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Category: Asia

  • MIL-OSI Russia: China’s first offshore carbon dioxide capture, storage and disposal project comes online

    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

    SHENZHEN, May 22 (Xinhua) — China’s first offshore carbon dioxide capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) project was put into operation on Thursday in the Pearl River Estuary Basin in southern China, according to China National Offshore Oil Corp (CNOOC), the country’s largest offshore oil and gas producer.

    The project, located on the Enping 15-1 platform, is designed to capture associated carbon dioxide generated during oil field development, then purify and inject it into a supercritical state. The treated carbon dioxide is then injected into underground oil reservoirs. Such technologies can increase oil production and capture carbon at the same time. This innovative approach has created a new model for the utilization of marine energy.

    The Enping 15-1 platform is currently Asia’s largest offshore oil production platform, located approximately 200 km southwest of Shenzhen and operating at depths of approximately 90 m. Peak oil production from the group of fields operating in the area exceeds 7,500 tons per day.

    CCUS is a new technology for low-carbon, highly efficient development of fossil fuels. There are currently 65 commercial CCUS projects operating worldwide. Most are onshore, with only a small number operating offshore. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    May 22, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Yuri Trutnev invited Chinese partners to take part in festive events in Shumshu

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

    Source: Government of the Russian Federation – An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

    Deputy Prime Minister and Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev invited Deputy Chairman of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China Zhang Guoqing and Chinese colleagues to visit the Kuril Island of Shumshu in September and take part in the festive events to mark the 80th anniversary of the Victory over militaristic Japan.

    “On the instructions of the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, we are creating a memorial complex on Shumshu Island dedicated to the Kuril landing operation. Shumshu is one of the islands of the Kuril chain. In fact, World War II ended on this island. The Kwantung army was routed. Our soldiers routed superior enemy forces, demonstrated mass heroism, landed in the water with full equipment and attacked tanks for a long time up to the heights where the firing points were located. If you are interested in the event related to the opening of the memorial complex, we are ready to synchronize our actions with your embassy,” said Yuri Trutnev.

    On the instructions of Deputy Prime Minister – Presidential Plenipotentiary Representative in the Far Eastern Federal District Yuri Trutnev, in mid-May the working group visited the Kuril Island of Shumshu to monitor the implementation of the instructions of the President of Russia on holding events dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Victory over militarist Japan and the end of World War II. The working group included representatives of the Presidential Administration, the Plenipotentiary Representative of the Far East, the Ministry for the Development of the Russian Far East, and the Ministry of Culture of Russia. The delegation assessed the readiness of the sites to organize a summer expedition, as well as to create an open-air memorial.

    The first stage of the military-historical memorial complex is dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory and the victory over militarist Japan. The complex, dedicated to the Kuril landing operation, is being created on the instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The work is being carried out under the supervision of Deputy Prime Minister and Plenipotentiary Representative Yuri Trutnev. The working group for the implementation of the instructions of the head of state is headed by Sakhalin Region Governor Valery Limarenko and Head of the Presidential Directorate for Public Projects Sergei Novikov.

    “The team of the Center for Contemporary History, together with the Russian Military Historical Society, is preparing for the work that will take place this summer on the restoration and preservation of the military equipment present on Shumshu. We believe it is fundamentally important to preserve the tanks in the form in which they are now. We are talking about preserving the current position of the tanks. We will be as careful as possible about how they look now. In addition, we have engineering tasks that concern topographic work, aerial photography of the island, and historical study of materials. We plan to make an interactive map of the island by August based on the materials that will be found in archives and historical sources and obtained here as a result of field work,” said Ivan Anokhin, director of the Center for Contemporary History and geodetic engineer.

    The events on Shumshu will take place during the summer of 2025 and will be dedicated to the Kuril landing operation. A search expedition, a solemn funeral ceremony for the burial of the remains of Soviet soldiers discovered during the search operations, an all-Russian physical culture event “Extreme cross-triathlon “Height 171” (swimming, cycling and running), hiking trips for the youth movement “More than a Journey”, a reconstruction of “Storming Shumshu Island”, as well as a concert program, including in Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, are planned.

    The key events of the opening of the memorial complex and the funeral ceremony of the soldiers’ remains will take place on August 18. A military-historical reconstruction will also take place then. About 150 people from two dozen regions of Russia and friendly countries will take part in it.

    “The Russian Military Historical Society received a task from the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, within the framework of the Presidential Decree on the creation of a memorial complex here, to carry out work on organizing all events related to the Ministry of Culture in 2025, and to formulate a concept for the development of the island up to 2030. Several strategic issues related to the objects that we will restore this year need to be resolved. The Nevsky Batalist company is making an entrance area that will symbolize the Kuril landing operation itself. We are currently looking for a place where this structure could be installed. Our task is to improve all cultural heritage sites that are located on the island today. These are graves, a mass grave, a grave of two Heroes of the Soviet Union, and a pillbox. Another of our main tasks is to work with the military equipment that remained here since the Great Patriotic War. We plan to connect military facilities with a road and path network. An important task is to reorganize the museum dedicated to the Severokurilsk landing operation in Severokurilsk,” said Elena Sinitsina, executive director of the Museum of Military History of the Russian Military Historical Society.

    During the working visit, an inspection of the sites of the military-historical memorial complex dedicated to perpetuating the memory of the soldiers of the Kuril landing operation was conducted, as well as the placement of a thematic installation and captured tanks in the open air. The placement of a modular structure for the display of artifacts found during the search operations and the burial of the remains of Red Army and Navy soldiers found during the search operations were discussed. The readiness of the sites for organizing the placement of summer camps for the participants of the search expedition, museum workers, employees of the Ministry of Emergency Situations, doctors, and youth tourist groups was assessed. The issues of creating a road and path network between the island’s sites and cultural and educational routes were considered.

    The transport scheme for delivering cargo and equipment to Shumshu was developed by the Sakhalin Region government together with the Kamchatka Region government and the Russian Ministry of Defense. It provides for the delivery of property to Severo-Kurilsk by sea vessels. Rolling barges will be used for further transportation of cargo to Shumshu, where there are no hydraulic structures. A total of 30 units of equipment have been delivered to the island since the end of March.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    May 22, 2025

  • Indian economy shows resilience despite weak global growth: RBI

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The global growth continues to face headwinds with persistent trade frictions, heightened policy uncertainty, and weak consumer sentiment weighing on the outlook. Despite this, the Indian economy is exhibiting resilience even after high trade and tariff-related concerns, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has said.

    Persistent trade frictions, heightened policy uncertainty, and weak consumer sentiment continue to create headwinds for global growth. “Amidst these challenges, the Indian economy exhibited resilience. Various high frequency indicators of industrial and services sectors sustained their momentum in April,” according to the RBI Bulletin.

    A bumper rabi harvest and higher acreage for summer crops, coupled with favourable southwest monsoon forecasts for 2025, augur well for the agriculture sector.

    Headline CPI inflation fell for the sixth consecutive month to its lowest since July 2019, primarily driven by the sustained easing in food prices. Domestic financial market sentiments, which remained on edge in April, witnessed a turnaround since the third week of May, said the Bulletin.

    The year-on-year inflation rates based on the all-India consumer price index for agricultural labourers (CPI-AL) and rural labourers (CPI-RL) for April this year eased further to 3.48 per cent and 3.53 per cent, respectively, compared to 7.03 per cent and 6.96 per cent in April 2024, bringing respite to poor households.

    Also, the domestic equity market, which declined initially in response to the tariff announcements by the US, gained momentum in the second half of April in the wake of robust corporate earnings reports for Q4 by some banking and financial sector companies.

    Moreover, the growth rate in notes in circulation (NiC, in value terms) during 2014-2024 was significantly lower as compared to that in the previous two decades. The growth in NiC was noticeably higher than that in GDP during 1994 – 2004; the gap, however, has significantly reduced in the next two decades. There exists positive relationship between nightlights and taxes and also between nightlights and GDP. It means that formal economic activity reduces the use of banknotes, said the Bulletin. (IANS)

    May 22, 2025

  • Aid trucks enter Gaza after delays, as pressure mounts on Israel

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Israel allowed 100 aid trucks carrying flour, baby food and medical equipment into the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, the Israeli military said, as UN officials reported that distribution issues had meant that no aid had so far reached people in need.

    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would be open to a temporary ceasefire to enable the return of hostages. But otherwise he said it would press ahead with a military campaign to gain total control of Gaza.

    After an 11-week blockade on supplies entering Gaza, the Israeli military said a total of 98 aid trucks entered on Monday and Tuesday. But even those minimal supplies have not made it to Gaza’s soup kitchens, bakeries, markets and hospitals, according to aid officials and local bakeries that were standing by to receive supplies of flour.

    “None of this aid – that is a very limited number of trucks – has reached the Gaza population,” said Antoine Renard, country director of the World Food Programme.

    The blockade has left Gazans in an increasingly desperate struggle for survival, despite growing international and domestic pressure on Israel’s government, which one opposition figure said risked turning the country into a “pariah state”.

    Thousands of tons of food and other vital supplies are waiting near crossing points into Gaza but until it can be safely distributed, around a quarter of the population remains at risk of famine, Renard said.

    “I’m here since eight in the morning, just to get one plate for six people while it is not enough for one person,” said Mahmoud al-Haw, who says he often waits for up to six hours a day hoping for some lentil soup to keep his children alive.

    U.N. officials said security issues had prevented the aid from moving out of the logistics hub at the Kerem Shalom crossing point but late on Wednesday there appeared some hope that supplies would move more freely.

    Nahid Shahaiber, a major transport company owner, said 75 trucks of flour and over a dozen more carrying nutritional supplements and sugar were inside the southern area of Rafah and witnesses said trucks carrying flour had been seen in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip.

    Israel imposed a blockade on all supplies entering Gaza in March, saying Hamas was seizing supplies meant for civilians – a charge the group denies.

    Under mounting international pressure, it has allowed aid deliveries by the U.N. and other aid groups to resume briefly until a new U.S.-backed distribution model using private contractors operating through so-called secure hubs is up and running by the end of the month. But the United Nations says the plan is not impartial or neutral, and it will not be involved.

    ‘PARIAH STATE’

    As people waited for supplies to arrive, air strikes and tank fire killed at least 50 people across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, Palestinian health authorities said. The Israeli military said air strikes hit 115 targets, which it said included rocket launchers, tunnels and unspecified military infrastructure.

    Efforts to halt the fighting have faltered, with both Hamas, which insists on a final end to the war and withdrawal of Israeli forces, and Israel, which says Hamas must disarm and leave Gaza, sticking to positions the other side rejects.

    Netanyahu said an Israeli air strike this month had probably killed Hamas leader Mohammed Sinwar and he reiterated his demand for the complete demilitarization of Gaza and the exile of Hamas leaders for the war to end.

    The resumption of the assault on Gaza since March, following a two-month ceasefire, has drawn condemnation from countries including Britain and Canada that have long been cautious about expressing open criticism of Israel. Even the United States, the country’s most important ally, has shown signs of losing patience with Netanyahu.

