NewzIntel.com

Category: Asia

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Three new initiatives by ECI

    Source: Government of India

    Three new initiatives by ECI

    Electronic obtaining data of Death registration for updation of electoral rolls BLOs to get standard photo ID

    Voter Information Slips to be made more elector friendly

    Posted On: 01 MAY 2025 4:10PM by PIB Delhi

    The Election Commission of India has introduced new initiatives aimed at improving the accuracy of electoral rolls, making the voting process more convenient for citizens. These measures are in line with the initiatives as envisaged by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) of India Shri Gyanesh Kumar during the Conference of Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs), in the presence of Election Commissioners Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi in March this year.

    The Commission will now obtain death registration data electronically from the Registrar General of India in line with Rule 9 of the Registration of Electors Rules, 1960 and Section 3(5)(b) of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 (as amended in 2023). This will ensure that the Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) receive timely information about registered deaths. This will also enable Booth Level Officers (BLOs) to re-verify the information through field visits, without waiting for a formal request under Form 7.

    To make Voter Information Slips (VIS) more voter friendly, the Commission has also decided to modify its design. The serial number and part number of the voter will now be displayed more prominently, with increased font size, making it easier for voters to identify their polling station and for polling officials to locate their names in the electoral roll efficiently.

    The Commission has also directed that all BLOs, who are appointed by the EROs under Section 13B (2) of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, be issued standard photo identity cards to ensure that citizens can recognise and interact confidently with BLOs during voter verification and registration drives. As the first interface between the voters and the ECI in performing election related duties, it is important that BLOs are easily identifiable to the public while conducting house-to-house visits.

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LIEUTENANT GENERAL PRATIK SHARMA TAKES OVER COMMAND OF INDIAN ARMY’S NORTHERN COMMAND

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 01 MAY 2025 3:28PM by PIB Delhi

    Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma assumed the appointment of General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C), Northern Command today.

    A highly decorated officer, Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma is an alumnus of NDA, Khadakwasla, Indian Military Academy, Dehradun and Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. He was commissioned into the MADRAS Regiment in December 1987. He is qualified on Higher Command Course and has also attended course at National Defence College, New Delhi.

    The General Officer has a rich operational experience. He commanded an Infantry Battalion, Brigade and Division along the Line of Control and has Commanded a Strike Corps in the Western Sector.

    The General Officer has a varied exposure in staff and instructional appointments including being a staff officer in UN Mission. He has held important appointments at Military Operations Directorate and Military Secretary Branch in the Army Headquarters. He was also the Director General of Military Operations and Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Strategy), prior to taking over as GOC-in-C, Northern Command.

    On assuming the command, the GOC-in-C conveyed his greetings to all ranks and expressed his commitment to take forward the excellent work by his predecessors and all ranks of Northern Command.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: LIEUTENANT GENERAL MV SUCHINDRA KUMAR RELINQUISHES COMMAND OF INDIAN ARMY’S NORTHERN COMMAND

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 01 MAY 2025 3:27PM by PIB Delhi

    Lieutenant General MV Suchindra Kumar, relinquished the Command of Indian Army’s Northern Command on 30th April 2025, after completing an illustrious career of four decades in the Indian Army. In a solemn ceremony on his departure, the GOC-in-C paid homage to the Bravehearts for their supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. An alumnus of Sainik School, Bijapur and NDA, Khadakwasla, the General Officer was commissioned into 1 ASSAM Regiment on 8th June 1985. He has a rich and versatile experience of Conventional and Counter Terrorism/ Insurgency operations in Northern and Eastern Command theatres of the country. His command appointments were all in J&K that includes command of a Rashtriya Rifles Battalion, an Infantry Brigade, a Division and a Corps.

    He assumed the appointment of GOC-in-C, Northern Command on 19th February 2024. During his command, he provided Strategic guidance and Operational oversight for planning and execution of sustained operations along the northern and western borders, besides orchestrating the dynamic Counter-Terrorism operations in J&K. He ensured a balanced operational situation on the borders and hinterland. Under his leadership, training was evolved to align with the changing operational dynamics, preparing personnel for both current and futuristic challenges.

    Under his command, efforts were also made to galvanise resources as per Veterans Engagement programs to assist Veterans, ‘Veer-Matas’ and ‘Veer Naris’ within Northern Command Areas. Other key areas of focus under his leadership were facilitating upliftment of the youth, women empowerment and development of the local communities to include ‘Gujjars’ and ‘Bakkerwals’ through Operation Sadhbhavna. Multiple infrastructure projects were undertaken for upliftment of the local communities.

    In his farewell address the General officer complimented all ranks for their selfless service and exhorted them to continue their good work in the finest traditions of the Indian Army. The Indian Army wishes the General Officer and his family very best in their future endeavours.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan to Launch White Paper on India’s Live Events Economy: A Strategic Growth Imperative at WAVES 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Union Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan to Launch White Paper on India’s Live Events Economy: A Strategic Growth Imperative at WAVES 2025

    India poised to emerge among the top five global entertainment destinations by 2030

    Live Events to be one of the fastest-growing verticals in India’s M&E ecosystem

    Posted On: 01 MAY 2025 1:27PM by PIB Mumbai

    Mumbai, 1 May 2025

     

    Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri L. Murugan, will unveil “India’s Live Events Economy: A Strategic Growth Imperative”—a first-of-its-kind white paper commissioned by the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting.

    The White Paper will be formally released on May 3, 2025, during WAVES Summit 2025 in Mumbai. The White Paper presents a comprehensive analysis of India’s rapidly expanding live entertainment industry, highlighting emerging trends, growth trajectories, and strategic recommendations for the sector’s continued evolution.

    India’s live events landscape is undergoing a transformation—from a fragmented sector to a structured and influential pillar of the country’s cultural and creative economy. The period from 2024 to 2025 marks a defining inflection point, with international acts such as ‘Coldplay’ performing in Ahmedabad and Mumbai, signaling India’s readiness to host global-scale events.

    Key trends in the sector include the rise of event tourism, with nearly half a million attendees traveling specifically for live music events—indicating the emergence of a robust music-tourism economy. Premium ticketing segments—such as VIP experiences, curated access, and luxury hospitality—have witnessed over 100% year-on-year growth, pointing to an increasingly experience-driven audience. Participation from Tier-2 cities has surged, driven by multi-city tours and the growing popularity of regional festivals.

    In 2024, the organized live events segment recorded 15% growth, contributing an additional ₹13 billion in revenue—establishing it as one of the fastest-growing verticals within India’s media and entertainment ecosystem. Large-scale events in the current landscape typically generate approximately 2,000 to 5,000 temporary jobs each, underscoring the sector’s growing contribution to employment and skill development.

    With focused investments, policy support, and infrastructural upgrades, India is on track to position itself as one of the top five live entertainment destinations globally by 2030, unlocking new avenues for economic growth, employment generation, tourism, and enhanced global cultural presence.

     

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    PIB TEAM WAVES 2025 | Rajith/ Darshana | 121

    Follow us on social media: @PIBMumbai    /PIBMumbai     /pibmumbai   pibmumbai[at]gmail[dot]com  /PIBMumbai     /pibmumbai

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ms. Sujata Chaturvedi Assumes Charge as Member, Union Public Service Commission

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 01 MAY 2025 3:06PM by PIB Delhi

    Ms. Sujata Chaturvedi, Former Secretary, Department of Sports, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports took the Oath of Office and Secrecy as Member, Union Public Service Commission today. The Oath was administered by Lt. Gen. Raj Shukla (Retd.), seniormost Member of the Commission.

    Ms. Sujata Chaturvedi did her Graduation in English and Post Graduation in History from Nagpur University. She also has an M.Phil in Public Administration and Diploma in the Russian Language.

    Ms. Chaturvedi belongs to the 1989 batch of the Indian Administrative Service and was allotted Bihar Cadre. She has vast administrative experience of more than three decades in the cadre, as well as in the Government of India. In the State, she served as Principal Secretary, D/o Finance, Commercial Tax Commissioner, Secretary, D/o Finance, Vice Chairman, D/o Urban Development. At the Centre, she held the post of Secretary, Youth Affairs and Sports, Additional Secretary, DOPT and Regional Deputy Director General in Unique Identification Authority of India. Ms. Chaturvedi, during her tenure as the Secretary, Dept of Sports, contributed significantly to many initiatives for the overall development of sports in the country. To name a few, some of her initiatives are hosting the annual Khelo India Games, the FIDE Chess Olympiad, FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, implementation of a National Sports Repository System, country-wide mapping of standard sports facilities and the enactment of the Anti-Doping bill to strengthen the nation’s fight against doping.

    Ms. Chaturvedi hails from the state of Maharashtra. She is conversant

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: 100 Days of Fighting Fake News

    Source: US Federal Emergency Management Agency

    Headline: 100 Days of Fighting Fake News

    lass=”text-align-center”> From Stories on Criminals to Statistics, DHS has been Holding the Media Accountable for Spreading Disinformation to the American people 
    WASHINGTON— During President Trump’s 100 days in office, the Department of Homeland Security published a non exhaustive list of facts, to help set the record straight on numerous false and misleading stories that have spread around news coverage and social media

    The list can be found below:
    The Facts on Noteworthy Individuals Deported or Prevented from Entering the U

    S

    The Deportation Of American Citizens

    The media has FALSELY claimed that ICE is deporting US citizen children of illegal aliens

    This is false

    In both cases the mother made the determination to take her children with her back to Honduras

    DHS takes our responsibility to protect children seriously and will continue to work with federal law enforcement to ensure that children are safe and protected

    The Trump Administration is giving parents in this country illegally the opportunity to self-deport and take control of their departure process with the potential ability to return the legal, right way and come back to live the American dream

    The CBP Home app is a free and easy way to self deport

    Kilmar Abrego Garcia – The “Maryland Man”

    Garcia is NOT an American citizen

    He is a citizen of El Salvador who had been living in the country illegally

    In 2019, two courts – an immigration court and an appellate immigration court – ruled that he was not only a member of MS-13, but that he was in our country illegally

    There was a deportation order for him dating back to 2019

    Further details about Garcia’s history prove that he is far from innocent

    In 2020, his wife filed a petition for protection citing three separate instances of violence
    In 2021, his wife filed for a restraining order against him due to domestic violence

    In 2022, Garcia was pulled over by Tennessee Highway Patrol with 8 people crammed into one car

    Despite telling the officers that they were going on a trip from Houston, Texas to Temple Hills, Maryland, there was no sign of luggage in the car

    It was later revealed that the vehicle Garcia was driving during this stop was registered to another illegal alien who had been convicted of human trafficking, Jose Roman Hernandez Reyes

    The media further claimed that the Supreme Court ordered the Trump Administration to return Garcia to the United States

    This is another falsehood

    The Supreme Court unanimously overturned that judge’s ruling but instead said that the United States should “facilitate” Garcia’s return

    This would only be possible if the government of El Salvador decided to return him, in which case the United States would have to provide transportation

    It’s up to Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele and the government of El Salvador if they want to return him

    But as President Bukele said during his Oval Office visit with President Trump, he has no intention of releasing a terrorist and sending him back to the United States

    When President Trump declared MS-13 a foreign terrorist organization, Abrego Garcia became no longer eligible for any form of immigration relief in the United States

    He had a valid deportation order

    Furthermore, the Supreme Court also held that EVEN IF El Salvador returned this MS-13 member to the United States, we could deport him a second time

    NO version of this legally ends with him ever living in the U

    S

    , because he is a citizen of El Salvador

    The foreign policy of the United States is conducted by the President – not by a court – and no court in the United States has the power to conduct the foreign policy of the United States

    Dr

    Rasha Alawieh – “The Brown University Assistant Professor”

    Dr

    Rasha Alawieh was an assistant professor at Brown University

    She was in the United States with an H-1B visa

    She was deported back to her home country of Lebanon after she admitted to attending the funeral of Hassan Nasrallah, a brutal terrorist who led Hezbollah and was responsible for killing hundreds of Americans

    The media tried to portray Alawieh’s case as an example of a “lawful immigrant” being deported

    But they completely ignored her direct and alarming ties to radical Islamic terrorism, including her veneration of a dead terrorist leader

    Alfredo “Alex” Orellana – “The Caregiver”

    Alfredo “Alex” Orellana has multiple charges on his record from 2012 to 2019, including: distributing drugs, drug possession, assault and battery, failure to appear to court (twice), theft at the second degree, and larceny

    He has since been arrested and faces deportation

    The New York Times wrote a lengthy article on Orellana’s case

    Their article painted a picture of a loving 31-year-old caregiver who was the “best friend” of a 28-year-old autistic man

    They also pointed to the fact that Orellana had a green card

    The press tried to paint him as a victim who was a caretaker, despite violent charges on his record

    Jerce Reyes Barrios – “The Venezuelan Soccer Player”

    Jerce Reyes Barrios was in the United States illegally

    He was a member of the vicious Tren de Aragua gang, and he was deported to El Salvador

    He has tattoos that are consistent with those indicating membership in the vicious Tren de Aragua gang

    His own social media indicates that he is a Tren de Aragua member

    That hasn’t stopped the media, however

    They tried to whip up a frenzy over this deported criminal gang member, publishing wild claims that he was deported because of a tattoo of a soccer team on his arm

    The facts are the facts

    Our intelligence assessments go beyond just social media and tattoos

    We are confident in our findings

    Nascimento Blair – “The Ex-Con”

    Blair was an illegal alien living in the United States who was tried and convicted for kidnapping and sentenced to 15 years in prison

    The New York Times published a fawning profile about this criminal illegal alien

    In 2008, he was ordered removed out of the country

    However, because of the Biden administration’s open border policies, this criminal illegal alien was released onto the streets of New York

    The Trump administration is putting the American people first by getting this criminal illegal alien off the streets and out of our country

    “The French Scientist Denied Entry Over His Political Views”

