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Category: Asia

  • UPI impact: India now makes faster payments than any other country, says IMF

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India now leads the world in faster payments, thanks to the widespread adoption of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), according to a recent note from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

    Since its launch in 2016, UPI has witnessed exponential growth, while several indicators of cash usage have shown a declining trend. UPI now processes over 18 billion transactions per month, dominating the electronic retail payments ecosystem in India, the IMF noted in its paper titled “Growing Retail Digital Payments: The Value of Interoperability.”

    UPI is an instant payments platform built on the Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) infrastructure and has revolutionized India’s digital payments landscape. The IMF emphasized that interoperability has significantly enhanced the user experience and driven broader adoption of digital payments.

    “Interoperability directly increases users’ freedom to choose their favourite app, enabling them to take full advantage of the variety and quality of apps available. Interoperability can also facilitate entry by new providers and incentivise existing providers to upgrade their apps, offering indirect benefits to users,” said the IMF note.

    The IMF pointed out that interoperability not only boosts user adoption but also makes digital payments more appealing compared to closed-loop systems, where payments are limited to a single provider’s network.

    The note further added that providing infrastructure for interoperable systems or supporting them through regulation could be a promising strategy for countries aiming to shift from cash-based to digital economies.

    The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) launched the Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) app in late 2016, at a time when UPI usage was minimal and few providers existed in the market.

    “Indeed, BHIM initially accounted for more than half of payer-side total transaction value, prior to the take-off of apps produced by major fintech firms. This highlights the potential catalytic role of direct public provision of payment apps,” according to the IMF note.

    The public sector, the IMF noted, can help overcome coordination failures—such as the lack of user adoption due to limited high-quality apps, and the lack of high-quality apps due to low user adoption—thus kick-starting the ecosystem.

    In terms of performance, UPI volumes in June 2025 recorded a 32% year-on-year growth, while transaction values rose 20% compared to June last year. The number of daily UPI transactions increased to 613 million in June, up from 602 million in May.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • India’s economic growth on track despite global challenges: report

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India’s economic growth continues to remain on track despite global uncertainties, supported by improvements in key high-frequency indicators in both the services and manufacturing sectors, according to a report by Bank of Baroda released on Friday.

    The report notes that consumption has gained momentum in the first quarter (Q1) of FY26 compared to the previous quarter. Higher steel consumption, a rise in electronic imports, and increased central government revenue expenditure have contributed to the uptick in demand.

    Services sector activity also showed signs of improvement, as reflected in robust services PMI figures, higher vehicle registrations, increased diesel consumption, stronger revenue collections by states, and growth in e-way bill generation.

    However, the report flagged some concerns regarding the performance of 2-wheeler sales and a slight moderation in consumer durables and FMCG output. Domestic inflation trends remain favourable, which could allow for a softer monetary policy stance and further boost growth.

    The report also highlighted healthy monsoon progress so far, with rainfall about 15 per cent above the long-period average as of July 9, which is expected to support the agricultural sector.

    On the fiscal front, the report said the Central government’s finances remain strong, with the fiscal deficit narrowing to 4.5 per cent of GDP as of May 2025, compared to 4.6 per cent in April 2025.

    The rupee outlook also remains positive. After depreciating by 1.3 per cent in May, the rupee weakened marginally by 0.2 per cent in June and traded in a narrow range towards the end of the month, helped by easing geo-political tensions and a softer US dollar.

    “In July, the rupee is trading with an appreciating bias despite lingering concerns over US tariff policies. This trend is likely to continue with investors hopeful about the timely conclusion of the India-US trade deal before the August 1 deadline,” the report said.

    Globally, the report observed that fresh tariffs and related policy uncertainty are clouding the outlook for growth and inflation. The US Federal Reserve’s minutes indicate that these concerns could limit the scope for monetary policy easing, which may add to market volatility in the coming months.

    -IANS

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Joint Communique of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Kuala Lumpur 9 July 2025

    Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations

    1. The 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) was held on 9 July 2025, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Meeting was chaired by Malaysia under the theme “Inclusivity and Sustainability”.
     
    2. The Meeting was opened by The Honourable Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Prime Minister of Malaysia. In his remarks, Prime Minister Anwar highlighted ASEAN’s strength in its habits of cooperation and its willingness to keep engaging. He emphasised that ASEAN is a region that charts its own course deliberately, coherently, and with purpose. Prime Minister Anwar underlined the principle of Centrality as ASEAN’s guiding principle, which is crucial for maintaining the region’s role as the primary anchor for dialogue and ensuring external partners continue to find value in engaging with ASEAN. In line with the ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future, he called for greater synergy across pillars and sectors, and proposed for ASEAN Foreign Ministers and ASEAN Economic Ministers to move in concert in facing challenges. He underscored the importance of fortifying ASEAN’s internal foundations, by increasing intra-ASEAN trade and investment and advancing integration across sectors.
     
    Download the full joint Communique here.

    The post Joint Communique of the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting Kuala Lumpur 9 July 2025 appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • PM Modi to distribute over 51,000 appointment letters under Rozgar Mela

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi will distribute more than 51,000 appointment letters to newly appointed youth in various government departments and organisations on Saturday. The distribution will take place via video conferencing at around 11 am.

    During the event, the Prime Minister will also address the new recruits.

    The Rozgar Mela is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to give top priority to employment generation. The initiative aims to create meaningful opportunities for the youth and to encourage their active participation in nation-building.

    According to official data, more than 10 lakh appointment letters have already been handed out through Rozgar Melas held across the country.

    The 16th edition of the Rozgar Mela will be organised at 47 locations nationwide. New recruits will join various ministries and departments including the Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Home Affairs, Department of Posts, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Department of Financial Services, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment, among others.

    The appointees have been selected from across the country and will take up roles in different sectors, further strengthening the government workforce and contributing to the country’s development goals.

    The Rozgar Mela was launched by Prime Minister Modi on October 22, 2022, as part of his commitment to generate more employment opportunities in a mission mode. The initiative has helped speed up the recruitment process in various government departments and organisations.

    It has also improved citizen services in schools, hospitals, railway stations, police stations and tax offices, and has strengthened the defence and security forces through timely recruitment to safeguard the nation’s borders and strategic interests.

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: IAEA Mission Reviews China’s Regulatory Framework for Nuclear Safety

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

    An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts today said China had made significant progress in further strengthening its regulation of nuclear safety, benefiting from the innovative use of digital tools and Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the country continues to rapidly expand its nuclear energy programme.

    Noting the importance of the regulatory body’s staffing levels keeping up with China’s fast-growing nuclear industry, the peer review team also encouraged additional improvements in regulations and guidelines in some areas, including nuclear safety inspections and emergency preparedness and response.

    The Integrated Regulatory Review Service  (IRRS) team concluded a 12-day mission to the People’s Republic of China on 11 July, a full-scope review covering all facilities, activities and exposure situations. The 24-member expert mission was conducted at the request of the Government and hosted by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (the National Nuclear Safety Administration), which regulates nuclear safety in China.

    With the world’s second largest operating nuclear fleet after the United States, China is currently operating 59 units generating around 5% of its electricity. In addition, it is building 32 units and planning the construction of another 21 units. The previous IRRS mission to China – a follow-up review – was carried out in 2016, when it had 32 units in operation.

    “Over the past decade, China has made impressive headway in establishing a capable and independent regulatory body and promoting a healthy nuclear safety culture. China has a strong, competent and trusted national regulator that works effectively to ensure the safety of the public and environment,” said IRRS team leader Mark Foy, former Chief Executive and Chief Nuclear Inspector of the United Kingdom’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).

    Using IAEA safety standards and taking advantage of international good practices, IRRS missions are designed to strengthen the effectiveness of the national regulatory infrastructure, while recognizing the responsibility of each country to ensure nuclear and radiation safety.

    The IRRS team comprised 20 senior regulatory experts from 17 IAEA Member States: Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Mexico, the Netherlands, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. The mission team also included four IAEA staff members and an observer from Japan.

    The team reviewed areas including: responsibilities and functions of the government and the regulatory body; the activities of the regulatory body including authorization, inspection and enforcement processes; development and content of regulations and guides; emergency preparedness and response; radiation sources; research reactors; nuclear power plants; fuel cycle facilities; radioactive waste management facilities; transport of radioactive material; decommissioning; occupational exposure; control of medical exposure and public exposure; and interfaces with nuclear security. 

    Two policy issues were discussed during the mission: the impact of the rapid development of AI on regulation and the shortage of human resources due to the surge in the number of operating reactor units in China.

    “The fast growth in China’s nuclear power programme will require the recruitment and training of a significant number of additional nuclear professionals in the regulatory field in the coming years. Its use of technology to support the effectiveness of its national regulator is an exemplar for all of us to learn from,” Foy, the mission team leader, said.

    During the mission, the team conducted interviews and discussions with staff of the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) and its leadership. Team members also met senior representatives from the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA), which oversees the nuclear industry in the country, as well as the National Health Commission (NHC) and the China National Energy Authority (NEA).

    They observed regulatory oversight activities at: a nuclear power plant, a research reactor, a nuclear fuel cycle facility, a radiation sources facility, a radioactive waste management facility, a transport facility and a hospital.

    They identified several good practices by the regulatory body, including:

    • Unique advances in developing, adopting and exploiting the benefits of AI-based tools to significantly improve the efficiency of its decision-making, safety oversight and knowledge management.
    • Arrangements for regular, high-level exchanges with all senior industry stakeholders on domestic and global nuclear safety developments, ensuring a common understanding on nuclear safety priorities and required improvements across China’s nuclear industry.

    Recommendations and suggestions for further improvement of the overall effectiveness of China’s regulatory system included:

    • Clarifying protection strategies in the case of a nuclear or radiological emergency.
    • Providing a documented process for developing inspection plans for nuclear facilities.
    • Establishing and implementing a comprehensive safety culture oversight programme.
    • Enhancing its processes to ensure that updates to department rules, guides, and standards are completed to appropriately align with the latest IAEA safety standards.

    The mission team viewed China’s invitation of an international peer review as part of the second IRRS cycle as a sign of openness and transparency.

    “China has demonstrated a commendable commitment to continuous safety improvement by inviting this comprehensive full-scope IRRS mission,” said Karine Herviou, Deputy Director General and Head of the IAEA Department of Nuclear Safety and Security. “The team of senior regulatory experts recognized the Government’s unequivocal support to ensure a strong national safety regulator, including the provision of human and financial resources, while also proposing specific actions for further enhancements.”

    Baotong Dong, MEE Vice Minister and NNSA Administrator, said the IRRS peer review team had positively acknowledged China’s nuclear and radiation safety regulatory framework and practices and stressed that these would be further enhanced in future.

    “China has established a regulatory system that aligns with international standards while meeting national conditions. The Government will further enhance its regulatory capabilities, accelerate the development of a modern nuclear safety regulatory system, and promote a virtuous cycle of high-level nuclear safety and high-quality development in the nuclear sector,” Vice Minister Dong said. “China stands ready to contribute to strengthening global nuclear safety governance and elevating worldwide nuclear safety standards.”

    The final mission report will be provided to the Government of the China in about three months. The Government plans to make the report public. China will consider inviting an IRRS follow-up mission at a later stage.

    IAEA safety standards

    The IAEA safety standards provide a robust framework of fundamental principles, requirements and guidance to ensure safety. They reflect an international consensus and serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Bearing history in mind for better future

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    During an inspection tour of Shanxi Province in north China, Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday visited a memorial hall commemorating a significant campaign during the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.

    The Hundred-Regiment Campaign took place behind enemy lines in northern China from August 1940 to January 1941 during the resistance war. It was a major victory achieved at a time when China’s resistance against Japanese aggression was in difficulty and the atmosphere of compromise and surrender was palpable.

    Though silent, the exhibits in the memorial hall spoke loudly of the brutality of the Japanese aggressors, recording the fierce and arduous war. Xi listened attentively to the introductions — and paused from time to time to take a closer look.

    Before visiting the memorial hall, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, laid a floral basket in front of a towering monument in tribute to the martyrs of this major campaign.

    With 35 million casualties, the Chinese people defeated Japanese aggressors with their lives and blood, Xi once said, stressing that China had made a significant contribution to the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War.

    Monday’s visit held special significance, as it coincided with the anniversary of the July 7th Incident, also known as the Lugou Bridge Incident, which occurred in 1937 and marked the beginning of China’s whole-nation resistance against Japanese aggression, according to Hao Xueting, a local historian and writer who has studied the resistance war for over three decades.

    “The visit showed that the general secretary attaches great importance to the history of the resistance war,” Hao said.

    Since assuming the Party’s top post in 2012, Xi has attended events commemorating whole-nation resistance against Japanese aggression and state memorial ceremonies for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre, and visited multiple memorial halls to reflect on this part of history and pool strength for forging ahead.

    “The best way to honor the heroes who gave their lives to uphold freedom, justice and peace, and mourn the loss of innocent lives brutally taken during the war is to make sure that this historical tragedy will never repeat itself,” Xi conveyed this message in his address 10 years ago at the ceremony commemorating the 70th anniversary of the victory in the resistance war and the World Anti-Fascist War.

    As 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory, Xi’s visit to the memorial hall again conveys determination to remember history, cherish peace and strive for a better future.

    After viewing the exhibits, Xi had warm conversations with students and staff at the memorial hall, which is located atop Shinao Mountain in the Taihang Mountains.

    “Grandpa Xi told us what the Hundred-Regiment Campaign was all about, and how the life we have today was built on the countless martyrs who sacrificed their lives and shed their blood,” recalled Wang Yitong, a student at a local primary school.

    “What we learned from Grandpa Xi is not just history but also the necessity to strive for progress. In peace time, we should bear history in mind and cherish our present lives,” said Chen Mingyue, a senior high student.

    “If the past is not forgotten, it can serve as a guide for the future,” Xi told the young students, calling on them to strive to be the backbone of the nation, build a strong country and contribute to world peace. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Traditional industries bloom anew in China’s modernization push

    Source: China State Council Information Office

    From steel mills adopting AI-powered systems to textile factories deploying cutting-edge automation, China’s traditional industries are undergoing a significant transformation.

    Spearheaded by President Xi Jinping, this drive is injecting fresh vitality into traditional sectors that underpin the country’s modern industrial base.

    Under Xi’s watch, China is doubling down on boosting the competitiveness and sustainability in these sectors, which generate about 80 percent of the country’s manufacturing output and play a vital role in supporting employment and broader economic growth.

    “The real economy should not be neglected. Nor should the traditional industries within it. And industrial transformation and upgrading must be realized through sci-tech innovation,” Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said while visiting Yangquan Valve Co., Ltd., a century-old enterprise, during an inspection tour in north China’s Shanxi Province this week.

    By focusing on innovation and boosting investment in research and development, the company has earned the designation of a “little giant” enterprise, a title for outstanding specialized, high-tech small and medium-sized firms. It has obtained dozens of patents and expanded its global footprint through exports to countries including the United States, India and Pakistan.

    During this visit to the company, Xi emphasized that traditional manufacturing is an important part of the real economy, and called for efforts to respond to market demand and enhance sci-tech innovation to breathe new life into traditional industries.

    Boosting the development of traditional industries has been high on the agenda of Xi.

    During his domestic inspections in recent years, Xi has regularly visited enterprises and factories. He inspects production lines and engages in conversations with frontline workers, gaining a firsthand understanding of the products and the progress involving transformation and upgrading.

    These on-the-ground surveys have reinforced China’s push for transformation and upgrading tailored to regional strengths, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.

    This emphasis was highlighted during an inspection tour of southwest China’s Yunnan Province in March, where Xi urged all regions to pursue industrial transformation and upgrading based on local conditions, in line with economic principles, while making full use of their unique strengths.

    “Old enterprises can also pursue high-end, smart and green transformation. It is crucial not to dismiss traditional industries as uniformly ‘low-end’ or ‘backward’ and simply phase them out, as doing so could lead to a disruption in the transition from old to new growth drivers, cause a loss of momentum, and exacerbate the pains of structural adjustment,” Xi said during an inspection tour in Liaoning Province in January.

    Since introducing the concept of new quality productive forces in 2023, Xi has consistently highlighted that traditional industries are the cornerstone for developing advanced productive capabilities.

    During a deliberation at the annual national legislative session last year, Xi noted that developing new quality productive forces “does not mean neglecting or abandoning traditional industries.”

    This point was further reiterated in May last year when he visited Shandong Province and commended Rizhao Port for its successful transformation from a traditional port into a modern one. “The port has not only achieved top-tier cargo throughput nationwide but has also gained valuable insights into fostering new quality productive forces through the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries,” Xi said.

    Guided by his vision, China has made significant progress in accelerating the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries, steering them toward more advanced, intelligent and greener development.

    Technologies like industrial internet, 5G and AI have been extensively applied in traditional industries. In 2024, investment in technological upgrades in the manufacturing sector increased by 8 percent year on year, outpacing the overall investment growth.

    In key energy-consuming industries such as chemicals, building materials, steel and non-ferrous metals, energy consumption per unit of value-added output fell in 2024 from the previous year.

    Looking ahead, China will take comprehensive measures, including pushing technological advances as well as large-scale equipment renewal projects in the manufacturing sector, and accelerating the digitalization of manufacturing, to promote traditional industry transformation and upgrading, according to this year’s government work report.

    “In the past, Chinese workers made arduous manual efforts to hammer away at the country’s industrial development. Today, it must be upgraded through advanced technologies and equipment,” Xi said, stressing that the real economy makes the country prosperous and solid work makes it flourishing.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • South Korea, Japan and US conduct air drill as defence chiefs meet

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    South Korea, Japan and the United States conducted a joint air drill on Friday involving a U.S. B-52 strategic bomber and fighter jets of the two U.S. allies over international waters, the South’s defence ministry said.

    It was the first time this year that a U.S. B-52H strategic bomber was deployed to the Korean Peninsula for a drill, conducted to improve deterrence against North Korea’s increasing nuclear and missile threats, it said.

    The three countries’ defence chiefs also held an annual meeting in Seoul on Friday, where they recognised the importance of close trilateral cooperation in addressing security challenges posed by North Korea, in the Indo-Pacific and beyond, the defence ministry said in a statement.

    “We’re illuminating a future path together, a path where partnerships can evolve through persistent and regular engagement from building capacity to really sharing responsibility,” U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine said in opening remarks before the meeting.

    “(North Korea) and China are undergoing an unprecedented military build up with a clear and unambiguous intent to move forward with their own agendas. We need to be mindful of that,” Caine said.

    (Reuters)

  • Shubhanshu Shukla and Axiom-4 crew to begin journey back to Earth on July 14: NASA

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who is currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), is expected to begin his journey back to Earth on July 14, Axiom Space announced on Friday.

    Shukla, along with three other crew members — Peggy Whitson, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, and Tibor Kapu — will undock from the Harmony module’s space-facing port inside the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft for their return to Earth.

    “The #Ax4 crew is scheduled to undock from the @Space_Station no earlier than Monday, July 14, at 7:05 a.m. ET (4:35 pm IST),” Axiom Space said in a post on social media platform X.

    A splashdown is expected several hours after undocking, near the coast of California in the Pacific Ocean.

    “We are working with the station programme, watching the Axiom-4 progress carefully. I think we need to undock that mission, and the current target to undock is July 14,” Steve Stitch, Manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, said at a press conference.

    IAF Group Captain Shukla is on a 14-day mission to the ISS. He is the first Indian to visit the ISS and the second Indian astronaut in space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew in 1984.

    During his time aboard the orbital outpost, Shukla carried out seven India-specific experiments, marking an important step for India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. His experiments focused on topics such as decoding muscle loss in microgravity, developing a brain-computer interface, and sprouting green gram and fenugreek seeds in space.

    Shukla also interacted with students from Kerala and Lucknow via video conferencing from the ISS. The students asked him about life in space — from what astronauts eat and how they sleep, to what happens if someone falls sick.

    They also wanted to know about the benefits of India’s space programme and which part of the mission he found most enjoyable.

    Describing the launch experience of Axiom Mission 4, Shukla told the students it was “amazing” and “dynamic”.

    “It is fun actually, because in space there is no floor and no ceiling. So if you were to visit the station, you would find someone sleeping on the walls and someone on the ceiling,” he told them with a smile.

    —IANS

  • Amarnath Yatra: Over 1.45 lakh devotees have ‘darshan’ in eight days

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Over 1.45 lakh devotees have undertaken the Amarnath Yatra in the first eight days, with another batch of 6,482 pilgrims leaving for the Kashmir Valley from Jammu on Friday.

    According to officials, more than 1.45 lakh pilgrims have had ‘darshan’ at the holy cave shrine.

    “Another batch of 6,482 Yatris left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in two escorted convoys for the Valley today. The first convoy, comprising 107 vehicles and carrying 2,353 Yatris, departed at 3:20 a.m. for the Baltal base camp. The second convoy, consisting of 161 vehicles and carrying 4,129 Yatris, left at 4:04 a.m. for the Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp,” officials said.

    The Bhumi Pujan of the ‘Chhari Mubarak’ (Lord Shiva’s Holy Mace) was performed at Pahalgam on Thursday.

    The Chhari Mubarak was brought to Pahalgam by a group of sadhus led by its sole custodian, Mahant Swami Deependra Giri, from its traditional seat at the Dashnami Akhara Building in Srinagar.

    In Pahalgam, the Chhari Mubarak was first taken to the Gauri Shankar Temple, where the Bhumi Pujan was performed. It was then carried to the Martand Sun Temple, where another puja was held, followed by a ceremonial dip in the holy spring at the temple.

    The Chhari Mubarak will reach the holy cave shrine on August 9, marking the official conclusion of this year’s Yatra.

    In addition to those arriving at the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu, many pilgrims are also reporting directly at the Baltal and Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camps for on-the-spot registration.

    Authorities have made extensive multi-tiered security arrangements for this year’s Amarnath Yatra, especially in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack.

    To ensure safety, an additional 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been deployed to strengthen the presence of the Army, BSF, CRPF, SSB, and local police.

    All transit camps en route to the two base camps, as well as the entire stretch from Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu to the holy cave shrine, are under strict security coverage.

    This year, the Yatra began on July 3 and will conclude after 38 days on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.

    (With inputs from IANS)

     

  • Planned parenthood vital for maternal, child health: JP Nadda on World Population Day

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Planned parenthood is essential for achieving better maternal and child health outcomes, Union Health Minister JP Nadda said on Friday, marking World Population Day.

    Observed every year on July 11, World Population Day aims to raise awareness about population-related issues. This year’s theme is “Healthy Timing and Spacing of Pregnancy for the Health and Well-being of Mother and Child.”

    “World Population Day serves as a platform to raise awareness about family planning and renew our commitment to addressing population-related challenges,” Nadda said in a post on X.

    “This year’s theme highlights the importance of planned parenthood for healthy outcomes for mothers and children,” he added.

    Nadda also underlined this year’s slogan: “माँ बनने की उम्र वही, जब तन और मन की तैयारी सही,” which translates to “The right age to become a mother is when both mind and body are ready.”

    He said the message underscores the need for informed and empowered decisions about parenthood, with adequate physical and emotional readiness.

    Highlighting government efforts, the Minister said that through public health facilities, including Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, the Centre is delivering essential family planning services nationwide.

    “These centres are empowering families and paving the way for a healthier India,” he said.

    With a population of over 1.46 billion, India is now the world’s most populous country, surpassing China.

    Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director of the Population Foundation of India, told IANS that the conversation must shift from numbers to women’s empowerment.

    “India’s population story is not one of crisis, but of possibility—if we invest in women, young people, and address the needs of our growing elderly population,” Muttreja said.

    Pointing to India’s declining fertility rate, she stressed the need to focus on quality healthcare, education, skills development, and job creation.

    “True development and economic growth don’t come from forcibly influencing reproductive decisions, but from empowering individuals—especially women—to make informed choices about their bodies and lives,” she said.

    Muttreja also called for shared responsibility, gender equality, and reproductive autonomy to be central in all population policies and programmes.

    –IANS

  • MIL-OSI China: Top two seeds ousted from WTT US Smash

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

    The WTT US Smash in Las Vegas delivered major shocks on Thursday as China’s top two seeds, Sun Yingsha and Wang Manyu, were knocked out of the women’s singles competition.

    Sun, the reigning world champion and world No. 1 for nearly three years, fell 3-1 to fellow Chinese player Chen Yi. Wang also exited in four sets against Zhu Yuling of Macao, China.

    Chen, 20, played with patience and seized her chances with clinical precision. She even called a tactical timeout with match point in hand before sealing her 11-9, 7-11, 11-5, 11-9 victory.

    “I didn’t expect to beat Sister Sha,” said Chen. “I just pulled off my best game, and I am very delighted now.

    “Against the world No. 1 player, I didn’t have a special strategy. I regarded myself as an underdog, a challenger, and tried to fight for every point. I played pretty well at clutch moments.”

    Chen will face the winner of an all-Japanese clash between ninth seed Hina Hayata and sixth seed Miwa Harimoto in the quarterfinals.

    Zhu Yuling, 30, who previously stepped away from China’s national team to recover from cancer, pursue her studies, and later become a professor at Tianjin University, joined the Macao team last year.

    “This is my 38th game since I came out of retirement,” said Zhu following her 11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 11-5 win over world No. 2 Wang.

    “I didn’t start well,” said the former World Cup champion. “But I kept reminding myself of hanging in here despite difficulties. I turned the tables midway in both the first two sets.”

    Zhu will next take on either Japan’s eighth seed Satsuki Odo or South Korea’s 10th seed Shin Yu-bin in the quarterfinals.

    China’s fifth seed Kuai Man also advanced to the last eight with a straight-sets win over Cheng I-Ching of Chinese Taipei. 

    MIL OSI China News –

  • Trump to Make Major Statement on Russia as U.S. Approves New Weapons Package for Ukraine via NATO

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday the United States would supply weapons to Ukraine via NATO and that he would make a “major statement” on Russia on Monday.

    In recent days, Trump has expressed frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the lack of progress towards ending the war sparked by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

    “I think I’ll have a major statement to make on Russia on Monday,” Trump told NBC News, declining to elaborate.

    Trump also told NBC News about what he called a new deal between the U.S., NATO allies and Ukraine over weapons shipment from the United States.

    “We’re sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%. So what we’re doing is the weapons that are going out are going to NATO, and then NATO is going to be giving those weapons (to Ukraine), and NATO is paying for those weapons,” Trump said.

    “We send weapons to NATO, and NATO is going to reimburse the full cost of those weapons,” he added.

    For the first time since returning to office, Trump will send weapons to Kyiv under a presidential power frequently used by his predecessor, two sources familiar with the decision said on Thursday.

    Trump’s team will identify arms from U.S. stockpiles to send to Ukraine under the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows the president to draw from weapons stocks to help allies in an emergency, the sources said, with one saying they could be worth around $300 million.

    Trump on Tuesday said the U.S. would send more weapons to Ukraine to help the country defend itself against intensifying Russian advances.

    The package could include defensive Patriot missiles and offensive medium-range rockets, but a decision on the exact equipment has not been made, the sources said. One of the people said this would happen at a meeting on Thursday.

    The Trump administration has so far only sent weapons authorized by former President Joe Biden, who was a staunch supporter of Kyiv. The Pentagon and the White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    Trump had pledged to swiftly end the war but months into his presidency, little progress has been made. The Republican president has sometimes criticized U.S. spending on Ukraine’s defence, spoken favorably of Russia and publicly clashed with Ukraine’s leader. However, sometimes he has also voiced support for Kyiv and expressed disappointment in the leadership of Russia.

    $12 BILLION PLEDGED FOR UKRAINE

    Russia unleashed heavy airstrikes on Ukraine on Thursday before a conference in Rome at which Kyiv won billions of dollars in aid pledges, and U.S.-Russian talks at which Washington voiced frustration with Moscow over the war.

    Two people were killed, 26 were wounded, according to figures from the national emergency services, and there was damage in nearly every part of Kyiv from missile and drone attacks on the capital and other parts of Ukraine.

    Addressing the Rome conference on Ukraine’s reconstruction after more than three years of war, Zelenskiy urged allies to “more actively” use Russian assets for rebuilding and called for weapons, joint defence production and investment.

    Participants pledged over 10 billion euros ($12 billion) to help rebuild Ukraine, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said. The European Commission, the EU’s executive, announced 2.3 billion euros ($2.7 billion) in support.

    At talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov while in Malaysia, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he had reinforced the message that Moscow should show more flexibility.

    “We need to see a roadmap moving forward about how this conflict can conclude,” Rubio said, adding that the Trump administration had been engaging with the U.S. Senate on what new sanctions on Russia might look like.

    “It was a frank conversation. It was an important one,” Rubio said after the 50-minute talks in Kuala Lumpur. Moscow’s foreign ministry said they had shared “a substantive and frank exchange of views”.

    ‘NIGHTLY TERROR’

    Zelenskiy said Thursday’s assault by Russia had involved around 400 drones and 18 missiles, primarily targeting the capital.

    Explosions and anti-aircraft fire rattled the city. Windows were blown out, facades ravaged and cars burned to shells. In the city centre, an apartment in an eight-story building was engulfed in flames.

    “This is terror because it happens every night when people are asleep,” said Karyna Volf, a 25-year-old Kyiv resident who rushed out of her apartment moments before it was showered with shards of glass.

    Air defences stopped all but a few dozen of the drones, authorities said, a day after Russia launched a record 728 drones at Ukraine.

    (Reuters)

  • India to host first global conference on manuscript heritage in September

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a major initiative to preserve and promote India’s vast manuscript wealth, the Ministry of Culture on Thursday announced the country’s first-ever global conference dedicated to manuscript heritage.

    Titled ‘Reclaiming India’s Knowledge Legacy Through Manuscript Heritage’, the three-day international conference will be held from 11 to 13 September at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The announcement was made on the occasion of Guru Purnima, underlining India’s commitment to the guru–śiṣya tradition and its centuries-old knowledge systems.

    The conference is being organised in respectful commemoration of Swami Vivekananda’s historic address at the Parliament of the World’s Religions on September 11, 1893. The date holds special significance as a reminder of India’s enduring vision for universal knowledge and peace.

    India is home to more than 10 million manuscripts covering diverse subjects such as philosophy, science, medicine, mathematics, literature, rituals, and arts. These manuscripts are considered a vital link in sustaining the country’s intellectual and cultural legacy.

    The conference will bring together over 500 delegates, including 75 distinguished scholars, thought leaders, and cultural custodians from India and abroad. Designed in a hybrid format, it will allow both in-person and virtual participation to ensure wider global engagement.

    Thematic sessions will cover key areas such as conservation, digitisation, palaeography, metadata standards, AI-based archival practices, ethical custodianship, and the integration of manuscript knowledge into modern education. Rare manuscripts, including those listed under UNESCO’s Memory of the World register, will be showcased. The event will also feature live demonstrations of conservation techniques, workshops, cultural performances, and dedicated spaces for manuscript-focused startups.

    One of the key outcomes of the conference will be the adoption of the New Delhi Declaration on Manuscript Heritage. Expert working groups will be formed for decipherment, conservation, translation, and digital archiving. The Ministry also plans to launch the Manuscript Research Partner (MRP) programme to provide hands-on training and script labs for young scholars.

    Researchers and scholars are invited to submit original research papers and case studies

  • MIL-OSI Security: IAEA Mission Reviews China’s Regulatory Framework for Nuclear Safety

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency – IAEA

    An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts today said China had made significant progress in further strengthening its regulation of nuclear safety, benefiting from the innovative use of digital tools and Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the country continues to rapidly expand its nuclear energy programme.