    Netanyahu said it was “a disgrace” that countries like Britain were sanctioning Israel instead of Hamas.

    There has been growing unease within Israel meanwhile at the continuation of the war while 58 hostages remain in Gaza.

    Left-wing opposition leader Yair Golan drew a furious response from the government and its supporters this week when he declared that “A sane country doesn’t kill babies as a hobby” and said Israel risked becoming a “pariah state among the nations.”

    Golan, a former deputy commander of the Israeli military who went single-handedly to rescue victims of the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct 7, 2023, leads the left-wing Democrats, a small party with little electoral clout.

    But his words, and similar comments by former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in an interview with the BBC, underscored the rift within Israel. Netanyahu dismissed the criticism, saying he was “appalled” by Golan’s comments.

    Opinion polls show widespread support for a ceasefire that would include the return of all the hostages, with a survey from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem this week showing 70% in favour of a deal.

    But hardliners in the cabinet, some of whom argue for the complete expulsion of all Palestinians from Gaza, have insisted on continuing the war until “final victory”, which would include disarming Hamas as well as the return of the hostages.

    Netanyahu, trailing in the opinion polls and facing trial at home on corruption charges, which he denies, as well as an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, has so far sided with the hardliners.

    Israel launched its campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which killed some 1,200 people by Israeli tallies and saw 251 hostages abducted into Gaza.

    The campaign has killed more than 53,600 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, and devastated the coastal strip, where aid groups say signs of severe malnutrition are widespread.

    (Reuters)

    May 22, 2025

  • PM Modi to inaugurate 103 Amrit Bharat railway stations today to boost modernisation of Railways

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate 103 redeveloped railway stations across 86 districts in 18 states and Union Territories on Thursday, under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. The initiative aims to further modernise the Indian Railways by transforming more than 1,300 stations nationwide into state-of-the-art transport hubs, featuring upgraded passenger amenities and designs inspired by local architecture.

    The 103 stations being inaugurated have been redeveloped at a cost of approximately ₹1,100 crore. These include a mix of major and minor stations spread across Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

    On the same day, the Prime Minister will visit Rajasthan’s Bikaner, where he is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for development projects worth over ₹26,000 crore. His visit will begin with prayers at the Karni Mata Temple in Deshnoke, followed by a tour of the newly redeveloped Deshnoke railway station — one of the 103 stations inaugurated under the scheme. He will also flag off the Bikaner–Mumbai Express train. Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma will accompany him during the visit.

    Under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, railway stations across India are being upgraded to provide better facilities, improved accessibility for persons with disabilities, and architectural designs that reflect the cultural heritage of each region. For instance, the Deshnoke station has been redesigned to include temple-style arches and decorative pillars, showcasing the traditional architectural identity of the region.

    The Prime Minister will also lay the foundation stone for the 58-km Churu–Sadulpur railway line and dedicate several electrification projects to the nation. These include the Suratgarh–Phalodi (336 km), Phulera–Degana (109 km), Udaipur–Himmatnagar (210 km), Phalodi–Jaisalmer (157 km), and Samdari–Barmer (129 km) railway sections, further contributing to Indian Railways’ goal of 100 per cent electrification.

    In addition to rail infrastructure, Modi’s visit will also focus on strengthening road connectivity. He will launch projects that include three vehicular underpasses on National Highway-58 in Pushkar, the widening of NH-11 and NH-70, and dedicate seven major highway projects worth ₹4,850 crore. These road projects aim to boost both civilian mobility and military logistics in the region.

    The visit will also underline India’s push towards clean energy. The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for multiple solar power projects, including a 300 MW ground-mounted project by NEEPCO in Bikaner and a 100 MW project by SJVN in Nawa. Solar power initiatives will also be launched in Didwana and Kuchaman. In support of grid connectivity, transmission systems under Powergrid’s Sirohi and Mewar divisions will be unveiled.

    Three key power infrastructure projects will also be inaugurated: the Power Grid Neemuch Transmission System, a power evacuation project in Bikaner, and the capacity expansion of the Fatehgarh-II Power Station. Among other renewable energy initiatives, the 500 MW Kalasar and 300 MW Shimbhu Ka Bhurj solar plants — both using indigenous solar PV modules — are expected to play a pivotal role in the country’s clean energy mission under the “Make in India” programme.

    To improve healthcare infrastructure in Rajasthan, the Prime Minister will inaugurate four new nursing colleges located in Rajsamand, Pratapgarh, Bhilwara, and Dholpur. These institutions are aimed at strengthening the healthcare workforce and expanding access to quality medical education.

    In the road sector, the Prime Minister will launch the upgradation and maintenance of 12 state highways spanning 757 km, under the Rajasthan State Highway Development Programme, with an investment of ₹3,240 crore. Major routes include Mangaliyawas–Padukalan, Beawar–Tehla–Alniyawas, and Dantiwada–Pipar–Merta City. Plans are also in place for the future development of another 900 km of roadways, including the Gotan–Sathin Highway, to better connect industrial and border regions.

    Additionally, two 132 kV electrical substations — one in Rajpura (Bikaner) and the other in Sarda (Udaipur) — will be inaugurated to improve power distribution and ensure reliable energy supply across Rajasthan.

    (IANS)

     
    May 22, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: BD: Illegal acts will not be tolerated

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    With regard to arrests made by the Independent Commission Against Corruption at a construction site at Anderson Road, the Buildings Department (BD) said it has been actively co-operating with the commission’s investigation, and emphasised that illegal or non-compliant behaviours would not be tolerated.

    The arrests relate to the suspected offering and accepting of advantages.

    The BD received a report last August alleging that steel reinforcements in some structural elements of the superstructure works at six blocks of residential buildings under construction had not been installed in accordance with standards under the Buildings Ordinance. It then sent staff to conduct on-site inspections four times in September.

    Having found that the number of steel reinforcements installed at some beams was lower than required by the approved plans, the department ordered the cessation of works at the entire site in October.

    Subsequently, departmental staff carried out further site inspections, conducted interviews and collected project information. This included opening up concrete at various locations and testing the concrete’s strength.

    To date, inspections have revealed major deviations from the approved plans in the installation of steel reinforcements. This includes positional discrepancies, the displacement of reinforcements, discrepancies in the size of reinforcements, and fewer  reinforcements than are shown in the plans.

    The BD said it is consulting the Department of Justice on prosecution against the relevant individuals.

    Elaborating on the situation, it said inspections indicated that the quantity of main steel reinforcements within structural components is, on average, below 10% less than that in the approved plans. Taking into account the overall configuration of the steel reinforcements and the load-bearing design of the adjacent concrete walls, the department considered that no obvious danger is posed to the overall structure.

    It added that it has requested that the project’s registered structural engineer and registered contractor submit an incident report and stipulate remedial measures including localised strengthening of the buildings, demolition of part of the structural elements where necessary, reinstalment of the steel reinforcements, and concrete recasting.

    Separately, the department noted that the main contractor of the Anderson Road project is also the “registered general building contractor” of five other private developments under construction. In view of the Anderson Road incident, the department has stepped up inspections of these five developments. Measures taken include doubling the number of surprise site inspections and audit checks on completed concrete structural elements using non-destructive covermeter testing technology.

    No deviation in the quantity and positioning of steel reinforcements from the approved plans and no obvious structural safety issues have been found, the department stated.

    To ensure building safety, it added that it will write to the developers of the five developments requesting them to carry out a number of measures.

    These include urging their appointed registered structural engineers to conduct a comprehensive review of all supervision records for steel reinforcement installations at the sites concerned; submitting to the BD within two months a review report and a testing proposal for checking the installation of steel reinforcements; engaging an independent accredited laboratory to conduct the tests; and submitting an independent testing report to the BD.

    The BD emphasised that the Anderson Road case is a rare incident, and that the current regulatory system for building works is robust and well-functioning. Nonetheless, it will review the experience from this case and double the number of construction sites subject to audit inspections of steel reinforcements prior to the casting of concrete at sites, from the current annual sampling rate of at least 12% to at least 25% of projects.

    With regard to the configuration of steel reinforcements after the casting of concrete, the BD will, using covermeter technology for sampling tests, also conduct audit checks with an annual sampling rate of 25% of projects as a regularised practice.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    May 22, 2025

  • Markets open lower; IT, auto stocks drag Sensex, Nifty

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian stock market opened on a weaker note on Thursday, tracking negative global cues, with selling pressure observed in IT and auto sectors during early trade.

    At around 9:26 AM, the BSE Sensex was down 726.42 points or 0.89%, trading at 80,870.21. The NSE Nifty slipped 225 points or 0.91%, standing at 24,588.45.

    The Nifty Bank index declined 336.20 points or 0.61% to 54,738.90. Meanwhile, the Nifty Midcap 100 was down by 307.60 points or 0.54% at 56,312.00, and the Nifty Smallcap 100 dropped 39.50 points or 0.23%, trading at 17,509.10.

    According to analysts, the market is currently within a consolidation range, and a breakout above or below the recent inside bar pattern could determine the next directional move. On the downside, immediate support for the Nifty lies at 24,600, with stronger support near 24,500. A breach of these levels could trigger further selling and drag the index toward the 24,300–24,000 range.

    “On the upside, 24,900 serves as the first resistance level, with 25,000 acting as a key psychological barrier. A decisive move above this could spark a bullish rally toward the 25,200–25,500 zone,” said Mandar Bhojane, Equity Research Analyst at Choice Broking.

    Within the Sensex pack, Adani Ports and Tata Steel emerged as the top gainers in early trade. In contrast, IndusInd Bank, Tech Mahindra, Power Grid, HCL Tech, Nestle India, and Hindustan Unilever were among the top losers.

    Asian markets mirrored the weak sentiment, with indices in China, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Seoul, and Japan trading in the red. Jakarta was the sole outlier, showing gains.

    Global cues remained negative following a sharp sell-off on Wall Street in the previous session. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed at 41,860.44, down 816.80 points or 1.91%. The S&P 500 shed 95.85 points or 1.61% to close at 5,844.61, while the Nasdaq fell 270.07 points or 1.41% to end at 18,872.64.

    Experts noted that although U.S. markets attempted to recover from early losses, they eventually fell back into negative territory, closing sharply lower amid mounting economic concerns.

    Despite the weak sentiment, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) were net buyers on May 21, purchasing equities worth ₹2,201.79 crore. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) also remained positive, buying equities worth ₹683.77 crore.

    -IANS

    May 22, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s top diplomat to chair third China-Pacific Island countries foreign ministers’ meeting

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

    China’s top diplomat to chair third China-Pacific Island countries foreign ministers’ meeting

    BEIJING, May 21 — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, will chair the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Xiamen, Fujian Province from May 28 to 29, a foreign ministry spokesperson announced on Wednesday.

