 

    He added: Valor Hospitality Partners is one of IHG’s trusted partners in the region and is a strategic choice for managing these properties in Namibia. We have every confidence in the value that add and look forward to working with them as we enhance our presence in the country. 

    Reagon Graig, Managing Director Cadence Capital added: “Our collaboration with IHG Hotels & Resorts marks a major milestone for Namibia’s growing hospitality sector. Also commenting on the transaction, Rodrigo Pimenta, Managing Director, Santiago Property Developers said: “The development of these three hotels aligns perfectly with our vision to support the country’s tourism and business infrastructure, while creating high-quality, globally recognised destinations. We look forward to welcoming guests to these hotels and contributing to Namibia’s continued growth and appeal on the world stage. 

    The magnitude of these deals reinforce Valor’s strategic growth on the continent and its ongoing commitment to building world-class and sustainable hospitality operations that embody the brand’s “whole world of local” value ethos.  

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Valor Hospitality.

    For media inquiries and high-resolution images, please contact: 
    Delia de Villiers 
    delia@phoenixcollective.world 
    +27 73 710 3000

    Valor Hospitality Social Media: 
    Facebook: https://apo-opa.co/46aDJbt
    LinkedIn: https://apo-opa.co/4kSsEQL
    For more information about Valor Hospitality and its innovative approach to hotel management and franchising, visit www.ValorHospitality.com.  

    ABOUT VALOR HOSPITALITY PARTNERS: 
    Valor Hospitality Partners (https://apo-opa.co/3TzaXd1) is a leading global full-service hotel underwriting, acquisition, development, management, and asset management company. With over 90 hospitality projects in its international portfolio, Valor Hospitality offers an array of services, including site selection, product and brand selection, entitlements, financing solutions, conceptual design, construction and project management, procurement, technical services, pre-opening, and operations management. Valor also provides consulting services on a wide range of project scenarios, including working with new or existing ownership groups on reviewing site selection, assessing feasibility studies and project budgets, compiling project budgets, and underwriting. For more information, visit www.ValorHospitality.com

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region has 54 sister cities

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, June 23 (Xinhua) — Urumqi, capital of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, and Samarkand, capital of Uzbekistan’s Samarkand Province, established sister city relations following the recently held second China-Central Asia Summit, bringing the number of sister cities of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to 54 from 16 countries in Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, the Xinjiang Daily newspaper reported on Monday, citing a source from the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

    According to the report, back in August 2023, the authorities of Urumqi and Samarkand signed an agreement of intent to establish sister city relations, this step is aimed at promoting bilateral cooperation in trade, economy, culture, education, tourism, health care and other fields in various forms in order to stimulate the common prosperity and development of both cities.

    To date, sister city relations have been established between Urumqi and 14 cities in 12 countries, including Peshawar in Pakistan, Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan, Almaty in Kazakhstan and Narrandera in Australia.

    These facts show Xinjiang’s expanded opening to the outside world, which is also reflected in the region’s foreign trade. According to statistics, in the first five months of this year, Xinjiang traded with 222 countries and regions around the world, with foreign trade turnover amounting to 227.67 billion yuan (about 31.75 billion U.S. dollars), up 22.9 percent year on year. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Minister welcomes launch of Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre 

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    Minister welcomes launch of Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre 

    The Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr Dion George, has hailed the newly launched Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre as a powerful tool for environmental education.

    The world-class facility merges science, culture, and conservation to celebrate South Africa’s rich prehistoric heritage.

    Visitors at the centre can explore the earth’s ancient history while being inspired to protect its future, the Minister said at the centre’s launch on Sunday.

    It is located at the Golden Gate Highlands National Park in the Free State province.

    “This centre is not just a building. It’s a living window into our prehistoric past, and a powerful tool for education, inclusion and inspiration. For decades, the sandstone rock formations of this region have attracted palaeontologists from around the world. But one discovery, right here in this park, changed everything.

    “From that moment, the vision began to grow. And today, that vision stands before us in the form of a world-class facility that will open a window to the past while speaking powerfully to the present,” the Minister said.

    Inside the centre, visitors will journey through time, exploring South Africa’s rich fossil record, learning about earth’s evolutionary history, and understanding the fragile balance of biodiversity that must be protected.

    “And in uniquely local touch, the exhibition ends with the legend of Kgodumodumo, the Basotho monster believed by cattle herders to have left giant footprints across the land. It’s a beautiful reminder that science and folklore both hold space in our shared understanding of the world.

    “This project reflects the department’s deep commitment to environmental education and community-rooted conservation. It will serve as a source of pride for surrounding communities, a space o learning for schools and researchers, and a place of wonder for future generations,” the Minister explained.

    The Department of Tourism launched the centre in partnership with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment. Speaking at Sunday’s launch, Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille said that government is diversifying the country’s tourism attractions in order to grow tourism.

    READ | Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre set to grow tourism

    The two departments recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop the centre to boost tourism in the Free State.

    The centre will offer visitors an innovative, creative and quality demonstration of scientific knowledge (paleontological, archaeological and geological) with a broader appreciation of cultural heritage through interactive exhibitions.

    The centre is managed by the South African National Parks (SANParks), and it is envisaged that the facility will increase the bed occupancy and more activities for visitors to the park.
    -SAnews.gov.za

    nosihle

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: SANParks announces free entry to Kgodumodumo Centre

    Source: South Africa News Agency

    SANParks announces free entry to Kgodumodumo Centre

    Entry into the newly launched Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretive Centre in the Free State will be free to the public until 30 September 2025.

    In a statement, the South African National Parks (SANParks) said Sunday’s launch of the centre at the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, marked a “significant date in the calendar of South Africa’s cultural heritage.”

    “The Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretive Centre is a unique interactive facility that offers visitors an innovative, creative and quality demonstration of world-class scientific knowledge in the paleontological, archaeological and geological disciplines.

    “In recognition of this significant development, South African National Parks announced that starting today [Sunday, 22 June 2025] until 30 September 2025 there will be free entry to the centre for all visitors,” said SANParks.

    As a result of this announcement, schools, tertiary students, communities adjacent to Golden Gate Highlands National Park and Thabo Mafutsenyane District Municipality residents will be amongst South Africans who stands to benefit from the offering.

    To qualify for entry visitors are required to present a valid identification document.

    The Department of Tourism launched the centre in partnership with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). Speaking at Sunday’s launch, Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille said that government is diversifying the country’s tourism attractions in order to grow tourism.

    READ | Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre set to grow tourism

    Meanwhile, DFFE Minister, Dr Dion George, has hailed the Centre as a powerful tool for environmental education.

    The world-class facility merges science, culture, and conservation to celebrate South Africa’s rich prehistoric heritage.

    READ | Minister welcomes launch of Kgodumodumo Dinosaur Interpretation Centre

    Visitors at the centre can explore the earth’s ancient history while being inspired to protect its future.

    The centre is managed by SANParks, and it is envisaged that the facility will increase the bed occupancy and more activities for visitors to the park. 

    The centre is set to be a key driver of local economic development, job creation and tourism growth in the eastern Free State. – SAnews.gov.za

    Edwin

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement by Minister Valdez to mark National Indigenous Peoples Day

    Source: Government of Canada News

    June 21, 2025 – Ottawa, Ontario

    The Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Women and Gender Equality and Secretary of State (Small Business and Tourism), made the following statement:

    “Today, I join communities across the country in celebrating National Indigenous Peoples Day.

    “This is a time to honour the rich histories, vibrant cultures and enduring contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis. From coast to coast to coast, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and leadership of Indigenous communities.

    “Today, more than 50,000 small businesses are majority-owned by Indigenous entrepreneurs. Indigenous-led businesses are fuelling economic growth and uplifting communities across the country.