    Noting the importance of the regulatory body’s staffing levels keeping up with China’s fast-growing nuclear industry, the peer review team also encouraged additional improvements in regulations and guidelines in some areas, including nuclear safety inspections and emergency preparedness and response.

    The Integrated Regulatory Review Service  (IRRS) team concluded a 12-day mission to the People’s Republic of China on 11 July, a full-scope review covering all facilities, activities and exposure situations. The 24-member expert mission was conducted at the request of the Government and hosted by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (the National Nuclear Safety Administration), which regulates nuclear safety in China.

    With the world’s second largest operating nuclear fleet after the United States, China is currently operating 59 units generating around 5% of its electricity. In addition, it is building 32 units and planning the construction of another 21 units. The previous IRRS mission to China – a follow-up review – was carried out in 2016, when it had 32 units in operation.

    “Over the past decade, China has made impressive headway in establishing a capable and independent regulatory body and promoting a healthy nuclear safety culture. China has a strong, competent and trusted national regulator that works effectively to ensure the safety of the public and environment,” said IRRS team leader Mark Foy, former Chief Executive and Chief Nuclear Inspector of the United Kingdom’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).

    Using IAEA safety standards and taking advantage of international good practices, IRRS missions are designed to strengthen the effectiveness of the national regulatory infrastructure, while recognizing the responsibility of each country to ensure nuclear and radiation safety.

    The IRRS team comprised 20 senior regulatory experts from 17 IAEA Member States: Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Mexico, the Netherlands, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. The mission team also included four IAEA staff members and an observer from Japan.

    The team reviewed areas including: responsibilities and functions of the government and the regulatory body; the activities of the regulatory body including authorization, inspection and enforcement processes; development and content of regulations and guides; emergency preparedness and response; radiation sources; research reactors; nuclear power plants; fuel cycle facilities; radioactive waste management facilities; transport of radioactive material; decommissioning; occupational exposure; control of medical exposure and public exposure; and interfaces with nuclear security. 

    Two policy issues were discussed during the mission: the impact of the rapid development of AI on regulation and the shortage of human resources due to the surge in the number of operating reactor units in China.

    “The fast growth in China’s nuclear power programme will require the recruitment and training of a significant number of additional nuclear professionals in the regulatory field in the coming years. Its use of technology to support the effectiveness of its national regulator is an exemplar for all of us to learn from,” Foy, the mission team leader, said.

    During the mission, the team conducted interviews and discussions with staff of the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) and its leadership. Team members also met senior representatives from the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA), which oversees the nuclear industry in the country, as well as the National Health Commission (NHC) and the China National Energy Authority (NEA).

    They observed regulatory oversight activities at: a nuclear power plant, a research reactor, a nuclear fuel cycle facility, a radiation sources facility, a radioactive waste management facility, a transport facility and a hospital.

    They identified several good practices by the regulatory body, including:

    • Unique advances in developing, adopting and exploiting the benefits of AI-based tools to significantly improve the efficiency of its decision-making, safety oversight and knowledge management.
    • Arrangements for regular, high-level exchanges with all senior industry stakeholders on domestic and global nuclear safety developments, ensuring a common understanding on nuclear safety priorities and required improvements across China’s nuclear industry.

    Recommendations and suggestions for further improvement of the overall effectiveness of China’s regulatory system included:

    • Clarifying protection strategies in the case of a nuclear or radiological emergency.
    • Providing a documented process for developing inspection plans for nuclear facilities.
    • Establishing and implementing a comprehensive safety culture oversight programme.
    • Enhancing its processes to ensure that updates to department rules, guides, and standards are completed to appropriately align with the latest IAEA safety standards.

    The mission team viewed China’s invitation of an international peer review as part of the second IRRS cycle as a sign of openness and transparency.

    “China has demonstrated a commendable commitment to continuous safety improvement by inviting this comprehensive full-scope IRRS mission,” said Karine Herviou, Deputy Director General and Head of the IAEA Department of Nuclear Safety and Security. “The team of senior regulatory experts recognized the Government’s unequivocal support to ensure a strong national safety regulator, including the provision of human and financial resources, while also proposing specific actions for further enhancements.”

    Baotong Dong, MEE Vice Minister and NNSA Administrator, said the IRRS peer review team had positively acknowledged China’s nuclear and radiation safety regulatory framework and practices and stressed that these would be further enhanced in future.

    “China has established a regulatory system that aligns with international standards while meeting national conditions. The Government will further enhance its regulatory capabilities, accelerate the development of a modern nuclear safety regulatory system, and promote a virtuous cycle of high-level nuclear safety and high-quality development in the nuclear sector,” Vice Minister Dong said. “China stands ready to contribute to strengthening global nuclear safety governance and elevating worldwide nuclear safety standards.”

    The final mission report will be provided to the Government of the China in about three months. The Government plans to make the report public. China will consider inviting an IRRS follow-up mission at a later stage.

    IAEA safety standards

    The IAEA safety standards provide a robust framework of fundamental principles, requirements and guidance to ensure safety. They reflect an international consensus and serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.

    MIL Security OSI –

  • MIL-Evening Report: A new exhibition is a thoughtful examination of the lasting relationship between Asia and Australia

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Joanna Mendelssohn, Honorary Senior Fellow, School of Culture and Communication, The University of Melbourne

    Jacky Cheng, Imaginary Homelands, 2025, installation view, The Neighbour at the Gate, National Art School Gallery, Sydney, 2025. Image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Peter Morgan

    Almost 60 years after former prime minister Harold Holt began to dismantle the White Australia Policy, The Neighbour at the Gate at Sydney’s National Art School Gallery presents a thoughtful examination of the consequences when good neighbours become good friends.

    Street posters promoting the exhibition feature an image of a magpie. Advertising always distorts. Pardu (Tirritpa) by James Tylor, who has Kaurna and Mãori heritage, is a series of groupings of exquisite small bird daguerreotypes. Their shadowed silver surface gives the impression of antiquity, which is Tylor’s intention.

    In Kaurna, the names of birds come from the songs they sing. This is also how birds are named in many Asian languages. Onomatopoeia makes a bridge between cultures. A QR code on the wall next to each grouped images of birds allows the viewer to hear blends of birdsong with human music.

    James Tylor, Pardu (detail), 2025, installation view, The Neighbour at the Gate, National Art School Gallery, Sydney, 2025.
    Image courtesy the artist and the National Art School © the artist, photograph: Peter Morgan

    Remembering the past

    The visitor enters the exhibition through Imaginary Homelands, Jacky Cheng’s installation in the shape of a traditional Chinese paifang (牌坊).

    The 1,110 strips of paper, with fragments of Chinese characters, represent a poem she learnt as child in Kuala Lumpur. But some of the language has been lost by the distortions of time. She now lives on Yawuru country (Broome), an Australian town with close links to many South East Asian cultures.

    In remembering her past, she grasps elements of her Malay Chinese heritage.

    Dennis Golding’s Bingo is possibly as fragmented a memory as Cheng’s. Golding, a Kamilaroi/Gamilaraay man, has made a tribute to the community space his Nan and Aunty created in an abandoned terrace house in the Block at Redfern, where at night they would play bingo.

    Dennis Golding, Bingo, 2025, installation view, The Neighbour at the Gate, National Art School Gallery, Sydney, 2025.
    Image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Peter Morgan

    Each of the etchings scattered across the wall is the size of brick; each quotes small details of community life in Redfern before it was “discovered” by the gentrifiers. The exquisite etchings appear to be scattered at random, but a careful look will show the word “Bingo” in white in the spaces on the wall.

    Elham Eshraghian-Haakansson’s God of War is a beautiful and sensual video on love, rage, reconciliation and the emotional journey of being a refugee.

    Elham Eshraghian-Haakansson, God of War, 2025, installation view, The Neighbour at the Gate, National Art School Gallery, Sydney, 2025.
    Image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Peter Morgan

    Eshraghian-Haakansson is a second generation Iranian-Australian whose work is shaped in part by the experience of her mother and grandmother, whose Baha’i faith placed them in peril in 1979 after the Ayatollahs seized power. The different segments of this elegant video are deliberately broken by rough insertions, giving it a sense of a work reclaimed from history.

    Along the water

    Jenna Mayilema Lee’s complex installation in three parts is both a universal statement on the integration that is the long-term consequence of the meeting of cultures, and a personal statement on her own circumstances.

    Each component – the photographic mural, the video and the billabong sculpture – can be seen as an independent work, but when combined they form magic.

    Lee is truly a modern Australian, descended from Gulumerridjin (Larrakia), Wardaman, KarraJarri people as well as having Japanese, Filipino, Chinese and Anglo ancestors.

    Jenna Mayilema Lee, Portal to the Bangarr (billabong), 2025, installation view, The Neighbour at the Gate, National Art School Gallery, Sydney, 2025.
    Image courtesy and © the artist, photograph: Peter Morgan

    The lotus sculptures in the billabong are constructed from copies of immigration documentation. Her Chinese ancestors were living in Australia well before the White Australia policy of 1901. When they needed to travel, bureaucracy demanded multiple forms.

    She has layered the forms with a hand print from one of her Japanese ancestors which, much to her pleasure, she discovered is the same size as her own hand.

    The billabongs of northern Australia, especially in Larrakia country, are filled with lotus plants. The ancestors of the lotus plants of northern Australia floated across the narrow seas from Asia many years ago, in much the same way as people.

    Water does not always bring life. James Nguyen’s Homeopathies_where new trees grow, is a reminder of another consequence of colonisation.

    James Nguyen, Homeopathies_where new trees grow (detail), 2025, installation view, The Neighbour at the Gate, National Art School Gallery, Sydney, 2025.
    Image courtesy the artist and the National Art School © the artist, photograph: Peter Morgan

    As with many other Vietnamese Australians, his family lives near the Parramatta and Duck rivers, west of central Sydney. One of the horrors of the Vietnam war was the way Agent Orange, destroyed both the jungle and the lives of people who came into contact with it.

    Agent Orange was made by Union Carbide, near the Parramatta River. When the factory closed the contaminated site was not properly sealed and the poison seeped into the river.

    Nguyen’s giant floating textile is of made of raw cotton and silk strips, dyed with mud and weeds contaminated by dioxin and Agent Orange. The evil of contamination is countered by clay pinchpot incense holders which line the stairs and entrances to the exhibition.

    The cleansing smoke of incense is another link between the cultures of Asia and those of Australia’s First Nations people.

    The Neighbour at the Gate is a generous and inclusive exhibition, a reminder of a common humanity. Clothilde Bullen, who heads the curatorium with Micheal Do and Zali Morgan, sees art as a way of countering divisions in society.

    She told me:

    If we are to work as a society and if we are to work as a community then we have to call people in, and we have to be prepared to embrace that difference. And so that is really what this show is all about.

    The Neighbour at the Gate is at the National Art School Galleries, Sydney, until October 18.

    Joanna Mendelssohn has in the past received funding from the Australian Research Council

    – ref. A new exhibition is a thoughtful examination of the lasting relationship between Asia and Australia – https://theconversation.com/a-new-exhibition-is-a-thoughtful-examination-of-the-lasting-relationship-between-asia-and-australia-259040

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI NGOs: IAEA Mission Reviews China’s Regulatory Framework for Nuclear Safety

    Source: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) –

    An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts today said China had made significant progress in further strengthening its regulation of nuclear safety, benefiting from the innovative use of digital tools and Artificial Intelligence (AI) as the country continues to rapidly expand its nuclear energy programme.

    Noting the importance of the regulatory body’s staffing levels keeping up with China’s fast-growing nuclear industry, the peer review team also encouraged additional improvements in regulations and guidelines in some areas, including nuclear safety inspections and emergency preparedness and response.

    The Integrated Regulatory Review Service  (IRRS) team concluded a 12-day mission to the People’s Republic of China on 11 July, a full-scope review covering all facilities, activities and exposure situations. The 24-member expert mission was conducted at the request of the Government and hosted by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (the National Nuclear Safety Administration), which regulates nuclear safety in China.

    With the world’s second largest operating nuclear fleet after the United States, China is currently operating 59 units generating around 5% of its electricity. In addition, it is building 32 units and planning the construction of another 21 units. The previous IRRS mission to China – a follow-up review – was carried out in 2016, when it had 32 units in operation.

    “Over the past decade, China has made impressive headway in establishing a capable and independent regulatory body and promoting a healthy nuclear safety culture. China has a strong, competent and trusted national regulator that works effectively to ensure the safety of the public and environment,” said IRRS team leader Mark Foy, former Chief Executive and Chief Nuclear Inspector of the United Kingdom’s Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR).

    Using IAEA safety standards and taking advantage of international good practices, IRRS missions are designed to strengthen the effectiveness of the national regulatory infrastructure, while recognizing the responsibility of each country to ensure nuclear and radiation safety.

    The IRRS team comprised 20 senior regulatory experts from 17 IAEA Member States: Brazil, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Mexico, the Netherlands, Pakistan, the Russian Federation, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. The mission team also included four IAEA staff members and an observer from Japan.

    The team reviewed areas including: responsibilities and functions of the government and the regulatory body; the activities of the regulatory body including authorization, inspection and enforcement processes; development and content of regulations and guides; emergency preparedness and response; radiation sources; research reactors; nuclear power plants; fuel cycle facilities; radioactive waste management facilities; transport of radioactive material; decommissioning; occupational exposure; control of medical exposure and public exposure; and interfaces with nuclear security. 

    Two policy issues were discussed during the mission: the impact of the rapid development of AI on regulation and the shortage of human resources due to the surge in the number of operating reactor units in China.

    “The fast growth in China’s nuclear power programme will require the recruitment and training of a significant number of additional nuclear professionals in the regulatory field in the coming years. Its use of technology to support the effectiveness of its national regulator is an exemplar for all of us to learn from,” Foy, the mission team leader, said.

    During the mission, the team conducted interviews and discussions with staff of the National Nuclear Safety Administration (NNSA) and its leadership. Team members also met senior representatives from the China Atomic Energy Authority (CAEA), which oversees the nuclear industry in the country, as well as the National Health Commission (NHC) and the China National Energy Authority (NEA).

    They observed regulatory oversight activities at: a nuclear power plant, a research reactor, a nuclear fuel cycle facility, a radiation sources facility, a radioactive waste management facility, a transport facility and a hospital.

    They identified several good practices by the regulatory body, including:

    • Unique advances in developing, adopting and exploiting the benefits of AI-based tools to significantly improve the efficiency of its decision-making, safety oversight and knowledge management.
    • Arrangements for regular, high-level exchanges with all senior industry stakeholders on domestic and global nuclear safety developments, ensuring a common understanding on nuclear safety priorities and required improvements across China’s nuclear industry.

    Recommendations and suggestions for further improvement of the overall effectiveness of China’s regulatory system included:

    • Clarifying protection strategies in the case of a nuclear or radiological emergency.
    • Providing a documented process for developing inspection plans for nuclear facilities.
    • Establishing and implementing a comprehensive safety culture oversight programme.
    • Enhancing its processes to ensure that updates to department rules, guides, and standards are completed to appropriately align with the latest IAEA safety standards.

    The mission team viewed China’s invitation of an international peer review as part of the second IRRS cycle as a sign of openness and transparency.

    “China has demonstrated a commendable commitment to continuous safety improvement by inviting this comprehensive full-scope IRRS mission,” said Karine Herviou, Deputy Director General and Head of the IAEA Department of Nuclear Safety and Security. “The team of senior regulatory experts recognized the Government’s unequivocal support to ensure a strong national safety regulator, including the provision of human and financial resources, while also proposing specific actions for further enhancements.”

    Baotong Dong, MEE Vice Minister and NNSA Administrator, said the IRRS peer review team had positively acknowledged China’s nuclear and radiation safety regulatory framework and practices and stressed that these would be further enhanced in future.

    “China has established a regulatory system that aligns with international standards while meeting national conditions. The Government will further enhance its regulatory capabilities, accelerate the development of a modern nuclear safety regulatory system, and promote a virtuous cycle of high-level nuclear safety and high-quality development in the nuclear sector,” Vice Minister Dong said. “China stands ready to contribute to strengthening global nuclear safety governance and elevating worldwide nuclear safety standards.”

    The final mission report will be provided to the Government of the China in about three months. The Government plans to make the report public. China will consider inviting an IRRS follow-up mission at a later stage.

    IAEA safety standards

    The IAEA safety standards provide a robust framework of fundamental principles, requirements and guidance to ensure safety. They reflect an international consensus and serve as a global reference for protecting people and the environment from the harmful effects of ionizing radiation.

    MIL OSI NGO –

  • Sensex, Nifty open lower amid uncertainty around Trump tariffs

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian equity market indices opened lower on Friday amid lingering uncertainty over US President Donald Trump’s trade policies, as he continues to threaten higher tariffs across various sectors and countries.

    At 9:20 am, the Sensex was down 224 points, or 0.27 per cent, at 82,965, while the Nifty shed 65 points, or 0.26 per cent, to trade at 25,289.

    Marginal buying was seen in midcap and smallcap stocks. The Nifty Midcap 100 index was up 60 points, or 0.10 per cent, at 59,220, while the Nifty Smallcap 100 index rose 11 points, or 0.06 per cent, to 18,967.

    According to analysts, given the current environment marked by uncertainty and heightened volatility, traders are advised to adopt a cautious “wait and watch” approach, especially with leveraged positions. Booking partial profits during rallies and using tight trailing stop-losses is recommended.

    In the Sensex pack, HUL, Asian Paints, Axis Bank, NTPC, Power Grid, Tata Steel, SBI, Adani Ports, Sun Pharma, and ITC were among the major gainers. TCS, Infosys, M&M, Tech Mahindra, HCL Tech, Bharti Airtel, Bajaj Finserv, and Trent were the prominent losers.

    On the sectoral front, PSU banks, financial services, pharma, FMCG, and metal stocks were trading in the green, while auto, IT, realty, and media sectors were in the red.

    In Asia, stock markets traded mixed. Japan’s Nikkei 225 and South Korea’s KOSPI were trading flat, while China’s Shanghai Composite and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng gained over one per cent.

    Overnight in the US, Wall Street’s major indices, the S&P 500 and the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite, closed at record highs. The Dow Jones climbed 0.43 per cent and the S&P 500 rose 0.27 per cent.

    Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) bought equities worth Rs 221 crore on July 10, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) purchased shares worth Rs 591 crore on the same day.

    President Trump has announced 35 per cent tariffs on Canada and warned of higher levies if Ottawa retaliates. These tariffs will come into effect on August 1. Recently, Trump also threatened to impose a 50 per cent tariff on Brazilian imports unless Brazil halts legal proceedings against former President Bolsonaro.

    —IANS

  • New Zealand braces for severe weather as storm threatens flooding

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Heavy rain and strong winds lashed parts of New Zealand on Friday as a cold front moved east across the country, and authorities warned conditions could worsen over the next 24 hours, triggering floods and landslides.

    The northern regions of both the South Island and North Island of the country could be severely affected by the wild weather, the country’s weather bureau said in its latest update.

    New Zealand‘s MetService said the wind would pick up from Friday afternoon, with gusts of up to 120 kph (75 mph) forecast for some regions. There could be severe thunderstorms later on Friday, MetService’s Heather Keats said.

    A state of local emergency has been declared for the Nelson Tasman region for the second time in as many months with officials warning that rivers could rise quickly because the ground remains wet following floods at the end of last month.

    Motorists have been urged to stay off the roads, while the authorities have asked residents in the Nelson Tasman region to evacuate their homes if they feel unsafe.

    “In these conditions, it’s just not worth the risk,” the Tasman District Council said in a post on social media.

    “We have a number of roads already closed … and we’re expecting more closures to happen in the coming hours due to tree falls from heavy winds and significant surface flooding.”

    (Reuters)

  • Armed men kidnap, kill nine bus passengers in Pakistan, say officials

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Armed men killed nine bus passengers after kidnapping them in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, officials said on Friday.

    The passengers had been kidnapped from multiple buses on Thursday evening, said the provincial government spokesman Shahid Rind.

    Their bodies with bullet wounds were found in mountains overnight, another government official Naveed Alam said.

    No one has claimed responsibility.

    Separatist Baloch militants have in the past been involved in such incidents, killing passengers after identifying them as coming from the eastern Punjab province.

    The Baloch Liberation Army is the strongest of a number of insurgent groups long operating in the area bordering Afghanistan and Iran, a mineral-rich region.

    The ethnic Baloch militants blame authorities in Pakistan for stealing their regional resources to fund spending in Punjab province.

    (Reuters)

  • Shubhanshu Shukla to begin journey back to Earth on July 14: Axiom Space

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who is currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), is expected to begin his journey back to Earth on July 14, Axiom Space announced on Friday.

    Shukla, along with three other crew members — Peggy Whitson, Sławosz Uznański-Wiśniewski, and Tibor Kapu — will undock from the Harmony module’s space-facing port inside the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft for their return to Earth.

    “The #Ax4 crew is scheduled to undock from the @Space_Station no earlier than Monday, July 14, at 7:05 a.m. ET (4:35 pm IST),” Axiom Space said in a post on social media platform X.

    A splashdown is expected several hours after undocking, near the coast of California in the Pacific Ocean.

    “We are working with the station programme, watching the Axiom-4 progress carefully. I think we need to undock that mission, and the current target to undock is July 14,” Steve Stitch, Manager of NASA’s Commercial Crew Program, said at a press conference.

    IAF Group Captain Shukla is on a 14-day mission to the ISS. He is the first Indian to visit the ISS and the second Indian astronaut in space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, who flew in 1984.

    During his time aboard the orbital outpost, Shukla carried out seven India-specific experiments, marking an important step for India’s Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme. His experiments focused on topics such as decoding muscle loss in microgravity, developing a brain-computer interface, and sprouting green gram and fenugreek seeds in space.

    Shukla also interacted with students from Kerala and Lucknow via video conferencing from the ISS. The students asked him about life in space — from what astronauts eat and how they sleep, to what happens if someone falls sick.

    They also wanted to know about the benefits of India’s space programme and which part of the mission he found most enjoyable.

    Describing the launch experience of Axiom Mission 4, Shukla told the students it was “amazing” and “dynamic”.

    “It is fun actually, because in space there is no floor and no ceiling. So if you were to visit the station, you would find someone sleeping on the walls and someone on the ceiling,” he told them with a smile.

    —IANS

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Result of the 7-day Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction held on July 11, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Tenor 7-day
    Notified Amount (in ₹ crore) 2,50,000
    Total amount of offers received (in ₹ crore) 1,51,633
    Amount accepted (in ₹ crore) 1,51,633
    Cut off Rate (%) 5.49
    Weighted Average Rate (%) 5.49
    Partial Acceptance Percentage of offers received at cut off rate NA

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)     

    Press Release: 2025-2026/694

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Result of the 7-day Variable Rate Reverse Repo (VRRR) auction held on July 11, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Tenor 7-day
    Notified Amount (in ₹ crore) 2,50,000
    Total amount of offers received (in ₹ crore) 1,51,633
    Amount accepted (in ₹ crore) 1,51,633
    Cut off Rate (%) 5.49
    Weighted Average Rate (%) 5.49
    Partial Acceptance Percentage of offers received at cut off rate NA

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)     

    Press Release: 2025-2026/694

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • Bitcoin jumps to record on institutional investor demand

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Bitcoin rallied to an all-time high on Friday, powered by demand from institutional investors and friendly policies of U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration.

    The world’s largest cryptocurrency rose to a peak of $116,781.10 in the Asian session on Friday, taking its gains for the year thus far to more than 24%.

    In March, Trump signed an executive order to establish a strategic reserve of cryptocurrencies. He has also appointed several crypto-friendly individuals, including Securities and Exchange Commission Paul Atkins and White House artificial intelligence czar David Sacks.

    Trump’s family businesses have also made forays into cryptocurrencies. Trump Media & Technology Group is looking to launch an exchange-traded fund to invest in multiple crypto tokens including Bitcoin, a SEC filing on Tuesday showed.

    Ether, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency, similarly jumped more than 5% to last trade at $2,964.02, after earlier hitting a five-month high of $2,998.41.

    (Reuters)

  • Ashadha Purnima observed with spiritual fervour at Sarnath

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The sacred grounds of Sarnath resonated with deep devotion on Thursday as Ashadha Purnima, marking the auspicious Dhammachakra Pravartana Divas, was commemorated at the historic Mulagandha Kuti Vihara. The event, organised by the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and the Mahabodhi Society of India, drew monastics, scholars, and devotees from around the world to honour the day when Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon.

    As dusk fell and the full moon of Ashadha illuminated the skies, the programme began with a serene circumambulation (parikrama) of the Dhamek Stupa by monks, nuns, and lay practitioners in a gesture of reverence. The ancient stupa, glowing in the fading sunlight, stood as a powerful reminder of the Buddha’s first teachings on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path.

    In his opening address, Ven. Summitananda Thero, In-charge of the Mulagandha Kuti Vihara, spoke of the enduring sanctity of Sarnath, a place that has safeguarded the Dharma for centuries. He reflected on the quiet strength and spiritual resonance of the land that witnessed the birth of the Buddhist Sangha.

    Ven. Dieu Tri, a senior nun from Vietnam, offered heartfelt remarks about the recent exposition of sacred Buddha relics in her country, where an astounding 17.8 million devotees paid homage across nine cities. A short film presented by the IBC captured the emotional response of the Vietnamese people to this historic spiritual journey.

    Vice Chancellor of the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Ven. Wangchuk Dorjee Negi, emphasized the unity of knowledge and practice in the Dharma. He highlighted the spiritual significance of Ashadha Purnima, not only as the day of the first sermon but also as a symbolic marker of the Buddha’s conception and the founding of the monastic order.

    Most Ven. Sumedha Thero, President of the Indo–Sri Lanka International Buddhist Association, expressed his deep gratitude to the Indian government for selecting Sarnath as the centrepiece of this year’s celebration. He underscored the timeless cultural and spiritual bonds between India and Sri Lanka, forged through the shared wisdom of the Buddha’s teachings.

    The programme concluded with a message from Shartse Khensur Jangchup Choeden Rinpoche, Secretary General of the IBC, who called for global Buddhist unity and interfaith harmony. He urged the global community to embrace empathy and inclusive dialogue as the foundation for a peaceful world.

    Ven. Seelawanso Thero, Principal of the Pali and Buddhist Dhamadoot College, delivered the vote of thanks, encapsulating the collective spirit of gratitude and reverence that defined the evening.

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China indicts 21 members of organized crime group that ran telecom fraud in northern Myanmar

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    Xinhua | 11.07. 2025

    Keywords: China, crime, telecommunications fraud

    Source: Xinhua

    China indicts 21 members of organized crime group that carried out telecom fraud in northern Myanmar China indicts 21 members of organized crime group that carried out telecom fraud in northern Myanmar

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Two killed, 27 injured after bus plunges into ravine in southern Philippines

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

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

    MANILA, July 11 (Xinhua) — A bus plunged into a ravine in Zamboanga del Sur province in the southern Philippines on Thursday, killing two people and injuring 27 others, local authorities said.

    The accident occurred around 8 a.m. local time. The bus carrying the students was heading to a military training camp, said Ronnie Villanueva, an official with the provincial disaster risk reduction and management agency.

    One student died at the scene, and another elderly passenger died later at a local hospital, he said. Twenty-seven people received various injuries.

    An initial police investigation revealed that the bus’s brakes failed as it made a turn, causing it to fall off the cliff.

    College students were sent to a training camp to participate in preparation for military service in case of emergency. –0–

    Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source of the information. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

    .

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Anti-discrimination champion from India and global network of population scientists receive the 2025 United Nations Population Award

    Source: United Nations Population Fund

    UNITED NATIONS, New York, 11 July 2025 – The laureates of the fortieth edition of the United Nations Population Award are Ms. Varsha Deshpande, Founder, Dalit Mahila Vikas Mandal of India in the individual category, and the International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP) in the institution category. 

    Ms. Varsha Deshpande is a pioneering women’s rights activist with more than 35 years of experience working on gender-based violence, discrimination and gender. She founded the Dalit Mahila Vikas Mandal in 1990 to advance women’s rights and gender justice. She tirelessly works to empower grassroots women by building their vocational skills, connecting them to vital resources and services, and fostering their financial independence. 

    At the helm of Dalit Mahila Vikas Mandal, Ms. Deshpande has spearheaded numerous programmes, including ones addressing child marriage through the empowerment of adolescent girls and engagement with men and boys; safeguarding the rights of women in the informal sector; and promoting joint property registration to boost women’s access to assets. She is a respected member of various statutory bodies established by the Government of India and state-level governments, and has provided instrumental support for the law aimed at preventing gender-biased sex selection in India.

    The International Union for the Scientific Study of Population (IUSSP), founded in 1927, has played a pivotal role in advancing population science and policy. It has been instrumental in addressing critical population challenges, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, by fostering collaborative research, building capacity among early-career and mid-career demographers, and providing platforms for knowledge exchange. 

    The IUSSP helped establish regional population associations in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, and tackles key global issues relating to reproductive health, gender, migration, climate change, and the linkages between population dynamics and sustainable development. IUSSP’s work bridges the gap between research and policy, and ensures that population issues remain at the forefront of global development agendas.

    About the UN Population Award

    Each year, the Committee for the United Nations Population Award honors an individual and/or institution in recognition of outstanding contributions to population and reproductive health issues and solutions. The Award was established by the General Assembly in 1981, in resolution 36/201, and was first presented in 1983. It is now in its fortieth year. It consists of a gold medal, a diploma and a monetary prize. The Committee for the United Nations Population Award is composed of a quorum of 8 UN Member States, with United Nations Secretary-General and UNFPA Executive Director serving as ex-officio members. Nominations for the award are accepted through 31 December of each year. UNFPA serves as its Secretariat. 

    For more information, please contact: media@unfpa.org 

    About UNFPA

    UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. UNFPA’s mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA calls for the realization of reproductive rights for all and supports access to a wide range of sexual and reproductive health services, including voluntary family planning, quality maternal health care and comprehensive sexuality education. 

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • First day of Sawan: Devotees throng temples in Kashi, Haridwar

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The sacred month of Sawan began on Friday with an overwhelming display of devotion across major pilgrimage sites, as thousands of Lord Shiva devotees lined up to offer prayers and perform ‘jalabhishek’ at temples.

    At the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, the day started with the ‘Mangala Aarti’, followed by the opening of the temple gates for public darshan. Devotees, filled with enthusiasm, formed long but orderly queues, eager to seek the blessings of Baba Vishwanath.

    “Today is the first day of Sawan, and the darshan went very well. The arrangements and facilities are excellent. The government has done a great job, and the cleanliness is very good. Everyone entered in an orderly manner,” said a devotee outside the temple.

    Another devotee added, “The arrangements are excellent.”

    Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath extended his wishes on the social media platform X (writing originally

  • Curtis Campher becomes first male cricketer to take five wickets in five balls

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Ireland all-rounder Curtis Campher made history by becoming the first male player in professional cricket to claim five wickets in five balls, achieving the feat on Thursday.

    He did so while playing for Munster Reds during their Inter-Provincial T20 Trophy clash against the North-West Warriors in Dublin, with Munster ultimately winning the match by 100 runs.

    Campher began his spell by bowling Jared Wilson and trapping Graham Hume lbw to end the 12th over, then returned in the 14th to complete a hat-trick with the dismissal of Andy McBrine, before removing Robbie Millar and Josh Wilson to finish the streak.

    “I wasn’t really sure what was happening,” he told Cricket Ireland. “I just kind of stuck to my guns and kept it real simple and luckily it kind of went off.”

    Zimbabwe women’s all-rounder Kelis Ndhlovu was the first in achieving the rare feat, after she claimed five wickets in five consecutive balls during a domestic under-19 T20 match against Eagles Women in 2024.

    (Reuters)