    Foreign ministers or representatives from 11 island countries having diplomatic relations with China, namely President and Foreign Minister Taneti Maamau of Kiribati, Premier and Foreign Minister Dalton Tagelagi of Niue, Crown Prince and Minister for Foreign Affairs Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala of Tonga, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Lionel Rouwen Aingimea of Nauru, Secretary of Foreign Affairs Lorin S. Robert of Federated States of Micronesia, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade Peter Shanel Agovaka of Solomon Islands, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and External Trade Marc Ati of Vanuatu, Minister for Foreign Affairs Justin Tkatchenko of Papua New Guinea, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Immigration Tingika Elikana of the Cook Islands, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Lenora Qereqeretabua of Fiji, and representative of the government of Samoa and Ambassador of Samoa to China Luamanuvae A. Mariner, and Deputy Secretary General of the Pacific Islands Forum Esala Nayasi will attend the meeting upon invitation, according to the spokesperson.

    MIL OSI China News –

    May 22, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Seventy-four new constables heading to districts in a week

    Source: New Zealand Police

    Commissioner Richard Chambers, members of the police executive and wing patron former police assistant commissioner, Allan Boreham congratulated 74 graduating constables from Wing 384 today. 

    Also attending the graduation and presenting a prize in absence of the Minister of Police was her worship Anita Baker, the Mayor of Porirua.

    Families and friends celebrated the newly attested police officers at Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua this afternoon to acknowledge the successful completion of their initial training course. 

    There are some likeminded individuals in the wing with 11 of the graduates having family members currently working in police.

    Four graduating officers made the change from non-constabulary roles to police officers.

    The wing is very diverse with eighteen recruits speaking more than one language and 19 recruits who were born overseas. The top prize winner was born and raised in France.

    Top of wing, Constable Diane Aspalvo is a French-trained and certified clinical psychologist. She has worked as a psychologist in Paris and in Tairawhiti New Zealand before deciding to join the New Zealand Police.

    She previously volunteered for the French Army as a reserve after a call-up for national security due to the terrorist attacks in France in 2015. She is a keen swimmer, skier and is also into CrossFit.

    “I decided to join the New Zealand Police at 41 years old, so I am a living proof that it is never too late to achieve your dreams.”

    Diane will be deployed to Eastern District.

    Second Top Award winner Constable Hunta Sutherland, Ngāti Kuia is also a sporting talent, representing her district, Tasman, in football up to high school level.

    Not only is she a ‘Golden Boot’ winner for the most goals scored  in a regional competition (39), she’s into running track, cross country, and road races with many podium finishes. Hunta has worked as a teacher’s aide with troubled and autistic youth which she found inspiring.

    “While training at college I found strength I never knew I had, and a purpose I’ll never forget.”

    Hunta will be based in Tasman District.

    Leadership Award winner Constable Charise Perez is also a keen sports person excelling in netball. She was born in Wellington and raised by her Fijian dad and Samoan mother. Charise has experience in hospitality, service and politics. 

    She began her employment at the Electoral Commission as an administrator. She was a community liaison and worked on the 2020 elections and has also managed administration for an emergency housing organization called Tuatahi Centre. 

    As the leadership award winner, Charise gave a speech to the wing.

    “I stand here today as a product of the relationships and bonds between the members of wing 384. Together we began our journey as strangers, but today we stand as brothers and sisters.

    As we take the next step in our police journey, I believe that each and every one of wing 384 are more than capable of fulfilling the oath that we have just taken.”

    Charise, a former Authorised Officer for Police, will be based back in Wellington District to start policing.

    The wing is dispersed as follows:

    Deployment:

    Northland 3, Tāmaki Makaurau a total of 23 and broken down as follows: Waitematā – 9, Counties Manukau – 14, Waikato – 4, Bay of Plenty – 8, Eastern – 3, Central – 8, Wellington – 9, Tasman – 6, Canterbury – 3, Southern – 7.
    The new constables will start their first week of duty in their Police districts from Monday 2 June 2025 and will continue their training on the job as probationary constables.

    Awards:

    Minister’s Award recognising top student: Constable Diane Aspavlo, posted to Eastern District. 
    Commissioner’s Award for Leadership: Constable Charise Perez, posted to Wellington District.
    Patron’s Award for second in wing recognising second top student: Constable Hunta Sutherland, posted to Tasman District.
    Driver Training and Road Policing Practice Award: Constable Ethan Baldwin posted to Waitematā District.

    Demographics:

    25.7 percent are female, 74.3 percent are male. New Zealand European make up 56.8 percent of the wing, with Māori 12.2 percent, Pasifika 17.6 percent, Asian 10.8 percent, LAAM 2.7 percent. 

    383 Wing Patron: Allan Boreham:

    Allan Boreham is a retired Assistant Commissioner of Police and former head of Youth Justice for Oranga Tamariki, Ministry for Children. Allan holds the New Zealand Police in very high esteem and is honoured to be the patron for Wing 384.

    He says he is looking forward to supporting the wing members to succeed and gain all the satisfaction a Police career offers. Allan joined Police in 1985 (in Wing 97) and served for more than 33 years. He was also a Deputy Chief Executive in the public service for five years in charge of Youth Justice.

    His Police career was varied and involved completing a wide range of roles in public safety, investigations, and road policing. These included postings in Auckland, Tokoroa, Hamilton and Wellington.

    He received an award for his leadership in solving the 1997 kidnapping and murder of an Auckland businessman, Graham Kirkwood.

    Allan holds a Bachelor Arts, majoring in Sociology, from Massey University. He is currently learning to speak Spanish and is also a keen motorcyclist and skier.

    His father Bruce, now in his eighties, also served in the Police for 32 years.

    ENDS

    Watch out for our Ten One story coming soon with more images and stories.

    If you’re interested in joining police check out newcops.govt.nz

    Issued by Police Media Centre

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    May 22, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Result of the Daily Variable Rate Repo (VRR) auction held on May 22, 2025

    Source: Reserve Bank of India

    Tenor 1-day
    Notified Amount (in ₹ crore) 25,000
    Total amount of bids received (in ₹ crore) 4,341
    Amount allotted (in ₹ crore) 4,341
    Cut off Rate (%) 6.01
    Weighted Average Rate (%) 6.01
    Partial Allotment Percentage of bids received at cut off rate (%) NA

    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    

    Press Release: 2025-2026/386

    MIL OSI Economics –

    May 22, 2025

  • MIL-Evening Report: Keith Rankin Analysis – Zero-Sum Fiscal Narratives

    Analysis by Keith Rankin.

    Keith Rankin, trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

    The central narrative of New Zealand’s Minister of Finance, Nicola Willis, is ‘There is only so much money to go around’. (For example, her interview on RNZ on 20 May, Willis on her second Budget, price of butter. The interview also covers, in the usual subservient way our media addresses these issues, Willis’s diversionary narrative to scapegoat supermarkets.)

    A false zero-sum narrative

    This zero-sum narrative about money is virtually uncontested, certainly in the mainstream media. Yet it’s not only sub-standard economics, it is also sub-standard theology. It is appropriate to debate whether God-made-Man or Man-made-God; there should be no such contest about Money-made-Man versus Man-made-Money.

    Money is not (or should not be) God. The one fundamental truth about money, is that it is a human creation; Man made money. Money is a social technology, not a fundamental poverty-imposing constraint. In modern capitalism, central banks supervise the money supply, and can create money at will. The creation of the Reserve Bank of New Zealand in 1934 was a critical component of the post-Depression recovery and expansion from 1935 to 1940.

    In modern capitalism, central banks act as lenders of last resort and governments as borrowers (and insurers) of last resort. This process of central bank lending and government borrowing is the engine of global capitalism, just as the sun’s energy is the engine that makes ongoing life on Earth possible.

    Japan versus Germany

    It is instructive to compare the economic fortunes of Japan and Germany this century.

    Japan developed the new macroeconomics during its ‘horrible decade’, the 1990s. Its economy has thrived since 2000. The basis of its success, in a country with a financially conservative middle class and low inequality, is to borrow from its large pool of savers, rather than to overtax them. Japan has a stable public debt, sitting at around 240% of GDP since before 2015. And it has a stable fiscal deficit of around 4% each year. It has had interest rates around zero for more than a decade; currently 0.5%. Inflation peaked at 4% in 2023 (in the context of a falling Yen), up from 1% in early 2022. Japan’s current unemployment rate is 2.5%, having peaked at 3% in 2020.

    Germany has taken the mercantilist line, which – in essence – posits money as God. It has imposed fiscal austerity on itself since 2010, and on the European Union which it then dominated. And it’s now in a state of socio-economic crisis, with a similar economic growth profile to New Zealand. In its last election (in February), using MMP, only 45% of voters voted for the two major parties. In the more recent opinion polls that support has fallen to around 40%. In the former ‘Communist’ East Germany, support for the two major parties combined is under 25%.

    Germany, like most countries in the west, has stubbornly refused to learn from Japan. Fiscal counternarratives are effectively suppressed.

    Debt ceiling?

    New Zealand, when Grant Robertson was Minister of Finance, decided to impose a de facto ‘debt ceiling’ of 50% of GDP. Nicola Willis – inspired by Ruth Richardson’s (now entrenched) 1994 ‘Fiscal Responsibility Act’ – is entrenching this 50% debt ceiling. Thankfully for our great-grandparents, Michael Joseph Savage (and his Finance Minister, Walter Nash) did not operate similar ‘debt ceiling’ policies.

    A policy to cut-back on government spending also has the effect of cutting back government revenue. That’s very basic Keynesian macroeconomics. If we buy less, we produce less, we earn less, and we pay less tax than we otherwise would. The combination of reduced government spending and reduced government revenue is anti-growth; pushed to its limits it represents a capitalist death spiral. The western world found a way out of such a spiral in the 1930s; before World War Two (WW2), but too late to prevent that war and the megadeath which came with it.

    A true zero-sum identity

    In a world in which the private sector – businesses and households – collectively chooses to run financial surpluses (choosing saving at debt repayment over borrowing), then governments must run deficits. When the world is divided into two sectors – private and public – the successful achievement of a surplus by one of those two sectors must be accompanied by a deficit in the other of those two sectors. In essence, governments can only – and have only – run surpluses or ‘balanced Budgets’ when businesses are running financial deficits. For the global economy as a whole, by definition there can be neither a financial surplus nor a deficit; financial balances add to zero, as an accounting identity.

    Business sector deficits were substantially the norm in the twentieth century, but not since about 1990. Government balanced budgets were possible – though not normal – for much of the previous century. Japan met its new challenge in the 1990s, at a time when Japanese businesses were forced by their creditors to run substantial financial surpluses; substantial government deficits were a mathematically necessary part of the solution.

    Inequality and increased private risk

    The twenty-first century is characterised by high – and often-growing – levels of inequality in the western capitalist world. It is also characterised as a period of growing private risk, including the risk that even rich people (eg the ‘ten-percenters’) will struggle to afford life-saving medications for cancer and other ills. This twenty-first century private risk-profile means that the household component of the private sector is trying to run bigger surpluses. This is a kind of insurance situation; people feel they need ever bigger amounts of contingency savings to cover personal or familial ‘rainy days’. Japanese people led the way in this respect, in the 1990s.

    This drive for ever bigger private surpluses – which includes things like debt repayments and retirement savings – means that, for capitalism to survive, governments must run bigger deficits; indeed ‘structural deficits’, in the way that Japan does.

    Government spending on big guns.

    In one sense the capitalist world – belatedly – is saving itself in this way through fiscal expansion; though only by trying to destroy itself in another way. Hitlernomics – a form of Keynesian economics – maintained de facto or de jure debt ceilings for civilian-oriented public spending, while allowing for virtual unlimited military spending on ‘big guns’. Germany explicitly moved in this direction in March 2025, by using a voted-out ‘lame duck’ parliament to authorise the removal of the de jure debt limit on military spending (and limited ‘infrastructure’ spending).

    Urgent need for contestable democratic counter-narratives

    We urgently need a democratic counter-narrative, which promotes public debt at least as a stabilising force (and in some cases to take priority over private debt). And a complementary counter-narrative promoting public-equity over pay-equity as an efficient means to correct destabilising inequality, given that excessive inequality is also a deathknell of capitalism. Capitalism depends on selling wage-goods to wage-workers.

    *******

    Keith Rankin (keith at rankin dot nz), trained as an economic historian, is a retired lecturer in Economics and Statistics. He lives in Auckland, New Zealand.

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

    May 22, 2025

  • PM Modi to visit Karni Mata Temple in Rajasthan, address rally in Bikaner

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    ata-start=”212″ data-end=”438″>Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit the revered Karni Mata Temple in Deshnok, located in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district, on Thursday.

    This marks his first visit to Rajasthan following India’s strikes on terror launch pads in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on May 7.

    During the visit, PM Modi will inaugurate 103 Amrit Stations across the country, including the newly developed Deshnok Railway Station under the Amrit Bharat Yojana. He will also address a large public meeting in Palana village near Bikaner.

    His total stay in Bikaner is scheduled to last 3 hours and 25 minutes. The visit is reminiscent of his public address in Churu, delivered on the morning of the airstrikes following the Pulwama attack.

    Political observers anticipate that PM Modi may once again send a strong message to the global community, including Pakistan, especially as Thursday marks one month since the Pahalgam terror attack.

    According to official sources, the Prime Minister will arrive at Nal Airport at 9:50 a.m. by a special aircraft and then proceed to Deshnok via helicopter.

    He is scheduled to land at the Karni Mata Temple helipad at 10:30 a.m. and will spend approximately 15 minutes at the temple. Following the temple visit, he will inaugurate the Deshnok Railway Station and flag off the Bikaner–Mumbai Express train.

    He will be accompanied by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, and Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma. At 11:15 a.m., the Prime Minister will depart for Palana village by road—a journey of about 8 kilometres. A massive crowd of over one lakh people is expected at the public meeting venue, where elaborate seating arrangements and a large pandal have been set up.

    During the rally, PM Modi will inaugurate 103 Amrit Stations nationwide and lay the foundation stone for various development projects worth ₹26,000 crore. These include 1,000 km of electrified railway tracks, seven major road projects, three vehicle underpasses, a PowerGrid transmission project, and 900 km of national highways in Rajasthan.

    After the public meeting, the Prime Minister will return to Nal Airport by helicopter at around 12:30 p.m. and is scheduled to depart for Delhi at approximately 1:15 p.m.

    — IANS

    May 22, 2025

  • Gritty Spurs finally taste glory with scrappy Europa League triumph over Man Utd

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    lass=”tr-story-p1″>Brennan Johnson’s bundled first-half goal helped Tottenham Hotspur win a scrappy Europa League final 1-0 against Manchester United on Wednesday as they cast aside their domestic woes to end a painful 17-year trophy drought.

    In a season where both clubs plummeted down the Premier League, Tottenham emerged from a dismal campaign with something to celebrate as well as a lucrative berth in next season’s Champions League.

    It was Spurs‘ first silverware since the 2008 League Cup and their first European trophy since their 1984 UEFA Cup success.

    Johnson scored in the 42nd minute when United’s defence crumbled as Pape Sarr swung in a cross while goalkeeper Andre Onana remained rooted to his line. Johnson and United defender Luke Shaw rushed in and the ball appeared to glance off both of them and in, past Onana’s desperate swipe.

    The goal was as scrappy as the game in a matchup of teams who have had wildly disappointing Premier League seasons, with United languishing in 16th and Spurs 17th.

    United’s Rasmus Hojlund had a terrific chance to equalise with a header midway through the second half, but Spurs‘ Micky van de Ven leapt for a stunning clearance off the line.

    United almost equalised at the death but Shaw’s header was saved by a diving Guglielmo Vicario, who had earlier denied an Alejandro Garnacho bullet strike from the edge of the box with a great reflex save.

    “Ever since I came here, it’s been ‘Tottenham are a good team but can never get it done’. We got it done,” goalscorer Johnson told TNT Sports.

    “Honestly, this is what it means. It means so much. All the fans get battered, we get battered, for not winning a trophy, for not winning anything. But we had to get the first one in a while today. I’m so happy.”

    POSTECOGLOU VINDICATION

    Tottenham’s win also offered vindication to embattled manager Ange Postecoglou, who had said throughout the campaign that he always wins trophies in his second season at a club.

    In a season defined by Premier League disappointment, their continental conquest represented a stunning reversal of fortunes.

    The victory also rewards Tottenham with Champions League qualification for next season, a remarkable achievement for a side languishing just above the Premier League relegation zone after an alarming 21 defeats.

    Their triumph may well serve as the crucial lifeline that their 59-year-old Greek-Australian manager Postecoglou needed to cement his future at the club.

    “I’m still kind of taking it all in,” the manager said.

    “I know what it means for this football club… I could sense some nervousness in everybody at the club, because they’ve been in the situation before. And until you take that monkey off your back, you never understand what it feels like.”

    For Manchester United, the defeat compounds a season of deep frustration.

    Mired near the bottom of the Premier League, the Red Devils now face the prospect of a campaign without European competition, leaving Ruben Amorim, United’s beleaguered coach, to rebuild at Old Trafford without the draw of European nights.

    The final presented a fascinating spectacle: two Premier League underachievers transformed into European contenders and it was Tottenham who proved that European football can provide unexpected redemption.

    Amorim’s side will be thoroughly sick of the sight of Spurs, who extended their unbeaten run against United to seven matches, completing an unprecedented seasonal sweep with four wins in four encounters, a first in their history against the Manchester club.

    As jubilant Spurs captain Son Heung-min lifted his first trophy with the club and celebrated with his teammates beneath cascading confetti in the balmy evening air of Bilbao, Tottenham’s long-suffering faithful rejoiced.

    After 41 years without European silverware and countless near-misses, they finally had a night to remember.

    -Reuters

    May 22, 2025

  • PM Modi to visit Rajasthan today, unveil development projects worth over ₹26,000 crore

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Rajasthan on Thursday, where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone for a series of development projects worth over ₹26,000 crore. The visit will include a public address in Palana, Bikaner, and a darshan at the Karni Mata Temple in Deshnoke around 11:00 AM.

    Focus on Rail Infrastructure

    As part of the day’s events, PM Modi will inaugurate the redeveloped Deshnoke Railway Station under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme and flag off the Bikaner-Mumbai express train. He will also launch 103 redeveloped Amrit Stations across 86 districts in 18 states and union territories, developed at a cost of over ₹1,100 crore. These stations integrate modern passenger amenities with regionally inspired architecture and improved accessibility, including facilities for Divyangjan.

    Reflecting India’s diverse cultural fabric, stations like Deshnoke, Thawe, and Begumpet are being redesigned to showcase traditional architectural styles and local art forms as part of a nationwide revamp covering over 1,300 railway stations.

    The Prime Minister will also dedicate six electrified rail lines across Rajasthan and lay the foundation stone for the Churu–Sadulpur rail line. These electrification projects, covering nearly 1,000 km, support Indian Railways’ goal of 100% electrification for enhanced operational efficiency and reduced carbon emissions.

    Expansion of Road Network

    Significant investments in road infrastructure are also on the agenda, with PM Modi laying the foundation stone for three vehicle underpasses and several national highway upgrades. He will also dedicate seven major roadway projects in Rajasthan, collectively worth over ₹4,850 crore. These projects aim to improve connectivity to the Indo-Pak border, boosting both civilian mobility and national security.

    Push for Renewable Energy and Power Transmission

    The Prime Minister will further inaugurate and lay the foundation stones for several power and renewable energy projects, including large-scale solar energy developments in Bikaner and Didwana Kuchaman. Projects under PowerGrid Mewar and Sirohi Transmission Ltd will bolster energy evacuation systems. The expansion of solar and transmission capacity is expected to provide clean energy and support India’s climate goals.

    State Projects: Roads, Health, and Water Supply

    A total of 25 state government projects will also be inaugurated or launched during the visit. These include improvements to over 750 km of state highways, with an additional 900 km planned under future phases, at a cost exceeding ₹3,240 crore. In the health sector, PM Modi will inaugurate nursing colleges in Rajsamand, Pratapgarh, Bhilwara, and Dholpur to enhance medical education and local healthcare capacity.

    Water infrastructure projects will also feature prominently. These include the Rural Water Supply and Fluorosis Mitigation Project in Jhunjhunu and the restructuring of urban water supply schemes in seven towns of Pali district under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme.

    This visit comes as part of the government’s broader push to enhance infrastructure, connectivity, and clean energy development across India’s heartland, with Rajasthan at the centre of several strategic initiatives.

    May 22, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Central China to host trade show to boost China-Africa ties

    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, May 22 (Xinhua) — The fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo will be held in Changsha, capital of central China’s Hunan Province, from June 12 to 15 this year, with more than 12,000 people expected to attend, the expo’s organizers said at a press conference on Wednesday.

    The upcoming expo, co-organized by the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China and the Hunan Provincial Government, is one of the important events in the field of trade and economy between China and Africa this year. More than 2,800 enterprises, business associations and financial institutions from China and Africa have already registered to participate in the event, as well as representatives from 44 African countries, 6 international organizations and 23 provincial-level regions in China.

    Held every two years, the expo this year is themed “China and Africa: Together for Modernization.” It will feature theme zones such as intelligent mining technology and equipment, clean energy, modern agricultural machinery, and construction equipment. More than 20 economic and trade events are planned.

    Shen Yumou, head of the Hunan Provincial Commerce Department, said 128 cooperation projects with a total investment of over US$7 billion will be signed during the Expo. They cover areas such as construction, electricity, transportation, information services, culture and health care.

    The China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo, which was held for the first time in 2019, has become an important platform for strengthening economic and trade cooperation between China and African countries. Shen Xiang, Director of the Department of West Asia and Africa of the Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, said that the upcoming expo is expected to inject new impetus into practical cooperation between China and Africa.