    “In 2023 alone, Indigenous tourism operators generated an estimated 34,700 jobs and billions of dollars in economic activity. These numbers tell a powerful story of resilience and innovation and highlight the vital role Indigenous businesses play in our tourism economy.

    “As Minister of Women and Gender Equality, I am committed to supporting Indigenous-led efforts to end gender-based violence. Through the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence and the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ Peoples, our government is working in partnership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities to develop policies and fund programs to end the national crisis facing Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. This work is essential to healing, justice and safety for Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, wherever they live.

    “Our government is deeply committed to advancing reconciliation and to building lasting partnerships with Indigenous Peoples by supporting entrepreneurs, fostering economic opportunity and building an inclusive economy that leaves no one behind.

    “Happy National Indigenous Peoples Day!”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Canon makes its EOS VR SYSTEM compatible with “Apple Projected Media Profile” and “spatial photo” in an aim to expand the 3D VR market and strengthens collaboration with Apple

    Canon Inc. (www.Canon-CNA.com) announced that two of its RF lenses for 3D VR video — the RF5.2mm F2.8 L DUAL FISHEYE (released in December 2021) and the RF-S3.9mm F3.5 STM DUAL FISHEYE (released in June 2024) — will offer compatibility with “Apple Projected Media Profile” (hereafter “APMP”), a QuickTime movie profile that will be supported by the Apple Vision Pro spatial computer developed by Apple Inc. (hereafter “Apple”) [1]. Canon has also announced that it will make its RF-S7.8mm F4 STM DUAL lens (released in November 2024) compatible with “spatial photo,” and that it will help to further expand the 3D VR market through collaboration with Apple going forward.

    Canon launched the EOS VR System for capturing VR video in 2021, and since then has met the needs for VR video production in diverse fields including entertainment, tourism, and education. In June 2024, the company announced the RF-S7.8mm F4 STM DUAL, a lens capable of recording “spatial video,” which is a type of 3D footage with a sense of depth, for the Apple Vision Pro. Through these developments, Canon has been helping to expand the range of expression available in 3D VR.

    At the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), hosted by Apple on June 9, 2025, Apple announced visionOS 26, the newest OS for the Apple Vision Pro. In conjunction with this announcement, two of Canon’s RF lenses for 3D VR video, RF5.2mm F2.8 L DUAL FISHEYE and RF-S3.9mm F3.5 STM DUAL FISHEYE, will offer native playback of “APMP,” which will be supported by visionOS 26, scheduled to be released in the latter half of 2025. Specifically, footage shot with these lenses and compatible cameras [2] can be converted to “APMP” using the EOS VR Utility [3] app, making it even easier for users to enjoy a high-quality, immersive experience with the Apple Vision Pro.

    By updating EOS VR Utility, the RF-S7.8 mm F4 STM DUAL will also be able to handle not only “spatial video” but also “spatial photo,” which is a 3D image that allows users to enjoy a sense of depth as a still image, when combined with Canon’s mirrorless camera models EOS R7 (released in June 2022) and EOS R50 V (released in May 2025). Additionally, in mid-July 2025, the EOS R50 (released in March 2023) will also be made compatible with the EOS VR SYSTEM through a firmware update, thereby enabling both “spatial video” and “spatial photo.”

    Going forward, Canon will further strengthen the EOS VR SYSTEM in collaboration with Apple to meet the creative needs of pro users who strive to produce stunning immersive video as they explore new ways of storytelling.

    [1] Apple Vision Pro, QuickTime, and visionOS are trademarks of Apple Inc.

    [2] RF5.2mm F2.8 L DUAL FISHEYE can be mounted on the following cameras: EOS R5 (July 2020), EOS R5C (March 2022), EOS R6 Mark II (December 2022), EOS R5 Mark II (August 2024), EOS C400 (September 2024), EOS C80 (November 2024). RF-S3.9 mm F3.5 STM DUAL FISHEYE can be mounted on: EOS R7, EOS R50 V. As of June 9th, 2025.

