NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia Pacific

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: AFRICA INDIA KEY MARITIME ENGAGEMENT 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 12 APR 2025 12:00PM by PIB Delhi

    The inaugural edition of the large-scale multilateral exercise Africa India Key Maritime Engagement, AIKEYME, which means ‘Unity’ in Sanskrit, is planned for six days from 13 to 18 Apr 25 and will include participation from Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles and South Africa, alongside the co-hosts India and Tanzania.

    This initiative aligns with the vision of the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, promoting Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR).

    The Indian Naval Ships INS Chennai (destroyer) and INS Kesari [Landing Ship Tank (Large)] arrived in Dar-es-Salaam on 10th and 11th Apr 25 respectively, and the inauguration ceremony of AIKEYME will be co-hosted onboard, along with the Tanzanian Peoples’ Defence Force (TPDF). The ships were welcomed by DA Tanzania and Liaison team. A Ceremonial Guard was also paraded onboard INS Chennai with TPDF and Indian Navy band playing in unison the National Anthems of respective countries.

    The harbour phase for AIKEYME 25 will include an inauguration ceremony and a deck reception with the Honorable Minister of State for Defence, Shri Sanjay Seth and Defence Minister, Tanzania as Chief Guests

    Planned activities during this phase include Table Top and Command Post Exercises focused on anti-piracy ops and information sharing, alongside joint training in seamanship and Visit Board Search and Seizure (VBSS) exercises in collaboration with the TPDF. To promote camaraderie, activities such as sports fixtures and yoga sessions will also take place. Additionally, the Indian Naval ships will be open to visitors during the harbour phase to engage with the local population.

    The sea phase, scheduled from 16 to 18 Apr 25, will focus on strengthening maritime security cooperation among the participating maritime nations.

    AIKEYME aims to develop collaborative solutions to common regional maritime challenges. This maiden initiative by the Indian Navy seeks to enhance interoperability and synergise combined operations among the maritime forces of partner nations. It also highlights the strong and friendly relations between India and the African nations.

    INS Sunayna which sailed out from Karwar on 05 Apr 25, as Indian Ocean Ship SAGAR, will also be participating in AIKEYME.

     

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: EXERCISE TIGER TRIUMPH 2025 CULMINATES WITH DISTINGUISHED VISITORS’ DAY AT KAKINADA, ANDHRA PRADESH

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 12 APR 2025 9:30AM by PIB Delhi

    The fourth edition of bilateral tri-service Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) amphibious Exercise Tiger Triumph 2025 between India and the United States culminated with a Distinguished Visitors’ (DV) Day at Kakinada, on 11 Apr 25. The DV Day was attended by the Flag Officer Commanding Tamil Nadu & Puducherry Naval Area (FOTNA), US Consul General, Commander US Navy Strike Group Five and Deputy General Officer Commanding 54 Infantry Division, along with other senior dignitaries.

    The DV Day witnessed seamless execution of complex operations at and off the coast of Kakinada including Standoff and Hard Beaching, Slithering Operations by Special Operations Forces from SC and Mi-17 V5 helicopters, participation of C-130 aircraft and integrated air operations by the Indian Navy, Indian Army, Indian Air Force, US Navy, US Army, and US Marine Corps.

    The operations reflected the enhanced degree of combined combat drills, jointmanship and interoperability achieved between the Armed Forces of India and United States of America.

    Conducted from 01 to 11 Apr 25, the exercise provided invaluable training in HADR operations and familiarised participants with each other’s capabilities, techniques, and procedures. Notably, Ex Tiger Triumph was first held in 2019, with the primary aim of strengthening operational synergies, facilitated by logistics exchange under the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) and towards integrating emerging technologies between the two militaries.

    The harbour phase of the exercise was conducted from 01 to 07 Apr 25 at Visakhapatnam. The phase commenced with an opening ceremony attended by Mr. Jorgan K. Andrews, Chargé d’Affaires, US Embassy, and Vice Admiral Sameer Saxena, Chief of Staff, Headquarters Eastern Naval Command. Activities during this phase included Pre-Sail Conferences, Subject Matter Expert Exchanges (SMEEs) on key technologies including medical, drone, and space. The harbour phase also included cross-deck visits, ship boarding drills and friendly sports fixtures.

     

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by SITI at Opening Ceremony of 2nd Hong Kong World Youth Science Conference and Xiangjiang Nobel Forum 2025 (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Opening Ceremony of 2nd Hong Kong World Youth Science Conference and Xiangjiang Nobel Forum 2025 today (April 13):

    First of all, a very warm welcome to our distinguished guests and friends from aboard, including the Nobel Laureates and Academicians, for joining us at today’s event, which is one of the highlights of the BIT Week (Business of Innovation and Technology Week) 2025.

    Science is more than just discovery. In particular in a world of uncertainties and rapid technological shifts, the role of scientists and scholars has become even more critical in providing clarity, unravelling mysteries and fostering global collaboration. Hong Kong, as an international hub for highly skilled professionals and higher education, is blessed with five world’s top 100 universities and many renowned scholars and scientists, providing a solid foundation for our outstanding R&D (research and development) achievements and our ambition to be an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre.

    I&T talents and enterprises are the core elements for Hong Kong’s I&T development. Hong Kong has spared no effort to promote international I&T exchanges by fully leveraging its two-way platform role as an important bridge connecting the Mainland and the rest of the world. Today’s World Youth Science Congress best demonstrates Hong Kong’s unique advantages in attracting global talents and enterprises. We will continue to support world-class science and technology exchange events in Hong Kong, such as the WIC (World Internet Conference) Asia Pacific Summit, which our Chief Executive mentioned earlier, and the International Science, Technology and Innovation Forum of the Boao Forum for Asia 2025 Hong Kong. Thank you again for coming and I wish you all a wonderful experience here in Hong Kong.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by FS at Opening Ceremony of BIT Week 2025 (English only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the Opening Ceremony of BIT Week 2025 today (April 13):

    (member of the Standing Committee of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference) (Vice Governor of Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government) (Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region), Peter (Chairman of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), Dr Peter Lam), Margaret (Executive Director of the HKTDC, Ms Margaret Fong), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

    It is my pleasure to welcome you all to Hong Kong’s Business of Innovation and Technology (BIT) Week. As Margaret eloquently highlighted, this week features a dynamic series of exhibitions, dialogues, summits and festivals – each designed to spark collaboration, inspire innovation and seek to map the future of the digital economy.

    To our international guests: a very warm welcome to Hong Kong, Asia’s World City.

    Allow me to take a moment to highlight why Hong Kong is the ideal strategic destination for innovation and technology businesses.

    In addition to our world-class infrastructure and business-friendly environment mentioned by Margaret, Hong Kong’s “one country, two systems” arrangement has set us apart from any other city in Asia. To name just a few of our unique strengths, we have –

    • first, convenient access to the vast Chinese Mainland and Asian markets;
    • second, a trusted common law system and strong intellectual property protection;
    • third, the convergence of Mainland and international data and capital; and
    • fourth, a thriving international talent pool that attracts and nurtures the top minds from around the world.

    These strengths have made Hong Kong a premier launchpad for companies looking to scale up their business in Asia and beyond.

    Today, we are home to over 4 700 startups, and 28 per cent of their founders come from outside the city. For a glimpse of this dynamism, I encourage you to visit InnoEX, which showcase the ingenuity of our startups and talent, with groundbreaking innovations ranging from AI and robotics to green tech, smart mobility, and much more.

    Hong Kong’s appeal extends beyond these. We offer a comprehensive funding ecosystem, spanning angel investments, venture capital, private equity to one of the world’s deepest and most liquid stock markets. Besides, together with Greater Bay Area cities like Shenzhen and Guangzhou, we offer you a vibrant ecosystem that caters to the needs of innovative companies from different sectors and different stages of development. In fact, we have been ranked the world’s second most innovative cluster for five consecutive years.

    Ladies and gentlemen, we gather at a pivotal moment. We are witnessing a shifting global landscape marked by a daunting trade war and technological fragmentation. Trade patterns, industrial chain, supply chain and partnerships are being reshaped. In this “new normal”, many businesses will have to find new collaborators, explore untapped markets and embrace more agile business models.

    In these turbulent times, Hong Kong remains open and welcoming to businesses and talent from all over the world. We are eager to establish new connections and forge new partnerships. These are in our DNA. Rest assured that our free port status and free trade policy remain unshaken. We are firm in our commitment to the free flow of capital, goods, talent and information.

    Let me conclude by extending my gratitude to my government colleagues, the HKTDC, and all the exhibitors and partners who have brought the BIT Week to life. To our visitors: beyond networking and conducting business, please take some time to explore this vibrant city, not just our scenic hills, stunning coastlines and beautiful outlying islands, but also the 200+ Michelin-recommended restaurants. We impose no duty on wine. Coldplay was performing in our world-class Kai Tak Stadium. The Palace Museum and M+ museum are just across the harbour.

    I am sure you will enjoy the city, and wish you all the best of business and health for the time ahead. Thank you very much.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi urges China, Vietnam to deepen building of community with a shared future

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

    BEIJING, April 14 — Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that China and Vietnam should strengthen their efforts on all fronts to build the China-Vietnam community with a shared future, and contribute more to peace, stability, development and prosperity in Asia and the world at large.

    Xi made the remarks in a signed article titled “Building on past achievements and making new advances in pursuit of shared goals.” The article was published on Monday by the Nhan Dan Newspaper of Vietnam ahead of his state visit to the Southeast Asian country.

    Xi said building the China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance serves the common interests of the two countries and is conducive to peace, stability, development and prosperity in the region and beyond.

    He called for deepening strategic mutual trust and advancing the socialist cause, continuing win-win cooperation and delivering more benefit to the two peoples, strengthening people-to-people exchanges and forging a closer bond between the two peoples, as well as enhancing multilateral collaboration and promoting Asia’s prosperity and revitalization.

    The Chinese leader warned that trade wars and tariff wars will produce no winner, and protectionism will lead nowhere.

    “Our two countries should resolutely safeguard the multilateral trading system, stable global industrial and supply chains, and open and cooperative international environment,” he added.

    “We should properly manage differences and safeguard peace and stability in our region,” Xi said.

    “The successful delimitation of our boundaries on land and in the Beibu Gulf demonstrates that with vision, we are fully capable of properly settling maritime issues through consultation and negotiation.”

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi says China ready to advance standard-gauge railway projects with Vietnam

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

    BEIJING, April 14 — Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that China stands ready to advance cooperation with Vietnam on the three standard-gauge railways in northern Vietnam and the smart port.

    Xi made the remarks in a signed article titled “Building on past achievements and making new advances in pursuit of shared goals” published on Monday by the Nhan Dan Newspaper of Vietnam ahead of his state visit to the Southeast Asian country.

    Also in the article, Xi said China welcomes more quality Vietnamese products in the Chinese market and encourages more Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Vietnam.

    “Our two countries should step up cooperation on industrial and supply chains, and expand cooperation in emerging areas such as 5G, artificial intelligence and green development to create more benefits for the two peoples,” he wrote.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi says China to join neighboring countries for Asia’s modernization

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

    BEIJING, April 14 — Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that China will deepen friendly cooperation with neighboring countries and jointly advance Asia’s modernization.

    Xi made the remarks in a signed article titled “Building on past achievements and making new advances in pursuit of shared goals.” The article was published on Monday by the Nhan Dan Newspaper of Vietnam ahead of his state visit to the Southeast Asian country.

    Noting that Asia represents a new elevation in global cooperation and development, Xi said that at a new starting point toward revitalization of the whole region, Asia faces both unprecedented opportunities and challenges.

    “China will ensure continuity and stability of its neighborhood diplomacy. We will stay committed to the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness,” he wrote, adding that “we will continue to pursue the policy of forging friendship and partnership with our neighbors.”

    “Today, global, epoch-making and historical changes are unfolding like never before, and the world has entered a new period of turbulent transformation,” Xi said, adding that China remains a key engine of the world economy.

    “China will continue to provide more opportunities to the world with its high standard, and will contribute to the development of all countries with its high-quality development,” he added.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Xi’s Southeast Asia tour to cement neighborly bond, bolster regional cooperation

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

    HONG KONG, April 13 — Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia from Monday to Friday, marking his first overseas trip of the year. The journey underscores the emphasis China places on its Southeast Asian neighbors — partners bound not only by geographical proximity, but by decades of cooperation and mutual support.

    The visits aim to deepen ties and chart the course for future cooperation. From infrastructure to trade, China and its neighbors are aligning their modernization efforts. At each stop, the two sides will work together to strengthen political trust and expand practical cooperation.

    The trip reflects China’s broader vision of building a community with a shared future with its neighboring countries. In an era of global uncertainty, Asia’s unity, coupled with the promise of common development, presents a model of stability and progress.

    “CAMARADERIE PLUS BROTHERHOOD”

    In October 2024, the China-Vietnam Detian-Ban Gioc Waterfall cross-border tourism cooperation zone was officially launched. Tourists from both sides of the border can now leisurely walk through the streets that seamlessly blend Chinese and Vietnamese architectural styles, while enjoying the magnificent vista of the shared waterfall. This landmark project, China’s first cross-border tourism cooperation zone, stands as a testament to the strengthening of people-to-people ties between the two neighboring countries.

    This year marks the 75th anniversary of China-Vietnam diplomatic relations. From their early revolutionary struggles to their current modernization efforts, the two countries have forged a profound bond featuring “camaraderie plus brotherhood.”

    During Xi’s visit to the country in December 2023, bilateral ties were elevated to a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance. Xi proposed the six major goals of “greater political mutual trust, more substantive security cooperation, deeper practical cooperation, more solid popular foundation, closer multilateral coordination and collaboration, and more proper management of differences.” That laid the groundwork for the vision of building a China-Vietnam community with a shared future.

    In August 2024, then Vietnamese President To Lam chose China as the destination for his first overseas visit only two weeks after being elected general secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee. During the visit, the two sides reaffirmed the six goals and emphasized joint efforts to advance shared development.

    Trade remains the engine of their relationship. China is Vietnam’s largest trading partner, and infrastructure links from rail to ports are expanding fast. Fruit from Vietnam frequents Chinese tables while Chinese raw materials and machinery fuel Vietnamese industry. The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Vietnam’s Two Corridors and One Economic Circle strategy are increasingly aligned.

    Under the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy, Vietnam-China relations have developed rapidly in recent years, said Nguyen Thi Phuong Hoa, deputy director at the Institute of Chinese Studies of Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences. She expressed confidence that the profound friendship between the two countries will be passed down from generation to generation.

    FRIENDSHIP FORGED IN HISTORY

    At the Gombak station site along Malaysia’s East Coast Rail Link, cranes swing vigorously under the scorching sun while Chinese and Malaysian workers assemble steel girders together. This railway, slated for completion in 2027, stands as a prestigious project within the BRI cooperation framework. It will link Malaysia’s east and west coasts for the first time, emerging as a powerful symbol of the deepening partnership between these two nations.

    China-Malaysia ties run deep. From the voyages of renowned Chinese navigator Zheng He (1371-1433) to the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1974, the two countries have long enjoyed cultural affinity and strategic trust. During Xi’s 2013 visit, they upgraded ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership. A decade later, the relationship was elevated again to a China-Malaysia community with a shared future.

    Economic cooperation continues to thrive. China has maintained its position as Malaysia’s leading trading partner for 16 consecutive years. On top of that, bilateral initiatives like the “Two Countries, Twin Parks” program, which pairs industrial zones in Qinzhou and Kuantan, have emerged as a model for regional collaboration. This partnership has spurred the expansion of port collaboration and infrastructure connection. Furthermore, Malaysian fresh durians have been on sale in the Chinese market since last August, witnessing rising popularity among Chinese consumers.

    People-to-people exchanges are also flourishing. From international students to visa-free travel arrangements, cultural exchanges are growing deeper and more meaningful. Collaborative efforts now span a wide range of activities, from panda research to the joint pursuit of getting the lion dance recognized as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage.

    With Malaysia serving as the 2025 chair of ASEAN and a BRICS partner country, the two countries are working more closely on regional cooperation, with an eye on stability and shared prosperity in a shifting global landscape.

    “The bilateral relationship between Malaysia and China is currently at its best,” said Dato’ Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan, president of the Malaysia-China Friendship Association and former Malaysian ambassador to China.

    IRONCLAD FRIENDSHIP

    Through towering pillars and glass walls, sunlight streams into Techo International Airport, evoking a tranquil ambiance reminiscent of standing beneath the sugar palm trees that dot the Cambodian landscape.

    Scheduled to commence operations in July, the new airport constructed by a Chinese company is expected to significantly enhance the tourism capacity of Cambodian capital Phnom Penh. This project marks yet another notable milestone in China-Cambodia cooperation within the framework of the BRI.

    China and Cambodia are ironclad friends who always support each other and stand together through thick and thin. Under the care of the leaders of both nations, the tree of China-Cambodia friendship has flourished, yielding a bountiful harvest of cooperation and mutual trust.

    The two countries have maintained frequent high-level exchanges and strategic communication. In September 2023, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet visited China on his first official trip abroad after taking office. One month later, Hun Manet was in China again to attend the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.

    In December 2024, Cambodian People’s Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen visited China. Xi said in a meeting with Hun Sen that the ironclad friendship between China and Cambodia is of high quality, while Hun Sen described China as Cambodia’s most trusted friend.

    Under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, the building of a China-Cambodia community with a shared future has progressed into a new era characterized by high quality, high level and high standard.

    China has remained Cambodia’s biggest source of foreign investment and biggest trading partner for years. The China-Cambodia free trade agreement, along with the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, has given a substantial boost to trade growth between the two nations.

    The two countries have seen frequent people-to-people exchanges. In 2024, various events were held to celebrate the China-Cambodia people-to-people exchange year, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples.

    With the collaborative efforts of scholars from both countries, a new Khmer version of The Customs of Cambodia, an ancient Chinese travelogue that serves as a crucial source for studying Cambodia’s history, was released in April last year.

    Over the decades, Chinese experts have been working with their Cambodian peers in preserving and restoring Angkor temples to revive the invaluable treasures of Cambodia.

    Thong Mengdavid, a lecturer at the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said the deeply rooted Cambodia-China ties are rock-solid and unbreakable, serving as a paragon of South-South cooperation

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Appeal for information on missing woman in Mong Kok (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Police today (April 12) appealed to the public for information on a woman who went missing in Mong Kok.

    Moran Dante Elaine Cipolla, aged 27, went missing after she left MTR Mong Kok East Station yesterday (April 11) afternoon. Staff of a rehabilitation centre then made a report to Police.

    She is about 1.5 metres tall, around 50 kilograms in weight and of thin build. She has a pointed face with white complexion and long black hair. She was last seen wearing a black long-sleeved hoodie, a pair of black trousers and black sport shoes.

    Anyone who knows the whereabouts of the missing woman or may have seen her is urged to contact the Regional Missing Persons Unit of Kowloon West on 3661 8036 or 9020 6542 or email to rmpu-kw@police.gov.hk, or contact any police station.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addresses a program in Raigad, Maharashtra, on the occasion of the 345th death anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

    Source: Government of India

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah addresses a program in Raigad, Maharashtra, on the occasion of the 345th death anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj

    It is a matter of great fortune to visit the historic Raigad Fort, where the golden throne of Hindavi Swaraj was established

    This historic Raigad Fort stands as a witness to the journey of young Shiva to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s final moments — bearing testimony to his entire legacy

    The Central and Maharashtra governments are committed to making the Shivaji Memorial an inspirational place for the youth of the country

    Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj instilled Swadharma, Swabhasha, and Swaraj in every corner of India

    It is our collective responsibility to ensure that every child in India learns about the life and legacy of Shivaji Maharaj (Shivcharitra)

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi is carrying forward Shivaji Maharaj’s struggle for Swaraj, Swadharma and Swabhasha

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, by adopting Shivaji Maharaj’s Royal Seal as the symbol of our Navy, has declared to the world that our country and our Swaraj are fully secured

    The original vision of making India a global leader in every field was laid down by Shivaji Maharaj, and Prime Minister Modi is carrying that vision forward

    At a time when people began to perceive Swadharma and Swaraj as crimes, Shivaji Maharaj, at the age of 12, took a vow to hoist the saffron flag from Sindhu to Kanyakumari

    Posted On: 12 APR 2025 4:45PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah today addressed a program held at Raigad Fort in Raigad, Maharashtra, on the occasion of the 345th death anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. On this occasion, many dignitaries were present, including Maharashtra Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Shri Eknath Shinde and Shri Ajit Pawar, and Union Minister of State for Cooperation Shri Murlidhar Mohol.

    Addressing the program, Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah said that it is a matter of great fortune to visit the historic Raigad Fort, where the golden throne of Hindavi Swaraj was established. He said that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ignited an immortal spirit across every corner of India and willingness to sacrifice one’s life for one’s religion, language, and Swaraj. Soon, the region of Maharashtra, which was surrounded by the Adilshahi, Mughal, and Nizamshahi powers, transformed into Hindavi Swaraj. In just a few years, the dream of Swaraj began to be realized from Attock to Cuttack, and across the country from Bengal to Tamil Nadu in the south.

    Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah said that when Shivaji Maharaj was born, the people of the country were engulfed in deep darkness. The environment was such that even imagining the idea of Swaraj seemed impossible. Within just a hundred years after the fall of Devagiri, the decline of Maharashtra and the entire southern region had taken place, and gradually, speaking of one’s own religion and self-rule came to be seen as a crime.

    But in such times, a 12-year-old boy, inspired by his mother Rajmata Jijabai, took a vow to once again raise the saffron flag from the Sindhu River to Kanyakumari. Shri Shah said that he has read the biographies of many great leaders from around the world, but such unshakable willpower, indomitable courage, unimaginable strategy, and the ability to unite every section of society to build an invincible army — no one did it like Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

    Shri Amit Shah said that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj neither had fortune on his side, nor a powerful legacy, nor wealth or a large army. Yet, at a very young age, through his unbreakable courage and firm resolve, he inspired the entire nation with the mantra of Swaraj. In no time, he played a pivotal role in shattering the Mughal Empire, which had ruled for over 200 years.

    When Shivaji Maharaj’s forces reached Attock, Bengal, Cuttack, and Tamil Nadu, then people across the land began to believe once again — that the nation, its religion, languages, and culture had been saved.

    Union Home Minister said that the vision of making India the best in the world in every field was first laid down by Shivaji Maharaj. He added that today, 75 years after India’s independence, we stand tall before the world with pride, and we resolve that when India completes 100 years of independence, the country will achieve the number one position globally in every domain.

    Shri Amit Shah said that Rajmata Jijabai not only gave birth to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj but also inspired him to revive Swaraj, Swadharma, and Swabhasha. When Shivaji was still very young, it was Jijabai who instilled in him the idea of liberating the entire country and becoming the founder of a Hindavi Empire.

    Shri Shah stated that Rajmata Jijabai imparted values and virtues to the young Shivaji, and Shivaji turned those values into a mighty banyan tree. He further said that after Shivaji, Sambhaji Maharaj, Maharani Tarabai, Santaji, and Tanaji continued to fight against the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb until his death. As a result, the man who called himself “Alamgir” (conqueror of the world) was ultimately defeated in Maharashtra, and his tomb remains here as a testament to that.

    Shri Shah emphasized that it is our duty to ensure every child in India learns about Shivaji’s life and legacy. He said that Shivaji Maharaj should not be limited to Maharashtra — the entire country, and even the world, can draw inspiration from him.

    Union Home Minister said that Swadharma, Swaraj, and Swabhasha are deeply connected to the self-respect of human life. Shivaji Maharaj brought these three core values of self-respect before the nation and the world. He did this at a time when invaders had crushed and defeated us, and a mentality of slavery got rooted in society. But Shivaji Maharaj broke this mindset of subjugation and re-established the Hindavi Empire, reigniting a spirit of pride, resistance, and independence among the people.

    Shri Amit Shah said that the entire history of Shivaji Maharaj — from his birth to his last breath — is tied to this sacred land of Raigad. He also remembered the great freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who envisioned this sacred place as “Shiv Smriti”.

    Shri Shah stated that the British deliberately tried to destroy Raigad Fort, as it was a powerful symbol of Swaraj. Tilak Maharaj recognized this significance and, through his famous slogan “Swaraj is my birthright”, re-established the commitment to Shivaji Maharaj’s vision of Swaraj.

    He added that Tilak Maharaj began the movement to preserve this memorial, although the work couldn’t be completed during his lifetime. However, even during British rule, this site became a symbol — from Shiv Jayanti to Swaraj, marking the beginning of India’s freedom struggle.

    Shri Shah said that the Maharashtra government is now continuing the noble work initiated by Tilak Maharaj to honor and preserve this legacy.

    Union Home Minister said that the Central and Maharashtra governments are committed to transforming the Raigad memorial into not just a tourist destination, but a source of inspiration for the youth of the country by providing it with various modern facilities. He appealed to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra to ensure that every student from classes 7 to 12 visits this sacred site at least once, so they can connect with the legacy and ideals of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

    Shri Amit Shah said that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj established numerous principles in the field of administration. His concept of the Ashta Pradhan Mandal (Council of Eight Ministers) has been adopted today in the form of the Cabinet, and the Cabinet is essentially a broader version of the Ashta Pradhan Mandal.

    He also mentioned that Shivaji Maharaj established several principles for justice which was implemented by those in power. Through his actions, Shivaji Maharaj set an example of good governance (Sushasan).

    Union Home Minister said that Shivaji Maharaj’s final message was that the struggle for Swaraj, respect for Swadharma, and the immortality of Swabhasha should never stop. Shri Shah added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, this struggle is moving forward with pride today. PM Modi has worked to give India a glorious place on the global stage.

    He further stated that Shivaji Maharaj envisioned the restoration of Kashi Vishwanath Temple, the access to all Jyotirlingas, and the revival of the Ram Janmabhoomi. These tasks have been fulfilled during PM Modi’s tenure. The Kashi Vishwanath Temple, which had been destroyed by Aurangzeb, was revitalized through the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi rule.

    Shri Shah said that the whole country is committed to completing the remaining tasks to fully realize the message of Shivaji Maharaj. Shri Amit Shah said that Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj represents determination, dedication, sacrifice, bravery, self-respect, and the immortal spirit of Swaraj. He mentioned that the Maharashtra government has launched a campaign to bring Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s legacy to every household.

    He further highlighted that Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, by making Shivaji Maharaj’s Royal Seal the symbol of our Navy, has declared to the world that our country and our Swaraj are fully secured.

    Shri Shah also noted that Prime Minister Modi and the Maharashtra government are working towards having 12 historic forts recognized as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

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    RK / VV / PR / PS

    (Release ID: 2121221) Visitor Counter : 21

    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by SCMA at Equal Opportunities Commission’s 15th Anniversary Celebration on Implementation of Race Discrimination Ordinance cum Celebration of International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination – Appreciation Event with Community Stakeholders (English only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Speech by SCMA at Equal Opportunities Commission’s 15th Anniversary Celebration on Implementation of Race Discrimination Ordinance cum Celebration of International Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination – Appreciation Event with Community Stakeholders (English only) 
    To effectively perform our roles and functions as “super connector” and “super value-adder”, we always seek to ensure people of all ethnicities enjoy equal opportunities in different aspects of life. First and foremost, the Government leads by example. As the largest employer in Hong Kong, the civil service has strived to enhance employment opportunities for ethnic minorities; over fifty civil service grades have reviewed and adjusted their Chinese-language proficiency requirements to give more opportunities to non-ethnic Chinese applicants to join the civil service. 
     
         The Government also strives to promote equal opportunities in the private sectors and the community. To name a few, the Labour Department’s Racial Diversity Employment Programme provide customised employment support services to ethnic minority job seekers. The Education Bureau works with educational establishments at all levels to step up learning support for non-Chinese speaking students, to enhance their proficiency in Chinese, to provide them with a better learning experience, and to smoothen their transition from school to the workplace.??? In addition, ten Ethnic Minority Care Teams and two new support service centres were set up under the Home Affairs Department’s new Care Teams programme. They enhance support and provide holistic services to ethnic minorities, including language tutorials and community integration workshops. All these underline the Government’s commitment to building an equal, inclusive, and harmonious society.Issued at HKT 17:13

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Red flag hoisted at Hap Mun Bay Beach

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Attention TV/radio announcers:

    Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

    Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

    The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (April 12) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Hap Mun Bay Beach in Sai Kung District. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Central Electricity Authority concurred a record number of Detailed Project Reports of Hydro Pumped Storage Projects during 2024-25.

    Source: Government of India

    Central Electricity Authority concurred a record number of Detailed Project Reports of Hydro Pumped Storage Projects during 2024-25.

     CEA has ambitious plan to concur minimum 13 PSP of 22 GW for 2025-26.

    A great investment opportunity ahead in Hydro PSP as so far identified potential crosses 200 GW

    Posted On: 12 APR 2025 2:18PM by PIB Delhi

    The Central Electricity Authority (CEA), under the Ministry of Power, Government of India, has concurred Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) of following 6 Hydro Pumped Storage Projects (PSPs) of about 7.5 GW in record time during 2024-25, marking a key milestone in India’s ongoing commitment to developing advanced long term energy storage solutions:

    • Upper Indravati (600 MW) in Odisha
    • Sharavathy (2,000 MW) in Karnataka
    • Bhivpuri (1,000 MW) in Maharashtra
    • Bhavali (1,500 MW) in Maharashtra
    • MP-30 (1,920 MW) in Madhya Pradesh
    • Chitravathi (500 MW) in Andhra Pradesh

    This is the outcome of the collaborative efforts of the PSP developers, appraising organisations (CWC, GSI and CSMRS).

    A number of steps were taken to resolve the issues and fast track the appraisal process.   This is a big achievement since inception of new concept of Off-Stream, close loop PSPs. CEA has made the appraisal process transparent through the Portal “Jalvi Store”. The DPR for appraisal has been made shorter, check list has been provided for ease of submission of chapters to appraising agency and many more such initiatives.  

    Further, CEA has made ambitious plan to concur minimum 13 PSPs of about 22 GW during 2025-26. Most of these PSPs are targeted to be commissioned in 4 years and latest by 2030. Development of these projects shall boost energy storage capacity drastically in the country, making a major contribution to grid reliability and supporting India’s ambitious renewable energy goals. This further underscores the CEA’s ongoing commitment for facilitating the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient power system.

    The participation of private sector in this segment is quite encouraging and with the help of self-identified PSP, the PSP potential in the country has crossed 200 GW and it is further increasing almost every month. Thus, from a meagre 3.5 GW of operational hydro PSP capacity in the country, the development needs to be taken up in an accelerated mission mode to harness this potential. This year two PSPs around 3000 MW will get commissioned and by 2032 we expect around 50 GW. At present 8 projects of 10 GW is under construction and DPR has been concurred for 3 projects of around 3 GW. In addition to this, 49 projects of 66 GW are under Survey and investigation. All these DPRs are expected to be finalised by the developers in 2 years.

    Hydro PSPs are vital for the energy transition, as they allow excess electricity generated during off-peak hours to be stored in the form of water in elevated reservoirs. This stored energy can then be used back during non-solar hours peak demand periods, ensuring a reliable, consistent, and flexible power supply.

    For developers and investors, it is a great investment opportunity to develop and invest in a long term assets of more than 70- 80 years.

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    SK

    (Release ID: 2121181) Visitor Counter : 70

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India Highlights Its BioE3 Policy and Integrated Biorefinery Initiatives at Mission Innovation Annual Gathering 2025 at Seoul, South Korea

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 12 APR 2025 9:38AM by PIB Delhi

    The Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Government of India – co-leads the Mission Integrated Biorefinery jointly with the Netherlands as part of Mission Innovation (MI) 2.0. The Mission Innovation Annual Gathering-2025, a multilateral platform accelerating clean energy innovation, held at Seoul, South Korea during 9th-11th April 2025 brought together global leaders in clean energy technology. The term “Mission Innovation” was coined by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi during COP21, in collaboration with former French President François Hollande. India continues to play an active role under the Mission Innovation initiative.

    At the Annual Gathering held in Seoul, the DBT being an integral member of the Indian delegation, participated in discussions on collaborative opportunities among diverse MI missions and platforms. The focus has been to advance the biorefinery approach for fuels, chemicals, and materials. During the event, the DBT presented BioE3 (Biotechnology for Environment, Energy, and Economy) Policy and demonstrated its pivotal role in addressing climate challenges and aligning national priorities under the Integrated Biorefinery Mission were extensively discussed at roundtables and reviewed by Mission Innovation members as well as the Technical Advisory Groups associated with the Missions.

    The participants highlighted how the BioE3 Policy promotes sustainable and low-carbon manufacturing of fuels, chemicals, and materials. The Policy is designed to develop enabling technologies that foster an innovation-driven manufacturing ecosystem for a low-carbon future. Further, India’s efforts in integrating Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Bioenergy (CCUB) for the biomanufacturing of fuels, chemicals, and materials were shared with the MI community through roundtable discussions.

    Deliberations were also focused on opportunities for research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) using biomass-based biomanufacturing approaches. The DBT also participated in focused sessions on Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing priorities during visits to clean energy facilities, preceding meetings at Hanyang University and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, coordinated by the Indian Embassy in Seoul. It was observed that the Bioinnovations for fuels, chemicals, and materials are the opportunities for Mission Innovation Member countries to accelerate their decarbonization goals.

     

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    NKR/PSM

    (Release ID: 2121135) Visitor Counter : 35

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: JPC Innovation and Technology Competition 2024-25 Award Presentation Ceremony cum Carnival held today (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    JPC Innovation and Technology Competition 2024-25 Award Presentation Ceremony cum Carnival held today  
         The Commissioner of Police, Mr Chow Yat-ming; the Under Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai; the General Manager of Information Technology Department of Bank of China (Hong Kong), Mr Yung Fai; and the Director of Operations of Police, Mr Chan Tung, officiated at the ceremony.

         In his welcome remarks, Mr Chow said that since its establishment in 1974, the JPC has been committed to training young people to become youth leaders and crime-fighting partners through diversified activities, striving to nurture a new generation of law-abiding young people with an affection for the country and Hong Kong, and equipped with positive thinking and an aspiring mindset. He noted that as the Police step up enforcement against “space oil drugs”, the competition introduced the theme of youth drug prevention, encouraging participants to raise anti-drug awareness among young people through creative solutions.
     
         Mr Chow also highlighted the quality of entries received, underscoring the pivotal role of experiential learning in STEAM education, which fosters students’ curiosity while developing their teamwork and problem-solving skills. He added that the JPC will launch more innovative activities to nurture I&T talents for Hong Kong and our country.
     
         The competition aims to encourage primary and secondary school students to utilise their knowledge and skills in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) to construct innovative and feasible “Smart City” solutions. Two “Best Smart City Awards” were introduced to recognise the most innovative entries in artificial intelligence and gerontechnology, while the “Best Safe City Awards” were also presented to acknowledge innovative solutions for fraud prevention and crime fighting, youth drug prevention, and community safety enhancement, ensuring that citizens can continue to thrive in a safe living environment. The competition was divided into four categories, namely junior primary school, senior primary school, junior secondary school and senior secondary school. Over 1700 students from nearly 160 schools participated, and over 1 300 submissions were received. The list of winning teams has been uploaded onto the JPC website.
     
         To further encourage the younger generation to engage with innovation and technology, some winners introduced the creative ideas and stories behind their works at the award presentation ceremony. An I&T carnival was also held and featured a workshop on simulated evidence collection at crime scenes and a number of virtual reality games, allowing participants to learn about the work of the Police, while experiencing the fun of technology.
     
         This is the fourth consecutive year that the JPC has organised the competition which combines experiential learning and policing elements to nurture future young leaders to join hands in preventing and combating crime. The competition was supported by the Education Bureau, the Innovation, Technology and Industry Bureau, the Digital Policy Office, the Association of I.T. Leaders in Education, the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute, the Hong Kong Computer Society, the Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, the Hong Kong Extra-curricular Activities Masters’ Association, the Hong Kong New Emerging Technology Education Association, the Hong Kong Productivity Council, the Hong Kong STEM Education Alliance and the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation.
    Issued at HKT 16:45

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Character of Lord Rama has provided the Energy and Direction to sustain the flow of Indian Culture: Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

    Source: Government of India

    Character of Lord Rama has provided the Energy and Direction to sustain the flow of Indian Culture: Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

    Ayodhya was Ancient India’s Soft Power: Shri Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor, Jammu & Kashmir

    Three-day cultural celebration ‘Ayodhya Parv’ commenced with grandeur at IGNCA

    Posted On: 11 APR 2025 10:30PM by PIB Delhi

    The three-day cultural celebration ‘Ayodhya Parv’ commenced with grandeur at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), marked by the inauguration of three remarkable exhibitions—one featuring Padma Shri Vasudev Kamath’s paintings based on ‘Maryada Purushottam’ (Lord Ram), a display of Pahari miniature paintings based on the ‘Valmiki Ramayana’, and a thematic exhibition titled ‘Badi Hai Ayodhya’ that portrays the pilgrimage landscape of Chaurasi Kos Ayodhya.

    The exhibitions were jointly inaugurated by the revered Mahant Pujya Kamal Nayan Das Ji Maharaj of Mani Ram Das Chhawani, Ayodhya; Geeta Manishi Mahamandaleshwar Pujya Gyananand Ji Maharaj; Shri Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu & Kashmir; Shri Ram Bahadur Rai, President of IGNCA; and IGNCA Trustee and artist Shri Vasudev Kamath. Following the inauguration, each dignitary shared their reflections on the spiritual and cultural eminence of Lord Ram and Ayodhya. Three books were also released during the inaugural session. Union Minister of Culture and Tourism Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat visited and viewed the exhibitions on the occasion.

    On this occasion, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat extended his congratulations to IGNCA and the Ayodhya Nyas for organising the ‘Ayodhya Parv’ and wished the event great success. He remarked that the character of Lord Rama has not only inspired Indian thought and individuals working across diverse fields, but has also provided the energy and direction necessary to sustain the continuous flow of Indian culture. He noted that during the most difficult period of cultural invasion by foreign aggressors, Goswami Tulsidas composed the ‘Ramcharitmanas’ in the language of the common people, connecting with the collective consciousness of ordinary individuals. This, he said, made a significant contribution to preserving the essence of Sanatan culture. Since the reinstallation of the Ram Mandir and the return of Ram Lalla to Ayodhya Dham, it appears as though the sun of India’s destiny has begun to rise once again.

    The cultural proceedings commenced with an enthralling Mridang performance by Rajkumar Jha and his fellow artists Vinod Vyas and Shri Pankaj. This was followed by devotional renditions by Pragya Pathak, Vinod Vyas, Saket Sharan Mishra, and accompanying vocalists, which captivated the audience.

    Speaking about the inauguration of the newly reconstructed Shri Ram Janmabhoomi temple on 22 January, Shri Manoj Sinha remarked, “I view 22 January not merely as a date but as a bridge that connects the past to the present in a significant manner.” He added, “This is not just the revival of an ancient city and pilgrimage site, but a spiritual awakening experienced by India across centuries. I believe the significance of Ayodhya transcends geography—it is the key to joy and awakening, the symbol of our cultural unity, and a guiding spiritual force. Ayodhya has long served as a cultural and spiritual foundation of our nation.”

    Addressing the youth, he noted, “Ayodhya offers not only a spiritual pinnacle but also clearly embodies the values and aspirations of the individual. Lord Ram, in the context of Ram Rajya, is viewed as an embodiment of development, courage, justice, and a living dharma. Though he appeared in the Treta Yuga, he remains a visionary figure of good governance.” Shri Sinha further noted that India today runs the world’s largest social security programme.

    Earlier, IGNCA President Shri Ram Bahadur Rai outlined the structure of the Ayodhya Parv and remarked that the message of Ayodhya is increasingly being preserved through books and journals. Referring to the released book ‘Chaurasi Kos ka Ayodhya’, he said, “While physical Ayodhya may be defined by 84 kos, the spiritual Ayodhya is infinite, like the sky.” Geeta Manishi Pujya Gyananand Ji stated that India is a land of traditions, and festivals hold a special place in these traditions. “India is not merely a geographic entity—it is a philosophy, a thought,” he said. Pujya Mahant Kamal Nayan Das Ji questioned, “In which verse of the Vedas is untouchability or discrimination mentioned?” He emphasised that knowledge cannot be complete without social harmony. The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks by former Faizabad MP Shri Lallu Singh.

    Notably, the Ayodhya Parv, dedicated to the splendour of Indian culture, art, and devotion centred around Ayodhya, will continue for two more days, featuring a range of dialogues and cultural presentations. This three-day cultural festival is envisioned as a confluence of reverence, classicism, and discourse, bringing together saints, cultural thinkers, political leaders, scholars, and artists from across the country.

    On the second day, 12 April, at 11 a.m., a seminar titled ‘Temple Management in Indian Society’ will be held, featuring prominent saints from Ayodhya along with administrative and cultural experts. On the same day, another session will explore ‘Goswami Tulsidas Ji’s Contribution to Innovations in Indian Culture’. Scholars from across India will present their insights during both sessions. The evening cultural programme will include solo tabla recitals and Kathak and Bharatanatyam performances by Richa Tripathi and accompanying artists.

    On the final day, 13 April at 11 a.m., a symposium on ‘Shri Ram in the Essays of Kubernath Ray’will be conducted with the participation of renowned Hindi literary scholars. The concluding ceremony will feature the presence of Pujya Govind Dev Giri Ji Maharaj, Treasurer of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust; Shri Narendra Singh Tomar, Speaker of the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly; IGNCA President Shri Ram Bahadur Rai; Prof. Ramesh Chandra Gaur, Dean (Administration) and Head of Kala Nidhi Division at IGNCA; and eminent artist Shri Sunil Vishwakarma. The event will culminate with Alha singing by Faujdar Singh and group, and folk songs by celebrated singer Vijaya Bharti.

    ‘Ayodhya Parv 2025’ is a unique endeavour to rejuvenate Indian art, spirituality, and values, being realised in the capital city through the collaboration of IGNCA and Shri Ayodhya Nyas. This celebration seeks to revive the roots of Indian ethos nurtured through the ‘Ramayana’ and the verses of Tulsidas.

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    Sunil Kumar Tiwari

    pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

    (Release ID: 2121123) Visitor Counter : 12

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Kai Tak Sports Park concertgoers should use public transport and stay alert to unstable weather

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Kai Tak Sports Park concertgoers should use public transport and stay alert to unstable weather
    MTR:     Special bus routes:Hong Kong Island: Causeway Bay, Wan Chai, Admiralty, Central, Tai Koo, Shau Kei Wan, Siu Sai Wan;
    Kowloon: Mong Kok, Kwun Tong;
    New Territories East: Tai Po, Fanling, Sheung Shui, Tseung Kwan O;
    New Territories West: Tuen Mun, Yuen Long, Tin Shui Wai, Kwai Chung, Tsuen Wan, Tsing Yi;
          Taxis:     Spectators are advised to take heed of the real-time information via the on-site broadcast and the “Easy Leave” platform (easyleave.police.gov.hkIssued at HKT 19:06

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CAS holds open day at its headquarters to promote National Security Education Day

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    In support of National Security Education Day, the Civil Aid Service (CAS) held the National Security Education Day and Civil Aid Service Headquarters Open Day at its headquarters today (April 12) to raise public awareness of national security and showcase CAS achievements.

    The Permanent Secretary for Security, Mr Patrick Li, officiated at the kick-off ceremony of the open day. In his speech, Mr Li said that April 15 this year marks the 10th National Security Education Day. He said the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government not only promotes national security in a broader and deeper manner but also strengthens citizens’ awareness and sense of responsibility in upholding national security. He said that society should shoulder the responsibility of safeguarding national security, making every citizen a guardian of it.
     
         He expressed his gratitude to the CAS for its contributions to social security. He said the CAS spares no effort in disaster rescue, public order, public safety promotion and national security education, and its achievements are evident to all.
     
         The Chief Staff Officer of the CAS, Mr Leung Kwun-hong, said the CAS had organised visits by Cadet Corps to various cities on the Mainland and exchanges with local youths to understand the importance of national security and the latest developments on the Mainland. He said over 200 cadets participated in five exchange visits in Mainland China and Macao during the summer holiday last year. Mr Leung noted that during each tour, the cadets realised they share the same mission and responsibility as the Chinese people, fostering a sense of identity that will unite them.

    Over 3 000 visitors joined the open day, which featured an exciting programme of activities, adding to the lively atmosphere.

    Apart from viewing the national security exhibition and a display of award-winning entries from the Love for China Chinese essay competition, visitors also enjoyed the emergency and mountain search-and-rescue demonstration, foot drill performance, music performance, and a bicycle show by CAS members. In addition, the Deputy Commissioner (Development and Youth) of the CAS, Dr Wong Kong-tin gave talk to explain the importance of national security for Hong Kong’s prosperity and stability.

    The CAS will continue to uphold the principle of “one country, two systems” and safeguard national security while adhering to the spirit of “Serving the Community with Passion, Courage and Commitment” to build a better home for Hong Kong people.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Red flag hoisted at Shek O Beach

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Attention TV/radio announcers:

    Please broadcast the following as soon as possible:

    Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

    The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (April 12) that due to big waves, the red flag has been hoisted at Shek O Beach in Southern District, Hong Kong Island. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at the beach.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Correctional officers stop remand person in custody from committing suicide by hanging

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    ​Correctional officers stopped a 38-year-old male remand person in custody from committing suicide by hanging in Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre today (April 12).

    At 12.03pm today, a correctional officer found the remand person in custody attempting suicide in the toilet of a dayroom by hanging with a pair of trousers tied to a window grille. The officer immediately rescued him and called for reinforcements. The remand person in custody was found unconscious and was subsequently sent to a public hospital for further treatment. The case has been reported to the Police.

    A spokesman for the Correctional Services Department said, “The department uses all possible measures to prevent persons in custody from attempting suicide or self-harm. These measures include administrative arrangements, improvement of institution facilities, staff training and first-aid services.”

    The person in custody was remanded for the offence of conspiracy to defraud in April 2024.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Lifesaving services suspended at Hap Mun Bay Beach

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Attention TV/Radio announcers:

    Please broadcast the following as soon as possible and repeat it at regular intervals:

         Here is an item of interest to swimmers.

         The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (April 12) that as lifeguards are unable to go to Hap Mun Bay Beach in Sai Kung District by ferries due to rough sea conditions, lifesaving services at the beach has been suspended. Beachgoers are advised not to swim at this beach until further notice.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: New Fanling On Lok Mun Street Playground opens today (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The reprovisioned On Lok Mun Street Playground in Fanling opened today (April 12), providing the public with a variety of extreme sports facilities that meet international standards.

         The new On Lok Mun Street Playground covers an area of over 3 800 square metres, containing a skatepark of some 1 600 sq m that features extreme sports facilities, including a bowl course and a street course, suitable for players of different skill levels to practise tricks. As certified by World Skate, the bowl and street facilities are of international standards. The playground is designed and constructed by the Civil Engineering and Development Department, and is managed by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD).

         Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Director of Civil Engineering and Development, Mr Michael Fong, said that the reprovisioning and upgrading of the On Lok Mun Street Playground was undertaken in active response to the growing popularity of skateboarding following the Tokyo Olympics and the community’s aspirations for facilities meeting international standards. He noted that the new venue was designed and constructed to align with international standards and has successfully obtained certification from World Skate.

    Mr Fong added that the project team overcame challenges during implementation, including adjustment of works sequence to accommodate the construction of the Fanling Bypass Eastern Section and the impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. Adhering to a ‘people-first’ principle, the team maintained close communication with community stakeholders, provided a temporary practice venue, and employed innovative construction methods and meticulous craftsmanship to successfully complete the skatepark.
     
         At the opening ceremony, a total of 12 professional extreme sports athletes from different regions gave impressive demonstrations. Amongst them are the World Skate Asia Scooter Technical Committee member, Ma Xiangyu, who is from Mainland China; Cheng Tze-wang, who has represented Hong Kong to participate in many overseas aggressive inline skating competitions; and Soichiro Kanashima, who is a Japanese professional aggressive inline skater.

         The original On Lok Mun Street Playground was demolished in February 2023 to facilitate the implementation of the Fanling Bypass (Eastern Section) project. It has been reprovisioned at a site about 150 metres north of the original site, with the entrance on the Lung Yeuk Tau section of Sha Tau Kok Road, near the North District Temporary Wholesale Market for Agricultural Products. In addition to its extreme sports facilities, the playground is also equipped with toilets and changing rooms, arbours and garden benches.

         The opening hours of the playground are from 8am to 10pm daily, while the opening hours of the skatepark may be adjusted due to weather conditions. The skatepark will be closed from 8am to noon on the first and third Mondays of each month for regular maintenance. Those who plan to visit the playground can take a minibus to the Wo Mun Street Minibus Terminus at Luen Wo Hui, followed by a roughly 10-minute walk through Luen Wo Hui Community Hall, or take a bus or minibus to Lung Yeuk Tau and then walk for about five minutes to the venue.

         For any enquiries, please contact the North District Leisure Services Office of the LCSD at 2679 2819 or visit the LCSD website (www.lcsd.gov.hk/en/index.html).

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister of State for Finance Shri Pankaj Chaudhary hands over Rs. 515.31 crore to Asset Disposal Committee Chairman Justice D.K. Seth (Retd.) for restitution of properties to legitimate investors in Rose Valley Ponzi scam

    Source: Government of India

    Union Minister of State for Finance Shri Pankaj Chaudhary hands over Rs. 515.31 crore to Asset Disposal Committee Chairman Justice D.K. Seth (Retd.) for restitution of properties to legitimate investors in Rose Valley Ponzi scam

    Restitution of Rs. 515.31 crore to approximately 7.5 lakh victims out of total claims of 31 lakh registered with Asset Disposal Committee; Rs. 22 crore has already been restored to 32,319 lawful investors by the ADC

    Rs. 515.31 crore was attached by ED in the years 2015-17 by investigating money trail and tracing 2,987 different bank accounts

    Posted On: 12 APR 2025 1:20PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister of State for Finance Shri Pankaj Chaudhary handed over a Demand Draft of Rs. 515.31 crore today to Justice D.K. Seth (Retd.), Chairman of the Asset Disposal Committee formed for the purpose of restitution of properties to legitimate investors in Rose Valley Ponzi scam.

    Shri Rahul Navin, Director, ED and other senior officials of the government were also present on the occasion.

     

    It is estimated that this amount will be used to restitute money to approximately 7.5 lakh victims out of the total claims of 31 lakh lodged so far with Asset Disposal Committee. Earlier, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) had handed over an amount of Rs. 22 crore to the ADC which was used to restitute money to 32,319 lawful investors.

    The amount of Rs. 515.31 crore was attached by ED in the years 2015-17 by investigating money trail and tracing 2,987 different bank accounts where the money collected from innocent victims had traversed. The said bank accounts were then seized/ attached following due process of law and converted into more than 700 Fixed Deposits (FDs) after confirmation of attachment by the Adjudicating Authority. It may be mentioned that ED has also attached other movable and immovable assets of Rs. 1,172 crore (present market value of the assets is estimated to be more than Rs. 2,000 crore), which is also in process of liquidation and refund to the victims.

    ED is investigating five (5) Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cases against the Rose Valley Group in the states of West Bengal, Odisha, Assam and Tripura. ED has filed prosecution complaints in all these cases before the Special Courts under PMLA.

    Investigation under PMLA revealed that Rose Valley Group companies, had collected funds of Rs. 17,520 crore by luring people mostly from the lowest strata of society with promises of providing land parcels or time sharing in hotels and in the event of inability to deliver the land/time sharing, refund with high rate of interest was promised on maturity of investments. Investigation has revealed that out of the above, an amount of Rs. 6,666 crore, which constitutes the proceeds of crime, remained unpaid to the investors.

    This is one of the single largest investigation of this type undertaken by the ED, and an order passed by the Special court (PMLA) at Khurda, Bhubaneswar, on 29.03.2025 has paved the way for the return of investors’ money all over the country through the Asset Disposal Committee (ADC).

    It is pertinent to mention that on the direction of the Hon’ble High Court of Calcutta, an Asset Disposal Committee (ADC) was constituted under the Chairmanship of Justice Dillip Kr. Seth (Retd.), High Court of Calcutta with ED and others as members for restitution of properties to the lawful investors of Rose Valley Group Ponzi Scam.

     

    ED has played a crucial role in attachment, possession and disbursement of assets of the Rose Valley Group thereby smoothening and expediting the restitution of properties to the lakhs of victims of the States of West Bengal, Odisha, Assam, Tripura etc. Till now, around 31 Lakh investors of Rose Valley Group have registered their claim on the website www.rosevalleyadc.com. ED is also providing assistance to the ADC in conducting survey and valuation of confirmed attached properties and facilitating expeditious monetisation of the assets for timely disbursal of the same to the investors/victims of Rose Valley Group of Companies.

    Further, the restitution process is expected to continue in full swing over the coming months as more claims are being scrutinised and validated by the ADC.

    The instant restitution is in line with the commitment of the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, to return the money looted from poor people. The Prime Minister of India has consistently emphasised the urgent need to recover and return funds misappropriated from the poor and innocent citizens of the country, and has repeatedly stressed that money siphoned off through fraudulent means must be rightfully restored to those who have been cheated in Ponzi schemes.

    The Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs has also reiterated that the Government’s commitment for restitution of assets attached by ED to the victims/ rightful owners and made a statement in Parliament to this effect.

    The ED is actively pursuing investigations in cases of financial fraud, with a firm commitment to ensure that the proceeds of crime are not only traced and confiscated but also put immediately to productive use for the economy by being restored to the victims who have suffered financial loss. The ED continues to act decisively in such matters, reinforcing public trust and contributing to the larger goal of a corruption-free and transparent financial system.

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    NB/KMN

    (Release ID: 2121170) Visitor Counter : 77

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya to Lead ‘Jai Bhim Padyatra’ in Patna, Bihar Tomorrow

    Source: Government of India

    Union Minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya to Lead ‘Jai Bhim Padyatra’ in Patna, Bihar Tomorrow

    Similar Padyatras Honouring Dr. Ambedkar’s Legacy to Take Place Simultaneously Across All Major State Capitals in India on 13th April

    Posted On: 12 APR 2025 3:56PM by PIB Delhi

    To commemorate the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports and Labour & Employment, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya will lead ‘Jai Bhim Padyatra’ in Patna, Bihar on 13th April 2025 where over 10,000 MY Bharat volunteers are expected to participate.

    Similar padyatras will take place simultaneously across all major state capitals in India. This marks the first time a nationwide padyatra is being conducted across state capitals, uniting thousands of youth in a collective tribute to Babasaheb’s vision of equality, justice, and fraternity.

    The padyatra in Patna will begin from the iconic Gandhi Maidan, proceeding along a vibrant, culturally rich route that will feature Tribute Corners with Ambedkar’s quotes, live art and street performances on social reform, pledge points for youth, and musical-theatrical acts inspired by his legacy.

    The key highlights of the ‘Jai Bhim Padyatra’ include a nationwide Preamble reading by MY Bharat volunteers and statue cleaning drives at Ambedkar memorials across all districts, symbolizing a united commitment to constitutional values and civic responsibility.

    Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs & Sports, Smt. Raksha Khadse will lead the padyatra in Mumbai, Maharashtra, with thousands of MY Bharat volunteers and citizens participating.

    To amplify youth participation and foster civic awareness, pre-padyatra activities are underway in every district of India, including statue cleaning and floral tributes, along with essay writing, debate, painting, and slogan competitions in schools and colleges.

    The ‘Jai Bhim Padyatra’ is the ninth in a series of 24 padyatras to be organized as part of the celebration of 75 years of the Indian Constitution. Each padyatra under this campaign is a symbolic journey, connecting today’s youth to the values of justice, equality, liberty, and fraternity.

    The Ministry invites all youth across India to be part of this transformative movement by registering on the MY Bharat Portal (www.mybharat.gov.in) and participating in this proud march for democracy, dignity, and unity.

    ******

    Himanshu Pathak

    (Release ID: 2121208) Visitor Counter : 61

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PM condoles the passing of Shri Daripalli Ramaiah

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 12 APR 2025 1:09PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today condoled the passing of Shri Daripalli Ramaiah. He hailed him as a champion of sustainability, who devoted his life to planting and protecting lakhs of trees.

    He wrote in a post on X:

    “Daripalli Ramaiah Garu will be remembered as a champion of sustainability. He devoted his life to planting and protecting lakhs of trees. His tireless efforts reflected a deep love for nature and care for future generations. His work will keep motivating our youth in their quest to build a greener planet. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this sad hour. Om Shanti.”

     

     

    ***

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2121169) Visitor Counter : 62

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PM condoles the passing of Kumudini Lakhia

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 12 APR 2025 3:39PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi today condoled the passing of Kumudini Lakhia. He hailed her as an outstanding cultural icon, whose passion towards Kathak and Indian classical dances was reflected in her remarkable work.

    He wrote in a post on X:

    “Deeply saddened by the passing of Kumudini Lakhia ji, who made a mark as an outstanding cultural icon. Her passion towards Kathak and Indian classical dances was reflected in her remarkable work over the years. A true pioneer, she also nurtured generations of dancers. Her contributions will continue to be cherished. Condolences to her family, students and admirers. Om Shanti.”

     

     

    ***

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2121203) Visitor Counter : 123

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by SLW at Symposium of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Talent Development Showcase (English only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Following is the speech by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Chris Sun, at the Symposium of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) Talent Development Showcase in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, today (April 12):

    Datuk Ng (President of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia, Mr Ng Yih-pyng), Datuk Yap (Vice President of the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia, Mr Yap Heng-or), Professor Dr Andriyana (Director of International Relations Centre of Universiti Malaya, Professor Dr Andri Andriyana), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

         Good morning to you all, 早晨 (good morning in Cantonese), 早上好 (good morning in Mandarin). I am really pleased to join you today at this Symposium as we celebrate our enduring friendship between Hong Kong and Malaysia. Clearly this is a relationship built on family ties, cultural bonds, and I am sure, a shared prosperity. And by shared prosperity, I am coming today not just with my own Government team, I am also coming together with hosts of companies, many of them are household names. 

         Let me just cite some of them, including the HSBC, Bank of China, Huawei, China Lights and Power, Manulife, MTR, PCCW, the Sino Group, the Sun Hung Kai Properties, the Chow Tai Fook Life, and also together with me the accompanies of Governemnt officials from Guangdong and Macao. We are coming here together as a big team to Malyasia.

         Clearly, as I can experience in the past two days, when I am in this great city, our special bond is all around us, be it through cultural language, as I keep on hearing Cantonese, Mandarin, English and other languages that I could not comprehend but I know is very prevalent here in Malaysia. Everyday, your professionalism across all sectors helped build to what you are today. 

         Let me give you a few figures of the very close ties between Hong Kong and Malaysia. In 2024, Malaysia was Hong Kong’s eighth largest trading partner, and ranked third in terms of trade in goods with Hong Kong among the ten ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Member States.
         
         Clearly, this synergy between us extends further through broader co-operation, and that co-operation is between our mother country China, and Malaysia. The trade linked between China and Malyasia totals US$200 billion. This is a hugely successful trade partnership that brings both benefits to China and Malaysia. And of course, Malaysia is a very important key supporter of the Belt and Road Initiative, demonstrating clearly the lasting friendship, the support and also the vote of confidence Malaysia has given us over the Belt and Road. 

         Together, we are building stronger co-operation that transforms businesses, industries, and lives of people. Through the Belt and Road Initiative as well as China-ASEAN co-operation, we have created thousands of jobs, pioneered groundbreaking technologies, and delivered transformative infrastructure projects like the 665-kilometre East Coast Rail Link uniting the Peninsular Malaysia, and the future-facing Malacca Gateway Port set to become Asia’s next great maritime hub.

         The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), as the world’s largest trade bloc, provides new platforms for Malaysian entrepreneurs and Chinese innovators to grow together. Now we stand at the dawn of an exciting new chapter, as we just saw from the video, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, well-known in abbreviation, the GBA.

         The GBA has a population of nearly 90 million. Hong Kong is uniquely situated and positioned in this exciting area to serve dual roles. First of all, as China’s gateway to Southeast Asia, and also as Malaysia’s springboard to the vast opportunities within China’s domestic markets.

         As a “super connector” between Mainland China and Malaysia, Hong Kong leverages its unique geographic position, institutional strengths, and cultural advantages.

         Like Malaysia, Hong Kong is multilingual, fluent in Cantonese, English and Mandarin, this ensures a very smooth integration of Malaysian talent coming to Hong Kong. With world-class universities in both Hong Kong and Malaysia, we are intensifying our joint research efforts in transformative fields like AI (artificial intelligence) and biotechnology.

         To further strengthen this ecosystem, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government has recently established a high level Committee, which is chaired by the Chief Secretary for Administration, the Committee on Education, Technology and Talents last year. I am the one providing full support to the Chief Secretary. 

         The Committee’s aim is to align with Hong Kong’s strategic positioning in “eight centres” developments. We are accelerating our transformation into a global innovation and technology hub while reinforcing our well-established pillars in finance, shipping and trade.

         The vision of the Committee is clear: to build Hong Kong into an international hub for high-calibre talent, while supporting the Greater Bay Area’s high-quality development.

         In the following session, our partners will showcase how businesses and professionals can succeed throughout Hong Kong and the entire GBA cities.

         As a last remark, as the rules-based global trade order we have known and taken for granted for decades, is being shattered by the global force of the tariff war that is still unfolding before our eyes. It seems that the only certainty of the future is uncertainty. At this moment of great turmoil and uncertainties, I think it’s all the more important for us to rely more on the trust and friendship between good friends, and this is what Hong Kong and Malaysia are. I am certain if we hold and join hands together, we are going to weather the storm, grow and strive together, in that process we will create wealth and forge new ground, this is certain. 

         With all these remarks, I wish the Symposium a great success, and I hope for all the young people here, if you are looking for development opportunities in Hong Kong and the GBA, there is nothing more important than going to the Career Fair concurrently held at the showcase, where there are hundreds of jobs awaiting you.

         Thank you very much.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Top unis have imposed new restrictions on campus protests. What does this mean for students, staff and democracy?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joo-Cheong Tham, Professor, Melbourne Law School, The University of Melbourne

    A wave of restrictions on protesting has been rippling through Australia’s top universities.

    Over the past year, all of Australia’s eight top research universities (the Group of Eight) have individually increased restrictions on campus protests.

    The changes include bans on indoor protests and restrictions on banners, posters and student announcements. At some campuses, groups need to give notice or obtain university approval if they are going to protest.

    Why has this happened and what does it mean for protests, free speech and democracy at Australian universities?

    Why are university protests important?

    Over the past 60 years, campus protests have been a defining feature of Australian university life.

    In the 1960s and ‘70s, they were a breeding ground for social protest, including rallies against apartheid and the Vietnam War, and in favour of women’s rights. In more recent years, students have protested on key social, political and environmental issues, from university fees to the invasion of Iraq and climate action.

    This protest history feeds into the broader purposes of universities. Universities act as a modern-day “public square”. This means they are a place where ideas can be freely debated and difficult issues can be explored. In this way, they act as a key component of a free and healthy democracy.

    As Victorian university legislation notes, universities should promote

    critical and free enquiry, informed intellectual discourse and public debate within the University and in the wider society.

    Rally and draft burning by students at the University of Sydney in 1968.
    Image courtesy of the SEARCH Foundation, from the collections of the State Library of New South Wales., CC BY

    Restricting protests for campus safety

    Since early 2024, there have been increasing restrictions on campus protests.

    These come in the wake of the months-long encampments protesting the war in Gaza – and ensuing concerns over antisemitism at universities and campus safety.

    They have also coincided with increased public scrutiny over university governance. This includes accusations vice-chancellors are running a “lawless sector,” pointing to underpayment of staff, high levels of executive pay and criticism of the way some universities managed the protests.

    What have universities done?

    In this heightened context, universities have increased restrictions on campus protests, arguing they are needed for safety.

    Universities have taken various measures. For example, the University of Western Australia has restricted student announcements in class (or “lecture-bashing”).

    To ensure safety and wellbeing, student announcements are not permitted at the commencement of lectures or other teaching and learning activities.

    The University of Adelaide has banned student encampments and indoor protests.

    The changes across the Group of Eight mean students announcing a rally for climate action in class now risk disciplinary action at some universities. Sit-ins calling on universities to divest from weapon companies are no longer permitted at others. At some campuses, union members going to stop-work meetings to protest staff cuts could be engaging in employee misconduct.

    The legal basis of the restrictions

    Australian universities are typically set up under state legislation and through this have broad powers to regulate campus protests.

    They can impose obligations on students through university rules and direct their staff as employers. They can determine who is allowed to enter and remain on campus through their powers to manage land they either own or control.

    Universities in South Australia and Victoria also have powers under state legislation to make university statutes and regulations.

    The protest restrictions have relied on a mix of these powers.

    Could these changes be challenged?

    But these restrictions are also subject to enterprise agreements made under the federal Fair Work Act which protect academic and intellectual freedom. For example, the University of Sydney’s enterprise agreement entitles staff to:

    • express opinions about the operation of the university and higher education policy in general

    • express unpopular or controversial views, provided that in doing so staff must not engage in harassment, vilification or intimidation.

    There is also the implied right of freedom of political communication under the Australian Constitution.

    This means both the Fair Work Act and Constitution may provide grounds for a legal challenge to many of these new restrictions. The High Court has previously ruled restrictions on protest must be proportionate and necessary for preventing harm and damage.

    The protest restrictions also implicate various human rights. Under international law, which Australia has ratified, staff and students have freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly. As workers, staff have freedom of association through trade unions, including the right to organise.

    Many of these measures would seem to restrict activities where there is no or little threat to safety. In some cases, there are arguably excessive and disproportionate means to ensure safety.

    What will happen now?

    Some university students, staff and unions have opposed these protest restrictions.

    But there is a balancing to be struck here. Other students and staff have not felt safe on campus and in class and have called for more safety protections. This has particularly been the case for those from Jewish backgrounds.

    Given the doubts over their legality, court challenges may be on the horizon. It is also possible some groups will actively test these restrictions.

    But we may see a chilling effect on university activism and protests, when individuals would otherwise speak their minds on campus. Some staff may be worried they will lose their jobs. Students may be also worried about academic penalties or expulsion and the impact on their future careers.

    This undermines universities as a place where people talk, debate and test ideas as a key part of the learning and research process – and a vital component of our democracy.

    Joo-Cheong Tham has been an employee of the University of Melbourne for more than two decades. During this time, he has participated in campus protests at the university that would now be banned by the university’s protest restrictions.

    He is the Victorian Division Assistant Secretary (Academic Staff) of the National Tertiary Education Union; a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia; a Director of the Centre for Public Integrity; and an Expert Network Member of Climate Integrity.

    Joo-Cheong has received funding from the Australian Research Council, the Australian Council of Trade Unions, European Trade Union Institute, International IDEA, the New South Wales Electoral Commission, the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption and the Victorian Electoral Commission.

    – ref. Top unis have imposed new restrictions on campus protests. What does this mean for students, staff and democracy? – https://theconversation.com/top-unis-have-imposed-new-restrictions-on-campus-protests-what-does-this-mean-for-students-staff-and-democracy-253627

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Most bike lanes in inner Melbourne have less than 40% tree cover – that’ll get worse, new maps show

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Judy Bush, Senior DECRA Research Fellow, The University of Melbourne

    Unshaded cycling paths mean heat exposure on hot days, particularly for the afternoon commute. Judy Bush, CC BY

    Walking and cycling is good for people and the planet. But hot sunny days can make footpaths, bike lanes and city streets unbearable. Climate change will only make matters worse.

    So city planners and decision-makers need to provide adequate shade for walking, cycling and other forms of active transport – including from good tree canopy cover.

    Unfortunately, our recent research reveals Melbourne’s transport strategy and its separate strategy to increase canopy cover from 22% to 40% by 2040 aren’t currently working together.

    Our research found most bicycle lanes in inner Melbourne today have less than 40% canopy cover. And as the maps below show, future bicycle lanes will have even less. There’s plenty of room for improvement.

    Searching for shady lanes

    We used the City of Melbourne as a case study to explore bikeability, tree cover and health.

    The city council area covers 37 square kilometres, taking in suburbs from leafy Parkville to industrial Fishermans Bend.

    When we mapped tree canopy cover against the active transport network, we found most bicycle lanes have less than 40% canopy cover. Some cycling corridors – such as along Royal Parade and parts of St Kilda Road – stand out with relatively high canopy cover. But they are few and far between.

    Existing bike lanes

    Most bicycle lanes in the City of Melbourne have less than 40% tree cover.
    Crystal Tang

    And it’s about to get worse.

    Bicycle lanes proposed for construction have lower overall tree canopy coverage than existing lanes, particularly in urban renewal areas in post-industrial precincts such as Fishermans Bend and Docklands.

    Along Royal Parade and St Kilda Road corridors, additional bicycle lanes are proposed next to existing lanes. However, in current conditions, the proposed new bicycle lanes have lower canopy coverage than existing bicycle lanes along the same corridor.

    Proposed bike lanes

    Proposed future bicycle lanes have even less tree cover than existing bike lanes.
    Crystal Tang

    The city’s strategies don’t match up

    We also examined the city’s transport and urban forest strategies. The latter includes the council’s ambitious goal to increase canopy cover to 40% by 2040.

    We found both the transport and urban forest policies recognise that they can contribute to the health and wellbeing of city residents, workers and visitors. They also acknowledge the health risks associated with lack of physical activity, such as heart disease, lung disease and diabetes. But there are key gaps.

    The transport strategy broadly refers to climate change, but does not mention urban heat.

    In contrast, addressing urban heat is one of the main stated aims of the urban forest strategy. But there’s only a passing reference to encouraging outdoor activity and exercise.

    There are signs though that this may be changing – in 2022, Melbourne has joined a handful of other cities worldwide in appointing chief heat officers to focus planning and action for cooler cities.

    Planning for more trees

    Trees need sufficient space for healthy growth. This includes space below ground for a strong and stable root system as well as room to grow up and spread out.

    For street trees, extra care must be taken to facilitate this growth. The locations of other infrastructure, both above- and below-ground, need to be taken into account.

    Smaller trees may be more appropriate in some urban areas, particularly where overhead powerlines require clearance, but obviously these trees will provide less canopy. Likewise, healthy tree root development can be disrupted by underground services, unless high quality soil and sufficient space is allocated.

    To ensure trees are still thriving in 50 or even 100 years time, planners also need to select species that can withstand hotter and drier conditions.

    What a difference shade makes

    Street trees cool urban areas by shading surfaces and releasing water into the air. This can lower air temperatures by 1-2°C. But the temperature difference on the ground can be even more substantial. Asphalt can be anywhere from 13°C–20°C cooler under dense tree canopy shade.

    Reducing the amount of heat roads and other hard surfaces absorb eases what’s known as the urban heat island effect, in which cities experience warmer temperatures than green spaces.

    Climate change is increasing the frequency and duration of heatwaves. This adds to the pressure on Australia’s health services, including ambulances and emergency departments. If current rates of climate change continue, Victorians are likely to experience twice the annual number of very hot days by the 2050s, compared with 1985-2005.

    All of this means walking or riding in the absence of shade can expose people to heat-related illness and even premature death.

    Canopy trees create cooler cycling conditions.
    Judy Bush

    Better planning for liveable cities

    Our research shows planning policies must work together more effectively for liveable cities. This is particularly important when it comes to building new infrastructure such as roads, bicycle lanes and footpaths.

    Proactively planning for more trees in these spaces can promote healthy tree growth, with benefits for human health in cooler cities.

    And while we can plant trees next to bike lanes for future shade, the need to protect cyclists from heat now means we should locate bike lanes along existing shaded streets.

    City planners and decision-makers need to ensure the places we live, work and play are designed to promote active transport. That means ensuring transport routes align with our urban forest.

    Acknowledgements: thanks to Bachelor of Design, Urban Planning (Honours) student Crystal Tang who carried out the research that underpins this article.

    Judy Bush is the recipient of a Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (2024-27) from the Australian Research Council. She is a member of the Planning Institute of Australia and the Ecological Society of Australia.
    Crystal Tang undertook the data collection and analysis as part of her B.Des (Hons), supervised by Judy.

    – ref. Most bike lanes in inner Melbourne have less than 40% tree cover – that’ll get worse, new maps show – https://theconversation.com/most-bike-lanes-in-inner-melbourne-have-less-than-40-tree-cover-thatll-get-worse-new-maps-show-253222

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Think your specialist is expensive? Look at what others are paying

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Yuting Zhang, Professor of Health Economics, The University of Melbourne

    PeopleImages.com – Yuri A/Shutterstock

    Seeing a medical specialist can leave you with significant out-of-pocket costs. Yet political parties have not adequately addressed this in their pre-election bids.

    Labor has promised A$7 million to expand the government’s Medical Costs Finder website, which potentially allows you to compare specialists’ fees. But it hasn’t outlined a policy to lower these fees. The Coalition and the Greens have not addressed specialists’ fees directly.

    During a cost-of-living crisis, this is a major omission.

    Specialists’ fees are high, vary across specialties and across geographical regions.

    That’s what we found when we used actual Medicare data to map costs across Australia to see a specialist doctor.

    What we did and what we found

    We used data from the national 2023 Medicare Benefits Schedule (or MBS) accessed from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. We calculated mean (average) fees charged by doctors in 17 specialties for initial face-to-face appointments after a GP referral.

    Under MBS billing rules, different specialties use different item numbers (104 or 110) for an initial consultation. These attracted a different Medicare schedule fee ($91.80 and $161.90, respectively, as of January 2023). These schedule fees are what Medicare considers a fair price for doctors to charge.

    Most patients pay the gap between 85% of the Medicare schedule fee and the specialist’s fee. This is their out-of-pocket cost. But that percentage can differ, depending on the circumstances. So not all patients have the same out-of-pocket costs for the same consultation.

    We only looked at fees charged by private specialists at private clinics. We didn’t include free specialist care in public clinics. Nor did we look at GP fees.

    We then looked at how specialists’ fees varied by patients’ geographical location to create some maps.

    Use the map below to search for mean specialists’ fees and mean out-of-pocket costs for cardiology, rheumatology, neurology, and oral and maxillofacial surgery.

    Fees for the other 13 specialties we looked at are available via maps on the HALE Hub’s Australian Healthcare Atlas website.

    Which specialists charged the most?

    Specialist fees varied substantially. On average, rheumatology had the highest fees, followed by neurology and immunology. Oral and maxillofacial surgery had the lowest fees, followed by general surgery.

    Some specialties used the item number that attracted the $91.80 Medicare schedule fee. But almost all these specialists (except for general surgery) charged more than twice this amount (an average $183.60) in at least 80% of geographical areas.

    Other specialties used the item number that attracted the $161.90 Medicare schedule fee. This included rheumatologists, which charged an average of over $323.80 (twice the schedule fee) in 17.6% of geographical areas. Neurologists charged the same amount in 19.2% of geographical areas.

    Which parts of the country had the highest fees?

    Certain states and territories consistently had higher fees for some specialties. For example:

    • cardiology was most expensive in Western Australia, Australian Capital Territory and Queensland

    • orthopaedics was most expensive in ACT, New South Wales and Queensland

    • obstetrics was most expensive in ACT, WA and NSW.

    High fees matter

    Higher specialists’ fees directly translate to patients’ higher out-of-pocket costs. That’s because Medicare rebates are fixed, and private health insurance does not cover out-of-hospital consultations.

    If patients avoid their initial consultation due to cost, their health can worsen over time, potentially leading to more expensive treatments later.

    Higher specialists’ fees and the barrier to care could also entrench inequalities. That’s because people in lower socioeconomic groups already tend to have worse health.

    What can I do?

    You can use our maps to look at what specialists charge near you. Although the maps use 2023 data and look at average fees and out-of-pocket costs, you can get a general idea. Then you can call specialists’ offices and the receptionist will tell you how much the doctor charges for an initial appointment.

    If there are several referral options, comparing fees will help you make an informed decision about your health care, alongside wait times, geographical location, quality of care and other factors. You can discuss these issues with your GP so they can refer you to the best available specialist for your circumstances.

    What else can we do?

    1. Make fees transparent

    Patients often do not know how much a specialist consultation costs until they arrive at the doctor’s office. GPs typically do not refer to specialists based on their fees and often don’t know them anyway.

    The government’s Medical Costs Finder website relies on doctors voluntarily reporting their fees. But only a few report them.

    If re-elected, the Labor government says it will upgrade the website to display the average fee charged by every eligible specialist (other than GPs) using Medicare data, without asking doctors to spend time inputting their fees.

    This is a welcome move. But the government should also mandate disclosure of fees on the website, which would be more up-to-date than looking back through past Medicare data.

    2. Doctors need more advice, and can help

    Specialists in Australia can charge what they like, and as we’ve found, sometimes way above the Medicare schedule fee.

    But professional medical colleges can provide guides on how to set “reasonable” fees. They can also develop codes of conduct about fee practices, and counsel members who consistently charge high fees.

    Once specialists’ fees are more transparent, GPs can inform patients about fee variations and options for more affordable care.

    3. We need more public clinics

    Government could also open more public clinics that offer free specialist care for those who cannot afford large gap fees in private clinics. This type of investment may be warranted in some low-socioeconomic areas if we’re aiming for all Australians to receive the specialist care they need.

    Yuting Zhang has received funding from the Australian Research Council (future fellowship project ID FT200100630), Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the Victorian Department of Health, National Health and Medical Research Council and Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network. In the past, Professor Zhang has received funding from several US institutes including the US National Institutes of Health, Commonwealth fund, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. She has not received funding from for-profit industry including the private health insurance industry.

    Chenhao Liang 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. Think your specialist is expensive? Look at what others are paying – https://theconversation.com/think-your-specialist-is-expensive-look-at-what-others-are-paying-253628

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –