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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi interacts with students during Pariksha Pe Charcha 2025

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi interacts with students during Pariksha Pe Charcha 2025

    The United Nations declared 2023 as the ‘International Year of Millets’ and promoted it across the world on a proposal from India: PM

    Seasonal fruits must be eaten, food must be chewed properly, right food must be eaten at the right time: PM

    Absence of illness doesn’t mean we are healthy, focus on wellness: PM

    One should prepare oneself for pressure concentrating on task at hand: PM

    We should continue to strive for better, fight our own battles, find stillness within: PM

    Be an example, don’t demand respect command respect, lead by doing not demanding: PM

    Students are not robots, studies are for holistic development, they should have freedom to explore their passions: PM

    Exams are not everything, knowledge and exams are not the same thing: PM

    The habit of writing should be developed: PM

    Discover and nurture each student’s unique talent, look for positivity: PM

    We all have the same 24 hours, it’s about managing our time wisely: PM

    Focus on the Present, share your feelings with your loved ones: PM

    Don’t compare your children with others,understand your children to support their passion, find your child’s strengths: PM

    Learn to listen, Right Breathing is the key: PM

    Every child is unique, know their dreams, guide their journey, be their support: PM

    Avoid comparing students, don’t criticise students publicly, encourage and praise to motivate them: PM

    Challenge yourself, defeat your past, thrive in the present: PM

    Listen, Question, Understand, Apply, compete with yourself: PM

    Convert your failures into opportunities: PM

    Use technology wisely not fearfully, technology should be utilised optimally: PM

    We should not exploit nature but protect and nurture our Environment showing our gratitude, Ek Ped naam ke Naam is one such initiative: PM

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 3:14PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi interacted with students at Sunder Nursery, New Delhi today during the 8th edition of Pariksha Pe Charcha (PPC). The Prime Minister in an informal interaction with the students from across the country discussed a host of topics. He distributed sweets made of Til (sesame) which is traditionally served during winters to keep the body warm.

    Nourish to Flourish

    On the topic of Nutrition, Shri Modi remarked that the United Nations had declared 2023 as the ‘International Year of Millets’ and promoted it across the world on a proposal from India. He added that the Government of India strongly urged that there should be a lot of awareness regarding nutrition, as proper nutrition helps prevent many diseases. The Prime Minister highlighted that Millets were known as a superfood in India. He added that in India, most things like crops, fruits were linked to our heritage and cited an example where every new crop or season was dedicated to God and festivals were celebrated in most places across India. He further mentioned that the offerings to the God were distributed as Prasad. Shri modi urged the children to eat seasonal fruits. He encouraged the children to avoid Junk food, oily food and food products made of Maida. Touching upon the importance of how to eat food correctly, the Prime Minister encouraged the children to chew their food at least 32 times before swallowing. He also shared tips to the children to take small sips of water and savor its taste, whenever they drink water. On the topic of eating the right food at the right time, Shri Modi citing the example of farmers, said that they had a hearty breakfast in the morning before going to the fields and completed their supper before the sunset. He encouraged the students to follow similar healthy habits.

    Nutrition and wellness

    Discussing Wellness, the Prime Minister underlined that absence of wellness does not mean that one is healthy, and urged the children to focus on wellness. He added that the right amount of sleep was important to ensure the fitness and wellness of the body. He mentioned that there were many research projects being conducted on the importance of sleep in human wellness. Shri Modi, stressing on the importance of sunlight for the human body, encouraged the children to cultivate a daily habit of soaking in the morning sunlight for a few minutes. He also told them to take deep breaths standing under a tree right after the sunrise. The Prime Minister summed it up by informing that for an individual to progress in life, the importance of nutrition lies in what, when, how and why one eats.

    Mastering Pressure

    On the topic of Mastering Pressure, the Prime Minister remarked that it is unfortunate how our society has ingrained the idea that not scoring high marks in school exams like 10th or 12th means life is ruined. This, he said, added to the pressure on the children. Citing a reference to the batsman’s concentration on the ball in a cricket match, Shri Modi encouraged the children to evade the outside pressure like the batsman and focus and concentrate on their studies only which would help them overcome the pressure.

    Challenge Yourself

    Asking the students to be well prepared and keep challenging themselves every time, the Prime Minister remarked that many people do not fight their own battles against themselves. He remarked on the importance of self-reflection, urging individuals to frequently ask themselves what they can become, achieve, and what actions will bring them satisfaction. He highlighted that one’s focus should not be swayed by daily external influences like newspapers or TV, but rather should be steadily cultivated over time. The Prime Minister pointed out that many people often let their minds wander without direction. He advised them not to be frivolous in their decisions and make up their mind to find stillness on something which will help them to tackle the challenges.

    The Art of Leadership

    On being asked by a student to share tips on effective leadership, Shri Modi said that outer appearance does not define a leader but a leader is one who leads by setting an example for others. To achieve this, he said that individuals must change themselves, and their behavior should reflect this change. “Leadership is not imposed, but accepted by those around you”, said the Prime Minister. He remarked that preaching to others will not earn acceptance; it is one’s behavior that is accepted. He cited an example, noting that if one gives a speech on cleanliness but does not practice it, they cannot be a leader. Shri Modi emphasised that teamwork and patience are essential for leadership. He underlined that when delegating tasks, it is important to understand the challenges faced by the team members and helping them through difficulties will build their confidence and trust in leadership. The Prime Minister illustrated this by sharing a childhood story about a child holding a parent’s hand at a fair. The child preferred the parent to hold their hand, ensuring a sense of security and trust. This trust is a significant strength in leadership, he emphasised.

    Beyond Books – 360º Growth

    On the topic of balancing hobbies with studies, while the general belief is that academics is the only path to success, the Prime Minister stated that students are not robots and emphasized the importance of holistic development. He noted that education is not solely for advancing to the next class but for comprehensive personal growth. Reflecting on the past, he highlighted how the lessons from early schooling like gardening might have seemed irrelevant, but they contribute to overall development. The Prime Minister urged parents and teachers not to confine children to a rigid academic environment, as this stunts their growth. He added that Children need an open environment and activities they enjoy, which in turn enhances their studies. He emphasized that exams are not everything in life, and told students that adopting this mindset will help convince families and teachers. The Prime Minister also clarified that he is not advocating against reading books; rather, he emphasized the importance of acquiring as much knowledge as possible. He remarked that exams are not everything and that knowledge and exams are two different things.

    Finding Positives

    The Prime Minister remarked that people often question advice given to them, wondering why it was said and if it reflects a flaw in them. This mentality hinders one’s ability to help others. Instead, he advised identifying the good qualities in others, such as singing well or dressing neatly, and discussing these positive traits. This approach shows genuine interest and builds rapport. He further suggested offering assistance by inviting others to study together. The Prime Minister also highlighted the importance of developing the habit of writing. He noted that those who develop the habit of writing would capture their thoughts effectively.

    Find your Uniqueness

     

    Recounting an incident in Ahmedabad where a child was about to be expelled from school for lack of attention, the Prime Minister said however, the child excelled in a tinkering lab and won a robotics competition, showcasing unique strengths. The Prime Minister emphasized that it is the teacher’s role to recognize and nurture unique talents and strengths of children. Shri Modi proposed an experiment for self-reflection and understanding relationships. He suggested recalling 25-30 childhood friends and writing their full names, including their parents’ names. This exercise often reveals how little we know about those we consider close friends. The Prime Minister encouraged identifying positive traits in people and cultivating the habit of finding positivity in others. This practice, he noted, would be beneficial for personal growth.

    Master your time, Master your life

    On being asked by a student about time management, Shri Modi pointed out that everyone has 24 hours in a day, yet some people accomplish a lot while others feel nothing is achieved. He highlighted the importance of time management, noting that many lack an understanding of how to utilize their time effectively. The Prime Minister advised being mindful of time, setting specific tasks, and reviewing progress daily. He also emphasized the importance of focusing on subjects that are challenging rather than avoiding them. He cited an example of how to take up the subject which one feels difficult first and tackle it head on. By taking on these challenges with determination, individuals can overcome obstacles and achieve success. Addressing the issue of distractions caused by various ideas, possibilities, and questions during exam time, the Prime Minister remarked that students often do not truly know themselves and engage in conversations with friends, making excuses for not studying. He noted that common excuses include being too tired or not in the mood. The Prime Minister highlighted that such distractions, including those from phones, hinder focus and academic performance.

    Live in the moment

    The Prime Minister emphasized that the most valuable thing is the present moment. Once it passes, it is gone, but if lived fully, it becomes a part of life. He highlighted the importance of being mindful and appreciating the moment, such as noticing a gentle breeze.

    The Power of Sharing

    On the topic of Coping with anxiety and depression while managing their studies, Shri Modi said the issue of depression often starts with feeling disconnected from family and gradually withdrawing from social interactions. He emphasized the importance of expressing inner dilemmas openly to prevent them from escalating. The Prime Minister highlighted the traditional family structure, where open communication with family members acted as a pressure release valve, preventing emotional build-up. He reflected on how his teachers worked hard to improve his handwriting, which deeply touched him and emphasized the impact of genuine care from educators. The Prime Minister noted that this care and attention can greatly influence a student’s well-being and academic performance.

    Follow your interests

    Shri Modi addressed parental pressure on children to choose certain careers. He remarked that parents’ expectations often stem from comparing their children to others, which can hurt their ego and social status. He advised parents not to showcase their children as models everywhere, but to love and accept their strengths. He cited the previous example of a child who excelled in robotics after being on the verge of expulsion from school, illustrating that every child has unique talents. He also cited the example of cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. The Prime Minister encouraged parents to recognize and nurture their children’s strengths, even if they are not academically inclined. He emphasized the importance of skill development and mentioned that he would have chosen the Skill Development Department if he were not the Prime Minister. By focusing on their children’s abilities, parents can reduce the pressure and help them thrive.

    Pause, Reflect, Reset

    The Prime Minister illustrated how focusing on identifying different sounds can help in concentrating. He shared that practicing breathing exercises, such as Pranayama, can generate a different kind of energy, helping to manage anxiety. The Prime Minister provided a technique to balance breathing through both nostrils, which can bring the body under control in seconds. He mentioned how learning about meditation and breath control can alleviate stress and help maintain focus.

    Realising your potential, Achieving targets

    Addressing the concern of staying positive and finding happiness in small victories, Shri Modi highlighted that sometimes people become negative due to their own thoughts or the influence of others. Interacting with a student who aimed for 95% in the 10th grade but achieved 93%, which led to disappointment, the Prime Minister considered this a success and congratulated the student for setting a higher target. He emphasized that targets should be ambitious yet realistic. Shri Modi encouraged viewing achievements from a positive perspective, understanding one’s strengths, and appreciating the effort put into reaching close to the target.

    Every Child is Unique

    On the topic of maintaining good health during exams, the Prime Minister remarked that the primary issue lies less with students and more with their families. He highlighted that many parents pressure their children to pursue specific careers, like engineering or medicine, despite the child’s interests in fields like art. This constant pressure leads to a life of stress for the child. He urged parents to understand and recognize their children’s abilities and interests, monitor their progress, and provide support. For instance, if a child shows interest in sports, parents should encourage and motivate them by taking them to watch sports events. The Prime Minister also addressed teachers, urging them to avoid creating an environment where only top-performing students receive attention while others are neglected. He emphasized the importance of not comparing students and encouraging each child’s unique abilities. He reminded the students to strive for improvement and perform well, but also recognize that academics is not everything in life.

    Self – Motivation

    On the topic of self- motivation, the Prime Minister advised never to isolate oneself and emphasized the importance of sharing thoughts and seeking motivation from family or seniors. He suggested challenging oneself with small goals, such as cycling 10 kilometers, to build confidence and enjoy the sense of accomplishment. Shri Modi highlighted that these small experiments with oneself help overcome personal limitations and live in the present, allowing the past to remain in the past. The Prime Minister stated that he finds motivation from the people – 140 crore Indians. He shared that while he authored “Pariksha Pe Charcha,” individuals like Ajay in their villages are transforming it into their poetry. This makes him feel that he should continue such work, as there are many sources of motivation around us. On being asked about Internalising things, Shri Modi advised that merely contemplating advice, such as waking up early, is not enough without implementation. He emphasized the importance of applying learned principles practically and refining oneself through personal experimentation. The Prime Minister illustrated that by making oneself a laboratory and testing these principles, one can truly assimilate and benefit from them. Shri Modi highlighted that most people compete with others rather than themselves, often comparing themselves to those who may be less capable, which leads to disappointment. He emphasized that self-competition builds unwavering confidence, whereas comparing oneself to others can cause discouragement.

    Failure as fuel

    On the topic of how to overcome failure, Shri Modi remarked that even if 30-40% of students fail in their 10th or 12th grades, life does not come to an end. He emphasized the importance of deciding whether to succeed in life or only in academics. He advised making failures one’s teacher, using cricket as an example where players review their mistakes and strive for improvement. The Prime Minister urged viewing life holistically, not just through the lens of exams. He highlighted that differently-abled individuals often possess extraordinary strengths and that everyone has unique capabilities. He stressed the importance of working on these strengths rather than focusing solely on academic achievements. He stated that in the long run, it is one’s life and abilities that speak for success, not just academic marks.

    Mastering Tech

    Emphasising that we are all fortunate, and especially so in an era where technology is widespread and impactful, the Prime Minister remarked that there is no need to shy away from technology, but instead, individuals should determine whether they spend their time on non-productive activities or delve deeper into their interests. By doing so, technology will become a strength rather than a destructive force. Shri Modi highlighted that researchers and innovators develop technology for the betterment of society. He urged people to understand and optimally utilize technology.

    On being asked how to give one’s best in any task, Shri Modi emphasized the importance of continuous improvement, stating that the first condition for doing one’s best is to strive to be better than yesterday.

    How to Convince Your parents?

    Addressing the dilemma of choosing between following family advice or personal interests, Shri Modi remarked that it’s important to acknowledge family suggestions and then persuade them by asking how to proceed with their advice and seeking their assistance. By showing genuine interest and discussing alternative options respectfully, families may gradually understand and support one’s aspirations.

    Dealing with Exam Pressure

    Discussing the common issue of students not finishing their exam papers on time, leading to stress and pressure, the Prime Minister advised thorough practice with previous exam papers to learn how to write concise answers and manage time effectively. He highlighted the importance of focusing on questions that require more effort and not spending too much time on questions that are difficult or unfamiliar. He emphasized that regular practice helps in better time management during exams.

    Caring for Nature

    The Prime Minister addressed climate change and commended the young generation for their concern about it. He noted that much of the development in the world has led to a culture of exploitation, where people prioritize personal gain over environmental protection. Shri Modi mentioned Mission LIFE (Lifestyle for Environment), which promotes a lifestyle that protects and nurtures nature. He shared cultural practices in India, such as apologizing to Mother Earth and worshipping trees and rivers, which demonstrate respect for nature. He also highlighted the campaign “Ek Ped Maa ke Naam,” encouraging people to plant trees in memory of their mothers. This initiative fosters a sense of attachment and ownership, leading to the protection of nature.

    Growing your own Green Paradise

    Shri Modi encouraged the students to plant their own trees and suggested practical tips for watering them. He advised placing a clay pot filled with water next to the tree and refilling it once a month. This method helps the tree grow quickly with minimal water usage. The Prime Minister congratulated everyone and expressed his gratitude for their participation.

     

     

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Education meets Gaming at Create in India Challenge Season-1 at WAVES 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Education meets Gaming at Create in India Challenge Season-1 at WAVES 2025

    Know Your City well? Come and Play City Quest: Shades of Bharat and get recognised at WAVES 2025 for your knowledge of Indian cities, their achievements and challenges

    Compete & learn with city-specific cards promoting SDG awareness & regional pride; Explore strengths of 56 Indian cities & overall sustainability performance on a global scale

    Innovative Gaming meets Sustainable Development: City Quest-Shades of Bharat highlighted the SDG action at IIT Bombay’s E-Summit 2025, driving youth engagement

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 3:17PM by PIB Delhi

    If you have in-depth knowledge of your city’s progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), here’s your chance to be recognized on a national stage. World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit (WAVES) 2025 offers a unique opportunity for individuals who understand their city’s sustainability efforts, challenges, and achievements.

    ‘City Quest: Shades of Bharat‘,  an innovative educational game, is a key component of the ongoing Create in India Challenge under WAVES 2025. This engaging game is designed to educate and inspire the youth by gamifying the metrics of urban development through the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It explores the strengths and challenges of 56 cities across the country while reliving the joy of the childhood trump card game.

    This platform will provide a space to highlight cities making significant strides toward a sustainable future. Stand out as a champion of urban sustainability and get the opportunity to showcase your knowledge about the city’s SDG journey, with winners to be felicitated at WAVES 2025 in Mumbai from May 1-4, 2025.

    About the Game

    City Quest game engages in a single-player format where players compete against a computer opponent using a deck of city cards. Each card features six parameters, allowing players to compare cities based on various statistics, such as the Hunger Index, Good Health and Well-being, and Gender Equality. It tracks 15 SDGs and uses the top 6 SDGs across 56 cities using NITI Aayog’s Urban Index (2021).

    Through interactive gameplay, it educates players on the developmental challenges and achievements of 56 Indian cities, emphasizing the impact of sustainable practices.

    As players explore each city’s attributes through City Quest, they also gain insights into how individual and collective actions can significantly impact India’s overall sustainability performance on a global scale

    CityQuest game is open to participation by all individuals across all age groups offering a dive into a nostalgic card game experience with a fresh twist and an opportunity to learn more about Bharat’s vibrant cities. The game features both national and city-specific leaderboards, fostering healthy competition among players and encouraging participation from various regions. Players can sign up for their home city, creating a sense of community and local pride.

    City Quest: Igniting Minds at IIT Bombay’s E-Summit 2025

    ‘City Quest: Shades of Bharat’, an Edu-game that compares 56 Indian cities on Sustainable Development Goals was showcased at the recently concluded E-Summit 2025, the annual flagship event of E-Cell IIT Bombay last week. The event had unmatched energy, enthusiastic minds, endless excitement, and a buzzing crowd of over 30,000 students over two days.

    At IIT Bombay’s E-Summit 2025, E Gaming Federation (EGF), which is driving City Quest in collaboration with the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, steered key discussions on gaming, startups, and emerging tech. Their sessions illuminated the significant role that the gaming industry and innovative technologies play in modern entrepreneurship.

    Key headliners at the Summit included Nandan Nilekani, Anupam Mittal, and Sonam Wangchuk. City Quest caught the attention of IITB students and visitors, generating buzz around the upcoming World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit 2025, as well as the Create in India Season 1 Challenges.

    SDG engagement through Interactive Storytelling at IIT Bombay

    City Quest offered an immersive experience to students via interactive storytelling about Indian cities and the importance of active participation by Indian citizens through daily actions in significantly boosting India’s performance on SDG global rankings.

    Exciting competitions were also organized amongst students as brand ambassadors of their hometowns competing with each other through City Quest trump cards. Select winners were awarded a special edition of City Quest decks every hour of the day.

    Highlights of City Quest: Shades of Bharat:

    • Innovative Gameplay: Players participate in friendly competitions, using strategic thinking to assess how cities contribute to achieving the SDGs, fostering a sense of community and civic pride.
    • Bridging Gaps: City Quest exemplifies how gamification can effectively bridge policy and public participation, offering an engaging method to educate and motivate India’s youth towards sustainable development.

    WAVES 2025

    Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting Railways, Electronics and IT, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, has announced the dates and venue for the upcoming World Audio Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025). This landmark event, set to position India as a global leader in the creative industries, will be held in Mumbai from 1st May 2025 to 4th May 2025.

    The announcement follows a fruitful meeting of the Advisory Board of WAVES with Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi, reflecting the nation’s ambition to become the creative powerhouse of the world. This summit will bring together the world’s top media CEOs, biggest entertainment icons, and creative minds from across the globe—unifying entertainment, creativity, and culture like never before.

    The game is currently available for free on Android devices via Google Play, providing an accessible platform for players nationwide to engage with important social issues while contributing to a collective understanding of urban growth and sustainability.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Parliament Question: Schemes to Address Climate Change

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 3:11PM by PIB Delhi

    The Government stands committed to address the problems pertaining to the environment and climate change. The Government has notified a set of legislative and regulatory and administrative measures, aimed at the preservation, conservation and protection of the environment and prevention, control and abatement of pollution.

    The Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC) has been designated as the nodal ministry in the Union Government to oversee the implementation of India’s environmental and forest policies and programmes including climate change. The Ministry has launched various schemes, aimed at the preservation, conservation and protection of the environment, forests and prevention, control and abatement of pollution.

    These schemes are at various stages of their implementation and include umbrella schemes on environmental knowledge and capacity building; national coastal management programme; environment education, awareness, research and skill development; control of pollution; national mission for a green India, integrated development of wildlife habitat; conservation of natural resources and ecosystem, the impact of some of which is given below:  

    The National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) launched in 2019 covers 130 cities in 24 States and UTs with an objective to achieve substantial improvement in air quality, up to 40% reduction in particulate matter by 2025-26 from 2017-18. A ‘PRANA’ portal has been launched to update the air quality data in real time.

    A regulatory framework for Circular Economy in various waste streams has been notified. The producers have been mandated to get the end-of-life wastes recycled under extended producer responsibility regime. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) rules have been notified for plastic waste, tyre waste, battery waste, used oil waste and e-waste with the objective to enhance the circularity in economy and also help manage the wastes in environmentally sound manner.

    The ‘Mangrove Initiative for Shoreline Habitats & Tangible Incomes (MISHTI)’ has been launched on 5th June, 2024 to restore and promote mangroves as a unique, natural eco-system and for preserving and enhancing the sustainability of the coastal habitats. The objective of the MISHTI is to ‘restore mangrove forests’ by undertaking mangrove reforestation/afforestation measures along the coast of India. Approximately 22,561 Hectares of Degraded Mangroves have been restored in 13 States/UTs and ₹17.96 Crore released for the restoration of 3,836 Hectares in 6 States/UTs

    The National Afforestation and Eco-development Board (NAEB) is implementing Nagar Van Yojana which envisages developing 600 Nagar Vans and 400 Nagar Vatikas in the country during the period from 2020-21 to 2026-27 with an objective to significantly enhance the trees outside forests and green cover, enhancement of biodiversity and ecological benefits to the urban and peri-urban areas apart from improving quality of life of city dwellers.

    The Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) is a global initiative launched by India in October, 2022 aimed at fostering sustainable lifestyles through mindful and deliberate consumption to protect the environment. The initiative focuses on seven core themes: saving water, conserving energy, reducing waste, managing e-waste, eliminating single-use plastics, promoting sustainable food systems, and adopting healthy lifestyles.

    In alignment with the ‘LiFE’, MoEFCC has notified the Eco-mark Rules on 26th September, 2024. The scheme will encourage the demand for environment-friendly products aligning with the principles of ‘LiFE’, promote lower energy consumption, resource efficiency and circular economy. The scheme seeks to ensure accurate labelling and prevent misleading information about products.

    On ‘World Environment Day’ celebrated on 5th June, 2024, the Hon’ble Prime Minister launched the campaign ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam (# Plant4Mother)’, exhorting people to plant trees as a mark of love and respect for one’s own Mother and for protecting and preserving the Mother Earth. MoEFCC has reached out to Central Government Ministries/Departments, State Governments, Institutions and Organizations to ensure the plantation of 140 crore trees by March, 2025. 109 crore saplings have been planted by January 2025.

    The number of Protected Areas in the country, which stood at 745 in the year 2014 have risen to 1022. This accounts for 5.43% of the country’s total geographic area. There has been a substantial increase in establishment of Community Reserves. The numbers of Community Reserves in the country has increased from 43 in the year 2014 to 220 as on date.

    Apart from the protected areas, the country also has 57 Tiger Reserves notified under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 with the prime focus of conservation of tigers and its habitat. States have also declared 33 elephant reserves for providing safer habitats to the elephants.

    Since 2014, 59 wetlands have been added to the list of ‘Ramsar’ sites, taking the tally to 89 in the country covering an area of 1.35 million ha. India boasts the largest ‘Ramsar’ site network in Asia and the 3rd largest in the world in terms of number of sites. Besides, Udaipur and Indore have been recently included in the list of Wetland Accredited Cities under the Wetland City Accreditation Scheme implemented under the Ramsar Convention.

    As per All India Tiger Estimation 2022 report, the estimated tiger population in India is 3,682, which accounts for 70% of wild tiger population of the World. The area under the tiger reserve network is now 82,836.45 sq km, which is roughly 2.5% of the total geographical area of the country.

    India’s climate action is guided by its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) and the long-term strategy to reach net-zero by 2070 and it cuts across various sectors of the economy. The National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) provides the overarching framework for all climate actions and comprises missions in specific areas of solar energy, enhanced energy efficiency, sustainable habitat, water, sustaining Himalayan ecosystems, Green India, sustainable agriculture, human health and strategic knowledge for climate change. All these Missions are institutionalized and implemented by their respective Nodal Ministries/Departments. The MoEFCC has implemented the Central Sector Schemes namely, Climate Change Action Programme (CCAP) and the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC) assisting in efforts of the Government to combat climate change.

    As a result of these interventions, India has progressively continued decoupling economic growth from GHG emissions. Between 2005 and 2020, India’s emission intensity of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reduced by 36%. By October 2024, the share of non-fossil sources in the installed electricity generation capacity was 46.52%. The total installed capacity of renewable power, including large hydropower, is 203.22 GW, and cumulative renewable power installed capacity (excluding large hydro projects) has increased 4.5 times from 35 GW in March 2014 to 156.25 GW. India’s forest and tree cover has consistently increased and currently stands at 25.17% of the total geographical area of the country. From 2005 to 2021, an additional carbon sink of 2.29 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent has been created.

    Despite India’s very low contribution to historical emissions and to the current levels of global emissions, India has taken several climate actions to reflect equity and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in the light of different national circumstances and in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty, as enshrined in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its Paris Agreement.

    This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE, SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Hong Kong Customs detects one dangerous drugs internal concealment case involving passengers at airport (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Hong Kong Customs detects one dangerous drugs internal concealment case involving passengers at airport (with photo)
    Hong Kong Customs detects one dangerous drugs internal concealment case involving passengers at airport (with photo)
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         Hong Kong Customs on February 8 detected one dangerous drugs internal concealment case involving two incoming passengers at Hong Kong International Airport and seized a total of about 890 grams of suspected cocaine with an estimated market value of about $720,000.     Customs officers on that day intercepted a male passenger and a female passenger, both aged 32, arriving in Hong Kong from Budapest, Hungary, via Paris, France, and Zurich, Switzerland. During Customs clearance, Customs officers suspected that the passengers had dangerous drugs concealed inside their body cavities. They were then escorted to the hospital for examination. Upon examination, doctors confirmed that foreign objects were concealed inside their body cavities, and they were arrested immediately. As at 4pm today (February 10), the arrested persons have discharged a total of 85 pellets of suspected cocaine weighing about 890g in total.     The arrested persons have been charged with one count of trafficking in a dangerous drug respectively. The case will be brought up at the West Kowloon Magistrates’ Courts tomorrow (February 11).     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).

     
    Ends/Monday, February 10, 2025Issued at HKT 17:35

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Indian Delegation under the leadership of Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Savitri Thakur to participate in the 63rd session of the Commission for Social Development 2025 in New York, USA

    Source: Government of India

    Indian Delegation under the leadership of Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Savitri Thakur to participate in the 63rd session of the Commission for Social Development 2025 in New York, USA

    Smt. Thakur will present India’s statement at the Ministerial Forum on the Priority Theme: “Strengthening Solidarity and Social Cohesion” tomorrow

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 2:34PM by PIB Delhi

    India will be participating in the 63rd session of the Commission for Social Development (CSoCD), scheduled from 10th to 14th February, 2025, under the leadership of Smt. Savitri Thakur, Minister of State for the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India (GoI). The CSoCD session aims to foster discussions and partnerships on critical social development issues, with a focus on advancing inclusive social policies and promoting social well-being globally.

    During the session, India will actively participate in key deliberations. Smt. Savitri Thakur, MoS will present  India’s statement at the Ministerial Forum on the Priority Theme: “Strengthening Solidarity and Social Cohesion” on Tuesday, 11th February, 2025.

    The Indian delegation will also contribute to the discussions on emerging issues like “Policies to Bolster Social Resilience in the Context of More Frequent and Complex Crises” and also participate in discussions on Universal Rights-Based Social Protection Systems.

    The Indian delegation will highlight policies and initiatives aimed at strengthening social resilience at the meeting.

    The discussions during this Commission for Social Development session are expected to deepen global collaboration in addressing social vulnerabilities and improving resilience in the face of crises. India remains committed to sharing its experiences and learning from global peers to build stronger, more resilient societies.

    *****    

    SS/MS

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Empowering Governance Through Statistical Excellence – 17 Years of Capacity Development and Collaboration

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 2:06PM by PIB Delhi

    The National Statistical Systems Training Academy (NSSTA), formerly known as the National Academy of Statistical Administration (NASA), established on 13th February 2009 under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), will celebrate its 17th Foundation Day on 13th February 2025 at NSSTA, Greater Noida. The event marks 17 years of significant contributions of the NSSTA in capacity building in the field of Official Statistics for promoting evidence-based governance.

    NSSTA is a premier institution entrusted with the responsibility of building statistical capacity of the Central and State/UT Governments officials, as well as International Participants. Through its initiatives, NSSTA contributes significantly to the advancement of data-driven decision-making. The NSSTA also fostering collaborations with national and international institutions to promote global best practices in capacity building.

    The theme for this year’s celebration, “Empowering Governance Through Statistical Excellence – 17 Years of Capacity Development and Collaboration,” underscores NSSTA’s critical role in shaping India’s statisticall and scape while promoting national and international collaboration.

    As India strives towards realizing the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, NSSTA remains a pivotal institution in skill upgradation of statistical personnel for of a robust, transparent, and technologically advanced statistical ecosystem through comprehensive training in traditional and modern statistical methodologies, IT, big data analytics, and communication & dissemination of statistics etc.

    The celebration of foundation day will be graced by distinguished dignitaries, including Prof. Rajeeva Laxman Karandikar, Chairman, National Statistical Commission (NSC); Shri Adil Zainulbhai, Chairman, Capacity Building Commission (CBC); Dr. Saurabh Garg, IAS, Secretary, MoSPI; Shri Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator in India and other senior officers etc.

    The event will cover the inaugural as well as technical sessions, which mainly focus on the evolution of the National Statistical Systems & the academy’s role in strengthening the systems,Insights on India’s Statistical Strategy & future priorities and global perspectives on capacity building in official statistics & potential collaboration with NSSTA. The event will also highlight the NSSTA contributions and its critical role in fostering data-driven governance. Sessions will also emphasis the Academy’s journey, key achievements and future plans for advancing statistical capacity building in emerging areas.

    The event will be live streamed and it will bring together more than 500 participants which include distinguished group of stakeholders, policymakers, State and Central Government officers and participants from International Organizations.

    This event is not only a celebration of NSSTA`s foundation day but also an event to remember its contribution to Indian Statistical Systems through continued capacity building.

    ****

    Manish/Rameswar/Dheeraj : pibmospi[at]gmail[dot]com

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 2024/25 Household Expenditure Survey in progress

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    2024/25 Household Expenditure Survey in progress
    2024/25 Household Expenditure Survey in progress
    ************************************************

         The Census and Statistics Department (C&SD) conducts a Household Expenditure Survey (HES) once every five years to collect up-to-date information on the expenditure patterns of households in Hong Kong. This information is an important input for updating the expenditure weights of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). A new round of the 2024/25 HES, which began in mid-September last year, is currently in progress.      With the introduction of new products in the market and changes in people’s living habits, the types of goods and services that people purchase nowadays may differ significantly from those bought a few years ago. The C&SD conducts an HES once every five years to update the items included in the CPIs and their corresponding expenditure shares.      The HES is conducted for a whole year to take into account seasonal variations in household expenditure patterns throughout the year. For instance, Chinese households tend to spend more during the Chinese New Year compared to the rest of the year.      The C&SD expresses gratitude to those households who have participated in the survey and appeals for the support of all households selected for the remaining survey period. The detailed information provided by participating households is crucial for the compilation of the CPIs.      About three weeks before the commencement of each survey cycle, notification letters will be sent to the sampled living quarters to invite the households therein to participate in the survey. Census officers, whose names are shown on the notification letters, will then call on households in the sampled living quarters about one to two weeks after despatch of the letters to explain the purposes and data requirements of the survey. Each census officer will carry a Government Identity Card / Enumerator Identity Card and a Certificate of Identity issued by the C&SD authorising him/her to conduct the survey for inspection. Householders should check carefully the identity of the census officer before admitting him/her to their premises for interviews.      The major results of the 2024/25 HES are expected to be released in mid-2026.      For enquiries about the 2024/25 HES, please contact the Household Expenditure Survey Section of the C&SD at telephone number 2551 6500 or email address hesurvey@censtatd.gov.hk.

     
    Ends/Monday, February 10, 2025Issued at HKT 16:30

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: NHRC, India in collaboration with the Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur organised a National conference on combating human trafficking in the digital era

    Source: Government of India (2)

    NHRC, India in collaboration with the Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur organised a National conference on combating human trafficking in the digital era

    In his inaugural address, NHRC, India Chairperson, Justice Shri V Ramasubramanian emphasised the need for building awareness among people about the pitfalls while engaging with digital spaces to ensure their safety

    Highlighted strengthening of the regulatory and institutional frameworks as well as technological solutions to check effectively the misuse of digital space

    Among various suggestions, the conference stressed on amending the ITP Act to provide clearer distinctions between child and adult trafficking with specific provisions to include cyber trafficking within its scope

    Formal linkage between the ITPA and the IT Act also stressed filling existing legal gaps and addressing trafficking in the digital realm

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 1:13PM by PIB Delhi

    Justice Shri V Ramasubramanian, Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India inaugurated a day-long National Conference on ‘Combating human trafficking in the digital era’ organised on 7th Februray, 2025 by the Commission in collaboration with the Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur, Chhattisgarh. With digital technologies increasingly being exploited for human trafficking, this conference examined the role of the internet, social media, cryptocurrency, and various online tools in facilitating trafficking crimes and the role of technology, law enforcement agencies, and the community in preventing them.

     

    Addressing virtually, the experts, law enforcement officials, academicians, and activists gathered to deliberate upon the growing menace of cyber-enabled trafficking, Justice Ramasubramanian highlighted various forms of digital trafficking such as sexual exploitation, labour exploitation, organ trafficking, and forced marriage. He also highlighted “Active Recruitment,” known as Hook Fishing, and “Passive Recruitment,” known as Net Fishing using digital technology to lure in gullible people.

     

    The NHRC, India Chairperson emphasised the need for building awareness among people about the pitfalls while engaging with digital spaces to ensure their safety besides strengthening the regulatory and institutional frameworks as well as technological solutions to check effectively the misuse of digital space.

    The conference was divided into two thematic sessions. The first session focused on the role of the Internet in facilitating human trafficking and migrant smuggling: A legal, administrative, and regulatory perspective’. It was chaired by Smt Bhamathi Balasubramanian, IAS (Retd.), co-chaired by Dr Sanjeev Shukla, Inspector General of Police, Bilaspur. Other resource persons included Dr K.V.K. Santhy, Professor of Law, NALSAR Hyderabad; Shri Kirtan Rathore, Additional SP, Raipur; and Smt Pratibha Tiwari, Additional SP, Mahasamund.

    The session provided a comprehensive discussion on the various factors contributing to human trafficking, with a strong emphasis on its gendered dimensions and the growing role of digital anonymity in facilitating such crimes. A significant portion of the discussion focused on the issue of migrant smuggling in different parts of India, particularly examining recruitment strategies, coordination networks, and the smuggling of victims.

    Experts highlighted trafficking cases from Chhattisgarh, shedding light on the persistent problem of non-reporting and the critical role played by Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) in addressing these challenges. The session also explored the regulatory mechanisms in place to combat trafficking, emphasizing the need for capacity building and the development of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) tailored to the digital era. Additionally, the speakers underscored the role of the internet, artificial intelligence, and digital forensics in tracking and preventing trafficking cases, particularly those involving social media and missing children.

    The second session was focused on the theme “Preventive Strategies against Human Trafficking: Role of Technology, Law Enforcement Agencies, Victim Support, and Community Engagement.” It was chaired by Dr Manish Mishra, Joint Director, Chhattisgarh Human Rights Commission, and co-chaired by Dr Purushotam Chandrakar, Member, Child Welfare Committee (Raipur). The panellists also included Ms Pallabi Ghosh, Founder & Director, Impact and Dialogue Foundation (Kolkata); Ms Chetna Desai; Shri Ritesh Kumar, Child Protection Officer, UNICEF, Chhattisgarh; and Prof. (Dr) Vishnu Konoorayar, Professor of Law, HNLU.

     

    Shri Joginder Singh, Registrar (Law), NHRC, India in his concluding remarks said that combating human trafficking is a global effort requiring collaboration between governments, NGOs, technology companies, and individuals.

    The conference brought forward several key suggestions to address the growing challenge of human trafficking some of which are as follows:

    • Amend The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITPA) to provide clearer distinctions between child and adult trafficking, with specific provisions to include cyber trafficking within its scope;
    • Formal linkage is needed between the ITPA and the IT Act to fill existing legal gaps and address trafficking in the digital realm;

    • Increase awareness regarding self-reporting portals such as the Centralized Complaint and Prevention of Women and Children (CCPWC), which could serve as an effective tool for public participation in reporting trafficking cases;

    • Equip and train Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) to combat trafficking in the digital era;
    • Authentic data on human trafficking needs to be systematically collected across different categories to better inform policies and interventions;

    • There is a need for community engagement as a critical component in combating trafficking in all its forms by encouraging local communities to take an active role in preventing and reporting such crimes.

     

    ****

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Boosting Food Processing & Storage Infrastructure in India

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 1:02PM by PIB Delhi

    Pradhan Mantri Kisan SAMPADA Yojana (PMKSY) was envisaged as a comprehensive package which will result in creation of modern infrastructure with efficient supply chain management from farm gate to retail outlet. It will not only provide a big boost to the growth of food processing sector in the country but also improve the capacity of food processing units which help in providing better returns to farmers and creating employment opportunities especially in the rural areas, reducing wastage of agricultural produce, increasing the processing level and enhancing the export of the processed foods.

    However, standalone cold storages are not supported under PMKSY. The state-wise number of storages approved for captive use under PMKSY since inception in 2017 are at Annexue-1. Further, under the Scheme for Integrated Cold Chain & Value Addition Infrastructure a sub-scheme of PMKSY, 06 projects are approved in the state of Telangana in the last five years. The details district –wise are at Annexure-2.

    As informed by Food Corporation of India, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, in order to upgrade and modernize the storage facilities, Government of India approved Action Plan for construction of steel silos on PPP (Public Private Partnership) mode in the country.  Under this plan, Silos with capacity of 24.25LMT at various locations throughout country are under implementation. Out of which silos with a capacity of 17.75LMT have been completed and remaining 6.5LMT are under various stages of development. In addition to above, silos of 5.5LMT capacity at 7 locations have already been constructed and put to in use in 2007-09 under circuit base model. Further, under phase –I of Hub & Spoke model Silos of 10.125 LMT at 14 locations on FCI owned land awarded and 24.75 LMT at 66 locations on private land have been awarded and are in development stage. As per the data of Food Corporation of India (FCI), the status of Grain Silos construction as on 30.11.2024 is placed at Annexure-3

    MoFPI has been implementing Central Sector Umbrella Scheme – PMKSY since 2016-17 to create post-harvest infrastructure and processing facilities to boost the overall development of the food processing sector including reduction in post-harvest losses. The component schemes under PMKSY provide credit linked financial assistance (capital subsidy) in the form of grants-in-aid to entrepreneurs for setting up of food processing/preservation infrastructure which, inter-alia, includes cold storages and refrigerated vehicles to minimize post-harvest losses.

    As per the Evaluation Study conducted and submitted by NABARD Consultancy Services Pvt. Ltd. (NABCONS) in 2020 on “Impact of Units Implemented under Scheme for Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure assisted by Ministry of Food Processing Industries (MoFPI)”, it was highlighted that due to interventions of the Integrated Cold Chain and Value Addition Infrastructure Scheme of Ministry of Food Processing Industries, while all sectors had shown some decrease in wastages, but Fruits & Vegetables, Dairy and Fisheries sector had shown significant reduction in wastages.

    Apart from MoFPI, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare has also launched the Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) Scheme in July 2020 under the Atmanirbhar Bharat package in order to improve post-harvest infrastructure and create community farming assets. The AIF Scheme facilitates sanction of medium to long term loans by Banks and other lending institutions for the setting up of cold storage facilities, warehouses and processing units, aimed at reducing crop wastage and enhancing value addition.

    This information was provided by the minister of state for food processing industries Shri Ravneet Singh in a written reply to rajysabha.

    *****

     

    ANNEXURE-1

    ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 578 FOR ANSWER ON 07TH FEBRUARY, 2025 REGARDING “STORAGE FACILITIES UNDER PRADHAN MANTRI KISAN SAMPADA YOJNA”

     

    Ministry is implementing Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojna (PMKSY). Under PMKSY standalone Cold storages/ frozen storage/ CA/ MA are not supported. The number of storages approved for captive use under PMKSY since inception in 2017 are as follows:

     

    S.No

    State

    No of Cold storages/ frozen storage/ CA/ MA

    Capacity

    (LMT/Annum)

    1

    Andaman & Nicobar

    2

    0.29

    2

    Andhra Pradesh

    31

    7.88

    3

    Arunachal Pradesh

    1

    0.14

    4

    Assam

    8

    6.97

    5

    Bihar

    1

    7.44

    6

    Chandigarh

    0

    0.0

    7

    Chhattisgarh

    6

    2.61

    8

    Dadar & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu

    0

    0.05

    9

    Delhi

    0

    0.0

    10

    Goa

    0

    0.06

    11

    Gujarat

    35

    20.28

    12

    Haryana

    30

    8.89

    13

    Himachal Pradesh

    28

    4.34

    14

    Jammu & Kashmir

    16

    1.99

    15

    Jharkhand

    0

    0.0

    16

    Karnataka

    35

    12.17

    17

    Kerala

    12

    4

    18

    Ladakh

    0

    0.0

    19

    Lakshadweep

    0

    0.0

    20

    Madhya Pradesh

    17

    8.17

    21

    Maharashtra

    93

    72.71

    22

    Manipur

    5

    0.09

    23

    Meghalaya

    0

    0.12

    24

    Mizoram

    9

    0.58

    25

    Nagaland

    3

    0.35

    26

    Orissa

    8

    2.54

    27

    Puduchery

    0

    0.0

    28

    Punjab

    61

    14.69

    29

    Rajasthan

    29

    7.18

    30

    Sikkim

    0

    0.0

    31

    Tamil Nadu

    59

    10.6

    32

    Telangana

    16

    9.49

    33

    Tripura

    1

    1.11

    34

    Uttar Pradesh

    38

    16.92

    35

    Uttarakhand

    64

    11.61

    36

    West Bengal

    35

    8.06

     

    TOTAL

    643

    241.33

     

    ANNEXURE-2

    ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 578 FOR ANSWER ON 07TH FEBRUARY, 2025 REGARDING “STORAGE FACILITIES UNDER PRADHAN MANTRI KISAN SAMPADA YOJNA”

     

     

    Details of sanctioned projects in the state of Telangana under the scheme of Integrated Cold Chain & Value Addition Infrastructure, a component of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojna (PMKSY) in the last five years  (as on 31.12.2024)

     

    Sr.No.

    Project

    Sector

    District

    State

    Total project cost
     (₹ in crore)

    Approved grant   (₹ in crore)

    Amount of grant released          (₹ in crore)

    Status

    1

    Sri Krupa RGR Agrogatros

    F&V

    Nalgonda

    Telangana

    36.22

    9.36

    2.22

    Under Implementation

    2

    VNR Dairy Products

    Dairy

    Nalagonda

    Telangana

    26.20

    6.84

    4.56

    Under Implementation

    3

    Dadus

    Dairy

    Malkajgiri

    Telangana

    77.31

    7.35

    2.45

    Under Implementation

    4

    Almond House Private Limited

    Dairy

    Hyderabad

    Telangana

    56.81

    7.62

    2.54

    Under Implementation

    5

    Manjeera Dairy Products

    Dairy

    Sangareddy

    Telangana

    22.71

    6.51

    0

    Under Implementation

    6

    AL QAWI Frozen Foods Pvt Ltd

    Meat

    Sangareddy

    Telangana

    32.71

    8.68

    0

    Under Implementation

     

    TOTAL

     

     

     

    251.96

    46.36

    11.77

     

     

    ANNEXURE-3

     

    ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF RAJYA SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 578 FOR ANSWER ON 07TH FEBRUARY, 2025 REGARDING “STORAGE FACILITIES UNDER PRADHAN MANTRI KISAN SAMPADA YOJNA”

                                                 (Position as on 30.11.2024)

     

    STATEMENT SHOWING AGENCY-WISE STATE-WISE STATUS OF SILO CONSTRUCTION

    (Fig. In LMT)

     

    Agency

     

    State

    Target as per Action Plan

     

    Completed

    Under Construction

     

    Grand Total

     

     

     

     

     

     

    FCI

    Assam

    0.5

    0.5

    0

    0.5

    Bihar

    4.5

    1.5

    2.0

    3.5

    Chattisgarh

    1

    0

    0

    0

    Delhi

    1

    0

    0

    0

    Gujarat

    1

    1.50

    0

    1.5

    Karnataka

    0.25

    0

    0

    0

    Haryana

    3

    2.50

    0

    2.5

    Maharashtra

    1

    0

    0

    0

    Punjab

    4.25

    3.75

    0

    3.75

    Rajasthan

    1.5

    0

    0

    0

    Uttar Pradesh

    7

    1.50

    2.0

    3.5

    West Bengal

    4

    0

    1.0

    1

    Total

     

    29

    11.25

    5.00

    16.25

    CWC

    Punjab

    2.5

    0

    0

    0

     

     

     

     

     

     

    State Govt.

    Andhra Pradesh

    3.5

    0

    0

    0

    Bihar

    5

    0

    0

    0

    Gujrat

    2

    0

    0

    0

    Haryana

    6.5

    0

    0

    0

    Madhya

    Pradesh

    10

    4.5

    0

    4.5

    Maharashtra

    0.5

    0

    0

    0

    Orrisa

    2

    0

    0

    0

    Punjab

    24.25

    2.0

    0

    2.0

    Rajasthan

    4.75

    0

    0

    0

    Telangana

    1.5

    0

    0

    0

    Uttar Pradesh

    5

    0

    1.5

    1.5

    West Bengal

    3.5

    0

    0

    0

    Total

     

    68.5

    6.50

    1.50

    8.00

    Grand Total

    100

    17.75

    6.50

    24.25

    Note: In addition the silos under process, it has been decided to construct further silos under Hub & Spoke model.

     

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Sydney ETO showcases Hong Kong’s vibrancy in Sydney Lunar New Year Dragon Boat Festival (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Sydney ETO showcases Hong Kong’s vibrancy in Sydney Lunar New Year Dragon Boat Festival (with photos)
    Sydney ETO showcases Hong Kong’s vibrancy in Sydney Lunar New Year Dragon Boat Festival (with photos)
    ******************************************************************************************

         ​The Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office, Sydney (Sydney ETO) showcased Hong Kong’s vibrancy at the Sydney Lunar New Year Dragon Boat Festival held in Sydney, Australia, from February 7 to 9.     Over 2 000 paddlers churned up the waters in various races during the three-day event in Darling Harbour. The Sydney ETO organised the Hong Kong team to compete in the Corporate Category of the races and won the second place in the Government Industry Challenge on February 7. Four of the races this year were named the “Hong Kong Talent Cup”, the “Hong Kong Innovation Cup”, the “Hong Kong Future Cup” and the “HKETO Government Industry Challenge”, with medals presented by the Director of the Sydney ETO, Mr Ricky Chong, who also attended the opening ceremony of the Festival on February 8.     The Sydney ETO set up a marquee during the Dragon Boat Festival to promote the latest developments in Hong Kong, in particular the exciting mega events held in the city and various talent attraction initiatives rolled out by the Government. Souvenirs distributed at the marquee for promoting Hong Kong were very well received.     The Sydney Lunar Festival, organised by the City of Sydney, is one of the largest celebrations of the Lunar New Year outside Asia. During the festival held from January 29 to February 16 this year, the celebration features an array of programmes including lion dancing, a lantern display, cultural performances as well as jet pack and firework shows.     The Sydney Lunar New Year Dragon Boat Festival, which is the biggest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere, was a highlight of the Sydney Lunar Festival, attracting tens of thousands of spectators.     ​The Sydney ETO also displayed Hong Kong-themed banners with new year greetings in major locations across Sydney during the festive period.

     
    Ends/Monday, February 10, 2025Issued at HKT 15:05

    NNNN

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister’s Departure statement ahead of his visit to France and USA

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 12:00PM by PIB Delhi

    At the invitation of President Macron, I will be visiting France from 10 to 12 February. In Paris, I look forward to co-chairing the AI Action Summit, a gathering of the world leaders and global tech CEOs, where we will exchange views on collaborative approach to AI technology for innovation and larger public good in an inclusive, secure and trustworthy manner.

    The bilateral segment of my visit will provide an opportunity to review the progress on 2047 Horizon Roadmap for India-France strategic partnership along with my friend President Macron. We will also travel to the historic French city of Marseille to inaugurate the first Indian Consulate in France and also visit the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor project, in which India is a member of the consortium of partner countries including France, to harness energy for the global good. I will also pay tribute to the Indian soldiers who laid down their lives during World Wars I and II at the Mazargues War Cemetery.

    From France, I will proceed on a two day visit to the United States at the invitation of President Donald Trump. I look forward to meeting my friend, President Trump. Although this will be our first meeting following his historic electoral victory and inauguration in January, I have a very warm recollection of working together in his first term in building a Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership between India and the US.

    This visit will be an opportunity to build upon the successes of our collaboration in his first term and develop an agenda to further elevate and deepen our partnership, including in the areas of technology, trade, defence, energy, and supply chain resilience. We will work together for the mutual benefit of the people of our two countries and shape a better future for the world.  

    ***

    MJPS/VJ

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Indian Railways working on war footing to make sure that devotees come in & go back smoothly during ongoing Mahakumbh 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Indian Railways working on war footing to make sure that devotees come in & go back smoothly during ongoing Mahakumbh 2025

    All eight stations in Prayagraj area including the Prayagraj Junction are fully functional; Railways run 330 trains on Sunday & 191 trains by today 3 pm to ease the continued rush of pilgrims

    Union Minister of Railways & the Chairman Railway Board review the ongoing rush situation & Railway’s preparedness ahead of next Amrit Snan of Maghi Poornima on 12th January, 2025

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 4:41PM by PIB Delhi

    Despite continued heavy rush, Indian Railways is working on war footing to serve the devotees by bringing them in & taking back their home during the ongoing Mahakumbh. Countering a wrong media report a day before, Union Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the nation through media that about 330 trains from eight different stations in the Prayagraj area carried 12 Lakh 50 thousand passengers back to their homes. Even as rush is not coming down, Indian Railways by running one train each from these stations in just above 4 minutes is making sure that devotees don’t have to wait after their holy bathing.

    Ahead of the next pious Amrut Snan of Maghi Poornima, One rake of these trains is catering to on an average 3780 passengers in a single trip is showing that rush is not coming down. Reviewing the situation at a meeting with zonal & divisional railway officials, Chairman Railway Board & CEO, Shri Satish Kumar asked the officials to bring to the notice of the media all its efforts in serving the people efficiently and at full capacity. He mentioned that Prayagraj Junction along with 7 other stations Prayagraj Chheoki, Naini, Subedarganj, Prayag, Phaphamau, Prayagraj Rambagh, and Jhusi are fully functional. Despite the continued rush, Special and regular trains are running at full capacity from these 8 stations from Prayagraj area. The closure of only one station, Prayagraj Sangam, two days before and two days after any Amrit Snan is a routine practice, Shri Satish Kumar emphasized. Further, this is done on the suggestion of prayagraj district administration and was done all through previous holy baths, the Amrit Snans. There is nothing new in it. He urged the media, Zonal & Divisional offices of public relations of Indian Railway to highlight its massive efforts to help devotees reach the Mahakumbh city, specially in the light of reported traffic snarls in the adjoining areas. The fact remains that by 3 PM today, more than 190 special and regular trains had already departed from the 8 stations including the crucial Prayagraj Junction carrying more than 8 lakh pilgrims.

    Earlier in the day, CRB & CEO Shri Satish Kumar briefed the Union Rail Minister, Shri Ashwani Vaishnaw about the smooth functioning of railways’ services in Prayagraj area in the war room of Rail Bhawan, where CCTV camera footage from all the railway stations were being received. Both reviewed the ongoing situation of rush & discussed preparation of Railways ahead of the next Amrit snan of Maghi Purnima. Later Chairman, Railway Board urged the media and public in general not to fall prey to isolated media reports regarding services being affected at the crucial Prayagraj Junction.  He said that the facts can easily be verified by visiting the 8 Railway stations where the Mela special trains, painted with mahakumbh logo, are running day and night. Running 330 trains on a normal day by Indian Railway is an evidence of its unwavering commitment to the people of India. This number is almost on par with 360 trains that were run on Mauni Amavasya last month,  when the rush was on its historic peak.

    Passengers are advised to refer to official railway sources for the latest updates and to avoid misleading information.

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    Dharmendra Tewari/ Shatrunjay Kumar

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: IEW’ 25 to Witness Unprecedented Global Participation and Innovation

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 4:38PM by PIB Delhi

    “India Energy Week 2025 (IEW’25) is set to be the first major global event on the energy calendar and the most comprehensive and inclusive energy gathering of the year, especially in light of recent global developments that are expected to have a transformative impact on the energy market,” said Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum & Natural Gas, while interacting with the media today. 

    Speaking on the sidelines of IEW’25, which will be held at Yashobhoomi, Dwarka, from February 11 to 14, 2025, Shri Puri highlighted India’s growing stature in the global energy landscape. He stated that IEW’25 is set to be even larger, more diverse, and more impactful than its previous two editions. Covering over 1 lakh square meters, IEW’25 will be the second-largest energy event globally in terms of ministerial and CEO participation, exhibition space, and the number of sessions.

    IEW’25 is set to be a landmark event in the global energy calendar, continuing its rapid growth from previous editions. Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, highlighted key metrics showcasing this expansion: a 65% increase in exhibition space over 2024 (28,000 sqm), 105 conference sessions (15% higher than 2024, 24% higher than 2023), 70,000+ delegates (55% higher than 2024, 89% higher than 2023), 500 speakers (38% higher than 2024, 58% higher than 2023), and 700+ exhibitors (57% higher than 2024, 115% higher than 2023). He touched upon some more key milestones, including a 35% increase in abstracts received as compared to last year (2,702 submissions) and a rise in international speakers at the Strategic Conference from 33% in 2024 to 48% in 2025.

    The Minister said that on the sidelines of IEW’25, the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas will host a Clean Cooking Ministerial, bringing together global policymakers, industry leaders, and experts to accelerate the transition to clean cooking solutions. The event will showcase India’s success with the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) as a model for global adoption. It aims to foster international collaboration, drive policy discussions, and facilitate technology sharing to ensure clean, affordable, and accessible cooking energy for households worldwide.

    Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Shri Puri, underlined the event’s unprecedented scale, with 10 country pavilions (including Canada, Germany, Japan, the USA, and the UK) and 8 thematic zones covering areas such as hydrogen (1951 sqm), biofuels (1164 sqm), and net zero initiatives ( 350 sqm).

    The event will see participation from major Indian energy ministries, including the Ministry of Power, MNRE, NITI Aayog, and the Ministry of Mines, reflecting India’s commitment to integrated energy solutions, the Minister said. The Sustainable Mobility Pavilion, set up by SIAM, will showcase 15 cutting-edge vehicle models from 10 OEMs, under the theme “People-Centric Mobility Ecosystem.”

    Minister Shri Puri encouraged attendees to explore pioneering technologies developed by Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). Key exhibits include ONGC’s deep-sea simulation game, HPCL’s indigenous Solid Oxide Fuel Cell System, BPCL’s LPG cylinder ATM, and CSIR’s e-tractor for sustainable agriculture.

    With its scale, innovation, and global participation, IEW’25 is poised to position India at the forefront of the global energy transition.

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    MONIKA

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Health Minister Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda launches National Mass Drug Administration Round for the elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis across 13 identified LF endemic states

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Union Health Minister Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda launches National Mass Drug Administration Round for the elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis across 13 identified LF endemic states

    Initiative aims to protect millions from this debilitating disease and accelerate India’s fight against Lymphatic Filariasis

    From February 10, medicines will be made available free of cost to over 17.5 crore population across 111 endemic districts: Shri J P Nadda

    Calls for implementation of five-pronged strategy for eliminating Lymphatic Filariasis ahead of the SDG goal of 2030

    Underscores importance of “whole of government” approach in the spirit of Jan Andolan and Jan Bhagidari

    “India has and will continue to remain steadfast in its commitment to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis. Our resolve is to achieve that target by 2027”

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 1:09PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda launched the Annual Nationwide Mass Drug Administration (MDA) Campaign for Lymphatic Filariasis (LF) Elimination through a video conference with State Health Ministers and senior officers of 13 identified LF endemic States, here today. The participants were provided an overview of the campaign, its objectives, the key strategic activities being undertaken, and the critical role of participating states in ensuring high coverage and compliance with the MDA program. The campaign covers 111 endemic districts across 13 States with door-to-door administration of filaria prevention medications.

    The State Health Ministers who participated the meeting included Shri Satya Kumar Yadav (Andhra Pradesh), Shri Ashok Singhal (Assam), Shri Shyam Bihari Jaiswal (Chhattisgarh), Shri Rushikesh Ganeshbhai Patel (Gujarat), Shri Irfan Ansari (Jharkhand), Shri Dinesh Gundu Rao (Karnataka), Shri Rajendra Shukla (Madhya Pradesh), Shri Mukesh Mahaling (Odisha), Shri Mangal Pandey (Bihar), Shri Prakashrao Abitkar (Maharashtra) and Shri Brijesh Pathak (Uttar Pradesh).

     

    The MDA campaign is a core component of India’s LF elimination strategy, led by the National Center for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. The program focuses on the door-to-door administration of anti-filarial medication, ensuring that every eligible individual consumes the prescribed medicine to stop the transmission of the disease. LF, commonly known as “Hathi Paon,” is a parasitic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. It can lead to physical disabilities such as lymphoedema (swelling of the limbs) and hydrocele (scrotal swelling) and impose long-term burdens on affected individuals and families.

    Speaking at the event, the Union Health Minister emphasized “An LF-free India is our commitment, and achieving this goal requires the participation of every citizen and with active community involvement. With a shared sense of responsibility, we can eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis, ensuring protection for crores”. “Under the able leadership of our Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi ji, this campaign will be driven by the spirit of Jan Bhagidari, turning this into a Jan Andolan and with active community participation and a sense of collective ownership, India can eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis, ensuring that millions are protected from this disease”, he reaffirmed.

     

     

    Noting that Lymphatic Filariasis incapacitates people and deteriorates their quality of life, Shri Nadda called for the implementation of a five-pronged strategy to ensure that the disease is eliminated much ahead of the Sustainable Development Goal of 2030. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that no one is left out during the MDA campaign which takes place twice a year in 111 districts in 13 states. He stated, “From February 10 onward, these medicines will be made available free of cost to a population of over 17.5 crore across endemic districts. It is imperative that residents in these areas consume the medicines, protecting themselves and their families from this debilitating disease.” Highlighting the importance of achieving high coverage, he underlined, “the endemic districts must ensure that over 90% of the eligible population consume anti-filaria medicines. Our collective commitment and determination will help transform lives and ensure a future free from Lymphatic Filariasis.”

    Shri Nadda urged the States/UTs to monitor the campaign at a state level to ensure early diagnosis of affected people. He also called for the personal involvement of the political and administrative leadership at the identified state/district levels for the same.

    The Union Minister emphasized the importance of adopting a whole-of-government approach by engaging various ministries and departments to support campaign activities. He highlighted that this integrated approach, coupled with high-level advocacy across allied ministries, would foster intersectoral convergence.

    Shri Nadda urged states to implement effective IEC activities to increase awareness among people. He called for engaging digital technologies for wider reach. On this note, he highlighted the good work done by UP and Odisha and appreciated them using digital technologies effectively.

    He underscored the importance of political involvement of the State Health Ministers. He exhorted them to involve other elected representatives, particularly Members of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies and Councils, as well as Panchayati Raj Institutions, and encourage their active participation in mobilizing communities to ensure the effective implementation of MDA activities.

     

    Shri Nadda stated that efforts are underway to integrate MMDP services fully in Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) facilities for access to better self-care and approximately 50% lymphodema cases receive Morbidity Management and Disability Preventaion (MMDP) kits annually. He stated that under NHM, there is provision for hydrocelectomy surgeries and PMJAY scheme also has option of hydrocelectomy for the beneficiaries. He informed that close to 50% hydrocele surgeries were conducted in endemic states in 2024. He highlighted that through these efforts, Arogya Mandirs would help in reducing the burden of LF, allowing affected individuals to lead healthier lives and promoting the vision of a disease-free, developed Viksit Bharat.

    The Union Health Minister concluded his address by reiterating the importance of effectively managing this disease which has a high mortality. Noting that this is a last mile challenge, he urged health workers to work in targeted areas from the ground level in a focused manner. “India has and will continue to remain steadfast in its commitment to eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis. Our resolve is to achieve that target by 2027”, he stated.

    About MDA:

    The MDA campaign, will cover 111 endemic districts across 13 states—Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. This campaign reaffirms the government’s unwavering commitment to eliminating Lymphatic Filariasis through comprehensive prevention strategies, enhanced awareness, and ensuring widespread compliance with MDA.

    The Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign involves the supervised administration of a combination of anti-filarial medicines to all eligible individuals in LF-endemic areas, regardless of whether they show symptoms. The medication regimen includes:

    • Double Drug Regimen (DA): Diethylcarbamazine Citrate (DEC) and Albendazole
    • Triple Drug Regimen (IDA): Ivermectin, Diethylcarbamazine Citrate (DEC), and Albendazole

     

    The goal of MDA is to reduce the spread of LF by eliminating the microscopic filarial parasites present in the bloodstream of infected individuals, thus preventing further transmission by mosquitoes. While the MDA medication is extremely safe and effective, it should not be consumed on an empty stomach. The following groups should not consume the drugs:

    – Children below 2 years of age

    – Pregnant women

    – Seriously ill individuals

    All other eligible individuals should consume the medicine in the presence of a trained health worker to ensure proper consumption and avoid wastage or misuse.

    Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava, Union Health Secretary; Smt. Aradhana Patnaik, Addl. Secretary and MD (NHM), Health Ministry; senior officials of the Union Health Ministry and Additional Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary and MD (NHM) from states were present in the meeting.

     

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Aero India 2025 takes flight; Raksha Mantri inaugurates 15th edition of Asia’s biggest aerospace & defence exhibition in Bengaluru

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Aero India 2025 takes flight; Raksha Mantri inaugurates 15th edition of Asia’s biggest aerospace & defence exhibition in Bengaluru

    Aero India 2025 will further strengthen relations among like-minded countries to deal with today’s uncertainties: Shri Rajnath Singh

    “There is no Indian security or Indian peace in isolation; Security, stability & peace are shared constructs that transcend national borders”

    Today, the defence sector is powering the growth engine of Indian economy, says RM

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 11:57AM by PIB Delhi

    “Aero India 2025, a confluence of critical & frontier technologies, will provide a platform to further strengthen relations among like-minded countries based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual benefit to deal with today’s uncertainties,” said Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh while inaugurating the 15th edition of Aero India at the Yelahanka Air Force Station in Bengaluru, Karnataka on February 10, 2025. He exuded confidence that Aero India 2025 will showcase the country’s industrial capability and technological advancements to the world, while further strengthening symbiotic relations with friendly countries. Lasting peace can only be achieved if nations become stronger together and work for a Better World Order, he said. 

    Raksha Mantri stated that the five-day event will witness the participation of Government Representatives, Industry Leaders, Air Force Officers, Scientists, Defence Sector Experts, Start-ups, Academia & other stakeholders from all across the globe, and this confluence would bring India’s partners closer to the benefit of all. 

    “We often interact as buyers and sellers, where our relations are at a transactional level. However, at another level, we forge our partnership beyond the buyer-seller relationship to the level of Industrial Collaboration. We have many successful examples of co-production and co-development with like-minded countries. For us, there is no Indian security or Indian peace in isolation. Security, stability and peace are shared constructs that transcend national borders. The presence of our foreign friends is a testimony to the fact that our partners share our vision of One earth, One family, One future,” added Shri Rajnath Singh. 

    Raksha Mantri pointed out that in the present environment of global uncertainty, India is one such big country which is witnessing peace and prosperity. “India has never attacked any country nor has it been involved in any great power rivalry. We have always been an advocate of peace and stability. It is part of our fundamental ideals,” he said. Shri Rajnath Singh told the Defence Ministers, senior officials and representatives of foreign Original Equipment Manufacturers present on the occasion that their cooperation with India is crucial for global peace, prosperity and stability.  

    Shri Rajnath Singh asserted that India is going through a transformational phase, rapidly moving from a developing to a developed nation. He added that a vibrant and thriving defence industry ecosystem has been created in the country due to a concerted, sustained and well thought out roadmap by the Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. He stressed that the defence industrial sector, which was earlier not viewed as a component of national economy, has today been fully integrated with the overall economy. The sector is now a motor, powering the growth engine of the Indian economy, he said. 

    Raksha Mantri stated that the record allocation of Rs 6.81 lakh crore to Ministry of Defence in Union Budget 2025-26, including Rs 1.80 lakh crore for capital acquisition, is a proof that the Government considers defence as a top-priority sector. He added that like the previous budget, 75% of modernisation budget has been reserved for procurement through domestic sources with an aim to widen and deepen the capabilities of India’s Defence Industrial Complex.  

    Shri Rajnath Singh reiterated the Government’s commitment towards enhancing the participation of private players in this overall growth story. “The private sector is going to play a big role in the economic mainstreaming. Due to its drive, resilience and entrepreneurship, the sector is capable of bringing a new wave of prosperity in the country. In many advanced countries, private industry has led defence production. The time has come that, here as well, the sector becomes an equal partner in the defence industry,” he said. 

    Raksha Mantri added that the defence manufacturers are working with a collaborative approach to strengthen the defence sector, terming the joint venture between Tata Advanced Systems Limited and Airbus for the production of C-295 transport aircraft in Gujarat as a shining example of this cooperation. He added that today India has become a Globally Preferred Destination for Aerospace Components & Complex System Assembly and the public sector & private industries are playing an important role in this transformation. 

    Shedding light on the accomplishments achieved from the last Aero India, Shri Rajnath Singh stated that a number of high-tech products such as Astra Missile, New Generation Akash Missile, Autonomous Underwater Vehicle, Unmanned Surface Vessel, Pinaka Guided Rocket are being manufactured within the country. He voiced the Government’s unwavering resolve to surpass the Rs 1.27 lakh crore defence production and Rs 21,000 crore defence exports figures in the coming times, and ensure that the defence sector moves ahead at an unprecedented pace. It may be recalled that during the curtain raiser press conference of Aero India 2025 last evening, Raksha Mantri had expressed confidence that defence production will exceed Rs 1.60 lakh crore by the end of 2025-26 and defence exports will surpass Rs 30,000 crore. 

    On 2025 being declared as the ‘Year of Reforms’ in the Ministry of Defence, Raksha Mantri termed it as not just a government slogan, but the Government’s commitment towards reforms. He said the decisions for reforms are not being taken only at the Ministry level, but Armed Forces and DPSUs are also participating in this endeavour. “To take this drive of reforms forward more rapidly, there should be participation of all stakeholders in the defence sector. Suggestions from all stakeholders associated with the Ministry are welcome,” he said. 

    Earlier, Shri Rajnath Singh welcomed the distinguished guests from across the world by enlightening them about the Indian tradition of Atithi Devo Bhava, which means ‘A Guest is Equivalent to God’ which, he said, can be witnessed clearly at the Maha Kumbh underway in the holy city of Prayagraj. “While Maha Kumbh is the Kumbh of introspection, Aero India is the Kumbh of research. While Maha Kumbh is focusing on internal strength, Aero India will centre on external strength. While Maha Kumbh showcases the culture of India, Aero India will display the power of India,” he added. 

     The 15th edition of Asia’s biggest aerospace and defence exhibition, inaugurated by Raksha Mantri, will showcase, over the next five days, India’s aerial prowess and indigenous cutting-edge innovations alongside state-of-the-art products of global aerospace companies. In line with ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ and ‘Make in India, Make for the World’ vision, the event will also provide a stage to forge international collaborations to fast-track the indigenisation process, thereby providing a thrust to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi-led Government’s resolve of making the country Viksit Bharat by 2047. 

    February 10th to 12th have been reserved as business days, with 13th & 14th set as public days for people to witness the show. The event comprises Defence Ministers’ Conclave; CEOs Roundtable; inauguration of India & iDEX Pavilions; Manthan iDEX event; Samarthya Indigenisation event; Valedictory function; seminars; breath-taking airshows and an exhibition of aerospace companies. 

    Raksha Rajya Mantri Shri Sanjay Seth, Chief Minister of Nagaland Shri Neiphiu Rio, Deputy Chief Minister of Karnataka Shri DK Shiva Kumar, Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Dinesh K Tripathi, Chief of the Army Staff General Upendra Dwivedi, Chief Secretary, Government of Karnataka Dr Shalini Rajneesh, Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh, Secretary (Defence Production) Shri Sanjeev Kumar and Vice Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal SP Dharkhar were among the dignitaries present on the occasion.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: India to Inaugurate EFTA Desk to Enhance Trade and Investment under TEPA

    Source: Government of India (2)

    India to Inaugurate EFTA Desk to Enhance Trade and Investment under TEPA

    Business Roundtable to Witness Participation from Over 100 Companies from India and EFTA Nations

    Posted On: 10 FEB 2025 10:19AM by PIB Delhi

    In a significant step towards deepening economic ties with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Shri Piyush Goyal along with the EFTA bloc represented by H.E. Mrs. Helene Budliger Artieda, Swiss State Secretary, H.E. Mr. Tomas Norvoll, State Secretary of Trade and Industry, Norway, H.E. Martin Eyjolfsson, Permanent Secretary of State, Iceland, H.E. Dominique Hasler, Minister of External Affairs, Education, and Sport, Liechtenstein, Mr. Markus Schlagenhof, Deputy Secretary General, EFTA Secretariat and Mr. David Sveinbhornsson, Senior Officer, EFTA Secretariat, will inaugurate the EFTA Desk at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, on February 10, 2025.

    The initiative, in line with Chapter 7 of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), which was signed on March 10, 2024, aims to serve as a dedicated platform to promote trade, investment, and business facilitation between India and the four EFTA nations—Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. The inauguration ceremony will be attended by senior officials from the Government of India and high-ranking dignitaries from EFTA member states.

    Senior officials from Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and the Department of Commerce (DOC) will also address the gathering, outlining India’s vision for stronger economic engagement with EFTA nations.

    The India-EFTA Dedicated Desk will act as a centralized support mechanism for EFTA companies looking to expand in India. It will provide market insights and regulatory guidance, business matchmaking, and assistance in navigating India’s policy and investment landscape.

    Post-inauguration, a high-level EFTA-India Business Roundtable will convene, featuring over 100 leading businesses from India and EFTA nations, aimed at fostering collaboration across key sectors, including Pharmaceuticals & Life Sciences, Financial Services & Fintech, Mechanical & Electrical Engineering, Energy & Sustainability, Seafood & Maritime, Food Processing & Agritech. The roundtable will provide a structured forum for companies to explore joint ventures, investment opportunities, and technology partnerships under the framework of TEPA.

    ***

    Abhishek Dayal/Abhijith Narayanan/Asmitabha Manna

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by CE at Opening Ceremony of Tech Applied Summit (English only) (with video)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Speech by CE at Opening Ceremony of Tech Applied Summit (English only) (with video)
    Speech by CE at Opening Ceremony of Tech Applied Summit (English only) (with video)
    ***********************************************************************************

         Following is the speech by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, at the Opening Ceremony of Tech Applied Summit today (February 10):      Ir Sunny Lee (Chairman of Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,           Good morning. It gives me great pleasure to speak to you at the inaugural Tech Applied Summit, as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of ASTRI – the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute.           Twenty-five years ago, ASTRI began its journey with an important mission: to boost Hong Kong’s global competitiveness through applied research. Today, it stands as a leading research and development (R&D) powerhouse, and a key contributor to Hong Kong’s innovation and technology (I&T) sector.           Hong Kong, too, is on a mission. We are racing towards the vision of becoming an international innovation and technology centre, with the support of the National 14th Five-Year Plan.           Under the unique “one country, two systems” principle, Hong Kong enjoys both the China advantage and the global advantage. We boast an excellent business environment with world-class professional services. Our established common law regime dovetails with the legal system of many global financial centres. We are the only city in Asia with as many as five universities in the world’s top 100.           These helped to cultivate our highly talented and versatile workforce. We also continue to attract top scholars and researchers to our institutions. With unparalleled access to both the Mainland market and the global market, our business environment provides a good foundation for the commercialisation, and transformation, of outstanding research outcomes.           Last year, Hong Kong once again became the world’s freest economy, and ranked fifth in the World Competitiveness Yearbook. The Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangzhou science and technology cluster has been ranked the world’s second-most innovative hub for five consecutive years.           These aren’t just rankings – they are proof of Hong Kong’s resilience, adaptability and drive. Our dedication to innovation and transformation.           The Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) Government has been implementing forward-looking policies to drive our city’s I&T advancement. Our HK$10 billion RAISe+ Scheme (Research, Academic and Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme), launched by this term of the Government, is fast-tracking R&D commercialisation. The New Industrialisation Acceleration Scheme is helping industries like life and health technology and advanced manufacturing build cutting-edge, smart production facilities.            And we’re just getting started. The new HK$10 billion Innovation and Technology Industry-Oriented Fund will soon launch, to channel more investment in emerging and future industries of strategic importance. All these initiatives are making Hong Kong a launch pad for start-ups, researchers and investors to turn bold ideas into transformative realities.           The Northern Metropolis, situated in the north of our city, will become a growth engine and another game changer to our I&T scene. We are developing the Hong Kong-Shenzhen Innovation and Technology Park in the Loop, an area that straddles our boundary with the neighbouring Mainland city of Shenzhen, to create unprecedented opportunities for cross-boundary I&T collaboration.           As the Park officially enters into its operational phase this year, I am confident that it will become a hub where ideas radiate beyond boundaries, and where innovation know no limits.           Ladies and gentlemen, today’s Tech Applied Summit exemplifies how collaboration can supercharge innovation. We are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead and are committed to continuing our journey of innovation and excellence.           I would like to thank ASTRI for organising this remarkable Summit, and for your unwavering commitment to Hong Kong’s I&T development. My best wishes to your continued success in the next quarter century and beyond.           I wish you all a prosperous Year of the Snake, and the best of innovation in the years to come. Thank you.

     
    Ends/Monday, February 10, 2025Issued at HKT 11:50

    NNNN

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Raksha Mantri holds bilateral meetings with his Fijian & South Sudanese counterparts in Bengaluru ahead of Aero India 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 09 FEB 2025 9:10PM by PIB Delhi

    Ahead of Aero India 2025, Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh held bilateral meetings with Minister for Defence and Veteran Affairs, Republic of Fiji Mr Pio Tikoduadua and Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, South Sudan Lt Gen Chol Thon J Balok in Bengaluru, Karnataka on February 09, 2025.

    Raksha Mantri welcomed Fijian Defence Minister on his maiden visit to India. Both sides expressed satisfaction on the ongoing defence cooperation and agreed to further deepen and diversify the existing collaboration. Both sides also agreed to institutionalise India-Fiji Joint Working Group on Defence Cooperation as envisaged in the MoU on Defence Cooperation signed in 2017. They decided to augment Maritime Domain Awareness for ensuring maritime safety & security, Exclusive Economic Zone protection, Naval capacity building and training cooperation for UN peacekeepers and defence civilians. This visit is a step towards India’s growing engagement with Fiji, a key member of Pacific Island Countries.

    In his meeting with the South Sudanese Defence Minister, Raksha Mantri thanked him for participating in Aero India 2025. Both sides agreed to initiate and expedite efforts towards a Memorandum of Understanding to effectively steer the defence cooperation between both countries. The South Sudanese side acknowledged India’s efforts in United Nations Mission in South Sudan. Both sides agreed to partner for enhanced training exchanges, and agreed to expand relations through industry partnerships.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: CE meets leaders of Heilongjiang Province in Harbin (with photos/ videos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    The Chief Executive, Mr John Lee, continued his visit to Harbin today (February 10) to meet with leaders of Heilongjiang Province. He also met with the injured Hong Kong ice hockey athletes and Hong Kong people working and doing business in the three northeastern provinces, and visited the Beidahuang Museum.

    Mr Lee met respectively with the Secretary of the CPC Heilongjiang Provincial Committee, Mr Xu Qin, and the Governor of Heilongjiang Province, Ms Liang Huiling, to exchange views on issues of mutual concern. Mr Lee noted that Heilongjiang Province has leveraged the ice and snow economy as a new engine for economic development by making good use of its rich ice and snow tourism resources while actively promoting winter sports. He added that Heilongjiang Province sets an example of integrating sports with cultural and tourism development, which is inspiring to Hong Kong.

    Noting that Hong Kong and Heilongjiang share close economic and trade ties, with Hong Kong being the largest source of external investment for Heilongjiang, Mr Lee said that Hong Kong, as a “super connector” and “super value-adder”, can serve the Mainland in exploring global markets.

    Regarding people-to-people exchanges, Mr Lee highlighted that the Individual Visit Scheme has been extended to include Harbin in Heilongjiang Province since May last year, while direct flights between Harbin and Hong Kong were officially launched in June last year. These developments have strengthened tourism co-operation between the two places and promoted people-to-people bonds. The Beijing Office and Liaoning Liaison Unit of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will continue to serve as a bridge to enhance exchanges between Hong Kong and Heilongjiang in various areas, he added.

    Mr Lee also went to the athletes’ village to visit the Hong Kong ice hockey players who were injured yesterday (February 9) after the match, to understand their condition and offer his support. Mr Lee said he is highly concerned about the attack on Hong Kong athletes and has requested the Sports Federation and Olympic Committee of Hong Kong, China, and the Culture, Sports, and Tourism Bureau to follow up on the incident and make every effort to ensure the safety of athletes. Mr Lee noted that the Hong Kong athletes had remained calm and restrained during the incident, demonstrating professionalism and sportsmanship. He also praised the ice hockey team for their outstanding performance in the past competitions, making Hong Kong people proud. He encouraged the athletes not to let the incident affect their morale, to take good care of themselves, and to give their best in the games, showcasing the professionalism of Hong Kong athletes. He also assured them that the people of Hong Kong would fully support them.

    At noon, Mr Lee met with Hong Kong people working and doing business in the three northeastern provinces to learn about their daily lives and development. He said that Hong Kong people and enterprises there serve as an essential bridge between Hong Kong and the three provinces. He encouraged them to introduce Hong Kong’s latest developments to local enterprises and tell the good stories of Hong Kong.

    In the afternoon, Mr Lee visited the Beidahuang Museum in Harbin to understand the transformation of the Great Northern Wilderness, a plain region in northeastern Heilongjiang Province, from a barren wilderness into a key commodity grain base and a strategic grain reserve base of the country. He also gained insights into the Beidahuang Spirit, which embodies perseverance, resilience, and a pioneering mindset.

    Separately, the Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism, Miss Rosanna Law, had a work meeting with the Director-General of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Heilongjiang Province, Ms He Jing, this afternoon. They had discussions on ways to strengthen cultural and tourism collaborations between Hong Kong and Heilongjiang. During the meeting, Miss Law gave a briefing on the latest developments in Hong Kong’s culture and tourism. She said that the cultural and tourism resources of Hong Kong and Heilongjiang are unique in their own ways. While Hong Kong, as a world city, is always innovating in integrating culture and tourism, Heilongjiang is famous for its magnificent ice and snow attractions. With significant potential for collaboration between the two places, Miss Law expressed hope to expand the market and drive bilateral tourism flow with Heilongjiang in the future.

    Mr Lee and the other officials will return to Hong Kong tomorrow (February 11).

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by SITI at Tech Applied Summit organised by ASTRI (English only) (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         Following is the speech by the Secretary for Innovation, Technology and Industry, Professor Sun Dong, at the Tech Applied Summit organised by the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute (ASTRI) today (February 10):Sunny (Board Chairman of ASTRI, Mr Sunny Lee), 劉副市長 (Deputy Mayor of the Suzhou Municipal People’s Government, Professor Liu Bo), 葉部長 (Deputy Director-General of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Mr Ye Shuiqiu), distinguished speakers and guests, ladies and gentlemen,      Good morning. It’s my pleasure to stand before you today at the Tech Applied Summit, a truly remarkable convergence of talents, ideas, and innovation.      First and foremost, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to ASTRI for organising this event, bringing together more than 40 visionary speakers and 1 000 attendees from across the globe. To our distinguished speakers who have travelled from afar, a very warm welcome to Hong Kong. We are thrilled to have you here, and look forward to the insights you’ll share, which will no doubt inspire us all.     Innovation and technology, I&T in short, are not merely buzzwords – they are the lifeblood of Hong Kong’s future. As outlined in the Chief Executive’s latest Policy Address, we are investing ambitiously to ensure I&T serves as the engine for high-quality development in Hong Kong. New initiatives, such as the HK$10 billion Innovation and Technology Industry-Oriented Fund, the HK$180 million I&T Accelerator Pilot Scheme and the new round of HK$1.5 billion Research Matching Grant Scheme, are empowering start-ups, researchers, and businesses to transform bold ideas into transformative realities. These efforts are cementing Hong Kong’s position as a leading innovation powerhouse in the region.     Our investments extend beyond funding. We invest in talent, infrastructure, and partnerships. We are opening doors for the world’s brightest minds to call Hong Kong home, while nurturing local talent to lead in fields like AI, robotics, life and health technology, and advance manufacturing.      Today, as we gather under the banner of I&T, we are reminded of the power of collaboration. In Hong Kong, the close partnership among government, industry, academia, research and investment sectors forms the cornerstone of our strategy to unlock new opportunities and drive progress, and our partnerships extend far beyond our borders.     The potential for Hong Kong-Mainland collaboration is indeed immense. ASTRI has played a pivotal role in fostering this collaboration. With the opening of its office in the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone last year, ASTRI has been instrumental in transforming ideas into impactful solutions that benefit businesses, society, and the economy.      This year is particularly special as ASTRI celebrates its silver jubilee – 25 years of excellence, dedication, and leadership in I&T. Well done to everyone at ASTRI who has been part of this incredible journey.     The Government earlier proposed the merger of ASTRI and NAMI (the Nano and Advanced Materials Institute), a combination of two strong public R&D (research and development) centres with complementary advantages and shared values, thereby enhancing our capability and capacity for high value-added applied R&D work. We are eager to unleash the integrated power of the new entity and jointly accelerate the development of new quality productive forces.      As we usher in the Year of the Snake, a year symbolising wisdom, transformation, and resilience, I wish you all an auspicious and prosperous year ahead. Let us work towards a smarter, more connected and innovative world. Thank you.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: EMSD announces test results of LPG quality in January 2025

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) today (February 10) announced that the department collected 10 liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) samples from auto-LPG filling stations and LPG terminals on a random basis in January 2025 for laboratory tests. The results show that the LPG quality of all these samples complied with auto-LPG specifications.
          
         The detailed test results are available on the EMSD’s website (www.emsd.gov.hk/en/gas_safety/lpg_vehicle_scheme/publications/general/results_of_lpg_sample_analysis/index.html). Enquiries can also be made to the EMSD’s hotline on 2333 3762.
          
         In addition, the EMSD has been vetting independent third-party test reports submitted by LPG supply companies for each shipment to ensure that the quality of imported LPG complies with the specified requirements.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights Opens Seventy-Seventh Session

    Source: United Nations – Geneva

    The Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights today opened its seventy-seventh session.  The Committee adopted its agenda and programme of work for the session, during which it is scheduled to review the reports of Croatia, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda and the United Kingdom.

    Opening the session, Wan-Hea Lee, Chief of the Civil, Political, Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Urgent Actions Section, Human Rights Treaties Branch, Human Rights Council and Treaties Mechanisms Division, United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, welcomed the five new members of the Committee: Lazhari Bouzid (Algeria), Peijie Chen (China), Charafat El Yedri Afailal (Morocco), Giuseppe Palmisano (Italy) and Laura Elisa Pérez (Mexico).

    Despite the liquidity situation currently facing the United Nations, Ms. Lee said, the first sessions of all the treaty bodies this year would be held, allowing the important work undertaken by these bodies to proceed.  The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the United Nations more broadly had and would continue to do its utmost to ensure that their work could proceed to the maximum extent possible. 

    Ms. Lee reported that, at the upcoming fifty-eighth session of the Human Rights Council, a number of key panel discussions and interactive dialogues would be held that were of great relevance to economic, social and cultural rights, and the Council would also consider several reports related to the Committee’s mandate, including the Secretary-General’s report on the realisation of economic, social and cultural rights and the report of the intersessional workshop on cultural rights and the protection of cultural heritage.  She was sure that the work of the Committee would guide some of these discussions.

    In 2024, Ms. Lee said, significant efforts had been made to enhance indigenous peoples’ participation in human rights processes.  A second intersessional meeting held in October 2024 explored ways to strengthen indigenous peoples’ involvement in United Nations processes.  Indigenous peoples’ representatives also addressed the fifty-seventh session of the Human Rights Council in September 2024 for the first time as direct representatives of their communities and organizations.  Resolution 57/15 of October 2024 would facilitate the engagement of indigenous peoples with the treaty bodies going forward. These developments were especially timely given this year’s celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.

    Ms. Lee noted that two new instruments of accession were deposited at the end of the year.  St Kitts and Nevis became the one hundred and seventy-third State Party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and Côte d’Ivoire became the thirtieth State party to its Optional Protocol.  While welcoming the continued march toward universal ratification, the Office of the High Commissioner was mindful of current events and modern challenges which were regrettably affecting the enjoyment of economic, social and cultural rights across the globe.  The High Commissioner, in a recent statement, noted the widespread pushback on multilateralism and how the challenges faced in 2024 were unlikely to let up in 2025, as conflicts continued and reemerged.

    The High Commissioner had been consistently urging States to commit to the global pursuit of a human rights economy, Ms. Lee said.  In a comment to the Social Forum in October 2024, he stressed that States needed to build inclusive human rights economies that prioritised people and planet.  Addressing the Hernan Santa Cruz Dialogue in December last year, the High Commissioner highlighted the substantial transformation necessary in economic systems to ensure the delivery of economic, social and cultural rights to all peoples around the world.  He said the world could not be based on a model that offered health for some, wealth for some, jobs for some, and rights for some.

    Last year was particularly challenging, Ms. Lee said. In addition to chronic resource constraints, the liquidity crisis had and continued to hamper the planning and implementation of the Committees’ work.  The Office was doing its utmost to ensure that the treaty bodies could implement their mandates.  Nevertheless, all indications pointed to a continuation of the difficult liquidity situation for the foreseeable future, she said.

    Ms. Lee said the treaty body strengthening process remained active.  It had reached a key moment with the adoption last December of the biennial resolution on the treaty body system by the General Assembly.  The resolution invited the treaty bodies and the Office to continue to work on coordination and predictability in the reporting process with the aim of achieving a regularised schedule for reporting and to increase their efforts to further use digital technologies.  However, the biennial resolution did not endorse certain detailed proposals made by the Chairs and corresponding resources to implement them, such as for an eight-year predictable schedule of reviews.

    The Office of the High Commissioner would continue to work alongside the Chairs and all the treaty body experts to strengthen the treaty body system, using all the opportunities at its disposal to advance this essential work, Ms. Lee said.

    In concluding remarks, Ms. Lee said a heavy programme for the next three weeks was before the Committee.  She commended the Committee’s efforts and work in preparation for such a substantial session and wished it continued success going forward.

    Laura-Maria Craciunean-Tatu, Committee Chair, thanked the Office of the High Commissioner for expressing confidence in the work of the Committee, and its contribution to the continued and heightened protection of economic, social and cultural rights around the world, in the face of today’s evermore complex challenges and setbacks.  The Committee also welcomed the accession by Saint Kitts and Nevis to the Covenant and of Côte d’Ivoire to the Optional Protocol.  The Chair said that the review of the periodic report of Kenya, which was scheduled for this session, had been postponed to a future session.

    Given today’s numerous challenges, Ms. Craciunean-Tatu said, it was clear that the Committee’s work was as important as ever in holding up the importance of human rights frameworks as a tool towards peace and sustainable development.  As such, the principles of equality, indivisibility, interdependence and interrelatedness of all human rights, as well their justiciability, needed to continue to guide the approach of States parties and other stakeholders to addressing the many challenges being faced worldwide.

    Ms. Craciunean-Tatu announced that, during the session, the Committee would work on the draft general comment on economic, social and cultural rights and the environmental dimension of sustainable development.  It would also hold internal discussions on the draft general comment on drug policies and economic, social and cultural rights, the draft general comment on armed conflict and economic, social and cultural rights, and the draft statement on effective and socially just taxation for the realisation of economic, social and cultural rights.

    Further, during the session, Ms. Craciunean-Tatu said, the Committee would adopt lists of issues regarding Cabo Verde, North Macedonia and Turkmenistan.  It would also consider matters related to the Optional Protocol and follow up reports for Serbia and Uzbekistan, as well as proposals regarding individual communications made by its Working Group. Additionally, it would be engaging in an informal meeting with States, as well as in its annual meeting with non-governmental organizations.  It would also engage with the Special Rapporteur on climate change and the Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights.

    Since the last session, Ms. Craciunean-Tatu reported, the Committee received the periodic reports of Canada, Ecuador, Slovakia, Egypt, Estonia, Zambia, Paraguay and Uganda, as well the initial report of Guinea Bisau.  The Committee’s concluding observations based on the consideration of reports and the dialogues held in the session would be communicated to the respective States as of Friday, 28 February, and made available publicly on the following Monday, 3 March.

    The Committee’s seventy-seventh session is being held until 28 February 2025.  All documents relating to the Committee’s work, including reports submitted by States parties, can be found on the session’s webpage.  Webcasts of the meetings of the session can be found here, and meetings summaries can be found here.

    The Committee will next meet in public at 3 p.m. this afternoon to begin its consideration of the second periodic report of Croatia (E/C.12/HRV/2).

     

     

    Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media; 
    not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.

     

     

     

    CESCR25.001E

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Asian Development Blog: Cooling the Heat Crisis with Energy and Health Solutions

    Source: Asia Development Bank

    Asia and the Pacific faces record heatwaves, straining energy systems and endangering public health. Investing in climate science, resilient technologies, and people-centered solutions can help mitigate these risks.

    The year 2024 was the hottest on record and the first time the world reached 1.6oC above preindustrial levels. Such extreme heat events are only expected to rise, with countries in Asia and the Pacific particularly at risk. 

    Energy systems face dual challenges that make them particularly vulnerable to extreme heat events. On the demand side, the heightened use of air conditioners during heatwaves can strain already stretched electricity networks and lead to power cuts and blackouts. 

    Asia and the Pacific’s rapid socio-economic and urban development has seen a surge in air conditioning usage and a notable increase in electricity consumption during days when temperatures reach 30oC (86oF) and above. 

    Less acknowledged are the negative impacts that higher temperatures can have on the supply side of energy systems. For example, solar photovoltaic cells become less efficient in producing electricity under temperatures above 25oC (77oF), while the efficiency of thermal power plants – using coal, gas or nuclear energy – decreases when the cooling water they use becomes warmer. 

    High temperatures also put additional stress on electronic components such as battery cells and power inverters. Power lines, transformers and substations can overheat during heatwaves, resulting in lower rates of electricity transmission and distribution efficiency or, in the worst case, power failures. 

    We have seen such impacts in the region this last year. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic experienced frequent power outages due to high electricity demand during April’s heatwave. The Philippines suffered brownouts across various regions due to shutdowns and reduced power plant and grid capacities during the same month. Bangladesh had to carry out power cuts in 2024, affecting millions of people. In Pakistan, frequent and prolonged power outages in Karachi during scorching heat in June contributed to the spread of heat-related deaths.

    The record-breaking heat of 2024 exposed the vulnerabilities of energy and health systems across Asia and the Pacific, underscoring the urgent need for climate-resilient investments in infrastructure, technology, and policy coordination.

    Such energy disruptions can impact the functioning of health systems severely. Energy is crucial for protecting public health by enabling the operation of medical devices and telemedicine, as well as regulating indoor temperatures, refrigerating food and medicine, and ensuring the supply of clean drinking water. 

    Power outages can curtail the basic functioning of hospitals and health clinics and shut down IT and communication systems.

    This includes limiting access to medical record systems and vital laboratory testing data needed to make critical decisions about patients. Added to this, heatwaves create a surge in demand for health care services, including emergency visits and ambulance call outs, which simultaneously increases energy demand.   

    The consequences for human health can be deadly. People with chronic health problems are more predisposed to the impacts of extreme heat, such as those with cardiovascular and upper respiratory disease, communicable disease, diabetes, kidney disease and mental illness. 

    Specific groups of people are also more vulnerable to the negative impacts of heat stress, including the elderly, pregnant women, infants, children, outdoor workers and those from lower socio-economic groups who often lack access to air conditioning systems in their homes. 

    Weak health surveillance systems in many Pacific Islands countries and lower middle-income countries in Asia unfortunately mean that heat-related deaths and illnesses are being underestimated. Where data exists, the impacts are alarming. A report in People’s Republic of China for example, showed a fourfold increase in heat-related mortality between the years 1990 and 2019. 

    With the frequency of extreme heat being the new reality, there are a number of immediate investments that can be considered across systems in Asia and the Pacific, spanning science, technology and people-centered approaches.

    Firstly, converging state-of-the-art science and data with people-centered approaches can help improve the design of systems-level investments that benefit the health and energy sectors. The use of advanced climate modeling techniques allows governments and companies to better understand the impacts of heat stress on these systems and to explore solutions that address these challenges. 

    More heat data allows insurance providers to design and offer more heat insurance products that better protect companies and workers. Upgrading early warning systems with the latest science in forecasting extreme heat allows more accurate and timely warnings. 

    Combining such upgrades with collaboration – such as with energy providers, health institutions and communities – also means more meaningful warnings that allow a multisectoral response to heat action planning, setting up local cooling centers, and preparing community outreach to vulnerable groups. 

    Secondly, investments in climate-resilient energy technologies can strengthen the reliability of energy systems against extreme heat. Currently, many Asian and Pacific countries rely on the use of fossil fuels and power conservation measures during higher power demands. Strengthening electricity networks and storage technology are longer-term solutions that can match the region’s growing electricity needs with the increasing frequency of heatwaves. 

    Implementing innovative cooling solutions and heat-resilient designs for power plants and grids can reduce efficiency losses during extreme heat events. Smart grid technologies can provide energy suppliers with real-time visibility that reduces the likelihood of large-scale outages. Promoting energy-efficient cooling appliances and energy-saving building designs – such as cool roofs – can also help reduce demands on electricity networks during heatwaves. 

    These investments will reduce energy disruptions to health systems during extreme heat events, but there is a third set of solutions within the health sector that should also be considered. This includes ensuring heat-resilient back-up energy options for health facilities during power failures, and the installation of energy-efficient smart air conditioning systems. 

    Wider investments to decarbonize and green health care facilities also lowers their energy demand. Equally crucial are the “softer” investments in strengthening health-heat surveillance systems, tailoring early warning systems and data sharing for the health sector, and developing business continuity plans that ensure health service delivery and surge capacity management during heatwaves. 

    The experience of 2024 as the hottest year on the planet highlights how urgent it is to address extreme heat. Sadly, it also heralds the implications ahead.  Asia and the Pacific sweltered under multiple heatwaves in 2024, seeing power outages and disruptions to people’s lives and livelihoods across the region. 

    There’s still hope. Countries and the international community need to continue to reduce greenhouse gases as part of their climate mitigation pledges to the Paris Agreement. But equally, we have climate adaptation opportunities to embrace science, technology and people-centered approaches. 

    Applying such measures to systems-level investments in Asia and the Pacific will produce more climate-resilient energy and health outcomes under the growing severity of a warmer future.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Russia: Cultural Code of the Celestial Empire: How to Do Business in China

    Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

    Source: State University Higher School of Economics – State University Higher School of Economics –

    © Mikhail Dmitriev / Higher School of Economics

    By 2035, China will overtake the United States in terms of GDP and become the world’s largest economy. Today, there are over 108 million entrepreneurs and 50 million industrial enterprises in this country. Last year, economic growth was 4.8%. This opens up unique opportunities for Russian companies. HSE experts explained how to enter one of the most promising markets.

    The HSE Expert Club “Eastern Perspective” held a business session “China: Five Steps to Entering the Market That Will Bring Profits”. The club was created by HSE experts to discuss tools, trends and insights on cooperation between Russia and the countries of Southeast Asia, the Near and Middle East, and North Africa. The participants were addressed by experts with successful experience in the Chinese market. The meeting was moderated by Deputy Director Marketing Communications Directorate HSE University Dmitry Chubarov.

    Sergey Mikhnevich, Managing Director of the Department of International Multilateral Cooperation and Integration of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, Coordinator of Russian Business Participation in the Business Twenty, Executive Secretary, Member of the Presidium of the Business Council of the Eurasian Economic Union, spoke about a possible strategy for working with the Chinese business community and GR. First of all, he noted that China is the largest trading partner for Russia, but the volume of trade is quite concentrated and is mostly tied to one or two large projects. At the same time, there is currently a shortage of good experts in China in our country. Even the number of Russians who know Chinese and study this country has noticeably decreased in recent years.

    The speaker noted a number of markers of the Chinese approach to the market, related to the consideration of national characteristics, that is, the adaptation of foreign experience to their own realities and capabilities. He assigns a key role to the government of the PRC, since certain attributes of socialism are preserved in the country, which affects, among other things, the system of development of the Chinese economy and various methods of managing it. First of all, the Chinese market is a market of tough competition with directive management methods.

    “Despite the fact that for 10-12 years the PRC has been placing a big bet on increasing the role of the domestic market as an economic driver, exports also play a colossal role. At the same time, many companies enter the Chinese market not to sell their products, but to use the country’s production capabilities and then export goods to the target market, be it the Russian Federation or the countries of the Asia-Pacific region. There are quite a few such examples in a variety of economic sectors, because China’s import needs are really very high,” he said.

    According to the expert, China currently has a need for such areas as green development, ensuring the sustainability of supply chains for goods and raw materials, and the formation of new dynamic and stable sales markets.

    Professor Faculty of World Economy and World PoliticsNatalia Guseva, head of the HSE educational programs “Business with the East”, presented the educational programs “Eastern Perspective” for entrepreneurs working with countries of the Near and Middle East, North Africa, and the Indo-Pacific region.

    The flagship five-month program “Eastern Perspective: Strategy and Tactics for Building a Business” combines the experience and practices of entering new markets in developed countries of the Global East. Intensive three-month program “Eastern Perspective: The Basics of Building a Business” is aimed at obtaining practical knowledge on business development, launching international projects in various sectors of the economy with countries of the Global East.

    Three-week program «Eastern Perspective: The Practice of Building a Business in China“focuses on knowledge, strategies and practices for building a successful business in this country.

    “We want to give listeners new knowledge and share successful cases, and sometimes failed cases, when a company loses tens and hundreds of thousands, or even millions, due to mistakes. It is very important to understand what strategy you are going to use to enter the Chinese market and how you are going to compete there,” Natalia Guseva emphasized. “For example, why do they only talk about how to export products? Why not create a local enterprise? Why not make direct foreign investments? Why not think about licensing or franchising, depending on the specifics of the product or services provided?”

    Anastasia Nasedkina, founder of a Chinese marketing agency, spoke about the peculiarities of the Chinese market Matessa, author of educational courses on Chinese advertising platforms Baidu, WeChat, Weibo, Douyin (Ocean Engine). According to her, there are a number of significant differences from the Russian and European markets that need to be understood. For example, the Chinese in most cases trade and conduct business via mobile phones, not from a desktop computer, so to enter the Chinese market, a company does not need a website: its functionality will be replaced by the official WeChat account. For the same reason, social networks are serious tools for business development there. Analogues of WhatsApp, FB, Inst and VK, which are used in China: WeChat, Weibo, Douyin, Kuaishou, QQ.

    A foreign company must register a legal entity – this will allow it to promote the brand without strict restrictions. In addition, having a legal entity increases audience loyalty. A verified WeChat account will provide a credit of trust even for a young company: legal entity accounts are strictly checked, and this takes up to six months.

    One of the most popular online platforms for watching and sharing short videos is Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok. Its audience is very diverse: about 60% of users are between the ages of 18 and 35, followed by the audience of 35-50 years old. The platform is popular in various regions of China, with a significant portion of users coming from first- and second-tier cities, that is, developed and wealthy provinces. The platform has a built-in Douyin Shop, where you can sell products if you have a registered trademark.

    In addition, live broadcasts conducted by the brand’s official account are popular in the country. In 2021, they already accounted for 57% of all broadcasts on the Douyin platform. The content on these accounts consists of simple and short videos, the editing of which mainly comes down to adding background music and effects.

    Entering the Chinese market should always begin with research, notes Anastasia Nasedkina. It is necessary to analyze the demand of the target audience, competitors, as well as the economic and political landscape. It is also important to assess the brand’s presence in the digital environment, the adaptation of the product and service to local preferences, the ability to ensure fast and hassle-free payment for purchases through local services.

    It is also important to pay attention to national rules of negotiation. Here, the strict hierarchy of age and position, the Chinese desire to “not lose face,” as well as cultural differences with Western views on topics such as worldview, relationships, family, etc. are important.

    “When you enter the Chinese market and hire employees there, you need to somehow build interaction with them, and it is important to either have a person who understands all these cultural differences and peculiarities and can build communication, or to immerse yourself and thus build a team in China. The Chinese market is quite complex, but with proper preparation and understanding, with the right strategy, you can enter it and gain a foothold in one or two years,” she summed up.

    In conclusion, the moderator of the event, Dmitry Chubarov, once again invited the business session participants to take the HSE educational programs dedicated to the East. He emphasized that the expertise and cases that will be discussed will not be based on abstract textbooks, but on the daily successful practice of both Russian and international companies.

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

    MIL OSI Russia News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: Call for Entries: 2025 UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation

    Source: United Nations

    UNESCO has opened submissions for the 2025 Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation, recognizing outstanding conservation efforts across the region. The Awards celebrate private sector projects and public-private partnerships that demonstrate excellence in preserving historical sites while fostering community engagement.

    Since 2000, the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation have honored 305 projects across 27 countries for their thorough understanding of historical significance, technical achievements, and impact at local, national, and regional levels. By spotlighting best practices, the Awards have helped shape regional conversations on heritage’s role in sustaining cities, societies, and the environment.

    This year, UNESCO especially welcomes submissions for projects conserving heritage sites that are integral to the region’s history but remain underrecognized or at risk of neglect. These include cultural landscapes, technological, industrial, and agricultural heritage, 20th-century sites, vernacular architecture, and cultural routes. Winning projects of this nature will be highlighted in a dedicated exhibition as part of the celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of the Awards.

    Eligibility Criteria

    Projects must have been completed within the last 10 years (February 2015 – May 2025 if the pre-existing use was retained, or May 2024 if a project involved a new use). Examples of eligible projects include:

    • Houses, commercial and institutional buildings
    • Historic towns and villages
    • Archaeological sites and cultural landscapes

    How to Apply

    Projects must be sent by mail to UNESCO Bangkok and postmarked no later than 31 May 2025. Winners will be announced in November 2025.

    Submission requirements

    Applicants must complete the entry form online and submit a project dossier, including:

    • A detailed project description in the official format.
    • Supporting documentation, such as architectural drawings and high-quality photographs.

    For submission details and application forms: click here

    Awards

    In 2024, eight projects from five countries received awards, including:

    • Award of Excellence – Inari-yu Bathhouse Restoration Project (Tokyo, Japan)
    • Award of Distinction – Gunan Street Historic Block Conservation Project (Yixing, Jiangsu Province, China) with Special Recognition for Sustainable Development; Abathsahayeshwarar Temple Conservation Project (Thukkatchi, Tamil Nadu, India)
    • Award of Merit – Guanyin Hall Teahouse Conservation Project (Sichuan Province, China); Helou Pavilion Conservation Project (Shanghai, China) with Special Recognition for Sustainable Development; BJPCI Conservation Project (Mumbai, India); Observatory Tower Conservation Project (Christchurch, New Zealand)
    • Award for New Design in Heritage Contexts – Rabindhorn Building (Bangkok, Thailand)

    For more details on previous award recipients: UNESCO Heritage Awards Winners

    Supporting Partnership

    Since 2021, the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation (NTFCF) has supported the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards for Cultural Heritage Conservation. This partnership advances transformative heritage practices across the region through diverse activities that amplify the Awards’ impact.

    Contact Information

    For project submissions:

    Culture Unit
    UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok
    Email: heritageawards@unesco.org

    For media inquiries:

    Communications and Public Engagement (CPE) Team
    UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok
    Email: cpe@unesco.org

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Secretary-General of ASEAN convenes town hall meeting with ASEAN Secretariat staff in 2025

    Source: ASEAN

    Secretary-General of ASEAN, Dr. Kao Kim Hourn, today convened a town hall meeting with the ASEAN Secretariat staff members. This annual town hall meeting, facilitated by the ASEAN Secretariat Staff Welfare Committee, provides an opportunity for Dr. Kao to engage with staff members on issues related to employee welfare and well-being, as well as to chart out the work priorities of the ASEAN Secretariat in 2025.

    The post Secretary-General of ASEAN convenes town hall meeting with ASEAN Secretariat staff in 2025 appeared first on ASEAN Main Portal.

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Lawtech consultation body meets

    Source: Hong Kong Information Services

    The Consultation Group on LawTech Development held its first meeting today to discuss development strategies and policies to promote the use of lawtech in the legal and dispute resolution industry.

    The consultation group, established by the Department of Justice in January, is chaired by Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan and comprises representatives from the legal and dispute resolution sector, law schools and experts on the application of lawtech.

    The consultation body will provide advice and assistance to the department regarding the promotion and development of lawtech in Hong Kong.

    Mr Cheung explained that lawtech can enhance efficiency and productivity of Hong Kong’s legal and dispute resolution industry, noting that it can improve efficiency and service quality, save costs and enhance competitiveness with the use of artificial intelligence, document automation and electronic file management.

    This would advance the city’s position as a major international legal and dispute resolution services centre in the Asia-Pacific region, he added.

    The Deputy Secretary for Justice also said that the Government will actively consider the recommendations of the consultation group to formulate and implement strategies to promote the use of lawtech.

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI: Move Digital Leads AI Revolution in 2025, Expands High-Level Consulting for Family Offices Worldwide

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    MAHE, SEYCHELLES, Feb. 10, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Move Digital, under the leadership of CEO Kristof Schöffling, is setting a groundbreaking trajectory for 2025, transitioning from an AI-first company to a premier consulting powerhouse for major family offices across Monaco, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Sydney, Bangkok, and other global financial hubs. This strategic shift positions Move Digital as the go-to advisor for high-net-worth individuals and influential organizations seeking cutting-edge AI solutions and investment exposure.

    AI-Powered Transformation Meets Elite Advisory Services

    Move Digital has long been at the forefront of technological innovation, pioneering AI-driven applications that enhance efficiency, accessibility, and user experience. Now, as the AI revolution accelerates, the company is expanding its impact beyond software—providing strategic counsel to family offices, corporations, and private investors looking to harness AI for competitive advantage.

    Schöffling’s approach is clear: AI is not just a trend; it is an economic force that, when applied correctly, redefines industries. Move Digital is uniquely positioned to advise on AI’s integration into business operations, offering solutions that improve efficiency, optimize workflows, and create long-term value.

    “Artificial intelligence is no longer a niche for tech firms—it’s a transformative asset for global investors and enterprises. Move Digital is committed to bridging the gap between AI innovation and strategic investment, ensuring that businesses and high-net-worth individuals worldwide gain real exposure to its potential,” Schöffling stated.

    Monaco: A Hub for AI Innovation and Strategic Investment

    A major focus of Move Digital’s consulting division is Monaco—a global center for wealth management and economic innovation. The firm collaborates closely with leading family offices in the principality, guiding them on AI adoption, investment strategies, and the integration of smart AI solutions into corporate infrastructures.

    Through direct engagements with high-net-worth individuals and wealth managers, Move Digital provides tailored insights into the evolving AI landscape, helping stakeholders identify lucrative opportunities and future-proof their portfolios.

    Beyond Monaco, the firm’s advisory reach extends across Tokyo, Hong Kong, Sydney, Bangkok, and other financial capitals, ensuring its clients stay ahead in the rapidly advancing AI ecosystem. Move Digital’s expertise spans AI-powered automation, investment allocation strategies, and enterprise-level AI deployments, enabling organizations to leverage intelligent systems for maximum efficiency.

    Expanding AI’s Role in Global Business and Investment

    Move Digital’s shift into high-end consulting aligns with the increasing demand for AI-focused expertise among family offices, institutional investors, and multinational corporations. The firm’s deep understanding of both AI development and its real-world applications allows it to offer exclusive insights into AI-driven wealth strategies, operational efficiencies, and next-gen technology adoption.

    As businesses and investors seek to navigate the complex AI landscape, Move Digital stands as a trusted partner—delivering tailored solutions that transform industries and secure long-term technological and financial advantages.

    About Kristof Schöffling

    Kristof Schöffling is a serial entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in emerging technologies. His leadership at Move Digital has established the company as a premier force in AI innovation and high-end consulting, helping businesses and investors capitalize on the future of artificial intelligence.

    About Move Digital

    Move Digital Limited is a global technology and consulting firm specializing in AI applications, strategic AI investment advisory, and smart AI solutions for enterprise efficiency. With operations spanning Monaco, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Sydney, Bangkok, and other major financial hubs, the company empowers family offices, high-net-worth individuals, and corporations to integrate AI for maximum impact.

    Media Contact

    Brand: Move Digital Limited

    Contact: Kristof Schöffling

    Email: hello@movedigital.io

    Website: https://movedigital.com

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Mummy’s micro morsel discovered in museum’s tiny treasure trove

    Source: City of Leeds

    A crumb of bread entombed thousands of years ago alongside an ancient Egyptian’s mummified remains has been discovered amongst an astonishing collection of microscopic treasures in Leeds.

    Believed to be up to 3,000 years old, records show the tiny morsel was originally unearthed in Thebes, the site of some of the most famous and spectacular archaeological finds of the last century.

    Collected and preserved by an unknown Victorian microscopist, it has since been stored as part of a collection of previously uncatalogued slides, which have only recently begun to be documented at the Leeds Discovery Centre.

    Stored in small, wooden trays, the collection is thousands strong and is being painstakingly reviewed as part of a volunteer project.

    And remarkably, the piece of bread is not the only astonishing miniature marvel found during the work.

    Another slide contains a mote of dust from the infamous Krakatoa volcanic eruption of 1883, one of the most destructive events of its kind in recorded history, which was so loud it was heard more than 1,900 miles away.

    The miniscule speck itself landed on the deck of a ship called the Arabella, which was sailing 1,000 miles to the west of the Indonesian island.

    Specimens of microscopic sea creatures found during one of history’s most renowned and influential scientific voyages are also among the amazing array of slides.

    The HMS Challenger left Sheerness on the north Kent coast in 1872, embarking on an unprecedented mission to circumnavigate the globe and comprehensively explore the deep seas for the first time.

    Returning three and a half years and 68,890 nautical miles later, the crew had gathered marine plants and animals, sea-floor deposits and rocks from the depths which completely changed scientific understanding of the oceans.

    Examples found in the Leeds collection today include small disc-like fossils called orbitolites, which were gathered 18 fathoms down off the coast of Fiji.

    Also part of the collection is a fully miniaturised late Victorian copy of The Times, with all 12,500 words shrunk down to a size where they can only be read with the aid of extreme magnification.

    The slides are now in the process of being carefully catalogued by volunteer Stephen Crabtree, who initially began working with the museum to study fossilised plants.

    His studies soon revealed a hoard of historical treasures, with slides created by noted Victorian microscopists including James Lomax, Walter Hemingway and James Spencer.

    Clare Brown, Leeds Museums and Galleries’ curator of natural sciences, who has supervised the slides project, said: “What began as a fairly routine cataloguing exercise has slowly uncovered a remarkable archive that includes of some of the most important moments in scientific history.

    “Discovering a morsel of ancient Egyptian bread was particularly surprising, and the fact we can connect the Leeds collection to bread baked thousands of years ago on a different continent is fascinating.

    “We don’t know exactly how or where many of these slides were collected, but we do know that each one of them was meticulously preserved for study and posterity by a diligent microscopist more than a century ago.

    “That in itself is evidence of how important they thought these specimens were and how much they wanted future generations to see and be inspired by them. We’re extremely grateful to them, and to Stephen for following in their footsteps and rediscovering their work all these years later.”

    Once the collection has been documented and photographed, the aim will be to add it to a national database so it can be viewed and accessed by academics, experts and the public.

    Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “Leeds has a truly world class museum collection and it speaks volumes about its quality and scale that we’re still making such amazing discoveries today.

    “Our museums play such an important part in preserving history and heritage so that visitors have the chance to learn, and engage with it for many years to come.”

    The Leeds Discovery Centre is open to the public for free, pre-booked visits. For more information, please visit:  https://museumsandgalleries.leeds.gov.uk/leeds-discovery-centre

    ENDS

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI Europe: VATICAN – Pope Francis: Jesus puts encounter first in his mission

    Source: Agenzia Fides – MIL OSI

    Sunday, 9 February 2025

    Vatican Media

    Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – “Jesus is not concerned with showing off to the crowds, with doing a job, with following a timetable in carrying out his mission. On the contrary, he always makes it his priority to encounter others, to relate to them, and to sympathize with the struggles and setbacks that often burden hearts and take away hope”.With these words, Pope Francis presided this morning in St. Peter’s Square over a solemn Eucharistic concelebration, which marked the conclusion of the Jubilee events dedicated to the Armed Forces and Police.The Pontiff did not read the full text of the homily: “Excuse me, I will now ask the Master [of Liturgical Celebrations] to continue reading due to my difficulty in breathing”, he said after reading the first part of the text and adding a few spontaneous words. Last Thursday, the Holy See Press Office announced in a statement that the Pope was suffering from bronchitis, which is why the weekend audiences were held at the Casa Santa Marta.Archbishop Diego Ravelli, Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, then continued reading the text. In his reflection, the Pope highlighted three key words, taken from the passage of the Gospel according to Luke proclaimed in the liturgy of the day, which tells of the call of the first Apostles: “he saw”, “he went aboard ” and “he sat down”. Christ – the papal homily stressed – “looks with compassion at the expressions of those men, sensing their discouragement and frustration after having worked all night and caught nothing, their hearts as empty as the nets they haul”. But Jesus “does not simply stand by and watch as things go wrong, as we often do, and then complain bitterly. Rather, taking the initiative, he approaches Simon, spends time with him at that difficult moment and chooses to board the boat of his life, which that night had seemed fraught with failure”.Jesus “boards the boat in order to proclaim the good news, to tell of the beauty of God even amid the struggles of life, and to reaffirm that hope endures even when all seems lost.Then the miracle happens: when the Lord gets into the boat of our lives to bring us the good news of God’s love that constantly accompanies and sustains us, then life begins anew, hope is reborn, enthusiasm revives, and we can once again cast our nets into the sea”.In his homily, read by Archbishop Ravelli, the Bishop of Rome also expressed his gratitude to “all the military” who daily carry out their service to protect security and justice: “We are grateful for what you do, at times at great personal risk”.At the end of the celebration, in the words pronounced before the Angelus, in front of the multitude of women and men in uniform gathered in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Francis renewed his appeal for peace, citing the conciliar constitution Gaudium et Spes: “This armed service is to be exercised only for legitimate defence, never to impose dominion over other nations, always observing the international conventions on matters of conflict, and before that, in sacred respect for life and creation”. The Pontiff also recalled the conflicts that continue to tear peoples and nations apart: “Let us pray for peace, in tormented Ukraine, in Palestine, in Israel and throughout the Middle East, in Myanmar, in Kivu, and in Sudan. Let arms be silent everywhere, and let the cry of the peoples, who are asking for peace, be heard!” (F. B.) (Agenzia Fides, 9/2/2025)
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    MIL OSI Europe News –