NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia

  • Pilgrims thank Army, Administration for smooth conduct of Amarnath Yatra

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    As the 36-day-long Amarnath Yatra commenced, thousands of pilgrims from across the country converged in Jammu and Kashmir to undertake the sacred journey to the revered Amarnath cave shrine.

    The first batch of Yatris began their trek from the Baltal base camp early Thursday morning, while another group departed from the traditional Pahalgam route. Simultaneously, the second batch of 5,246 pilgrims left from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas on Canal Road in Jammu for the Valley in two escorted convoys, underscoring the stringent security measures in place.

    Speaking to IANS, several pilgrims thanked administration for the arrangements and the Indian Army for ensuring their safety.

    “I have been coming to Baba Barfani’s shrine since 2019, and every visit feels wonderful. The arrangements this year are excellent,” said one devotee.

    Another added, “The government’s efforts are commendable. We are very happy with the facilities provided.”

    This year’s turnout appears to be significantly higher than in previous years. One pilgrim remarked, “Earlier, due to the threat of terror attacks, very few people came for the Yatra. But this time, the number of devotees is overwhelming.”

    “When one comes on a pilgrimage, comfort is not the priority. But the arrangements this time are excellent—far better than in previous years,” said another devotee.

    Appreciating security arrangements, a pilgrim noted, “The Indian Army has made our journey easy and safe. Their presence is reassuring. The efforts of the Centre and the J&K administration are truly commendable.”

    Another devotee added, “Thanks to the Indian Army and the administration, pilgrims feel secure and can perform this holy Yatra without any fear. We are grateful for everything.”

    The Yatra was officially flagged off by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha from Jammu on Wednesday.

    Authorities have implemented an unprecedented security plan in light of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.

    An additional 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been deployed, supplementing the already robust security presence comprising the Indian Army, paramilitary forces, and J&K Police.

    Pilgrims have been advised to travel from Jammu to the base camps only as part of escorted convoys and have been warned against undertaking the journey independently.

    Due to heightened security concerns, helicopter services for the Yatra have been suspended this year.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • LS Speaker Om Birla to inaugurate first national conference of Urban Local Bodies’ Chairpersons in Manesar

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will inaugurate the maiden national conference of Chairpersons of Urban Local Bodies from all states and union territories today at the International Centre for Automotive Technology in Manesar, Haryana. Organized as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations, the conference aims to highlight the crucial role of urban local governance in shaping the future of a rapidly urbanizing India.

    The inaugural session will witness the presence of several prominent dignitaries, including Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Manohar Lal, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh, and Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Harvinder Kalyan, along with other distinguished guests.

    With the theme, “Role of Urban Local Bodies in Strengthening Constitutional Democracy and Nation Building,” the two-day conference aims to create a platform for discussion, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing among urban governance leaders. The focus will be on enhancing the contribution of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) in building democratic institutions, implementing best practices, and fostering innovation in municipal administration.

    During the conference, delegates will engage in discussions on a range of vital themes. These will cover the role of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) as the bedrock of democratic governance, their growing significance in promoting inclusive development and upholding constitutional values, their contribution towards realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047, their efforts in fostering women’s leadership, and their capacity to drive innovation and enhance the quality of public service delivery.

    On the second day of the conference, presentations by five thematic groups will pave the way for the valedictory session. Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatraya will deliver the valedictory address. Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha Harivansh and Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker Harvinder Kalyan will also attend the conference.

    The conference will conclude with a guided visit for delegates to Prerna Sthal, Samvidhan Sadan, and Parliament House, offering them a chance to engage with the rich historical and constitutional legacy of Indian democracy

  • MIL-OSI Australia: Rates for financial year ending 30 June 2025

    Source: New places to play in Gungahlin

    Foreign currency exchange rates for financial year 2025 – foreign currency equivalent to 1 AUD.

    Country

    Average rate for year ended 31 Dec 2024

    Average rate for year ended 30 Jun 2025

    Nearest actual exchange rate 31 Dec 2024

    Nearest actual exchange rate 30 Jun 2025

    Currency

    Canada

    0.9041

    0.9039

    0.8922

    0.8947

    Canadian dollar

    China

    4.7516

    4.6760

    4.5373

    4.6921

    Renminbi

    Europe

    0.6101

    0.5963

    0.5974

    0.5586

    Euro

    Hong Kong

    5.1522

    5.0497

    4.8261

    5.1416

    Hong Kong dollar

    India

    55.2412

    55.1294

    53.2100

    55.9900

    Indian Rupee

    Indonesia

    10462.9127

    10431.5777

    10031.0000

    10629.0000

    Rupiah

    Japan

    99.9712

    97.0162

    97.1400

    94.2600

    Yen

    Malaysia

    3.0207

    2.8547

    2.7787

    2.7602

    Malaysian ringgit

    Taiwan

    21.2001

    20.7936

    20.4000

    19.0700

    New Taiwan dollar

    New Zealand

    1.0907

    1.0966

    1.1045

    1.0768

    New Zealand dollar

    Philippines

    37.8282

    37.2010

    35.9600

    36.8800

    Peso

    Singapore

    0.8821

    0.8589

    0.8456

    0.8341

    Singapore dollar

    South Korea

    900.0732

    907.1583

    915.1100

    883.8900

    South Korean won

    Switzerland*

    n/a

    n/a

    n/a

    0.5228

    Swiss franc

    Thailand

    23.2963

    22.0392

    21.2000

    21.2900

    Baht

    UK

    0.5165

    0.5011

    0.4956

    0.4771

    Pound sterling

    USA

    0.6603

    0.6482

    0.6217

    0.6550

    US dollar

    Vietnam

    16543.5397

    16472.7171

    15855.0000

    17087.0000

    Dong

    Notes:

    From 1 January 2020, we have used the exchange rates from the Reserve Bank of AustraliaOpens in a new window. In previous years we have used exchange rates sourced from the Commonwealth Bank of AustraliaOpens in a new window.

    The Reserve Bank of Australia and the Commonwealth Bank publish rates for different countries.

    If we do not publish a rate for the country or year you need, you can use an appropriate exchange rate provided by:

    • a banking institution operating in Australia including, where relevant, the banking institution through which your foreign income is received
    • another reliable external source.

    Keep the rate used and the source of rates with your records. Be mindful that you cannot obtain an average rate (or rates) of exchange from an associate, or from yourself, unless otherwise notified by us.

    * The Reserve Bank of Australia has recommenced reporting on the Swiss franc after a period of absence, part way through the financial year 2024–25. For this reason, the average rates for the financial years 2023–24 and 2024–25 are not available for this currency.

    MIL OSI News –

  • MIL-OSI China: Carrier CNS Shandong arrives in HK for maiden visit 2025-07-03 13:24:10 The nation’s first domestically built aircraft carrier, the CNS Shandong, sailed into Hong Kong Special Administrative Region waters on Thursday on its maiden visit to the city, accompanied by a powerful escort fleet.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

    The People’s Liberation Army’s aircraft carrier CNS Shandong arrives in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on July 3 to mark the 28th anniversary of the city’s return to the motherland. The fleet will leave Hong Kong on July 7. [Photo by Edmond Tang/China Daily]

    The nation’s first domestically built aircraft carrier, the CNS Shandong, sailed into Hong Kong Special Administrative Region waters on Thursday on its maiden visit to the city, accompanied by a powerful escort fleet.

    The sprawling carrier, alongside three escort ships — the Yan’an (Type 055 destroyer), Zhanjiang (Type 052D destroyer), and Yuncheng (Type 054A frigate) — received a grand water salute as they sailed into Hong Kong waters and toward Victoria Harbor at around 8:00 am, drawing cheers from enthusiastic crowds gathered along the waterfront.

    The Shandong‘s massive flight deck — standing 20 stories tall and spanning two football fields — showcased 10 fighter jets alongside a formation of more than 700 sailors spelling out guoan jiahao, a Chinese phrase meaning “a secure nation ensures thriving families”.

    Shandong‘s visit makes Hong Kong the only city to have played host to two serving Chinese carriers, following CNS Liaoning‘s 2017 visit for the handover’s 20th anniversary.

    The People’s Liberation Army’s aircraft carrier CNS Shandong arrives in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on July 3 to mark the 28th anniversary of the city’s return to the motherland. The fleet will leave Hong Kong on July 7. [Photo by Edmond Tang/China Daily]

    A welcoming ceremony will be held at 10 am at the Ngong Shuen Chau Barracks — the People’s Liberation Army Hong Kong Garrison’s naval base on Stonecutters Island — where Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu will deliver a speech.

    The fleet’s five-day stay in Hong Kong — which includes exclusive public tours — came on the heels of the July 1 celebrations marking the 28th anniversary of the city’s return to the motherland.

    The timing also aligns with the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, blending military display with anti-war themes.

    Shandong‘s arrival has been greeted with enthusiasm on social media, as Hong Kong residents eagerly shared tips on prime viewing locations to watch the carrier group’s passage through the scenic East Lamma Channel — the waterway separating Hong Kong Island from Lamma Island — before its final docking.

    The People’s Liberation Army’s aircraft carrier CNS Shandong arrives in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on July 3 to mark the 28th anniversary of the city’s return to the motherland. The fleet will leave Hong Kong on July 7. [Photo by Edmond Tang/China Daily]

    The PLA HK garrison has distributed 10,000 free tickets through its WeChat account, with 2,000 allocated for tours of the Shandong anchored near Victoria Harbor.

    The remaining tickets will provide access to the guided-missile destroyer Zhanjiang and frigate Yuncheng docked at Stonecutters Island.

    Commissioned in December 2019, Shandong ushered in China’s “dual-carrier era”, joining the Liaoning, the nation’s first carrier commissioned in 2012.

    Shandong surpasses the Liaoning with a larger deck, expanded hangar, streamlined control tower, and upgraded radar and weaponry.

    The People’s Liberation Army’s aircraft carrier CNS Shandong arrives in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on July 3 to mark the 28th anniversary of the city’s return to the motherland. The fleet will leave Hong Kong on July 7. [Photo by Edmond Tang/China Daily]

    The escort fleet underscores China’s shipbuilding prowess.

    For example, the Yan’an, named after a revolutionary base in Northwest China, features stealth and hypersonic missile capabilities, though it is not open to the public this time.

    Meanwhile, the Zhanjiang — nicknamed Chinese Shield — and Yuncheng, a veteran of anti-piracy missions, reflect the navy’s global operational reach.

    The Ministry of National Defense has said that the visit aims to demonstrate military modernization achievements and the country’s commitment to national security.

    Hong Kong legislators have praised the event as a “living patriotic lesson” highlighting China’s military and industrial advancements.

    The People’s Liberation Army’s aircraft carrier CNS Shandong arrives in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on July 3 to mark the 28th anniversary of the city’s return to the motherland. The fleet will leave Hong Kong on July 7. [Photo by Edmond Tang/China Daily]

    Hong Kong residents and military enthusiasts gather at High West Viewing Point on Thursday morning to photograph the the CNS Shandong. [Photo by Adam Lam/China Daily]

    Hong Kong residents and military enthusiasts gather at High West Viewing Point on Thursday morning to photograph the the CNS Shandong. [Photo by Adam Lam/China Daily]

    Hong Kong residents and military enthusiasts gather at High West Viewing Point on Thursday morning to photograph the CNS Shandong. [Photo by Adam Lam/China Daily]

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Winnie Ho attends Lisbon forum

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    Secretary for Housing Winnie Ho attended the International Forum on Urbanism (IFoU) in Lisbon, Portugal, to promote Hong Kong’s resident-oriented “Well-being design” concepts and strategies.

     

    On Wednesday, Ms Ho began her visit to Lisbon by meeting Secretary of State for Housing in the Ministry of Infrastructure & Housing Patrícia Goncalves Costa, to exchange views on the housing policies of the two places.

     

    Afterwards, Ms Ho attended the IFoU held at the Pavilion of Portugal for the previous World Expo, where she explored the latest trends of housing planning, design and management, community engagement and more with scholars, industry representatives, professional bodies and students from the Mainland, Europe and the US.

     

    In the forum’s plenary session, Ms Ho highlighted that the “Well-being design” guide launched by the Housing Bureau and the Housing Authority last year, serves as a reference for the future design of new public housing estates and the improvement works of existing estates, to create a more comfortable and vibrant living environment for the residents.

         

    She also said that Hong Kong can give full play to the role of being a “super connector” through interactions and exchanges in different places.

     

    The IFoU is organised in different cities each year, and this year’s edition was hosted by the University of Lisbon with the theme of Future Living.

         

    After the forum, Ms Ho had dinner with Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Portuguese Republic Zhao Bentang, and briefed him on Hong Kong’s latest housing policies and initiatives.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • India, US to sign new 10-year Defence Framework this year

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India and the United States have agreed to sign a new 10-year US-India Defence Framework by the end of this year, US Senior Defence Spokesperson Colonel Chris Devine has said.

    According to a statement from the Pentagon, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh agreed during a phone conversation on Tuesday to finalise and sign the new framework when they meet later this year.

    In a post on X, Rajnath Singh said, “Glad to speak with the US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth today. Excellent discussion to review the ongoing and new initiatives to further deepen the India-US defence partnership and strengthen cooperation in capacity building. Conveyed my deep appreciation for the unwavering support extended by the US to India in its fight against terrorism. Looking forward to meeting him at an early date.”

    During the conversation, Secretary Hegseth underlined the priority the United States places on India as its key defence partner in South Asia.

    Both leaders reviewed the significant progress the two nations have made toward achieving the defence objectives set out in the February 2025 joint statement by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi.

    “On July 1, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth spoke with India’s Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh. Secretary Hegseth emphasized the priority the United States places on India as its key defence partner in South Asia. Secretary Hegseth and Minister Singh reviewed the considerable progress both countries have made toward achieving the defence goals set out in the February 2025 joint statement by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi. The two discussed pending major US defence sales to India and the importance of close defence industrial cooperation between the two countries,” the Pentagon statement said.

    Following the call, India’s Ministry of Defence said in an official statement that the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including long-term cooperation in the defence sector, training and military exchanges, and expanding industrial collaboration. They agreed to build further momentum in this critical and mutually beneficial partnership, covering areas such as interoperability, integration of defence industrial supply chains, logistics sharing, increased joint military exercises, and cooperation with other like-minded partners.

    — ANI

  • India, US to sign new 10-year Defence Framework this year

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India and the United States have agreed to sign a new 10-year US-India Defence Framework by the end of this year, US Senior Defence Spokesperson Colonel Chris Devine has said.

    According to a statement from the Pentagon, US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth and India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh agreed during a phone conversation on Tuesday to finalise and sign the new framework when they meet later this year.

    In a post on X, Rajnath Singh said, “Glad to speak with the US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth today. Excellent discussion to review the ongoing and new initiatives to further deepen the India-US defence partnership and strengthen cooperation in capacity building. Conveyed my deep appreciation for the unwavering support extended by the US to India in its fight against terrorism. Looking forward to meeting him at an early date.”

    During the conversation, Secretary Hegseth underlined the priority the United States places on India as its key defence partner in South Asia.

    Both leaders reviewed the significant progress the two nations have made toward achieving the defence objectives set out in the February 2025 joint statement by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi.

