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Category: India

  • MIL-OSI USA: Stansbury Fights for Expanded Access to Healthcare, More Providers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Melanie Stansbury (N.M.-01)

     WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) fought for expanded access to healthcare in rural and Indigenous communities during an Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee hearing.  

    Her bill, the IHS Provider Expansion Act, was reintroduced earlier in the month, and testimony about the legislation was heard during the subcommittee hearing.  

    Watch video of the hearing.  

    The legislation would establish an Office of Graduate Medical Education Programs within the Indian Health Service (IHS). This legislation would expand the existing IHS Residency Program, building from the Shiprock-University of New Mexico (SUNM) Family Medicine Residency which is the first in the nation.  

    “Access to healthcare should not be determined by history or geography,” said Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01). “The IHS Provider Expansion Act is a vital step towards ensuring that Native and Indigenous communities can access healthcare and grow the number of medical professionals serving Native communities. By investing in medical education within the Indian Health Service, we can help expand healthcare and bridge the gap in healthcare disparities that have persisted for far too long.” 

    Testifying about the importance of the legislation was Dr. Adriann Begay from the Navajo Nation HEAL Initiative. Dr. Begay is Tábaahi (Edge of the Water clan) and born for Bít’ahnii (Folded Arms People clan). Her maternal grandparents are Ta’néészahnii (Badlands People clan) and paternal grandparents are Tl’aashchí’í (Red Cheek People clan).  

    She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Arizona; and received a medical degree from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine through the Indians into Medicine program. She completed her residency in Family Medicine at the University of Arizona and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Family Practice. Adriann worked for the Indian Health Service for 21 years initially at Salt River Clinic under Phoenix Indian Medical Center for 4 years as a primary care provider. Then at Gallup Indian Medical Center as an urgent care physician and administrator for 17 years. 

    Watch video of Dr. Begay’s testimony.  

    More about the bill and its impact:  

    In New Mexico, which is home to 23 Tribal Nations and a population that is nearly 12% Native, access to healthcare services is a pressing issue. Currently, IHS provides services in 37 states to about 2.2 million out of 3.7 million Indigenous people in the country.  

    This bill is projected to directly impact millions of people across the country served by the IHS to improve access to healthcare and medical professionals who understand the unique health challenges faced by Tribal communities.  

    By expanding access through IHS, this bill will also help to address the significant deficit of rural primary healthcare providers across the country. Recent data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows rural areas across the country face a significant deficit in primary care providers, with more than 80 million Americans living in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).   

    By expanding graduate medical education opportunities through IHS, we can expect an increase in the number of physicians willing to practice in these underserved regions.  

    Key Provisions of the Legislation:  

    • Establishment of the Office: The Secretary of Health makes permanent the Office of Graduate Medical Education Programs to oversee residency and fellowship initiatives within the IHS. 
    • Creating a Pipeline: The Office will facilitate opportunities for future healthcare professionals, paraprofessionals, and other health-related workers to engage in residency and fellowship programs. 
    • Oversight of Residency Programs: The Office will oversee existing residency and fellowship programs at IHS facilities and support the creation of additional programs aimed at recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals. 
    • Coordination with Academic Institutions: The Office will work in collaboration with academic institutions to strengthen educational ties and enhance training opportunities. 
    • Interagency Working Group: An interagency working group, involving various federal agencies, will assist in the implementation and sustainability of the Office, ensuring ongoing support and resources.  
    •  

    Read the bill here.  

    ###

    MIL OSI USA News –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Security: Indian National Sentenced to Federal Prison for Defrauding Elderly Americans While on Student Visa

    Source: US FBI

    AUSTIN, Texas – An Indian national who was living in the U.S. on a student visa was sentenced in a federal court in Austin to 63 months in prison for conspiracy to commit money laundering.

    According to court documents, Kishan Rajeshkumar Patel, 20, of Navsari, Gujarat, conspired with co-defendant Dhruv Rajeshbhai Mangukiya and others to defraud elderly victims out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash and gold from July 2024 through August 2024. The conspiracy used various online phishing methods and impersonated U.S. government officials, while Patel fraudulently received the cash and gold from victims, conveying a portion to co-conspirators and keeping a percentage for his own benefit. To date, the investigation has determined that the conspiracy defrauded at least 25 victims with a total intended loss of at least $2,694,156.

    Patel was arrested by the Granite Shoals Police Department on Aug. 24, 2024, after he retrieved a box represented to contain $130,000 from a victim’s residence. He was transferred into federal custody on Aug. 29 and pleaded guilty on March 18. Patel’s sentence was handed down by U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman.

    “This defendant took advantage of his visa status in our country and participated in an international fraud scheme,” said U.S. Attorney Justin Simmons for the Western District of Texas. “Patel defrauded vulnerable American citizens out of millions of dollars by impersonating government officials and preying on his victims’ fears of adverse government action. Today’s sentence demonstrates the federal government’s commitment to prosecuting the perpetrators of such nefarious schemes and achieving justice for the victims.”

    “The FBI is deeply committed to protecting the American people from the devastating effects of financial fraud. We prioritize and aggressively pursue those who prey on our elderly population,” said Special Agent in Charge Aaron Tapp of the FBI’s San Antonio Field Office. “We want to thank our colleagues at the Granite Shoals Police Department for their professionalism and dedication to the citizens they serve.”

    Mangukiya pleaded guilty June 16 and awaits his sentence hearing.

    The FBI investigated the case.

    Assistant U.S. Attorney Keith Henneke prosecuted the case.

    ###

    MIL Security OSI –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Premier’s statement on National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism

    Premier David Eby has issued the following statement marking National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism:

    “Forty years ago today, 329 innocent people boarded Air India Flight 182 on Canadian soil but never made it to their final destination. They were entire families, businesspeople and students with their whole lives ahead of them. Tragically, they became victims of the deadliest terrorist attack in Canadian history when a bomb exploded onboard their flight. Two baggage handlers were also killed at Tokyo’s Narita Airport when a bomb intended for another Air India flight exploded.

    “Today, we remember the 331 victims, including 280 Canadians, as well as everyone whose life was cut short or forever altered by a terrorist attack. We mourn with the loved ones left behind and condemn such senseless acts of violent extremism. 

    “Together, we must stand against the hate, intolerance and division that fuel terrorism. On National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, we renew our resolve to create a safer society for everyone in honour of those we have lost.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 24, 2025

  • PM Modi to inaugurate centenary celebration of historic dialogue between Sree Narayana Guru and Mahatma Gandhi

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the centenary celebration of the historic conversation between Sree Narayana Guru and Mahatma Gandhi on Tuesday, June 24. The event is scheduled to take place at 11:00 AM at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi, where the Prime Minister will also address the gathering.

    This centenary marks 100 years since the landmark interaction between two of India’s most revered spiritual and moral leaders. The original conversation took place on March 12, 1925, at the Sivagiri Mutt during Mahatma Gandhi’s visit. Their dialogue addressed key social and moral issues of the time, including the Vaikom Satyagraha, religious conversions, non-violence, abolition of untouchability, the path to salvation, and the upliftment of the downtrodden.

    The event is being organised by the Sree Narayana Dharma Sanghom Trust, which manages the Sivagiri Mutt. It aims to bring together spiritual leaders, scholars, and social reformers to reflect on the significance of this dialogue, which continues to influence India’s social and ethical landscape.

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Students Across Delhi NCR Reimagine the Future with Samsung Solve for Tomorrow

    Source: Samsung

    Classrooms lit up with curiosity, corridors buzzed with conversations around innovation, and young students stood confidently pitching bold ideas for a better tomorrow. The recent Samsung Solve for Tomorrow roadshows and open houses have been igniting minds across cities, and Delhi NCR was no exception.
     
    Samsung Solve for Tomorrow, launched on April 29, 2025, is more than just a national innovation challenge. It is a call to action for India’s youth — an invitation to step up, identify real-world issues, and build technology-based solutions that can impact lives. The programme equips students with design thinking tools, mentorship from Samsung leaders and IIT Delhi faculty, investor connects, and prototyping support. It also offers INR 1 crore to the top four winning teams.
     
    As part of the outreach, the Samsung team visited Mamta Modern School in Vikaspuri, Kamal Model Sr. Sec. School in Mohan Garden, DAV Sector 14 in Gurgaon, St. Teresa School in Indirapuram, and WCTM Gurgaon. In these open houses, students interacted with programme facilitators, asked questions, explored case studies from previous seasons, and began shaping their own problem statements.
     
    At the New Delhi leg of the roadshow, the excitement was palpable. Students from schools gathered with ideas ranging from AI-based solutions for senior citizen care to sustainable energy innovations and mental health apps tailored for teens.
     
    Among them was Aarna Kaushal, a class 11 student, who has been deeply moved by the sight of overflowing landfills in her city. Inspired by the programme, she’s now working on a smart segregation system for waste collection. “Samsung Solve for Tomorrow made me feel like someone is finally listening to students like us. I’m not just dreaming anymore — I’m planning, researching and designing,” said Aarna.
     
    For Bhumika Rawal, it was the experience of watching kids around her struggle with dyslexia that sparked an idea. “I want to create a voice-based learning app that helps kids learn at their own pace. The roadshow helped me shape that dream into a project,” said Bhumika, her eyes lit with determination.
     
    The energy in these sessions went beyond pitches and prototypes. Students discussed the importance of inclusion, accessibility, climate responsibility, and rural connectivity. They learnt that ideas don’t have to be perfect to be powerful — they just need to be rooted in purpose.
     
    As the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow roadshows continue to travel across India, they’re not just spreading awareness about the programme — they’re awakening a generation of problem-solvers and change-makers.
     
    India is full of young innovators. Samsung is providing them the tools, the platform, and the confidence to build something meaningful.
     
    With open houses like these, Samsung is doing more than scouting for the next big idea — it’s investing in the next generation of changemakers who believe that solving for tomorrow begins today.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Canada: Statement by Prime Minister Carney on the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism

    Source: Government of Canada – Prime Minister

    “Forty years ago, innocent civilians, including over 250 Canadians, were killed in the bombing of Air India Flight 182. This terrorist attack remains the deadliest attack in our country’s history – one we must never forget.

    “As we mark the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, we remember the victims of the Air India bombing and all others who have lost their lives to terrorism.

    “Canada will continue to work with our allies and partners, at home and around the world, to better detect, prevent, and respond to the threat of terrorism and violent extremism. We are also increasing funding for national security, defence, and law enforcement, and enhancing intelligence sharing with our allies.

    “Canada’s new government unequivocally stands against terrorism, and we will deliver on our mandate of change to keep communities safe.”

    MIL OSI Canada News –

    June 24, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Global: To spur the construction of affordable, resilient homes, the future is concrete

    Source: The Conversation – USA – By Pablo Moyano Fernández, Assistant Professor of Architecture, Washington University in St. Louis

    A modular, precast system of concrete ‘rings’ can be connected in different ways to build a range of models of energy-efficient homes. Pablo Moyano Fernández, CC BY-SA

    Wood is, by far, the most common material used in the U.S. for single-family home construction.

    But wood construction isn’t engineered for long-term durability, and it often underperforms, particularly in the face of increasingly common extreme weather events.

    In response to these challenges, I believe mass-produced concrete homes can offer affordable, resilient housing in the U.S. By leveraging the latest innovations of the precast concrete industry, this type of homebuilding can meet the needs of a changing world.

    Wood’s rise to power

    Over 90% of the new homes built in the U.S. rely on wood framing.

    Wood has deep historical roots as a building material in the U.S., dating back to the earliest European settlers who constructed shelters using the abundant native timber. One of the most recognizable typologies was the log cabin, built from large tree trunks notched at the corners for structural stability.