    China has been Africa’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, said Assistant Minister of Commerce Tang Wenhong. In 2024, trade between China and African countries set a new record and reached $295.6 billion, up 4.8 percent from 2023. In particular, China’s imports from Africa amounted to $116.8 billion, up 6.9 percent, and China’s exports to Africa amounted to $178.8 billion, up 3.5 percent. -0-

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    May 22, 2025

  • PM Modi praises security forces for neutralising 27 Maoists in Chhattisgarh operation

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi has commended the security forces for their decisive action in eliminating 27 Maoists, including top CPI (Maoist) leader Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju, during a major anti-Naxal operation in Chhattisgarh on Wednesday.
     
    In response to a post by Union Home Minister Amit Shah on X, PM Modi said, “Proud of our forces for this remarkable success. Our Government is committed to eliminating the menace of Maoism and ensuring a life of peace and progress for our people.”
     
    Earlier, Home Minister Shah had hailed the operation as a “landmark achievement” in India’s long-standing fight against Naxalism. “Today, in an operation in Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh, our security forces neutralised 27 dreaded Maoists, including Nambala Keshav Rao, alias Basavaraju — the General Secretary of CPI-Maoist, topmost leader, and the backbone of the Naxal movement,” he wrote.
     
    “This is the first time in three decades of India’s battle against Naxalism that a General Secretary-ranked Maoist leader has been neutralised. I applaud our brave security forces and agencies for this major breakthrough,” Shah added. He also stated that with the completion of Operation Black Forest, 54 Maoists have been arrested and 84 have surrendered across Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Maharashtra. The Modi government, he affirmed, is determined to eliminate Naxalism by March 31, 2026.
     
    The encounter, which took place in the dense forests of Abujhmad in Narayanpur district, is being seen as a major milestone in the country’s efforts to curb left-wing extremism. Acting on specific intelligence inputs, joint teams of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) from Narayanpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Kondagaon launched a coordinated offensive targeting senior Maoist leaders.
     
    As the forces moved through the rugged terrain, Maoists opened indiscriminate fire, leading to a fierce exchange. Security personnel responded swiftly, resulting in the death of 27 Maoists, including Basavaraju.
     
    A large cache of weapons was recovered from the site, including AK-47s, SLRs, INSAS rifles, carbines, and other arms and ammunition.
     
    Police officials confirmed that Basavaraju, around 70 years old and a native of Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district, held several influential positions within the CPI (Maoist), including General Secretary, Chief of the Central Military Commission, Polit Bureau Member, and Central Committee Member. He was a key strategist and played a pivotal role in directing Maoist operations across multiple regions.
     
    One DRG jawan was martyred in the line of duty, and his body has been sent to the District Headquarters in Narayanpur. Several other personnel were injured during the encounter but are reported to be in stable condition after receiving prompt medical care.
     
    Despite the difficult terrain and operational challenges, security forces continue to comb the surrounding forest areas to locate any injured or absconding insurgents. Authorities have reiterated their unwavering commitment to eradicating Naxalism and restoring peace in the affected regions.
     
    —IANS
     
     
    May 22, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: ‘Serious Incident’ Happens During Launch Ceremony of North Korea’s New Warship

    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

    PYONGYANG, May 22 (Xinhua) — A “serious incident” occurred during the launching ceremony of a new destroyer of the DPRK Navy on Wednesday, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported on Thursday.

    The accident was a “criminal act caused by absolute negligence, irresponsibility and unscientific empiricism,” said North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un, who oversaw the ceremony at the site.

    He ordered that the restoration of the destroyer be completed before the June plenary session of the Central Committee of the Workers’ Party of Korea, the report said. –0–

    MIL OSI Russia News –

    May 22, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Upgrading of Eastern District Health Centre Express to District Health Centre and change of Kwai Tsing District Health Centre operator announced

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Health Bureau (HHB) announced today (May 22) that the operation service contract for the Eastern District Health Centre (DHC) has been awarded through open tender to the Hong Kong Society for Rehabilitation (HKSR) to upgrade the existing Eastern DHC Express (DHCE) to the Eastern DHC, which is expected to commence operations in the fourth quarter of this year. Meanwhile, the existing operation service contract for the Kwai Tsing DHC will expire in the third quarter this year.  After an open tender exercise, the HHB has awarded the operation service contract of the Kwai Tsing DHC to the Yan Chai Hospital Board. Both service contracts are for three years.
      
         The core centre of the Eastern DHC will be located at the Siu Sai Wan Health Integrated Building, 11 Harmony Road, Siu Sai Wan, Chai Wan, with a total floor area of about 1 000 square metres, representing an increase of about three times the size of the current Eastern DHCE. The core centre will provide additional consultation rooms, rehabilitation facilities and an audio-visual assessment room. Facilities for health education activities will also be enhanced. According to the operation service contract, the HKSR is required to establish two satellite centres in the district within the first year of operation to enhance service accessibility. The core centre and two satellite centres will operate six days a week with a minimum of 10 hours of service per day.

         Moreover, after changing the operator of the Kwai Tsing DHC, its core centre will remain on 30/F, Tower 2, Kowloon Commerce Centre, 51 Kwai Cheong Road, Kwai Chung. The main services provided, including chronic disease management and community rehabilitation services, will remain unchanged. Meanwhile, the satellite centres will be relocated. In accordance with the operation service contract, the Yan Chai Hospital Board is required to establish four satellite centres in the district within the first year of operation. The core centre and four satellite centres will operate six days a week with a minimum of 10 hours of service per day. 

         After changing the operator of the Kwai Tsing DHC, the existing members can continue to use the services of the DHC without the need for re-registration. The Primary Healthcare Commission (PHC Commission) will discuss with the relevant operators and implement the handover of the Kwai Tsing DHC services and premise to ensure a smooth transition. The PHC Commission will also discuss with the relevant operators and implement the transitional plan for upgrading the Eastern DHCE to a DHC. Both DHCs will continue to co-ordinate primary healthcare services in the districts, serving as case managers to support primary healthcare doctors while also acting as resource hubs for district healthcare services that connect various public and private service organisations across sectors in the community. The DHCs will continue to assist citizens in pairing with family doctors, providing comprehensive advice on disease prevention through the Life Course Preventive Care Plan, promoting the Chronic Disease Co-Care Pilot Scheme, as well as offering health education and promotion, health risk assessments, community rehabilitation services, dedicated nurse clinic and allied health services, and more.
     
         The Chief Executive announced in the 2024 Policy Address the upgrading of more DHCEs to DHCs. With the Eastern DHC, the Central and Western DHC and the Yau Tsim Mong DHC expected to commence operations within this year as announced earlier, the total number of DHCs across the city will increase to 10 this year. The PHC Commission will continue to implement the relevant upgrading plans to establish DHCs across the 18 districts at the earliest juncture, with a view to strengthening the prevention-oriented, district-based, and family-centric primary healthcare network.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    May 22, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by FS at International Forum for Patient Capital (English only)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         â€‹Following is the speech by the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, at the International Forum for Patient Capital today (May 22):
     
    Clara (Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Investment Corporation, Ms Clara Chan), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
     
         Good morning.
     
         It is a great pleasure to welcome you all to the inaugural International Forum for Patient Capital, organised by the Hong Kong Investment Corporation Limited (HKIC).
     
         This gathering brings together a remarkable group of global patient capital leaders and enterprises at the forefront of cutting-edge technologies. We are delighted to host you in this dynamic city of opportunities and promise. 
     
    The case for patient capital
     
         Technological innovation is the engine of progress, and cutting-edge technologies are its spark. They ignite transformative change, turning bold imagination into world-changing reality. Yet, these frontier innovations often mean navigating uncharted waters. The risks are high, the outcomes are uncertain, and the timelines can be long – though the return could be huge.
     
         This is precisely where and why patient capital plays a critical role.
     
         Grounded in long-term vision, with the courage to weather the ups and downs of economic cycles and the willingness to embrace future possibilities, patient capital is guided not only by profits but more importantly, by purpose and impact.
     
         Around the world, governments and institutions are recognising the strategic importance of patient capital in powering technological advancement, industrial transformation and economic growth.
     
         For instance, our country, China, has emphasised the need to make long-term investments in nascent hard-tech enterprises, supporting deep-tech ecosystems and building new quality productive forces.
     
    Hong Kong’s vision and pathway
     
         Here in Hong Kong, we understand the importance of patient capital in our pursuit of a more diversified economic structure with leading-edge competitiveness.
     
         It is our aspiration not only to be a leading international financial, shipping and trade centre, but also a world-class innovation and technology (I&T) hub. Looking ahead, finance, trading and I&T will be the key engines powering Hong Kong’s economic growth
     
         Over the years, we have made substantial investments in the tech sector. We have formulated a comprehensive strategy to expedite I&T development across the entire spectrum. From supporting basic research and the commercialisation of research outcomes, to nurturing start-ups, attracting strategic enterprises and promoting advanced manufacturing, we are scaling the tech ecosystem in Hong Kong from upstream to downstream.
     
         Our edge in innovation is amplified by our synergistic development with sister cities in the GBA (Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area). In fact, the Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou science and technology cluster has been ranked second globally by the Global Innovation Index for five consecutive years.   
     
         Our tech ecosystem benefits from a complete and deep funding chain, from angel investments, venture capital, private equity to IPOs. 
     
         However, at times traditional investors are hesitant to enter the early, risky stages of innovation, where potential may be the greatest, yet certainty is the lowest. To address this gap in the funding chain, the Government may need to take the lead.
     
         That is why we established the HKIC. One of its key priorities is to channel market capital into high-potential, nascent-stage industries, and attract innovative enterprises to help us build the related ecosystem in Hong Kong.
     
         The HKIC carries a dual mandate: to enhance the long-term competitiveness and economic vitality of Hong Kong and, at the same time, seek reasonable financial returns over the medium to long term.
         So far, the HKIC has participated in over 100 projects. It has drawn in four dollars of long-term private capital for every dollar it invested.
     
         On the tech front, the HKIC focuses on artificial intelligence (AI), hard tech, biotech, new materials and new energy. These sectors were chosen with strategic ambition. In AI, Hong Kong is home to outstanding academic institutions and uniquely positioned at the convergence of Mainland and international data and talent. In healthcare, we are proud to host two of the world’s top 40 medical schools, and maintain the highest regulatory and professional standards. In green tech, we have more than 300 such start-ups in our Science Park and Cyberport, and many of them are already exporting solutions overseas.
     
         Let me stress one point: the HKIC is not just an investor. It is a co-investor and a collaborator. We work alongside strategic partners to support sectors where we see long-term potential and where Hong Kong has distinct advantages.
     
         HKIC’s vision extends beyond borders. We are committed to supporting regional and global collaboration, guided by the conviction that openness and partnership are the best pathways to sustainable growth and shared success.
     
         I’m sure Clara will talk more about the work of the HKIC shortly.
     
    Opportunities ahead
     
         Looking to the future, geo-economic fragmentation has no doubt cast a shadow over global growth and investment flows. But even in fragmentation, opportunities emerge.
     
         As supply chains realign and countries localise critical industries, patient capital can fund scalable alternatives. As technological divides widen, new spaces are open for alternative platforms, creative new entrants and innovative breakthroughs.
     
         A compelling example is the “DeepSeek Moment”. Although start-ups may have a modest and recent beginning, DeepSeek demonstrates how ingenuity, creativity and agility can overcome resource constraints and lead to success on a global scale.
     
         What matters is whether we are willing and ready to support start-ups like them, and provide the capital bridge they need to succeed.
     
    Our appeal
     
         That brings us to today’s Forum. More than a dialogue, this event is a platform to connect global patient capital with the transformative ideas and projects that will shape our future.
     
         There is no better place than Hong Kong to host this initiative. 
     
         Under the“one country, two systems”framework, we remain firmly committed to our status as an open, diverse and international city, with free flow of capital, goods, talent and information. We uphold the common law system, underpinned by a judiciary exercising powers independently, with robust intellectual property rights protection. These are the foundations of Hong Kong’s success, and the reasons why we are trusted as a hub for global capital .
     
         We are also committed to working with international partners to chart new and sustainable pathways of growth, and to allow the dividends of innovation to transcend borders and benefit the people.
     
         I am therefore deeply encouraged to see so many leaders of capital and technology coming together today. The conversations you begin here will lead to partnerships, to investments, and to shared progress.
     
         Allow me to conclude by quoting an African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
     
         Ladies and gentlemen, let us go far-together. Thank you very much.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    May 22, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: HKMA partners with Land Registry to promote opening up of government data via CDI-CDEG linkage

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The following is issued on behalf of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority:
     
    The Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) announced today (May 22) the successful connection between the HKMA’s Commercial Data Interchange (CDI) and the Land Registry (LR) through the Government’s Consented Data Exchange Gateway (CDEG) (LR@CDI), enabling CDI participating banks to automate their land search processes. The linkage marks another major achievement in meeting banks’ demand for government data after the connection of the Companies Registry (CR) to CDI through CDEG (CR@CDI).
     
    Key features and benefits of LR@CDI
     
    By connecting to the LR via the CDI-CDEG linkage, banks can search land and ownership information in a straight-through manner via Application Programming Interface (API), effectively streamlining their processes in relation to property valuation, mortgage and loan assessments for individual and corporate customers. This would in turn enable banks to enhance risk assessment, improve customer experience and reduce time costs.
     
    With the launch of LR@CDI, CDI participating banks can also access e-Alert notifications via API when further charge/mortgage documents related to the mortgaged properties are lodged for registration with the LR, thereby providing banks with timely updates on the risk profile of their mortgage lending.
     
    Deputy Chief Executive of the HKMA, Mr Howard Lee, said, “We are delighted to partner with the LR to promote the benefits of the CDI-CDEG linkage for the banking sector. The launch of LR@CDI marks a significant milestone in our efforts to provide banks with seamless and secure access to government data, unlocking new efficiencies for banks to enhance risk management, better serve their customers and stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving digital economy. Together with the Digital Policy Office (DPO), we will explore further data sharing opportunities with more government bureaux and departments leveraging the CDI-CDEG linkage, with the aim of contributing to the advancement of Hong Kong’s digital economy.”
     
    The Commissioner for Digital Policy, Mr Tony Wong, said, “The DPO actively develops CDEG and promotes innovative application and sharing of data, with a view to enhancing efficiency and quality of government services and bringing greater benefits to citizens and businesses. We are pleased to see the growing recognition of the significant benefits and transformative power of sharing government data with the private sector. The DPO and the HKMA are committed to accelerating the process of collaboration between the public and private sectors. By fostering a robust ecosystem of consented data sharing, we aim to unlock new opportunities for businesses and bolster the overall competitiveness of Hong Kong’s economy.”
     
    The Land Registrar, Ms Joyce Tam, said, “The LR has been proactively driving innovation in service delivery to meet customer needs and support digital government initiatives. LR@CDI is the latest such initiative to enable interchange of LR data via API for digitising and streamlining banking processes in financial institutions. Our collaboration with the HKMA and the DPO demonstrates our commitment to enhancing data accessibility and increasing efficiency between both government and financial services.”
     
    Growing utilisation of CR@CDI
     
    Since the CDI-CDEG linkage came into full operation in August 2024, CR@CDI has been well received by banks, with average monthly data transfers amounting to approximately 1.5 million. Eight banks are actively utilising the CR@CDI connection to enhance their operational efficiency and risk management capabilities in different business scenarios such as automating online account opening process and conducting customer due diligence. More banks are expected to join the CDI service to obtain company search records in a more streamlined manner with the use of API.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

    May 22, 2025

  • Trump confronts South Africa’s Ramaphosa with false claims of white genocide

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    U.S. President Donald Trump confronted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Wednesday with explosive false claims of white genocide and land seizures during a tense White House meeting that was reminiscent of his February ambush of Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy.

    South Africa has one of the highest murder rates in the world, but the overwhelming majority of victims are Black.

    Ramaphosa had hoped to use Wednesday’s meeting to reset his country’s relationship with the U.S., after Trump canceled much-needed aid to South Africa, offered refuge to white minority Afrikaners, expelled the country’s ambassador and criticized its genocide court case against Israel.

    The South African president arrived prepared for an aggressive reception, bringing popular white South African golfers as part of his delegation and saying he wanted to discuss trade. The U.S. is South Africa’s second-biggest trading partner, and the country is facing a 30% tariff under Trump’s currently suspended raft of import taxes.

    But in a carefully choreographed Oval Office onslaught, Trump pounced, moving quickly to a list of concerns about the treatment of white South Africans, which he punctuated by playing a video and leafing through a stack of printed news articles that he said proved his allegations.

    With the lights turned down at Trump’s request, the video – played on a television that is not normally set up in the Oval Office – showed white crosses, which Trump asserted were the graves of white people, and opposition leaders making incendiary speeches. Trump suggested one of them, Julius Malema, should be arrested.

    The video was made in September 2020 during a protest after two people were killed on their farm a week earlier. The crosses did not mark actual graves. An organizer of the protest told South Africa’s public broadcaster at the time that they represented farmers who had been killed over the years.

    “We have many people that feel they’re being persecuted, and they’re coming to the United States,” Trump said. “So we take from many … locations, if we feel there’s persecution or genocide going on,” he added, referring specifically to white farmers.

    “People are fleeing South Africa for their own safety. Their land is being confiscated, and in many cases, they’re being killed,” the president added, echoing a once-fringe conspiracy theory that has circulated in global far-right chat rooms for at least a decade with the vocal support of Trump’s ally, South African-born Elon Musk, who was in the Oval Office during the meeting.

    South Africa, which endured centuries of draconian discrimination against Black people during colonialism and apartheid before becoming a multi-party democracy in 1994 under Nelson Mandela, rejects Trump’s allegations.

    A new land reform law, aimed at redressing the injustices of apartheid, allows for expropriations without compensation when in the public interest, for example if land is lying fallow. No such expropriation has taken place, and any order can be challenged in court.

    South African police recorded 26,232 murders nationwide in 2024, with 44 linked to farming communities. Eight of those victims were farmers.

    Ramaphosa, sitting in a chair next to Trump and remaining poised, pushed back against his claims.

    “If there was Afrikaner farmer genocide, I can bet you, these three gentlemen would not be here,” Ramaphosa said, referring to golfers Ernie Els and Retief Goosen and billionaire Johann Rupert, all white, who were present in the room.

    That did not satisfy Trump.

    “We have thousands of stories talking about it, and we have documentaries, we have news stories,” Trump said. “It has to be responded to.”

    ‘THERE IS JUST NO GENOCIDE’

    Ramaphosa mostly sat expressionless during the video presentation, occasionally craning his neck to look at the screen. He said he had not seen the material before and that he would like to find out the location.

    Trump then displayed printed copies of articles that he said showed white South Africans who had been killed, saying “death, death” as he flipped through them, eventually handing them to his counterpart.

    Ramaphosa said there was crime in South Africa, and the majority of victims were Black. Trump cut him off and said: “The farmers are not Black.”

    Ramaphosa responded: “These are concerns we are willing to talk to you about.”

    The South African president cited Mandela’s example as a peacemaker, but that did not move the U.S. president, whose political base includes white nationalists. The myth of white genocide in South Africa has become a rallying point for the far right in the United States and elsewhere.

    “I will say: apartheid, terrible,” Trump noted. “This is sort of the opposite of apartheid.”

    The extraordinary exchange, three months after Trump and Vice President JD Vance upbraided Ukraine’s Zelenskiy inside the same Oval Office, could prompt foreign leaders to think twice about accepting Trump’s invitations and risk public embarrassment.

    Unlike Zelenskiy, who sparred with Trump and ended up leaving early, the South African leader kept his calm, praising Trump’s decor – the president has outfitted the Oval Office with gold accessories – and saying he looked forward to handing over the presidency of the Group of 20 next year.

    Trump declined to say whether he would attend the G20 meeting in South Africa in November.

    Later in the meeting, Rupert, the business tycoon, stepped in to back up Ramaphosa, saying that crime was a problem across the board and many Black people were dying too.

    Following the meeting, Ramaphosa sought to focus on trade, telling reporters the two countries had agreed to discuss critical minerals in South Africa. His trade minister said the government had submitted a trade and investment proposal that included buying liquefied natural gas from the U.S.

    But the president also flatly denied Trump’s allegations about a wave of racial violence against white farmers.

    “There is just no genocide in South Africa,” he said.

    (Reuters)

    May 22, 2025

  • Spurs beat Man Utd 1-0 in scrappy Europa League final

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Tottenham Hotspur won a scrappy Europa League final 1-0 against Manchester United in Bilbao on Wednesday to salvage their season and earn a berth in next year’s Champions League thanks to Brennan Johnson’s bundled first-half goal.

    It was Spurs‘ first silverware since the 2008 League Cup and their first European trophy since 1984, but the fourth time they had beaten United this season.

    Johnson scored in the 42nd minute when United’s defence crumbled as Pape Sarr swung in a cross while goalkeeper Andre Onana remained rooted to his line. Johnson and United defender Luke Shaw rushed in and the ball appeared to glance off both of them and in, past Onana’s desperate swipe.

    The goal was as scrappy as the game in a matchup of teams who have had wildly disappointing Premier League seasons, with United languishing in 16th and Spurs 17th.

    United’s Rasmus Hojlund had a terrific chance to equalise with a header midway through the second half, but Spurs‘ Micky van de Ven leapt for a stunning clearance off the line.

    (Reuters)

    May 22, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK and South Korea sign first of its kind agreement to support global infrastructure development and Ukraine’s reconstruction

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    World news story

    UK and South Korea sign first of its kind agreement to support global infrastructure development and Ukraine’s reconstruction

    The UK has signed a MoU with South Korea to jointly support Ukraine’s reconstruction and global infrastructure, boosting trade and sustainable development.

    The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Republic of Korea (ROK).

    The MoU enhances cooperation between the UK Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and the Korean Overseas Infrastructure & Urban Development Corporation (KIND) to work on Ukrainian reconstruction projects, as well as global infrastructure development in other markets.

    This first of its kind agreement signals an exciting opportunity for British and South Korean businesses to make a difference in Ukraine, as well as demonstrate their expertise to the global market, boosting both countries’ economies while being a force for good.

    This agreement was signed in the Old Admiralty Building in London on Thursday 22nd May 2025, between the UK Business and Trade Minister, Gareth Thomas MP, and the KIND CEO, Mr. Bok Hwan Kim. It is KIND’s inaugural MoU with DBT and the UK Government.

    The MoU will promote new UK-South Korean business partnerships across third markets in the fields of sustainable transport, healthcare infrastructure, smart cities and urban development, clean energy, water and waste management, and sustainable infrastructure and related technologies. In Ukraine, this agreement will kickstart urgent repairs to critical national infrastructure, including housing, hospitals and power generators.

    The partnership will advance the UK’s strong diplomatic and trade ties with the Republic of Korea as set out in the 2023 Downing Street Accord. It is also underpinned by £16.3 billion in bilateral trade and supported through the existing UK-ROK Free Trade Agreement, which the Government has committed to upgrading.

    The agreement also builds on the UK’s landmark 100-Year Partnership with Ukraine, whereby reconstruction programmes form a key part of the £5bn the UK Government has provided to Ukraine in non-military support.

    Business and Trade Minister Gareth Thomas said:

    This agreement is the first of its kind and strengthens our relationship with the Republic of Korea. 

    As part of our Plan for Change it will secure vital opportunities for UK businesses to work with KIND and South Korean companies in overseas infrastructure and deepen our commitment to supporting Ukrainian reconstruction efforts.

    KIND CEO, Bok Hwan KIM, said:

    This Memorandum of Understanding with the UK government marks a historic moment that elevates infrastructure cooperation between Korea and the United Kingdom to a new level. KIND is delighted to contribute to Ukraine’s reconstruction and sustainable infrastructure development worldwide through this partnership. By combining our countries’ expertise and technological capabilities, we can make a tangible impact across various sectors, from critical infrastructure repairs to clean energy and smart cities. This collaboration goes beyond business opportunities—it represents our joint response to global challenges, and we are honoured to embark on this important journey alongside British companies.

    Background

    • KIND was established in June 2018 by the Government of the Republic of Korea to support Korean companies for project planning, feasibility studies, project information and project bankability.

    • The UK works with partner countries to jointly deliver high-quality infrastructure projects in third markets through the Third Country Cooperation (TCC) model.

    • The TCC partnership builds on the complementary strengths of both countries: South Korea brings globally recognised contracting expertise and cost-effective project delivery; the UK offers advisory services, engineering, project finance (including through UK Export Finance), and high-tech solutions.

    • Ukraine is a priority TCC market for both sides, although the agreement will also allow cooperation with other third countries.

    • Early reconstruction is vital to Ukraine’s resilience and ultimate victory, and the UK government is committed to mobilising British businesses to support this effort – helping to rebuild critical infrastructure, drive investment, and ensure Ukraine emerges stronger in the face of Russian aggression.

    • According to the World Bank’s Fourth Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA4), as of 31 December 2024, the total cost of reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine is $524 billion (€506 billion) over the next decade, which is approximately 2.8 times the estimated nominal GDP of Ukraine for 2024.

    • The RDNA4 finds that direct damage in Ukraine has now reached $176 billion (€170 billion), up from $152 billion (€138 billion) in the RDNA3 of February 2024, with housing, transport, energy, commerce and industry, and education as the most affected sectors.

    • We have developed strong relationships with Ukrainian ministers, local mayors, and officials to identify immediate reconstruction needs, as prioritised by the Government of Ukraine. By promoting the expertise and capabilities of UK businesses, we can ensure UK companies are well-positioned to maximise their contribution to Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction.

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    Updates to this page

    Published 22 May 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    May 22, 2025

  • MIL-OSI New Zealand: Release: Bills increase transparency of money transfers and ports

    Source: New Zealand Labour Party

    Two Labour bills drawn from the Member’s Ballot today would require greater transparency of international money transfers, and bring more public accountability and transparency to port companies.

    “Too many families are losing money to hidden fees when they send remittances overseas. That’s not fair, especially with the cost of living rising,” Arena Williams said.

    “My Financial Markets (International Money Transfers) Amendment Bill will require banks and other money transfer services to be upfront about their fees, exchange rates, and commissions. Consumers should know exactly what they’re paying, before they send a cent.

    “New Zealanders pay more for international money transfers than people in Australia and other countries. My Bill is especially important for Pacific, Filipino, Indian and other migrant communities who regularly use remittance services to support loved ones abroad.

    “Banks and finance companies charge for these services in a way most consumers won’t understand. It’s not clear, it’s not fair, and it hits working families hardest.

    “This Bill is about making banking fairer for everyone, whether you’re sending money home to support family or making a purchase online in a foreign currency. Labour is on the side of consumers, not the banks.”

    The Bill would:

    • Require full disclosure of all fees, commissions, and exchange rates before a transfer is made
    • Ensure the total cost of a transfer is clearly displayed, including markups
    • Stop banks and providers from hiding charges in fine print

    “This is an important step in bringing down everyday costs for families – starting with banking. Everyone deserves to know what they’re paying,” Arena Williams said.

    Lemauga Lydia Sosene’s Local Government (Port Companies Accountability) Amendment Bill would bring more public accountability and transparency to publicly-owned port companies.

    “Currently, publicly-owned port companies are immune to Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act requests which limits their public accountability. This Bill would change that and give local communities greater transparency around decisions that could affect their lives,” Lemauga Lydia Sosene said.

    Stay in the loop by signing up to our mailing list and following us on Facebook, Instagram, and X. 

    MIL OSI New Zealand News –

    May 22, 2025

  • Indian Parliamentary Delegation Arrives in UAE for Counter Terrorism Outreach

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Multi party parliamentary delegation led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde arrived in Abu Dhabi on Thursday morning as part of India’s global diplomatic initiative to highlight its counter-terrorism efforts and to brief the international community on operation Sindoor

    The delegation was officially received by Ahmed Mir Khoori, Member of the Federal National Council of the UAE, and Indian Ambassador to the UAE Sunjay Sudhir. The multi-party group represents a cross-section of India’s political landscape and aims to brief international counterparts on India’s counter-terrorism responses while strengthening cooperation with global partners.

    The delegation comprises BJP MPs Bansuri Swaraj, Atul Garg, and Rajya Sabha member Manan Kumar Mishra, who is also a senior advocate. Also included are Indian Union Muslim League MP ET Mohammed Basheer, Biju Janata Dal MP Sasmit Patra, BJP leader SS Ahluwalia, and former diplomat Sujan Chinoy. The group’s broader itinerary extends beyond the UAE to include visits to Liberia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sierra Leone.

    During their two-day stay in the UAE, the delegation will participate in high-level meetings in Abu Dhabi, beginning with an interaction with Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan, UAE Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence. They are also scheduled to hold discussions at the Federal National Council with Dr. Ali Rashid Al Nuami and other senior council members.

    Additional meetings have been arranged with officials from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Media Office. The delegation will engage with local media through an interaction with The National newspaper and participate in a session with strategic political affairs analyst Amjad Taha.

    A significant component of the visit includes outreach to the Indian diaspora community, with an event planned at the Indian Embassy’s auditorium in Abu Dhabi. This engagement reflects India’s emphasis on maintaining strong connections with its overseas communities while advancing diplomatic objectives.

    May 22, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: WADA welcomes additional funding from Qatar for scientific research

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

    The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has welcomed Qatar’s decision to provide additional funding to support the organization’s scientific research efforts.

    The Ministry of Sports and Youth in Qatar will contribute an extra 1.5 million U.S. dollars, in addition to the country’s annual payment of more than 200,000 dollars to WADA, the agency announced on Wednesday.

    “WADA is appreciative of the continued support of our partners within Qatar’s Ministry of Sports and Youth. The additional funding will make a significant impact on anti-doping research globally and within Qatar itself,” said WADA President Witold Banka.

    “This is another indication of the strong support WADA receives from governments around the world, which believe in and trust us to deliver on our clean sport mission and understand the importance of cutting-edge scientific research to being ahead of those who seek to cheat the system.”

    Earlier this month, Japan pledged an additional 196,000 dollars to support anti-doping capacity and capability development in Asia and Oceania. According to WADA, Japan has contributed roughly 2.5 million dollars in additional funding over the past two decades.

    In the past 10 years, WADA has also received additional contributions from countries including Australia, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, France, India, Kuwait, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and the United States.

    Banka stated earlier this year that WADA invests heavily in anti-doping research, allocating about 10 percent of its annual budget to scientific and social science initiatives. The agency has also called on its partners to support ongoing research efforts, including recent work focused on unintentional doping.

    WADA has set a budget of more than 50 million dollars for 2025.

    The United States, which failed to pay its 2024 annual fee of 3.62 million dollars–amounting to 14 percent of WADA’s budget–automatically loses its seat on the organization’s executive committee for the year.

    “It is so important for athletes that WADA is properly resourced and that it has certainty around the funds it receives,” said Yuhan Tan, Belgium’s former badminton player and WADA Athlete Council representative on the Foundation Board.

    “I call on all governments to fulfill their commitments and make their annual contributions to WADA in a predictable and timely fashion so the work upholding the World Anti-Doping Code and supporting athletes around the world can continue. Clearly, anti-doping is becoming more and more politicized, which must be avoided as it puts all athletes and the entire system at risk,” he commented when WADA released its budget plan earlier this year. 

    MIL OSI China News –

    May 22, 2025

  • MIL-OSI China: China’s first offshore carbon capture, utilization and storage project put into operation

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

    China’s first offshore carbon capture, utilization and storage project put into operation

    Xinhua | May 22, 2025

    China’s first offshore carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) project on Thursday began operations in the Pearl River Mouth Basin in south China, said China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), the country’s largest offshore oil and gas producer.

    The project, situated at the Enping 15-1 platform, captures carbon dioxide produced during oil development, purifies and pressurizes it to a supercritical state, and injects it into underground oil reservoirs at an initial rate of 8 tonnes per hour. This innovative approach both drives increased oil production and achieves carbon sequestration, creating a new model of marine energy recycling.

    The Enping 15-1 platform, currently Asia’s largest offshore oil production platform, is located approximately 200 km southwest of China’s southern boomtown Shenzhen at a water depth of about 90 meters. At peak production, the oilfield group produces over 7,500 tonnes of crude oil daily.

    CCUS represents an emerging technological approach for low-carbon and efficient development of fossil energy. Globally, there are 65 commercial CCUS projects, though most are concentrated onshore with very few offshore implementations.

    MIL OSI China News –

    May 22, 2025

  • MIL-OSI: Alt Carbon raises $12 million seed round to scale Carbon Removal (CDR) in the Global South

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    • $12 million seed will be the largest funding round for climate tech in India
    • Funding round led by Lachy Groom with participation from existing investors
    • To accelerate investments in CDR, Earth Sciences R&D and advanced hardware

    San Francisco and Bangalore, May 21, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — : Alt Carbon, a deep-tech science & data company, announced a $12 million seed funding round to build the agricultural infrastructure for climate action. The investment will help accelerate Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) in the Global South and expand Earth Sciences R&D, advance hardware innovations, and scale-up operations for durable climate action in India. The round was led by Lachy Groom, with participation from existing investors.

    This marks the largest seed round for climate tech in India, underscoring the novelty of the technology, growing demand for removal-based carbon credits, and the burgeoning opportunity for India to become the world’s frontier for climate action.

    “Alt Carbon is tackling a once-in-a-generation challenge. The personal journey of the founders, their technical approach, and ambitious vision will help us remove CO₂ from the atmosphere at gigaton scale — all while adapting agricultural land for climate impact. In just 18 months, the team has built a world-class lab, created proprietary models, and laid the foundation for a new class of carbon removal and agricultural infrastructure. This is a category-defining deep-tech company that will reshape how the world thinks about climate action,” said Lachy Groom, Investor and Co-founder of Physical Intelligence.

    Alt Carbon uses a novel carbon removal method called Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW), which involves sourcing waste basalt rock dust from mines and spreading it across agricultural fields. This volcanic rock not only improves soil health and crop yields but also reacts naturally with rainwater to remove carbon dioxide. When CO₂ in rainwater interacts with the basalt dust, a chemical reaction converts it into stable bicarbonate ions that are stored in the soil. Over time, these ions travel through river networks to the ocean, where they eventually reside as calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) for over 10,000 years.

    Alt Carbon’s flagship initiative, The Darjeeling Revival Project (DRP), is a first-of-its-kind effort to unite climate action with cultural and ecological restoration. With an ambitious goal to remove carbon dioxide at scale, the DRP aims to not just remove CO₂ but also restore livelihoods, revive degraded soils and ecosystems, and preserve India’s most valued export: Darjeeling’s tea. The project represents a new model for climate action — one that’s rooted in science, powered by community, and driven by the belief that revivals require ambition and audacious bets.

    “The climate crisis demands bold bets on science innovation, rethinking infrastructure, and deploying capital. Enhanced Rock Weathering is one of the most promising, permanent carbon removal pathways we have, and yet it’s vastly underbuilt. What sets us apart is our obsession with scientific depth: we’re building advanced labs and engineering the scientific backbone of a new era of climate action grounded in the Global South. Extraordinary crises require outsized ambition, and we now have the capital to kickstart a climate revolution and have a shot at gigaton-scale carbon removal,” said Co-founder & CEO Shrey Agarwal, Alt Carbon.

    In just the last two months, Alt Carbon signed two landmark agreements that signal a new chapter in climate collaboration between Japan and India. A strategic partnership with Mitsubishi Corporation marked a first of its kind framework for scaling Enhanced Rock Weathering (ERW) — a strong vote of confidence in both the science and Alt Carbon’s execution. This was followed by a historic offtake agreement with MOL Group to purchase 10,000 tonnes of carbon removal credits — the world’s first direct CDR offtake by a shipping company for ERW, and the first such deal between a Japanese and Indian company. Together, these partnerships not only validate ERW as a credible, scalable climate solution, but also mark the emergence of a robust Japan–India business corridor rooted in science-led, cross-border climate action.

    Alt Carbon has also received early catalytic support from ACT, a leading non-profit philanthropy platform, and participation from existing investors and leading angels, including Shastra VC, Jason Zhao (Co Founder, PIP Labs), Awais Ahmed (Co Founder, Pixxel Space), Amarendra Singh (Co Founder, DeHaat), among others.

    Nine months ago, Alt Carbon made history as the first India-headquartered company to be selected by Frontier, a $1 billion Advance Market Commitment backed by Stripe, Alphabet, Meta, Shopify, and McKinsey — to scale permanent carbon removal. Alt Carbon also became the first ERW company globally to receive an offtake agreement from the South Pole & Mitsubishi-led NextGen buyer’s coalition.

    Alt Carbon also announced the appointment of Yashovardhan Bhagat (former co-founder of ed-tech platform Seekho) as Chief Operating Officer to scale its carbon removal operations across India, Adithya Venkatesan (former brand head at Gojek, Meesho and Last9) to lead the in-house Climate Studio, and Dr. Sourav Ganguly (PhD, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore) to lead the science & modelling team.

    “India needs $1 trillion of climate finance by 2030 alone to adapt our soil, rivers, and cities to climate impact. Globally, we need to remove 10 billion tons of CO₂ every year by 2050. We’re nowhere close to either of these targets. Our goal is to make India a hub for carbon removal. We plan to remove CO₂ at scale from the Global South, for the planet,” said Co-founder & President, Sparsh Agarwal. He added, “We thank the partners who have joined us in this ambitious, whirlwind journey, to revive Darjeeling, remove CO₂ and undo the clock for this planet.”

    –

    Notes to the editor
    For further information please contact the Alt Carbon press office:
    Adithya Venkatesan on adithya@alt-carbon.com
    Media images

    About Alt Carbon
    Alt Carbon is a deeptech science and data company, building agri infrastructure for climate action. We aim to make South Asia a hub for Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) through technology pathways like Enhanced Rock Weathering. We work with farmers and scientists in the Global South, to turn underutilized land into carbon sinks. Our flagship initiative, the Darjeeling Revival Project (DRP), is a first-of-its-kind effort to unite climate action with cultural and ecological restoration — by reviving degraded soils, restoring livelihoods, and rebuilding ecosystems. We’re rooted in science, powered by community, and driven by the belief that revivals require ambitious people and audacious bets. Our mission is to remove 5 million metric tons of CO₂ by 2030.

    For more information please visit https://www.alt-carbon.com/ or follow us via LinkedIn or X

    About Lachy Groom
    Lachy Groom has invested in over 200 companies including Anduril, OpenAI, Ramp, Notion, Figma, and Zepto. Lachy was previously an early employee at Stripe where he helped scale the company to over 2,500 employees. During his time there he led several teams, including Core Payments, Financial Partnerships, Stripe’s expansion into the Asia Pacific, and Stripe Issuing. Lachy is also one of the six co-founders of Physical Intelligence.

    About ACT
    ACT Capital Foundation is an Indian venture philanthropy platform that believes that an entrepreneurial mindset, technology and innovation and collective action have the power to create meaningful impact at scale. Driven by a bias for action, ACT funds and supports tech-first innovations that can address India’s most critical social need gaps at scale through capital, connections and collectives.

    “ACT’s belief in backing tech-first innovations has helped lay the groundwork for Alt Carbon’s first field deployments and validate the efficacy of ERW to remove carbon at scale. Philanthropic capital reflects a shared commitment to help the country meet its decarbonisation goals by accelerating climate solutions that are rooted in local realities and scalable across the Global South,” said Alankrita Khera, Director, ACT.

    Attachment

    • Alt Carbon raises $12 million seed round

    The MIL Network –

    May 22, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Money Market Operations as on May 21, 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) 5,88,274.67 5.74 1.00-5.95
         I. Call Money 17,914.80 5.80 4.85-5.90
         II. Triparty Repo 3,91,287.55 5.73 5.61-5.79
         III. Market Repo 1,77,177.32 5.75 1.00-5.95
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 1,895.00 5.92 5.88-5.95
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 114.70 5.72 5.40-5.85
         II. Term Money@@ 2,972.00 – 6.00-7.60
         III. Triparty Repo 3,210.00 5.85 5.84-5.85
         IV. Market Repo 754.16 5.85 5.85-5.85
         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 Wed, 21/05/2025 1 Thu, 22/05/2025 4,348.00 6.01
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF# Wed, 21/05/2025 1 Thu, 22/05/2025 591.00 6.25
    4. SDFΔ# Wed, 21/05/2025 1 Thu, 22/05/2025 1,71,096.00 5.75
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -1,66,157.00  
    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          
      (III) Long Term Operations^          
         (a) Repo Thu, 17/04/2025 43 Fri, 30/05/2025 25,731.00 6.01
         (b) Reverse Repo          
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       8,735.56  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     34,466.56  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -1,31,690.44  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on May 21, 2025 9,42,726.30  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending May 30, 2025 9,48,817.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ May 21, 2025 4,348.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on May 02, 2025 2,34,873.00  
    @ 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.
    ^ As per the Press Release No. 2025-2026/91 dated April 11, 2025.
    Ajit Prasad          
    Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2025-2026/385

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

    May 22, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Banking: New Development Bank admitted Algeria, further expanding its membership

    Source: New Development Bank

    The New Development Bank (NDB) has officially admitted Algeria as a new member country.

    On May 19, 2025, Algeria deposited its instrument of accession, in line with the provisions of the Articles of Agreement of the New Development Bank.

    “On behalf of New Development Bank, I truly congratulate Algeria for joining the Bank. Algeria plays an important role not only in the economy of Northern Africa, but also at a global scale, and will definitely contribute to enhancing NDB’s position in the global financial arena,” said H.E. Mrs. Dilma Rousseff, NDB President.

    “Rich in natural resources, with a dynamic economy and strategic geographic position, Algeria has immense potential for growth and development. NDB is fully committed to becoming a reliable and trustworthy partner for Algeria, supporting its sustainable development agenda,” said President Dilma Rousseff.

    “The New Development Bank is a financial institution mobilizing resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects. It is a platform for collaboration and knowledge sharing among its member countries. Together with Algeria, we will work to finance impactful projects that drive progress, improve lives, and contribute to development,” added President Dilma Rousseff.

    “We are delighted to announce the formalization of Algeria’s membership of the New Development Bank and thus becoming a full member of this prestigious international financial institution,” said H.E. Mr. Abdelkarim Bouzerd, Minister of Finance of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria. “This membership is a testament to our belief in this institution’s vital role in financing global development, and its status as a key player capable of providing alternative and innovative solutions to promote the growth and resilience of its member countries’ economies.”

    “I remain convinced that my country’s membership of the NDB will create promising opportunities for collaboration and mutual support,” said Mr. Abdelkarim Bouzerd.

    NDB’s membership expansion is in line with the Bank’s strategy to become a leading provider of solutions for infrastructure and sustainable development for emerging market economies and developing countries (EMDCs).

     

    Background information

    Established in 2015 by BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), the New Development Bank is a multilateral development bank aimed at mobilizing resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects in BRICS and other EMDCs. Complementing the ongoing efforts of other multilateral and regional financial institutions, NDB aims to contribute to global growth and development by helping address the needs and aspirations of EMDCs.

    Since its establishment in 2015, NDB approved over 120 investment projects totalling USD 40 billion and spanning several key areas, including clean energy and energy efficiency, transport infrastructure, environmental protection, water supply and sanitation, social infrastructure and digital infrastructure.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

    May 22, 2025
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