    [3] “APMP,” “spatial video” and “spatial photo” are only supported by the macOS version of EOS VR Utility. Some features may require a fee.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA).

    Media enquiries, please contact:
    Canon Central and North Africa
    Mai Youssef
    e. Mai.youssef@canon-me.com

    APO Group – PR Agency
    Rania ElRafie
    e. Rania.ElRafie@apo-opa.com

    About Canon Central and North Africa:
    Canon Central and North Africa (CCNA) (www.Canon-CNA.com) is a division within Canon Middle East FZ LLC (CME), a subsidiary of Canon Europe. The formation of CCNA in 2016 was a strategic step that aimed to enhance Canon’s business within the Africa region – by strengthening Canon’s in-country presence and focus. CCNA also demonstrates Canon’s commitment to operating closer to its customers and meeting their demands in the rapidly evolving African market.

    Canon has been represented in the African continent for more than 15 years through distributors and partners that have successfully built a solid customer base in the region. CCNA ensures the provision of high quality, technologically advanced products that meet the requirements of Africa’s rapidly evolving marketplace. With over 100 employees, CCNA manages sales and marketing activities across 44 countries in Africa.

    Canon’s corporate philosophy is Kyosei (http://apo-opa.co/3TAiM29) – ‘living and working together for the common good’. CCNA pursues sustainable business growth, focusing on reducing its own environmental impact and supporting customers to reduce theirs using Canon’s products, solutions and services. At Canon, we are pioneers, constantly redefining the world of imaging for the greater good. Through our technology and our spirit of innovation, we push the bounds of what is possible – helping us to see our world in ways we never have before. We help bring creativity to life, one image at a time. Because when we can see our world, we can transform it for the better.

    For more information: www.Canon-CNA.com

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • India witnessing transformational decade under PM Modi: Union Minister Jitendra Singh

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In an exclusive interview with Doordarshan News, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the sweeping governance reforms and inclusive development initiatives undertaken during the past 11 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He described the period as a “transformational decade” that has democratized aspirations and expanded opportunities across regions and sectors.

    Democratisation of Civil Services and Aspirations

    Singh emphasized that the Civil Services, once dominated by select states like Bihar and Tamil Nadu, now see top performers from previously underrepresented regions such as Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Haryana. Citing examples like Parsanjit Kour from Poonch (AIR 11, 2022) and Anmol Sher Singh Bedi from Punjab (AIR 2, 2016), he hailed this shift as proof of the system’s increasing objectivity and accessibility.

    “This is the true essence of democracy—where every mother, regardless of her socio-economic standing, has the confidence to believe her child can reach the top,” he stated.

    Start-Up India Reframed Employment Thinking

    Singh noted that PM Modi’s 2016 call for “Start-Up India, Stand-Up India” revolutionized the employment landscape. “People realized that jobs don’t just mean Sarkari Naukri—they mean innovation, entrepreneurship, and startups,” he said. He pointed to the biotechnology sector’s exponential growth from just 50 startups in 2014 to over 10,075 in 2024, with a valuation leap from $10 billion to $170 billion.

    Integration of Northeast and J&K

    Lauding the integration of the Northeast and Jammu & Kashmir into India’s mainstream development, the Minister said regions long isolated now enjoy railway connectivity and are participating in sectors like aviation and hospitality. He recalled the emotional story of young women from Manipur working in airlines—tragically lost in an Ahmedabad air crash—as symbolic of the transformation these regions have undergone.

    India’s Ascent in Space and Biotech

    Singh reaffirmed India’s rising stature in space and science. He announced that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as the mission pilot on the Axiom-4 mission, conducting biotech experiments using indigenous kits. He added that India is on track to establish its own space station—‘Bharat Antariksh Station’—by 2035.