    In March, a French scientist was denied entry into the United States

    The researcher in question was in possession of confidential information on his electronic device from Los Alamos National Laboratory

    This was in clear violation of a non-disclosure agreement – something he admitted to taking without permission and attempted to conceal to authorities

    The mainstream media ran with the baseless narrative that this individual was blocked from entering the U

    S

    because of social media posts that were critical of President Trump

    This lie was even echoed by France’s Minister for Higher Education, Philippe Baptiste

    His political beliefs were not considered at all in his removal

    Marie Lepère and Charlotte Pohl – “German Tourists Turned Away on Vacation”

    Two German tourists were denied entry after attempting to enter the U

    S

    under false pretenses

    Both claimed they were touring California but later admitted that they intended to work

    One used a Visitor visa, while the other used the Visa Waiver Program

    Under U

    S

    immigration laws, work is prohibited for these visas

    The media version of events depicted two young women who tried to go on a five-week backpacking trip through the United States

    The media claimed that the two – aged 18 and 19 – were “deported” because they simply wanted to go on a fun, loosely-planned trip

    These travelers weren’t deported—they were denied entry

    And the reason for their removal was visa fraud, not because of the planning nature of their so-called “vacation

    ”

    Jose Hermosillo – “The American Citizen Detained by Border Patrol”

    Hermosillo turned himself in to immigration authorities on April 8

    He approached Border Patrol in Tucson, Arizona and declared that he had entered the U

    S

    illegally

    He completed a sworn statement identifying as a Mexican citizen who had entered unlawfully

    He was processed and appeared in court on April 11

    Afterwards, he was held by the U

    S

    Marshals in Florence, Arizona

    A few days later, his family presented documents showing U

    S

    citizenship

    The charges were dismissed, and he was released to his family

    The media, instead of reporting the facts, created a false and baseless story that an American citizen was illegally detained

    Hermosillio’s arrest was the direct action of his own actions and statements

    When his citizenship was confirmed, he was promptly released back to his family

    Kseniia Petrova – “The Russian Scientist Trying to Cure Cancer”

    Kseniia Petrova, a Russian researcher working for Harvard University, was lawfully detained after lying to federal officers about carrying substances into the country

    A subsequent K9 inspection uncovered undeclared petri dishes, containers of unknown substances, and loose vials of embryonic frog cells, all without proper permits

    Messages found on her phone revealed she planned to smuggle the materials through customs without declaring them

    She knowingly broke the law and took deliberate steps to evade it

    But upon her detainment, the media rushed to defend her by claiming that her research could help to cure cancer

    The facts of the matter are simple: Petrova broke the law and actively planned to do so

    Her research does not make her exempt from the laws of our country

    Renato Subotic – “The MMA Coach”

    Subotic is an MMA coach who entered the United States under a visa waiver program that prohibits compensation – only travel reimbursements are allowed

    When Subotic was detained under American law, the media claimed that he was thrown in prison and deported for no real reason

    Here are the facts: Subotic couldn’t meet the requirement to prove he wasn’t being compensated for participating at a high-dollar, multi-day event

    The law is clear: the burden of proof is on the traveler

    Since he couldn’t provide detailed answers or the necessary documentation for compensation related to the work event, he was held until the next available flight out the following day

    Ricardo Jesus Prada Vasquez – The “Disappearing” Delivery Driver

    Yet again, the media has manufactured a fake controversy on behalf of a terrorist gang member and criminal illegal alien

    Ricardo Jesus Prada Vasquez is a Venezuelan national and confirmed member of Tren De Aragua

    He entered the United States illegally on November 29, 2024 at the Brownsville, Texas Port of Entry via the CBP One App

    The Biden administration, like it did with so many other dangerous criminals, released Prada Vasquez back into the United States

    On January 15th, Prada was encountered trying to enter the U

    S

    from Canada

    He was detained, investigated, and confirmed as a member of TDA and a public safety threat

    On February 27, a judge ordered him removed from the U

    S

    He was then removed to El Salvador

    The media, however, has falsely claimed that Prada Vasquez was an innocent delivery driver who was “disappeared” by the government

    Prada Vasquez was living and working in the U

    S

    illegally, he was a member of a criminal gang designated as a terrorist organization, and was deported with full compliance with American law

    Jeanette Vizguerra – “The Activist Who Needed Sanctuary”

    Jeanette Vizguerra is a convicted criminal alien from Mexico who has a final order of deportation issued by a federal immigration judge

    She illegally entered the United States near El Paso, Texas, on Dec

    24, 1997, and has received legal due process in U

    S

    immigration court

    The media, however, has tried to turn her into a martyr

    They claim she was an “activist” who needed “sanctuary

    ” In reality, she getting famous and making money for breaking the law

    Under President Trump, this is a nation of laws

    We will find, arrest, and deport illegal aliens, no matter how famous the media thinks they are

    Vizguerra was in the United States illegally

    She was convicted of breaking the law

    She was deported

    If you come to our country illegally, we will deport you, and you will never return

    The safest option for illegal aliens is to self-deport, so they still have the opportunity to return and live the American dream

    The Facts on Those Who Have Abused The Privilege of a Student Visa 

    Yunseo Chung – “The Columbia Student”

    Yunseo Chung, who was born in South Korea, is a Columbia University student who engaged in concerning conduct on-campus

    This includes her being arrested by NYPD during a pro-Hamas protest at Barnard College

    Mahmoud Khalil – “The Activist Leader at Columbia”

    Mahmoud Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student from Syria, is one of the ringleaders of the vicious, anti-American, anti-Semitic protests at Columbia University

    His activities are aligned with Hamas, a designated terrorist organization

    On March 9, 2025, in support of President Trump’s executive orders prohibiting anti-Semitism, and in coordination with the Department of State, U

    S

    Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Khalil

    But upon his arrest, radical student protesters at Columbia and across the country have attempted to turn him into a martyr, waving signs and banners bearing his likeness

    Taking over private buildings, inciting violence, harassing Jewish students, defacing buildings, and passing out terrorist propaganda do not constitute free speech

    A judge ruled that Khalil’s deportation can move forward

    He will be removed from our country

    Mohsen Mahdawi – “The Palestinian at Columbia University”

    Mahdawi is a Palestinian who has been living in the United States on a visa while he was studying at Columbia University

    Like many other anti-Israel student protesters, supporters in the media tried to claim that Mahdawi was a victim of political persecution

    But his rhetoric on the war in Israel proves his terrorist sympathies

    In the wake of October 7, Mahdawi said he could empathize with Hamas’s attack on Israel

    He appeared on “60 Minutes” justifying the massacre

    He organized and led pro-Hamas protests on Columbia University’s campus, harassed Jewish students, and openly displayed his support for a terrorist organization

    Leqaa Kordia – “The Palestinian at Columbia University”

    Leqaa Kordia was another Columbia Student who actively participated in anti-American, pro-terrorist activities on campus

    However, her arrest had nothing to do with her radical activities

    Kordia was arrested for immigration violations due to having overstayed her F-1 student visa, which had been terminated on January 26, 2022 for lack of attendance

    Dogukan Gunaydin – “The University of Minnesota Student”

    Dogukan Gunaydin, a graduate student at the University of Minnesota,was arrested after a visa revocation by the State Dept

    related to a prior criminal history for a DUI

    Contrary to the mainstream media’s quick speculation that he was arrested due to his involvement in student protests, his protest activity had nothing to do with his detainment

    Badar Khan Suri – “The Georgetown Foreign Exchange Student”

    Suri was a foreign exchange student at Georgetown University actively spreading Hamas propaganda and promoting antisemitism on social media

    The media calls him a “scholar” who was innocent of any wrongdoing, even though he was married to the daughter of a senior advisor for to Hamas terrorist group

    Momodou Taal – “The Cornell University Student”

    Taal was unapologetic in his pro-terrorist views

    Taal, a foreign student studying at Cornell University, participated in pro-Hamas protests on campus

    He has a pinned post on his X profile that talks about a so-called “Zionist genocide,” and also states “Long live the student intifada!”

    Other Fake News Narratives Corrected 

    The Biden Administration’s inflated deportation numbers

    DHS uncovered what should be a massive scandal: the Biden administration was cooking the books on ICE arrest data

    They were purposefully misleading the American public by categorizing individuals processed and released into the interior of the United States as ICE arrests

    Of course, the media ignored this fact

    Instead, they falsely claimed that the Biden administration had carried out more arrests than the Trump administration

    Tens of thousands of cases recorded as “arrests” were, in fact, instances where illegal aliens were simply processed and released into American communities

    Many of these were violent criminals and gang members

    The previous administration counted these as arrests even though no immigration enforcement action was taken

    During fiscal year 2024, ICE made 113,431 arrests but the vast majority of those were what we call “pass-through” arrests

    They are called pass-through arrests because ICE didn’t take enforcement actions against these aliens

    They just passed through ICE before they were released in the U

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    interior and told to report to an ICE office

    None of the arrests made by ICE since January 20th are pass-through arrests

    The difference between recent arrests and those from Biden’s last year is that, now we’re taking enforcement actions against each and every illegal alien arrested

    ICE Boston Militia rumors:

    The media eagerly fed and spread a false social media rumor that an ICE agent who conducted arrests of criminal illegal aliens in New England was a “militia leader” from Arizona

    The reality? He is a federal law enforcement office who has worked with ICE to help keep New England communities safe for years

    This claim was not only false, but also inflammatory and places the safety of federal officers in jeopardy

    Our ICE officers are facing 300% increase in assaults while carrying out enforcement operations

    Due process and treatment rumors in CECOT:

    These aliens HAVE had due process – we have a stringent law enforcement assessment in place that abides by due process under the U

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    Constitution

    The reality is that prison isn’t supposed to be fun

    It’s a necessary measure to protect society and punish bad guys

    It is not meant to be comfortable

    What’s more: prison can be avoided by self-deportation

    CBP Home makes it simple and easy

    If you are a criminal alien and we have to deport you, you could end up in Guantanamo Bay or CECOT

    Leave now

    DOGE and ICE allegedly collecting sensitive data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services

    The Biden administration flooded the U

    S

    with tens of millions of illegal immigrants, many of which are exploiting the American taxpayer by illegally getting Medicare and other benefits meant for law-abiding Americans

    President Trump consistently promised to protect Medicare for eligible beneficiaries

    To keep that promise, DOGE, CMS, and DHS are exploring an initiative to ensure that illegal aliens are not receiving these benefits not meant for them

    The media claimed that ICE is working with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to access sensitive personal information in order to identify illegal aliens

    These claims are meant to frighten the American people, when in reality this process is working to keep them and their benefits safe from exploitation by illegal aliens

    ICE HSI presence at schools

    ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) works relentlessly to protect Americans, especially children, who are put in danger by illegal alien activity

    This includes investigations into potential child sex trafficking

    But the media has tried to spin their investigative work into the idea that they are going to elementary schools to arrest children

    HD Cooke Elementary School, Washington D

    C

    At the HD Cooke Elementary School in Washington D

    C

    , ICE did not conduct any enforcement action at the school

    HSI agents were present at the school unrelated to any kind of enforcement action

    Russel Elementary and Lillian Elementary in Los Angeles:

    At two different elementary schools in Los Angeles, California, HSI officers were conducting wellness checks on children who arrived unaccompanied at the border

    It had nothing to do with immigration enforcement

    DHS is leading efforts to conduct welfare checks on these children to ensure that they are safe and not being exploited, abused, and sex trafficked

    Unlike the previous administration, President Trump and Secretary Noem take the responsibility to protect children seriously and will continue to work with federal law enforcement to reunite children with their families

    In less than 70 days, Secretary Noem and Secretary Kennedy have already reunited nearly 5,000 unaccompanied children with a relative or safe guardian

    Immigrant children detained at Old McDonald Farm in New York

    In early April, a raid was carried out on a dairy farm in New York after the execution of a federal criminal warrant for an illegal alien in possession of + distributing child sexual abuse materials

    Upon the execution of the search warrant at Old McDonalds Farm in Sackets Harbor, New York, authorities encountered seven additional illegal aliens on the premises, including a mother and her three children

    We immediately began conducting an investigation to ensure these children are not being sexually exploited

    But rather than address the very real evidence of child sexual abuse, the media chose to focus on the fact that a woman and her three children were taken into custody

    DHS takes its responsibility to protect children seriously and our ICE officers are working every day to remove pedophiles from American communities

    TDA members being identified via tattoos

    Some have claimed that DHS’ assessments of TDA and other gang memberships are based solely on the tattoos that certain illegal aliens have

    DHS intelligence assessments go well beyond just gang affiliate tattoos and social media

    Tren De Aragua is one of the most violent and ruthless terrorist gangs on planet earth

    They rape, maim, and murder for sport

    President Trump and Secretary Noem will not allow criminal gangs to terrorize American citizens

    We are confident in our law enforcement’s intelligence, and we aren’t going to share intelligence reports and undermine national security every time a gang member denies he is one

    That would be insane

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA, International Astronauts to Connect with Students in Texas

    Source: NASA

    NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Takuya Onishi will answer prerecorded questions about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics from students in Mansfield, Texas, while aboard the International Space Station.
    The 20-minute space-to-Earth call will take place at 10:40 a.m. EDT on Monday, May 5, and can be watched on the NASA STEM YouTube Channel.
    Media interested in covering the event must RSVP no later than 5 p.m., Friday, May 2 by contacting Laura Jobe at laurajobe@misdmail.org or 817-299-6300.
    The event, hosted by Mansfield Independent School District, also will have students present from Brenda Norwood Elementary, Alma Martinez Intermediate, Charlene McKinzey Middle, Jerry Knight and Frontier STEM Academies in Mansfield. This opportunity will allow the students to relate what they have learned about space travel to personal experiences.
    For more than 24 years, astronauts have continuously lived and worked aboard the space station, testing technologies, performing science, and developing skills needed to explore farther from Earth. Astronauts aboard the orbiting laboratory communicate with NASA’s Mission Control Center in Houston 24 hours a day through SCaN’s (Space Communications and Navigation) Near Space Network.
    Important research and technology investigations taking place aboard the space station benefit people on Earth and lays the groundwork for other agency missions. As part of NASA’s Artemis campaign, the agency will send astronauts to the Moon to prepare for future human exploration of Mars; inspiring Artemis Generation explorers and ensuring the United States continues to lead in space exploration and discovery.
    See videos of astronauts aboard the space station at:
    https://www.nasa.gov/stemonstation
    -end-
    Gerelle DodsonHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1600gerelle.q.dodson@nasa.gov
    Sandra JonesJohnson Space Center, Houston281-483-5111sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: NASA Soars to New Heights in First 100 Days of Trump Administration