    “On July 1, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth spoke with India’s Minister of Defence Rajnath Singh. Secretary Hegseth emphasized the priority the United States places on India as its key defence partner in South Asia. Secretary Hegseth and Minister Singh reviewed the considerable progress both countries have made toward achieving the defence goals set out in the February 2025 joint statement by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi. The two discussed pending major US defence sales to India and the importance of close defence industrial cooperation between the two countries,” the Pentagon statement said.

    Following the call, India’s Ministry of Defence said in an official statement that the two leaders discussed a wide range of issues, including long-term cooperation in the defence sector, training and military exchanges, and expanding industrial collaboration. They agreed to build further momentum in this critical and mutually beneficial partnership, covering areas such as interoperability, integration of defence industrial supply chains, logistics sharing, increased joint military exercises, and cooperation with other like-minded partners.

    — ANI

  • EAM Jaishankar meets heads of US FBI and National Intelligence

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar met with two top US intelligence officials – Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard – on Wednesday.

    In a post on X, Jaishankar noted that he had a “good exchange on the global situation and bilateral cooperation” with Gabbard.

    He also shared details of his meeting with Patel, stating, “Great to meet FBI Director Kash Patel. Appreciate our strong cooperation in countering organised crime, drug trafficking and terrorism.”

    Counterterrorism remains a key area of collaboration between India and the United States. Following the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, both countries signed the India-US Counterterrorism Initiative in 2010. This cooperation has expanded over the years through frameworks such as the India-US Working Group on Counterterrorism and the US-India Counterterrorism Designations Dialogue, which work to identify terrorists and affiliated organisations globally.

    For the US, combating drug smuggling continues to be a major focus – particularly under the leadership of President Donald Trump.

    Coinciding with Jaishankar’s meetings in Washington, Union Home Minister Amit Shah in India announced a major crackdown on a transnational drug-smuggling network operating between India and the US.

    According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), intelligence shared by India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) led to the arrest of a key figure in the network by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (USDEA).

    “Joel Hall, a major re-shipper based in Alabama, was arrested following a coordinated operation, which led to the seizure of more than 17,000 tablets of controlled medication,” the MHA said. It added that an Indian-American—identified as the network’s primary money launderer—is currently awaiting indictment.

    On Tuesday, EAM Jaishankar also participated in the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya.

    In addition to his meetings with Gabbard and Patel, Jaishankar held bilateral discussions with several senior US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, focusing on key areas of India-US cooperation.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • EAM Jaishankar meets heads of US FBI and National Intelligence

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar met with two top US intelligence officials – Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard – on Wednesday.

    In a post on X, Jaishankar noted that he had a “good exchange on the global situation and bilateral cooperation” with Gabbard.

    He also shared details of his meeting with Patel, stating, “Great to meet FBI Director Kash Patel. Appreciate our strong cooperation in countering organised crime, drug trafficking and terrorism.”

    Counterterrorism remains a key area of collaboration between India and the United States. Following the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, both countries signed the India-US Counterterrorism Initiative in 2010. This cooperation has expanded over the years through frameworks such as the India-US Working Group on Counterterrorism and the US-India Counterterrorism Designations Dialogue, which work to identify terrorists and affiliated organisations globally.

    For the US, combating drug smuggling continues to be a major focus – particularly under the leadership of President Donald Trump.

    Coinciding with Jaishankar’s meetings in Washington, Union Home Minister Amit Shah in India announced a major crackdown on a transnational drug-smuggling network operating between India and the US.

    According to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), intelligence shared by India’s Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) led to the arrest of a key figure in the network by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (USDEA).

    “Joel Hall, a major re-shipper based in Alabama, was arrested following a coordinated operation, which led to the seizure of more than 17,000 tablets of controlled medication,” the MHA said. It added that an Indian-American—identified as the network’s primary money launderer—is currently awaiting indictment.

    On Tuesday, EAM Jaishankar also participated in the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting alongside US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, and Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya.

    In addition to his meetings with Gabbard and Patel, Jaishankar held bilateral discussions with several senior US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Energy Secretary Chris Wright, focusing on key areas of India-US cooperation.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Tenders invited for tenancy of government canteen

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Government Property Agency (GPA) is inviting tenders for a three-year tenancy of the government canteen on a portion of Level 0, Office Building, Civil Aviation Department Headquarters, 1 Tung Fai Road, Hong Kong International Airport, Lantau, Hong Kong, subject to the provisions for renewal for a further term of three years.

         The premises should be used to operate a canteen that supplies meals, light refreshments, beverages (excluding alcoholic beverages and plastic bottled water) and other food commodities to government employees working in the Civil Aviation Department Headquarters and such other persons as may be authorised by the Director-General of Civil Aviation.

         The tender notice was uploaded today (July 3) to the GPA Property Portal www.gpaproperty.gov.hk/en/index.html. Tender documents are available for collection at the GPA, 9/F, South Tower, West Kowloon Government Offices, 11 Hoi Ting Road, Yau Ma Tei, Kowloon, during the period from 9am to 6pm from Monday to Friday, except public holidays. The documents can also be downloaded from the GPA Property Portal.

         Interested tenderers who wish to conduct a site inspection of the premises should make a prior appointment with the GPA by calling 3842 6775 by July 16.

         Tenderers must submit their tenders by placing them in the Government Logistics Department Tender Box situated on the Ground Floor, North Point Government Offices, 333 Java Road, North Point, Hong Kong, before noon on July 24. Late tenders will not be accepted.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN hosts breakfast meeting in honour of Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the United States Mission to ASEAN

    Source: ASEAN – Association of SouthEast Asian Nations

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, this morning hosted a breakfast meeting in honour of Chargé d’Affaires (CDA) ad interim of the United States Mission to ASEAN, Kate Rebholz, who will be completing her tenure soon. Dr. Kao commended CDA Kate for her active role in promoting closer relations between ASEAN and the United States. Both sides exchanged views on ways to strengthen the ASEAN-United States Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. They also discussed on the preparations for the upcoming ASEAN Post-Ministerial Conference with the United States and 15th East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, later this month.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN hosts breakfast meeting in honour of Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the United States Mission to ASEAN appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • Indian stock market opens higher, Sensex above 83,400

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian benchmark indices opened higher on Thursday amid positive global cues, with buying seen in the IT, pharma and auto sectors in early trade.

    At around 9:25 am, the Sensex was trading 68.28 points or 0.08 per cent higher at 83,477.97, while the Nifty added 19.30 points or 0.08 per cent to reach 25,472.70.

    Analysts said the market is currently consolidating the recent bullish rectangle breakout, and as long as the 25,200–25,270 range holds, bulls are merely taking a breather.

    “Below 25,200, we risk a slide to 25,000. On the upside, the recent swing high at 25,670 is where the next bullish trigger lies,” said Akshay Chinchalkar, Head of Research at Axis Securities.

    With the deadline for the US tariff pause expiring next week, it remains to be seen whether the current global optimism will hold.

    “Today is the weekly derivatives expiry, so higher-than-usual volatility may be seen,” he added.

    The Nifty Bank was down 9.90 points or 0.02 per cent at 56,989.30 in early trade.

    The Nifty Midcap 100 index was trading at 59,645.25, down 22 points or 0.04 per cent. The Nifty Smallcap 100 index stood at 18,969.35, declining 7.75 points or 0.04 per cent.

    In the Sensex pack, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Bajaj Finance, Bajaj Finserv, BEL, Titan, Axis Bank, NTPC, SBI, HCL Tech and ITC were among the top losers.

    On the other hand, Eternal (earlier Zomato), Asian Paints, M&M, Infosys, Tech Mahindra, Maruti Suzuki and ICICI Bank were among the top gainers.

    Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) extended their selling on July 2, offloading equities worth ₹1,561.62 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) continued their buying spree, purchasing equities worth ₹3,036.68 crore on the same day.

    In Asian markets, Bangkok, China, Japan, Seoul and Jakarta were trading in the green, whereas only Hong Kong was in the red.

    In the last trading session, the Dow Jones in the US closed at 44,484.42, down 10.52 points or 0.02 per cent. The S&P 500 ended with a gain of 29.41 points or 0.47 per cent at 6,227.42, while the Nasdaq closed at 20,393.13, up 190.24 points or 0.94 per cent.

    Analysts said the US-Vietnam trade deal indicates the US administration’s eagerness to secure as many trade agreements as possible, as deals with the EU and Japan appear unlikely in the near term.

    — IANS

  • Another batch of 5,246 yatris leaves for Valley as Amarnath Yatra begins today

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The annual Amarnath Yatra officially commenced on Thursday, with another batch of 5,246 pilgrims departing from Jammu for the Kashmir Valley, officials confirmed.

    According to officials, the second batch of pilgrims left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas on Canal Road in Jammu in two escorted convoys.

    “Out of the total, 1,993 pilgrims are heading to the Baltal base camp, while 3,253 are bound for the Pahalgam base camp,” they added.

    The 36-day-long Yatra began on Thursday morning, with the first batch of pilgrims setting off from the Baltal base camp towards the holy cave shrine. Simultaneously, others from the same batch departed from Pahalgam on foot.

    Upon their arrival in the Valley on Wednesday, the pilgrims were warmly welcomed by locals – including members of civil society, traders, and other community groups – who lined up at the Navyug Tunnel in Qazigund town with garlands and placards.

    J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of pilgrims from Jammu on Wednesday, marking the ceremonial start of this year’s Yatra.

    Unprecedented security arrangements have been made for the Yatra, particularly in light of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. An additional 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been deployed to bolster the existing security setup, which includes the Army, security forces, and the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

    Pilgrims have been advised to travel from Jammu to the base camps only as part of official escorted convoys and not to attempt the journey individually for safety reasons.

    The Yatra will conclude on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.

    The holy cave shrine, located 3,888 meters above sea level, can be reached via two routes: the traditional 46-kilometre-long Pahalgam route or the shorter 14-kilometre Baltal route.

    Pilgrims taking the Pahalgam route pass through Chandanwadi, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni, typically taking four days to reach the shrine. In contrast, those using the Baltal route usually complete the round trip in a single day.

    Due to security concerns, helicopter services are not being offered to pilgrims this year.

    Local residents play a vital role in facilitating the pilgrimage by providing ponies, palkis, and even carrying elderly or infirm devotees on their backs along the difficult terrain leading to the shrine.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • WHO pushes countries to raise prices on sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco by 50%

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The World Health Organization is pushing countries to raise the prices of sugary drinks, alcohol and tobacco by 50% over the next 10 years through taxation, its strongest backing yet for taxes to help tackle chronic public health problems.

    The United Nations health agency said the move would help cut consumption of the products, which contribute to diseases like diabetes and some cancers, as well as raising money at a time when development aid is shrinking and public debt rising.

    “Health taxes are one of the most efficient tools we have,” said Jeremy Farrar, WHO assistant-director general of health promotion and disease prevention and control. “It’s time to act.”

    The WHO launched the push, which it is called “3 by 35” at the UN Finance for Development conference in Seville.

    WHO said that its tax initiative could raise $1 trillion by 2035 based on evidence from health taxes in countries such as Colombia and South Africa.

    The WHO has backed tobacco taxes and price rises for decades, and has called for taxes on alcohol and sugary drinks in recent years, but this is the first time it has suggested a target price rise for all three products.

    WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told the conference that the taxes could help governments “adjust to the new reality” and bolster their own health systems with the money raised.

    Many low and middle-income countries are coping with cuts to aid spending led by the United States, which is not attending the Seville conference. The U.S. is also in the process of withdrawing from the WHO.

    FROM $4 to $10

    As an example, the initiative would mean a government in a middle-income country raising taxes on the product to push the price up from $4 today to $10 by 2035, taking into account inflation, said WHO health economist Guillermo Sandoval.

    Nearly 140 countries had already raised tobacco taxes and therefore prices by over 50% on average between 2012 and 2022, the WHO added.

    Sandoval said the WHO was also considering broader taxation recommendations, including on ultra-processed food, after the agency finalises its definition of that type of food in the coming months. But he added that the agency expected pushback from the industries involved.

    The initiative is also backed by Bloomberg Philanthropies, the World Bank and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), and involves support for countries who want to take action.

    (Reuters)

  • Another batch of yatris leaves for Valley as Amarnath Yatra begins today

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The annual Amarnath Yatra officially commenced on Thursday, with another batch of 5,246 pilgrims departing from Jammu for the Kashmir Valley, officials confirmed.

    According to officials, the second batch of pilgrims left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas on Canal Road in Jammu in two escorted convoys.

    “Out of the total, 1,993 pilgrims are heading to the Baltal base camp, while 3,253 are bound for the Pahalgam base camp,” they added.

    The 36-day-long Yatra began on Thursday morning, with the first batch of pilgrims setting off from the Baltal base camp towards the holy cave shrine. Simultaneously, others from the same batch departed from Pahalgam on foot.

    Upon their arrival in the Valley on Wednesday, the pilgrims were warmly welcomed by locals – including members of civil society, traders, and other community groups – who lined up at the Navyug Tunnel in Qazigund town with garlands and placards.

    J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of pilgrims from Jammu on Wednesday, marking the ceremonial start of this year’s Yatra.

    Unprecedented security arrangements have been made for the Yatra, particularly in light of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. An additional 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) have been deployed to bolster the existing security setup, which includes the Army, security forces, and the Jammu and Kashmir Police.

    Pilgrims have been advised to travel from Jammu to the base camps only as part of official escorted convoys and not to attempt the journey individually for safety reasons.

    The Yatra will conclude on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.

    The holy cave shrine, located 3,888 meters above sea level, can be reached via two routes: the traditional 46-kilometre-long Pahalgam route or the shorter 14-kilometre Baltal route.

    Pilgrims taking the Pahalgam route pass through Chandanwadi, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni, typically taking four days to reach the shrine. In contrast, those using the Baltal route usually complete the round trip in a single day.

    Due to security concerns, helicopter services are not being offered to pilgrims this year.

    Local residents play a vital role in facilitating the pilgrimage by providing ponies, palkis, and even carrying elderly or infirm devotees on their backs along the difficult terrain leading to the shrine.

    (With inputs from IANS)

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China to host gala concert to mark 80th anniversary of victory in war against Japanese aggression and fascism

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    BEIJING, July 3 (Xinhua) — A gala concert to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War will be held in Beijing on the evening of Sept. 3, the State Council Information Office said at a press conference on Thursday.

    The event was organized by the Propaganda Department of the CPC Central Committee, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China, the China Media Corporation, the Political Work Department of the Central Military Commission and the Beijing People’s Government.

    Let us recall that China designated September 3 as Victory Day, since Japan signed the act of surrender on September 2, 1945. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Indonesia conducts search and rescue operations in Bali Strait ferry wreck area

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    JAKARTA, July 3 (Xinhua) — Indonesian authorities have launched a search and rescue operation in the area where a ferry sank in the Bali Strait off the coast of the island of the same name, state news agency Antara reported, citing a preliminary report.

    According to him, the KM Tunu Pratama Jaya was heading from the port of Ketapang in East Java to the port of Gilimanuk in Bali when it sank on Thursday at around 00:19 local time.

    The ferry was reported to be carrying 53 passengers and 12 crew members. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

    Several vessels have been dispatched to the area to assist in the search for victims, with crews using on-board lighting systems to conduct operations at night. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Four dead, 38 missing after passenger ship sinks off Indonesia’s Bali

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    JAKARTA, July 3 (Xinhua) — Four people were confirmed dead, 38 were missing and 23 survived after a passenger ship sank off Indonesia’s Bali island early Thursday, a senior official with East Java’s search and rescue agency Toleb Watelehan said.

    The wooden vessel, KM Tunu Pratama Jaya, was en route from Ketapang seaport in Banyuwangi province, East Java, to Gilimanuk seaport in Jembrana province on Bali island, the official said.

    “Up to 23 people survived the incident, four died and 38 remain missing,” T. Vatelehan told Xinhua by telephone.

    Search and rescue operations are underway from both Bali and East Java as the incident occurred near the maritime border between the two. Bali Search and Rescue Agency chief I Nyoman Sidakarya confirmed the joint efforts. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • Hamas studies Gaza ceasefire proposal labelled ‘final’ by Trump

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Hamas said on Wednesday it was studying what U.S. President Donald Trump called a “final” ceasefire proposal for Gaza but that Israel must pull out of the enclave, and Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu said Hamas would be eliminated.

    Trump said on Tuesday Israel had agreed to the conditions needed to finalise a 60-day ceasefire with Hamas after a meeting between his representatives and Israeli officials.

    In a statement, the Palestinian militant group said it was studying new ceasefire offers received from mediators Egypt and Qatar but that it aimed to reach an agreement that would ensure an end to the war and an Israeli pullout from Gaza.

    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called for the elimination of Hamas in his first public remarks since Trump’s announcement.

    “There will not be a Hamas. There will not be a ‘Hamastan’. We’re not going back to that. It’s over,” Netanyahu told a meeting hosted by the Trans-Israel pipeline.

    The two sides’ statements reiterated long-held positions, giving no clues as to whether or how a compromise agreement could be reached.

    “I hope it would work this time, even if for two months, it would save thousands of innocent lives,” Kamal, a resident of Gaza City, said by phone.

    Others questioned whether Trump’s statements would deliver long-term peace.

    “We hope he is serious like he was serious during the Israeli-Iranian war when he said the war should stop, and it stopped,” said Adnan Al-Assar, a resident of Khan Younis in Gaza’s south.

    There is growing public pressure on Netanyahu to reach a permanent ceasefire and end the nearly two-year-long war, a move opposed by hardline members of his right-wing ruling coalition.

    At the same time, U.S. and Israeli strikes on nuclear sites in Iran and ceasefire agreed on in last month’s 12-day Israel-Iran air war have put pressure on Hamas, which is backed by Tehran.

    Israeli leaders believe that, with Iran weakened, other countries in the region have an opportunity to forge ties with Israel.

    ‘SOME POSITIVE SIGNS’

    Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel was “serious in our will” to reach a hostage deal and ceasefire.

    “There are some positive signs. I don’t want to say more than that right now. But our goal is to begin proximity talks as soon as possible,” he said while visiting Estonia.

    Of 50 hostages held by Hamas, about 20 are believed to be still alive.

    Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid posted that his party could provide a safety net if any cabinet members opposed a deal, effectively pledging not to back a no-confidence motion in parliament that could topple the government.

    At the end of May, Hamas had said it was seeking amendments to a U.S.-backed ceasefire proposal. Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, said this was “totally unacceptable.”

    That proposal involved a 60-day ceasefire and the release of half the hostages held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and the remains of other Palestinians; Hamas would release the remaining hostages as part of a deal that guarantees the end of the war.

    “Israel has agreed to the necessary conditions to finalize the 60 Day CEASEFIRE, during which time we will work with all parties to end the War,” Trump posted on Tuesday, without specifying the conditions.

    A source close to Hamas said its leaders were expected to debate the proposal and seek clarifications from mediators before giving an official response.

    Gaza health authorities said Israeli gunfire and military strikes had killed at least 139 Palestinians in northern and southern areas in the past 24 hours, and the Israeli military ordered more evacuations late on Tuesday.

    Among those killed was Marwan Al-Sultan, director of the Indonesian Hospital in northern Gaza, in an airstrike that has also killed his wife and five children, medics said.

    The Israeli military said it had targeted a “key terrorist” from Hamas in the Gaza City area. It said it was reviewing reports of civilian casualties and that the military regretted any harm to “uninvolved individuals” and takes steps to minimise such harm.

    Hamas fighters stormed into Israel on October 7, 2023, and killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took 251 hostages back to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

    Israel’s subsequent military assault has killed more than 57,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry, displaced almost all the 2.3 million population and caused a humanitarian crisis.

    (Reuters)

  • RBI issues advisory to banks for integration of DoT’s Financial Fraud Risk Indicator

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) welcomes the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) advisory issued on June 30, directing all Scheduled Commercial Banks, Small Finance Banks, Payments Banks and Co-operative Banks to integrate the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI) developed by DoT into their systems.

    This major step is expected to strengthen efforts to curb cyber-enabled financial frauds and boost collaboration between key agencies to protect citizens in the expanding digital economy. The integration will automate data exchange between banks and DoT’s Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) through secure API-based systems, allowing for real-time fraud risk checks and continuous updates.

    What is the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator and How Will It Help?

    Launched in May 2025 by DoT’s Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU), the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator is a risk-based tool that classifies mobile numbers as Medium, High or Very High risk based on data from the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal, DoT’s Chakshu platform and intelligence inputs from banks and financial institutions.

    Using the FRI, banks can take immediate preventive steps such as declining suspicious transactions, alerting customers, or delaying high-risk transactions. DoT’s DIU also shares a Mobile Number Revocation List with stakeholders, which includes numbers disconnected due to links with cybercrime or misuse.

    The system is already being used by major institutions including PhonePe, Punjab National Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Paytm and India Post Payments Bank. With UPI being widely used across India, the wider adoption of FRI is expected to protect millions of users from online fraud.

    DoT has reiterated its commitment to support banks and financial institutions with technology-driven, coordinated solutions like the FRI. The move aligns with the Government’s Digital India vision and aims to strengthen digital trust, improve fraud detection and enhance resilience across the financial ecosystem.

  • MIL-Evening Report: Experiencing extreme weather and disasters is not enough to change views on climate action, study shows

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Omid Ghasemi, Research Associate in Behavioural Science at the Institute for Climate Risk & Response, UNSW Sydney

    STR / AFP via Getty Images

    Climate change has made extreme weather events such as bushfires and floods more frequent and more likely in recent years, and the trend is expected to continue. These events have led to human and animal deaths, harmed physical and mental health, and damaged properties and infrastructure.

    Will firsthand experience of these events change how people think and act about climate change, making it seem immediate and local rather than a distant or future problem?

    Research so far has offered a mixed picture. Some studies suggest going through extreme weather can make people more likely to believe in climate change, worry about it, support climate policies, and vote for Green parties. But other studies have found no such effects on people’s beliefs, concern, or behaviour.

    New research led by Viktoria Cologna at ETH Zurich in Switzerland may help to explain what’s going on. Using data from around the world, the study suggests simple exposure to extreme weather events does not affect people’s view of climate action – but linking those events to climate change can make a big difference.

    Global opinion, global weather

    The new study, published in Nature Climate Change, looked at the question of extreme weather and climate opinion using two global datasets.

    The first is the Trust in Science and Science-related Populism (TISP) survey, which includes responses from more than 70,000 people in 68 countries. It measures public support for climate policies and the extent that people think climate change is behind increases in extreme weather.

    The second dataset estimates how much of each country’s population has been affected each year by events such as droughts, floods, heatwaves and storms. These estimates are based on detailed models and historical climate records.

    Public support for climate policies

    The survey measured public support for climate policy by asking people how much they supported five specific actions to cut carbon emissions. These included raising carbon taxes, improving public transport, using more renewable energy, protecting forests and land, and taxing carbon-heavy foods.

    Responses ranged from 1 (not at all) to 3 (very much). On average, support was fairly strong, with an average rating of 2.37 across the five policies. Support was especially high in parts of South Asia, Africa, the Americas and Oceania, but lower in countries such as Russia, Czechia and Ethiopia.

    Exposure to extreme weather events

    The study found most people around the world have experienced heatwaves and heavy rainfall in recent decades. Wildfires affected fewer people in many European and North American countries, but were more common in parts of Asia, Africa and Latin America.

    Cyclones mostly impacted North America and Asia, while droughts affected large populations in Asia, Latin America and Africa. River flooding was widespread across most regions, except Oceania.

    Do people in countries with higher exposure to extreme weather events show greater support for climate policies? This study found they don’t.

    In most cases, living in a country where more people are exposed to disasters was not reflected in stronger support for climate action.

    Wildfires were the only exception. Countries with more wildfire exposure showed slightly higher support, but this link disappeared once factors such as land size and overall climate belief were considered.

    In short, just experiencing more disasters does not seem to translate into increased support for mitigation efforts.

    Seeing the link between weather and climate change

    In the global survey, people were asked how much they think climate change has increased the impact of extreme weather over recent decades. On average, responses were moderately high (3.8 out of 5) suggesting that many people do link recent weather events to climate change.

    Such an attribution was especially strong in Latin America, but lower in parts of Africa (such as Congo and Ethiopia) and Northern Europe (such as Finland and Norway).

    Crucially, people who more strongly believed climate change had worsened these events were also more likely to support climate policies. In fact, this belief mattered more for policy support than whether they had actually experienced the events firsthand.

    What does this study tell us?

    While public support for climate policies is relatively high around the world, even more support is needed to introduce stronger, more ambitious measures. It might seem reasonable to expect that feeling the effects of climate change would push people to act, but this study suggests that doesn’t always happen.

    Prior research shows less dramatic and chronic events like rainfall or temperature anomalies have less influence on public views than more acute hazards like floods or bushfires. Even then, the influence on beliefs and behaviour tends to be slow and limited.

    This study shows climate impacts alone may not change minds. However, it also highlights what may affect public thinking: helping people recognise the link between climate change and extreme weather events.

    In countries such as Australia, climate change makes up only about 1% of media coverage. What’s more, most of the coverage focuses on social or political aspects rather than scientific, ecological, or economic impacts.

    Many stories about disasters linked to climate change also fail to mention the link, or indeed mention climate change at all. Making these connections clearer may encourage stronger public support for climate action.

    Omid Ghasemi receives funding from the Australian Academy of Science. He was a member of the TISP consortium and a co-author of the dataset used in this study.

    – ref. Experiencing extreme weather and disasters is not enough to change views on climate action, study shows – https://theconversation.com/experiencing-extreme-weather-and-disasters-is-not-enough-to-change-views-on-climate-action-study-shows-260308

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Here’s how President Trump’s tax cuts for the ultra-rich will hurt YOU

    Source: US State of California Governor

    Jul 2, 2025

    SACRAMENTO – As House Republicans vote on the measure as soon as tonight, President Trump’s “big beautiful” national debt-adding bill is a massive tax break for the wealthiest Americans, at the cost of programs and services used by everyday families. It gives tax breaks to the ultra-rich, balloons our national debt, and guts programs that most Americans depend on – including health care, food assistance, and public safety programs. Allow us to demonstrate:

    A plan for the ultra-rich

    Starting in 2029, those making $30,000 a year or less would see a tax increase, while the top 0.1 percent would get a $309,000 tax cut, on average – an annual tax break that is more than three times what the typical American household earns in an entire year. 

    Oh, and the “no taxes on tips” program that Trump keeps raving about? Many workers will see little to no benefit. The program for tipped workers is temporary, expiring in 2028, meanwhile the tax cut for the ultra-wealthy is permanent. By 2029, those earning less than $30,000 a year will see their taxes increase, on average. These same families will also be harmed by cuts to health care and food assistance. 

    Here’s how Trump’s plan will hurt you

    This bill is a complete betrayal of Americans by the Trump administration. Not only does it cut programs for families trying to make ends meet, but decimates middle-class opportunities – including health care and children’s access to college. 
     

    ❌ Eliminates American taxpayer jobs

    • Puts 686,000 California jobs at risk, through the elimination of the Inflation Reduction Act’s clean energy tax credits. NABTU says that if enacted, “this stands to be the biggest job-killing bill in the history of this country.”

    ❌ Significantly cuts critical family support programs

    • More than $28.4 billion slashed in federal Medicaid funding to California – increasing medical debt and jeopardizing health care providers’ ability to keep their doors open.
    • More than 11 million newly uninsured for health care nationally.
    • Roughly 17 million people would lose coverage and become uninsured by 2034 due to various Medicaid reductions and the exclusion of enhanced premium subsidies.
    • Cuts necessary food assistance for people for 3 million people nationwide in need of quality nutrition and food.
    • Establishes a tax hike for parents who pay for child care.
    • Rural hospitals across the state are likely to see care offered cut or doors closed entirely.

    ❌ Defunds public safety

    • $646 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for violence and terrorism prevention.
    • $545 million from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), cutting its workforce by more than 2,000 personnel and reducing its capacity to keep criminals off the street. 
    • $491 million from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), making our cyber and physical infrastructure more vulnerable to attack.
    • $468 million from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF), greatly reducing its ability to crack down on firearm trafficking and reduce gun violence.
    • $212 million from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), greatly reducing its capacity to help state and local law enforcement and weakening efforts to fight international drug smuggling impacting the United States.
    • $107 million from Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) Public Safety and Justice, exacerbating current understaffing and making tribal communities less safe.

    ❌ Endangers wildfire-prone communities

    • Cuts wildfire prevention programs like – raking the forests, forest management services – and eliminates personnel hired to fight wildfires.

    ❌ Defunds Planned Parenthood

    • Defunds Planned Parenthood – essentially creating a backdoor abortion ban – that could put health care for 1.1 million patients at risk and force nearly 200 health centers to close, mostly in states where abortion is legal.

    ❌ Unfairly targets green vehicles 

    • Creates penalties for families who own a hybrid or electric vehicle – increasing the cost of taking personal responsibility even more.

    ❌ Unjustly targets American students

    • Takes away college access from millions of children by limiting families’ ability to access financial aid for college, including Pell Grants. 
    • Betrays student loan borrowers by ending student loan deferment for borrowers who experience job loss or other financial hardships, and forbids any future student loan forgiveness programs. 

    ❌ Raises costs and separates American families

    • Pours billions of dollars into supercharging the cruel and reckless raids like we have seen in Southern California and across agricultural areas, expanding the targeting of families, workers and businesses and harassment of U.S. citizens nationwide. Americans overwhelmingly agree we should have a pathway to citizenship for immigrants who have been here for years, pay their taxes, and are good members of their communities, such as farmworkers, Dreamers, and mixed-status families. 

    Recent news

    Jul 2, 2025

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    Jul 2, 2025

    News SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom issued the following statement regarding the death of California Highway Patrol Officer Miguel Cano:“Officer Miguel Cano dedicated his life to serving our communities, and his passing is a heartbreaking loss for the state and…

    Jul 2, 2025

    News What you need to know: Governor Newsom is more than doubling the state’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program, and adding 16 new television projects that will generate $1.1 billion in new economic activity. BURBANK – Today, Governor Gavin Newsom joined labor…

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Money Market Operations as on July 02, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India
    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)
      Volume
    (One Leg)    		 Weighted
    Average Rate    		 Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 6,37,489.66 5.16 1.00-6.25
         I. Call Money 16,924.02 5.27 4.70-5.35
         II. Triparty Repo 4,29,235.45 5.14 5.00-5.21
         III. Market Repo 1,89,448.64 5.20 1.00-5.50
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 1,881.55 5.44 5.35-6.25
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 204.25 5.25 4.90-5.35
         II. Term Money@@ 617.50 – 5.30-5.75
         III. Triparty Repo 2,275.00 5.25 5.20-5.30
         IV. Market Repo 728.52 5.35 5.35-5.35
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00 – –
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Wed, 02/07/2025 1 Thu, 03/07/2025 3,410.00 5.75
    4. SDFΔ# Wed, 02/07/2025 1 Thu, 03/07/2025 2,99,291.00 5.25
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -2,95,881.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo Fri, 27/06/2025 7 Fri, 04/07/2025 84,975.00 5.49
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       6,217.11  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -78,757.89  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -3,74,638.89  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on July 02, 2025 9,64,750.40  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending July 11, 2025 9,52,318.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ July 02, 2025 0.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on June 13, 2025 5,62,116.00  
    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.
    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
    & As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
    Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
    ¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
    # As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2025-2026/644

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Lightning: Four killed, 23 survived, 38 missing after passenger ship capsized near Indonesian island of Bali – local rescuers

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

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

    Xinhua | 03. 07. 2025

    Keywords: Indonesia

    Source: Xinhua

    Lightning: Four people killed, 23 survived, 38 missing after passenger ship capsized near Indonesian island of Bali – local rescuers Lightning: Four people killed, 23 survived, 38 missing after passenger ship capsized near Indonesian island of Bali – local rescuers

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: China: Authorities must end interference in Tibetan religious practices as Dalai Lama announces succession plan

    Source: Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand

    AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL QUOTE
    Responding to the Dalai Lama outlining the process for his spiritual succession ahead of his 90th birthday, amid longstanding efforts by Chinese authorities to control the reincarnation of Tibetan Buddhist leaders, Amnesty International’s China Director Sarah Brooks said:
    “The Chinese authorities’ ongoing efforts to control the selection of the next Dalai Lama are a direct assault on the right to freedom of religion or belief. Tibetan Buddhists, like all faith communities, must be able to choose their spiritual leaders without coercion or interference by the authorities.
    “The Chinese authorities have a long history of systematically suppressing religious freedom and tightening control over Tibetan Buddhism. For example, in 1995 the authorities forcibly disappeared Gedhun Choekyi Nyima, the boy recognized by the Dalai Lama as the Panchen Lama; Beijing has yet to properly explain his fate and whereabouts.
    “This climate of secrecy, coupled with the imposition of numerous state-appointed religious figures within Tibetan Buddhism, highlights a concerning pattern of state control over religion in China.
    “The Chinese authorities must immediately end political interference in Tibetan religious practices and cease using religious succession as a tool for control and coercion. Authorities must uphold the right of everyone to freedom of religion or belief. They must also immediately allow independent access to Gedhun Choekyi Nyima and take steps to end 30 years of impunity for his disappearance.”
    Background
    His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, announced on Wednesday (2 July) in Dharamshala, India that he will have a successor after his death. He said only the Gaden Phodrang Trust, which he founded, had the authority to recognize his future reincarnation.
    Chinese government policy asserts that all reincarnations of Tibetan Buddhist “Living Buddhas” must be approved by state authorities. This position is detailed in legal instruments such as the 2007 Measures on the Management of Reincarnation of Living Buddhas, which require official vetting and approval by multiple levels of government depending on the religious figure’s influence.
    In its March 2025 white paper, “Human Rights in Xizang in the New Era,” the Chinese government reaffirmed this position, stating that the reincarnation system operates “under the guidance of Buddhist associations and the administration of the government.” The paper boasts that 93 reincarnated Living Buddhas had been confirmed following government approval by the end of 2024, highlighting state control as a key achievement.
    Gedhun Choekyi Nyima was six years old when he was recognized by the Dalai Lama as the 11th Panchen Lama in May 1995. Three days later, he and his family were forcibly disappeared by Chinese authorities. He has not been seen in public since. The Chinese government has since made vague claims that he is “living a normal life”.
    Under international human rights law, including Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), all individuals and communities have the right to adopt and manifest a religion or belief of their choice without coercion. Although China has signed but not ratified the ICCPR, it remains obliged not to defeat the treaty’s object and purpose. Enforced disappearance is a continuous violation under international law until the fate of the individual is clarified.
    The UN Committee on the Rights of the Child and the UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances have repeatedly requested information on the whereabouts of Gedhun Choekyi Nyima. The Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief has emphasized that religious communities must be free to determine their leadership without state interference.

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

  • MIL-OSI: MoneyHero Group Launches First Annual SingSaver Best-Of Awards to Recognise Excellence in Personal Financial Products

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, July 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MoneyHero Limited (NASDAQ: MNY) (“MoneyHero” or the “Company”), a leading personal finance aggregation and comparison platform, as well as a digital insurance brokerage provider in Greater Southeast Asia, today announced the launch of “SingSaver Best-Of Awards”, an annual awards programme recognising Singapore’s most outstanding personal finance products.

    The new awards programme will spotlight 45 exceptional personal finance products across categories including credit cards, digital banks, investing, and insurance. Each product will be rigorously evaluated by the MoneyHero Group team, alongside an esteemed panel of prominent local personal finance influencers. Judging criteria include annual fees, interest rates, sign-up incentives, bonus offers, rewards earn rates, user experience, coverage scope, and policy flexibility.

    The awards aim to simplify financial decision-making by identifying and celebrating products that deliver outstanding value, helping Singaporeans navigate an increasingly complex financial marketplace with confidence. Winners will be celebrated at an exclusive gala dinner and awards ceremony on 17 July 2025 in Singapore, bringing together the country’s leading financial institutions, industry influencers, and media for an evening of recognition and networking.

    Rohith Murthy, CEO of MoneyHero, said: “The inaugural SingSaver Best-Of Awards reflect our decade-long legacy of helping Singaporeans make informed financial choices. We aim to highlight products that enhance consumers’ financial well-being through exceptional value and user experience. Our rigorous assessment process, supported by trusted voices from the personal finance community, ensures that these awards truly represent excellence and reliability in the marketplace.”

    A full list of categories, shortlisted products, and award ceremony details are available at:
    https://www.singsaver.com.sg/campaign/best-of-awards-announcement-2025

    Following the Singapore launch, MoneyHero Group plans to roll out similar awards programmes annually in Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Taiwan. As the personal finance landscape continues to evolve, MoneyHero remains committed to spotlighting the industry’s best products and services, providing invaluable guidance to consumers throughout the region.

    Disclaimer

    The information provided on this press release is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. While MoneyHero reviews and compares financial products to help consumers make informed decisions, it does not offer or provide personalised recommendations or investment advisory services. Consumers should always conduct their own research or consult a licensed financial professional before making any financial decisions.

    MoneyHero has made reasonable efforts to ensure that the information contained in this press release is accurate and up to date as at the date of publication. However, MoneyHero makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information and accepts no liability (including liability to third parties) for any loss or damage arising from any error or omission in compiling or presenting such information, or reliance on the information provided.

    ​​​​​About SingSaver  

    SingSaver, part of MoneyHero Group (Nasdaq: MNY) – a market leading personal finance aggregation and comparison company in Greater Southeast Asia. Founded in May 2015, SingSaver has always been committed to matching consumers with the right financial products they need — from credit cards to personal loans, investing accounts to insurance policies, and much more. SingSaver helps thousands of consumers improve their money health with easy-to-use comparison platform along with impartial product reviews and extensive finance articles. For a full discovery, visit https://www.singsaver.com.sg/ 

    About MoneyHero Group

    MoneyHero Limited (NASDAQ: MNY) is a leading personal finance aggregation and comparison platform, as well as a digital insurance brokerage provider in Greater Southeast Asia. The Company operates in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines.  Its brand portfolio includes B2C platforms MoneyHero, SingSaver, Money101, Moneymax and Seedly, as well as the B2B platform Creatory.  The Company also retains an equity stake in Malaysian fintech company, Jirnexu Pte. Ltd., parent company of Jirnexu Sdn. Bhd., the operator of RinggitPlus, Malaysia’s largest operating B2C platform. MoneyHero had over 260 commercial partner relationships as at 31 March 2025, and had approximately 5.7 million Monthly Unique Users across its platform for the three months ended 31 March 2025. The Company’s backers include Peter Thiel—co-founder of PayPal, Palantir Technologies, and the Founders Fund—and Hong Kong businessman, Richard Li, the founder and chairman of Pacific Century Group. To learn more about MoneyHero and how the innovative fintech company is driving APAC’s digital economy, please visit www.MoneyHeroGroup.com.

    For inquiries, please contact:

    Investor Relations:
    MoneyHero IR Team
    IR@MoneyHeroGroup.com 

    Media Relations:
    MoneyHero PR Team
    Press@MoneyHeroGroup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI: MoneyHero Group Launches First Annual SingSaver Best-Of Awards to Recognise Excellence in Personal Financial Products

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SINGAPORE, July 03, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — MoneyHero Limited (NASDAQ: MNY) (“MoneyHero” or the “Company”), a leading personal finance aggregation and comparison platform, as well as a digital insurance brokerage provider in Greater Southeast Asia, today announced the launch of “SingSaver Best-Of Awards”, an annual awards programme recognising Singapore’s most outstanding personal finance products.

    The new awards programme will spotlight 45 exceptional personal finance products across categories including credit cards, digital banks, investing, and insurance. Each product will be rigorously evaluated by the MoneyHero Group team, alongside an esteemed panel of prominent local personal finance influencers. Judging criteria include annual fees, interest rates, sign-up incentives, bonus offers, rewards earn rates, user experience, coverage scope, and policy flexibility.

    The awards aim to simplify financial decision-making by identifying and celebrating products that deliver outstanding value, helping Singaporeans navigate an increasingly complex financial marketplace with confidence. Winners will be celebrated at an exclusive gala dinner and awards ceremony on 17 July 2025 in Singapore, bringing together the country’s leading financial institutions, industry influencers, and media for an evening of recognition and networking.

    Rohith Murthy, CEO of MoneyHero, said: “The inaugural SingSaver Best-Of Awards reflect our decade-long legacy of helping Singaporeans make informed financial choices. We aim to highlight products that enhance consumers’ financial well-being through exceptional value and user experience. Our rigorous assessment process, supported by trusted voices from the personal finance community, ensures that these awards truly represent excellence and reliability in the marketplace.”

    A full list of categories, shortlisted products, and award ceremony details are available at:
    https://www.singsaver.com.sg/campaign/best-of-awards-announcement-2025

    Following the Singapore launch, MoneyHero Group plans to roll out similar awards programmes annually in Hong Kong, the Philippines, and Taiwan. As the personal finance landscape continues to evolve, MoneyHero remains committed to spotlighting the industry’s best products and services, providing invaluable guidance to consumers throughout the region.

    Disclaimer

    The information provided on this press release is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial or investment advice. While MoneyHero reviews and compares financial products to help consumers make informed decisions, it does not offer or provide personalised recommendations or investment advisory services. Consumers should always conduct their own research or consult a licensed financial professional before making any financial decisions.

    MoneyHero has made reasonable efforts to ensure that the information contained in this press release is accurate and up to date as at the date of publication. However, MoneyHero makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information and accepts no liability (including liability to third parties) for any loss or damage arising from any error or omission in compiling or presenting such information, or reliance on the information provided.

    ​​​​​About SingSaver  

    SingSaver, part of MoneyHero Group (Nasdaq: MNY) – a market leading personal finance aggregation and comparison company in Greater Southeast Asia. Founded in May 2015, SingSaver has always been committed to matching consumers with the right financial products they need — from credit cards to personal loans, investing accounts to insurance policies, and much more. SingSaver helps thousands of consumers improve their money health with easy-to-use comparison platform along with impartial product reviews and extensive finance articles. For a full discovery, visit https://www.singsaver.com.sg/ 

    About MoneyHero Group

    MoneyHero Limited (NASDAQ: MNY) is a leading personal finance aggregation and comparison platform, as well as a digital insurance brokerage provider in Greater Southeast Asia. The Company operates in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the Philippines.  Its brand portfolio includes B2C platforms MoneyHero, SingSaver, Money101, Moneymax and Seedly, as well as the B2B platform Creatory.  The Company also retains an equity stake in Malaysian fintech company, Jirnexu Pte. Ltd., parent company of Jirnexu Sdn. Bhd., the operator of RinggitPlus, Malaysia’s largest operating B2C platform. MoneyHero had over 260 commercial partner relationships as at 31 March 2025, and had approximately 5.7 million Monthly Unique Users across its platform for the three months ended 31 March 2025. The Company’s backers include Peter Thiel—co-founder of PayPal, Palantir Technologies, and the Founders Fund—and Hong Kong businessman, Richard Li, the founder and chairman of Pacific Century Group. To learn more about MoneyHero and how the innovative fintech company is driving APAC’s digital economy, please visit www.MoneyHeroGroup.com.

    For inquiries, please contact:

    Investor Relations:
    MoneyHero IR Team
    IR@MoneyHeroGroup.com 

    Media Relations:
    MoneyHero PR Team
    Press@MoneyHeroGroup.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI China: Naval fleet led by aircraft carrier Shandong arrives in Hong Kong 2025-07-03 09:48:35 A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy led by the aircraft carrier Shandong arrived in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Thursday morning.

    Source: People’s Republic of China – Ministry of National Defense

      A fireboat of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government performs a water gate ceremony for the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy fleet in Hong Kong, south China, July 3, 2025. A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy led by the aircraft carrier Shandong arrived here on Thursday morning. (Photo by Jia Xiaopeng/Xinhua)

      HONG KONG, July 3 (Xinhua) — A fleet of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy led by the aircraft carrier Shandong arrived in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region on Thursday morning. 

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    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: China briefs media on cultural events marking 80th anniv. of victory against Japanese aggression, fascism

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

    China on Thursday held a press conference to introduce an array of cultural events to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

    The cultural activities include a themed exhibition, the release of outstanding literary and artistic works, and other related events.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI China: 4 dead, 38 missing after passenger ship sinks in Indonesia’s Bali Strait

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

    Rescuers search for missing passengers of a ship capsizing near Bali Island, Indonesia, July 3, 2025. [National Search and Rescue Agency of Indonesia/Handout via Xinhua]

    Four people have been confirmed dead, 38 are missing, and 23 others survived after a passenger ship sank in the Bali Strait of Indonesia early Thursday, a senior official from the East Java Search and Rescue Office, Tholeb Vatelehan, said on Thursday.

    The wooden vessel, KM Tunu Pratama Jaya, was traveling from Ketapang seaport in Banyuwangi Regency, East Java, to Gilimanuk seaport in Jembrana Regency on Bali Island when it went down, according to the official.

    “As many as 23 people survived the incident, four were dead, and 38 others remained missing,” Vatelehan told Xinhua via phone.

    Search and rescue operations have since been launched from both Bali Island and East Java, as the incident occurred near the maritime boundary between the two regions. I Nyoman Sidakarya, head of the Bali Search and Rescue Office, confirmed the joint efforts.

    The Banyuwangi Search and Rescue Office deployed more than 20 personnel, along with a rigid inflatable boat and one additional vessel to assist in the operation, Vatelehan said.

    “Strong winds, large waves, and powerful currents are currently hampering the rescue efforts,” he added.

    MIL OSI China News –