    Log cabins were popular in the U.S. during the 18th and 19th centuries.
    Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images

    In the 1830s, wood construction underwent a significant shift with the introduction of balloon framing. This system used standardized, sawed lumber and mass-produced nails, allowing much smaller wood components to replace the earlier heavy timber frames. It could be assembled by unskilled labor using simple tools, making it both accessible and economical.

    In the early 20th century, balloon framing evolved into platform framing, which became the dominant method. By using shorter lumber lengths, platform framing allowed each floor to be built as a separate working platform, simplifying construction and improving its efficiency.

    The proliferation and evolution of wood construction helped shape the architectural and cultural identity of the nation. For centuries, wood-framed houses have defined the American idea of home – so much so that, even today, when Americans imagine a house, they typically envision one built of wood.

    A suburban housing development from the 1950s being built with platform framing.
    H. Armstrong Roberts/ClassicStock via Getty Images

    Today, light-frame wood construction dominates the U.S. residential market.

    Wood is relatively affordable and readily available, offering a cost-effective solution for homebuilding. Contractors are familiar with wood construction techniques. In addition, building codes and regulations have long been tailored to wood-frame systems, further reinforcing their prevalence in the housing industry.

    Despite its advantages, wood light-frame construction presents several important limitations. Wood is vulnerable to fire. And in hurricane- and tornado-prone regions, wood-framed homes can be damaged or destroyed.

    Wood is also highly susceptible to water-related issues, such as swelling, warping and structural deterioration caused by leaks or flooding. Vulnerability to termites, mold, rot and mildew further compromise the longevity and safety of wood-framed structures, especially in humid or poorly ventilated environments.

    The case for concrete

    Meanwhile, concrete has revolutionized architecture and engineering over the past century. In my academic work, I’ve studied, written and taught about the material’s many advantages.

    The material offers unmatched strength and durability, while also allowing design flexibility and versatility. It’s low-cost and low-maintenance, and it has high thermal mass properties, which refers to the material’s ability to absorb and store heat during the day, and slowly release it during the cooler nights. This can lower heating and cooling costs.

    Properly designed concrete enclosures offer exceptional performance against a wide range of hazards. Concrete can withstand fire, flooding, mold, insect infestation, earthquakes, hail, hurricanes and tornadoes.

    It’s commonly used for home construction in many parts of the world, such as Europe, Japan, Mexico, Brazil and Argentina, as well as India and other parts of Southeast Asia.

    However, despite their multiple benefits, concrete single-family homes are rare in the U.S.

    That’s because most concrete structures are built using a process called cast-in-place. In this technique, the concrete is formed and poured directly at the construction site. The method relies on built-in-place molds. After the concrete is cast and cured over several days, the formwork is removed.

    This process is labor-intensive and time-consuming, and it often produces considerable waste. This is particularly an issue in the U.S., where labor is more expensive than in other parts of the world. The material and labor cost can be as high as 35% to 60% of the total construction cost.

    Portland cement, the binding agent in concrete, requires significant energy to produce, resulting in considerable carbon dioxide emissions. However, this environmental cost is often offset by concrete’s durability and long service life.

    Concrete’s design flexibility and structural integrity make it particularly effective for large-scale structures. So in the U.S., you’ll see it used for large commercial buildings, skyscrapers and most highways, bridges, dams and other critical infrastructure projects.

    But when it comes to single-family homes, cast-in-place concrete poses challenges to contractors. There are the higher initial construction costs, along with a lack of subcontractor expertise. For these reasons, most builders and contractors stick with what they know: the wood frame.

    A new model for home construction

    Precast concrete, however, offers a promising alternative.

    Unlike cast-in-place concrete, precast systems allow for off-site manufacturing under controlled conditions. This improves the quality of the structure, while also reducing waste and labor.

    The CRETE House, a prototype I worked on in 2017 alongside a team at Washington University in St. Louis, showed the advantages of a precast home construction.

    To build the precast concrete home, we used ultra-high-performance concrete, one of the latest advances in the concrete industry. Compared with conventional concrete, it’s about six times stronger, virtually impermeable and more resistant to freeze-thaw cycles. Ultra-high-performance concrete can last several hundred years.

    The strength of the CRETE House was tested by shooting a piece of wood at 120 mph (193 kph) to simulate flying debris from an F5 tornado. It was unable to breach the wall, which was only 2 inches (5.1 centimeters) thick.

    The wall of the CRETE House was able to withstand a piece of wood fired at 120 mph (193 kph).

    Building on the success of the CRETE House, I designed the Compact House as a solution for affordable, resilient housing. The house consists of a modular, precast concrete system of “rings” that can be connected to form the entire structure – floors, walls and roofs – creating airtight, energy-efficient homes. A series of different rings can be chosen from a catalog to deliver different models that can range in size from 270 to 990 square feet (25 to 84 square meters).

    The precast rings can be transported on flatbed trailers and assembled into a unit in a single day, drastically reducing on-site labor, time and cost.

    Since they’re built using durable concrete forms, the house can be easily mass-produced. When precast concrete homes are mass-produced, the cost can be competitive with traditional wood-framed homes. Furthermore, the homes are designed to last far beyond 100 years – much longer than typical wood structures – while significantly lowering utility bills, maintenance expenses and insurance premiums.

    The project is also envisioned as an open-source design. This means that the molds – which are expensive – are available for any precast producer to use and modify.

    The Compact House is made using ultra-high-performance concrete.
    Pablo Moyano Fernández, CC BY-SA

    Leveraging a network that’s already in place

    Two key limitations of precast concrete construction are the size and weight of the components and the distance to the project site.

    Precast elements must comply with standard transportation regulations, which impose restrictions on both size and weight in order to pass under bridges and prevent road damage. As a result, components are typically limited to dimensions that can be safely and legally transported by truck. Each of the Compact House’s pieces are small enough to be transported in standard trailers.

    Additionally, transportation costs become a major factor beyond a certain range. In general, the practical delivery radius from a precast plant to a construction site is 500 miles (805 kilometers). Anything beyond that becomes economically unfeasible.

    However, the infrastructure to build precast concrete homes is already largely in place. Since precast concrete is often used for office buildings, schools, parking complexes and large apartments buildings, there’s already an extensive national network of manufacturing plants capable of producing and delivering components within that 500-mile radius.

    There are other approaches to build homes with concrete: Homes can use concrete masonry units, which are similar to cinder blocks. This is a common technique around the world. Insulated concrete forms involve rigid foam blocks that are stacked like Lego bricks and are then filled with poured concrete, creating a structure with built-in insulation. And there’s even 3D-printed concrete, a rapidly evolving technology that is in its early stages of development.

    However, none of these use precast concrete modules – the rings in my prototypes – and therefore require substantially longer on-site time and labor.

    To me, precast concrete homes offer a compelling vision for the future of affordable housing. They signal a generational shift away from short-term construction and toward long-term value – redefining what it means to build for resilience, efficiency and equity in housing.

    An image of North St. Louis, taken from Google Earth, showing how vacant land can be repurposed using precast concrete homes.
    Pablo Moyano Fernández, CC BY-SA

    This article is part of a series centered on envisioning ways to deal with the housing crisis.

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

    – ref. To spur the construction of affordable, resilient homes, the future is concrete – https://theconversation.com/to-spur-the-construction-of-affordable-resilient-homes-the-future-is-concrete-254561

    MIL OSI – Global Reports –

    June 24, 2025

  • India advances carbon pricing reforms to meet climate goals

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India is moving steadily towards establishing a comprehensive carbon pricing ecosystem aimed at meeting its climate and development commitments. With the formal adoption of the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) in July 2024 and increasing alignment with global carbon markets, the country is setting the stage for a structured, rate-based Emissions Trading System (ETS).

    According to the World Bank’s State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2025 report, India has emerged as a notable player among emerging economies—alongside Brazil and Türkiye—in advancing carbon pricing frameworks and climate finance tools.

    A Transition to Rate-Based Emissions Trading

    Unlike cap-based systems where total emissions are limited, India’s ETS follows a rate-based model. Here, emissions are not capped outright, but each entity is assigned a performance benchmark to limit net emissions relative to output. This model offers greater flexibility, particularly for fast-growing economies like India, by accommodating industrial expansion while maintaining climate discipline.

    The national ETS is set to initially cover nine energy-intensive sectors, including cement, steel, and power generation. Facilities outperforming benchmark emission levels will be issued tradable Credit Certificates. The scheme thus rewards efficiency while laying the groundwork for the Indian Carbon Market (ICM).

    India’s Ministry of Power approved eight methodologies on March 28, 2025, for generating voluntary carbon credits. These include renewable energy, green hydrogen production, industrial energy efficiency, and mangrove afforestation. This move supports the broader aim of transitioning from existing schemes such as the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) programme to a market-ready, credit-based system.

    Emerging Economies in Comparison

    Among peer economies, China operates a similar rate-based ETS focused on the power and heavy industrial sectors. Indonesia, too, follows a rate-based structure and has recently expanded its coverage. Brazil stands apart with a cap-based system, legislated in December 2024, covering all sectors barring agriculture. India’s carbon pricing framework is currently in the regulatory phase but is expected to become operational within the next fiscal year.

    Voluntary Carbon Market: Expanding the Scope

    India is developing a voluntary carbon market to include sectors currently outside the purview of the compliance mechanism. These encompass agriculture, afforestation, and clean cooking initiatives. The objective is to channel private capital towards climate-positive projects through transparent crediting mechanisms and market participation.

    The regulatory backbone for this voluntary market is provided by the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022. This law empowers the central government to issue carbon credit certificates, thereby legitimising both compliance and voluntary credit markets.

    Policy Support and Institutional Framework

    Several flagship initiatives are helping fortify India’s carbon market architecture. Among them is the National Green Hydrogen Mission, which aims to produce 5 million metric tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030. The mission is closely tied to the carbon credit mechanism through approved methodologies that recognise hydrogen’s potential as a low-emission fuel.

    Meanwhile, the PAT scheme—implemented by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) since 2012—has achieved a 15–25% reduction in emissions intensity in targeted sectors. It will gradually integrate with the ETS, ensuring a seamless policy transition.

    India’s renewable energy ambitions remain central to its climate policy. The government aims to install 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based power capacity by 2030, with carbon pricing acting as a complementary instrument to accelerate this shift.

    Market Readiness and Governance

    To strengthen governance, the National Steering Committee for the Indian Carbon Market (NSCICM) has been constituted. It includes representatives from key ministries, state governments, and industry stakeholders. The Committee is responsible for setting targets, issuing guidelines, and ensuring transparency in market operations. It also oversees the development of international trading mechanisms and verifies emission intensity reductions.

    The Bureau of Energy Efficiency, functioning under the Ministry of Power, plays a pivotal role as the technical arm of India’s climate governance. Since its inception in 2002, BEE has deployed a combination of regulatory and market-based tools to drive energy efficiency across sectors such as industry, buildings, transport, and agriculture.

    Enabling Behavioural Shifts

    India’s approach also includes behavioural interventions. Launched as a global movement at COP27, Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) encourages individuals to adopt climate-friendly daily habits. The mission aims to mobilise one billion people by 2028 and transform 80% of Indian villages and urban bodies into green communities.

    Complementing this is the Green Credit Programme (GCP), which was notified in October 2023 under the Environment Protection Act, 1986. GCP promotes tree plantation on degraded forest land, issuing digital credits to participants—ranging from individuals to corporations—who maintain the plantations over a decade. The scheme is designed to expand India’s green cover and incentivise voluntary environmental stewardship.

    Towards a Carbon-Conscious Economy

    India’s carbon pricing journey is firmly grounded in the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC), ensuring that climate action remains equitable and context-specific. With institutional structures now in place and policy backing strong, the country is poised to lead by example in aligning economic development with environmental sustainability.

    June 24, 2025

  • Evacuees laud ‘Operation Sindhu’, credit PM Modi for safe evacuation

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    As India continues to bring its nationals home from Iran under ‘Operation Sindhu’, evacuees on Monday expressed heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union government for the timely and efficient efforts to help Indians stuck in the war-hit country.

    Recounting their ordeal, one evacuee told IANS, “I was brought back from Iran. We were in serious trouble. I want to thank PM Modi for ensuring our safe return.”

    Another evacuee from Lucknow, who had been in Iran for the past 22 days, said, “When Israel attacked Iran, the Indian Embassy stayed in constant contact with us. They ensured our safety, provided us with food and medicine. We are truly thankful. Jai Modi!”

    Describing the tense conditions, a young student added, “The situation there was very bad, but the Indian Embassy supported us fully. We didn’t face any difficulties, and the arrangements for our return were excellent.”

    Another returnee added, “There’s nothing better than our India. Our PM Modi is truly great.”

    Another evacuee stated, “The situation in Iran was frightening with continuous bombardments. Despite that, the Indian government made proper arrangements. PM Modi took care of all of us.”

    Yet another person praised the seamless coordination, saying, “The government did a fantastic job, from picking us up in Iran to bringing us back home. The Indian Embassy was constantly in touch. I am extremely grateful.”

    On Monday, another batch of 285 Indian nationals landed safely in New Delhi as part of the ongoing ‘Operation Sindhu’, taking the total number of evacuees to 1,713.

    This large-scale evacuation effort comes in response to the escalating conflict in the Middle East, especially between Iran and Israel. The latest flight included passengers from various states including Delhi, Bihar, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Jammu and Kashmir.

    Coordinated by the Ministry of External Affairs, ‘Operation Sindhu’ highlights India’s firm commitment to safeguarding its citizens, even in the most volatile regions of the world.

    (With inputs from IANS)

    June 23, 2025

  • Bridging Gaps, Building Futures: 11 Years of inclusive growth for minorities in India

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Over the past eleven years, the central government has made substantial progress in promoting inclusive development among the six centrally notified minority communities—Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Parsis, and Jains. Through a multi-dimensional approach involving education, employment, cultural preservation, digital transformation, and legislative reform, the Ministry of Minority Affairs has worked toward narrowing socio-economic disparities and empowering marginalized sections of society.

    Economic Empowerment and Skills Development

    At the heart of this transformative agenda is the Pradhan Mantri Virasat Ka Samvardhan (PM VIKAS), a flagship scheme launched by the Ministry of Minority Affairs. This comprehensive initiative merges five earlier schemes—Seekho Aur Kamao, Nai Manzil, Nai Roshni, Hamari Dharohar, and USTTAD—into one. PM VIKAS focuses on upskilling youth, promoting entrepreneurship, and empowering minority women through leadership and training programs. It operates in conjunction with the Skill India Mission and integrates with the Skill India Portal for wider outreach and impact.

    The National Minorities Development and Finance Corporation (NMDFC) continues to play a pivotal role in economic empowerment. Offering concessional loans for self-employment, the NMDFC has disbursed ₹752.23 crore to over 1.74 lakh beneficiaries as of March 10, 2025, a significant rise from ₹431.20 crore in 2014-15.

    Infrastructure Development for Community Welfare

    Infrastructure growth has been spearheaded by the Pradhan Mantri Jan Vikas Karyakram (PMJVK), a centrally sponsored scheme aimed at holistic development in minority-concentrated areas. Since 2014-15, projects worth ₹18,416 crore have been sanctioned, covering approximately 5.63 lakh infrastructure units across sectors like health, education, sanitation, renewable energy, and women and child development. The scheme has now been digitized for better monitoring and transparency, with 1,300 Minority Concentration Areas identified across 308 districts in 32 states and UTs.

    Education and Scholarships

    While some schemes like the Maulana Azad National Fellowship (MANF) and Padho Pardesh have been discontinued due to overlaps with other government initiatives, others like the Begum Hazrat Mahal National Scholarship for girls in classes IX to XII, and Naya Savera (Free Coaching and Allied scheme) continue to support educational aspirations of minority youth. Naya Savera provides coaching for competitive exams and admissions into technical and professional courses.

    Cultural and Heritage Preservation

    Schemes like Hamari Dharohar and USTTAD (Upgrading the Skills and Training in Traditional Arts/Crafts for Development) focus on preserving the cultural legacy of minority communities. These schemes support exhibitions, documentation, and skill development among traditional artisans while creating market linkages for their products.

    In further efforts to promote cultural heritage, ₹25 crore has been sanctioned for a Centre for Gurumukhi Script at Khalsa College, Delhi University, while ₹11.17 crore has been approved for a Centre for Avesta Pahlavi Studies at Mumbai University. Projects worth ₹65 crore are in progress for Jain Studies and Manuscriptology at institutions in Indore and Gujarat.

    Special Initiatives for Community Support

    The Jiyo Parsi scheme, launched in 2013-14 to address the declining Parsi population, has aided the birth of over 400 Parsi children. In FY 2023-24, ₹3 crore was released, with a proposed budget of ₹6 crore for 2024-25.

    Under the Buddhist Development Plan (BDP), ₹300.17 crore worth of projects have been approved to support Buddhist communities, especially in the Himalayan belt. Key institutions like the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS) and Central Institute of Himalayan Culture Studies (CIHCS) are implementing these initiatives through a hub-and-spoke model.

    The Government has also focused on easing the Haj pilgrimage, transferring its administration from the Ministry of External Affairs to the Ministry of Minority Affairs in 2016. Expenditures have increased from ₹47.37 crore in 2014-15 to ₹83.51 crore in 2023-24. Digital support has been introduced through the Haj Suvidha App, providing pilgrims access to essential services like travel details, emergency help, and training materials.

    Legislative Reforms and Digital Transformation

    A significant development came with the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 notified on April 8, 2025. This amendment strengthens governance and transparency in the management of Waqf properties. It is complemented by the launch of the UMEED Portalon June 6, 2025—a centralized digital platform for uploading, verifying, and monitoring Waqf properties. These measures aim to modernize asset management and ensure properties are used for their intended religious and charitable purposes.

    Further modernization efforts include the Qaumi Waqf Board Taraqqiati Scheme (QWBTS) and Shahari Waqf Sampatti Vikas Yojana (SWSVY), which focus on computerization and commercial development of waqf properties. From 2019-20 to 2023-24, ₹23.87 crore and ₹7.16 crore were spent under QWBTS and SWSVY respectively.

    Promoting Indigenous Arts and Entrepreneurship

    The Ministry also organizes Lok Samvardhan Parv, a cultural event to showcase minority arts and crafts while fostering entrepreneurship. Three editions have been held—in July 2024 at Dilli Haat, January 2025 at Baba Kharak Singh Marg, and April 2025 at Kashmir University in Srinagar. These events feature workshops on design, marketing, GST, and digital commerce in partnership with the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH).

    June 23, 2025

  • Putin tells Iranian foreign minister there was no justification for US attack

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Russian President Vladimir Putin told Iran’s foreign minister on Monday there was no justification for the U.S. bombing of his country and that Moscow was trying to help the Iranian people.

    Putin hosted Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Moscow two days after U.S. President Donald Trump sent U.S. bomber planes to strike Iran’s three main nuclear sites.

    “The absolutely unprovoked aggression against Iran has no basis and no justification,” Putin told Araqchi in televised comments.

    “For our part, we are making efforts to assist the Iranian people,” he added.

    “I am very glad that you are in Moscow today, this will give us the opportunity to discuss all these pressing issues and think together about how we could get out of today’s situation.”

    Araqchi told Putin that Iran was conducting legitimate self-defence, and thanked Russia for condemning the U.S. actions. He conveyed best wishes to Putin from Iran’s supreme leader and president.

    “Russia is today on the right side of history and international law,” said Araqchi.

    It was unclear, however, what Russia might do to support Iran, an important ally with which Putin signed a strategic cooperation treaty in January. That agreement did not include a mutual defence clause.

    Before Saturday’s U.S. strikes, Moscow had warned that U.S. military intervention could destabilise the entire region and plunge it into the “abyss”.

    Asked what Russia was ready to do to help Tehran, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “It all depends on what Iran needs”. He said the fact that Moscow had offered to mediate in the crisis was itself a form of support.

    Peskov condemned the U.S. attacks.

    “An increase in the number of participants in this conflict is happening – or rather, has happened. A new spiral of escalation of tension in the region,” Peskov told reporters.

    “And, of course, we condemn this and express regret in this regard, deep regret. In addition, of course, it remains to be seen what happened to (Iran’s) nuclear facilities, whether there is a radiation hazard.”

    Peskov said Trump had not told Putin in detail about the planned strikes in advance.

    “There was no detailed information. The topic of Iran itself was repeatedly discussed by the presidents during their most recent conversations, certain proposals were voiced by Russia, but there was no direct detailed information about this,” he said.

    (Reuters)

    June 23, 2025

  • Succession plans for Iran’s Khamenei hit top gear

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The clock’s ticking for senior clerics seeking a successor to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

    A three-man committee from a top clerical body, appointed by Khamenei himself two years ago to identify his replacement, has accelerated its planning in recent days since Israel attacked Iran and threatened to assassinate the veteran leader, five insiders with knowledge of the discussions told Reuters.

    Khamenei, 86, is being regularly briefed on the talks, according to the Iranian sources who requested anonymity to discuss highly sensitive matters. He has gone into hiding with his family and is being guarded by the Vali-ye Amr special forces unit of the Revolutionary Guards, a top security official said.

    The ruling establishment will immediately seek to name a successor to Khamenei if he is killed, to signal stability and continuity, according to the sources who acknowledged that predicting Iran’s subsequent political trajectory was difficult.

    A new leader will still be chosen for his devotion to the revolutionary precepts of the Islamic Republic’s late founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, according to one insider, who is close to Khamenei’s office and privy to succession discussions.

    At the same time, the top echelon of power is also considering which candidate might present a more moderate face to ward off foreign attacks and internal revolts, the person said.

    Two frontrunners have emerged in the succession discussions, the five insiders said: Khamenei’s 56-year-old son Mojtaba, long seen as a continuity choice, and a new contender, Hassan Khomeini, grandson of the father of the Islamic revolution.

    Khomeini, a close ally of the reformist faction that favours the easing of social and political restrictions, nonetheless commands respect among senior clerics and the Revolutionary Guards because of his lineage, the sources added.

    “I once again humbly express that this small and insignificant servant of the Iranian people stands ready to proudly be present on any front or scene you deem necessary,” the 53-year-old said in a public message of support to the supreme leader on Saturday, hours before the U.S. bombed Iran’s nuclear facilities.

    Khomeini has come into the frame as a serious candidate this month amid the conflict with Israel and America because he could represent a more conciliatory choice internationally and domestically than Mojtaba Khamenei, the five people said.

    By contrast, Khamenei hews closely to his father’s hardline policies, according to the insiders who cautioned that nothing had been determined, candidates could change and the supreme leader would have the final say.

    However, with the military conflict continuing, it remains unclear whether any new leader could be chosen easily or installed securely or if he could assume the level of authority enjoyed by Khamenei, they added.

    Israeli strikes have also killed several of Iran’s top Revolutionary Guards commanders, potentially complicating a handover of power as the elite military force has long played a central role in enforcing the supreme leader’s rule.

    Khamenei’s office and the Assembly of Experts, the clerical body from which the succession committee was drawn, were not available to comment.

    TRUMP: KHAMENEI IS EASY TARGET

    Planning for an eventual handover was already in the works because of Khamenei’s age and the longstanding health concerns of a leader who has dominated all aspects of Iranian politics for decades, the sources said.

    The urgency of the task was underlined in September when Israel killed Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, a close ally of Khamenei’s, and the planning accelerated significantly this month following the Israeli attacks on nuclear sites, which were followed by the American attacks at the weekend.

    “We know exactly where the so-called ‘Supreme Leader’ is hiding,” U.S. President Trump warned on social media last week, calling for Tehran’s unconditional surrender. “He is an easy target.”

    Khamenei hasn’t publicly expressed any preference for his successor. The sources said he had repeatedly opposed the idea of his son taking over, in succession discussions in the past, concerned about any suggestion of Iran returning to the kind of hereditary rule that ended with the ousting of the shah in 1979.

    The role of Supreme Leader was created after the revolution and then enshrined in the constitution giving a top cleric ultimate authority in guiding the elected president and parliament.

    Officially, the leader is named by the Assembly of Experts, made up of 88 senior clerics who are chosen through a national election in which a hardline watchdog body aligned with Khamenei must approve all the candidates.

    “Whether the Islamic Republic survives or not, it will be a very different one, because the context in which it has existed has fundamentally changed,” said London-based Iranian political analyst Hossein Rassam, adding that Hassan Khomeini could fit the bill for a leader to take Iran in a new direction.

    “The regime has to opt for someone who’ll facilitate slow transition.”

    Hassan Khomeini’s close links to the reformist faction of Iranian politics, which pursued an ultimately unsuccessful policy of opening Iran to the outside world in the 1990s, saw hardline officials bar him from running as a member of senior clerical body the Assembly of Experts in 2016.

    The succession planners are aware that Khomeini is likely to be more palatable to the Iranian population than a hardliner, the five insiders said. Last year he warned of a “crisis of rising popular dissatisfaction” among Iranians due to poverty and deprivation.

    By contrast, Mojtaba Khamenei’s views echo those of his father on every major topic from cracking down on opponents to taking a hardline with foreign foes, the sources said – qualities they saw as hazardous with Iran under attack.

    A mid-ranking cleric who teaches theology at a religious seminary in the city Qom, the centre of Iranian religious life, Mojtaba has never held a formal position the Islamic Republic, though exercises influence behind the scenes as the gatekeeper to his father, according to Iran watchers.

    The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions on Mojtaba in 2019, saying he represented the Supreme Leader in “an official capacity despite never being elected or appointed to a government position” aside from working his father’s office.

    OTHER CANDIDATES FALL AWAY

    Several of the candidates long seen as possible successors to Khamenei have already died.

    Former presidents Hashemi Rafsanjani passed away in 2017, former judiciary chief Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi died of natural causes in 2018 and former President Ebrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash in 2023. Another senior cleric Sadegh Amoli Larijani, has been sidelined.

    Others, such as the Assembly of Experts member Ayatollah Alireza Arafi, are still in contention but have fallen behind Mojtaba Khamenei and Hassan Khomeini, the five sources said.

    Beyond the most likely candidates, it’s also possible that a less prominent cleric could be chosen as a pawn of Revolutionary Guards, said Ali Vaez, Iran project director at the International Crisis Group think-tank.

    “It is possible that they would put forward a candidate that no one has ever heard of and would not really hold the same levers of power that Ayatollah Khamenei has held now for more than 30 years,” he said.

    The supreme leader’s voice is powerful.

    After the death of the Islamic Republic’s founder Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989, Khamenei was publicly hailed as his predecessor’s choice. Although he had already served as president, Khamenei was only a mid-ranking cleric and was initially dismissed by influential clerics as weak and an unlikely successor to his charismatic predecessor.

    However, he steadily tightened his grip to become Iran’s unquestioned decision-maker, relying on the Revolutionary Guards as he outmanoeuvred rivals and crushed bouts of popular unrest.

    (Reuters)

    June 23, 2025

  • Sensex ends lower in volatile session

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The stock markets started the week on a weak note as tensions escalated in the Middle East, after the United States bombed three nuclear facilities in Iran, showing clear support for Israel in the ongoing conflict.

    The development made investors cautious, leading to a fall in benchmark indices on Monday. The Sensex dropped 511.38 points, or 0.62 per cent, to close at 81,896.79. During the intra-day, it moved between a high of 82,169.67 and a low of 81,476.76.

    Similarly, the Nifty also ended in the red. It fell 140.50 points, or 0.56 per cent, to settle at 24,971.90. The index had touched an intra-high of 25,057 and a low of 24,824.85 during the session.

    Interestingly, broader markets performed better than the frontline indices. The Nifty Midcap100 closed with a gain of 0.36 per cent, while the Smallcap100 rose 0.70 per cent.

    Out of the 30 stocks in the Sensex, HCL Tech, Infosys, Larsen and Toubro, Mahindra and Mahindra, Hindustan Unilever, and ITC were the biggest losers, falling between 2.28 per cent and 1.21 per cent.

    On the other hand, Trent, Bharat Electronics, Bajaj Finance, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Bajaj Finserv were the top gainers, rising between 3.39 per cent and 0.58 per cent.

    The performance of sectoral indices was mixed as Bank Nifty, Auto, FMCG, and Realty ended in the red while metal, consumer durables, pharma, and media sectors managed to close with gains.

    However, the biggest loser was the Nifty IT index, which declined by 1.48 per cent as stocks like Coforge and Persistent Systems pulled the sector down.

    “Last Friday, markets buildup in anticipation of easing Middle East tensions, following the US announcement of a two-week window to deliberate its involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict,” Vinod Nair of Geojit Investments Limited said.

    “However, the unexpected US airstrike on Iran’s nuclear facilities over the weekend disrupted those expectations, triggering a sharp rise in crude oil prices and leading to consolidation in the domestic equity market,” he added.

    The market’s fear gauge, India VIX, which indicates volatility, rose by 2.74 per cent to 14.05 points.

    The Nifty recovered significantly after a gap-down opening amid weak geopolitical sentiment. A pullback in crude oil prices helped the Indian market pare some of its morning losses, although it still ended on a negative note.

    Meanwhile, the rupee traded weak by 0.11 at 86.75 as the dollar index appreciated toward the 99 mark. “Technically, the rupee remains weak below 86, with the next support seen near 87,” said Jateen Trivedi of LKP Securities.

    (IANS)

    June 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Russia: “Digital platforms have become a key form of ensuring economic and cultural sovereignty”

    Translation. Region: Russian Federal

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

    © Mikhail Varushchev / Roscongress Foundation

    HSE Academic Director Yaroslav Kuzminov spoke at the SPIEF-2025 session “In Search of New Sources of Growth: Is a Different Model of Global Financial and Trade Architecture Possible?” The discussion was built around processes in the global economy related to the strengthening of multipolarity and the increasing role of new centers of global growth — states of the Global South and East. The participants discussed the potential and possibilities of a new model of international interaction.

    The global economy is often viewed as a dual system consisting of two large blocs, currently led by the United States and China. However, the world is much more complex, noted Yaroslav Kuzminov.

    “The collective West is trying to preserve itself as a single market system with single institutions, offering them to the rest of the world, but its foundation – free trade and unconditional protection of private property – is now being subjected to crushing blows from national and bloc protectionism. On the other hand, China, with all its economic and technological power, cannot act as the leader of the second world, it cannot gather around itself, as the United States did in its time or the Soviet Union did, other countries, because it is not free,” he said.

    The HSE academic director explained that American and Soviet leadership was based on two pillars: basic defense spending and economic preferences for allies. Now, countries are creating their own economies that are resilient to external influences. This implies the development of domestic production and the diversification of export markets. But this is not enough for sustainable economic growth, especially in the context of the global technological revolutions that are currently taking place.

    “The future is very uncertain, it is very difficult to make forecasts. If earlier the source of uncertainty was only future technologies, today it is geopolitical ruptures and geopolitical unions,” noted Yaroslav Kuzminov.

    In his opinion, the key argument for future technological power and future economic power is R

    “The problem of the center and the periphery arises, and this problem can only be solved by an extremely politically complex pooling of resources, pooling the efforts of different countries, which requires a degree of trust and a level of awareness of the common interest that, in my opinion, is simply impossible to achieve now. In these conditions, almost all technological innovations are developed within national frameworks, and this is where the problem of the “golden nail” arises. The “golden nail” is the problem of a deficit in the scale of the market. We can offer any breakthrough things, but if our market is limited to hundreds of millions of people and we compete with companies that have a market of billions of people, we will still have a “golden nail”. Therefore, it is necessary to single out those companies, those technological areas that correspond to the scale of the politically accessible market, and in other cases talk about localizing transnational companies in their sales markets, setting requirements for these companies to operate in national markets. I would call this the internal rooting of transnational companies ready to work with national jurisdictions,” says Yaroslav Kuzminov.

    At the same time, he noted that completely new solutions are not in the sphere of technology, the market is growing not only due to them. First of all, this is logistics: logistics chains have changed, two political zones of rupture have formed between the EU and Russia and in the Middle East. In these conditions, opportunities arise for countries such as Malaysia, Vietnam and India, which act as trade hubs.

    The most important elements of global changes are also related to the human capital of the golden billion countries, the HSE scientific director said. If in the countries of the collective West the share of the middle class is decreasing due to the share of families requiring state support, including migrants, then in the countries of Asia and the South it has grown to a third of the population, in Russia it is also about 35%.

    The middle class is people who can and want to choose, and who have the income and education to do so. The growth of the middle class leads to the formation of political and cultural innovations that act as economic drivers to the same extent as technological solutions. Middle class consumption acts as an economic driver along with heavy technological innovations.

    The second engine is the digital economy, which has received a new lease of life thanks to economically significant digital platforms. “Digital platforms have become a key form of ensuring economic and cultural sovereignty, and countries that underestimate their role will lose strategically,” Yaroslav Kuzminov summed up. The US, China, and Russia have their own platforms and digital ecosystems, he emphasized.

    The Global South is more diverse than the Soviet and Western systems of the past, it includes many regions with different levels of development and has not yet formed structurally, believes Andrey Kostin, President and Chairman of the Management Board of VTB Bank. Despite the fact that today the BRICS countries produce no less than the G7 countries, the entire financial infrastructure is controlled by Western countries and has ceased to be effective due to the fact that the balance of power has changed.

    “Due to the fact that the South is complex in itself, the internal relations are very difficult, we are still moving slowly. We need to create our own alternative center of the Global South and use settlements in national currencies. Sooner or later we will have to come to some denominator, we will have to create our own financial market infrastructure, because the current financial system meets exclusively the interests of the West. There are calculations that the BRICS countries lose about 30 billion a year on settlements through the dollar system. Perhaps the countries would survive this, but the political pressure that is exerted with the help of the dollar is, of course, unacceptable,” he said.

    Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexey Overchuk noted the importance of developing integration in the post-Soviet space. “We strive first and foremost to try to create conditions for reducing the costs of our producers of goods and services here, at home, inside. We started with measures to protect our own market and create a single customs circuit in order to control the market inside, develop relevant technical regulations, standards and reduce barriers as much as possible. And we have largely achieved this: trade within the CIS is developing much faster than trade with countries of the outside world,” he emphasized.

    At the same time, work is actively underway to develop international transport corridors to the markets of the Global South and to conclude agreements on free trade zones in order to provide the most comfortable environment for the promotion of Russian goods.

    The founder of En Group, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the P.A. Stolypin Institute for Growth Economics Oleg Deripaska believes that the task of doubling the Russian economy over the next 12 years is quite realistic. To do this, it is necessary, among other things, to create competitive production in aviation and transport power engineering. He called on businesses not to wait for the end of geopolitical tensions, but to actively develop now, in the current conditions.

    Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov noted that BRICS financiers are currently working in three main areas: the creation of cross-border payment, inter-depository, insurance and reinsurance infrastructure.

    The issue of the need to create a BRICS depository infrastructure was raised by Russia during its presidency of the association. However, this issue is not easily resolved. “We see that many countries are wary of investments, of settlements with our country, but I want to say that the question of how profitable it is, how profitable it is, is always at issue here. The desire to earn money solves any problem,” he explained.

    Anton Siluanov also spoke in favor of joint recognition of rating agencies within the BRICS framework. The head of the Ministry of Finance noted that partners from China are already very actively applying their rating assessments to business, including in Russia.

    In addition, the session was attended by the Minister of Foreign Trade of Qatar Ahmad bin Mohammed Al Sayed, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African Export-Import Bank Benedict Okey Oramah and President of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank Serhat Koksal.

    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 –

    June 23, 2025

  • Union Home Minister Amit Shah to chair 25th meeting of Central Zonal Council in Varanasi

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah will chair the 25th meeting of the Central Zonal Council on Tuesday, June 24, in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The meeting, organized by the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with the Government of Uttar Pradesh, will bring together key policymakers from the central and state governments.

    Chief Ministers of the member states—Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh—along with two senior ministers from each state, will participate in the meeting. The Chief Secretaries and other senior officials of these states, as well as representatives from central ministries, will also be in attendance.

    The Central Zonal Council is one of the five Zonal Councils established under Sections 15 to 22 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. These councils were created to foster cooperation and coordination between states and the Centre. The Union Home Minister serves as the chairperson of all five councils, while the Chief Ministers, Lieutenant Governors, or Administrators of the member states and Union Territories act as members. Each year, the Chief Minister of one member state is appointed vice-chairperson on a rotational basis, and two ministers are nominated by the Governor of each member state.

    To streamline discussions, each Zonal Council has a permanent committee at the level of Chief Secretaries. State-proposed issues are first examined by this committee before being brought to the full council meeting for further deliberation.

    Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Zonal Councils have evolved from purely advisory bodies into key forums for dialogue and cooperation. The Prime Minister has consistently emphasized the importance of both cooperative and competitive federalism in driving the all-round development of the nation. These councils have thus become effective platforms for discussing and resolving inter-state and Centre-state issues.

    In the past eleven years, 61 meetings of the various Zonal Councils and their permanent committees have been held, reflecting growing cooperation among state governments and central departments.

    The councils have also addressed matters of national importance, such as ensuring the swift investigation and resolution of sexual offense cases against women and children, including the implementation of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC). Other key issues include expanding access to banking services in every village, the rollout of the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112), and regional priorities like improving nutrition, health, education, electricity access, urban planning, and strengthening the cooperative sector.

    June 23, 2025

  • Union Home Minister Amit Shah to chair 25th meeting of Central Zonal Council in Varanasi

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah will chair the 25th meeting of the Central Zonal Council on Tuesday, June 24, in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The meeting, organized by the Inter-State Council Secretariat under the Ministry of Home Affairs in collaboration with the Government of Uttar Pradesh, will bring together key policymakers from the central and state governments.

    Chief Ministers of the member states—Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh—along with two senior ministers from each state, will participate in the meeting. The Chief Secretaries and other senior officials of these states, as well as representatives from central ministries, will also be in attendance.

    The Central Zonal Council is one of the five Zonal Councils established under Sections 15 to 22 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956. These councils were created to foster cooperation and coordination between states and the Centre. The Union Home Minister serves as the chairperson of all five councils, while the Chief Ministers, Lieutenant Governors, or Administrators of the member states and Union Territories act as members. Each year, the Chief Minister of one member state is appointed vice-chairperson on a rotational basis, and two ministers are nominated by the Governor of each member state.

    To streamline discussions, each Zonal Council has a permanent committee at the level of Chief Secretaries. State-proposed issues are first examined by this committee before being brought to the full council meeting for further deliberation.

    Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Zonal Councils have evolved from purely advisory bodies into key forums for dialogue and cooperation. The Prime Minister has consistently emphasized the importance of both cooperative and competitive federalism in driving the all-round development of the nation. These councils have thus become effective platforms for discussing and resolving inter-state and Centre-state issues.

    In the past eleven years, 61 meetings of the various Zonal Councils and their permanent committees have been held, reflecting growing cooperation among state governments and central departments.

    The councils have also addressed matters of national importance, such as ensuring the swift investigation and resolution of sexual offense cases against women and children, including the implementation of Fast Track Special Courts (FTSC). Other key issues include expanding access to banking services in every village, the rollout of the Emergency Response Support System (ERSS-112), and regional priorities like improving nutrition, health, education, electricity access, urban planning, and strengthening the cooperative sector.

    June 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Powering Britain’s Future

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    Press release

    Powering Britain’s Future

    Electricity costs for businesses – including potentially hundreds in Scotland – to be slashed as Industrial Strategy launched to unlock investment and new jobs

    More than 7,000 British businesses are set to see their electricity bills slashed by up to 25% from 2027, as the Government unveils its bold new Industrial Strategy today [Monday 23 June].

    The modern Industrial Strategy sets out a ten-year plan to boost investment, create good skilled jobs and make Britain the best place to do business by tackling two of the biggest barriers facing UK industry – high electricity prices and long waits for grid connections.

    British manufacturers currently pay some of the highest electricity prices in the developed world while businesses looking to expand or modernise have faced delays when it comes to connecting to the grid.

    For too long these challenges have held back growth and made it harder for British firms to compete. Today’s announcement marks a decisive shift — with government stepping in to support industry and unlock the UK’s economic potential.

    From 2027, the new British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will reduce electricity costs by up to £40 per megawatt hour for over 7,000 electricity-intensive businesses in manufacturing sectors like automotive, aerospace and chemicals. Hundreds of Scottish businesses could be in line to benefit.

    These firms, which support over 300,000 skilled jobs, will be exempt from paying levies such as the Renewables Obligation, Feed-in Tariffs and the Capacity Market — helping level the playing field and make them more internationally competitive. Eligibility and further details on the exemptions will be determined following consultation, which will be launched shortly.

    The government is also increasing support for the most energy-intensive firms — like steel, chemicals, and glass — by covering more of the electricity network charges they normally have to pay through the British Industry Supercharger. These businesses currently get a 60% discount on those charges, but from 2026, that will increase to 90%. This means their electricity bills will go down, helping them stay competitive, protect jobs, and invest in the future.

    This will help around 500 eligible businesses in sectors such as steel, ceramics and glass reduce their costs and protect jobs in industries that are the backbone of our economy and will be delivered at no additional cost to the taxpayer. The support for steel manufacturing is crucial as it’s a critical enabling industry for Scotland’s world leading defence and renewable energy sectors.

    These reforms complement the government’s long-term mission for clean power, which is the only way to bring down bills for good by ending the UK’s dependency on volatile fossil fuel markets.

    To ensure businesses can grow and hire without delay, the government will also deliver a new Connections Accelerator Service to streamline grid access for major investment projects — including prioritising those that create high-quality jobs and deliver significant economic benefits.

    We will work closely with the energy sector, local authorities, Scottish and Welsh Governments, trade unions, and industry to design this service, which we expect to begin operating at the end of 2025. New powers in the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, currently before parliament, could also allow the Government to reserve grid capacity for strategically important projects, cutting waiting times and unlocking growth in key sectors.

    The Industrial Strategy is a 10-year plan to promote business investment and growth and make it quicker, easier and cheaper to do business in the UK, giving businesses the confidence to invest and create 1.1 million good, well-paid jobs in thriving industries – delivering on this government’s Plan for Change.

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

    This Industrial Strategy marks a turning point for Britain’s economy and a clear break from the short-termism and sticking plasters of the past.

    In an era of global economic instability, it delivers the long term certainty and direction British businesses need to invest, innovate and create good jobs that put more money in people’s pockets as part of the Plan for Change.

    This is how we power Britain’s future – by backing the sectors where we lead, removing the barriers that hold us back, and setting out a clear path to build a stronger economy that works for working people. Our message is clear – Britain is back and open for business.

    Scottish Secretary Ian Murray today visited a new industrial development in East Lothian, on the site of a former coal-fired power station. The redevelopment site is partly funded by an £11 million UK Government investment, and includes the construction of a new interconnecter to take power from the Inchcape offshore wind farm to the National Grid. 

    Also joint Department for Business and Trade/HM Treasury Minister for Investment, Baroness Poppy Gustafsson, will meet senior figures from Dundee’s life sciences and tech, gaming, and creative sectors later. 

    Speaking ahead of his visit Mr Murray said:

    Scotland is rightly at the heart of the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy with our businesses and expertise integral to further creating jobs and economic growth through the eight sectors identified.

    Advanced manufacturing, clean energy, creative Industries, defence, digital and technologies, financial services, life sciences and professional and business services, Scotland excels at them all. But we have the potential to go much further. And by slashing electricity costs for Scottish businesses, increasing business investment and cutting red tape the UK Government is helping turbocharge the economy, create jobs and put more money in the pockets of working Scots as part of our Plan for Change.

    We have a proud industrial heritage and with this new comprehensive 10 year strategy Scotland and the wider UK has an exciting future.

    Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said:

    The UK has some of the most innovative businesses in the world and our Plan for Change has provided them with the stability they need to grow and for more to be created.

    Today’s Industrial Strategy builds on that progress with a ten-year plan to slash barriers to investment. It’ll see billions of pounds for investment and cutting-edge tech, ease energy costs, and upskill the nation. It will ensure the industries that make Britain great can thrive. It will boost our economy and create jobs that put more money in people’s pockets.

    Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:

    We’ve said from day one Britain is back in business under this government, and the £100 billion of investment we’ve secured in the past year shows our Plan for Change is already delivering for working people.

    Our Modern Industrial Strategy will ensure the UK is the best country to invest and do business, delivering economic growth that puts more money in people’s pockets and pays for our NHS, schools and military.

    Not only does this Strategy prioritise investment to attract billions for new business sites, cutting-edge research, and better transport links, it will also make our industrial electricity prices more competitive.

    Tackling energy costs and fixing skills has been the single biggest ask of us from businesses and the greatest challenge they’ve faced – this government has listened, and now we’re taking the bold action needed. Government and business working hand in hand to make working people better off is what this Government promised and what we will deliver.

    Energy Secretary Ed Miliband said:

    For too long high electricity costs have held back British businesses, as a result of our reliance on gas sold on volatile international markets.

    As part of our modern industrial strategy we’re unlocking the potential of British industry by slashing industrial electricity prices in key sectors.

    We’re also doubling down on our clean power strengths with increased investment in growth industries from offshore wind to nuclear. This will deliver on our clean power mission and Plan for Change to bring down bills for households and businesses for good.

    The Supercharger and British Industrial Competitiveness Scheme will be funded through reforms to the energy system. The government is reducing costs within the system to free up funding without raising household bills or taxes and intends to also use additional funds from the strengthening of UK carbon pricing, including as a result of linking with the EU carbon market.

    We have set out an intention to link emissions trading systems, as part of our new agreement with the European Union to support British businesses. Without an agreement to do this, British industry would have to pay the EU’s carbon tax.

    We intend to link our carbon pricing system with the EU’s, we will ensure that money stays in the UK—which allows us to support British companies and British jobs through these schemes.

    Building on the Spending Review and the recently announced 10-Year Infrastructure Strategy, the Industrial Strategy is the latest step forward in our plans to deliver national renewal. It will include targeted support for the areas of the country and economy that have the greatest potential to grow, while introducing reforms that will make it easier for all businesses to get ahead.

    The Strategy’s bold plan of action includes:

    • Slash electricity costs by up to 25% from 2027 for electricity-intensive manufacturers in our growth sectors and foundational industries in their supply chain, bringing costs more closely in line with other major economies in Europe.

    • Unlocking billions in finance for innovative business, especially for SMEs by increasing British Business Bank financial capacity to £25.6 billion, crowding in tens of billions of pounds more in private capital. This includes an additional £4bn for Industrial Strategy Sectors, crowding in billions more in private capital. By investing largely through venture funds, the BBB will back the UK’s most high-growth potential companies.

    • Reducing regulatory burdens by cutting the administrative costs of regulation for business by 25% and reduce the number of regulators. 

    • Supporting 5,500 more SMEs to adopt new technology through the Made Smarter programme while centralising government support in one place through the Business Growth Service.

    • Boosting R&D spending to £22.6bn per year by 2029-30 to drive innovation across the IS-8, with more than £2bn for AI over the Spending Review, and £2.8bn for advanced manufacturing over the next ten years. This will leverage in billions more from private investors. Regulatory changes will further clear the path for fast-growing industries and innovative products such as biotechnology, AI, and autonomous vehicles.

    • Attracting elite global talent to our key sectors, via visa and migration reforms and the new Global Talent Taskforce.

    • Deepening economic and industrial collaboration with our partners, building on our Industrial Strategy Partnership with Japan and recent deals with the US, India, and the EU.

    • Revolutionising public procurement and reducing barriers for new entrants and SMEs to bolster domestic competitiveness.

    • Supporting the UK’s city regions and clusters by increasing the supply of investible sites through a new £600m Strategic Sites Accelerator, at six locations to be chosen across the UK, enhanced regional support from the Office for Investment, National Wealth Fund, and British Business Bank, and more, including  with the Scottish Government to support the Edinburgh-Glasgow Central Belt.

    • Strengthening existing “Industrial Strategy Zones” – in Scotland these are the Forth Green Freeport, Cromarty Firth Green Freeport, Glasgow City Region and the North East Scotland Investment Zones – with an enhanced offer of streamlined planning, better-targeted investment promotion, support for accessing concessionary finance and coordinated support on skills.

    • Delivering AI Growth Zones to attract investment in AI infrastructure in strategic locations across the UK, including Scotland, with support for planning, access to energy, and partnerships with the private sector.

    • Growing high-potential innovation ecosystems through the Local Innovation Partnerships Fund, with at least £30m for Scotland, building on UK-wide public R&D investment and Innovate UK’s joint action plans with devolved governments.

    • Identifying and securing the right financing for investment projects in Scotland with the National Wealth Fund, working with the Scottish National Investment Bank.  

    • Using a British Business Bank Cluster Champion in Glasgow City Region, with deep expertise and local knowledge, to coordinate investment-readiness programmes, strengthen financial networks, and connect high-potential firms to investors.

    The plan focuses on 8 sectors where the UK is already strong and there’s potential for faster growth: Advanced Manufacturing, Clean Energy Industries, Creative Industries, Defence, Digital and Technologies, Financial Services, Life Sciences, and Professional and Business Services. Each growth sector has a bespoke 10-year plan that will attract investment, enable growth and create high-quality, well-paid jobs.

    Dame Clare Barclay DBE, Chair of the Industrial Strategy Advisory Council and President of Enterprise & Industry EMEA at Microsoft said:

    I welcome today’s Industrial Strategy, which sets out a clear plan to back the UK’s growth driving sectors. It is particularly positive to see the strong focus on skills in areas such as engineering, technology and defence. Commitments such as £187 million for the TechFirst programme will ensure the UK has the skills it needs to support our growth industries and seize transformative opportunities like AI.

    Rain Newton-Smith, Chief Executive, CBI said:

    Today’s Industrial Strategy announcement is a significant leap forward in the partnership between government and business that sets us on the path to our shared goal of raising living standards across the country.  

    It sends an unambiguous, positive signal about the nation’s global calling card as well as the direction of travel for the wider economy for the next decade and beyond.

    The CBI has long been advocating for a comprehensive industrial strategy, based on the UK’s USP – the sectors and markets where we can compete to win on the global stage.

    More competitive energy prices, fast-tracked planning decisions and backing innovation will provide a bedrock for growth. But the global race to attract investment will require a laser-like and unwavering focus on the UK’s overall competitiveness. 

    Today marks the beginning of delivering this strategy in close partnership, at pace, and with a shared purpose. 

    Stephen Phipson CBE, CEO at Make UK said:

    British industry has been in desperate need for a government who understands our sector and had the strategic vision for a plan for growth. Today’s Industrial Strategy is a giant and much needed step forward taken by the Secretary of State who has seen the potential and provided the keys to help unlock it.

    Make UK has led the campaign for a new industrial strategy for many years, highlighting the three major challenges that were diminishing our competitiveness, hampering growth and frustrating productivity gains: a skills crisis, crippling energy costs and, an inability to access capital for new British innovators.

    The strategy announced today sets out plans to address all three of these structural failings. Clearly there is much to do as we move towards implementation but, this will send a message across the Country and around the world that Britain is back in business.

    Tufan Erginbilgic, Rolls-Royce CEO, said:

    The UK Government’s Industrial Strategy commitment to support our world-leading aerospace and nuclear industries shows long-term strategic foresight. Rolls-Royce’s highly differentiated technologies in gas turbines and nuclear capabilities- including SMRs and AMRs- are uniquely placed to deliver economic growth, skilled jobs and attract investment into the UK.

    Mike Hawes OBE, SMMT Chief Executive said:

    The publication of an Industrial Strategy – one with automotive at its heart – is the policy framework the sector has long-sought and Government has now addressed. Such a strategy – long-term, aligned to a trade strategy and supported by all of Government – is the basis on which the UK automotive sector can regain its global competitiveness. Making the UK the best place to invest now depends on implementation, and implementation at pace, because investment decisions are being made now against a backdrop of fierce competition and geopolitical uncertainty. The number one priority must be addressing the UK’s high cost of energy, enabling the sector to invest in the technologies, the products and the people that will give the UK its competitive edge. 

    Five sector plans have been published today:

    • Advanced Manufacturing – Backing our Advanced Manufacturing sector with up to £4.3 billion in funding, including up to £2.8 billion in R&D over the next five years, with the aim of anchoring supply chains in the UK – from increasing vehicle production to 1.35 million, to leading the next generation of technologies for zero emission flight. Glasgow is a global force in advanced manufacturing –  home to the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District and globally competitive universities, the city region has strengths across defence, space and quantum. Edinburgh houses the National Robotarium at Heriot-Watt University and the Roslin Institute, which is a leading Agri-Tech research centre. 

    • Clean Energy Industries – Doubling investment in Clean Energy Industries by 2035, with Aberdeen-headquartered Great British Energy helping to build the clean power revolution in Britain with a further £700 million in clean energy supply chains, taking the total funding for the Great British Energy Supply Chain fund to £1 billion. We are supporting Scottish clean energy industries with £200 million development funding to advance the Acorn Carbon Capture and Storage project, capitalising on expertise in the oil and gas sector around Aberdeen. Up to £185 million has been allocated to Scotland through the Clean Industry Bonus, unlocking up to £3.5 billion private sector investment in ports and high-tech components needed to build floating and fixed offshore wind farms. Aberdeen is a global energy capital boasting new investment in hydrogen, with its pioneering Energy Transition Zone repositioning the North East as a globally integrated energy cluster.  A new regional skills pilot for Aberdeen will also help ensure a strong local skills base to deliver these opportunities.

    • Creative Industries – Maximizing the value of our Creative Industries through a £380 million boost for film and TV, video games, advertising and marketing, music and visual and performing arts will improve access to finance for scale-ups and increase R&D, skills and exports. It includes a £30 million Games Growth Package to back the next generation of UK video games studios – a sector in which Scotland is world leading. Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee are centres for creative industries. The Edinburgh Festivals incubate creative talent, whilst Edinburgh Futures Institute drives innovation.

    • Digital and Technologies – Making the UK the European leader for creating and scaling Digital and Technology businesses, with more than £2 billion to drive the AI Action Plan, including a new Sovereign AI Programme, £187 million for training one million young people in tech skills and targeting R&D investment at frontier technologies such as quantum technologies in Scotland. Scotland is home to two of the UK’s five new Quantum Hubs, with involvement in all five. Ten of the top 30 global semiconductor companies have operations in Scotland. Scotland is also home to cutting edge AI research network and R&D infrastructure – Edinburgh Genome Biofoundry and Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre. An up to £750m investment in the UK’s largest supercomputer at the University of Edinburgh sets a marker for our ambition for further growth in digital & technologies.

    • Professional and Business Services – Ensuring our Professional and Business Services becomes the world’s most trusted adviser to global industry, revolutionising the sector across the world through adoption of UK-grown AI and working to secure mutual recognition of professional qualifications agreements overseas. Scotland’s financial services sector, second only to London, features a cutting-edge Fintech scene. Over 25% of Glasgow’s top tech firms are in financial & business services, attracting major firms such as Azets and RSM. This is anchored by a highly capable workforce, supported by a world-class skills ecosystem and universities.
       

    The Industrial Strategy will be published on GOV.UK later today.

    The Defence, Financial Services and Life Sciences sector plans will be published shortly.

    The 7,000 businesses are an indicative estimate of how many businesses could be in scope of the scheme. The full scope and eligibility of the scheme will be determined following consultation.

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    Published 23 June 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

    June 23, 2025

  • PM Modi highlights 11 years of transformative mining reforms

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday highlighted how the pivotal reforms undertaken over the past eleven years have positioned India’s mining sector as a beacon of cooperative federalism and transparent governance.

    Responding to an article shared by Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, PM Modi said on X: “Union Minister Shri Kishan Reddy writes how reforms in the past 11 years have made cooperative federalism a hallmark of the mining sector, deepening Centre-State cooperation and improving overall governance.”

    In his article, Reddy discusses how the mining sector is silently emerging as a key pillar in the journey towards Viksit Bharat.

    “Over the last 11 years, under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble PM Shri
    Narendra Modi ji, strategic initiatives and legislative reforms, including the National Critical Mineral Mission, and amendments to the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act have ensured a transparent and efficient mining sector,” said Reddy on X.

    Hailing the reforms in the mining sector, the Union Minister states that a modern and sustainable mining ecosystem will drive the industries of the future and firmly position India on the global economic map as it progresses towards its goal of Viksit Bharat.

    June 23, 2025

  • President Murmu attends National Students’ Convocation of ICMAI in New Delhi

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    President Droupadi Murmu, on Monday, graced the National Students’ Convocation of the Institute of Cost Accountants of India (ICMAI) in New Delhi, where she underlined the importance of cost and management accountants in shaping India’s economic and sustainable future.

    In her address, the President said that accountants have traditionally enjoyed high regard in society owing to their intrinsic link to accountability. “Throughout our history, accountants have enjoyed high esteem in our society. The reason for that is that accounting and accountability are deeply connected. We value accountability; therefore, we attach special significance to accounting,” she said.

    Founded in 1944, the ICMAI has been a pivotal institution in the evolution of India’s post-Independence economy, she said, adding that its work often goes unrecognised in the public sphere but remains vital behind the scenes.

    “The ICMAI was founded in 1944 for the regulation and development of the profession of cost and management accountants in the country. That makes it a witness to the saga of India’s economic transformation after Independence. Not only a witness, in fact, it has been a very crucial player in making the Indian economy one of the strongest in the world today,” she added.

    President Murmu said that cost and management accountants today serve not only in factories, but also in corporate boardrooms. Their expertise, she noted, contributes directly to policymaking and the development of cost-efficient systems for both government and private institutions.

    Highlighting the growing responsibilities of the profession, the President observed that sustainability has become an unavoidable imperative in contemporary corporate life. “The world is facing the crisis of climate change. Sustainability is no longer a slogan; it has become a necessity. That time is over when corporate organisations worked solely with the profit motive. Now they have to keep the environmental costs in mind. And this is where CMAs, with their skills, can bring about a great change in the future of the planet,” she said.

    Addressing the graduating students, President Murmu urged them to view their careers through the lens of national service and development. “As cost accountants, you are uniquely positioned to contribute to India’s transformation into a Viksit Bharat by 2047,” she said.

    June 23, 2025

  • Recycled plastics pose risks to hormone systems and metabolism: study

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    A new international study has raised concerns about the health risks posed by recycled plastic, revealing that a single pellet of recycled polyethylene plastic can contain more than 80 different chemicals. The research highlights the potential for these chemicals to leach into water and interfere with hormone systems and metabolic functions.
     
    Conducted by researchers from the University of Gothenburg and Leipzig, the study was published in the Journal of Hazardous Materials. It underscores that while recycling is often promoted as a solution to the global plastic pollution crisis, it can also inadvertently introduce toxic substances into the environment and consumer products.
     
    In the experiment, researchers obtained recycled polyethylene plastic pellets from various parts of the world and soaked them in water for 48 hours. Zebrafish larvae were then exposed to the water for five days. The results showed notable changes in gene expression related to lipid metabolism, adipogenesis (the formation of fat cells), and endocrine regulation in the fish.
     
    “These short leaching times and exposure times are yet another indicator of the risks that chemicals in plastics pose to living organisms,” said lead author Azora Konig Kardgar, a researcher in ecotoxicology at the University of Gothenburg. “The impacts that we measured show that these exposures have the potential to change the physiology and health of the fish.”
     
    The findings echo previous research suggesting that exposure to toxic plastic chemicals may also affect human health, contributing to reproductive issues, hormonal imbalances, obesity, diabetes, and even certain cancers.
     
    Professor Bethanie Carney Almroth, principal investigator of the study, noted: “This is the main obstacle with the idea of recycling plastic. We never have full knowledge of what chemicals will end up in an item made of recycled plastic. And there is also a significant risk of chemical mixing events occurring, which render the recycled plastic toxic.”
     
    The study comes ahead of a crucial meeting of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee under the United Nations Environment Program. Nations will gather in Geneva this August to finalize negotiations on a Global Plastics Treaty aimed at curbing plastic pollution and addressing the associated health risks.
     
    -ians
    June 23, 2025

  • Iran issues stark warning to Trump ‘the gambler’: We will end this war

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Iran said on Monday that the U.S. attack on its nuclear sites expanded the range of legitimate targets for its armed forces and called U.S. President Donald Trump a “gambler” for joining Israel’s military campaign against the Islamic Republic.

    Since Trump joined Israel’s campaign by dropping massive bunker-buster bombs on Iranian nuclear sites on Sunday morning, Iran has repeatedly threatened to retaliate.

    But while it has continued to fire missiles at Israel, it has yet to take action against the United States itself, either by firing at U.S. bases or by targeting the 20% of global oil shipments that pass near its coast at the mouth of the Gulf.

    “Mr Trump, the gambler, you may start this war, but we will be the ones to end it,” Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesperson for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya central military headquarters, said on Monday in English at the end of a recorded video statement.

    Iran and Israel traded another wave of air and missile strikes on Monday as the world braced for Tehran’s response.

    Trump’s administration has repeatedly said that its aim is solely to destroy Iran’s nuclear programme, not to open a wider war.

    But in a social media post on Sunday, Trump openly spoke of toppling the hardline clerical rulers who have been Washington’s principal foes in the Middle East since Iran’s 1979 revolution.

    “It’s not politically correct to use the term, ‘Regime Change,’ but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn’t there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!” he wrote.

    Experts surveying commercial satellite imagery said it appeared that the U.S. attack had severely damaged the site of Iran’s Fordow nuclear plant, built inside a mountain, and possibly destroyed it and the uranium-enriching centrifuges it housed, although there was no independent confirmation.

    Trump called the strike a “Bullseye!!!”.

    “Monumental Damage was done to all Nuclear sites in Iran,” he wrote. “The biggest damage took place far below ground level.”

    MORE ISRAELI STRIKES

    Israel’s airstrikes on Iran have met little resistance from Iranian defences since Israel launched its surprise attack on June 13, killing many of Iran’s top commanders.

    The Israeli military said on Monday that about 20 jets had conducted a wave of strikes against military targets in western Iran and Tehran overnight. ⁠In Kermanshah, in western Iran, missile and radar infrastructure was targeted, and in Tehran a surface-to-air missile launcher was struck, it said.

    Iranian news agencies reported air defences had been activated in central Tehran districts, and Israeli air strikes had hit Parchin, the location of a military complex southeast of the capital.

    Iran says more than 400 people have been killed in the Israeli attacks, mostly civilians, but has released few images of the damage since the initial days of the bombing. Tehran, a city of 10 million people, has largely emptied, with residents fleeing to the countryside to escape attacks.

    Iran’s retaliatory missile strikes on Israel have killed 24 people, all civilians, and injured hundreds, the first time a significant number of Iranian missiles have ever penetrated Israeli defences.

    The Israeli military said a missile launched from Iran in the early hours of Monday had been intercepted by Israeli defences. Air raid sirens blared overnight in Tel Aviv and other parts of central Israel.

    LIMITED RETALIATION

    Beyond those missiles, Iran’s ability to retaliate is far more limited than a few months ago, since Israel inflicted defeat on Iran’s most feared regional proxy force, Hezbollah in Lebanon, whose downfall was swiftly followed by that of Iran’s most powerful client ruler, Syria’s Bashar al-Assad.

    Iran’s most effective threat to hurt the West would probably be to restrict global oil flows from the Gulf. Oil prices spiked on Monday at their highest since January. But they have not yet shot up to crisis levels, indicating that traders see a path out of the conflict that avoids serious disruption.

    Brent crude futures were down 0.5% to $76.64 a barrel as of 0830 GMT, after briefly jumping above $80 at the opening.

    Iran’s parliament has approved a move to close the Strait of Hormuz that leads into the Gulf, which would require approval from the Supreme National Security Council, a body led by an appointee of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

    Attempting to strangle the strait could send global oil prices skyrocketing, derail the world economy and invite conflict with the U.S. Navy’s massive Fifth Fleet that patrols the Gulf from its base in Bahrain.

    “It’s economic suicide for them if they do it. And we retain options to deal with that,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

    As Tehran weighed its options, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi was expected to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Monday. The Kremlin has a strategic partnership with Iran, but also close links with Israel.

    Speaking in Istanbul on Sunday, Araqchi said his country would consider all possible responses and there would be no return to diplomacy until it had retaliated. TASS news agency later quoted him as saying Iran and Russia were coordinating their positions.

    (Reuters)

    June 23, 2025

  • Over 6,000 Gather for International Yoga Day Celebration at Sharjah Expo Centre

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Indian Consulate General in Dubai successfully hosted a major yoga celebration at Expo Centre Sharjah on the International Yoga Day, attracting over 6,000 participants from diverse communities to mark the 11th International Day of Yoga. The event exceeded expectations, reflecting the growing enthusiasm for yoga across the UAE.

    The Expo Centre was transformed into a hub of wellness and cultural exchange, with the event organized in collaboration with Friends of India, Ekatha, and the Arab Yoga Instructors Council. Hundreds of schoolchildren from various institutions, blue-collar workers, families, and other members of the diaspora took part in the gathering, creating a vibrant, family-friendly atmosphere.

    The celebration offered both a visual spectacle and an educational experience. Professional instructors led participants through accessible yoga postures suitable for all skill levels, while healthcare professionals discussed the practical health benefits of regular yoga practice. Experts emphasized yoga’s potential to improve digestive health, alleviate certain physical conditions, and promote overall healing when practiced consistently under proper guidance.

    The event was part of one of the largest yoga initiatives during the UAE’s Year of Community, with over 30,000 participants expected across more than 35 locations nationwide. The gathering at Expo Centre Sharjah was among the most significant single-venue celebrations for International Yoga Day in the region, reinforcing the strong cultural ties between India and the UAE while promoting holistic wellness and community unity.

    June 23, 2025

  • Heavy rainfall alert for Northwest and Central India; Monsoon to cover Delhi, Punjab, Haryana in 2 days

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast an increase in rainfall activity across several regions of the country, with heavy to very heavy rain expected over northwest India from June 25 onwards. Many parts of central, eastern, and northeastern India are likely to continue experiencing intense rainfall over the next seven days, with isolated extremely heavy showers over West Madhya Pradesh on June 23 and 24.

    Favourable conditions are also in place for the further advance of the Southwest Monsoon over the remaining parts of the North Arabian Sea, and more regions of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, West Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu within the next two days.

    For the Delhi-NCR region, the IMD has predicted generally cloudy skies with light to moderate rain and thunderstorms from June 23 to 26, bringing much-needed respite from the heat.

    On June 23, maximum temperatures are expected to range between 35°C to 37°C, slightly below normal by 1–2°C, while winds will shift from southeast to 15–18 kmph by evening.

    On June 24, temperatures are expected to drop further, with highs between 34°C to 36°C, up to 4°C below normal. Winds will come from the northwest, increasing to 15–18 kmph in the afternoon.

    By June 25 and 26, the city will continue to experience light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms. Temperatures will remain in the 33°C to 35°C range, with both maximum and minimum values staying below normal. Winds will vary in direction, from west to south and northeast, with speeds mostly below 15 kmph.

    The IMD advises residents to stay updated on local forecasts and take necessary precautions during thunderstorms and heavy rain spells.

    June 23, 2025

  • India’s economic activity hits 14-month high in June: HSBC report

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    India’s economic activity reached a 14-month high in June, driven by a sharp increase in new business orders and a record rise in exports, according to HSBC’s flash Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) data released on Monday. The HSBC Flash India Composite Output Index, which reflects the combined performance of the manufacturing and services sectors, rose to 61.0 in June from 59.3 in May, indicating robust expansion well above the long-term average.

    Manufacturers led the momentum, although the services sector also recorded stronger growth. June’s PMI readings marked the fastest expansion in manufacturing in two months and in services in ten months. The report attributes the upturn to healthy demand conditions, successful marketing efforts, and increased investment in technology, which helped firms boost output.

    As workloads continued to pile up, companies responded with higher hiring activity. Both manufacturing and services sectors saw job creation, with manufacturers particularly ramping up recruitment to keep pace with rising backlogs. Although services hiring slightly weakened on a month-on-month basis, overall employment growth remained positive.

    On the inflation front, input costs rose at the slowest rate in ten months, easing some pressure on firms. Output prices also increased, but at a moderated pace. According to panellists, the moderation in cost pressures was supported by operational efficiencies and favourable market conditions.

    The HSBC Flash India Manufacturing PMI climbed from 57.6 in May to 58.4 in June, marking the best improvement in operating conditions since April 2024. Meanwhile, the growth in new business orders and exports was strongest among goods producers, although services firms also experienced a meaningful uptick.

    Pranjul Bhandari, Chief India Economist at HSBC, noted that the strong growth in June was underpinned by a continued rise in new export orders, especially in the manufacturing sector. She added that employment remained resilient and that although price pressures persisted, the pace of inflation was easing.

    The report signals strong private sector momentum as India enters the second half of 2025, with the combination of rising demand, controlled inflation, and steady job creation pointing to a favourable economic outlook.

    -IANS

    June 23, 2025

  • The Soul of Yoga: Transcending physical practice for spiritual awakening

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    While yoga is often considered a physical exercise or practice, it is fundamentally a spiritual discipline, as it encompasses meditation, breath control and ethical principles aimed at unifying mind, body and soul with divine power. It endeavours to develop inner peace and self-awareness, which ultimately leads one onto the path of spiritual enlightenment. Originating over 5,000 years ago, yoga is a holistic system for self-realization, inner peace and union with the divine.

    In recent decades, yoga’s universal appeal and multiple benefits have led to its adoption across faiths, cultures and religions worldwide in their own ways, making it a universally effective tool to confront modern-day mental, physical and psychological challenges, which finally leads one to a spiritual path. Hence, great Hindu scriptures like the Bhagavad Gita describe it as a way to attain inner peace and freedom from the cycle of rebirth.

    Nowadays, medical practitioners across the globe often recommend yoga as a holistic way to maintain health-related vital parameters. They suggest it for improving physical flexibility, reducing stress and enhancing psychological well-being. In recent decades, its therapeutic benefits have made it a globally embraced tool for wellness, transcending its religious roots. 

    However, in Hinduism, yoga’s spiritual purpose supersedes all others. Its core purpose in Hinduism is to facilitate spiritual growth and enlightenment, leading to union with the divine. Hinduism fundamentally considers yoga a sacred practice designed to foster spiritual growth and self-realization. Its ultimate aim is to unite the individual soul with the universal divine. While yoga’s modern adaptations often emphasize physical postures and stress relief, traditional yogic practices encompass ethical disciplines, meditation and breath control as pathways to spiritual enlightenment. 

    This is why many yogic postures and practices are deeply associated with Hindu deities, spirituality, mythology and symbolism. For example, Shiva is often revered as Adiyogi in Hindu spiritual traditions. Adiyogi means the originator of yogic practices. Lord Shiva also symbolizes the ascetic ideals of meditation, wisdom and the dissolution of ego. Similarly, Surya Namaskar is a dynamic sequence honouring the sun god, reflecting Vedic traditions of solar worship and vitality.

    Yoga also includes several other deity-inspired postures. For example, poses like Hanumanasana or Natrajasana, which represents Shiva’s cosmic dance, embody divine stories and virtues. These divine elements reveal yoga’s sacred roots, where physical movements become a form of devotion and a bridge between the physical and spiritual being.

    While modern yoga may be widely known for its benefits like fitness and flexibility, its traditional purpose in Hinduism runs far deeper. It is a transformative path, or indeed a sadhana, that integrates mastery of the senses, helping practitioners withdraw from the myriad distractions of life and turn inward.

    Similarly, meditation or dhyana cultivates focused awareness beyond fleeting thoughts, which helps achieve desired successes in life. Yoga also aids the self-realization process, which is a method of awakening to one’s true self, paving the way to the stillness of enlightenment or samadhi. Unlike conventional workouts, yoga aims for self-discovery and realization, besides its physical health related benefits.

    In fact, asana, or physical postures, prepare the body for meditation by releasing tension and achieving the mindset required to transcend the ordinary boundaries of the life cycle. Nowadays, we often hear about mindfulness as a way to restrict distractions, which yoga helps achieve remarkably. Here, it is worthwhile to know that mindfulness is the practice of paying deliberate, non-judgmental attention to the present moment, which helps reduce stress, enhances focus and cultivates emotional balance. 

    In traditional forms of yoga, mantras are also chanted. The union of yoga and mantra is considered a profound spiritual tool that elevates consciousness and deepens one’s connection with the divine. Yogic practices incorporating mantra guide practitioners toward inner transformation and self-realization. Yoga, through its asanas, pranayama and meditation, purifies the body and mind, creating a receptive state for higher awareness. When combined with mantra, which are sacred sounds or vibrations, yoga becomes a powerful medium to align individual energy with universal consciousness. 

    Mantras, such as Om carries spiritual frequencies that quiet the mind and awaken deeper states of awareness. Chanting mantras with devotion fosters surrender, dissolving the ego and allowing the practitioner to merge with divine energy. This devotional aspect of yoga, known as Bhakti Yoga, emphasizes love, surrender and unwavering faith in the higher power. The repetition of mantras purifies thoughts, emotions and intentions, leading to inner peace and spiritual awakening. 

    Together, yoga and mantra create a harmonious path towards enlightenment. While yoga prepares the body and mind for stillness, mantra elevates the soul, bringing us closer to the divine. This union of discipline and devotion cultivates a life of balance, wisdom and unconditional love.  Without doubt, yoga is an inward journey and a sacred practice that elevates our existence. By embracing its spiritual roots, we move into a life of harmony, purpose and divine connection.

    June 23, 2025

  • IMD predicts heavy rainfall across India as monsoon advances further

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted a significant increase in rainfall activity over northwest India starting June 25, with isolated heavy to very heavy showers expected across the region.

    Central, eastern, and northeastern India are also likely to witness continued intense rainfall over the next seven days, with extremely heavy rainfall (over 20 cm in 24 hours) forecast for west Madhya Pradesh on June 23 and 24.

    The IMD stated that conditions remain favourable for the further advance of the Southwest Monsoon over the remaining parts of the North Arabian Sea, as well as additional areas in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, West Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu, over the next two days.

    Very heavy rainfall is likely in East Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Konkan, and Arunachal Pradesh on June 23 and 24, and in Vidarbha on June 24. Jharkhand may see similar conditions on June 26, while Odisha, Haryana, Punjab, and West Uttar Pradesh are expected to receive heavy to very heavy rain on June 25 and 26. Gujarat, Assam and Meghalaya, and Nagaland are likely to experience very heavy rainfall on June 23. Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are forecast to receive heavy rain between June 23 and 27, and similar conditions are expected in Jammu-Kashmir-Ladakh-Gilgit-Baltistan-Muzaffarabad on June 25.

    The IMD has advised people in affected areas to stay alert and take necessary precautions as monsoon intensifies across several regions of the country.

    June 23, 2025

  • Missile Alarms in Jerusalem as U.S.-Iran Tensions Ignite New Escalation in West Asia

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Jerusalem was gripped by fresh anxiety today as a missile was spotted overhead, followed by distant explosions, according to a Reuters report. The Israeli military subsequently activated air raid sirens across central and southern Israel, citing further incoming missile threats from Iran. The development comes amid heightened tensions in West Asia, following U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.

    Over the past ten days, central Israel has sustained heavy damage, with repeated attacks also hitting the northern port city of Haifa. The ongoing conflict has significantly raised fears of a broader regional war, prompting renewed diplomatic efforts. High-level talks are reportedly underway in Moscow in a bid to defuse the crisis.

    China has called on both Iran and Israel to de-escalate hostilities. “The Chinese side urges the parties to the conflict to prevent the situation from escalating repeatedly, resolutely avoid the spillover of war, and return to the path of political resolution,” said foreign ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun on Monday.

    Meanwhile, Spain’s foreign minister announced plans to urge the European Union to suspend a key cooperation agreement with Israel and to consider a weapons embargo, stating that Europe “must show courage” in response to the escalating violence.

    In the U.S., President Donald Trump stirred debates by reviving talk of regime change in Iran. In a social media post, he questioned the legitimacy of the current Iranian leadership and wrote, “If they can’t MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN—why wouldn’t there be a Regime change???”

    Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, has arrived in the Russian capital for high-stakes talks with Russia’s top leadership. As a long-standing ally of Iran and a significant power in the region, Russia is viewed as a potential mediator in this deepening crisis.

    The discussions are expected to concentrate on de-escalation strategies, broader regional security concerns, and exploring any viable diplomatic pathways to resolve the ongoing hostilities.

    While Russian officials have indicated their readiness to play a constructive role in facilitating peace, the path forward remains highly uncertain. The international community, including the United Nations and other key global powers, continues to closely monitor the volatile situation, issuing urgent calls for restraint and dialogue from all parties involved.

    June 23, 2025

  • PM Modi commends enthusiastic celebrations of Yoga Day across the world

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday appreciated the enthusiastic celebrations of the 11th International Day of Yoga (IDY) across India and around the world.

    The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting shared a video showcasing yoga events held globally to mark IDY 2025.

    In a post on X, the Ministry said: “Across continents and time zones, the world moved in unity. The 11th International Yoga Day was celebrated with the theme: ‘Yoga for One Earth, One Health.’ From ‘Me’ to ‘We,’ yoga is shaping a healthier, more harmonious planet. Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the global community to embrace ‘Yoga for Humanity’ and highlighted the role of inner peace in fostering global harmony.”

    Responding to the post, PM Modi said on X: “Glad to see the International Day of Yoga being celebrated with immense enthusiasm across India and in various parts of the world!”

    PM Modi led the IDY celebrations on Friday from the scenic beachfront of Visakhapatnam, joining nearly 5 lakh participants in a mass yoga demonstration under the Common Yoga Protocol (CYP), which is a structured 45-minute Yoga routine.

    The national event was part of a wider movement, with Yoga Sangam sessions held simultaneously at over 3.5 lakh locations across the country, reflecting the growing popularity and reach of yoga as a tool for holistic well-being.

    This year’s theme, “Yoga for One Earth, One Health,” underscores the deep connection between individual health and planetary wellness, resonating with India’s ancient philosophy of “Sarve Santu Niramaya” — May all be free from disease.

    In addition to public sessions, new initiatives like “Yoga with Family” and “Yoga Unplugged”—aimed at engaging youth—have been launched on platforms such as MyGov and MyBharat, encouraging mass digital participation.

    Since the United Nations General Assembly adopted India’s proposal in 2015 to observe June 21 as International Day of Yoga, Prime Minister Modi has led celebrations from locations including New Delhi, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Mysuru, Srinagar, and even New York’s UN Headquarters, making IDY a global wellness movement.

    June 23, 2025

  • India goes green: landmark tender to fuel fertilizers with clean ammonia

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), a Navratna Central Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, has floated a landmark tender for the offtake of green ammonia. The move marks a significant step towards decarbonizing the fertilizer sector, which is currently dependent on fossil fuel-based hydrogen for ammonia production.

    The tender, issued on June 7, 2024, invites bids for the supply of 7.24 lakh tonnes of green ammonia annually. It covers 13 fertilizer plants across the country and falls under Tranche I of Mode 2A of the Strategic Interventions for Green Hydrogen Transition (SIGHT) Scheme. The last date for bid submissions is June 26, 2025.

    Ammonia is a key input in the production of urea and other nitrogen-based fertilizers. At present, it is largely produced using hydrogen derived from imported natural gas, leading to considerable carbon emissions. SECI’s new tender seeks to change this by using renewable energy to produce green hydrogen and, consequently, green ammonia. The aim is to enable low-emission, domestically sourced fertilizer production.

    To make the transition financially viable, the government is offering production-linked incentives under the National Green Hydrogen Mission. These include subsidies of ₹8.82 per kilogram in the first year, ₹7.06 in the second, and ₹5.30 in the third—amounting to a total support of ₹1,533.4 crore. A robust Payment Security Mechanism has also been put in place to safeguard suppliers from delays in payments by fertilizer companies.

    The tender process will follow SECI’s e-reverse auction model to ensure transparency and competitive price discovery. The contracts will run for a 10-year period, providing market certainty and encouraging long-term investment.

    India consumes approximately 17-19 million tonnes of ammonia annually, with more than 50% of its hydrogen requirement used in fertilizer production. However, most of this is derived from imported natural gas. SECI’s initiative is expected to drastically cut this dependence, reduce exposure to global gas price fluctuations, and lower the trade deficit. Producing green hydrogen emits less than 2 kg of CO₂ per kilogram, compared to up to 12 kg CO₂ from conventional grey hydrogen.

    The tender is seen as a solution to the “chicken-and-egg” problem that has stalled progress in the hydrogen sector. By aggregating demand and securing long-term offtake agreements, SECI is aiming to provide the necessary momentum to build a strong domestic green hydrogen and ammonia ecosystem. It is also expected to support investment in electrolyser manufacturing and other clean energy segments.

    June 23, 2025

  • MIL-OSI Africa: Oklahoma City Thunder Are 2025 National Basketball Association (NBA) Champions!

    In a Finals Game 7 classic that featured 11 lead changes and yet another late Indiana comeback, the Thunder got 29 points & 12 assists from Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to hold off a relentless Pacers team, 103-91 (https://apo-opa.co/44cTtIy), and claim the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

    The win marks the Thunder’s first championship in the franchise’s Oklahoma City era, as top-seeded OKC — the second-youngest Finals team in the shot-clock era — becomes the fourth team in NBA history to win 84 total games.

    Playing most of the game without an injured Tyrese Haliburton, Indiana rallied from 22 down to cut OKC’s lead to 10 in the 4th quarter, but never got closer.

    Chet Holmgren recorded a Finals Game 7-record five blocks to go with 18 points and Jalen Williams dropped 20 as the Thunder won the turnover battle, 21-7.

    Bennedict Mathurin had 24 off the bench for Indiana. Pascal Siakam (Cameroon) recorded 16 points and 4 rebounds.

    Distributed by APO Group on behalf of National Basketball Association (NBA).

    MIL OSI Africa –

    June 23, 2025
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