    Revolution in Governance and Service Delivery

    Highlighting key governance reforms, Singh said India’s grievance redressal system – Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) – has evolved into a global model, handling over 26 lakh grievances in 2024 with a 96% disposal rate—compared to just 2 lakh in 2014.

    He also praised the Digital Life Certificate (DLC) system for pensioners, powered by facial recognition technology, which spares elderly citizens from bank visits. Additionally, reforms now allow women officers to nominate parents or children as pension beneficiaries, reflecting a more compassionate system.

    Zero-Corruption Record and Cultural Shift

    Singh stated that “not a single charge of corruption” has surfaced against any member of the Union Council of Ministers over the past 11 years, contrasting it with previous regimes plagued by scams. He said this clean governance, combined with 100% saturation of schemes like PM Awas Yojana—even in non-traditional voter areas—signals a shift away from vote-bank politics.

    J&K Stability and Future Prospects

    Addressing the situation in Jammu & Kashmir, the Minister said normalcy has returned, with tourism booming. “Visit Pahalgam today—you’ll find it crowded despite recent incidents,” he said, adding that youth in the region are determined to be part of India’s development journey. He also called the recent discovery of lithium reserves in J&K a potential economic game-changer.

    Towards Viksit Bharat 2047

    Concluding his remarks, Singh underscored the role of citizens in shaping the nation’s future. “The real driving force behind Viksit Bharat 2047 will be the people of India—their support, aspirations, and participation will define the next 25 years of our journey,” he said.

  • India witnessing transformational decade under PM Modi: Union Minister Jitendra Singh

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In an exclusive interview with Doordarshan News, Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh highlighted the sweeping governance reforms and inclusive development initiatives undertaken during the past 11 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He described the period as a “transformational decade” that has democratized aspirations and expanded opportunities across regions and sectors.

    Democratisation of Civil Services and Aspirations

    Singh emphasized that the Civil Services, once dominated by select states like Bihar and Tamil Nadu, now see top performers from previously underrepresented regions such as Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, and Haryana. Citing examples like Parsanjit Kour from Poonch (AIR 11, 2022) and Anmol Sher Singh Bedi from Punjab (AIR 2, 2016), he hailed this shift as proof of the system’s increasing objectivity and accessibility.

    “This is the true essence of democracy—where every mother, regardless of her socio-economic standing, has the confidence to believe her child can reach the top,” he stated.

    Start-Up India Reframed Employment Thinking

    Singh noted that PM Modi’s 2016 call for “Start-Up India, Stand-Up India” revolutionized the employment landscape. “People realized that jobs don’t just mean Sarkari Naukri—they mean innovation, entrepreneurship, and startups,” he said. He pointed to the biotechnology sector’s exponential growth from just 50 startups in 2014 to over 10,075 in 2024, with a valuation leap from $10 billion to $170 billion.

    Integration of Northeast and J&K

    Lauding the integration of the Northeast and Jammu & Kashmir into India’s mainstream development, the Minister said regions long isolated now enjoy railway connectivity and are participating in sectors like aviation and hospitality. He recalled the emotional story of young women from Manipur working in airlines—tragically lost in an Ahmedabad air crash—as symbolic of the transformation these regions have undergone.

    India’s Ascent in Space and Biotech

    Singh reaffirmed India’s rising stature in space and science. He announced that Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla will serve as the mission pilot on the Axiom-4 mission, conducting biotech experiments using indigenous kits. He added that India is on track to establish its own space station—‘Bharat Antariksh Station’—by 2035.

    Revolution in Governance and Service Delivery

    Highlighting key governance reforms, Singh said India’s grievance redressal system – Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) – has evolved into a global model, handling over 26 lakh grievances in 2024 with a 96% disposal rate—compared to just 2 lakh in 2014.

    He also praised the Digital Life Certificate (DLC) system for pensioners, powered by facial recognition technology, which spares elderly citizens from bank visits. Additionally, reforms now allow women officers to nominate parents or children as pension beneficiaries, reflecting a more compassionate system.

    Zero-Corruption Record and Cultural Shift

    Singh stated that “not a single charge of corruption” has surfaced against any member of the Union Council of Ministers over the past 11 years, contrasting it with previous regimes plagued by scams. He said this clean governance, combined with 100% saturation of schemes like PM Awas Yojana—even in non-traditional voter areas—signals a shift away from vote-bank politics.

    J&K Stability and Future Prospects

    Addressing the situation in Jammu & Kashmir, the Minister said normalcy has returned, with tourism booming. “Visit Pahalgam today—you’ll find it crowded despite recent incidents,” he said, adding that youth in the region are determined to be part of India’s development journey. He also called the recent discovery of lithium reserves in J&K a potential economic game-changer.

    Towards Viksit Bharat 2047

    Concluding his remarks, Singh underscored the role of citizens in shaping the nation’s future. “The real driving force behind Viksit Bharat 2047 will be the people of India—their support, aspirations, and participation will define the next 25 years of our journey,” he said.

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Regional Infrastructure Fund backs solar energy

    Source: New Zealand Government

    Three solar projects in regional New Zealand will receive loans of up to $28.1 million combined from the Regional Infrastructure Fund to ensure security of local energy supply and community resilience, Regional Development Minister Shane Jones and Energy Minister Simon Watts say.

    “The loans for these projects in Bay of Plenty, Hawke’s Bay and Rakiura/Stewart Island will allow them to get under way this year, helping them to improve economic prosperity and resilience. They will also create up to 150 jobs during construction,” Mr Jones says.

    “These projects support the Coalition Government’s objective of doubling renewable energy generation by 2050 and enabling a more reliable and affordable electricity supply for regional New Zealand,” Mr Watts says.

    The three projects are:

    • Rakiura/Stewart Island – a suspensory loan of up to $15.35m to Southland District Council to build the first stage of a solar farm, and network upgrades, replacing high-cost, diesel-generated electricity for the island’s 494 permanent electricity connections
    • Ongaonga, Hawke’s Bay – a loan of up to $8m to local lines company Centralines Ltd to build a 35ha solar farm to generate 52GW annually and provide about 9000 electricity connections in Central Hawke’s Bay with a local source of generation
    • Te Kaha, Bay of Plenty – a loan of up to $4.75m to Te Huata Charitable Trust to build an 804kW-peak solar farm to ensure reliable electricity supply to about 320 homes and businesses.

    The Rakiura/Stewart Island project is expected to reduce diesel consumption by 200,000 litres within two years of beginning. During construction, about 40 high-skilled workers will be required.

    When complete, more competitive energy costs will help business growth on the island including in aquaculture, tourism and hospitality.

    The Ongaonga solar farm will improve electricity network resilience and support more competitive pricing for residents and commercial customers. Power could also be supplied to the national grid at peak generation. About 80-100 roles are expected to be needed during construction.

    The Te Kaha project will provide more reliable, competitively priced power for a Māori community that regularly suffers electricity outages. The solar farm battery will have storage capacity for up to 72 hours which will protect the community from power outages. Reliable power will also help the Ōpōtiki region with its bid to be an aquaculture centre of national significance. During construction, up to 12 people will be employed.

    “Solar power is playing an increasingly important role in increasing electricity generation in New Zealand. It will help us reach our renewable energy targets and bolster the security and affordability of our energy supply,” Mr Watts says.

    “The Government has been making great progress on a series of exciting new solar and battery initiatives recently. I look forward to seeing these three projects make a real difference for these communities.”

    Associate Regional Development Minister Mark Patterson travelled to Rakiura for the announcement today. He said the project should lead to considerable savings for residents.

    “The Regional infrastructure Fund is contributing to energy security where communities cannot gain investment from other sources, and there are wider benefits for the communities,” Mr Patterson says.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –