Category: Asia Pacific

  • Mizoram becomes first fully literate state in India

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Mizoram has been officially declared a fully literate state. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Lalduhoma during a special ceremony held in Aizawl on Tuesday. With this achievement, Mizoram becomes the first state in India to attain full functional literacy.

    The event, held at the Auditorium of Mizoram University, witnessed the presence of several key dignitaries including Jayant Chaudhary, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and Minister of State for Education, Dr. Vanlalthlana, Mizoram’s Minister of School Education, Higher & Technical Education, Khilli Ram Meena, Chief Secretary to the Government of Mizoram, and other senior officials, educators, and students.

    Mizoram, which attained statehood in 1987, has consistently ranked among the top states in terms of literacy. According to the 2011 Census, it had a literacy rate of 91.33%, the third-highest in the country at the time. Building on this solid foundation, the state implemented the ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram (New India Literacy Programme) to identify and educate the remaining non-literate individuals.

    A comprehensive door-to-door survey conducted in August–September 2023 by Cluster Resource Centre Coordinators (CRCCs) identified 3,026 non-literate persons in the state. Of these, 1,692 actively participated in learning activities. Based on this outreach and the Ministry of Education’s benchmark that defines full literacy as a literacy rate above 95%, Mizoram successfully crossed the threshold. The PFLS survey for 2023–24 confirmed this success, placing the state’s literacy rate at an impressive 98.20%.

    This achievement was made possible through the commitment of 292 volunteer teachers, including students, educators, and local officials, who took up the mission of educating every last citizen with a spirit of Kartavya Bodh (sense of duty) and deep cultural pride. Their dedication, supported by the Mizoram government and the community, played a pivotal role in transforming the educational landscape of the state.

    ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram is a centrally sponsored initiative aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, aimed at promoting adult education. The programme focuses on five components: Foundational Literacy and Numeracy, Critical Life Skills, Basic Education, Vocational Skills, and Continuing Education. Launched in 2022 and running till 2027, it targets adults aged 15 and above who missed formal schooling.

    Nationally, the ULLAS scheme has seen significant outreach, with over 2.37 crore learners and more than 40.84 lakh volunteer teachers registered on the ULLAS mobile app. More than 1.77 crore neo-literates have participated in the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Test (FLNAT) so far.

    Earlier, in June 2024, Ladakh became the first administrative unit in India to achieve full literacy. Mizoram’s latest milestone now marks the first full state-level success, setting a new benchmark in the country’s pursuit of universal education.

  • MIL-OSI China: SCIO briefs media on Yangtze River Economic Belt development in Chongqing

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

    SCIO briefs media on Yangtze River Economic Belt development in Chongqing

    China SCIO | May 21, 2025

    The State Council Information Office (SCIO) recently organized a media trip to southwestern China’s Chongqing municipality, bringing together over 40 journalists — including foreign correspondents from the U.S., U.K., France, Germany, Switzerland, Australia, Singapore, Indonesia, Iraq, Qatar, and Japan — to observe the progress of high-quality development in the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

    A press briefing was held Monday during the trip, where Hu Henghua, deputy secretary of the Chongqing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China and mayor of the Chongqing Municipal People’s Government, briefed the media and answered questions.

    On May 19, 2025, the State Council Information Office holds a press briefing in Chongqing about the high-quality development of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. [Photo by Liu Jian/China SCIO]

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    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI China: China offers global consumers fresh shopping experiences

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

    Mok Jin Jin, a Malaysian student at Nankai University in north China’s Tianjin Municipality, has observed a shift in his family’s lifestyle since they received a Chinese-made blender.

    His mother now frequently tries new healthy breakfast beverages like soy milk, milkshakes and freshly made juices. She particularly appreciates the one-button self-cleaning function, which saves her time and effort.

    Not long ago, Mok purchased the blender through a Chinese e-commerce platform as a gift for his family. “Chinese-made products excel in performance and design. They not only improve the living quality but also fulfill consumers’ expectations of modern consumption,” Mok said.

    The notion that Chinese products were “cheap and low-quality” was for long a common stereotype. However, in recent years, China has made significant strides in technological innovation and industrial upgrades, resulting in a remarkable improvement in the competitiveness of Chinese products.

    At the same time, China’s increasingly diverse consumer market has provided foreign consumers with a more international, fashionable and multifaceted shopping experience.

    “International brands are ubiquitous in China’s major cities, and global products are easily accessible through online shopping platforms. This has made shopping in China extremely convenient,” Mok said. He was also pleasantly surprised to find several Malaysian food brands available in Chinese supermarkets and on e-commerce platforms. “It’s wonderful to be able to enjoy familiar tastes while abroad,” he said.

    Phan Dinh Thang, a Vietnamese student studying Chinese at Nankai University, echoed this sentiment. “Shopping in China feels like ‘global shopping’ with an incredibly wide range of options,” he said. As more Vietnamese people learn Chinese, they find it easier to purchase quality products on Chinese e-commerce platforms.

    Thanks to China’s robust supply chain system and efficient logistics network, goods shipped from China to Vietnam not only arrive quickly but are also cost-effective and often more affordable than local options in Vietnam. “This has made ‘Chinese shopping’ a new trend in Vietnam and highlights the increasingly close consumer ties between China and Vietnam,” Phan explained.

    With China continuously optimizing its international consumption environment, such as offering visa exemptions for some countries, enhancing departure tax refund policies and expanding international credit card payment channels — making shopping trips to China a new trend in cross-border tourism.

    Maltseva Varvara, a Russian visitor, shared her experience: “The best thing about shopping in China is how fast, convenient and hassle-free it is.” After linking her international credit card to Alipay, Varvara found it easy to pay as she simply needed to scan via her phone by using a quick tap on its screen. “The recent improvements in the departure tax refund policy have made shopping and traveling in China even more convenient and welcoming.”

    Some overseas consumers have formed “shopping groups” and flown long distances to China to purchase popular products. According to data from China’s Ministry of Commerce, the number of foreign visitors to Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou, Tianjin and southwest China’s Chongqing in 2024 was nearly double the figure of the previous year. These five cities are home to almost 70 percent of China’s tax refund stores, while their imports of consumer goods accounted for over half of China’s total last year.

    Foreign consumption in China has seen a noticeable increase. The National Immigration Administration reported that, since the implementation of a 240-hour visa-free transit policy, the number of foreign visitors has grown by 40.2 percent year on year, with 71.3 percent of them entering visa-free.

    The recent signing of a visa exemption agreement between China and Malaysia has made travel for Malaysian tourists more convenient. “It’s much easier for my friends and family to visit China now, and they get to experience firsthand the increasingly convenient living environment and vibrant consumer market here,” Mok said.

    China’s Vice Commerce Minister Sheng Qiuping recently stated that China will continue to improve its international consumption environment, increase the supply of high-quality products, and create more diversified consumption scenarios to boost inbound consumption.

    Li Wei, dean of the Honor College of Tianjin Foreign Studies University, said that China is fostering an open, inclusive and diverse consumption environment that appeals to foreign visitors. “This offers more opportunities for global consumers and businesses.”

    MIL OSI China News

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with Reuters

    Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today spoke with Reuters over a media interview on the global trade fluctuations, including the impact of U.S. tariffs on ASEAN. SG Dr. Kao also provided updates on the recent developments in ASEAN, including the ASEAN Community Vision 2045 and its Strategic Plans, the ongoing humanitarian assistance efforts in Myanmar and other important key deliverables of ASEAN this year.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN meets with Reuters appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN shares perspectives on the Inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit

    Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations

    In an interview with Channel News Asia today, Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, outlined ASEAN’s strategic goals for the first-ever ASEAN-GCC-China Summit to be held in Malaysia next week, emphasising the importance of economic cooperation and regional resilience. The interview also covered ASEAN’s coordinated efforts to address the impacts of US tariffs, delivering humanitarian aid to Myanmar, and facilitating Timor-Leste’s full membership in ASEAN.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN shares perspectives on the Inaugural ASEAN-GCC-China Summit appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-Evening Report: Counts in Bradfield and Calwell become clearer, while Jacqui Lambie faces a possible problem in the Tasmanian Senate

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Adrian Beaumont, Election Analyst (Psephologist) at The Conversation; and Honorary Associate, School of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne

    Counting in several extremely close seats continues, but some results have become clearer. In Liberal-held Bradfield, Teal candidate Nicolette Boele has taken the lead, while the Calwell distribution of preferences indicates an independent is on track to pass the Liberals and benefit from their preferences against Labor. Meanwhile, Jacqui Lambie may have a problem in the Tasmanian Senate contest.

    Labor has won 93 of the 150 House of Representatives seats, the Coalition 43, all Others 12 and two remain undecided (Bradfield and Calwell). After Tuesday’s split between the Liberals and Nationals, the ABC has the Liberals on 28 seats and the Nationals on 15, with the Liberals to form the official opposition.

    The Australian Electoral Commission has 18 Liberals, nine Nationals and 16 seats won by Queensland’s Liberal National Party. LNP members can caucus with either the Liberals or Nationals, so they are splitting 10–6 to the Liberals.

    I will continue to use Coalition in my coverage of this election, as the Liberal and National parties contested the election as the Coalition. It would be difficult to split the LNP vote into its Liberal and National components.

    In the close seats, Boele leads the Liberals by 43 votes in Bradfield. She had trailed by 43 votes before the final votes were counted on Monday. The Poll Bludger said the last 181 formal postals counted favoured Boele by 125–56, giving her 69% of that batch.

    Of the just over 14,000 total formal postal votes counted in Bradfield, the Liberals have won by 56.4–43.6. But late postals are often much better for the left than early ones.

    What’s happening now in Bradfield is a full distribution of preferences, in which candidates are excluded from the bottom up on primary votes. If the margin after this distribution is complete is under 100 votes, there will be an automatic recount.

    In Goldstein, Teal incumbent Zoe Daniel’s late surge has fallen short, as she trails Liberal Tim Wilson by 135 votes with everything counted, in from a 292-vote deficit last Thursday.

    As with Bradfield, there will now be a full distribution of preferences in Goldstein. If the margin after this distribution is under 100 votes, there will be a recount. Daniel could also request a recount, but even if there is a recount, Wilson is very likely to win.

    In Labor-held Calwell, which has 13 candidates, final primary votes were 30.5% Labor, 15.7% Liberals, 11.9% for independent Carly Moore, 10.7% for independent Joseph Youhana, 8.3% for the Greens and 6.9% for independent Samim Moslih.

    The danger for Labor is that either Moore or Youhana overtake the Liberals on the distribution of preferences, then beat Labor at the final count on Liberal preferences. The AEC has a page that is updated with each exclusion in the preference distribution.

    After six exclusions, the totals are 32.8% Labor, 17.1% Liberals, 14.7% Moore, 12.1% Youhana, 9.9% Greens, 7.9% Moslih and 5.6% One Nation (to be excluded next). Analyst Kevin Bonham says Moore needs 7.5% more than the Liberals to make the final two, and 67% of overall preferences to beat Labor. For Youhana, these figures are 13.4% and 69%.

    Lambie may have a problem in the Tasmanian Senate contest

    I have previously covered the Senate count. There have only been minor changes to the primary votes since that May 9 article. The Poll Bludger has modelled the state Senate contests using 2022 election preference flows.

    According to this model, Labor will win the last seat in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, but only narrowly in WA. In Tasmania, Jacqui Lambie and the Liberals would edge out Labor. As I wrote previously, this result would give Labor 30 of the 76 total senators, the Coalition 27, the Greens 11, One Nation two and others six.

    For a state a quota is one-seventh of the vote or 14.3%. In Tasmania Labor has 2.48 quotas, the Liberals 1.65, the Greens 1.13, Jacqui Lambie 0.51, One Nation 0.35 and Legalise Cannabis 0.24. One Nation will be the last exclusion, and whichever of Labor, the Liberals or Lambie is last after One Nation’s preferences are distributed loses.

    There’s evidence that One Nation’s preferences have become better for the Coalition at this election than in 2022. In Capricornia, which had a One Nation primary vote of 15.5%, the LNP share of overall preferences increased nine points since 2022 to 62%.

    Lambie wants the salmon farming industry to stop farming in Macquarie Harbour and says they should move offshore. This stance could cost her preferences from One Nation and other right-aligned parties.

    I expect One Nation and other right-wing preferences in Tasmania to go strongly enough to the Liberals to give the Liberals one of the last two undecided seats, with the final seat between Labor and Lambie.

    Labor is pro-salmon farming, so perhaps Lambie could benefit from Greens and Animal Justice preferences (the Greens have a small surplus over one quota and Animal Justice has 0.09 quotas).

    Tasmanian poll and upper house elections

    A Tasmanian state EMRS poll, conducted May 13–17 from a sample of 1,000, gave Labor 31% of the vote (up one since February), the Liberals 29% (down five), the Greens 14% (up one), the Jacqui Lambie Network 6% (down two), independents 17% (up five) and others 4% (up one).

    Tasmania uses a proportional system for its lower house elections, so a two-party estimate is not applicable. Incumbent Liberal Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s net favourability was down four points to +6, while Labor leader Dean Winter’s was down one to +5. Rockliff led Winter by 44–32 as preferred premier (44–34 previously).

    Every May two or three of Tasmania’s 15 upper house seats are up for election for six-year terms. The Poll Bludger said Tuesday that current upper house standings are four Liberals, three Labor, one Green and seven independents. On Saturday there will be elections in Liberal-held Montgomery, Labor-held Pembroke and independent-held Nelson.

    European elections wrap

    I covered Sunday’s European elections in Romania, Portugal and Poland for The Poll Bludger. In Romania the centrist defeated the far-right candidate by 53.6–46.4, but the left had a dismal result in Portugal. I also covered recounts in the April 28 Canadian election and polls ahead of the June 3 South Korean presidential election.

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

    ref. Counts in Bradfield and Calwell become clearer, while Jacqui Lambie faces a possible problem in the Tasmanian Senate – https://theconversation.com/counts-in-bradfield-and-calwell-become-clearer-while-jacqui-lambie-faces-a-possible-problem-in-the-tasmanian-senate-257122

    MIL OSI AnalysisEveningReport.nz

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Concerts, trainings and performances: how the large-scale project “Summer in Moscow” will take place

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

    A large-scale urban project will begin on June 1 “Summer in Moscow”, which will last three months. It will once again unite all the bright charity, cultural and sports events of the next season, which will take place in all districts of the capital. Most of them will be held outdoors.

    From tastings to dancing and plein air

    The festival “Gardens and Flowers” runs until September 7. City sites will be transformed into blooming gardens, and rare plants will be seen on the capital’s streets. Muscovites and tourists will be immersed in the atmosphere of summer, will be able to take bright photo sessions and walk along picturesque routes.

    One of the main gastronomic events of the year will be the festival “Moscow is on the wave. Fish week”, which will take place from May 30 to June 8. There will be fish corners on Shkolnaya Street, and open-air shopping chalets will offer various types of fresh, dried and chilled fish and seafood. Chefs will prepare unusual and classic dishes especially for guests at the festival venues.

    As part of the historical festival “Times and Epochs” From June 11 to 15, visitors will see historical periods from Antiquity to the Great Patriotic War. Children and adults will learn to hold swords in their hands or sit at a loom, and professional reenactors will help them with this.

    The Tastes of Russia festival will take place from July 4 to 13. On the streets of the capital, you can try the cuisine of the peoples of Russia and get acquainted with dishes that have become the calling card of different cities – from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok. Tastings and culinary experiments will give you new recipes and help you choose combinations of products for your home table.

    The Kolomenskoye Museum-Reserve will host vintage market — an exhibition and sale of items from the Soviet and pre-revolutionary eras. Guests will enjoy a varied program with the participation of collectors and historians. Muscovites and tourists will be able to get acquainted with the photography craft of the film camera era, hear the sound of gramophone records from the 1920s, dance a square dance and polka to the sounds of a gramophone, remember Viktor Tsoi and the rock era of the 1980s, learn the history of the Olympic bear and purchase figurines of the mascot of the 1980 Olympics, as well as admire antique items and add badges, postcards, dishes and other things with history to their collections.

    From June 1 to September 7, there will be a summer clubThis is a sports and creative art space that will house beauty trucks, fashion pop-ups, greenhouses, a lecture hall, a climbing wall and many play areas.

    On the same dates, a festival will be held on Chistoprudny Boulevard “Street. Dancing” — a bright event for experienced dancers and those who want to learn breakdance, hip-hop, funk, shuffle and Latin. Within its framework, professional dancers will conduct master classes, organize flash mobs and battles.

    On the same days, a plein air painting will take place on Strastnoy Boulevard “Street. Art”. Art master classes, exhibitions of art objects, painting lessons in an art studio and performances by artists are organized here. Everyone is invited to participate. In addition, the participants of the competition “Moscow life in the summer” will paint unusual art objects: arches, balls and floor lamps – applications are being accepted until the end of May.

    Sergei Sobyanin: Large-scale project “Summer in Moscow” will begin on June 1

    Festival “Moscow Estates” will allow Muscovites and guests of the capital to immerse themselves in past eras in an original interactive format. The previous summer season was a record-breaking one: the event took place on the territory of 40 estates, which were visited by more than 700 thousand people. The festival was also held in winter.

    The capital will also host the Ice Moscow Tea festival, which will bring together more than 500 gastronomic establishments. Throughout the summer, they will offer visitors ice Moscow tea. The drink is prepared according to original recipes. As part of the project “Moscow Tea Party” Restaurants, cafes and hotels will continue to serve special tea sets in a signature service and with signature treats. Tea “Moscow” can be found in popular retail chains, souvenir shops and other places in the capital.

    For participants Russpass gamesusing augmented reality technologies, will offer 100 new sites where you need to look for cartoons as part of the Summer in Moscow project. For each meeting with them, virtual points are given in the form of experience. Using them, you can buy tickets to museums and other places in the capital with a discount of up to 99 percent as part of the Russpass bonus program. The game is available in the Russpass mobile application.

    An augmented reality game has been launched for guests of the Winter in Moscow venues

    Circus, theater and patriotic quests

    From June 1 to August 31, the capital will host an international open festival “Teatralny Boulevard – 2025”. Moscow will be transformed into a single large theater stage, where Muscovites and guests of the capital will be able to immerse themselves in the world of theater, try themselves in the role of an actor, decorator and director, as well as take part in a production or visit a creative workshop, learn more about the history of the theater and take a photo with their favorite artist. And of course, guests will see the best productions of Russia and foreign participants.

    Over the course of three months, more than 600 productions will be presented at 14 venues in the capital, including the amphitheater on Pokrovsky Boulevard and the amphitheater in the Polytech Museum Park. More than three thousand artists from all over the world will take part in them.

    June 1st Museum-Reserve “Kolomenskoye” a large-scale celebration of International Children’s Day will take place. Previously, it was held for many years on Tsvetnoy Boulevard, but this year the beloved event will take place at a new site that will be able to accommodate even more guests.

    Every year, the main theme of the festival is a dedication to beloved children’s poets, artists, writers, legendary films and cartoon characters. In previous years, festivals were dedicated to the legacy of Sergei Mikhalkov, Nikolai Nosov and Korney Chukovsky. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the film “The Adventures of Buratino”, which millions of children in our country have watched and continue to watch. Therefore, the festival will be held in honor of the cult character of Alexei Tolstoy.

    World Festival of Circus Arts “Idol 2025”will be held in Moscow for the ninth time. Its venue will be the arena of the Great Moscow Circus on Vernadsky Avenue, the largest circus in Europe. Guests will be able to attend performances for a whole month. The main events are scheduled from July 17 to 20, and then, until August 17, viewers will be able to enjoy the gala show of the winners.

    Since 2013, the festival has established itself as one of the most significant events in the world of circus arts. It has brought together more than 1,700 artists from 50 countries, including participants and spectators from China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Italy, Spain, Germany, Poland, Austria, the USA, Mongolia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Cuba and many other countries. The main awards – “Golden Idol”, “Silver Idol” and “Bronze Idol” are awarded by a professional jury for the most spectacular, unusual, flawlessly performed number. The prizes “Golden Manege”, “Silver Manege” and “Bronze Manege” are presented by representatives of the media. The audience sympathy prizes “Golden Audience Hall”, “Silver Audience Hall” and “Bronze Audience Hall” are awarded based on the results of audience voting.

    The Summer in Moscow project will also feature a tent circus. The structures will be located in several picturesque corners of the city. Guests will be able to immerse themselves in an atmosphere of real magic and fun. Some of the best Russian artists will present their productions and numbers. Spectators will see a show with aerial gymnasts on canvases, acrobats on a swing trapeze, clown duets, equilibrists, and jugglers. There will also be numbers with animals.

    Victory Park will be transformed into an open-air museum. In the year of the 80th anniversary of Victory, a large-scale patriotic project has been prepared for visitors. They will be offered walking and bus tours with professional guides, as well as tours in retro cars. In total, four walking routes run through the park, on which 25 monuments of Poklonnaya Gora are located.

    For young visitors, interactive quests along tangled military roads and secret partisan paths will be organized. All comers will be able to receive a stylized Red Army book, in which they can collect star stamps for completing tasks. The most active participants will receive memorable souvenirs and prizes.

    On the territory of Victory Park you can play skittles, chess and laser tag, as well as assemble a soldier’s kit bag, write a letter to the front and much more.

    Moscow Children’s Arts Festival “Sky”will be held for the third time in the capital from May 31 to June 1 in the Muzeon Arts Park. It will unite various types of art (theater, circus, music, dance), as well as science, literature and architecture. Guests will enjoy premieres, children’s operas and tours of leading regional theaters, an architectural workshop, master classes of musicians and choreographers, literary and scientific programs. Theaters and creative groups from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod, Perm, Voronezh, Krasnoyarsk, Tobolsk, Almetyevsk and Kaliningrad will present their performances and numbers. About 90 different productions will be held at 12 venues. Guests will be able to see them from 11:00 to 20:00, admission to all events is free. Last year, the festival was visited by more than 180 thousand people.

    In early July, the Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve will celebrate Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. This summer, the festival will be held in a multi-genre festival format for the 11th time. Last year, it was visited by 57 thousand people, for whom more than 250 artists from famous Moscow theaters and groups performed. The venue hosted lectures, over 200 master classes and other events.

    An extensive educational program has been prepared for guests of Zaryadye Park. It will begin on International Children’s Day, June 1. Each participant will be able to try themselves in the role of a physicist, chemist, biologist or engineer. Guests will also be treated to a large quest created jointly with scientists from the Lomonosov Moscow State University.

    On June 21 and 22, the Zaryadye Park will host the Theatre Weekend festival. This year, the program is dedicated to the 165th anniversary of Anton Chekhov’s birth and the 80th anniversary of the Victory. Spectators will see performances by leading Moscow theaters: the A.P. Chekhov Moscow Art Theater, the Russian Academic Youth Theater, the Moscow Sovremennik Theater, the Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army, the Praktika Theater, and others. The festival’s motto this year will be “Make way for the young!” Therefore, groups from the Moscow Art Theater School, the Moscow State Institute of Culture, the Russian Institute of Theater Arts – GITIS, as well as special guests – actors from the Donetsk Republican Academic Youth Theater will perform on stage.

    From classical music to photo exhibitions

    On June 28 and 29, the Zaryadye Park will host the New Classics festival. This year, the program is dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the birth of the avant-garde pianist and composer Alexander Mosolov. Spectators will hear his composition “Factory. Music of Machines” for the first time. Part of the work was lost, and composer Nikolai Popov and director Yuri Kvyatkovsky will supplement it, creating a large festival form. “Moscow. Music of Machines” will connect two musical eras – the avant-garde Moscow of the early 20th century and today’s Moscow. The main theme of the festival will be a dialogue between man and technology, and Zaryadye Park will once again become a space where modern classics meet the future, and traditions intertwine with innovations.

    From June 1 to September 7, film screenings will be held in the atmospheric space of the park under a glass crust as part of the “Cinema Summer in Zaryadye” festival. Viewers will see masterpieces of Russian cinema created by Vladimir Menshov, Tatyana Lioznova, Karen Shakhnazarov, Grigory Alexandrov, Mikhail Kalatozov, Alla Surikova and others. The films of these directors have already become classics. They are still watched with interest by viewers of different ages.

    Guests will be treated to 30 films, ranging from romantic comedies set against the backdrop of summer landscapes to poignant war dramas, exciting space adventures and profound social studies.

    As part of the Summer in Moscow project, two photo exhibitions will be held on Tsvetnoy Boulevard. They are dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the birth of People’s Artist of the USSR Yuri Solomin and the 110th anniversary of the birth of People’s Artist of the USSR Vladimir Zeldin.

    The exhibition in memory of Yuri Solomin will be prepared by the Moscow Directorate of Mass Events under the supervision of the State Academic Maly Theatre and his granddaughter Alexandra Solomina.

    The exhibition dedicated to Vladimir Zeldin will be organized by the Moscow Directorate of Mass Events together with the Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army. Muscovites and guests of the city will be able to get acquainted with the creative legacy of the legendary actors and see photographs from their family archives.

    Events in honor of the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War

    On June 21 and 22, Moscow will host two significant events dedicated to preserving the memory of the Great Patriotic War: “Memory Line” on the Krymskaya Embankment of the Muzeon Arts Park and “Memory Watch. Eternal Flame” in the Alexander Garden. Every year, Muscovites and guests of the capital come to support them with their entire families.

    For 11 years, on June 21, the day before the start of the Great Patriotic War, the Crimean embankment of the Muzeon Art Park is illuminated by the light of 1,418 candles. Each candle is a symbol of one of the days of the war. The burning “memory line” runs from June 22, 1941 to May 9, 1945.

    The first candle in the campaign is symbolically lit from a piece of the Eternal Flame on Poklonnaya Hill. Anyone can join the event and light a candle, thereby reminding themselves and their loved ones of the importance of preserving the memory of the terrible years of the war. Every year, the line lights up in a matter of hours and continues to burn throughout June 22.

    During the event “Memory Watch. Eternal Flame” all those wishing to can remember the events of June 1941 and honor the memory of those who died for their Motherland by laying flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Every year young men and women from youth associations, public organizations and patriotic clubs, as well as Muscovites and guests of the capital, join in. At 04:00 a documentary recording of Yuri Levitan’s message about the beginning of the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 will be played. After that, there will be a minute of silence and the laying of flowers.

    On April 26, the Victory Park project began on the territory of the Victory Park. The Main Patriotic Park, implemented by the Victory Museum with the support of the Moscow Government. Until October, on weekends, visitors will be able to take the quest “Forward to Victory!” for free, which is held at more than 80 interactive sites, and immerse themselves in the atmosphere of the 1940s.

    From carnival processions to jazz concerts

    From August 28 to 31, the Gorky Festival will be held in Gorky Park. The theme of this year’s event is “Gorky Chekhov”. The theatrical program will be held at the Moscow Youth Theater, the main events, as always, will be presented in Gorky Park and Neskuchny Garden.

    Guests can expect theatrical performances, exhibitions and installations, a theatrical laboratory, a music program and a circus show. Last year, the festival covered 18 venues, which were visited by more than 330 thousand spectators.

    In June, the capital will host the IV Moscow Jazz Festival, one of the largest jazz festivals in the world and the largest jazz festival in Russia. On June 9 and 15, the opening and closing ceremonies will be held in the P.I. Tchaikovsky Concert Hall. From June 10 to 14, festival events will be held in the Hermitage Garden, Zaryadye Park, Muzeon Arts Park, VDNKh, and the Tsaritsyno Museum-Reserve. Guests will enjoy over 400 hours of live music performed by over 1,000 musicians.

    The III Moscow Summer Music Festival “Zaryadye” will be held from June 2 to July 6. World-class stars and invited artists will present concerts, special and children’s projects on the stage of the Zaryadye Hall. The closing of the festival will take place in the open air in the park’s amphitheater.

    Sports and entertainment in parks

    With the arrival of the long-awaited summer, more than 55 million guests are expected in over 50 capital parks, for whom a multi-format festival program has been prepared.

    Muscovites and tourists can expect large-scale events, including the park festival “Gardens and Vegetable Gardens”, City Day and many others.

    The parks will host over 10,000 local events. Sports enthusiasts will be able to attend daily morning exercises, outdoor training, and much more. Participation in the classes will help improve health, improve physical fitness, and develop teamwork skills.

    The cultural program includes parties in summer cinemas, immersive performances and dances. Professional artists and creative groups will present their numbers and theatrical performances. Every weekend, park visitors will be treated to music, dance flash mobs and open-air karaoke, and the Park Symphony festival will combine musical rhythms of different genres.

    Residents and guests of the capital will be able to attend gastronomic events: open master classes by famous chefs and lectures on culinary trends. Special places will be equipped for picnics.

    Summer Program for Youth: Development and Creative Growth

    Young Muscovites will enjoy an extensive entertainment and educational program. From June 9 to July 19, the Moskino Cinema Park will host the first creative camp, “Youth of Moscow.” Participants will be able to demonstrate their skills in choreography, vocals, humor, and other creative areas. The shifts will be dedicated to different areas of art: KVN, vocals and music, cinema, producing, original genre, and event organization. The “KVN School” shift is aimed at developing skills in humor and teamwork, while the “Original Genre School” will help aspiring circus performers, cheerleaders, gymnasts, and acrobats improve their skills in the performing arts, and learn how to work with props in interactive productions. As part of the “Dance School,” children will develop their abilities and try themselves in various choreography styles, learn to express emotions in dance, and create their own unique productions. In the “School of Vocals and Music” young Muscovites will be able to improve their vocals, work on their voices with professionals and unite into youth musical groups. The shift “School of Cinema, Producers and Event Organizers” will be aimed at developing organizational skills, producing and acting skills.

    The final race will be held in the format of the Art Quarter festival, where an open large-scale gala concert will take place, uniting all directions. It will be prepared by young people from different shifts of the camp.

    From June 28 to August 4, the patriotic camp “Youth of Moscow. Capital. Summer” will operate for the fourth time. The site will be the territory of the recreation center “Red Carnation”. Participants will have six thematic shifts.

    The “Achieve” shift will bring together athletes, “Manage” — representatives of student government, “Improve” — young professionals, and the “Help” shift will bring together Moscow volunteers. Young Muscovites will be able not only to develop their skills in various fields, but also to find friends, realize their creative potential, and gain new emotional experience. Songs with a guitar and meetings around a large fire will become a tradition of the camp. Meetings and master classes with participants of a special military operation are planned. All shifts will also teach how to provide first aid, resist fire, and ensure safety for yourself and your loved ones in emergency situations.

    City residents aged 18 to 35 can apply for participation. Registration is open on the portal “Youth of Moscow”.

    In honor of Youth Day, the capital will host a large number of events — from master classes and intellectual games to creative concerts and events. The flagship event will be held in Khodynka Pole Park on June 28 and 29. This year, the festival concept provides for the synergy of key areas for the comprehensive development of the city’s youth. Eight key zones dedicated to various topics will be prepared for guests: patriotism, career guidance, creativity, personal development, friendship, sports, volunteering and trends. Visitors will enjoy educational lectures, trainings and master classes, a job fair, competitions in various sports and much more.

    Traditionally, on Youth Day, the KVN League Summer Cup “Youth of Moscow” and the “Space Basketball” tournament will be held, in which youth teams will take part. Young performers who want to make a name for themselves throughout the city will be able to perform on an open stage.

    From May 25 to September 7, the Youth Point festival will be held on Bolotnaya Square. The site will host hubs — interactive modern spaces dedicated to art, sports, development, and future competencies. The festival program will include large open discos, master classes in sketching, water painting, sports activities, and much more.

    Charity initiatives

    On July 5 and 6, the Bauman Garden will host the charity festival “City of the Caring”, dedicated to the Day of Family, Love and Fidelity. The entertainment program will include activities for the whole family. Guests will enjoy creative master classes, a charity quest, a no-lose lottery and photo zones for summer photos. A play area will be set up for children. At the “Fluffy Friend” site, guests will be able to meet animals from shelters and choose pets for themselves. A charity fair will also open, where goods from Moscow non-profit organizations (NPOs) will be presented. All proceeds from sales will be directed to helping their wards.

    Visitors will be able to get to know the city’s social projects better and take part in them.

    Checkers, table tennis and fitrock

    From May 29 to September 7, Moscow will host a festival of urban sports. Throughout the summer, sports training and entertainment events aimed at popularizing an active lifestyle among residents of the capital will be held in the capital’s parks. The most active participants will receive prizes.

    The project “Summer. Beach. Moscow Sport” will be held from May 31 to August 31. It is organized for those who spend the summer in Moscow. Zumba, stretching, functional training, beach volleyball, yoga and fiery fitrock training will be held in beach recreation areas on weekends. In addition, there will be an opportunity to play tetherball, frisbee and beach tennis.

    From May 31 to September 7, training sessions for the new season of the Sports Weekend project will take place, thanks to which city residents can do sports for free under the guidance of professional trainers on Saturdays and Sundays at more than 50 unique venues in the city, as well as online.

    From June 1 to September 7, the “Chess Square” space will be available near the Metropol Hotel. On weekdays, anyone can take chess sets and play easy games. On weekends, there will be family, open and children’s tournaments, as well as master classes by famous grandmasters.

    From June 1 to September 30, a new season of free training will be held as part of the My Sports District project. Participation in them will be interesting for city residents who love sports and want to do them regularly. Classes are held all year round and change depending on the season.

    On July 5, large-scale sports events “Moscow Sports Day” and “Moscow Sports Night” will take place. Guests will enjoy more than 20 themed sports grounds, master classes, tournaments and a concert with popular artists at “Moscow Sports Day”, as well as more than 15 zones with sports activities and autograph sessions with famous athletes at “Moscow Sports Night”.

    “Green Market” and art pavilions

    From May 25 to September 7, art pavilions of the Made in Moscow project will operate in tourist areas of the capital. Here you can buy more than 70 thousand products from local manufacturers – from clothes and cosmetics to children’s toys and food products.

    The flagship venue will be the Green Market on Bolotnaya Square, where a rollerdrome with a summer cinema will be available for the first time. Guests will be treated to a rollerdrome show, discos and events organized with the participation of the capital’s Committee on Public Relations and Youth Policy, which became a partner of the flagship venue for the first time this summer season.

    Reservation of venues

    The mos.ru portal is resuming its work on the city space booking service “Everyone on the street!”. From May 20, you can submit applications for holding events.

    Representatives of small and medium-sized businesses, individual entrepreneurs, self-employed individuals and individuals can book a site free of charge.

    More than 100 venues will be available for booking, including chalets for master classes, stages, gazebos, sports and dance floors, located in every district of the city.

    Results of the booking service last year

    Last year, the city hosted the festival “Summer in Moscow. Everyone out on the street!” for the first time – a new format of interaction between the city, business and Muscovites within the framework of the event program. Its key feature was that the agenda of summer recreation in the capital was created by Muscovites themselves. About 25 thousand events (every fourth) were organized by residents, businesses or NGOs. About 1.1 thousand entrepreneurs organized about 8.5 thousand events and presented their projects to a wide audience.

    Special project “Time of Opportunities”

    For the capital’s entrepreneurs, a special project called “Time of Opportunities” is starting, previously called “Come on in!” This is an excellent opportunity to vividly tell about your business, making it memorable for a wide audience. Shops, restaurants and cafes, service enterprises, fitness centers and sports studios, educational centers and creative studios can take part in the project.

    Participants will receive a summer business box, which includes a set of free services from market leaders for business promotion, the opportunity to post information about their events on the mos.ru poster, in the Yandex Maps and 2GIS applications, as well as media support in the media: on television, in online publications, print media and Telegram channels.

    The Russpass website will organize a collection of feedback from visitors. Entrepreneurs who have collected the largest number of positive reviews will receive a package for promoting their business, “The Most Active”.

    To become part of the project, you need to prepare a unique special offer. These can be thematic master classes, seminars, shows, performances and much more. You also need to fill out a participant’s questionnaire.

    Results of the special project for the last season

    As part of the special project “Come on in!”, more than 700 organizations from various fields made over 900 offers to city residents and tourists. These were discounts and bonuses, free master classes, gastronomic tastings, tickets to performances and sports classes. More than six thousand people took advantage of them.

    Art pavilions of the Made in Moscow project

    On April 15, a selection began among the capital’s entrepreneurs who will present their products in the art pavilions of the Made in Moscow project market, which is part of the city’s summer program Summer in Moscow.

    The selection will be held for participants of the Made in Moscow project – these are self-employed people, individual entrepreneurs, representatives of small, medium and large businesses that produce children’s goods, clothing and footwear, accessories, household and animal goods and much more in the capital.

    To do this, you need to register in the project on the website business.madeinmoscow.rf, having previously familiarized yourself with the conditions (availability of a capital tax identification number, as well as a full or partial production cycle on the territory of Moscow).

    A large-scale market of local goods will cover the main tourist sites, including Bolotnaya Square. More than 700 Moscow brands will be able to get space on the shelves for selling goods. Entrepreneurs will not only present their products, but will also hold thematic lectures and master classes, organize prize draws and tastings.

    Participation in the summer market “Made in Moscow” is a free measure of support provided to businesses by the capital Department of Entrepreneurship and Innovative Development.

    This allows local brands to increase their recognition among city residents, as well as sales of goods that they produce in the city. Thus, last year from August 1 to September 9, as part of the forum-festival “Territory of the Future. Moscow 2030” on Bolotnaya Square, the market of the future “Made in Moscow” was open. It was visited by more than 150 thousand people, and the revenue of the market participants reached 50 million rubles.

    It is also worth noting the successful experience of the Made in Moscow magic market as part of the city’s winter program “Winter in Moscow”. It was held from December 20 to February 28 at seven popular sites – from Arbat to Kuznetsky Most. It was visited by more than 570 thousand people. Moscow entrepreneurs sold over 50 thousand goods.

    The market became one of the key measures of city support, which was used by more than 500 Moscow brands. A rich entertainment program was organized for guests, including more than 3.5 thousand thematic events, including master classes and fashion shows.

    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/154057073/

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • WHO members adopt global pandemic accord, but US absence casts doubts

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Members of the World Health Organization adopted an agreement on Tuesday intended to improve preparedness for future pandemics following the disjointed global response to COVID-19, but the absence of the U.S. cast doubt on the treaty’s effectiveness.

    After three years of negotiations, the legally binding pact was adopted by the World Health Assembly in Geneva. WHO member countries welcomed its passing with applause.

    The pact was touted as a victory for members of the global health agency at a time when multilateral organisations like the WHO have been battered by sharp cuts in U.S. foreign funding.

    “The agreement is a victory for public health, science and multilateral action. It will ensure we, collectively, can better protect the world from future pandemic threats,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

    The pact aims to ensure that drugs, therapeutics and vaccines are globally accessible when the next pandemic hits. It requires participating manufacturers to allocate a target of 20% of their vaccines, medicines and tests to the WHO during a pandemic to ensure poorer countries have access.

    However, U.S. negotiators left discussions about the accord after President Donald Trump began a 12-month process of withdrawing the U.S. – by far the WHO’s largest financial backer – from the agency when he took office in January.

    Given this, the U.S., which poured billions of dollars into vaccine development during the COVID pandemic, would not be bound by the pact. And WHO member states would not face penalties if they failed to implement it.

    U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. slammed the World Health Organization in a video address to the Assembly, saying it had failed to learn from the lessons of the pandemic with the new agreement.

    “It has doubled down with the pandemic agreement which will lock in all of the dysfunction of the WHO pandemic response… We’re not going to participate in that,” he said.

    LATE CHALLENGE

    The deal was reached after Slovakia called for a vote on Monday, as its COVID-19 vaccinesceptic prime minister demanded that his country challenge the adoption of the agreement.

    One hundred and twenty-four countries voted in favour, no countries voted against, while 11 countries, including Poland, Israel, Italy, Russia, Slovakia and Iran, abstained.

    Some health experts welcomed the treaty as a step towards greater fairness in global health after poorer nations were left short of vaccines and diagnostics during the COVID-19 pandemic.

    “It contains critical provisions, especially in research and development, that — if implemented — could shift the global pandemic response toward greater equity,” Michelle Childs, Policy Advocacy Director at Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative, told Reuters.

    Others said the agreement did not meet initial ambitions and that, without strong implementation frameworks, it risked falling short in a future pandemic.

    “It is an empty shell… It’s difficult to say that it’s a treaty with firm obligation where there is a strong commitment… It’s a good starting point. But it will have to be developed,” said Gian Luca Burci, an academic adviser at the Global Health Centre at the Geneva Graduate Institute, an independent research and education organisation.

    Helen Clark the co-Chair of The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, described the accord as a foundation to build from.

    “Many gaps remain in finance, equitable access to medical countermeasures and in understanding evolving risks,” she added.

    The pact will not go into effect until an annex on sharing of pathogenic information is agreed. Negotiations on this would start in July with the aim of delivering the annex to the World Health Assembly for adoption, WHO said. A Western diplomatic source suggested it may take up to two years to be agreed.

    (Reuters)

  • PLI scheme for food processing sector creates 2.5 lakh jobs, benefits nine lakh farmers

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Centre’s production linked incentive (PLI) scheme for the food processing sector has succeeded in attracting investments to the tune of Rs 7,000 crore and creating over 2.5 lakh jobs so far, according to a senior official of the Union Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI).

    “Till date, the ministry has funded almost 1,600 projects leading to the creation of 41 lakh tonnes of food processing capacity and benefiting almost nine lakh farmers,” said Ranjit Singh, joint secretary, MoFPI, in his address at FICCI’s ‘Foodworld India’ event here.

    He pointed out that food processing plays a pivotal role in agricultural diversification, value addition, reduction in post-harvest losses, and creation of surpluses for exports.

    Singh said, “The immense untapped potential of the Indian farm sector highlights the important role that domestic manufacturing can play when adequately supported by enabling government policies. With targeted interventions, this sector can contribute to India becoming self-reliant and a global food basket.”

    He highlighted the food processing sector’s role in enhancing the value of agricultural produce as well as driving favourable demand for Indian products in global markets. “Therefore, to realise its potential, we must continue to upgrade processing, packaging, storage and distribution, so that we’re able to meet both domestic and international standards,” he added.

    Singh further stated that the MoFPI is implementing initiatives, such as Kisan Sampada Yojana, an umbrella scheme to build cold chains, agro-processing clusters, food testing bodies, and support R&D in the sector. The ministry is also running the PM’s formalisation of micro food processing enterprises (PMFME) scheme to promote infrastructure development, innovation and entrepreneurship in the food processing sector across the country.

    He said that these schemes have also helped transform many small companies into medium ones. The PMFME scheme has supported close to two lakh micro enterprises through credit-linked subsidies and infrastructure creation in the last five years. (IANS)

  • Banu Mushtaq becomes first Kannada author to win International Booker Prize for ‘Heart Lamp’

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Indian writer and women’s rights activist Banu Mushtaq has scripted history by becoming the first Kannada author to win the prestigious International Booker Prize. Her acclaimed short story anthology Heart Lamp clinched the award in London on Tuesday.

    Heart Lamp, originally written in Kannada and translated into English by Deepa Bhasthi, is a powerful anthology of 12 short stories that chronicle the everyday experiences of women and girls living in patriarchal communities in southern India. Spanning over three decades of writing—from 1990 to 2023—the collection reflects Mushtaq’s enduring commitment to portraying the nuanced realities of women’s lives.

    The International Booker Prize 2025 was jointly awarded to Mushtaq and translator Deepa Bhasthi, whose English rendition brought the stories to a global audience. This is the first full-length translation of Mushtaq’s work.

    According to the Booker Prize Foundation, Mushtaq is a prolific author with six short-story collections, a novel, an essay collection, and a volume of poetry to her credit. She is also the recipient of several notable literary accolades, including the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award and the Daana Chintamani Attimabbe Award.

    Deepa Bhasthi, a writer and literary translator based in Kodagu, Karnataka, has previously translated works of Kannada literary giants such as Kota Shivarama Karanth and Kodagina Gouramma. Her skillful translation of *Heart Lamp* was also recognized as a vital component in bringing Kannada literature to a broader audience.

    Max Porter, Chair of the International Booker Prize 2025 jury, lauded Heart Lamp, stating that it was a unanimous favourite among the judges. “This was the book the judges really loved, right from our first reading. It’s been a joy to listen to the evolving appreciation of these stories from the different perspectives of the jury. We are thrilled to share this timely and exciting winner with readers around the world,” he said.

    Back home, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah congratulated Banu Mushtaq for her historic win. Taking to X, he wrote, “Heartfelt congratulations to Kannada’s pride, author Banu Mushtaq, who has been awarded the International Booker Prize. This is a moment of celebration for Kannada, Kannadigas, and Karnataka.”

    The Chief Minister also praised the translator, saying, “On behalf of all Kannadigas, I extend congratulations to the talented writer Deepa Bhasthi, who translated Banu Mushtaq’s Booker Prize-winning work Hridaya Deepa into English as Heart Lamp. I wish she continues to write and translate with strength and spirit, spreading the essence of Kannada across the world.”

    (With ANI inputs)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Direct freight railway route Tianjin-Tashkent opened

    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

    TIANJIN, May 21 (Xinhua) — A direct freight train route has opened between the north Chinese port city of Tianjin and the Uzbek capital Tashkent. The first train departed on Tuesday at about 4 p.m. Beijing time, carrying 50 containers of cargo brought by sea from the Republic of Korea to Tashkent within two weeks.

    For Uzbekistan, China is the largest trading partner and the largest source of exports of goods, among which electromechanical products are one of the leading items. As the operator of the new railway route reported, the above-mentioned train mainly transports auto parts, as well as some types of mechanical equipment, engineering construction materials and consumer electronics.

    The representative office of JSC Uzbekistan Railways in China indicated the importance of opening a new cargo route for Uzbekistan, as well as for the entire transport system of Central Asia, noting that the direct route has reduced the cargo transportation route from Tianjin to Uzbekistan by more than 800 km compared to previous routes passing through the cities of Xi’an, Hami or Urumqi.

    The Uzbek side expects that this route will be able to serve as an alternative corridor for multimodal cargo transportation for import-export enterprises, combining rail and sea transport, the representative office stated.

    Industry analysts are also convinced that the opening of the direct Tianjin-Tashkent railway route will further strengthen international freight logistics between Tianjin and other member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which will bring new energy to trade and economic cooperation within the SCO. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News

  • India’s Q4 FY25 GDP Growth Projected at 6.4-6.5% Despite Global Headwinds: SBI

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Despite weathering effects precipitated by global upheavals, the Indian economy stays largely resilient and is projected to clock a GDP growth of around 6.4-6.5 per cent in Q4 FY25, an SBI report said on Wednesday.

    To estimate GDP statistically, the State Bank of India’s Economic Research Department has built a ‘Nowcasting Model’ with 36 high-frequency indicators associated with industry activity, service activity, and the global economy.

    The model uses the dynamic factor model to estimate the common or representative or latent factor of all the high-frequency indicators from Q4 of FY13 to Q2 of FY23.

    “As per our ‘Nowcasting Model’, the forecasted GDP growth for Q4 FY25 should come in around 6.4-6.5 per cent,” said Dr. Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Group Chief Economic Advisor, SBI.

    Assuming there are no major revisions in Q1 to Q3 estimates in the upcoming data release by NSO, “we expect FY25 GDP to stand at 6.3 per cent,” Ghosh mentioned.

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said the southwest monsoon is likely to arrive in Kerala within the next four to five days — well ahead of its normal onset date of June 1.

    If the monsoon arrives in Kerala as anticipated, it would mark the earliest onset over mainland India since 2009, when it began on May 23.

    “India is targeting 354.64 million tonnes of foodgrain production in the 2025-26 crop year starting July, on the forecast of better monsoon rains. In the current 2024-25 crop year, the government had set a target of 341.55 million tonnes of foodgrain production (so far: 332.3 million tonnes),” the SBI report mentioned.

    Further, taking a cue from a household survey, a slowdown in current household inflation expectations encourages higher discretionary spending and drives demand-led growth. However, the status quo in consumer confidence suggests that households are uncertain about global developments and economic prospects – caution is somewhat writ large on sustainable growth from a short-term perspective.

    The swift escalation of trade tensions and extremely high levels of policy uncertainty are expected to have a significant impact on global economic activity. As per the IMF, global growth is projected to drop to 2.8 per cent in 2025 and 3 per cent in 2026.

    “For India, the growth outlook is relatively more stable at 6.2 per cent in FY25 (6.3 per cent for FY26), supported by private consumption, particularly in rural areas, but this rate is 30 bps lower than the earlier estimate on account of higher levels of trade tensions and global uncertainty,” the report mentioned.

    (IANS)

  • India’s GDP growth in Q4 FY25 to remain robust around 6.4-6.5 pc: SBI report

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Despite weathering effects precipitated by global upheavals, Indian economy stays largely resilient and is projected to clock a GDP growth around 6.4-6.5 per cent in Q4 FY25, an SBI report said on Wednesday.

    To estimate GDP statistically, the State Bank of India’s Economic Research Department has built a ‘Nowcasting Model’ with 36 high frequency indicators associated with industry activity, service activity, and global economy.

    The model uses the dynamic factor model to estimate the common or representative or latent factor of all the high frequency indicators from Q4 of FY13 to Q2 of FY23. “As per our ‘Nowcasting Model’, the forecasted GDP growth for Q4 FY25 should come around 6.4-6.5 per cent,” said Dr Soumya Kanti Ghosh, Group Chief Economic Advisor, SBI.

    Assuming there are no major revisions in Q1 to Q3 estimates in the upcoming data release by NSO, “we expect FY25 GDP to stand at 6.3 per cent,” Ghosh mentioned. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has said the southwest monsoon is likely to arrive in Kerala within the next four to five days — well ahead of its normal onset date of June 1.

    If the monsoon arrives in Kerala as anticipated, it would mark the earliest onset over mainland India since 2009, when it began on May 23.

    “India is targeting 354.64 million tonnes of foodgrain production in the 2025-26 crop year starting July on the forecast of better monsoon rains. In the current 2024-25 crop year, the government had set a target of 341.55 million tonnes of foodgrain production (so far: 332.3 million tonnes),” the SBI report mentioned.

    Further, taking a cue from household survey, slowdown in current household inflation expectations encourages higher discretionary spending and drives demand-led growth while status quo in consumer confidence suggests that households are uncertain about the global developments and economic prospects – caution somewhat writ large on sustainable growth from a short-term perspective.

    The swift escalation of trade tensions and extremely high levels of policy uncertainty are expected to have a significant impact on global economic activity. AS per IMF, global growth is projected to drop to 2.8 per cent in 2025 and 3 per cent in 2026.

    “For India, the growth outlook is relatively more stable at 6.2 per cent in FY25 (6.3 per cent for FY26), supported by private consumption, particularly in rural areas, but this rate is 30 bps lower than the earlier estimate on account of higher levels of trade tensions and global uncertainty,” the report mentioned. (IANS)

  • Amazon fires drive unprecedented global forest loss in 2024, report says

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Massive fires fueled by climate change led global forest loss to smash records in 2024, according to a report issued on Wednesday.

    Loss of tropical pristine forests alone reached 6.7 million hectares (16.6 million acres), an 80% spike compared to 2023 and an area roughly the size of Panama, mainly because Brazil, the host of the next global climate summit in November, struggled to contain fires in the Amazon amid the worst drought ever recorded in the rainforest. A myriad of other countries, including Bolivia and Canada, were also ravaged by wildfires.

    It was the first time the annual report, issued by the World Resources Institute and the University of Maryland, showed fires as the leading cause of tropical forest loss, a grim milestone for a naturally humid ecosystem that is not supposed to burn.

    “The signals in these data are particularly frightening,” said Matthew Hansen, the co-director of a lab at the University of Maryland that compiled and analyzed the data. “The fear is that the climate signal is going to overtake our ability to respond effectively.”

    Latin America was hit particularly hard, the report said, with the Amazon biome hitting its highest level of primary forest loss since 2016.

    Brazil, which holds the largest share of the world’s tropical forests, lost 2.8 million hectares (6.9 million acres), the most of any country. It was a reversal of the progress made in 2023 when President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office promising to protect the world’s largest rainforest.

    “This was unprecedented, which means we have to adapt all our policy to a new reality,” said Andre Lima, who oversees deforestation control policies for Brazil’s Ministry of Environment, adding that fire, which was never among the leading causes of forest loss, is now a top priority for the government.

    Bolivia overtook the Democratic Republic of Congo as the second country with the most tropical forest loss despite having less than half the amount of forest as the African nation, which also saw a spike in forest loss last year.

    Bolivia’s forest loss surged by 200% in 2024, with a drought, wildfires and a government-incentivized agricultural expansion as the leading causes. Across Latin America, the report noted similar trends in Mexico, Peru, Nicaragua, and Guatemala.

    Conflicts in Colombia and the Democratic Republic of Congo also boosted deforestation rates, as armed groups used up natural resources.

    Outside the tropics, boreal forests, which evolved with seasonal fires, also posted record-high tree loss in 2024, with Canada and Russia each losing 5.2 million hectares (12.8 million acres) in 2024 as wildfires got out of control.

    Southeast Asia bucked the global trend with Malaysia, Laos, and Indonesia all posting double-digit decreases in primary forest loss, as domestic conservation policy, combined with efforts by communities and the private sector, continued to effectively contain fires and agricultural expansion.

    Another outlier was the Charagua Iyambae Indigenous territory in southern Bolivia, which was able to keep the country’s record fires at bay through land-use policies and early warning systems.

    Rod Taylor, the global director for forests at the WRI, said that as leaders descend on the Amazonian city of Belem for the next climate summit, he would like to see countries make progress in introducing better funding mechanisms for conservation.

    “At the moment,” he said, “there’s more money to be paid by chopping forests down than keeping them standing.”

    (Reuters)

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: President Lai welcomes President Surangel Whipps Jr. of Republic of Palau with military honors

    Source: Republic of China Taiwan

    President Lai welcomes President Surangel Whipps Jr. of Republic of Palau with military honors
    President Lai Ching-te welcomed President Surangel Whipps Jr. of the Republic of Palau and his wife on the afternoon of May 20 with full military honors. In remarks, President Lai stated that this year marks the 26th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between our two countries, and that we have supported one another, overcome all kinds of challenges, and deepened cooperation across various domains. He expressed hope that, going forward, we can work together to make even greater contributions to the world. He said he looks forward to this visit allowing our two countries to enjoy even closer relations and together create even more fruitful outcomes as a result of our cooperation.
    The welcome ceremony began at 4:00 p.m. in the plaza fronting the Presidential Office. President Lai and President Whipps each delivered remarks after a 21-gun salute, the playing of the two countries’ national anthems, and a review of the military honor guard.
    A translation of President Lai’s remarks follows:
    Today, I am delighted to welcome President Whipps, First Lady  Valerie Whipps, and their delegation with full military honors as they make this state visit to Taiwan. On behalf of the people and government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), I extend my sincerest greetings to President Whipps and the esteemed members of the delegation.
    President Whipps is visiting Taiwan again following his reelection last year. His decisive victory in that election not only demonstrated the Palauan people’s support and trust in him but also highlighted the values of freedom and democracy shared by Taiwan and Palau.
    This year marks the 26th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between our two countries. Along the way, we have supported one another, overcome all kinds of challenges, and deepened cooperation across many domains. In particular, over the past several years, Taiwan has actively engaged with the world. I would like to thank President Whipps and the government of the Republic of Palau for continuing to back Taiwan’s international participation at events around the globe.
    In the future, Taiwan will work with Palau to make even greater contributions to the world. I anticipate that through President Whipps’s visit, our two countries will enjoy even closer relations and together create even more fruitful outcomes as a result of our cooperation. I wish you a pleasant and successful visit. 
    President Whipps then delivered remarks, a transcript of which follows:
    Good afternoon, President Lai Ching-te, Vice President [Bi-khim] Hsiao, distinguished officials, Ambassador [Jessica C.] Lee (黎倩儀). On behalf of the first lady and the delegation from Palau, alii and good afternoon. President Lai, it’s only been a year since we were here celebrating your inauguration, and it is indeed a profound honor to stand before you today and witness this remarkable precision, professionalism, and pride displayed by the Taiwan Honor Guard. Their discipline, their dedication, and their unwavering commitment to duty are an inspiration to us, and not only to the people of Taiwan, but to all who cherish peace, order, and freedom in our region.
    And as president of the Republic of Palau, I bring you warm greetings from our people and express our deepest respect for the enduring friendship between our nations. Taiwan and Palau share more than diplomatic ties; we share common values, democracy, mutual respect, and a steadfast belief in the rule of law. This honor guard stands as a symbol of those values. Every step, every salute, and every formation speak not only to military excellence, but to the character of the people who defend peace and help uphold dignity and honor.
    In today’s world, where peace is often challenged and freedom is tested, it is heartening to know that there are those who stand firm, not for aggression, but for stability; not for power, but for principle. So these young men and women who serve in this honor guard and this elite unit, you are more than soldiers. You are ambassadors of your nation’s strength, discipline, and grace. Your service uplifts your nation’s image and strengthens the bonds we hold dear.
    May you continue to serve with excellence, with courage, and humility. And on behalf of the people of Palau, I thank you, President Lai. May our partnership grow stronger, our region more peaceful, and our futures more secure through the values we share. Thank you, mesulang, xiexie.
    Also in attendance at the welcome ceremony were Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador Andrea Clare Bowman  and members of the foreign diplomatic corps in Taiwan.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Result of the Daily Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction held on May 21, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Tenor 1-day
    Notified Amount (in ₹ crore) 25,000
    Total amount of bids received (in ₹ crore) 4,348
    Amount allotted (in ₹ crore) 4,348
    Cut off Rate (%) 6.01
    Weighted Average Rate (%) 6.01
    Partial Allotment Percentage of bids received at cut off rate (%) NA

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/378

    MIL OSI Global Banks

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Result of the Daily Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction held on May 21, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Tenor 1-day
    Notified Amount (in ₹ crore) 25,000
    Total amount of bids received (in ₹ crore) 4,348
    Amount allotted (in ₹ crore) 4,348
    Cut off Rate (%) 6.01
    Weighted Average Rate (%) 6.01
    Partial Allotment Percentage of bids received at cut off rate (%) NA

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/378

    MIL OSI Economics

  • MIL-OSI: Prosafe SE: First-quarter results 2025

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    (Figures in brackets refer to the corresponding period last year)

    21 May 2025 – Prosafe SE reported EBITDA of USD 4.6 million (USD 7.2 million) for the first quarter of 2025. The company had four active vessels during the quarter.

    Operations and HSSE

    • Good operating performance
    • Safe Zephyrus extended with Petrobras to Q3 2027
    • Sale of Safe Concordia and Safe Scandinavia
    • Safe Caledonia re-activated for UK contract with start 1 June
    • Safe Boreas in transit to Singapore ahead of Australia contract
    • Safe Notos declared winner of Brazil 4-year tender

    Q1 financials

    • Revenues of USD 33 million (USD 34 million) and EBITDA of USD 4.6 million (USD 7.2 million)
    • Cash flow from operations of USD 28.4 million (negative USD 1.4 million) including contract prepayments for Safe Boreas and Safe Caledonia
    • Capex of USD 21.2 million (USD 1.7 million) due to reactivation of Safe Boreas and Safe Caledonia
    • Liquidity position of USD 54 million, compared to USD 46.8 million at year-end 2024

    Recapitalisation

    • Terms agreed for equitisation of USD 193 million of debt for 90% of the shares in the company
    • Supported by lenders representing the USD 250 million and the USD 93 million loan facilities and approved by Prosafe shareholders at the extraordinary general meeting on 16 May
    • Existing shareholders to retain 5% ownership with penny warrants for further 5% at EUR 0.01 per share
    • Transaction provides a sustainable capital structure and sufficient liquidity to meet capital expenditure and working capital needs for the foreseeable future
    • Estimated post recapitalization net debt of USD 220 million
    • Expected completion in Q3 2025

    Market and outlook

    • Ongoing Petrobras tenders confirm strong market fundamentals in Brazil
    • North Sea operators continue to plan for future campaigns with focus on 2027 and beyond
    • Increased backlog, improved market and recapitalisation positions Prosafe for improved earnings

    Please see the Q1 2025 presentation for further details.

    Terje Askvig, the CEO of Prosafe, says, “Operationally, we maintain high utilisation on our active fleet, while making good progress on preparing for new contracts in Australia and the UK. We also continue to build backlog with Safe Notos recently named winner, subject to final contract, of a 4-year tender with Petrobras in Brazil. We are also very pleased with the support shown by our lenders and shareholders through the agreed refinancing which will create a sustainable capital structure going forward and ensure that Prosafe continues to be the world’s leading provider of floating accommodation vessels and Units for Maintenance and Safety (UMS).”

    Presentation

    Terje Askvig, CEO, and Reese McNeel, CFO, will present the results at Pareto Securities, located at Dronning Mauds gate 3, 0115 Oslo, on 21 May 2025 at 10:00 CEST.

    This presentation is open to the public and will be live-streamed on Prosafe’s website.

    https://wwww.prosafe.com

    It will be possible to ask questions during the presentation by using the Q&A tool embedded in the audiocast. These questions will be answered after the presentation.

    A replay of the audiocast will be made available on Prosafe’s website shortly after.

    The Q1 2025 press release and presentation is attached and can be downloaded from https://www.prosafe.com and www.newsweb.no (https://www.newsweb.no). The 2024 annual report was published on 30 April 2025.

    Prosafe is a leading owner and operator of semi-submersible accommodation vessels. The company is listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange with ticker code PRS. For more information, please refer to www.prosafe.com (https:///www.prosafe.com)

    For further information, please contact:

    Terje Askvig, CEO Phone: +47 952 03 886

    Reese McNeel, CFO Phone: +47 415 08 186

    This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

    Attachments

    The MIL Network

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Release: Search begins for rare family receiving $250

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

    The Government can’t say if even a single family has received the $250 a fortnight they were promised.

    “It’s time Nicola Willis got her binoculars out to begin the search for a family that has received her promised cost of living relief,” Labour finance and economy spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said.

    “There are 33 examples of where she is planning to cut women’s pay, but she can’t come up with a single example of anyone who has received the full $252 she promised.

    “People who received it appear to be rarer than the little spotted Kiwi, the fairy tern, new ferries, or Nicola Willis answering a question without blaming Labour.

    “National said it would help with cost of living, but so far all New Zealanders are getting are broken promises and cuts to women’s pay.

    “It’s possible that not a single New Zealander received $252, and so the great Kiwi treasure hunt for Nicola Willis’ cost of living relief begins,” Barbara Edmonds said.


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    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Release: Govt helps banks dodge repayment claims for Kiwis

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

    The Government is moving to let two of the country’s most profitable banks off the hook for money owed to their customers.

    “As Kiwis continue to feel the squeeze of the high cost of living, this Government is choosing to deny tens of thousands of New Zealanders who may be owed money the right to make a claim in court,” Labour commerce and consumer affairs spokesperson Arena Williams said.

    “ANZ and ASB, two of the most profitable banks in New Zealand, broke disclosure laws designed to protect mortgage holders. Tens of thousands of New Zealanders may be owed thousands of dollars in interest and fees that were wrongly charged.

    “Instead of helping people get their claims dealt with, National is pushing through law changes so that the penalties banks owe are softened and will be backdated.

    “Their choice to change the law on behalf of banks and at the expense of Kiwis is outrageous. True to character, Christopher Luxon fails to see how every dollar helps families pay for their rents, rates, or groceries.

    “This is what being out of touch looks like. This is a government that finds time to help billion-dollar banks dodge accountability, but no time to help the people they may have overcharged.

    “Next time you hear a National Minister talking tough on supermarkets or energy companies, remember that the real decisions don’t happen in front of the cameras, they happen in Cabinet, quietly,” Arena Williams said.


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    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Release: Half a billion dollar tax break for tech giants

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

    The Government is taking the Digital Services Tax off their books, effectively handing a $479 million tax break to global tech giants, like Facebook and Google.

    “First it was tax breaks for landlords and tobacco companies, now it’s multinational technology companies,” Labour finance and economy spokesperson Barbara Edmonds said.

    “Under National if you’re already doing well, you can have a tax break to do even better. But everyone else, everyday Kiwis, miss out.

    “The message from this Government could not be clearer: if you’re a woman seeking equal pay, or a family trying to get the FamilyBoost payment that was promised to you, then you don’t matter.

    “But if a wealthy corporation comes asking for help, they will bend over backwards to give them a break—at your expense.

    “Nicola Willis promised Kiwi families $250 a fortnight, but she can’t find a single family who got it. More than a quarter of their FamilyBoost scheme, about $14 million, has been eaten up in bureaucracy instead of going to families as promised.

    “They’re telling New Zealanders we need to tighten our belts, but this Government keeps giving handouts to the people who need it least and taking it from the people who need it most.

    “Budgets are about choices, and at every turn this Government is making the wrong choices.

    “We need a government that is focused on improving the lives of New Zealanders, not making global tech giants like Facebook and Google even more profit,” Barbara Edmonds said.

    Note to editors: The $479 million figure comes from the Half Year Economic and Fiscal Update 2024 (page 76), which states: “The forecasts currently account for a 1 January 2026 implementation and include revenue of $479 million over the forecast period in relation to the DST with an additional $146 million per annum expected beyond the forecast period.”


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    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: 2-for-1: Police bag prolific Auckland shoplifters

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police have caught up with two of Auckland’s most recidivist retail crime offenders this week.

    Both men were of interest to the National Retail Investigation Support Unit (NRISU), after allegedly committing more than $10,000 worth of offending in recent months.

    Early this morning, a Waitematā Crime Squad unit came across a vehicle in Massey while carrying out prevention patrols.

    Detective Senior Sergeant Megan Goldie says a traffic stop was carried out on Don Buck Road.

    “It was soon established the man was being sought in relation to a series of shoplifting from retailers across Auckland,” she says.

    “The man will face seven shoplifting charges, with three of those being valued over $1000.”

    The 41-year-old will be appearing in the Waitākere District Court today and will have his bail opposed.

    Meanwhile, further south, Counties Manukau East Police have laid more than 10 charges against a Mongrel Mob member.

    Area Prevention Manager, Inspector Rakana Cook says units were attending a family harm event in Ōtara on Sunday.

    “Staff established one of the parties involved had numerous warrants for his arrest in relation to shoplifting offending in Auckland and Whangārei,” he says.

    “He was also a target for the NRISU given how prolific his offending has been over the past month.”

    Inspector Cook says the 34-year-old man appeared in the Manukau District Court on 10 shoplifting offences.

    “Police successfully applied to have this man’s bail opposed and he has been remanded in custody to reappear in July.

    “It’s a fantastic outcome and the man has been held accountable for thousands of dollars’ worth of offending.”

    ENDS.

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Fatal Crash: State Highway 12, Matakohe

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Police can advise a person has died following a fatal crash on State Highway 12, near Matakohe.

    The single vehicle crash occurred at around 1.30pm, west of Gallie Road.

    Police extend condolences to the family of the victim.

    A full road closure was put in place while the Serious Crash Unit carried out a scene examination.

    Police thank motorists for their co-operation.

    An investigation is now underway into the circumstances of the crash.

    ENDS.

    Nicole Bremner/NZ Police 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Police make discovery in early morning traffic stop

    Source: New Zealand Police

    A forbidden driver has added serious drugs offences to his list of woes after a traffic stop in Whangārei this morning.

    Frontline staff patrolling through Whangārei stopped a vehicle travelling along Memorial Drive before 1.30am.

    Whangārei Area Commander, Inspector Maria Nordstrom says it was quickly established the 19-year-old was a forbidden driver.

    “The teenager was arrested on the roadside, and in the process of searching the man he was found to be carrying illicit drugs.

    “A further search was invoked on a shoulder bag he was wearing across his body.”

    Inside, Police located more than 21 grams of MDMA and 491 LSD tablets.

    Inspector Nordstrom says a further search inside the vehicle also located additional MDMA.

    Around $150 in cash was also seized.

    The 19-year-old will appear in the Whangārei District Court today on drugs offences including possession for supply of MDMA and possession of MDMA.

    He will also face other driving offences.

    “Possession for supply is a serious offence and carries with it a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment,” Inspector Nordstrom says.

    “It’s another great outcome from our team working overnight keeping harmful substances out of communities.”

    ENDS. 

    Jarred Williamson/NZ Police

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Gisborne Police urgently seek man who fled police

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Please attribute to Inspector Soni Malaulau, Tairāwhiti Police:

    Gisborne Police are urgently seeking information as to the whereabouts of a man who fled from rural property this morning.

    Sonny Kennedy was arrested at a Whakarau Road address around 9:30am, and was searched, before being handcuffed at the front of his body.

    An officer was walking the 36-year-old to a police vehicle, before he fled on foot towards Whakarau Road.

    The property is approximately 6km south-east of Matawai, around 26km from the intersection with State Highway 2.

    Kennedy was dressed in a dark-coloured hoodie and light-coloured trousers and sneakers, and may have fled to a nearby bush area.

    Police are working urgently to find him, as there are concerns for his welfare due to his ill-preparedness for the conditions and his potential state of mind.

    Police are asking to the public to help us with any information you can. If you see Kennedy or have information as to his whereabouts, please call 111 straight away with any information, rather than approach him directly.

    ENDS

    Issued by Police Media Centre. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Government Cuts – Govt dismantling of public housing confirmed with Kāinga Ora axing a net 620 roles – PSA

    Source: PSA

    The sacking of hundreds of workers at Kāinga Ora is just more evidence of the Government’s heartless treatment of vulnerable families who rely on the support of the state for a roof over their heads.
    Kāinga Ora today confirmed final plans to shed a net 620 roles across various teams. Many of these workers are providing frontline services to support tenants such as those at call centres and those working with other government agencies to find the right houses, in the right place for families.
    “This is another shameful day for the Government which promised no cuts to frontline services – this is a lie which is being exposed every day across the public sector,” said Fleur Fitzsimons, National Secretary for the Public Service Association for Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi.
    “Many workers will now have to re-apply for new roles, with 769 workers having their roles disestablished. This piles stress and uncertainty on so many people doing valuable work for families across New Zealand.
    “The Government is turning its back on supporting vulnerable families who have relied on Kāinga Ora to provide them with warm and secure homes – a basic human right.
    “Just as we have seen with the attack on underpaid women, this is a government that favours the privileged. Fewer public houses will be built by the Government as it repeats the mistakes of the past and shifts the responsibility to community providers.
    “The Government made a choice to gut Kāinga Ora – all part of the bigger plan to cut public services, and fund tax breaks for landlords. The irony is not lost on workers.”
    The latest cuts mean a third of the Kāinga Ora workforce has been shown the door in a year.
    “The dismantling of Kāinga Ora will make it harder for a future government to rebuild the agency that was succeeding in housing thousands of families. It’s disgraceful.”
    The Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi is Aotearoa New Zealand’s largest trade union, representing and supporting more than 95,000 workers across central government, state-owned enterprises, local councils, health boards and community groups.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LCQ7: Managing passenger flows at land boundary control points

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is a question by Professor the Hon William Wong and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Logistics, Ms Mable Chan, in the Legislative Council today (May 21):

    Question:

    It has been reported that during the Labour Day Golden Week holiday on May 2 when a large number of Mainland tourists visited Hong Kong, the mobile network and Wi-Fi system at MTR Lok Ma Chau Station were overwhelmed as a large number of passengers simultaneously used their mobile phones to scan QR code tickets to enter and leave via turnstiles, and thus a significant number of passengers were stranded. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:

    (1) whether it has compiled statistics on the number of passengers stranded at Lok Ma Chau Station on May 2 due to the failure of the mobile network and station Wi-Fi system;

    (2) as passengers were being stranded at Lok Ma Chau Station on May 2, whether the Government has communicated with relevant Mainland authorities to notify passengers who intended to enter Hong Kong via the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point that they should use alternative boundary control points (BCPs); given that Shenzhen Metro Line 4 is operated by the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL), whether the Government has urged MTRCL on the same day to immediately notify passengers travelling on Line 4 of the passenger stranding situation at Lok Ma Chau Station and called on them to cross the border via alternative BCPs;

    (3) whether the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has conducted drills with relevant Mainland authorities regarding unexpected incidents at BCPs and formulated various contingency plans; and

    (4) whether simulation tests have been conducted at all BCPs to establish co-ordination mechanisms and joint response measures between the Mainland and Hong Kong for handling peak passenger flows and potential unexpected incidents (including emergency situations such as malfunctions of immigration systems, baggage and security screening system failures, and railway service disruptions); if so, of the time when such tests were conducted; if not, whether such tests will be conducted in the future?

    Reply:

    President,

    The Golden Week holiday is the peak period of Mainland visitors visiting Hong Kong. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government has been maintaining close liaison with relevant organisations and parties to prepare well for arrangements of boundary control points (BCPs), public transportation, crowd management, etc, with a view to ensuring the smooth operation of various aspects in receiving visitors and offering a high-quality experience to them. In view of this year’s Labour Day Golden Week holiday, the MTR Corporation Limited (MTRCL) had made advance preparations by enhancing the train services for cross-boundary railways (including Lo Wu and Lok Ma Chau Stations of the East Rail Line, and the Hong Kong West Kowloon High Speed Rail Station), as well as deploying additional staff and strengthening information dissemination. Meanwhile, the MTRCL maintained close liaison with relevant departments at the BCPs, so as to adjust train services in a timely manner according to the situation at the BCPs, and provide visitors with safe, reliable and convenient railway services.

    In consultation with the Security Bureau, the Transport Department (TD) and the MTRCL, my consolidated reply to the question raised by Professor the Hon William Wong is as follows:

    (1) As observed by the MTRCL, during this year’s Labour Day Golden Week holiday, the number of visitors arriving in or exiting from Hong Kong via the Lok Ma Chau Spur Line Control Point using the MTR East Rail Line and the total patronage were slightly higher than those of the same period last year. On May 2 (Friday) this year, the peak arrival and departure periods for Mainland visitors were in the morning and evening respectively, during which an average of approximately 7 500 visitors entered and exited Lok Ma Chau Station per hour.

    During the peak departure period in the evening, a relatively large number of passengers used their phones at the same time to activate QR codes at ticket gates, resulting in a sudden surge in mobile data demand within a short period of time; the pressure on the mobile network providers’ provision of mobile data also intensified the passengers’ demand for Wi-Fi capacity at the station. As a result of the overall overloading of mobile data and Wi-Fi networks, passengers needed longer time for connection to the network to retrieve the QR codes, leading to a higher passenger flow at the stations’ entry/exit gates and concourse at certain periods of time. The MTRCL immediately took contingency measures in response to the actual situation, such as diverting passenger queues before the gates, adjusting the operation of individual escalators as appropriate to control the passenger flow, and intermittently allowing passengers to exit the gates without having to tap their cards from approximately 9.45pm to 10.30pm to divert passenger flow. Throughout this period, the Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB) and the TD maintained close communication with the MTRCL and promptly urged the MTRCL to enhance services in all aspects to ensure the smooth and safe operation of the station in face of the large patronage. 

    To cope with the peak travelling period for visitors during the Labour Day Golden Week this year, the MTRCL anticipated that there would be an increase in demand for network data capacity by passengers. As such, arrangements were made before the Golden Week to increase the in-station Wi-Fi capacity for supplementary purpose to cater for the needs of passengers who require internet access but do not have mobile network data. In light of the situation that occurred on the evening of May 2, the MTRCL promptly contacted mobile network providers in that same evening to immediately upgrade the mobile data capacity near BCPs as well as further increase the Wi-Fi capacity at Lok Ma Chau Station so as to facilitate the use of QR codes for passengers to take trains.

    In response to the aforementioned situation, the TLB has requested the MTRCL to review its arrangements for future visitor peak periods based on the experience gained this time. The MTRCL will also enhance its publicity efforts on Mainland social media platforms to remind visitors to activate their QR codes for payment in advance, thereby reducing the time spent at the gates. In addition, the MTRCL will promote the use of mobile Octopus for tourists as another payment option that does not require internet connection. The MTRCL will further discuss with relevant parties on how to manage passenger flow more effectively and plan ahead to ensure that the peak passenger flow can be handled more smoothly in future.

    (2) The Inter-departmental Joint Command Centre, comprising the Police, the Immigration Department, the Customs and Excise Department and relevant parties (including the MTRCL), was activated during the Labour Day Golden Week (i.e. from May 1 to 5, 2025) to monitor the real-time situations at various BCPs. The Joint Command Centre maintained close liaison with the Mainland port authorities through the established port hotlines and real-time notification mechanisms, and took timely contingency actions as necessary to ensure the smooth operation of the land control points.

    In addition, relevant departments at BCPs continuously monitored real-time situations at the control points and maintained liaison with the corresponding Mainland port authorities, including immediate mutual notification of the passenger flow situation upon learning about the heavy network traffic at the MTR Lok Ma Chau Station on May 2 this year as well as implementation of appropriate crowd control and diversion measures to facilitate passenger flow and maintain order at the BCP.

    (3) and (4) The HKSAR Government and relevant Mainland authorities have conducted incident drills at various BCPs from time to time, simulating emergencies such as fires, power supply failures, immigration system malfunctions and infectious disease incidents. These drills aim to formulate and practise contingency plans, strengthen co-ordination between departments and various parties and enhance overall response capabilities, thereby ensuring safety and order at BCPs in the event of unexpected incidents. Recent joint exercises include the flooding evacuation drill at the Express Rail Link West Kowloon Control Point in March 2025 and the joint exercise at the Lo Wu Control Point in October 2024 to simulate scenarios of power supply and system network incidents at the Hong Kong Port and contingency measures taken by relevant parties.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News

  • Fundamentally Flawed: Nvidia CEO Huang on U.S. Export Policy Fueling China’s Own Chip Development

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. export controls on artificial intelligence chips to China were “a failure,” Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang said on Wednesday.

    “All in all, the export control was a failure,” Huang said, adding, “The fundamental assumptions that led to the AI diffusion rule in the beginning, in the first place, have been proven to be fundamentally flawed.”

    The U.S. block on sales of advanced AI chips to China has forced companies there to buy semiconductors from Chinese designers such as Huawei, while also spurring China to invest aggressively to develop a supply chain that doesn’t rely on manufacturers outside the country.

    Huang’s comments came after China on Monday urged the United States to “immediately correct its wrongdoings” and stop “discriminatory” measures following the U.S. guidance warning companies not to use advanced computer chips from China, including Huawei’s Ascend AI chips.

    The U.S. action seriously undermined consensus reached at the high-level bilateral trade talks in Geneva, a statement from China’s commerce ministry said, vowing resolute measures if the U.S. continues to “substantially” harm China’s interests.

    Huang, speaking at the annual Computex event in Taipei, said Nvidia’s market share in China dropped to 50% from 95% at the start of former U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration.

    (Reuters)

  • EU, Britain go ahead with new Russia sanctions without waiting for Trump

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The EU and Britain announced new sanctions against Russia on Tuesday without waiting for Washington to join them, a day after President Donald Trump’s phone call with Vladimir Putin brought about neither a ceasefire in Ukraine nor fresh U.S. sanctions.

    London and Brussels said their new measures would zero in on Moscow’s “shadow fleet” of oil tankers and financial firms that have helped it avoid the impact of other sanctions imposed over the war.

    “Sanctions matter, and I am grateful to everyone who makes them more tangible for the perpetrators of the war,” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram.

    He said it “would be good” if the United States added its help, adding: “It is important that America remain involved in the process of bringing peace closer.”

    The sanctions were unveiled without an immediate announcement of corresponding steps from Washington, despite intense public lobbying from European leaders for the Trump administration to join them if Russia rejected a ceasefire.

    “We have repeatedly made it clear that we expect one thing from Russia – an immediate ceasefire without preconditions,” German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said on the sidelines of a meeting with EU counterparts in Brussels.

    As Russia had not accepted a ceasefire, “we will have to react,” he said. “We also expect our U.S. allies not to tolerate this.”

    Trump told reporters on Tuesday he was deliberating over what actions to take, but gave no further details.

    “We’re looking at a lot of things, but we’ll see,” he said.

    In a two-hour conversation with Putin on Monday, the U.S. president dropped his earlier insistence on an unconditional 30-day ceasefire and signalled that the war he once promised to end in 24 hours was no longer his to fix – a message that leaves Ukraine vulnerable and its allies worried.

    Asked on Monday why he had not imposed fresh sanctions to push Moscow into a peace deal, Trump said that could make the situation worse and affect the chance of a deal, while adding: “But there could be a time where that’s going to happen.”

    Trump said after talking to Putin he had told Zelenskiy and European leaders that Russia and Ukraine would immediately start negotiations on conditions for a ceasefire, a process Russia said would take time.

    Russia and Ukraine held their first direct talks in more than three years on Friday at Trump’s behest, but failed to agree a truce after Moscow presented conditions that a member of the Ukrainian delegation called “non-starters”.

    POPE WILLING TO HOST TALKS

    Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on Tuesday that Pope Leo had confirmed to her his willingness to host in the Vatican the next round of negotiations to try to end the war.

    U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a congressional hearing on Tuesday that Putin had not received any real concessions in the U.S. effort to initiate talks and existing U.S. sanctions on Russia remained in place.

    “The president … believes that right now, you start threatening sanctions, the Russians will stop talking, and there’s value in us being able to talk and drive them to get to the table. We’ll see,” Rubio said.

    Ukraine says it is ready for an immediate ceasefire. The Europeans say Russia’s insistence on talks first is proof that Putin, who started the war by invading his neighbour in 2022, is not prepared to end it.

    European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said a further package of sanctions was being prepared.

    “It’s time to intensify the pressure on Russia to bring about the ceasefire,” she wrote on X.

    RUSSIA SAYS IT WILL NOT BOW TO ULTIMATUMS

    Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Russia would never bow to what she called ultimatums.

    Putin said on Monday that Moscow was ready to work with Ukraine on a memorandum about a future peace accord. “Now, accordingly, the ball is in Kyiv’s court,” Zakharova said.

    Brussels and London signalled they have not given up hope of persuading Washington.

    “Let us push Vladimir Putin to put an end to his imperialist fantasy,” France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said.

    Britain’s Foreign Minister David Lammy said “delaying peace efforts will only redouble our resolve to help Ukraine to defend itself and use our sanctions to restrict Putin’s war machine”.

    The latest sanctions are aimed mainly at cracking down on a shipping fleet Russia uses to export oil, circumventing a $60 a barrel price cap imposed by the G7 group of industrialised countries to limit Russia’s income.

    Britain and the EU said they would also work to lower the cap, which imposes far less of a discount on Russian oil now that global prices have fallen this year.

    (Reuters)

  • PM Modi pays tributes to Rajiv Gandhi on his 34th death anniversary

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday paid tributes to former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on the occasion of his 34th death anniversary.

    Rajiv Gandhi, who served as India’s Prime Minister from 1984 to 1989, assumed office following the assassination of his mother, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. At the age of 40, he became the youngest Prime Minister in Indian history.

    In a post on X, PM Modi wrote, “On his death anniversary today, I pay my tributes to our former Prime Minister Shri Rajiv Gandhi Ji.”

    Rajiv Gandhi led the country until the 1989 general elections, after which he served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. He resigned in December 1990, just six months before he himself was assassinated in a brutal terrorist attack.

    Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also took to X and paid homage to the former Prime Minister.

    “Remembering former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on his punyatithi today,” he posted on X.

    Earlier in the day, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi and Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge lead the Congress party in paying heartfelt tributes to the former leader at Veer Bhumi in New Delhi.

    Marking the occasion, the Congress party shared a tribute on X, stating, “On the death anniversary of the late Shri Rajiv Gandhi, the leader of opposition, Rahul Gandhi visited ‘Veer Bhumi’ and paid his emotional tribute to him. The excellent work done by Rajiv Gandhi in the national interest can never be forgotten.”

    Earlier in the day, Mallikarjun Kharge also paid homage to the former leader through a post on X, calling Rajiv Gandhi “a great son of India” who inspired hope among millions.

    He wrote, “His visionary and courageous interventions were instrumental in preparing India for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st Century.”

    Kharge highlighted some of Rajiv Gandhi’s key contributions to India, stating, “These include lowering the voting age to 18, strengthening Panchayati Raj, spearheading the Telecom and IT revolution, implementing a computerisation program, securing sustained peace accords, launching a universal immunisation program, and introducing a new education policy focused on inclusive learning.”

    He concluded his tribute stating, “Our deepest respects to the Former PM, Bharat Ratna, Rajiv Gandhi on his martyrdom day.”

    (IANS)