    Source: NASA

    Today is the 100th day of the Trump-Vance Administration after being inaugurated on Jan. 20. In his inaugural address, President Trump laid out a bold and ambitious vision for NASA’s future throughout his second term, saying, “We will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars.” NASA has spent the first 100 days in relentless pursuit of this goal, continually exploring, innovating, and inspiring for the benefit of humanity.
    “In just 100 days, under the bold leadership of President Trump and acting Administrator Janet Petro, NASA has continued to further American innovation in space,” said Bethany Stevens, NASA press secretary. “From expediting the return of American astronauts home after an extended stay aboard the state-of-the-art International Space Station, to bringing two new nations on as signatories of the Artemis Accords, to the historic SPHEREx mission launch that takes us one step closer to mapping the secrets of the universe, NASA continues to lead on the world stage. Here at NASA, we’re putting the America First agenda into play amongst the stars, ensuring the United States wins the space race at this critical juncture in time.”
    A litany of victories in the first 100 days set the stage for groundbreaking success throughout the remainder of the term. Read more about NASA’s cutting-edge work in this short, yet dynamic, period of time below:
    Bringing Astronauts Home Safely, Space Station Milestones

    America brought Crew-9 safely home. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams, and Nick Hague, along with Roscosmos cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov, returned to Earth after a successful mission aboard the International Space Station, splashing down in the Gulf of America. Their safe return reflects America’s unwavering commitment to the agency’s astronauts and mission success.
    A new, American-led mission launched to space. The agency’s Crew-10 mission is currently aboard the space station, with NASA astronauts Anne McClain and Nichole Ayers, joined by international partners from Japan and Russia. NASA continues to demonstrate American leadership and the power of space diplomacy as we maintain a continuous human presence in orbit.
    The agency welcomed home NASA astronaut Don Pettit, concluding a seven-month science mission aboard the orbiting laboratory. Pettit landed at 6:20 a.m. Kazakhstan time, April 20 on his 70th birthday, making him NASA’s oldest active astronaut and the third oldest person to reach orbit.
    NASA astronaut Jonny Kim launched and arrived safely at the International Space Station, marking the start of his first space mission. Over eight months, he’ll lead groundbreaking research that advances science and improves life on Earth, proving once again that Americans are built to lead in space.
    The four members of the agency’s SpaceX Crew-11, NASA astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Oleg Platonov were named by NASA. Launching no earlier than July 2025, this mission continues America’s leadership in long-duration human spaceflight while strengthening critical global partnerships.
    NASA announced Chris Williams will launch in November 2025 for his first spaceflight. His upcoming mission underscores the pipeline of American talent ready to explore space and expand our presence beyond Earth.
    NASA is inviting U.S. industry to propose two new private astronaut missions to the space station in 2026 and 2027 – building toward a future where American companies sustain a continuous human presence in space and advance our national space economy.
    NASA and SpaceX launched the 32nd Commercial Resupply Services mission, delivering 6,700 pounds of cargo to the International Space Station. These investments in science and technology continue to strengthen America’s leadership in low Earth orbit. The payload supports cutting-edge research, including:

    New maneuvers for free-flying robots

    An advanced air quality monitoring system

    Two atomic clocks to explore relativity and ultra-precise timekeeping

    Sending Humans to Moon, Mars

    Teams began hot fire testing the first of three 12-kW Solar Electric Propulsion (SEP) thrusters. These high-efficiency thrusters are a cornerstone of next-generation spaceflight, as they offer greater fuel economy and mission flexibility than traditional chemical propulsion, making them an asset for long-duration missions to the Moon, Mars, and beyond. For Mars in particular, SEP enables three key elements required for success:

    Sustained cargo transport

    Orbital maneuvering

    Transit operations

    NASA completed the fourth Entry Descent and Landing technology test in three months, accelerating innovation to achieve precision landings on Mars’ thin atmosphere and rugged terrain.
    NASA’s Deep Space Optical Communications experiment aboard Psyche broke new ground, enabling the high-bandwidth connections vital for communications with crewed missions to Mars.
    Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission One successfully delivered 10 NASA payloads to the Moon, advancing landing, autonomy, and data collection skills for Mars missions.
    Intuitive Machines’ IM-2 mission achieved the southernmost lunar landing, collecting critical data from challenging terrain to inform Mars exploration strategies.
    NASA cameras aboard Firefly’s Blue Ghost lander captured unprecedented footage of engine plume-surface interactions, offering vital data for designing safer landings on the Moon and Mars.
    The agency’s Stereo Cameras for Lunar Plume-Surface Studies (SCALPSS) 1.1 aboard Blue Ghost collected more than 9,000 images of lunar descent, providing insights on lander impacts and terrain interaction to guide future spacecraft design.
    New SCALPSS hardware delivered for Blue Origin’s Blue Mark 1 mission also is enhancing lunar landing models, helping build precision landing systems for the Moon and Mars. The LuGRE (Lunar Global Navigation Satellite System Receiver Experiment) on Blue Ghost acquired Earth navigation signals from the Moon, advancing autonomous positioning systems crucial for lunar and Mars operations.
    The Electrodynamic Dust Shield successfully cleared lunar dust, demonstrating a critical technology for protecting equipment on the Moon and Mars.
    Astronauts aboard the space station conducted studies to advance understanding of how to keep crews healthy on long-duration Mars missions.
    NASA’s Moon to Mars Architecture Workshop gathered industry, academic, and international partners to refine exploration plans and identify collaboration opportunities.

    Artemis Milestones

    NASA completed stacking the twin solid rocket boosters for Artemis II, the mission that will send American astronauts around the Moon for the first time in more than 50 years. This is a powerful step toward returning our nation to deep space.
    At NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, teams joined the core stage with the solid rocket boosters inside the Vehicle Assembly Building.
    Engineers lifted the launch vehicle stage adapter atop the SLS (Space Launch System) core stage, connecting key systems that will soon power NASA’s return to the Moon.
    Teams received the Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage and moved the SLS core stage into the transfer aisle, clearing another milestone as the agency prepares to fully integrate America’s most powerful rocket.
    NASA attached the solar array wings that will help power the Orion spacecraft on its journey around the Moon, laying the groundwork for humanity’s next giant leap.
    Technicians installed the protective fairings on Orion’s service module to shield the spacecraft during its intense launch and ascent phase, as NASA prepares to send astronauts farther than any have gone in more than half a century.
    The agency’s next-generation mobile launcher continues to take shape, with the sixth of 10 massive modules being installed. This structure will carry future Artemis rockets to the launch pad.
    NASA and the Department of Defense teamed up aboard the USS Somerset for Artemis II recovery training, ensuring the agency and its partners are ready to safely retrieve Artemis astronauts after their historic mission around the Moon.
    NASA unveiled the Artemis II mission patch. The patch designates the mission as “AII,” signifying not only the second major flight of the Artemis campaign but also an endeavor of discovery that seeks to explore for all and by all.

    America First in Space

    NASA announced the first major science results from asteroid Bennu, revealing ingredients essential for life, a discovery made possible by U.S. leadership in planetary science through the OSIRIS-REx (Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, and Security-Regolith Explorer) mission. The team found salty brines, 14 of the 20 amino acids used to make proteins, and all five DNA nucleobases, suggesting that the conditions and ingredients for life were widespread in our early solar system. And this is just the beginning – these results were from analysis of only 0.06% of the sample.
    NASA was named one of TIME’s Best Companies for Future Leaders, underscoring the agency’s role in cultivating the next generation of American innovators.
    NASA awarded contracts to U.S. industry supporting Earth science missions,  furthering our understanding of the planet while strengthening America’s industrial base.
    As part of the Air Traffic Management-Exploration project, NASA supported Boeing’s test of digital and autonomous taxiing with a Cessna Caravan at Moffett Federal Airfield. The test used real-time simulations from the agency’s Future Flight Central to gather data that will help Boeing refine its systems and safely integrate advanced technologies into national airspace, demonstrating American aviation leadership.
    NASA successfully completed its automated space traffic coordination objectives between the agency’s four Starling spacecraft and SpaceX’s Starlink constellation. Teams demonstrated four risk mitigation maneuvers, autonomously resolving close approaches between two spacecraft with different owner/operators.  
    In collaboration with the National Institute of Aeronautics, NASA selected eight finalists in a university competition aimed at designing innovative aviation solutions that can help the agriculture industry. NASA’s Gateways to Blue Skies seeks ways to apply American aircraft and aviation technology to enhance the productivity, efficiency, and resiliency of American farms. 
    In Houston, United Airlines pilots successfully conducted operational tests of NASA-developed technologies designed to reduce flight delays. Using technologies from the Air Traffic Management Exploration project, pilots flew efficient re-routes, avoiding airspace with bad weather upon departure. United plans to expand the use of these capabilities, another example of how NASA innovations benefit all humanity. 
    On March 11, NASA’s newest astrophysics observatory, SPHEREx, launched on its journey to answer fundamental questions about our universe, thanks to the dedication and expertise of the agency’s team. Riding aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 from Vandenberg Space Force Base, SPHEREx will scan the entire sky to study how galaxies formed, search for the building blocks of life, and look back to the universe’s earliest moments. After launch, SPHEREx turned on its detectors, and everything is performing as expected.

    Also onboard were four small satellites for NASA’s PUNCH (Polarimeter to Unify the Corona and Heliosphere) mission, which will help scientists understand how the Sun’s outer atmosphere becomes solar wind. These missions reflect the best of the agency – pushing the boundaries of discovery and expanding our understanding of the cosmos.

    On March 14, NASA’s EZIE (Electrojet Zeeman Imaging Explorer) mission launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base. This trio of small satellites will study auroral electrojets, or intense electric currents flowing high above Earth’s poles, helping the agency better understand space weather and its effects on our planet. The mission has taken its first measurements, demonstrating that the spacecraft and onboard instrument are working as expected.
    The X-59 quiet supersonic aircraft cleared another hurdle on its way to first flight. The team successfully completed an engine speed hold test, confirming the “cruise control” system functions as designed. 
    NASA researchers successfully tested a prototype that could help responders fight and monitor wildfires, even in low-visibility conditions. The Portable Airspace Management System, developed by NASA’s Advanced Capabilities for Emergency Response Operations project, safely coordinated simulated operations involving drones and other aircraft, tackling a major challenge for those on the front lines. This is just one example of how NASA’s innovation is making a difference where it’s needed most. 
    NASA’s Parker Solar Probe completed its 23rd close approach to the Sun, coming within 3.8 million miles of the solar surface while traveling at 430,000 miles per hour – matching its own records for distance and speed. That same day, Parker Solar Probe was awarded the prestigious Collier Trophy, a well-earned recognition for its groundbreaking contributions to heliophysics. 
    In response to severe weather that impacted more than 10 states earlier this month, the NASA Disasters Response Coordination System activated to support national partners. NASA worked closely with the National Weather Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency serving the central and southeastern U.S. to provide satellite data and expertise that help communities better prepare, respond, and recover. 
    As an example of how NASA’s research today is shaping the transportation of tomorrow, the agency’s aeronautics engineers began a flight test campaign focused on safely integrating air taxis into the national airspace. Using a Joby Aviation demonstrator aircraft, engineers are helping standardize flight test maneuvers, improving tools to assist with collision avoidance and landing operations, and ensuring safe and efficient air taxis operations in various weather conditions.
    NASA premiered “Planetary Defenders,” a new documentary that follows the dedicated team behind asteroid detection and planetary defense. The film debuted at an event at the agency’s headquarters with digital creators, interagency and international partners, and now is streaming on NASA+, YouTube, and X. In its first 24 hours, it saw 25,000 views on YouTube – 75% above average – and reached 4 million impressions on X. 
    Finland became the 53rd nation to sign the Artemis Accords, reaffirming its commitment to the peaceful, transparent, and responsible exploration of space. This milestone underscores the growing global coalition led by the United States to establish a sustainable and cooperative presence beyond Earth.
    In Dhaka, Bangladesh, NASA welcomed a new signatory to the Artemis Accords. Bangladesh became the 54th nation to commit to the peaceful, safe, and responsible exploration of space. It’s a milestone that reflects our shared values and growing global momentum, reaffirming the United States’ leadership in building a global coalition for peaceful space exploration. 
    At NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California, engineers conducted calibration flights for a new shock-sensing probe that will support future flight tests of the X-59 quiet supersonic demonstrator. Mounted on a research F-15D that will follow the X-59 closely in flight, the probe will gather data on the shock waves the X-59 generates, providing important data about its ability to fly faster than sound, but produce only a quiet thump.
    In its second asteroid encounter, Lucy flew by the asteroid Donaldjohanson and gave NASA a close look at a uniquely shaped fragment dating back 150 million years – an impressive performance ahead of its main mission target in 2027.
    A celebration of decades of discovery, NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope celebrated its 35th anniversary with new observations ranging from nearby solar system objects to distant galaxies – proof that Hubble continues to inspire wonder and advance our understanding of the universe.
    The SPHEREx team rang the closing bell at the New York Stock Exchange, spotlighting NASA’s newest space telescope and its bold mission to explore the origins of the universe.
    NASA received six Webby Awards and six People’s Voice Awards across platforms – recognition of America’s excellence in digital engagement and public communication.
    The NASA Electric Aircraft Testbed and Advanced Air Transport Technology project concluded testing of a 2.5-megawatt Wright Electric motor designed to eventually serve large aircraft. The testing used the project’s capabilities to simulate altitude conditions of up to 40,000 feet while the electric motor, the most powerful tested so far at the facility, ran at both full voltage and partial power. NASA partnered with the Department of Energy on the tests.
    U.S. entities can now request the Glenn Icing Computational Environment (GlennICE) tool from the NASA Software Catalog and discover solutions to icing challenges for novel engine and aircraft designs. A 3D computational tool, GlennICE allows engineers to integrate icing-related considerations earlier in the aircraft design process and enable safer, more efficient designs while saving costs in the design process.

    For more about NASA’s mission, visit:

    Home Page

    -end-
    Bethany StevensHeadquarters, Washington202-358-1600bethany.c.stevens@nasa.gov

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Grattan on Friday: Key markers on the bumpy road to this election

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

    When we look back, we can see the road to election day has had a multitude of signposts, flashing red lights, twists, turns and potholes. Some came before the formal campaign; others in the final countdown days; some have been major, others symbolic.

    The importance of certain markers has been obvious in the moment; the significance of others became clear in retrospect. Here is a recap of a few of those that have shaped this campaign and its battle for votes.

    1. Anthony Albanese’s January 6 $7.2 billion announcement to upgrade the Bruce Highway

    Why start here? Because this was the prime minister jumping out of the blocks at the start of January, with multiple announcements over the summer. Albanese laid down policy groundwork in these weeks, giving voters time to absorb the initiatives.

    In contrast, Peter Dutton, although he had a “soft” launch on January 12, was running slowly, believing voters weren’t yet paying attention.

    2. Donald Trump’s inauguration

    January 21 unleashed a tsunami; its waves would wash over the coming months, and profoundly affect the election. At first, the Coalition thought – wrongly – that the election of Trump would favour it, but Labor became the beneficiary. Many Australians (including Dutton) were appalled at the way Trump and Vice President JD Vance treated Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. Later, Trump’s tariffs hit Australia (although not as hard as many countries).

    Dutton argued he’d be better able than Albanese to handle the capricious president, but it became a spurious debate. Labor painted Dutton as Trump-lite and some of his decisions played into its hands, notably appointing in late January Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price to a Musk-like role to pursue efficiencies in government. She later made the comparison even more obvious by saying the Coalition would “make Australia great again”.

    But the central factor was this: suddenly, the world had become more uncertain and many voters would think it wasn’t the time to change.

    3. The Reserve Bank’s cut in interest rates on February 18

    The amount was modest, 25 basis points, but the psychology was the thing. The cut reinforced Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ argument that the worst was over and the outlook was positive. In the campaign’s final week, just at the right time for the government, inflation figures pointed to another expected cut in May.

    4. Cyclone Alfred’s March 7 election delay

    Albanese appeared set to call an April 12 poll, when the approaching winds blew the plan off course. The prime minister was able to put himself at the middle of the response to the cyclone, projecting himself as a national leader as distinct from a partisan one; he appeared with Queensland LNP Premier David Crisafulli, and at the Canberra National Situation Room.

    The election delay meant Labor had to bring down the March 25 budget. Many in the government had wanted to avoid a budget, because of its deficits into the distance. But the budget became a useful frame for the start of the formal campaign, with Albanese going to Government House at the end of budget week.

    5. Dutton’s budget reply

    The opposition leader’s reply contained his proposal to cut petrol excise but did not include tax cuts. The opposition had already voted against the government’s budget tax cut package, and committed to repealing it.

    The excise move was popular – Dutton would visit countless service stations over coming weeks – but the government was able to say a Coalition government would raise taxes.

    At his campaign launch subsequently, Dutton promised a $1,200 tax offset, despite earlier flagging he would not be able to announce any income tax relief during the campaign. The tax offset was an attempt to rectify what had been the mistake of thinking that the Coalition – traditionally committed to lower taxes – could go to the election on the wrong side of the tax argument.

    6. Dutton’s April 7 backtrack on working from home

    The opposition policy to get public servants back into the office all week was a disaster-in-the-making from the start. Workers in the private sector would, rightly, see it as sending a signal to non-government employers.

    Women hated the policy, and it would further alienate the female vote. Dutton had to ditch the idea and apologise. Finance spokeswoman Jane Hume didn’t help the retreat by saying it was a good policy that hadn’t found its appropriate time.

    7. News on April 15 that the Russians wanted to base planes in Papua

    The story appeared on the respected military site Janes, and Dutton rushed to pick it up, but went off half-cocked, declaring wrongly that the Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto had announced the Russian request. It was symptomatic of Dutton being under-prepared. He had to make another apology.

    8. Neo-Nazis heckle during the Welcome to Country at the Melbourne Shrine of Remembrance Anzac Day Dawn Service

    This led to Dutton launching into “culture wars” in the final days of the campaign. In criticising the disruption, he at first said, “We have a proud Indigenous heritage in this country and we should be proud to celebrate it as part of today”.

    Subsequently he said most veterans didn’t want the Welcome to Country as part of the Anzac Day ceremonies, although it was a matter for the organisers. In general, he believed Welcome to Country ceremonies were used too frequently.

    Dutton segued the controversy back to criticism of the Voice, and seized on confusing remarks by Foreign Minister Penny Wong to claim Labor was still committed to bringing in a Voice, something Albanese flatly denied.

    9. The price of eggs

    In the last of the four debates neither leader could specify the cost of a dozen eggs. Dutton was way out ($4.20); Albanese rather closer (“$7, if you can find them.”. It was a small moment but sent the message that even in a cost-of-living election, the leaders do live in bubbles.

    10. Dutton comments on Thursday

    Almost at the road’s end, the opposition leader appealed to voters to overlook a flawed campaign. “This election really is a referendum not about the election campaign but about the last three years.”

    Asked if there was anything he could have done differently, he said “we should have called out Labor’s lies earlier on”.

    It was as though he was speaking to a postmortem, while praying for a miracle.

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

    – ref. Grattan on Friday: Key markers on the bumpy road to this election – https://theconversation.com/grattan-on-friday-key-markers-on-the-bumpy-road-to-this-election-255613

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: WTO accession: Supporting the economic reforms of Ethiopia and Uzbekistan

    Source: WTO

    Headline: WTO accession: Supporting the economic reforms of Ethiopia and Uzbekistan

    Excellencies,ladies, and gentlemen,
    I am delighted to participate in this meeting in support of the accessions of Ethiopia and Uzbekistan to the WTO. I am also very pleased to be joined by the Chief Negotiators and representatives of Ethiopia and Uzbekistan as well as our development partners. I would in particular like to thank the Vice-President for Europe and Central Asia, Ms Antonella Bassani and the Acting Vice-President for East Africa Mr Amit Dar from the World Bank and the Deputy Director, Strategy and Policy Review Mr Ken Kang, from the IMF for their presence today.
    Ethiopia and Uzbekistan have been negotiating their accessions for several years and have made good progress towards their goal to join the WTO by 2026. There are a number of similarities between the two economies. Both are the most populous nations in their respective regions, notably with a significant young population which will be entering the job market. Both have a legacy of strong State presence which they are gradually reducing through market-based economic and legislative reforms. They are also very ably led by excellent negotiating teams which have made it possible to move accession negotiations forward rapidly and I acknowledge with thanks the presence today of their Chief Negotiators.
    Completing the long and often complex road to WTO accession requires strong political will, a technically strong and coherent negotiating team led by a competent Chief Negotiator, and support from development partners, both bilateral and multilateral. In the case of Ethiopia and Uzbekistan, I believe we have all these ingredients.
    Strong political will is key to any reform process. Ethiopia’s economic reforms have been pursued since 2018 under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali’s leadership, through the “Home-Grown Economic Reform Programme” which aims at structural transformation and private sector led growth. The bold steps taken in recent years including foreign exchange reforms, liberalization of key services, and reduced restrictions on foreign direct investment, have served Ethiopia well, resulting in strong economic growth, averaging over 6% annually since 2022. The reforms have also created an enabling environment for Ethiopia to benefit from its membership of the AfCFTA (which it ratified in 2019) once it starts to trade under its provisions. WTO Membership will further lock in these reforms and moreover provide a support structure to sustain economic reforms and growth. Ethiopia’s Government has indicated its strong commitment to finalizing accession by the Ministerial Conference and I look forward to the completion of negotiations during the course of 2025.
    In Uzbekistan continued support by President Mirziyoyev has underpinned reform in recent years. This includes key Presidential Decrees in 2024 and 2025 addressing issues of concern to WTO Members on WTO consistency such as the reduction of State dominance in the economy through the removal of exclusive rights in several sectors, the import ban on ethyl alcohol and export subsidies. Most recently a Presidential Decree in March replaced export restrictions with export duties thereby making the export regime more predictable and transparent. Continuing legislative reform has aimed at bringing domestic legislation into line with the WTO Agreements. Uzbekistan is also well on the way to completing all its remaining ten bilateral market access negotiations in 2025.
    While reform is necessary and often difficult to ensure consistency with WTO rules, acceding governments also face daunting challenges in building institutional capacity and bringing their officials up to speed in areas such as trade remedies, technical regulations and SPS measures. I am grateful to our development partners, both Members and multilateral agencies for their consistent efforts to step up and provide their expertise when and where it is needed. Your assistance has been invaluable and will remain so to help both countries meet their accession and post-accession challenges.
    Excellencies, a few weeks ago the WTO celebrated its 30th anniversary with a gathering of eminent persons to reflect on our achievements and the way forward. The keynote speaker, the former Prime Minister of Portugal and EC President, José Manuel Barroso noted that although we are passing through a great deal of turbulence, the WTO is probably even more necessary today than it was when it was established in 1995. Indeed, the fact that large economies such as Ethiopia and Uzbekistan wish to join the WTO is a testament to the continued importance of the multilateral trading system and the stability and transparency it offers. Time is of the essence if we are to meet their accession goals. I very much hope that the efforts of Ethiopia and Uzbekistan to become Members becomes reality in the very near future.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: DG joins high-level meeting to support the accessions of Ethiopia and Uzbekistan

    Source: WTO

    Headline: DG joins high-level meeting to support the accessions of Ethiopia and Uzbekistan

    The Director-General stressed that pursuing lasting economic reforms and accession to the WTO required strong political commitment. She highlighted Ethiopia’s economic reforms under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali’s “Home-Grown Economic Reform Programme” which aimed at structural transformation of the economy and private sector growth. She noted moreover that the reforms have also created an enabling environment for Ethiopia to benefit from its membership in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
    Continued support by President Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan had also underpinned Uzbekistan’s reform programme, DG Okonjo-Iweala said.  Key presidential decrees had aimed to reduce exclusive rights in several sectors and address other issues of concern to WTO members, while a Presidential Decree in March replaced export restrictions with export duties. This makes the export regime more predictable and transparent, the Director-General noted.
    She also took the opportunity to thank both WTO members and multilateral institutions such as the IMF and World Bank for their assistance in helping build institutional capacity and provide training to acceding governments. The fact that large economies like Ethiopia and Uzbekistan wish to join the WTO reaffirmed the continued importance of the organization and the stability and predictability provided by the multilateral trading system. The Director-General’s comments are available here.
    World Bank and IMF representatives lent their support to domestic reforms being undertaken by Ethiopia and Uzbekistan and looked forward to their accession to the WTO.
    Antonella Bassani, World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia, noted that Uzbekistan had emerged as one of the top reformers worldwide, having completed over 200 domestic legal reforms since 2020. There was an expectation that Uzbekistan was in the final stretch of its WTO membership negotiations. Ms Bassani said WTO accession remained critical for emerging and developing economies and the World Bank was ready to support the process.
    Amit Dar, World Bank Acting Vice President for the Eastern and Southern Africa Region, highlighted the reforms undertaken by Ethiopia. He acknowledged that challenges remain, particularly in the areas of state-owned enterprises, competition, intellectual property rights, trade facilitation and subsidies. He emphasized that the World Bank remains fully committed to supporting Ethiopia through providing technical assistance and resources to help Ethiopia achieve its WTO membership goals and deepen its integration into world markets.
    Kenneth Kang, Deputy Director, Strategy, Policy and Review Department of the IMF, stressed the importance of structural reforms for generating a predictable and stable trade policy environment and the need for careful macroeconomic management and commended both countries on their progress. He noted that economic reforms during the accession process had a positive impact on economic growth. This has been demonstrated in a recent joint study by IMF and WTO staff that showed economies that made deeper commitments during their accession processes grew on average 1.5 percentage points faster than they otherwise would have done.
    Highlighting the economic and legislative reforms undertaken by their respective countries, representatives from Ethiopia and Uzbekistan reaffirmed their countries’ commitment to conclude accession negotiations by MC14, to be held in Cameroon in March 2026.
    Ethiopia’s State Minister for Finance Eyob Tekalgn said that WTO accession was important for further accelerating economic reforms. Ethiopia’s membership of the AfCFTA had also anchored its reform programme. He also pointed to the need for financial support to build capacity, notably for negotiations and implementation of reforms and to bring legislation into conformity with WTO rules. He added that Ethiopia was working actively to complete bilateral market access negotiations and hoped to conclude these shortly.
    Uzbekistan’s Chief Negotiator Azizbek Urunov noted key steps taken recently, including bringing its food and product safety rules in line with the WTO agreements. To date, nearly 120 legal acts had been harmonized with WTO agreements, he said, with various other draft laws expected to become law soon. Regarding privatization, Mr Urunov noted that Uzbekistan is on course to meet its goal of increasing the share of the private sector in the economy to 85 per cent by 2030.
    Both representatives indicated they were ready to take all the remaining necessary steps to complete their respective reform programmes and become WTO members.
    WTO accessions of Ethiopia and Uzbekistan
    Ethiopia held its 5th Working Party meeting on 19 March 2025. More information on Ethiopia’s accession is available here.
    Uzbekistan held its 9th Working Party meeting on 5 and 6 December 2024. More information on Uzbekistan’s accession is available here.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: WTO, IFC launch joint publication on trade finance in Central America and Mexico

    Source: World Trade Organization

    The report finds that trade and supply chain finance (TSCF) supports 8 per cent of Mexico’s goods trade, 12 per cent of Guatemala’s, and 10 per cent of Honduras’s. In the case of Mexico, only about a quarter of merchandise importers and exporters have any access to financing. These are among the lowest access rates across surveyed economies, despite supply chain finance having made some inroads in Mexico’s economy and, to a lesser extent, in Guatemala and Honduras.

    The report underscores that there is significant potential to grow and diversify the currently concentrated market for TSCF. Model-based projections show that doubling TSCF coverage and aligning costs with advanced economy standards could raise exports and imports by up to 8.9 per cent in Honduras, 7.8 per cent in Guatemala and 7.4 per cent in Mexico – adding more than USD 90 billion in combined trade volume.

    In her opening remarks at the launch, DDG Hill underlined the importance of the WTO-IFC collaboration on trade finance given its key role in enabling trade. Citing the Asian Development Bank (ADB) estimation of a USD 2.5 trillion global trade finance gap in 2023, mainly in developing economies, she noted that “inadequate access to trade finance functions in effect as a prohibitive trade cost, holding back trade and closing off economic opportunities for firms and people.”

    This is particularly relevant in the case of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises and women-owned businesses that “find it particularly hard to access trade finance,” she added.

    This is the third and last edition of a short series of reports on trade finance in developing economies aimed at improving understanding of the trade finance ecosystem, the constraints to trade finance and gaps in provisions. The first report focused on West Africa (Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal) in 2022 and the second on the Mekong region (Cambodia, Lao PDR and Viet Nam) in 2023-24.

    The joint WTO-IFC work on trade finance springs from a 2021 joint statement by the WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and IFC Managing Director Makhtar Diop, pledging to enhance cooperation to improve the analytics, identification, and detection of trade finance gaps in order to better direct capacity building and other resources to where unmet demand is greatest.

    DDG Hill stressed that in the countries and regions studied so far, only a limited share of trade is supported by trade and supply chain finance, whereas in advanced economies this share is at least 60 per cent. “In each of the regions we examined, trade finance was heavily concentrated. Too few banks directing too little finance towards a small group of well-established and large traders,” she said.

    Doubling the trade finance coverage of trade would increase trade flows by a significant amount and help diversify trade geographically. “More trade finance means not only more trade integration, but also more socioeconomic inclusion through trade,” she added.

    Looking ahead, DDG Hill emphasized that the WTO will continue its work – whether in the trade finance field, through its investment facilitation efforts or through the implementation of its Trade Facilitation Agreement – to reduce international trade costs. In many emerging economies, reducing the cost of shipping, financing and border clearance is key to being competitive internationally. “The adoption of digital technologies is paramount in this regard,” she noted.

    “We remain at our members’ disposal for promoting trade finance solutions and engaging in expert discussions, such as today’s, with support from multilateral development banks and development financial institutions,” DDG Hill said. She noted that “these efforts help address persistent gaps in trade finance access, especially for small and medium enterprises, and support broader goals of trade inclusion, economic diversification, and digital transformation.” Her full remarks (in Spanish) are here.

    Policy recommendations included in the report point at strengthening supply chain markets through regulatory harmonization, digital innovation, improved risk assessments and better access for small and women-owned firms. International organizations and development banks can also play a key role through capacity building, liquidity support and risk-sharing facilities.

    The launch was followed by a presentation of the report and a panel discussion bringing together representatives of the WTO, IFC, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Mexican government and the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM).

    The publication can be found here.

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    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Thirty years of WTO accessions

    Source: World Trade Organization

    Since its establishment on 1 January 1995 to oversee the multilateral trade agreements negotiated by its 128 original members, the WTO has seen an ongoing expansion of its membership and continued interest from many economies seeking to join the organization. As a result, the percentage of world trade accounted for by WTO members has risen from 87 per cent in 1995 to over 98 per cent today.

    Over the past 30 years, 60 countries and customs territories have applied for accession to the WTO. Of these, 38 have completed the process, bringing the WTO’s total membership to 166. Meanwhile, 22 economies are currently at various stages of negotiating their accession.

    Although those seeking to join the WTO have followed similar paths of economic reform, WTO accession processes have varied significantly. Some completed the process relatively quickly – for example, after just three to four years of negotiations, the Kyrgyz Republic and Oman joined the WTO, in 1998 and in 2000, respectively. Others, such as Kazakhstan and Seychelles, spent nearly two decades in accession talks before becoming members, both in 2015. These longer timelines reflect the evolving nature of the accession process.

    Unlike accessions in the era of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), WTO accessions require far-reaching structural reforms that go well beyond traditional trade-opening, often encompassing multiple sectors of the acceding economy. Moreover, the process demands a thorough understanding of the applicant’s economic systems, policy frameworks and reform priorities, which must be underpinned by broad-based domestic consensus.

    Why, then, do governments choose to undertake the rigorous demands of WTO accession? For many, the answer lies in a desire to modernize institutions and regulatory practices, enhance the business environment and attract foreign direct investment. These motivations often go hand-in-hand with broader national goals, including market-oriented reforms, poverty reduction and sustainable development.

    Market-opening and structural reforms, for instance, have been central to the evolution of many economies. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia in 1991, international trade played a pivotal role in transforming the economies of the newly independent states and in strengthening their ties with the global economy. WTO membership served as a powerful vehicle for the modernization of these economies, as well as of other formerly centrally planned economies, such as China and Viet Nam.

    In addition, least-developed countries (LDCs), beginning with Cambodia and Nepal in 2004, and most recently Comoros and Timor-Leste in 2024 – making a total of 11 LDC accessions to date – have used the accession process to lay the foundations for poverty reduction and sustainable economic growth.

    In the cases of Cabo Verde, Samoa and Vanuatu, WTO membership was soon followed by graduation from LDC status (in 2008, 2014 and 2020, respectively). For others, including the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Nepal and Cambodia, graduation is expected before the end of this decade.

    As many LDCs began their accession processes while classified as “fragile and conflict-affected states”, WTO membership has also played an important role in reshaping perceptions of their economic and development potential.

    Recently, WTO economists quantified the economic impact of undertaking the robust commitments required for WTO accession. Their analysis found that economies implementing reforms and making deeper commitments during accession negotiations grew an average of 1.5 percentage points faster than they otherwise would have done. A review of both completed and ongoing accessions underscores that the WTO accession process serves as a catalyst for domestic reform, helping to create an enabling environment for economic resilience and sustainable growth.

    In the same way that WTO accessions have anchored domestic transformations, accessions have also benefitted the global trading system. Through accessions, the percentage of world trade accounted for by WTO members has risen from 87 per cent in 1995 to over 98 per cent today.

    Despite the proliferation of free trade agreements and the sharp rise in tariff barriers, the vast majority of this trade – still more than 70 per cent – continues to be conducted under the WTO’s most-favoured-nation (MFN) principles. This has promoted the integration of global supply chains and, in so doing, has lowered trading costs for all WTO members.

    The scope of the WTO can also be measured in terms of population. At the time when the WTO was established, the original members represented just 69 per cent of the world’s population. Today, thanks to the accession of new members, that share has risen to 94 per cent. In other words, over the past 30 years, the WTO has extended its reach to an additional 2 billion people – further strengthening the inclusiveness and global relevance of the multilateral trading system.

    Beyond their individual reforms, economies that have joined the WTO since 1995 have made substantial systemic contributions to the WTO. Each accession prompts existing members to reflect on how best to uphold and advance the WTO’s core values. As a result, accessions have repeatedly helped to deepen, clarify and modernize existing disciplines.

    Collectively, acceded members have added more than 1,500 legally binding commitments to the WTO rulebook. These commitments – coupled with guarantees for deeper access to their domestic markets for goods and services – have made the WTO stronger, more dynamic and more responsive to evolving global trade realities.

    In key areas, such as domestic support in agriculture and the regulation of state-owned enterprises, members who have joined over the past 30 years have often taken on more comprehensive and detailed commitments, reflecting an evolution of obligations in relation to existing WTO norms. In several areas – notably trade facilitation, tariff rate quotas and export subsidies – accession negotiations have also achieved concrete results years before the emergence of multilateral trade disciplines, demonstrating the forward-looking nature of the accession process.

    In the area of transparency alone, acceded members have adopted over 250 specific commitments. Some of these members could even be considered to be “transparency champions”, given that they have submitted extensive notifications to the WTO about their trade measures – including in areas where original members have been less forthcoming, or where multilateral disciplines do not yet exist, such as the notification of privatization programmes.

    Today, 30 years after the establishment of the WTO, acceded members account for more than one-fifth of its total membership. Accessions are a force for change – driving re-examinations of the WTO rulebook, steering the trading system away from complacency, and challenging original members to match the benchmarks set by the newer members. This has been especially relevant in recent years, as the multilateral trading system has been facing mounting pressure.
    Acceding members offer a source of hope for the future of the trading system. Even amid global uncertainty and growing challenges, many of them have remained actively engaged, recognizing that no economy’s prosperity is secure in isolation, however large or small that economy might be.

    The admission of new members has been a true success story, but work on WTO accessions is far from complete. Twenty-two governments – a diverse group, whose future membership will further enrich the WTO – remain in the process of accession.

    As an institution, the WTO will try to support these governments by providing targeted technical assistance and capacity-building. As always, a key area of focus will be the accession of the remaining LDCs, all of which are also classified as fragile and conflict-affected states. Supporting these countries in their WTO accession processes, through dedicated programmes and tailored approaches, can serve as a catalyst for economic reform, institution-building and integration into the global trading system. Over time, this can also help to foster lasting stability and peace and to establish a gradual pathway out of fragility and toward greater resilience.

    Over the years, it has become increasingly clear that integration into the multilateral trading system does not end on the date of an economy’s accession. Indeed, the immediate post-accession period presents a distinct set of challenges – particularly for governments with limited institutional and administrative capacity.

    While the WTO recognizes the need for sustained support during this critical phase – when newly acceded members are often required to implement further domestic reforms to fulfil their WTO commitments – it has yet to develop robust institutional mechanisms to provide targeted support during this period. There is scope for improvement in this area, and especially in supporting the effective integration of recently acceded LDCs.

    Thirty years since the establishment of the WTO, accessions continue to renew and enrich the organization. As new members continue to bring fresh perspectives and commitment to the multilateral trading system, WTO accessions will remain a powerful force for reform, international cooperation and global economic integration.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Governor Newsom expands affordable housing and supportive services for rural Californians with $118.9 million in new federal funding

    Source: US State of California 2

    Apr 30, 2025

    What you need to know: Governor Gavin Newsom and the Department of Housing and Community Development today announced the awards of $118.9 million in federal funding for 29 California rural and tribal communities to create more affordable housing and supportive services.

    SACRAMENTO—The California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) today announced nearly $118.9 million in awards from three federally funded programs to address homelessness by funding development of 487 affordable rental homes, supporting emergency shelters and homeless outreach, and providing rapid rehousing and supportive services needed to help low-income Californians attain and maintain housing stability.

    “Our nation’s housing crisis doesn’t end at city limits, and we must ensure housing and services are available to all members of our communities. We are grateful for this additional federal funding to ensure that our rural and tribal communities receive the housing support they need and deserve.”

    Governor Gavin Newsom

    In 2021, the U.S. Congress appropriated $5 billion from the American Rescue Plan Act to reduce homelessness nationwide. Of that amount, $512 million was awarded directly to California communities by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Another $155 million went to HCD to implement HOME Investments Partnerships American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) programs in California for those non-entitlement jurisdictions—specifically rural communities and unincorporated areas—that did not receive funding directly from HUD.

    HCD’s HOME-ARP Rental Housing (RH) program announced ten awards totaling $89 million, including two awards to Tribal Entities. The Yurok Indian Housing Authority and Big Valley Band of Pomo Indians received a combined $18.7 million to fund 31 HOME-ARP assisted units.

    “Housing affordability and homelessness affect all areas, not just our large, metro areas,” said Tomiquia Moss, Business, Consumer Services and Housing Secretary. “The State works diligently to provide and channel funding to all counties, to provide local providers the support needed to ensure programs in their communities deliver real results. This funding does just that and I pledge our continued support for local governments in their work to lessen and eliminate homelessness and create more affordable housing.”

    “By providing much-needed resources to rural and tribal communities, these awards help address our homelessness crisis and meet the critical needs of these residents,” said HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez. “Federal support ensures the state continues its stride toward providing housing stability and affordability for all.”

    The HOME-ARP RH awards announced today will fund much-needed affordable rental housing in the counties of Del Norte, El Dorado, Kings, Lake, Madera, Mendocino, Merced, Monterey, and Placer. The ten projects awarded will include a total of 487 affordable rental homes, including 184 HOME-ARP funded units for low-income households and other qualifying populations. This includes people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, those fleeing violence or human trafficking, and others at greatest risk of housing instability.

    HCD also announced six awards totaling $26.4 million from its HOME-ARP Housing Plus Support Program (HPSP) to support households who are currently experiencing homelessness, as well as those who will benefit from services designed to prevent homelessness.

    For more information about the awards, visit California Housing and Community Development’s website here.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: Written question – Preservation of Indo-Greek sites in Pakistan – E-001581/2025

    Source: European Parliament

    Question for written answer  E-001581/2025
    to the Commission
    Rule 144
    Emmanouil Fragkos (ECR)

    Following the campaigns of Alexander the Great, Greek influence spread to parts of present-day Pakistan and northern India. The Indo-Greek kingdoms (c. 180 BC – 10 AD) established Greek settlements and cultural monuments, reflecting the cultural cross-pollination between Greece and India.

    In 2015, the Dawn newspaper reported on the deteriorating condition of the Bazira (Barikot) archaeological site in Swat (Pakistan), an ancient city associated with Alexander the Great and the Indo-Greek period. Despite its importance, the site suffered from inadequate protection measures. Similarly, The Express Tribune reported in 2010 that the ancient seat of the Gandhara civilisation in Swat was in poor condition due to neglect by the authorities, especially after vandalism by religious extremists. A 2016 article in The Diplomat described how Pakistan’s 2,000-year-old historical treasures, including those from the Indo-Greek period, are under threat from religious extremists and smugglers. The lack of adequate protection and preservation measures has exacerbated the situation. The US has supported 35 cultural heritage preservation projects across Pakistan, contributing over USD 8.4 million.

    In light of the above:

    • 1.How does the Commission monitor Pakistan’s compliance with international standards for the protection of Indo-Greek culture, in view of the country’s assessment for GSP+ status?
    • 2.In which bilateral meetings has the Commission raised the issue with the Government of Pakistan and in what way?

    Submitted: 21.4.2025

    Last updated: 29 April 2025

    MIL OSI Europe News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit assumes the appointment of CISC

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 01 MAY 2025 2:43PM by PIB Delhi

    Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit assumed the appointment of Chief of Integrated Defence Staff (CISC) at Headquarters, Integrated Defence Staff in New Delhi on May 01, 2025. He succeeds Lt Gen JP Mathew who superannuated on April 30, 2025. Before taking over, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit laid a wreath at the National War Memorial, New Delhi and paid homage to the bravehearts. He also inspected the Ceremonial Guard of Honour at the South Block Lawns.

    In a distinguished career spanning close to four decades, the Air Marshal has held a variety of Command, Staff & Instructional appointments, and has been conferred with the Ati Vishisht Seva Medal, Vishisht Seva Medal & Vayu Sena Medal for his services.

    Prior to taking over as CISC, Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit was serving as the Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief of Central Air Command. He focused on enhancing operational readiness and fostering coordination with other services in Uttar Bharat & Central region.

    The Air Marshal was commissioned into the fighter stream of the Indian Air Force on December 06, 1986. He is an alumnus of National Defence Academy, Khadakwasla; Defence Services Staff College (Bangladesh) and National Defence College, New Delhi. He is a Qualified Flying Instructor and Experimental Test Pilot with over 3,300 hours of flying experience on over 20 types of aircraft, including Mirage-2000, MiG-21 & Jaguar.

    Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit also commanded a premier Fighter Training Base in the Southern Sector where his leadership led to the base being adjudged the best in the Command. As a test pilot and later Commanding Officer of the Flight Test Squadron at Aircraft and Systems Testing Establishment, Bangalore, he was involved in several indigenous upgrades and development programmes including the avionics upgrades for Jaguar & MiG-27. As Director of Air Staff Requirements he played a key role in the planning and conduct of the Medium Multi-Role Combat Aircraft trials.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Shri Arvind Shrivastava took charge as Secretary, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, today

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 01 MAY 2025 1:46PM by PIB Delhi

    Shri Arvind Shrivastava, takes charge as the Secretary, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance, today.

    The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet on 18th April 2025 appointed Shri Shrivastava as the Secretary, D/o Revenue.

    Previously, Shri Shrivastava, a 1994-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer of the Karnataka cadre, served as Joint Secretary and then Additional Secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office.

    Before that, Shri Shrivastava has also served as Joint Secretary, in the Budget Division of the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance; Development Officer in the Asian Development Bank; Secretary, Finance Dept., Bengaluru; Secretary, Urban Development Department, Bengaluru; Managing Director in the Urban Infrastructure Development & Finance Corporation, Karnataka.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurates WAVES 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurates WAVES 2025

    WAVES highlights India’s creative strengths on a global platform: PM

    World Audio Visual And Entertainment Summit, WAVES, is not just an acronym, It is a wave of culture, creativity and universal connectivity: PM

    India, with a billion-plus population, is also a land of a billion-plus stories: PM

    This is the right time to Create In India, Create For The World: PM

    Today when the world is looking for new ways of storytelling, India has a treasure of its stories dating back thousands of years, this treasure is timeless, thought-provoking and truly global: PM

    This is the time of dawn of Orange Economy in India, Content, Creativity and Culture – these are the three pillars of Orange Economy: PM

    Screen size may be getting smaller, but the scope is becoming infinite, Screen is getting micro but the message is becoming mega: PM

    Today, India is emerging as a global hub for film production, digital content, gaming, fashion, music and live concerts: PM

    To the creators of the world — dream big and tell your story, To investors — invest not just in platforms, but in people, To Indian youth — tell your one billion untold stories to the world: PM

    Posted On: 01 MAY 2025 1:42PM by PIB Delhi

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the WAVES 2025, India’s first-of-its-kind World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit at the Jio World Centre, Mumbai today. Addressing the gathering on the occasion, he greeted everyone on the occasion of Maharashtra day and Gujarat Statehood day being celebrated today. Acknowledging the presence of all international dignitaries, ambassadors, and leaders from the creative industry, the Prime Minister highlighted the significance of the gathering, emphasizing that over 100 countries’ artists, innovators, investors, and policymakers have come together to lay the foundation for a global ecosystem of talent and creativity. “WAVES is not merely an acronym but a wave representing culture, creativity, and universal connectivity”, he remarked, further underlining that the summit showcases the expansive world of films, music, gaming, animation, and storytelling, offering a global platform for artists and creators to connect and collaborate. The Prime Minister congratulated all participants on this historic occasion and extended his warm welcome to the distinguished guests from India and abroad.

    Reflecting on India’s rich cinematic history at the WAVES Summit, Shri Modi noted that on May 3, 1913, India’s first feature film, Raja Harishchandra, was released, directed by the pioneering filmmaker Dadasaheb Phalke. He recalled that Phalke’s birth anniversary was celebrated just a day earlier. He underscored the impact of Indian cinema over the past century, stating that it has successfully taken India’s cultural essence to every corner of the world. He highlighted the popularity of Raj Kapoor in Russia, the global recognition of Satyajit Ray at Cannes, and the Oscar-winning success of RRR, emphasizing how Indian filmmakers continue to shape global narratives. He also acknowledged the cinematic poetry of Guru Dutt, the social reflections of Ritwik Ghatak, the musical genius of A.R. Rahman, and the epic storytelling of S.S. Rajamouli, stating that each of these artists has brought Indian culture to life for millions worldwide. Shri Modi also remarked that Indian cinema legends were honored through commemorative postage stamps, paying tribute to their contributions to the industry.

    Emphasising the importance of India’s creative capability and global collaboration, the Prime Minister remarked that over the years, he has engaged with professionals from gaming, music, filmmaking, and acting, discussing ideas and insights that deepened his understanding of the creative industries. He highlighted a unique initiative undertaken during Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary, where singers from 150 countries came together to perform ‘Vaishnav Jan To’, a hymn written by Narsinh Mehta nearly 500-600 years ago. He stated that this global artistic effort created a significant impact, bringing the world together in harmony. He further noted that several individuals present at the summit had contributed to the Gandhi One Fifty initiative by creating short video messages, advancing Gandhi’s philosophies. He remarked that the collective strength of India’s creative world, combined with international collaboration, has already demonstrated its potential, and that vision has now materialized as WAVES.

    Shri Modi praised the resounding success of the first edition of the WAVES Summit, stating that from its very first moment, the event has captured global attention and is “roaring with purpose.” He acknowledged the dedication and efforts of the summit’s Advisory Board, emphasizing their role in making WAVES a landmark event in the creative industry. He highlighted the large-scale Creators Challenge and Creatosphere initiative, which saw participation from approximately 100,000 creative professionals across 60 countries. He remarked that out of 32 challenges, 800 finalists have been selected, recognizing their talent and congratulating them on their achievement. He encouraged the finalists, stating that they now have the opportunity to make their mark on the global creative stage.

    The Prime Minister expressed enthusiasm for the creative developments showcased at the Bharat Pavilion during the WAVES Summit. He remarked that significant innovation has been achieved, and he looked forward to witnessing these creations firsthand. The Prime Minister highlighted the WAVES Bazaar initiative, noting its potential to encourage new creators and connect them with emerging markets. He praised the concept of linking buyers and sellers in the art industry, stating that such initiatives strengthen the creative economy and provide fresh opportunities for artists.

    Reflecting on the deep-rooted connection between creativity and human experience, stating that a child’s journey begins with the lullaby of a mother, their first introduction to sound and music, Shri Modi remarked that just as a mother weaves dreams for her child, creative professionals shape the dreams of an era. He underscored that the essence of WAVES lies in bringing together such visionary individuals who inspire and influence generations through their art.

    Reaffirming his belief in collective efforts, stating that the dedication of artists, creators, and industry leaders will elevate WAVES to new heights in the coming years, Shri Modi urged his industry counterparts to continue the same level of support and handholding that made the first edition of the summit a success. He remarked that many exciting waves are yet to come and announced that WAVES Awards will be launched in the future, establishing themselves as the most prestigious honors in the world of art and creativity. He emphasized the need for sustained commitment, stating that the goal is to win the hearts of people across the world and inspire generations through creativity.

    Highlighting India’s rapid economic progress, stating that the nation is on its way to becoming the world’s third-largest economy, the Prime Minister remarked that India holds the number one position in global fintech adoption, is the second-largest mobile manufacturer, and has the third-largest startup ecosystem worldwide. He emphasized that India’s journey toward becoming a developed nation has only begun and has much more to offer. “India is not only home to a billion-plus population but also a billion-plus stories”, he added. Referencing the country’s rich artistic history, he recalled that two thousand years ago, Bharata Muni’s Natya Shastra emphasized the power of art in shaping emotions and human experiences. He noted that centuries ago, Kalidasa’s Abhijnana-Shakuntalam introduced a new direction in classical drama. Prime Minister underscored the deep cultural roots of India, stating that every street has a story, every mountain carries a song, and every river hums a tune. He remarked that India’s six lakh villages each have their own folk traditions and unique storytelling styles, with communities preserving their histories through folklore. He highlighted the spiritual significance of Indian music, noting that whether it is bhajans, ghazals, classical compositions, or contemporary tunes, every melody carries a story, and every rhythm holds a soul.

    Shri Modi underscored India’s deep-rooted artistic and spiritual heritage at the WAVES Summit, highlighting the concept of Naad Brahma, the divine sound. He remarked that Indian mythology has always expressed divinity through music and dance, citing Lord Shiva’s Damru as the first cosmic sound, Goddess Saraswati’s Veena as the rhythm of wisdom, Lord Krishna’s Flute as an eternal message of love, and Lord Vishnu’s Shankha as a call for positive energy. He emphasized that the mesmerizing cultural presentation at the summit also reflected this rich heritage. Declaring that “this is the right time,” Shri Modi reiterated India’s vision of Create in India, Create for the World, asserting that the country’s storytelling tradition offers an invaluable treasure spanning thousands of years. He highlighted that India’s stories are Timeless, Thought-Provoking, and Truly Global, encompassing not just cultural themes but also science, sports, courage, and bravery. He remarked that India’s storytelling landscape blends science with fiction, and heroism with innovation, forming a vast and diverse creative ecosystem. He called upon the WAVES platform to take on the responsibility of sharing India’s extraordinary stories with the world, bringing them to future generations through new and engaging formats.

    Drawing parallels between the People’s Padma awards and the vision behind the WAVES Summit, stating that both initiatives aim to recognize and uplift talent from every corner of India, the Prime Minister remarked that while Padma Awards started a few years after independence, they truly transformed when India embraced the People’s Padma, recognizing individuals serving the nation from remote areas. This shift, he emphasized, turned the awards from a ceremony into a national celebration. Similarly, the Prime Minister stated that WAVES will serve as a global platform for India’s immense creative talent across films, music, animation, and gaming, ensuring that artists from every part of the country find recognition on an international stage.

    Underscoring India’s tradition of embracing diverse ideas and cultures, referencing a Sanskrit phrase, Shri Modi emphasized that India’s civilizational openness has welcomed communities like Parsis and Jews, who have thrived in the country and become an integral part of its cultural fabric. He acknowledged the presence of ministers and representatives from various countries, noting that every nation has its own successes and contributions. He remarked that India’s strength lies in respecting and celebrating global artistic achievements, reinforcing the country’s commitment to creative collaboration. He emphasized that by creating content that reflects the accomplishments of different cultures and nations, WAVES can strengthen the vision of global connectivity and artistic exchange.

    The Prime Minister extended an invitation to the global creative community, assuring them that engaging with India’s stories would reveal narratives deeply resonant with their own cultures. He emphasized that India’s rich storytelling tradition carries themes and emotions that transcend borders, creating a natural and meaningful connection. He remarked that international artists and creators who explore India’s stories will experience an organic bond with the nation’s heritage. He stated that this cultural synergy will make India’s vision of Create in India even more compelling and accessible to the world.

    “This is the time of dawn of Orange Economy in India, Content, Creativity and Culture – the three pillars of Orange Economy”, exclaimed Shri Modi, remarking that Indian films have now reached audiences in over 100 countries, with global viewers increasingly seeking to understand Indian cinema beyond surface-level appreciation. He highlighted the growing trend of international audiences watching Indian content with subtitles, signaling deeper engagement with India’s stories. Shri Modi also noted that India’s OTT industry has witnessed tenfold growth in recent years, stating that while screen sizes may be shrinking, the scope of content is infinite, with micro screens delivering mega messages. He observed that Indian cuisine is becoming a global favorite and expressed confidence that Indian music will soon gain similar worldwide recognition.

    Emphasizing the immense potential of India’s creative economy, stating that in the coming years, its contribution to the country’s GDP is set to increase significantly, the Prime Minister remarked, “India is emerging as a global hub for film production, digital content, gaming, fashion, and music”. He noted the promising growth opportunities in the live concert industry and the vast potential in the global animation market, which currently stands at over $430 billion and is projected to double in the next decade. The Prime Minister highlighted that this presents a significant opportunity for India’s animation and graphics industry, urging stakeholders to leverage this expansion for greater international reach.

    Calling upon India’s young creators to drive the nation’s Orange Economy forward, acknowledging that their passion and hard work are shaping a new wave of creativity, Shri Modi emphasized that whether they are musicians from Guwahati, podcasters from Kochi, game designers in Bengaluru, or filmmakers in Punjab, their contributions are fueling India’s growing creative sector. He assured that the government stands firmly behind creative professionals, supporting them through initiatives like Skill India, Startup Support, policies for the AVGC Industry, and global platforms like WAVES. He remarked that every effort is being made to build an environment where innovation and imagination are valued, fostering new dreams and empowering individuals to bring those dreams to life. Shri Modi highlighted that WAVES will serve as a major platform where Creativity meets Coding, Software blends with Storytelling, and Art merges with Augmented Reality. He urged young creators to make the most of this opportunity, dream big, and dedicate their efforts to realizing their visions.

    The Prime Minister expressed his unwavering confidence in India’s content creators, highlighting that their free-flowing creativity is redefining the global creative landscape. He emphasized that the youthful spirit of India’s creators knows no barriers, boundaries, or hesitation, allowing innovation to thrive. He remarked that through his personal interactions with young creators, gamers, and digital artists, he has witnessed firsthand the energy and talent emerging from India’s creative ecosystem. He acknowledged that India’s massive young population is driving new creative dimensions, from reels, podcasts, and games to animation, stand-up, and AR-VR formats. The Prime Minister asserted that WAVES is a platform designed specifically for this generation—one that enables young minds to reimagine and redefine the creative revolution with their energy and efficiency.

    Underscoring the importance of Creative Responsibility in a technology-driven 21st century, Shri Modi emphasised that as technology increasingly influences human lives, extra efforts are needed to preserve emotional sensitivity and cultural richness. He remarked that the creative world holds the power to foster human compassion and deepen societal consciousness. He asserted that the goal is not to create robots but to nurture individuals with heightened sensitivity, emotional depth, and intellectual richness—qualities that cannot stem from information overload or technological speed alone. Shri Modi stressed on the importance of art, music, dance, and storytelling, noting that these forms have kept human sensibilities alive for thousands of years. He urged creatives to reinforce these traditions and build a more compassionate future. He also highlighted the need to protect young generations from divisive and harmful ideologies, stating that WAVES can serve as a vital platform to uphold cultural integrity and instill positive values. He warned that neglecting this responsibility could have grave consequences for future generations.

    Emphasising the transformative impact of technology on the creative world, the Prime Minister highlighted the importance of global coordination to harness its full potential. He remarked that WAVES will serve as a bridge connecting Indian creators with global storytellers, animators with global visionaries, and transform gamers to global champions. He invited international investors and creators to embrace India as their content playground and explore the country’s vast creative ecosystem. Addressing global creators, the Prime Minister urged them to dream big and tell their story. He encouraged investors to invest not just in platforms, but in people, and called on Indian youth to share their one billion untold stories with the world. He concluded by extending his best wishes to all participants of the inaugural WAVES Summit.

    The Governor of Maharashtra Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Union Ministers, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Dr. L. Murugan were present among other dignitaries at the event.

    Background

    WAVES 2025 is a four-day summit with tagline “Connecting Creators, Connecting Countries” is poised to position India as a global hub for media, entertainment, and digital innovation by bringing together creators, startups, industry leaders, and policymakers from across the world.

    In line with Prime Minister’s vision of leveraging creativity, technology, and talent to shape a brighter future, WAVES will integrate films, OTT, gaming, comics, digital media, AI, AVGC-XR, broadcasting, and emerging tech, making it a comprehensive showcase of India’s media and entertainment prowess. WAVES aims to unlock a $50 billion market by 2029, expanding India’s footprint in the global entertainment economy.

    At WAVES 2025, India is also hosting the Global Media Dialogue (GMD) for the first time, with ministerial participation from 25 countries, marking a milestone in the country’s engagement with the global media and entertainment landscape. The Summit will also feature the WAVES Bazaar, a global e-marketplace with over 6,100 buyers, 5,200 sellers, and 2,100 projects. It aims to connect buyers and sellers locally and globally, ensuring wide-reaching networking and business opportunities.

    Prime Minister visited the Creatosphere and interacted with creators, selected from the 32 Create in India Challenges launched nearly a year ago, which garnered over one lakh registrations. He will also visit the Bharat Pavilion.

    WAVES 2025 will witness participation from over 90 countries, with more than 10,000 delegates, 1,000 creators, 300+ companies, and 350+ startups. The summit will feature 42 plenary sessions, 39 breakout sessions, and 32 masterclasses spanning diverse sectors including broadcasting, infotainment, AVGC-XR, films, and digital media.

     

     

    ***

    MJPS/SR

    (Release ID: 2125725) Visitor Counter : 80

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: To streamline regulatory framework governing Sugar Sector, Centre formulates Sugar (Control) Order, 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 01 MAY 2025 1:41PM by PIB Delhi

    The Government of India has undertaken a comprehensive review of the Sugar (Control) Order, 1966, leading to the formulation of the Sugar (Control) Order, 2025. This revision aims to simplify and streamline the regulatory framework governing the sugar sector in line with current industry dynamics and technological advancements.

    The Objective of the Sugar (Control) Order, 2025 is a step toward building a more efficient, transparent, and accountable sugar ecosystem, fostering both domestic stability and global competitiveness.

    Some Key Highlights of the Sugar (Control) Order, 2025 are:

    • API integration of DFPD portal with sugar mills Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)/ Systems, Applications, and Products (SAPAs):- Clause related to information sharing in the digital forms through Application Programing Interface or any other mode with Government Organization has been added. The integration of systems will enhance efficiency; provide real time data, reduce data leakages and redundancies. The process is already going on and more than 450 sugar mills are already integrated with the portal. Further, GSTN data related to sale of sugar by sugar mills is also integrated with the portal.
    • Inclusion of clause related to regulation of price of sugar:- Currently various provisions related to regulation of price of sugar have been mentioned in the Sugar Price (Control) Order, 2018. Now clause related to Sugar Price (Control) has been incorporated in the sugar control order, hence there will be no separate Sugar Price (Control) Order.
    • Inclusion of raw sugar: – We will meet international standards by adding raw sugar in control order. Raw sugar will be considered in the total stock of sugar across the country; therefore, the figures of actual stock will be available. Currently, raw sugar is being sold by the name of khandsari/Organic; therefore, the change shall put a stop to misleading names of this product.
    • Inclusion of khandsari sugar and khandsari sugar factory:- A substantial amount of khandsari sugar is being produced by many such units; therefore, khandsari units having crushing capacity more than 500 TCD has been included in the Sugar Control Order, 2025. Inclusion will ensure payment of FRP to the farmers by Khandsari sugar factories & will help in the accurate estimation of sugar production. A total of 373 No. of khandsari units (with total capacity of about 95000 TCD) are working in the country. Out of which, 66 (with total capacity of about 55200 TCD) are more than 500 TCD.
    • Inclusion of various by-products:- Different kinds of by-products namely cane bagasse, cane molasses, press mud cake or any other alternative product including ethanol (produced from cane molasses, sugarcane juice, sugar syrup, sugar) affecting sugar production from sugarcane included in the order. Government will be able to regulate the diversion of sugar to ensure sufficient availability of sugar for domestic consumption.
    • Inclusion of various definitions:-Various definitions included in the order namely Sugar, Plantation White Sugar, Refined Sugar, Khandsari Sugar, Gur or Jaggery, Bura Sugar, Cube Sugar, Icing Sugar taken from Food Safety Standard Authority of India (FSSAI), which will ensure the uniformity in definition of various products.

    ***

    Abhishek Dayal/Nihi Sharma

    (Release ID: 2125723) Visitor Counter : 93

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Depot Darpan portal & mobile application to ensure Food Storage depots meet highest quality & performance standards

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 01 MAY 2025 1:41PM by PIB Delhi

    The Department of Food and Public Distribution (DFPD), Government of India, ensures food security for over 80 crore beneficiaries through scientific warehousing and smart storage solutions for food grains.

    DFPD is now envisaging the Depot Darpan portal and mobile application with the objective to ensure that the Food Storage depots meet the highest quality and performance standards. It enables Depot managers to evaluate infrastructure, operational and financial performance on a near real-time basis

    Depot Managers upload geo-tagged inputs of the infrastructure available in their depot, generating automated ratings and action points for timely improvements. The system ensures 100% validation by the supervisory officers and random third-party audits.

    The warehouses are assessed based on two main categories:

    • Infrastructural aspects which include safety standards, storage conditions, environmental, technology adoption and statutory parameters.
    • Operational efficiency aspects which include stock turnover, losses, space utilization, manpower expenses, and profitability.

    Each category is evaluated independently, and the warehouse receives a Star rating based on the composite scoring from both parameters.

    Depot Darpan is uniquely integrated with smart warehousing technologies, creating a seamless digital monitoring ecosystem that includes: CCTV Surveillance and IoT sensors, monitoring key parameters such as CO₂ & Phosphine levels, fire hazards, humidity, unauthorized entry and temperature in real time thereby, ensuring security and efficiency in food grain storage.

    The IoT-Enabled Monitoring includes:

    1. Ambient sensor – Temperature and relative humidity to monitor grain moisture and temperature
    2. Carbon dioxide (CO2) – To monitor and indicate potential grain infestation
    3. Phosphine gas sensor – Ensures occupational safety for workers through early warning to prevent exposure to toxic gas levels Detects fumigation leakages, increasing effectiveness of treatment
    4. Gate Shutter sensor – Detection of unauthorized door access. – Alerts for unauthorized door openings outside designated hours. Monitors door status during fumigation processes. Ensures proper ventilation by tracking door openings as required.
    5. Fire/smoke sensor- Provides early warning to prevent fire-related damage and ensure safety.

    In addition, AI based technology for bag counting, ANPR (Automatic Number plate Recognition) for vehicle identification and tracking, and Face Recognition technology (FRS) for access control and security are also deployed in warehouses on pilot basis.

    A total of around 2278 warehouses including those owned by FCI & CWC and that hired from State agencies/ private will be onboarded in this digital initiative.

    Depot Darpan mobile app allows supervisory officials to track warehouse performance anytime, anywhere, supporting better decision making. Automated reports are used in regular reviews, leading to continuous and seamless improvements in infrastructure and efficiency.

    Depot Darpan, a mirror of warehousing excellence, ensures improved warehousing and greater operational efficiency in the public distribution system and reinforces the commitment to the nation’s food security with every grain scientifically stored.

    Depot Darpan portal and mobile application shall be formally inaugurated by Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and New and Renewable Energy on 20th May, 2025.

    ******

    Abhishek Dayal/Nihi Sharma

    (Release ID: 2125724) Visitor Counter : 88

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Wheat procurement surpasses 250 LMT

    Source: Government of India

    Wheat procurement surpasses 250 LMT

    21.03 lakh farmers receive MSP of Rs. 62155.96 crores during RMS 2025-26

    Posted On: 01 MAY 2025 1:40PM by PIB Delhi

    Procurement of Wheat during RMS 2025-26 is going on smoothly in the major procuring States across the country. Against an estimated target of 312 LMT fixed for procurement of wheat during RMS 2025-26, 256.31 LMT of wheat has already been procured so far, in Central Pool.   The quantity of wheat procured till 30th April this year has already surpassed last year’s total procurement of 205.41 LMT on the same date, showing an increase of 24.78 %.  All the 5 major wheat procuring states Viz. Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh have procured more wheat this year compared to last year.

    A total of 21.03 lakh farmers have already been benefitted during RMS 2025-26 with total MSP outflow to the tune of Rs. 62155.96 crores. Major contribution in the procurement came from five procuring states Viz. Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh with procurement of 103.89 LMT, 65.67 LMT, 67.57 LMT, 11.44 LMT and 7.55 LMT respectively.

    With sufficient duration of procurement period still left in RMS 2025-26, country is well on course to surpass last year’s figures of wheat procurement for the Central Pool by a substantial margin.

    The positive outcome in terms of quantity of wheat procurement this year has been a result of concerted efforts by Department of Food and Public Distribution, starting from preparing State specific Action Plans based on learnings from previous years which were shared with the states well in advance. The Actionable items like awareness generation amongst farmers; Registration of farmers; Readiness of Procurement Centres; Timely payment of MSP to farmers etc were followed up with the respective states on regular basis through review meetings so that any potential bottlenecks are addressed timely. In most of the cases, payment of MSP was made to farmers within 24 to 48 hours.  

    Measures taken by Department of Food and Public Distribution, also include mandating stockholding limits through the wheat stock portal, according timely approvals for relaxation FAQ Norms, field visit by officers to identified districts for accessing on the ground scenario to facilitate timely action as and when required.

    *****

    Abhishek Dayal/Nihi Sharma

    (Release ID: 2125722) Visitor Counter : 77

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported police inaction in finding a missing girl from Bhopal, MP, even 18 days after the incident

    Source: Government of India

    NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported police inaction in finding a missing girl from Bhopal, MP, even 18 days after the incident

    Reportedly, over 3,400 women and girls missing in the State over the last three years, as per MP Police data

    ‘Operation Muskan’ launched last year by the State police to rescue and rehabilitate the missing girls, remains ineffective

    The Commission issues notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Madhya Pradesh, calling for a detailed report within two weeks

    Posted On: 01 MAY 2025 12:55PM by PIB Delhi

    The National Human Rights (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that even eighteen days after, a six-year-old girl went missing from an under-bridge in Koh-e-Fiza area in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, the Police have no answers. Reportedly, the missing girl’s homeless mother with eight children suspects the involvement of one of the relatives in the disappearance of her daughter, but the police is not conducting a fair investigation, and no arrests have been made in the matter to date.

    Reportedly, this is not just one case of disappearance, as over 3,400 women and girls have gone missing in the State during the last three years, as per the data of the Madhya Pradesh police. Allegedly, the CCTV networks are patchy, rapid-response teams are missing in action, and there is no coordination between the units.

    The Commission observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights. Therefore, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, Government of Madhya Pradesh, calling for a detailed report in the matter within two weeks. According to the media report, carried on 25th April, 2025, a drive under the name ‘Operation Muskan’ launched last year by the State police to rescue and rehabilitate the missing girls has not shown any results.

    ***

    NSK

    (Release ID: 2125714) Visitor Counter : 109

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Nobel Laureate Shri Kailash Satyarthi Delivers Keynote Address at EPFO’s RGDE Series on Compassionate Governance

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 01 MAY 2025 12:09PM by PIB Delhi

    Nobel Laureate Shri Kailash Satyarthi delivered the keynote address at the Re-imagining Governance: Discourse for Excellence (RDGE) series organised by PDUNASS, the premier training academy of the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). The session was attended virtually by EPFO officers and officials from across the country.

    Re-imagining Governance: Discourse for Excellence (RDGE) initiative was born on “Good Governance Day- 25th December” in 2023 and has blossomed into one of its kind platforms in the Country for insightful discussions that fuel out pursuit of enhanced trust and true excellence in public governance. This was the seventeenth consecutive edition of RGDE series.

     

    Speaking from Bal Ashram in Jaipur, Shri Satyarthi emphasized the critical role of compassionate governance in public administration. He stated that governance rooted in empathy, deep listening, and a sense of moral accountability is essential for building responsible and effective institutions. He expressed concern that modern society is losing its moral compass and called for a renewal of gratitude and human connection in governance system.

     

    Shri Ajeet Kumar, Additional Central PF Commissioner (Rajasthan), felicitated Shri Satyarthi at the Jaipur venue. The program was chaired by Central PF Commissioner Shri Ramesh Krishnamoorthy, presided over by PDUNASS Director Shri Kumar Rohit, and moderated by Shri Uttam Prakash, RPFC-I.

    In his concluding remarks, the Central PF Commissioner urged all EPFO officials to implement at least one decision in their work that embodies the values of compassion ̶ an actionable takeaway from this deeply engaging session.

    The RGDE series continues to promote thought leadership, value-based administration, and capacity building within EPFO.

    *****

    Manish Gautam/Divyanshu Kumar

    (Release ID: 2125692) Visitor Counter : 77

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Holy Buddha Relic of Sarnath arrives in New Delhi en route to Vietnam

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 30 APR 2025 11:31PM by PIB Delhi

    A large gathering of monks, bhikkhunis, diplomats and the Sangha today offered chanting and special prayers to the Holy Buddha Relic at a protected enclosure of the National Museum, New Delhi; the sacred Relic arrived earlier from Sarnath en route to Vietnam. The Ambassador of Vietnam to India, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hai, as also the Acting High Commissioner of Sri Lanka to India, Ms. Priyanga Wickramasinghe joined the prayers.

    The Ministry of Culture, Government of India in collaboration with the International Buddhist Confederation (IBC) is holding for the first time an exposition of the Sacred Buddha Relic in four cities of Vietnam to coincide with the celebrations for the UN Vesak Day. This Holy Relic of the Buddha is enshrined in Mulagandha Kuti Vihara, Sarnath and was excavated in Nagarjuna Konda, Andhra Pradesh. It is believed to be dated older than 246 CE.

    The relic was brought from Varanasi to Delhi with full state honour and was placed at a special spot at the ceremonial lounge, at IGI airport before being escorted to the National Museum.

    On May 1, when the Sacred Relic leaves Delhi, as a special gesture, around 120 monks from Vietnam will fly down from Vietnam to the National Museum in New Delhi to pay their obeisance to the holy relic and then would return to their country on the same day, before the Relic travels to Vietnam, in order to receive the Holy Relic in Vietnam.

    ****

    Sunil Kumar Tiwari

    pibculture[at]gmail[dot]com

    (Release ID: 2125650) Visitor Counter : 39

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Land Registry releases new Street Index and New Territories Lot/Address Cross Reference Table

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Land Registry (LR) announced today (May 1) that compact discs for the 57th edition of the Index of Streets, House Numbers and Lots in Hong Kong, Kowloon and New Kowloon (Street Index), and the 26th edition of the New Territories Lot/Address Cross Reference Table (CRT) have been released. The discs facilitate searches of land records of urban and New Territories properties by correlating property addresses, building names or lot numbers.

    The new edition of the Street Index features 370 amendments to the last edition, with six new streets and 25 new lots/sections/subsections added. In the latest edition of the CRT, 1 761 amendments have been made, and seven new streets and 991 new lots/sections/subsections have been added.

    The new editions of the Street Index and CRT compact discs cost $370 each. Licences for using them on computer networks are also available for sale. The respective licence fees are $2,960 for a computer network linked to less than 50 terminals and $5,920 if linked to 50 terminals or more.

    Members of the public who wish to purchase the compact discs and the licences may submit a completed order form on the LR’s website (www.landreg.gov.hk/en/pforms/form.htm), by post or in person to the LR’s Customer Centre (19/F, Queensway Government Offices, 66 Queensway, Hong Kong), the New Territories Search Offices or the LR’s Street Index and CRT Help Desk (Unit 1202, 12/F, One Kowloon, 1 Wang Yuen Street, Kowloon Bay, Kowloon). The form can be obtained on the LR’s website (www.landreg.gov.hk/en/pforms/form.htm), by fax by calling the customer service hotline at 3105 0000, or at the LR’s Customer Centre, the New Territories Search Offices and the Street Index and CRT Help Desk.

    An online version of the new Street Index and CRT is also available for free browsing on the LR’s website (www.landreg.gov.hk/en/public/pu-si_agree.htm) or through the hyperlink on the Integrated Registration Information System Online Services (www.iris.gov.hk).

    For enquiries, please call the Street Index and CRT Help Desk or the Customer Service Manager of the LR at 3105 0000.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the media report about more than 100 children falling ill after consuming mid-day meal in the Mokama area of Patna, Bihar

    Source: Government of India

    NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the media report about more than 100 children falling ill after consuming mid-day meal in the Mokama area of Patna, Bihar

    Reportedly, the cook served the food to the children after removing a dead snake from it

    Issues notices to the Chief Secretary, Bihar and Superintendent of Police, Patna, calling for a detailed report within two weeks

    The report to include the health status of the children

    Posted On: 01 MAY 2025 11:44AM by PIB Delhi

    The National Human Rights (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that more than 100 children fell ill after consuming mid-day meal in a government school, in the Mokama area of Patna in Bihar on 24th April, 2025. Reportedly, the cook served the food to the children after removing a dead snake from it.

    The Commission has observed that the contents, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of the human rights of the students. Therefore, the Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, Government of Bihar and the Senior Superintendent of Police, Patna, Bihar, calling for a detailed report in the matter within two weeks. The report is expected to include the health status of the children.

    According to the media report, carried on 25th April, 2025, about 500 children had consumed the mid-day meal. The news about the children falling ill due to the consumption of the mid-day meal led to the blocking of the road by the protesting villagers.

    ***

    NSK

    (Release ID: 2125686) Visitor Counter : 52

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Temporary closure of Tin Ping Sports Centre

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Attention TV/radio announcers:

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

    ​The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (May 1) that due to power failure, Tin Ping Sports Centre in North District has been temporarily closed until further notice.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency and Hong Kong Film Development Council lead industry delegation to participate in Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    ​The Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau and the Hong Kong Film Development Council (FDC) led an industry delegation to participate in the 27th Far East Film Festival (FEFF) in Udine, Italy. Screenings of Hong Kong films and “Hong Kong Night” networking reception were held during the FEFF to promote Hong Kong films, increase overseas exposure for emerging Hong Kong film talents, build their international connections, and expand the global market for Hong Kong films. Members of the delegation included the Assistant Commissioner for Cultural and Creative Industries and Secretary-General of the Film Development Council, Mr Gary Mak, renowned director Tsui Hark, director and actress Sylvia Chang, directors Philip Yung, Anthony Pun, Oliver Chan, Jill Leung, as well as actors Jo Koo, Hedwig Tam, Natalie Hsu and Dylan So. The strong lineup showcased to the international film community the strength and new blood of the Hong Kong film industry.
       
    Being the largest Asian film festival in Europe, the FEFF in Udine held from April 24 to May 2 (Udine time) showcased the latest film productions and creative teams from Asia and received significant regional and international interest from the film industry, cultural sector and media. During the festival, the CCIDA and the FDC presented screening events “Making Waves – Navigators of Hong Kong Cinema” to showcase 10 Hong Kong films to industry professionals and audiences from all over the world. The films include “Four Trails”, “The Last Dance” (Extended Version), “The Prosecutor” and restored prints of classic films “Shanghai Blues”, “Mr Vampire” and “Green Snake”. Director Tsui Hark and actress Sylvia Chang of “Shanghai Blues”, director Oliver Chan and actress Hedwig Tam of “Montages of a Modern Motherhood”, director Anthony Pun of “Cesium Fallout”, director Jill Leung and actress Natalie Hsu of “Last Song for You” and director Philip Yung and actors Jo Koo and Dylan So of “Papa” participated in the meet-and-greet sessions of the respective films and the FEFF Talks.
     
    The “Hong Kong Night” networking reception held last night (April 30, Udine time), assisted by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Brussels, brought together around 200 representatives from the film, cultural sector, government, business sector and media, promoting exchanges and collaborations with international filmmakers. Mr Mak in his welcoming remarks extended congratulations to Tsui Hark and Sylvia Chang on receiving the Golden Mulberry Award for Lifetime Achievement of the 27th Far East Film Festival in Udine, Italy and was proud of the two important filmmakers of the Chinese film industry receiving the international honour. He added that the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region is committed to fostering the development of Hong Kong’s film industry. The Film Development Fund (FDF) has supported over 120 films which involved more than 110 new directors and producers. The Hong Kong-Europe-Asian Film Collaboration Funding Scheme under the FDF also supports film projects co-produced by filmmakers from Hong Kong and European/Asian countries to produce films with strong Hong Kong, European and Asian cultures, enabling Hong Kong films to go global and further strengthening Hong Kong’s role as East-meets-West Centre for international cultural exchange.
     
    In addition, the CCIDA and the FDC collaborated with the FEFF’s programme FOCUS ASIA and organised HONG KONG LAB@FOCUS ASIA from April 29 to 30 (Udine time), inviting international film industry professionals and five potential Hong Kong producers and directors to share their experiences in co-production, cross-boundary financing and venture capital, as well as future strategies. Speakers include director Lawrence Kan of “In Broad Daylight”, director Steve Yuen of “The Moon Thieves”, producer Wong Hoi of “The Lyricist Wannabe”, director Eric Tsang of “Hong Kong Family” and the Chairman of Hong Kong Movie Production Executives Association, Mr Johnny Wang. The CCIDA arranged a business matching session with an aim to foster project development between filmmakers from Hong Kong and various regions. Through collaborating with Italian film organisation, Cinecitta, the business matching session also connected producers from Hong Kong and Italy for direct liaison to explore future collaborations and film development opportunities.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PM extends greetings to the people of Maharashtra on Maharashtra Day

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 01 MAY 2025 9:30AM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi greeted the people of Maharashtra on Maharashtra Day today.

    In separate posts on X, he said:

    “Maharashtra Day greetings to the people of the state, which has always played a vital role in India’s development. When one thinks of Maharashtra, its glorious history and the courage of the people come to our mind. The state remains a strong pillar of progress and at the same time has remained connected to its roots. My best wishes for the state’s progress.”

    “भारताच्या विकासात कायमच महत्त्वाची भूमिका बजावत आलेल्या, महाराष्ट्राच्या जनतेला महाराष्ट्र दिनाच्या शुभेच्छा. जेव्हा आपण महाराष्ट्राबद्दल विचार करतो, तेव्हा समोर येतो तो या भूमीचा गौरवशाली इतिहास आणि इथल्या जनतेचे धैर्य. हे राज्य प्रगतीचा एक मजबूत आधारस्तंभ आहे आणि त्याच वेळी आपल्या मूळाशीही घट्ट जोडलेले आहे. राज्याच्या प्रगतीसाठी माझ्या खूप खूप शुभेच्छा.”

    ***

    MJPS/SR/SKS

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Customs seizes suspected cannabis buds worth about $5.4 million at airport (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    ​Hong Kong Customs yesterday (April 30) detected a drug trafficking case involving baggage concealment at Hong Kong International Airport and seized about 25 kilograms of suspected cannabis buds with an estimated market value of about $5.4 million.

    A male passenger, aged 49, arrived in Hong Kong from Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. During customs clearance, Customs officers found the batch of suspected cannabis buds inside his check-in suitcase. The man was subsequently arrested.

    The arrested person has been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Court tomorrow (May 2).

    Customs will continue to step up enforcement against drug trafficking activities through intelligence analysis. The department also reminds members of the public to stay alert and not participate in drug trafficking activities for monetary return. They must not accept hiring or delegation from another party to carry controlled items into and out of Hong Kong. They are also reminded not to carry unknown items for other people.

    Customs will continue to apply a risk assessment approach and focus on selecting passengers from high-risk regions for clearance to combat transnational drug trafficking activities.

    Under the Dangerous Drugs Ordinance, trafficking in a dangerous drug is a serious offence. The maximum penalty upon conviction is a fine of $5 million and life imprisonment.

    Members of the public may report any suspected drug trafficking activities to Customs’ 24-hour hotline 182 8080 or its dedicated crime-reporting email account (crimereport@customs.gov.hk) or online form (eform.cefs.gov.hk/form/ced002/en).

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –