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Category: India

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 11 July 2025 News release Burundi eliminates trachoma as a public health problem

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Burundi as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, making it the eighth country in WHO’s African Region to reach this important milestone. Trachoma is also the first neglected tropical disease (NTD) to be eliminated in the country.

    “Eliminating a disease like trachoma is a major public health achievement that requires sustained effort and dedication,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “I congratulate the government and the people of Burundi and commend them for their hard work and commitment. It is great to see Burundi join the growing group of countries that have eliminated at least one NTD”.

    Trachoma is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and spreads through personal contact, contaminated surfaces and by flies that have been in contact with eye or nose discharge. Repeated infections can lead to scarring, in-turning of the eyelids, and ultimately blindness. Globally, the disease remains endemic in many vulnerable communities where access to clean water and sanitation is limited.

    “This validation marks a major milestone in our commitment to health equity”, said Dr Lydwine Baradahana, Minister of Public Health and the Fight Against AIDS, Burundi. “It is a collective victory made possible by nearly 20 years of national mobilization and international solidarity. I thank all the partners, community actors and institutions in Burundi and beyond who made this historic achievement possible”.

    Burundi’s progress

    Before 2007, with no reported cases or epidemiological studies, the extent of trachoma endemicity in Burundi was largely unknown. That year, the country launched an initiative to tackle NTDs, which included integrated mapping of soil-transmitted helminthiases, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis and trachoma. Following the mapping, the Ministry of Public Health and the Fight Against AIDS conducted further investigations. Baseline surveys carried out in 2009–2010 confirmed that trachoma was endemic in parts of the country. This prompted introduction of interventions based on the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy for 2.5 million people who needed them across 12 health districts.

    Burundi’s trachoma elimination programme was supported technically and financially by CBM Christoffel Blindenmission, the END Fund, Geneva Global and WHO. The International Trachoma Initiative at the Task Force for Global Health donated azithromycin (Zithromax, Pfizer, New York NY, USA). WHO continues to support support the country’s health authorities to monitor communities in which trachoma was previously endemic to ensure there is no resurgence of the disease.

    This achievement reflects the government’s resolve to protect its most vulnerable populations. Under the leadership of the Ministry of Public Health and the Fight Against AIDS, and with the dedication of community health workers, support from key partners, and WHO’s technical guidance, this success was made possible” said Dr Xavier Crespin, WHO Representative in Burundi. “This win inspires us to press forward with the same determination to eliminate all remaining neglected tropical diseases.”

    Disease prevalence

    Trachoma remains a public health problem in 32 countries with an estimated 103 million people living in areas requiring interventions against the disease. Trachoma is found mainly in the poorest and most rural areas of Africa, Central and South America, Asia, the Western Pacific and the Middle East.

    The African Region is disproportionately affected by trachoma with 93 million people living in at-risk areas in April 2024, representing 90% of the global trachoma burden. Significant progress has been made in the fight against trachoma over the past few years and the number of people requiring antibiotic treatment for trachoma in the African Region fell by 96 million from 189 million in 2014 to 93 million as of April 2024, representing a 51% reduction.

    There are currently 20 countries in WHO’s African Region that are known to require intervention for trachoma elimination. These include: Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, South Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The seven countries in the region previously validated by WHO as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem are Benin, Gambia, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania and Togo. A further 4 countries in the WHO African Region (Botswana, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia and Senegal) claim to have achieved the prevalence targets for elimination.

    Global progress

    With today’s announcement, a total of 57 countries have now eliminated at least one NTD. Of these, 24— (including Burundi)—have successfully eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. Other countries that have reached this milestone include Benin, Cambodia, China, Gambia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Ghana, India, Iraq, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Togo, Vanuatu and Viet Nam.

    Editor’s note

    Elimination of trachoma as a public health problem is defined as: (i) a prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis “unknown to the health system” of <0.2% in adults aged ≥15 years (approximately 1 case per 1000 total population), and (ii) a prevalence of trachomatous inflammation—follicular in children aged 1–9 years of <5%, sustained for at least two years in the absence of ongoing antibiotic mass treatment, in each formerly endemic district; plus (iii) the existence of a system able to identify and manage incident trachomatous trichiasis cases, using defined strategies, with evidence of appropriate financial resources to implement those strategies.

    The WHO SAFE strategy consists of surgery to treat the blinding stage (trachomatous trichiasis); Antibiotics to clear the infection, particularly mass drug administration of the antibiotic azithromycin, which is donated by the manufacturer, Pfizer, to elimination programmes, through the International Trachoma Initiative; Facial cleanliness; and Environmental improvement, particularly improving access to water and sanitation.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • MIL-OSI United Nations: 11 July 2025 News release Burundi eliminates trachoma as a public health problem

    Source: World Health Organisation

    The World Health Organization (WHO) has validated Burundi as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem, making it the eighth country in WHO’s African Region to reach this important milestone. Trachoma is also the first neglected tropical disease (NTD) to be eliminated in the country.

    “Eliminating a disease like trachoma is a major public health achievement that requires sustained effort and dedication,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “I congratulate the government and the people of Burundi and commend them for their hard work and commitment. It is great to see Burundi join the growing group of countries that have eliminated at least one NTD”.

    Trachoma is caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis and spreads through personal contact, contaminated surfaces and by flies that have been in contact with eye or nose discharge. Repeated infections can lead to scarring, in-turning of the eyelids, and ultimately blindness. Globally, the disease remains endemic in many vulnerable communities where access to clean water and sanitation is limited.

    “This validation marks a major milestone in our commitment to health equity”, said Dr Lydwine Baradahana, Minister of Public Health and the Fight Against AIDS, Burundi. “It is a collective victory made possible by nearly 20 years of national mobilization and international solidarity. I thank all the partners, community actors and institutions in Burundi and beyond who made this historic achievement possible”.

    Burundi’s progress

    Before 2007, with no reported cases or epidemiological studies, the extent of trachoma endemicity in Burundi was largely unknown. That year, the country launched an initiative to tackle NTDs, which included integrated mapping of soil-transmitted helminthiases, schistosomiasis, lymphatic filariasis and trachoma. Following the mapping, the Ministry of Public Health and the Fight Against AIDS conducted further investigations. Baseline surveys carried out in 2009–2010 confirmed that trachoma was endemic in parts of the country. This prompted introduction of interventions based on the WHO-recommended SAFE strategy for 2.5 million people who needed them across 12 health districts.

    Burundi’s trachoma elimination programme was supported technically and financially by CBM Christoffel Blindenmission, the END Fund, Geneva Global and WHO. The International Trachoma Initiative at the Task Force for Global Health donated azithromycin (Zithromax, Pfizer, New York NY, USA). WHO continues to support support the country’s health authorities to monitor communities in which trachoma was previously endemic to ensure there is no resurgence of the disease.

    This achievement reflects the government’s resolve to protect its most vulnerable populations. Under the leadership of the Ministry of Public Health and the Fight Against AIDS, and with the dedication of community health workers, support from key partners, and WHO’s technical guidance, this success was made possible” said Dr Xavier Crespin, WHO Representative in Burundi. “This win inspires us to press forward with the same determination to eliminate all remaining neglected tropical diseases.”

    Disease prevalence

    Trachoma remains a public health problem in 32 countries with an estimated 103 million people living in areas requiring interventions against the disease. Trachoma is found mainly in the poorest and most rural areas of Africa, Central and South America, Asia, the Western Pacific and the Middle East.

    The African Region is disproportionately affected by trachoma with 93 million people living in at-risk areas in April 2024, representing 90% of the global trachoma burden. Significant progress has been made in the fight against trachoma over the past few years and the number of people requiring antibiotic treatment for trachoma in the African Region fell by 96 million from 189 million in 2014 to 93 million as of April 2024, representing a 51% reduction.

    There are currently 20 countries in WHO’s African Region that are known to require intervention for trachoma elimination. These include: Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa Republic, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, South Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The seven countries in the region previously validated by WHO as having eliminated trachoma as a public health problem are Benin, Gambia, Ghana, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania and Togo. A further 4 countries in the WHO African Region (Botswana, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia and Senegal) claim to have achieved the prevalence targets for elimination.

    Global progress

    With today’s announcement, a total of 57 countries have now eliminated at least one NTD. Of these, 24— (including Burundi)—have successfully eliminated trachoma as a public health problem. Other countries that have reached this milestone include Benin, Cambodia, China, Gambia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Ghana, India, Iraq, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Saudi Arabia, Togo, Vanuatu and Viet Nam.

    Editor’s note

    Elimination of trachoma as a public health problem is defined as: (i) a prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis “unknown to the health system” of <0.2% in adults aged ≥15 years (approximately 1 case per 1000 total population), and (ii) a prevalence of trachomatous inflammation—follicular in children aged 1–9 years of <5%, sustained for at least two years in the absence of ongoing antibiotic mass treatment, in each formerly endemic district; plus (iii) the existence of a system able to identify and manage incident trachomatous trichiasis cases, using defined strategies, with evidence of appropriate financial resources to implement those strategies.

    The WHO SAFE strategy consists of surgery to treat the blinding stage (trachomatous trichiasis); Antibiotics to clear the infection, particularly mass drug administration of the antibiotic azithromycin, which is donated by the manufacturer, Pfizer, to elimination programmes, through the International Trachoma Initiative; Facial cleanliness; and Environmental improvement, particularly improving access to water and sanitation.

    MIL OSI United Nations News –

  • India releases roadmap for quantum-safe cybersecurity

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a push to secure India’s growing digital economy from the looming threat of quantum computing, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on Friday released a whitepaper that lays out a plan for transitioning to quantum-resilient cybersecurity systems.

    Titled “Transitioning to Quantum Cyber Readiness”, the paper, launched jointly with the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) and cybersecurity firm SISA, calls on public and private organisations to start identifying vulnerabilities in encryption systems that protect sensitive data, public services, and national security infrastructure.

    India’s rapid shift towards digital payments and online governance has made cybersecurity a pressing concern. Quantum computing, which is advancing from labs to real-world use, is expected to break conventional encryption methods like RSA and ECC within the decade, experts warn.

    ‘Strategic Imperative’

    “Quantum readiness is a strategic imperative as we prepare for the disruptive potential of quantum technologies,” S Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, said at the launch in Delhi. He called for building resilience into ICT systems with “clarity and agility.”

    The paper details how organisations can analyse risks, adopt quantum-resistant algorithms, and update security frameworks without disrupting operations. It also urges critical sectors — such as finance, defence, and health — to prioritise the transition.

    CERT-In Director General Sanjay Bahl said quantum computing would “fundamentally change the threat landscape”, adding that the partnership with SISA shows why public-private collaboration is key to staying ahead of emerging threats.

    Dharshan Shanthamurthy, CEO of SISA, described quantum computing as the biggest shift in cybersecurity in three decades. “What we are dealing with is not just a faster computer but a complete redefinition of computational boundaries. Our legacy systems are vulnerable by design in a quantum context,” he said.

    Guiding Next Steps

    The whitepaper combines technical advice with practical steps for regulated sectors such as BFSI, healthcare and government. It aims to help organisations begin their quantum-safe migration while maintaining compliance and business continuity.

    CERT-In, which is India’s nodal agency for handling cybersecurity threats under the IT Act, will play a key role in issuing guidelines and coordinating responses.

    SISA, a payment security solutions firm, said its forensic insights would support enterprises in protecting data at the deepest levels as they move towards post-quantum security standards.

    With this roadmap, India joins a growing group of countries stepping up preparations for the disruptive impact of quantum technologies on cybersecurity.

  • India releases roadmap for quantum-safe cybersecurity

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a push to secure India’s growing digital economy from the looming threat of quantum computing, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on Friday released a whitepaper that lays out a plan for transitioning to quantum-resilient cybersecurity systems.

    Titled “Transitioning to Quantum Cyber Readiness”, the paper, launched jointly with the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) and cybersecurity firm SISA, calls on public and private organisations to start identifying vulnerabilities in encryption systems that protect sensitive data, public services, and national security infrastructure.

    India’s rapid shift towards digital payments and online governance has made cybersecurity a pressing concern. Quantum computing, which is advancing from labs to real-world use, is expected to break conventional encryption methods like RSA and ECC within the decade, experts warn.

    ‘Strategic Imperative’

    “Quantum readiness is a strategic imperative as we prepare for the disruptive potential of quantum technologies,” S Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, said at the launch in Delhi. He called for building resilience into ICT systems with “clarity and agility.”

    The paper details how organisations can analyse risks, adopt quantum-resistant algorithms, and update security frameworks without disrupting operations. It also urges critical sectors — such as finance, defence, and health — to prioritise the transition.

    CERT-In Director General Sanjay Bahl said quantum computing would “fundamentally change the threat landscape”, adding that the partnership with SISA shows why public-private collaboration is key to staying ahead of emerging threats.

    Dharshan Shanthamurthy, CEO of SISA, described quantum computing as the biggest shift in cybersecurity in three decades. “What we are dealing with is not just a faster computer but a complete redefinition of computational boundaries. Our legacy systems are vulnerable by design in a quantum context,” he said.

    Guiding Next Steps

    The whitepaper combines technical advice with practical steps for regulated sectors such as BFSI, healthcare and government. It aims to help organisations begin their quantum-safe migration while maintaining compliance and business continuity.

    CERT-In, which is India’s nodal agency for handling cybersecurity threats under the IT Act, will play a key role in issuing guidelines and coordinating responses.

    SISA, a payment security solutions firm, said its forensic insights would support enterprises in protecting data at the deepest levels as they move towards post-quantum security standards.

    With this roadmap, India joins a growing group of countries stepping up preparations for the disruptive impact of quantum technologies on cybersecurity.

  • India releases roadmap for quantum-safe cybersecurity

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a push to secure India’s growing digital economy from the looming threat of quantum computing, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) on Friday released a whitepaper that lays out a plan for transitioning to quantum-resilient cybersecurity systems.

    Titled “Transitioning to Quantum Cyber Readiness”, the paper, launched jointly with the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) and cybersecurity firm SISA, calls on public and private organisations to start identifying vulnerabilities in encryption systems that protect sensitive data, public services, and national security infrastructure.

    India’s rapid shift towards digital payments and online governance has made cybersecurity a pressing concern. Quantum computing, which is advancing from labs to real-world use, is expected to break conventional encryption methods like RSA and ECC within the decade, experts warn.

    ‘Strategic Imperative’

    “Quantum readiness is a strategic imperative as we prepare for the disruptive potential of quantum technologies,” S Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, said at the launch in Delhi. He called for building resilience into ICT systems with “clarity and agility.”

    The paper details how organisations can analyse risks, adopt quantum-resistant algorithms, and update security frameworks without disrupting operations. It also urges critical sectors — such as finance, defence, and health — to prioritise the transition.

    CERT-In Director General Sanjay Bahl said quantum computing would “fundamentally change the threat landscape”, adding that the partnership with SISA shows why public-private collaboration is key to staying ahead of emerging threats.

    Dharshan Shanthamurthy, CEO of SISA, described quantum computing as the biggest shift in cybersecurity in three decades. “What we are dealing with is not just a faster computer but a complete redefinition of computational boundaries. Our legacy systems are vulnerable by design in a quantum context,” he said.

    Guiding Next Steps

    The whitepaper combines technical advice with practical steps for regulated sectors such as BFSI, healthcare and government. It aims to help organisations begin their quantum-safe migration while maintaining compliance and business continuity.

    CERT-In, which is India’s nodal agency for handling cybersecurity threats under the IT Act, will play a key role in issuing guidelines and coordinating responses.

    SISA, a payment security solutions firm, said its forensic insights would support enterprises in protecting data at the deepest levels as they move towards post-quantum security standards.

    With this roadmap, India joins a growing group of countries stepping up preparations for the disruptive impact of quantum technologies on cybersecurity.

  • Sensex falls 690 points; Nifty below 25,200 on global trade concerns

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Indian stock markets ended lower on Friday, weighed down by rising global trade tensions following fresh tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on Canadian imports.

    Investor sentiment was also dented by a sharp selloff in IT stocks after Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) reported weaker-than-expected earnings for the first quarter (Q1) of FY25.

    The Sensex dropped 689.81 points, or 0.83 per cent, to close at 82,500.47. Similarly, the Nifty index slipped 205.4 points, or 0.81 per cent, to settle at 25,149.85.

    “The domestic market experienced a negative close due to a sober start to the Q1 earnings season and an escalation in tariff threats by the US to impose a 35 per cent tariff on Canada,” Vinod Nair of Geojit Financial Services said.

    “Investors may continue to focus on quarterly earnings for a buy-on-dips strategy; however, in the near term, the current premium valuations and global headwinds like muted spending and tariff uncertainties may restrain fresh inflows,” he added.

    Among the 30 stocks on the Sensex, TCS, Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Motors, Bharti Airtel, HCL Technologies and Titan were among the top losers, declining up to 3.5 per cent.

    On the positive side, Hindustan Unilever, Axis Bank, Sun Pharma, NTPC and Eternal were the top gainers.

    Broader markets also came under pressure. The Nifty MidCap index declined 0.88 per cent, while the Nifty SmallCap index lost 1.02 per cent.

    Sector-wise, IT and auto stocks were the biggest drags. Both the Nifty IT and Nifty Auto indices fell nearly 1.8 per cent each.

    TCS’s disappointing quarterly numbers weighed heavily on the IT pack. Other sectors such as realty, oil & gas, media, energy, banking, metal, and consumer durables also ended in the red.

    However, some pockets of the market remained resilient. The Nifty FMCG and Pharma indices closed with gains, lending some support to the overall market.

    Experts noted that the markets traded under pressure on Friday, shedding over half a per cent, dragged down by weak cues.

    “The session began on a negative note following disappointing results from IT major TCS, which worsened further due to profit-taking in heavyweight stocks across other sectors,” said Ajit Mishra of Religare Broking Limited.

    He added that sentiment remained subdued due to ongoing uncertainty around tariff-related issues and a weak start to the earnings season.

    Meanwhile, market volatility saw a slight uptick. The India VIX, which indicates investor sentiment and market volatility, rose 1.24 per cent to end at 11.81.

    –IANS

  • India emerges as global creative powerhouse at WAVES 2025

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    At the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit (WAVES 2025) in Mumbai, India did more than host a global gathering—it defined the future of storytelling. Leaders from the worlds of technology, media, and culture converged to witness a defining moment: India’s confident emergence as a global creative powerhouse.

    Inaugurating the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a vision that resonated far beyond the venue. He described WAVES not just as an acronym, but “a wave of culture, creativity, and universal connectivity.” India, he said, is not merely a country of over a billion people—it is a land of over a billion stories waiting to be shared with the world.

    Framing the Orange Economy as India’s next growth engine—rooted in Content, Creativity, and Culture—the Prime Minister called on global creators and investors to recognize this as the moment to “Create in India, Create for the World.” As digital platforms continue to evolve, he noted a paradox of modern media: “The screen may be getting smaller, but the scope is becoming infinite. The screen is getting micro, but the message is becoming mega.”

    This expansive vision was reflected throughout WAVES 2025. With India rapidly becoming a hub for film production, digital content, animation, gaming, music, fashion, and live experiences, the summit showcased the full spectrum of its creative and commercial potential.

    One of the major highlights was YouTube CEO Neal Mohan’s announcement of a ₹850 crore investment to accelerate India’s creator economy. He cited a thriving content ecosystem with more than 15,000 Indian YouTube channels crossing one million subscribers, declaring, “India isn’t just leading in music and film—it’s now a Creator Nation.”

    Joining Mohan were international creators Mark Rober and Gautami Kawale of Slayy Point, who emphasized the global appeal of Indian narratives. Kawale highlighted how culturally rooted regional content has found universal resonance, while Rober pointed to AI-powered dubbing and localization as key to making STEM content cross linguistic and cultural boundaries.

    Adding to the momentum, Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen hailed India as “the world’s next creative superpower.” With more than 100 million content creators and 500 million OTT consumers, India, he said, is not only consuming but now shaping global creative trends. Demonstrating Adobe’s generative AI platform Firefly, Narayen underscored the importance of ethical AI, content authenticity, and creator attribution in building a sustainable global media landscape.

    WAVES 2025 marked a turning point where ancient storytelling traditions, cutting-edge technology, and a billion ambitions converged. From reels to rituals, and scripts to software, India’s creative economy is not only ready for the world—it is already shaping it.

  • India rolls out 1st electric truck scheme with maximum incentive of Rs 9.6 lakh per vehicle

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    In a push towards sustainable freight transport, the government on Friday launched its first-ever electric truck (e-truck) incentive scheme under the PM E-DRIVE initiative, marking a significant step in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s green mobility vision.

    Announced by Union Minister for Heavy Industries & Steel, H.D. Kumaraswamy, the scheme offers financial incentives for N2 and N3 category electric trucks, aiming to reduce emissions and promote cleaner transport alternatives. While diesel trucks account for just 3% of vehicles, they contribute a staggering 42% of transport-related greenhouse gas emissions, making this shift crucial for India’s environmental goals.

    Under the scheme, electric trucks with gross vehicle weight (GVW) ranging from 3.5 tonnes to 55 tonnes will be eligible for incentives. The maximum subsidy is set at Rs 9.6 lakh per vehicle, provided as an upfront discount and reimbursed to manufacturers via the PM E-DRIVE portal on a first-come, first-served basis.

    The initiative includes strict warranty guidelines to ensure reliability: five years or 5 lakh km for batteries, and five years or 2.5 lakh km for vehicles and motors. A mandatory requirement for scrapping old, polluting trucks adds to the scheme’s environmental impact.

    With an estimated deployment of 5,600 e-trucks, including 1,100 in Delhi alone under a Rs 100 crore allocation, the scheme targets key sectors like cement, steel, ports, and logistics. Leading manufacturers such as Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, and Volvo Eicher are already active in the space, boosting domestic capabilities under the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.

    In a strong signal of CPSE leadership, SAIL has committed to procuring 150 e-trucks and aims to make 15% of its hired fleet electric.

    The scheme is expected to lower logistics costs, reduce carbon emissions, and significantly improve air quality, aligning with India’s net-zero emissions target by 2070 and the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047.

  • ‘Sanchar Mitra Scheme’ scaled up nationwide to boost digital literacy

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has expanded its ‘Sanchar Mitra Scheme’ across India, transforming it from a pilot project into a national programme to empower youth as digital ambassadors.

    Initially piloted in select institutions, the scheme will now engage student volunteers — called Sanchar Mitras — to spread awareness on digital safety, cyber fraud prevention, EMF radiation, and responsible mobile use.

    Volunteers will receive training from the National Communications Academy–Technology (NCA-T) and DoT’s Media Wing, gaining exposure to advanced telecom technologies like 5G, 6G, AI, and cyber security. Students from telecom, electronics, computer science, and cyber security streams will be nominated through local DoT offices.

    Sanchar Mitras will conduct community outreach, work with NGOs, and promote safe digital practices. Outstanding volunteers may get opportunities such as internships, project participation, and representation at events like the India Mobile Congress and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

    The first outreach under the expanded scheme was held at BSNL Bhawan, Guwahati, by Assam LSA in partnership with 18 engineering institutions including IIT, IIIT, and NIT.

    Sunita Chandra, Advisor, Office of DG Telecom, highlighted the aim of connecting DoT initiatives with citizens through student engagement. Assam LSA Head Suresh Puri outlined the scheme’s pillars — Connect, Educate, Innovate — while Hemendra Kumar Sharma, DoT Spokesperson, stressed the need for grassroots awareness to tackle digital fraud.

    Union Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia recently launched the nationwide roll-out, describing the initiative as a step towards India’s leadership in “Democracy, Demography, Digitisation, and Delivery.”

  • WAVES 2025: India’s creative economy sets the stage for a trillion-dollar global impact

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    WAVES 2025 has significantly energized the country’s creative economy, often referred to as the Orange Economy also. This initiative aims to foster economic activities that convert ideas, creativity, rich and diverse cultural expressions and heritage into tangible goods and services. The creative economy spans a wide range of industries including music, film, design, publishing, gaming and many more creative pursuits. This mission amply demonstrates how cultural and creative assets can also be leveraged to fuel the nation’s economic growth.

    India, a land of over 143 crore people, is also home to a billion stories and storytellers, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in his address at this grand ceremony. He said, every village, street, river and mountain echoes with unique tales and perspectives. Indian art and music, deeply spiritual in nature, reflect this storytelling spirit, where every note and rhythm carries a soul whether in a devotional bhajan or a modern composition.

    The country’s creative legacy, from the pioneering film Raja Harishchandra in 1913 to global milestones like RRR winning at the Oscars, highlights the growing influence of Indian cinema and cultural expressions. From Guru Dutt’s poetic visuals to AR Rahman’s soulful music and Rajamouli’s epic narratives, Indian creativity continues to resonate across the world.

    The rise of India’s creative economy powered by content, creativity and culture, is truly transforming the country into a global hub for film, digital content, gaming, fashion, music and live performances. This sector holds immense potential to significantly contribute to India’s GDP.

    With the world looking for new stories, India stands ready to offer a rich blend of science, fiction, courage and imagination. The message is clear for the creators of the country- dream big, invest in talent and share the soul of India with the world.

    WAVES 2025 is also expected to unlock a 50 billion dollar opportunity for India’s media and entertainment sector by 2029. The summit held from 1 May to 4 May at Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, attracted over 10,000 delegates, 1,000 creators, 300 companies and more than 350 startups.

    This initiative alone recorded business transactions worth over Rs. 1,328 crore with more than 3,000 business-to-business meetings held over three days. Adding further value to the summit, the Maharashtra government signed MoUs worth Rs. 8,000 crore during the event. Among these, MoUs worth Rs. 1,500 crore each were signed with the University of York and the University of Western Australia. The state’s industries department also inked MoUs valued at Rs. 3,000 crore with Prime Focus and Rs. 2,000 crore with Godrej.

    WAVES 2025 marks a turning point, launching the Global Media Dialogue with participation from 25 countries to promote international collaboration. The event also featured the WAVES Bazaar, a digital marketplace with over 6,100 buyers, 5,200 sellers and 2,100 creative projects. At the event, a landmark report by Boston Consulting Group titled ‘From Content to Commerce’ spotlighted India’s booming creator economy. It has revealed that the creative economy related activities drive over 350 billion dollar in consumer spending, which is a figure projected to cross one trillion dollar by 2030.

    With around 2.5 million active creators, India hosts one of the world’s youngest and largest digital communities. Yet, only 8-10% currently monetise meaningfully, pointing to a vast untapped economic opportunity. Creators now influence over 30% of consumer purchases through diverse content forms like short videos, tutorials and live streams. Genres like comedy, film and fashion dominate, but sectors like gaming, wellness and finance are also rapidly growing.

    The report positions India as a global content studio, powered by its linguistic diversity, cultural depth, and digital talent. With a 40-60% cost edge in animation and VFX and 25% of Indian OTT content viewed overseas, India is emerging as a hub of cultural diplomacy and soft power.

    Importantly, the creator economy is expanding beyond Gen Z and metros, reaching smaller towns, regional markets and multilingual audiences. Brands are shifting from traditional ads to creator-led campaigns, while new revenue models like virtual gifting, live commerce and fan funding are empowering creators financially.

    WAVES 2025 showcased this evolution as more than entertainment. Creators are now key drivers of commerce, culture and innovation. With supportive policies, investor’s interest and educational initiatives, India’s creator economy is poised to become a global force. The white paper on India’s Live Events Industry also highlighted the sector’s strong momentum and evolving consumer trends. Growing at a steady 15% annually, the industry added 13 billion dollar in revenue in 2024 alone.

    A notable shift is the rise of event-based tourism with nearly half a million fans traveling across cities to attend live shows. There’s also increasing demand for premium, curated experiences while tier-2 cities like Shillong, Vadodara and Jamshedpur are fast emerging as new cultural hubs.

    At WAVES 2025, Shantanu Narayen, CEO of Adobe highlighted India’s emergence as a global hub of creativity powered by digital tools and generative AI. With over 100 million content creators and 500 million OTT consumers, Narayen described India as the world’s next creative superpower. He showcased Adobe’s Firefly AI models and stressed ethical AI, content authenticity and creator attribution as vital for sustainable growth.

    On the occasion, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan announced a 850 crore dollar investment to accelerate India’s creator economy, citing over 15,000 Indian channels with more than one million subscribers. Joined by global creators Mark Rober and Gautami Kawale (Slayy Point), Mohan underlined YouTube’s role in taking Indian stories global. India isn’t just leading in music and film, it’s now a creator nation, he said. Kawale shared how regional Indian content, when rooted in culture, has universal appeal, while Rober spoke about the power of STEM content crossing borders through AI-enabled dubbing and localization.

    Mark Read, CEO of WPP, described the advertising industry’s one trillion dollar global footprint and its shift towards AI-led storytelling. He unveiled WPP’s open video production platform and shared a campaign featuring Shah Rukh Khan to demonstrate hyper-personalized content creation using motion AI. AI is not replacing creativity, it is expanding it, Read said, outlining the role of MSMEs and digital tools in democratizing access to quality advertising.

    Without doubt, WAVES 2025 marked a transformative moment for India’s creative economy, positioning the country as a global powerhouse of content, culture and innovation. From unlocking multi-billion-dollar opportunities to showcasing India’s rich storytelling traditions, the summit underscored the vast potential of the Orange Economy in shaping the future of commerce and cultural influence. With strong government backing, global collaborations, technological advancements like AI and growing investor confidence, India is not just participating in the global creative revolution, it is also in a position to lead it. As the world increasingly turns to stories that inspire, inform and connect, India stands ready to rise with its immense creative potential.

  • World Population Day 2025: India prepares for digital census caste enumeration

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    As the world observes World Population Day 2025 with the theme “Empowering young people to create the families they want in a fair and hopeful world,” India is preparing for a demographic exercise- Census 2027 -which promises to be the country’s first fully digital population count and the first to include comprehensive caste enumeration since Independence.

    The Ministry of Home Affairs officially notified the upcoming Census on June 16, 2025. This vast exercise will continue India’s unbroken legacy of systematic population counts that began more than 150 years ago. The Indian Census remains the single largest source of statistical information on the demographic, social, and economic characteristics of the people.

    Historically, India’s census tradition dates back to ancient times, with early references in Kautilya’s Arthashastra and Ain-e-Akbari under Emperor Akbar. The first modern population census was carried out between 1865 and 1872, with the first synchronous census taking place in 1881. Since then, every decade has built upon this foundation to generate crucial data for governance and planning.

    Post-Independence Developments

    After Independence, the Census has grown in scale and scope, guided by the Census Act of 1948 and the Census Rules of 1990. From pioneering field checks in 1951 to technological advances in tabulation and digitisation in subsequent decades, the Census has continually evolved.

    Notably, the Census 2011, the last completed enumeration, engaged over 2.7 million enumerators covering 640 districts, 5,924 sub-districts, 7,933 towns, and more than 6 lakh villages. It was conducted in 16 languages and integrated with the National Population Register.

    Caste to be Counted for the First Time in Decades

    In a major shift, the upcoming Census will include caste enumeration for all citizens — a step taken to ensure more comprehensive socio-economic mapping. Since Independence, only Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes have been officially counted. States have often conducted separate caste surveys with varying transparency, prompting the Centre to integrate caste data collection within the main census to safeguard social harmony and data accuracy.

    India’s First Digital Census

    Census 2027 is set to be the most technologically advanced so far. For the first time, enumerators will use mobile applications for data collection, supported by a dedicated multilingual Census Monitoring and Management Portal. Citizens will also have the option for online self-enumeration, offering convenience and broader participation.

    More than 35 lakh field functionaries will be trained to conduct the digital census, which will include in-built data validation systems to ensure accuracy.

    Operational Details

    The census will be carried out in two phases. For most parts of the country, the reference date will be the midnight of March 1, 2027. However, for the Union Territory of Ladakh, snow-bound regions of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, the reference date will be October 1, 2026.

    Continuing Legacy, Embracing Innovation

    Over the decades, the Census has provided invaluable insights for scholars and policymakers alike. From the first quality checks in 1951 to migration studies in 1971 and the full digitisation of data in 2001 and 2011, India’s census operations have continually adapted to changing needs.

    The Socio-Economic and Caste Census (SECC) of 2011 was a notable milestone, employing handheld electronic devices for enumeration and resolving over one crore claims and objections, setting a precedent for digital approaches.

    Significance for India’s Young Population

    With nearly 65% of Indians under the age of 35, the data gathered will be crucial in designing policies for education, employment, and family planning. The new digital and caste-inclusive approach aims to make governance more responsive and equitable.

  • Heavy Rain to Lash Central and Northwest India; Delhi-NCR to Experience Moderate Showers

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday said that heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to continue over central and adjoining northwest India for the next four to five days, with possibility of very heavy rainfall over southern Uttar Pradesh today, eastern Rajasthan from July 11 to 15, and Madhya Pradesh between July 11 and 14. Uttarakhand is also expected to receive significant rainfall on July 15 and 16.

    Weather forecast for Delhi-NCR

    In the Delhi-NCR region, the weather will remain relatively moderate with intermittent rainfall over the coming days.

    The city’s weather forecast for today indicates generally cloudy skies with light to moderate rain, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. Maximum temperatures are expected to range between 31°C and 33°C, marking a departure of 2 to 4°C below the normal. Winds are predicted to blow from the northwest, at speeds below 15 kmph in the afternoon, decreasing to 8–12 kmph from the northeast by evening and night.

    On July 12, the region will experience partly cloudy skies with very light to light rain and occasional thunderstorms. Temperatures are likely to range between 34°C and 36°C during the day and 24°C to 26°C at night. The minimum temperature will be 1 to 3°C below normal, while the maximum temperature will remain near normal. Winds will be from the northwest, starting below 20 kmph in the morning and gradually slowing to under 12 kmph by night.

    July 13 is expected to bring partly cloudy skies with light rain and thunderstorms. Daytime temperatures will hover between 35°C and 37°C, and nighttime temperatures between 25°C and 27°C. The minimum temperature will be slightly below normal, while the maximum will be near normal. Winds will shift from the north in the morning to the southeast by evening, with speeds staying under 15 kmph.

    On July 14, the weather will remain partly cloudy with light rain and thunderstorms. Maximum temperatures will range from 32°C to 34°C, slightly below normal, while minimum temperatures will be near normal, between 23°C and 25°C. Winds will begin from the southeast at less than 15 kmph in the morning, picking up slightly in the afternoon and easing again in the evening from the east.

     

  • MIL-OSI Banking: Samsung Days Sale Kicks Off on July 12: Will Unlock AI-Powered Living with Unbeatable offers across Categories

    Source: Samsung

     
    Samsung, India’s largest consumer electronics brand, announced the launch of the Samsung Days Sale, going live on July 12, exclusively on Samsung.com, Samsung Shop App and Samsung Experience Stores. This highly anticipated campaign, which will continue until July 18, 2025, brings to customers – the best offers, exclusive exchange deals, and a truly unparalleled shopping experience.
     
    Unlock the Power of AI with Samsung
     This year, Samsung Days puts a spotlight on Samsung’s cutting-edge AI-powered products —from Smartphones to TVs, Tablets, Refrigerators, and Laptops & Washing Machines — empowering customers to make their lives easier with the latest intelligent technology.
     
    Fabulous Smartphones and Laptops Deals up for Grab
    As the sale kicks off, customers can pre-order the latest Galaxy Z Fold7 & Galaxy Z Flip7 512 GB version at the price of a 256 GB version. Those purchasing the Galaxy Z Flip7 FE will get the 256GB version at the price of 128 GB. Customers can also pair up the latest Galaxy Z Fold7 & Galaxy Z Flip7 with all new Galaxy Watch8 series and get up to INR 15000 off. Whether it is the latest foldables or powerful camera-centric models, there is something for every tech enthusiast. In addition, select Galaxy tablets, accessories and wearables will be available at discount of up to 65% off, making it the perfect time to complete your Galaxy ecosystem.
     
    Not just that, users seeking a seamless and versatile tablet-like experience can avail up to 35% off on select Galaxy Book5 and Book4 laptops and elevate their workflow with Galaxy AI.
     
    Big Screen Luxury at Incredible Prices
    For those looking out to upgrade their TV viewing experience – there are some amazing offers on Vision AI TVs – such as the Neo QLED 8K TVs, OLED TVs & QLED TVs. Customers can get a Free TV or Soundbar with select TVs, up to 20% Instant Bank discount and Exchange Bonus up to ₹ 5000. Those pairing the TV with an Audio device can get up to 40%* Off on MRP of Select Audio Devices
     
     
    Smart Savings on Digital and Premium Home Appliances
    Samsung is also rolling out exclusive offers on its full suite of digital appliances. Shoppers can enjoy deals across refrigerators, washing machines & microwaves. For those seeking top-tier performance and design, select models of side-by-side refrigerators, French-door refrigerators will be up for grab at an exclusive deal of up to 49% off.
     
    Select models of washing machines will be available at up to 50% off. Additionally, they will get a generous 20-year warranty on the Digital Inverter Motor for both Fully Automatic Front Loading and Fully Automatic Top Loading machines. For easy access, the affordable EMI option is also available starting at just INR 1990 for Fully Automatic Front Loading, INR 990 for Fully Automatic Top Loading, and INR 890 for Semi-Automatic Washing Machines
     
    Upgrade to AI, Upgrade Your Life
    With Samsung’s AI-powered innovations, customers can enjoy smarter entertainment, effortless productivity, and immersive audio-visual experiences. Don’t miss your chance to upgrade and enjoy exclusive benefits, only on Samsung.com, Samsung Shop App and Samsung Experience Stores
     
    Exclusive Discounts and Offers

    Category
    Consumer Offers
    Highlight Model

    Smartphones
    Up to 41% off on MRP
    Galaxy S25 Ultra, Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25 Edge, Galaxy S24 Ultra, Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24 FE, Galaxy A56, Galaxy A55, Galaxy A36, Galaxy A35, Galaxy A26
     

    Laptops
    Up to 35% off on MRP
    Galaxy Book 5 Pro 360, Galaxy Book 5 Pro, Galaxy Book5 360, Galaxy Book 4

    Tablets, Accessories & Wearables
    Up to 65% off on MRP
    Galaxy Tab S10 FE+, Galaxy Tab S10 FE, Galaxy Tab S9 FE+, Galaxy Tab S9 FE, Galaxy Tab A9, Galaxy Buds3 Pro, Galaxy Watch7 Ultra, Galaxy Watch7 Series, Galaxy Fit3

    TVs
    – Up to 40% off on MRP
    – Free TV or Soundbar on select TVs
    – Up to 20% Instant bank discount
    – Up to ₹7,000 instant cart discount on Frame TVs
    – Exchange Bonus up to ₹5,000
    43″ Crystal UHD 43UE81F 4K Smart TV, 43″ QEF1 QLED TV, 55″ Q8F QLED TV, 55″ 55LS03F Frame TV, 65″ QN85F 4K Neo QLED, 65″ QN90F 4K OLED TV

    Refrigerators
    Up to 49% off on MRP
    – Instant cart discount up to ₹5,000*
    – Samsung Care+ Offer: 1 Year Extended Warranty worth ₹4,490 at ₹449* (Side by Side & French Door Refrigerators)
    – 20 Years warranty on Digital Inverter Compressor
    – EMI from ₹1,290
    236L Convertible Freezer Plus Double Door, 653L Convertible Side by Side, 419L Bespoke AI Double Door

    Washing Machines
    – Up to 50% off on MRP
    – Samsung Care+ Offer: 2 Year Extended Warranty worth ₹4,290 at ₹499* (Front Load)
    – 20 Years warranty on Digital Inverter Motor (Fully Automatic Top Load & Front Load)
    – EMI from ₹890
    All Front Load ≥8kg and Top Load ≥8kg

    Microwaves
    – Up to 50% off on MRP
    – 10 year warranty on Ceramic Enamel Cavity
    – EMI from ₹990
    28L & above convection microwaves

    Monitors
    – Up to 59% off on MRP
    – Instant cart discount up to ₹5,000* on Gaming Monitors
    32″ M5 FHD Smart Monitor, 32″ M7 UHD 4K Smart Monitor, 49″ Odyssey OLED G9 2K DQHD Gaming Monitor

    Air Conditioners
    – 10 Year warranty on compressor (all models)
    – 5 Year Comprehensive warranty (all models)
    – Free Installation on 5 Star Windfree models
    Windfree Series

    Bank Cashback
    Up to 27.5% cashback with HDFC, Axis and other leading Bank Cards (Up to ₹55,000)
     

     
    Mark your calendars for July 12th and experience the best of Samsung, where innovation meets irresistible offers!
     
    Note: All offers are valid exclusively on Samsung.com, Samsung Shop App and Samsung Experience Stores during Samsung Days, starting July 12th, 2025. Upgrade to Samsung’s latest AI-powered products and enjoy smarter productivity, entertainment and sound experiences.
     

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • At WAVES 2025, a global call for creativity, collaboration, and cultural unity

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    Global Media Dialogue at WAVES 2025 in Mumbai offered a hopeful counterpoint—one rooted in creativity, collaboration, and cultural connection. Hosted under the banner of the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit, the event brought together delegations from 77 countries to adopt the WAVES Declaration—a shared commitment to preserve heritage, promote ethical innovation, and build a more inclusive global media landscape.

    The WAVES Declaration captured the spirit of the summit: a recognition that in an interconnected world, media and entertainment hold the power not only to entertain, but to unite. The document calls on nations to responsibly use emerging technologies, reduce bias in digital systems, and democratize access to content—while prioritizing ethics in an age increasingly shaped by AI.

    Much of the dialogue centered on the unifying potential of storytelling, particularly through cinema. Indian films were widely praised for their ability to transcend borders and resonate emotionally with audiences across cultures. Participants acknowledged that storytelling—whether in the form of films, digital content, or immersive media—has become one of the most potent tools for diplomacy and understanding.

    External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, addressing the forum, called WAVES 2025 a “microcosm of the global creative community.” He emphasized that the future of global collaboration lies in the ability to blend tradition with innovation. “It is crucial that young talent is made ready for an age of creative collaborations through relevant skill development,” he said, underscoring the need for both technological fluency and cultural literacy.

    Dr. Jaishankar also pointed to the dual nature of AI—its immense promise, but also its potential to entrench bias or erode cultural nuance. “Technology must strengthen awareness of our vast heritage, not erase it,” he cautioned, especially as younger generations grow up in algorithm-driven environments.

    Echoing this, Minister for Information & Broadcasting Ashwini Vaishnaw laid out a vision of cultural cooperation at scale. In his remarks, he urged the global creative community to invest in co-production treaties, shared content funds, and multilingual distribution pipelines that allow diverse voices to travel far beyond their origins. Creativity, he said, must move along a “global expressway of ideas.”

    India also used the occasion to showcase the growing reach of its Create in India Challenge—an initiative that, in its debut season, attracted over 700 creators from around the world. Building on that momentum, the next edition will include challenges in 25 global languages, aiming to surface talent from regions that have historically been underrepresented in global media ecosystems.

  • MIL-OSI Africa: African Representation at National Basketball Association (NBA) 2K26 Summer League 2025

    Source: APO


    .

    The NBA 2K26 Summer League 2025 (www.NBA.com) will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, from July 10-20 and once again feature a strong presence of African players, coaches and referees, including:

    • Six former NBA Academy Africa players
    • 23 coaches from 15 African countries as part of the Africa Coaches Program
    • Three referees from the 2025 Basketball Africa League (BAL) season

    The participation of these players, coaches and referees is part of NBA Africa and the BAL’s commitment to developing talent and expertise throughout the African basketball ecosystem and contributing to the continued growth of the game across the continent.

    Below are storylines about the African players, coaches, and referees participating in this year’s Summer League, which will air live in Africa on NBA League Pass, the league’s premium live game subscriptions service available via the NBA App:

    PLAYERS

    • Six former NBA Academy Africa players have joined Summer League rosters:
      • Ibou Badji (Denver Nuggets; Senegal)
      • Jean-Jacques Boissy (Milwaukee Bucks; Senegal)
      • Ulrich Chomche (Toronto Raptors; Cameroon), who was selected 57th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft.
      • Nelly Joseph Junior (Atlanta Hawks; Nigeria)
      • Khaman Maluach (Phoenix Suns; South Sudan; ties to Uganda), who was selected 10th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, becoming the highest-drafted former NBA Academy Africa and Basketball Africa League (BAL) player ever.
      • Babacar Sané (Minnesota Timberwolves; Senegal)
    • Three players who participated in the 2025 BAL season will compete in Summer League:
      • Boissy – 2025 BAL champion and MVP with Alahli Tripoli (Libya), Boissy averaged 18.9 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 1.9 assists per game.
      • Aliou Diarra (Mali; Dallas Mavericks) – Two-time Dikembe Mutombo BAL Defensive Player of the Year (2023 and 2025) and the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA G League International Draft, Diarra will join the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft – Cooper Flagg – on the Mavericks’ Summer League roster.
      • Sané – 2025 All-BAL Second Team as a member of US Monastir (Tunisia).

    COACHES:

    • Twenty-three coaches from 15 African countries have been selected to participate in Summer League as part of the Africa Coaches Program, which is part of NBA Africa and the BAL’s ongoing commitment to developing coaching talent across the continent.  The 23 coaches (full list below) include:
      • Four who previously played in the BAL: two-time BAL champion with Zamalek (2021) and US Monastir (2022) Solo Diabate (Bucks; Côte d’Ivoire), 2024 BAL champion with Petro de Luanda Carlos Morais (New York Knicks; Angola), as well as Marawan Sarhan (Miami Heat; Egypt) and Mostafa Kejo (Los Angeles Lakers; Egypt), both of whom competed for Al Ahly (Egypt) during the 2024 BAL season.
      • Two female coaches: Fenan Atobrhan (Eritrea; Houston Rockets) and Ruth Bibeyi (Gabon; Indiana Pacers).  Atobrhan served as an assistant coach with APR during the 2025 BAL season when the team finished third, its best-ever finish in the BAL.  Bibeyi served as head coach of Espoir Basket Club (Gabon) during the 2023 Road to the BAL qualifying tournament, was part of the coaching staff at the 2025 BAL Combine, and has served as a mentor as part of BAL4HER, the league’s platform for advancing gender equality in the African sports ecosystem. 

    REFEREES

    • Three referees who have officiated in the BAL will serve as Summer League officials: Claudio Eiuba (Angola), Vitalis Gode (Kenya) and Erick Otieno (Kenya).

    Please see below for the complete list of African coaches participating in the NBA 2K26 Summer League 2025 as part of the Africa Coaches Program:

    Name

    Country

    NBA Team

    Lamine Krideche

    Algeria

    Cleveland Cavaliers

    Carlos Morais

    Angola

    New York Knicks

    Francois Enyegue

    Cameroon

    Charlotte Hornets

    Antonio Moreira

    Cape Verde

    Atlanta Hawks

    Solo Diabate

    Côte D’Ivoire

    Milwaukee Bucks

    Pierrot Ilunga

    Democratic Republic of the Congo

    Detroit Pistons

    Mostafa Kejo

    Egypt

    Los Angeles Lakers

    Marawan Sarhan

    Egypt

    Miami Heat

    Wael Badr

    Egypt

    Portland Blazers

    Haytham Kamel

    Egypt

    Utah Jazz

    Fenan Atobrhan

    Eritrea

    Houston Rockets

    Ruth Bibeyi

    Gabon

    Indiana Pacers

    Reda Rhalimi

    Morocco

    Denver Nuggets

    Akil Driss

    Morocco

    Toronto Raptors

    Mohammed Abdulrahman

    Nigeria

    Washington Wizards

    Prosper Naci

    Rwanda

    Philadelphia 76ers

    Abdallah Mbaye

    Senegal

    Chicago Bulls

    Matar Mbodji

    Senegal

    Dallas Mavericks

    Samba Fall

    Senegal

    San Antonio Spurs

    Moratiemang Jr. Mmoloke

    South Africa

    Boston Celtics

    Igor Lunnemann

    South Africa

    New Orleans Pelicans

    Lindokuhle Sibankulu

    South Africa

    Sacramento Kings

    Amine Rzig

    Tunisia

    LA Clippers

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

    MIL OSI Africa –

  • Heavy rainfall likely in MP, southern UP, eastern Rajasthan: IMD

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday said that heavy to very heavy rainfall is likely to continue over central and adjoining northwest India for the next four to five days, with possibility of very heavy rainfall over southern Uttar Pradesh today, eastern Rajasthan from July 11 to 15, and Madhya Pradesh between July 11 and 14. Uttarakhand is also expected to receive significant rainfall on July 15 and 16.

    Weather forecast for Delhi-NCR

    In the Delhi-NCR region, the weather will remain relatively moderate with intermittent rainfall over the coming days.

    Today, the sky is expected to remain generally cloudy with light to moderate rain, accompanied by thunderstorms and lightning. Maximum temperatures will range between 31°C and 33°C, which is 2 to 4°C below normal. Winds will predominantly blow from the northwest at speeds below 15 kmph in the afternoon, decreasing to 8–12 kmph from the northeast by evening and night.

    On July 12, the region will experience partly cloudy skies with very light to light rain and occasional thunderstorms. Temperatures are likely to range between 34°C and 36°C during the day and 24°C to 26°C at night. The minimum temperature will be 1 to 3°C below normal, while the maximum temperature will remain near normal. Winds will be from the northwest, starting below 20 kmph in the morning and gradually slowing to under 12 kmph by night.

    July 13 is expected to bring partly cloudy skies with light rain and thunderstorms. Daytime temperatures will hover between 35°C and 37°C, and nighttime temperatures between 25°C and 27°C. The minimum temperature will be slightly below normal, while the maximum will be near normal. Winds will shift from the north in the morning to the southeast by evening, with speeds staying under 15 kmph.

    On July 14, the weather will remain partly cloudy with light rain and thunderstorms. Maximum temperatures will range from 32°C to 34°C, slightly below normal, while minimum temperatures will be near normal, between 23°C and 25°C. Winds will begin from the southeast at less than 15 kmph in the morning, picking up slightly in the afternoon and easing again in the evening from the east.

     

  • We missed no targets in Pakistan; not even a glass pane broken in India: NSA Doval on Operation Sindoor

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval on Friday delivered a sharp rebuke to the foreign media’s reporting on Operation Sindoor, challenging it to produce any credible evidence of damage on the Indian side.

    Speaking at the 62nd convocation of IIT Madras, Doval praised the Indian armed forces for carrying out precision strikes on terror infrastructure inside Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in under 23 minutes.

    Doval said satellite imagery provided clear proof of what happened between May 6 and May 10, yet foreign outlets continued to claim there was damage on the Indian side — without being able to produce a single image, not even of a broken window.

    “Foreign press said that Pakistan did this and that. You show me one photograph, one image, which shows any damage done to any Indian structure — even a glass pane being broken,” Doval stressed.

    “These satellite images are available all over the world. They (The New York Times and others) brought out images and published them. The images only showed that 13 airbases in Pakistan before and after May 10 were destroyed, whether in Sargodha, Rahim Yar Khan or Chaklala,” he said.

    “I am only telling you what the foreign media put out on the basis of imagery — where is the damage? We are capable of doing that (destroying terror bases and inflicting damage on Pakistani airbases),” Doval added.

    Indian security forces launched Operation Sindoor in the intervening night of May 6–7, decimating nine terror camps, including the headquarters of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen, inside Pakistan as well as in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

    The strikes were carried out in retaliation for the deadly terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, in which Pakistan-sponsored terrorists killed 26 civilians.

    —IANS

  • NHAI tightens norms for reporting and blacklisting ‘Loose FASTags’

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has strengthened its mechanism for reporting and blacklisting ‘Loose FASTags’ – commonly referred to as “tag-in-hand” – in a bid to enhance tolling efficiency and ensure the authenticity of FASTag usage.

    As India gears up for initiatives like the Annual Pass System and Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling, the move aims to curb misuse and operational disruptions caused by FASTags that are not affixed to vehicle windscreens.

    Such practices have led to lane congestion, false chargebacks, and misuse in closed-loop systems, hampering the overall efficiency of the Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) network.

    To tackle the issue, NHAI has issued instructions to toll collecting agencies and concessionaires to promptly report loose FASTags via a dedicated email ID. Based on these reports, the authority will take swift action to blacklist or hotlist the identified tags.

    With a FASTag penetration rate of over 98%, NHAI’s latest move is expected to further streamline toll operations and ensure seamless travel for National Highway users.

  • 798 people killed while receiving aid in Gaza, says UN human rights office

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The U.N. human rights office said on Friday that it had recorded at least 798 killings both at aid points run by the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) and near humanitarian convoys run by other relief groups, including the U.N.

    The GHF uses private U.S. security and logistics companies to get supplies into Gaza, largely bypassing a U.N.-led system that Israel says had let militants divert aid.

    The United Nations has called the plan “inherently unsafe” and a violation of humanitarian impartiality rules.

    “Up until the seventh of July, we’ve recorded now 798 killings, including 615 in the vicinity of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites, and 183 presumably on the route of aid convoys,” OHCHR spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva.

    The GHF began distributing food packages in Gaza at the end of May and has repeatedly denied that incidents had occurred at its sites.

    -Reuters

  • India’s creator economy set to shape a trillion-dollar future

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    At WAVES 2025, a new report by the Boston Consulting Group grabbed the spotlight, drawing the attention of policymakers, creators, and investors. The report revealed that India’s creator economy is already driving more than $350 billion in consumer spending, a number expected to exceed $1 trillion by 2030.

    Titled From Content to Commerce: Mapping India’s Creator Economy, the report paints a vivid picture of a nation in the midst of a creative and commercial boom. With 2 to 2.5 million active creators—defined as individuals with more than 1,000 followers—India is home to one of the world’s largest and youngest digital communities. But what’s most striking is the current monetization gap. Only 8 to 10 percent of these creators are earning meaningful income from their content, revealing a vast reserve of untapped potential that may well become the fuel for the next stage of India’s economic growth story.

    The report underscores the sweeping influence creators now hold over consumer decisions. Over 30 percent of purchases are directly shaped by digital content—ranging from short-form videos to long-format storytelling, tutorials, product reviews, and live streams. Comedy, film, fashion, and serials remain the dominant genres, but the expansion into new content territories like gaming, wellness, and finance is reshaping how India learns, shops, and interacts.

    What makes this shift even more profound is how it is transcending generational and geographic lines. No longer confined to Gen Z or urban metros, the creator ecosystem is reaching deep into smaller towns, regional markets, and older demographics. The emergence of multilingual creators and regional influencers has catalyzed a more inclusive digital marketplace—one that mirrors the real India in all its complexity and diversity.

    For brands and marketers, this evolution has not just altered strategies; it has flipped the entire funnel. Traditional advertising methods are being replaced or supplemented by more agile, creative, and targeted forms of engagement. Campaigns are now designed with creators at the core—allowing for faster content production, greater freedom of expression, and improved metrics through outcome-based testing. Virtual gifting, live commerce, subscription models, and fan-funded initiatives are rising as new revenue streams, giving creators both financial agency and deeper community ownership.

    WAVES 2025 served as the perfect launchpad for this new digital vision. With its ambitious scope covering media, technology, and storytelling, the summit highlighted how India’s creator economy is not merely an offshoot of the entertainment sector, it is the engine powering a new form of commerce and cultural diplomacy. As discussions ranged from AI in filmmaking to the future of AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics), one theme emerged with clarity: creators are not just influencing trends—they are shaping the market.

    Investors are recalibrating strategies to fund content-driven startups. Policy frameworks are being debated to offer protections and incentives for digital freelancers. Education platforms are rolling out creator economy courses. And most significantly, creators across India—from school-going influencers in Raipur to AI-powered illustrators in Chennai—are beginning to realize their role not just as entertainers, but as economic contributors.

    The trillion-dollar forecast is not a distant dream—it is a pathway already in motion. With the right mix of innovation, infrastructure, and inclusivity, India’s creator economy could become one of its most significant exports. And as the world turns its eyes toward this new digital juggernaut, one thing is certain: India is no longer just telling stories. It is rewriting the script of global influence—one post, one video, one idea at a time.

  • India’s creator economy set to shape a trillion-dollar future

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    At WAVES 2025, a new report by the Boston Consulting Group grabbed the spotlight, drawing the attention of policymakers, creators, and investors. The report revealed that India’s creator economy is already driving more than $350 billion in consumer spending, a number expected to exceed $1 trillion by 2030.

    Titled From Content to Commerce: Mapping India’s Creator Economy, the report paints a vivid picture of a nation in the midst of a creative and commercial boom. With 2 to 2.5 million active creators—defined as individuals with more than 1,000 followers—India is home to one of the world’s largest and youngest digital communities. But what’s most striking is the current monetization gap. Only 8 to 10 percent of these creators are earning meaningful income from their content, revealing a vast reserve of untapped potential that may well become the fuel for the next stage of India’s economic growth story.

    The report underscores the sweeping influence creators now hold over consumer decisions. Over 30 percent of purchases are directly shaped by digital content—ranging from short-form videos to long-format storytelling, tutorials, product reviews, and live streams. Comedy, film, fashion, and serials remain the dominant genres, but the expansion into new content territories like gaming, wellness, and finance is reshaping how India learns, shops, and interacts.

    What makes this shift even more profound is how it is transcending generational and geographic lines. No longer confined to Gen Z or urban metros, the creator ecosystem is reaching deep into smaller towns, regional markets, and older demographics. The emergence of multilingual creators and regional influencers has catalyzed a more inclusive digital marketplace—one that mirrors the real India in all its complexity and diversity.

    For brands and marketers, this evolution has not just altered strategies; it has flipped the entire funnel. Traditional advertising methods are being replaced or supplemented by more agile, creative, and targeted forms of engagement. Campaigns are now designed with creators at the core—allowing for faster content production, greater freedom of expression, and improved metrics through outcome-based testing. Virtual gifting, live commerce, subscription models, and fan-funded initiatives are rising as new revenue streams, giving creators both financial agency and deeper community ownership.

    WAVES 2025 served as the perfect launchpad for this new digital vision. With its ambitious scope covering media, technology, and storytelling, the summit highlighted how India’s creator economy is not merely an offshoot of the entertainment sector, it is the engine powering a new form of commerce and cultural diplomacy. As discussions ranged from AI in filmmaking to the future of AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics), one theme emerged with clarity: creators are not just influencing trends—they are shaping the market.

    Investors are recalibrating strategies to fund content-driven startups. Policy frameworks are being debated to offer protections and incentives for digital freelancers. Education platforms are rolling out creator economy courses. And most significantly, creators across India—from school-going influencers in Raipur to AI-powered illustrators in Chennai—are beginning to realize their role not just as entertainers, but as economic contributors.

    The trillion-dollar forecast is not a distant dream—it is a pathway already in motion. With the right mix of innovation, infrastructure, and inclusivity, India’s creator economy could become one of its most significant exports. And as the world turns its eyes toward this new digital juggernaut, one thing is certain: India is no longer just telling stories. It is rewriting the script of global influence—one post, one video, one idea at a time.

  • India’s creator economy set to shape a trillion-dollar future

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    At WAVES 2025, a new report by the Boston Consulting Group grabbed the spotlight, drawing the attention of policymakers, creators, and investors. The report revealed that India’s creator economy is already driving more than $350 billion in consumer spending, a number expected to exceed $1 trillion by 2030.

    Titled From Content to Commerce: Mapping India’s Creator Economy, the report paints a vivid picture of a nation in the midst of a creative and commercial boom. With 2 to 2.5 million active creators—defined as individuals with more than 1,000 followers—India is home to one of the world’s largest and youngest digital communities. But what’s most striking is the current monetization gap. Only 8 to 10 percent of these creators are earning meaningful income from their content, revealing a vast reserve of untapped potential that may well become the fuel for the next stage of India’s economic growth story.

    The report underscores the sweeping influence creators now hold over consumer decisions. Over 30 percent of purchases are directly shaped by digital content—ranging from short-form videos to long-format storytelling, tutorials, product reviews, and live streams. Comedy, film, fashion, and serials remain the dominant genres, but the expansion into new content territories like gaming, wellness, and finance is reshaping how India learns, shops, and interacts.

    What makes this shift even more profound is how it is transcending generational and geographic lines. No longer confined to Gen Z or urban metros, the creator ecosystem is reaching deep into smaller towns, regional markets, and older demographics. The emergence of multilingual creators and regional influencers has catalyzed a more inclusive digital marketplace—one that mirrors the real India in all its complexity and diversity.

    For brands and marketers, this evolution has not just altered strategies; it has flipped the entire funnel. Traditional advertising methods are being replaced or supplemented by more agile, creative, and targeted forms of engagement. Campaigns are now designed with creators at the core—allowing for faster content production, greater freedom of expression, and improved metrics through outcome-based testing. Virtual gifting, live commerce, subscription models, and fan-funded initiatives are rising as new revenue streams, giving creators both financial agency and deeper community ownership.

    WAVES 2025 served as the perfect launchpad for this new digital vision. With its ambitious scope covering media, technology, and storytelling, the summit highlighted how India’s creator economy is not merely an offshoot of the entertainment sector, it is the engine powering a new form of commerce and cultural diplomacy. As discussions ranged from AI in filmmaking to the future of AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics), one theme emerged with clarity: creators are not just influencing trends—they are shaping the market.

    Investors are recalibrating strategies to fund content-driven startups. Policy frameworks are being debated to offer protections and incentives for digital freelancers. Education platforms are rolling out creator economy courses. And most significantly, creators across India—from school-going influencers in Raipur to AI-powered illustrators in Chennai—are beginning to realize their role not just as entertainers, but as economic contributors.

    The trillion-dollar forecast is not a distant dream—it is a pathway already in motion. With the right mix of innovation, infrastructure, and inclusivity, India’s creator economy could become one of its most significant exports. And as the world turns its eyes toward this new digital juggernaut, one thing is certain: India is no longer just telling stories. It is rewriting the script of global influence—one post, one video, one idea at a time.

  • MIL-OSI: CIB Marine Bancshares, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2025 Results

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    BROOKFIELD, Wis, July 11, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CIB Marine Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company” or “CIB Marine”) (OTCQX: CIBH), the holding company of CIBM Bank (the “Bank”), announced its unaudited results of operations and financial condition for the quarter and six months ended June 30, 2025. During the quarter, net interest income and mortgage operations both improved operating results on a quarterly and year-to-date basis as further outlined below.

    Net income for the quarter was $0.7 million, or $0.50 basic and $0.48 diluted earnings per share, compared to $0.5 million, or $0.34 basic and $0.25 diluted earnings per share, for the same period of 2024 excluding the effects of the sale-leaseback transaction gain on sale reported in the second quarter of 2024. Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2025, was $1.0 million, or $0.74 basic and $0.71 diluted earnings per share, compared to $0.6 million, or $0.80 basic and $0.35 diluted earnings per share, for the same period of 2024 also excluding the effects of the sale-leaseback transaction gain on sale.

    Financial highlights for the quarter and six months ended June 30 include:

    • Net interest margin increased to 2.69% from 2.62% in the first quarter of 2025 and 2.38% in the second quarter of 2024. The cost of funds declined 51 basis points compared to the same quarterly period last year, due to the repricing of interest-bearing liabilities in a lower-cost interest rate environment, while yields on earning assets declined by 16 basis points. The net interest margin improved to 2.65% for the six months ended June 30, 2025, compared to 2.34% for the same period of 2024 as the cost of funds declined 45 basis points compared to a 10 basis point decline in yields on earning assets. Net interest income rose $0.3 million for the quarter compared to the same period of 2024, and $0.6 million for the six months ended June 30th compared to the same period of 2024.
    • Although quarter-end loan balances declined $19 million from March 31, 2025, and $32 million from December 31, 2024, the allowance for credit losses to loans rose from 1.26% at December 31, 2024, and 1.29% at March 31, 2025, to 1.32% at June 30, 2025, primarily due to continued deterioration in the Federal Reserve’s economic forecasts used in the Company’s credit loss analysis. Non-performing assets to total assets were 0.68% and non-accrual loans to loans were 0.85% on June 30, 2025, compared to 0.67% and 0.84% on March 31, 2025, and 0.68% and 0.81% on December 31, 2024, respectively. Business plans continue to include higher loan balances by year-end 2025, primarily driven by anticipated growth in the commercial segments. Non-performing loans, other real estate loans, modified loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty and loans 90 days or more past due but still accruing to total assets increased to 1.85% at June 30, 2025, compared to 0.97% at March 31, 2025, and 0.98% at December 31, 2024. The increase was primarily due to two commercial loans—one in the transportation industry and the other in manufacturing—that were both 90 days or more past due but still accruing interest and in the collection process. Since June 30, 2025, one of the loans has been brought current and the adjusted ratio would be 1.43%.
    • The Banking Division reported net income of $1.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2025, a $0.4 million improvement over the same period in 2024 excluding the sale-leaseback transaction gain on sale, driven primarily by higher net interest margins and continued cost controls. The Mortgage Division’s $0.1 million net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2025, is an improvement of $0.1 million from the prior year. This modest progress reflects the decline in lending staff noted in the first-quarter earnings release. The net remaining Other Division, comprised primarily of parent company operations, had a net loss of $0.5 million with roughly one-third of that amount attributed to subordinated debt interest expense. Although the parent company has a $2 million line of credit, no draws have been made on that potential funding source to date.

    Mr. J. Brian Chaffin, CIB Marine’s President and CEO, commented, “Net interest margins continue to improve as we actively manage our cost of funds in a lower rate environment compared to last year. This contributed to stronger operating results from our Banking Division. While loan balances declined again, our commercial group continues to build the loan pipeline, and we anticipate higher balances by year-end. The Mortgage Division showed modest improvement despite ongoing challenges in the residential mortgage market. Although mortgage production is expected to be lower than last year due to lender staff reductions, our current team is well-positioned to maintain consistent performance in a competitive market. Expense controls continue to support improved operating results.”

    He added, “In February, we launched our 2025 common stock repurchase program, authorizing up to $1 million in share buybacks. During the second quarter of 2025, we repurchased 8,083 shares through open market transactions for a total of $262,000, at an average price of $32.37 per share. Year to date, we have repurchased 15,512 shares for a total of $497,000, at an average price of $32.02 per share. Barring unforeseen factors, we intend to complete our 2025 common stock repurchase program during the second half of the year, using available resources including $0.7 million in cash on hand at the parent company, our $2 million line of credit, and other potential sources such as a possible capital distribution from CIBM Bank.”

    CIB Marine Bancshares, Inc. is the holding company for CIBM Bank, which operates nine banking offices in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana, and has mortgage loan officers and/or offices in six states. More information on the Company is available at www.cibmarine.com, including recent shareholder letters, links to regulatory financial reports, and audited financial statements.

    FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
    CIB Marine has made statements in this release that may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. CIB Marine intends these forward-looking statements to be subject to the safe harbor created thereby and is including this statement to avail itself of the safe harbor. Forward-looking statements are identified generally by statements containing words and phrases such as “may,” “project,” “are confident,” “should be,” “intend,” “predict,” “believe,” “plan,” “expect,” “estimate,” “anticipate” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements reflect CIB Marine’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance that are subject to many uncertainties and factors relating to CIB Marine’s operations and the business environment, which could change at any time.

    There are inherent difficulties in predicting factors that may affect the accuracy of forward-looking statements.

    Stockholders should note that many factors, some of which are discussed elsewhere in this Earnings Release and in the documents that are incorporated by reference, could affect the future financial results of CIB Marine and could cause those results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements contained or incorporated by reference in this document. These factors, many of which are beyond CIB Marine’s control, include but are not limited to:

    • operating, legal, execution, credit, market, security (including cyber), and regulatory risks;
    • economic, political, and competitive forces affecting CIB Marine’s banking business;
    • the impact on net interest income and securities values from changes in monetary policy and general economic and political conditions; and
    • the risk that CIB Marine’s analyses of these risks and forces could be incorrect and/or that the strategies developed to address them could be unsuccessful.

    These factors should be considered in evaluating the forward-looking statements, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. CIB Marine undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. Forward-looking statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties and CIB Marine’s actual results may differ materially from the results discussed in forward-looking statements.

    FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
    J. Brian Chaffin, President & CEO
    (217) 355-0900
    brian.chaffin@cibmbank.com

    CIB MARINE BANCSHARES, INC.
    Selected Unaudited Consolidated Financial Data
                     
      At or for the
      Quarters Ended   6 Months Ended
      June 30, March 31, December 31, September 30, June 30,   June 30, June 30,
        2025     2025     2024     2024     2024       2025     2024  
      (Dollars in thousands, except share and per share data)
    Selected Statement of Operations Data:                
    Interest and dividend income $ 11,017   $ 10,941   $ 11,408   $ 12,283   $ 12,052     $ 21,958   $ 23,853  
    Interest expense   5,541     5,652     6,259     6,707     6,897       11,193     13,737  
    Net interest income   5,476     5,289     5,149     5,576     5,155       10,765     10,116  
    Provision for (reversal of) credit losses   9     42     (332 )   (113 )   10       51     (18 )
    Net interest income after provision for                
    (reversal of) credit losses   5,467     5,247     5,481     5,689     5,145       10,714     10,134  
    Noninterest income (1)   1,765     1,552     1,724     2,897     6,904       3,317     8,531  
    Noninterest expense   6,311     6,373     6,678     7,163     6,904       12,684     13,325  
    Income before income taxes   921     426     527     1,423     5,145       1,347     5,340  
    Income tax expense   253     105     123     347     1,361       358     1,378  
    Net income (loss) $ 668   $ 321   $ 404   $ 1,076   $ 3,784     $ 989   $ 3,962  
                     
    Common Share Data:                
    Basic net income (loss) per share (2) $ 0.50   $ 0.24   $ 0.60   $ 0.79   $ 2.79     $ 0.74   $ 2.94  
    Diluted net income (loss) per share (2)   0.48     0.23     0.54     0.59     2.06       0.71     2.17  
    Dividend   0.00     0.00     0.00     0.00     0.00       0.00     0.00  
    Tangible book value per share (3)   59.55     58.46     57.37     57.80     55.36       59.55     55.36  
    Book value per share (3)   59.59     58.51     57.42     56.06     53.61       59.59     53.61  
    Weighted average shares outstanding – basic   1,349,613     1,348,995     1,357,737     1,357,259     1,356,255       1,344,573     1,348,440  
    Weighted average shares outstanding – diluted   1,397,365     1,396,274     1,507,344     1,833,586     1,833,881       1,392,090     1,826,911  
    Financial Condition Data:                
    Total assets $ 838,441   $ 852,018   $ 866,474   $ 888,283   $ 901,634     $ 838,441   $ 901,634  
    Loans   665,393     684,787     697,093     707,310     719,129       665,393     719,129  
    Allowance for credit losses on loans   (8,793 )   (8,818 )   (8,790 )   (8,973 )   (9,083 )     (8,793 )   (9,083 )
    Investment securities   126,795     124,109     120,339     120,349     123,814       126,795     123,814  
    Deposits   684,480     692,028     692,378     747,168     768,984       684,480     768,984  
    Borrowings   59,292     67,214     81,735     33,583     28,222       59,292     28,222  
    Stockholders’ equity   80,492     79,309     77,961     92,358     89,008       80,492     89,008  
    Financial Ratios and Other Data:                
    Performance Ratios:                
    Net interest margin (4)   2.69 %   2.62 %   2.44 %   2.55 %   2.38 %     2.65 %   2.34 %
    Net interest spread (5)   2.06 %   1.99 %   1.74 %   1.80 %   1.71 %     2.03 %   1.67 %
    Noninterest income to average assets (6)   0.83 %   0.73 %   0.82 %   1.25 %   3.09 %     0.78 %   1.91 %
    Noninterest expense to average assets   3.00 %   3.05 %   3.06 %   3.17 %   3.09 %     3.02 %   2.98 %
    Efficiency ratio (7)   87.24 %   93.65 %   96.17 %   85.32 %   57.19 %     90.35 %   71.34 %
    Earnings (loss) on average assets (8)   0.32 %   0.15 %   0.19 %   0.48 %   1.69 %     0.24 %   0.88 %
    Earnings (loss) on average equity (9)   3.36 %   1.65 %   1.94 %   4.71 %   17.92 %     2.52 %   9.38 %
    Asset Quality Ratios:                
    Nonaccrual loans to loans (10)   0.85 %   0.84 %   0.81 %   0.44 %   0.47 %     0.85 %   0.47 %
    Nonperformance assets to total assets (11)   0.68 %   0.67 %   0.68 %   0.38 %   0.41 %     0.68 %   0.41 %
    Nonaccrual loans, modified loans to borrowers experiencing                
    financial difficulty, loans 90 days or more past due and still                
    accruing to total loans (12)   2.33 %   1.21 %   1.19 %   1.62 %   1.38 %     2.33 %   1.38 %
    Nonaccrual loans, OREO, modified loans to borrowers                
    experiencing financial difficulty, loans 90 days or more past                
    due and still accruing to total assets (12)   1.85 %   0.97 %   0.98 %   1.32 %   1.14 %     1.85 %   1.14 %
    Allowance for credit losses on loans to total loans (10)   1.32 %   1.29 %   1.26 %   1.27 %   1.26 %     1.32 %   1.26 %
    Allowance for credit losses on loans to nonaccrual loans,                
    modified loans to borrowers experiencing financial difficulty loans                
    and loans 90 days or more past due and still accruing (10)   56.76 %   106.25 %   105.95 %   82.53 %   91.24 %     56.76 %   91.24 %
    Net charge-offs (recoveries) annualized                
    to average loans (10)   -0.02 %   -0.01 %   -0.01 %   -0.01 %   0.03 %     -0.01 %   0.03 %
    Capital Ratios:                
    Total equity to total assets   9.60 %   9.31 %   9.00 %   10.40 %   9.87 %     9.60 %   9.87 %
    Total risk-based capital ratio   13.55 %   13.34 %   13.02 %   14.54 %   13.90 %     13.55 %   13.90 %
    Tier 1 risk-based capital ratio   10.82 %   10.62 %   10.33 %   11.89 %   11.27 %     10.82 %   11.27 %
    Leverage capital ratio   8.54 %   8.40 %   8.14 %   9.30 %   8.93 %     8.54 %   8.93 %
    Other Data:                
    Number of employees (full-time equivalent)   144     152     165     170     172       144     172  
    Number of banking facilities   9     9     9     9     9       9     9  
                     
    (1) Noninterest income includes gains and losses on securities.
    (2) Net income available to common stockholders in the calculation of earnings per share includes the difference between the carrying amount less the consideration paid for redeemed preferred stock of $0.4 million for the quarter ended December 31, 2024.
    (3) Tangible book value per share is the stockholder equity less the carry value of the preferred stock and less the goodwill and intangible assets, divided by the total shares of common outstanding. Book value per share is the stockholder equity less the liquidation preference of the preferred stock, divided by the total shares of common outstanding. Book value measures are reported inclusive of the net deferred tax assets. As presented here, shares of common outstanding excludes unvested restricted stock awards.
    (4) Net interest margin is the ratio of net interest income to average interest-earning assets.
    (5) Net interest spread is the yield on average interest-earning assets less the rate on average interest-bearing liabilities.
    (6) Noninterest income to average assets excludes gains and losses on securities.
    (7) The efficiency ratio is noninterest expense divided by the sum of net interest income plus noninterest income, excluding gains and losses on securities.
    (8) Earnings on average assets are net income divided by average total assets.
    (9) Earnings on average equity are net income divided by average stockholders’ equity.
    (10) Excludes loans held for sale.
    (11) Nonperforming assets includes nonaccrual loans and securities and other real estate owned.
    (12) A large loan 90 days or more past due and still accruing was brought current after June 30, 2025. The adjusted ratio to total loans would be 1.80% and to total assets 1.43%.
    CIB MARINE BANCSHARES, INC.  
    Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited)  
                 
      June 30, March 31, December 31, September 30, June 30,  
        2025     2025     2024     2024     2024    
      (Dollars in Thousands, Except Shares)  
    Assets            
    Cash and due from banks $ 10,363   $ 7,717   $ 6,748   $ 13,814   $ 10,690    
    Reverse repurchase agreements   –     –     –     –     –    
    Securities available for sale   124,618     121,939     118,206     118,145     121,687    
    Equity securities at fair value   2,177     2,170     2,133     2,204     2,127    
    Loans held for sale   7,733     7,685     13,291     19,472     17,897    
                 
    Loans   665,393     684,787     697,093     707,310     719,129    
    Allowance for credit losses on loans   (8,793 )   (8,818 )   (8,790 )   (8,973 )   (9,083 )  
    Net loans   656,600     675,969     688,303     698,337     710,046    
                 
    Federal Home Loan Bank Stock   3,401     2,607     2,607     2,238     2,238    
    Premises and equipment, net   1,660     1,486     1,570     1,526     1,569    
    Accrued interest receivable   2,733     2,680     2,651     2,926     3,230    
    Deferred tax assets, net   12,160     12,529     12,955     12,796     14,840    
    Other real estate owned, net   –     –     200     211     283    
    Bank owned life insurance   6,536     6,486     6,437     6,388     6,340    
    Goodwill and other intangible assets   64     64     64     64     64    
    Other assets   10,396     10,686     11,309     10,162     10,623    
    Total assets $ 838,441   $ 852,018   $ 866,474   $ 888,283   $ 901,634    
                 
    Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity            
    Deposits:            
    Noninterest-bearing demand $ 87,479   $ 98,403   $ 86,886   $ 95,471   $ 95,457    
    Interest-bearing demand   74,921     77,620     84,833     90,095     86,728    
    Savings   226,663     232,046     224,960     234,969     244,595    
    Time   295,417     283,959     295,699     326,633     342,204    
    Total deposits   684,480     692,028     692,378     747,168     768,984    
    Short-term borrowings   49,514     57,444     71,973     23,829     18,477    
    Long-term borrowings   9,778     9,770     9,762     9,754     9,745    
    Accrued interest payable   1,656     1,614     1,911     2,101     2,145    
    Other liabilities   12,521     11,853     12,489     13,073     13,275    
    Total liabilities   757,949     772,709     788,513     795,925     812,626    
                 
    Stockholders’ Equity            
    Preferred stock, $1 par value; 5,000,000 authorized shares at periods prior to December 31, 2024; 7% fixed rate noncumulative perpetual issued; 14,633 shares of series A and 1,610 shares of series B; convertible; $16.2 million aggregate liquidation preference   –     –     –     13,806     13,806    
    Common stock, $1 par value; 75,000,000 authorized shares; 1,385,842 and 1,372,642 issued shares; 1,351,397 and 1,358,473 outstanding shares at June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively (1)   1,386     1,383     1,372     1,372     1,372    
    Capital surplus   181,908     181,801     181,708     181,603     181,486    
    Accumulated deficit   (98,498 )   (99,167 )   (99,487 )   (100,297 )   (101,373 )  
    Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net   (3,273 )   (3,939 )   (5,098 )   (3,592 )   (5,749 )  
    Treasury stock, 35,167 shares on June 30, 2025 and 14,791 shares December 31, 2024 (2)   (1,031 )   (769 )   (534 )   (534 )   (534 )  
    Total stockholders’ equity   80,492     79,309     77,961     92,358     89,008    
    Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 838,441   $ 852,018   $ 866,474   $ 888,283   $ 901,634    
                 
    (1) Both issued and outstanding shares as stated here exclude 46,686 shares and 42,259 shares of unvested restricted stock awards at June 30, 2025 and December 31, 2024, respectively.
    (2) Treasury stock includes 722 shares held by subsidiary bank CIBM Bank.  
                 
    CIB MARINE BANCSHARES, INC.  
    Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)  
                       
      At or for the  
      Quarters Ended   6 Months Ended  
      June 30, March 31, December 31, September 30, June 30,   June 30, June 30,  
        2025     2025     2024     2024     2024       2025     2024    
      (Dollars in thousands)  
                       
    Interest Income                  
    Loans $ 9,653   $ 9,623   $ 9,999   $ 10,573   $ 10,582     $ 19,276   $ 20,976    
    Loans held for sale   149     137     215     300     213       286     355    
    Securities   1,186     1,150     1,151     1,183     1,217       2,336     2,448    
    Other investments   29     31     43     227     40       60     74    
    Total interest income   11,017     10,941     11,408     12,283     12,052       21,958     23,853    
                       
    Interest Expense                  
    Deposits   4,795     5,029     5,638     6,354     6,466       9,824     12,693    
    Short-term borrowings   625     504     500     232     310       1,129     803    
    Long-term borrowings   121     119     121     121     121       240     241    
    Total interest expense   5,541     5,652     6,259     6,707     6,897       11,193     13,737    
    Net interest income   5,476     5,289     5,149     5,576     5,155       10,765     10,116    
    Provision for (reversal of) credit losses   9     42     (332 )   (113 )   10       51     (18 )  
    Net interest income after provision for                  
    (reversal of) credit losses   5,467     5,247     5,481     5,689     5,145       10,714     10,134    
                       
    Noninterest Income                  
    Deposit service charges   65     59     55     63     67       124     133    
    Other service fees   (10 )   (9 )   (5 )   (5 )   1       (19 )   (4 )  
    Mortgage banking revenue, net   1,424     1,140     1,564     2,264     2,166       2,564     3,375    
    Other income   279     177     192     150     273       456     436    
    Net gains on sale of securities available for sale   0     0     0     0     0       0     0    
    Unrealized gains (losses) recognized on equity securities   7     36     (71 )   78     (14 )     43     (32 )  
    Net gains (loss) on sale of SBA loans   0     161     0     420     0       161     202    
    Net gains on sale of assets and (writedowns)   0     (12 )   (11 )   (73 )   4,411       (12 )   4,421    
    Total noninterest income   1,765     1,552     1,724     2,897     6,904       3,317     8,531    
                       
    Noninterest Expense                  
    Compensation and employee benefits   4,060     4,066     4,344     4,852     4,700       8,126     8,989    
    Equipment   583     559     467     504     457       1,142     919    
    Occupancy and premises   519     549     500     495     391       1,068     827    
    Data Processing   212     221     220     243     208       433     420    
    Federal deposit insurance   101     129     144     182     219       230     418    
    Professional services   218     278     240     254     219       496     418    
    Telephone and data communication   57     52     74     51     51       109     107    
    Insurance   75     64     71     78     80       139     161    
    Other expense   486     455     618     504     579       941     1,066    
    Total noninterest expense   6,311     6,373     6,678     7,163     6,904       12,684     13,325    
    Income from operations                  
    before income taxes   921     426     527     1,423     5,145       1,347     5,340    
    Income tax expense   253     105     123     347     1,361       358     1,378    
    Net income (loss)   668     321     404     1,076     3,784       989     3,962    
    Preferred stock dividend   0     0     0     0     0       0     0    
    Discount from repurchase of preferred
    stock    		   0     0     406     0     0       0     0    
    Net income (loss) allocated to                  
     common stockholders $ 668   $ 321   $ 810   $ 1,076   $ 3,784     $ 989   $ 3,962    
                       

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: IAGCI seeks reviewer to evaluate coverage of healthcare and medical treatment in Home Office country information

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    IAGCI seeks reviewer to evaluate coverage of healthcare and medical treatment in Home Office country information

    Experts on comparative international healthcare provision are invited to submit expressions of interest by the close of 22 August 2025.

    Section 48(2)(j) of the UK Borders Act 2007 provides that the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) shall:

    consider and make recommendations about … the content of information about conditions in countries outside the United Kingdom which the Secretary of State compiles and makes available, for purposes connected with immigration and asylum, to immigration officers and other officials.

    To assist the Independent Chief Inspector in fulfilling this statutory role, a body of experts sitting as the Independent Advisory Group on Country Information (IAGCI) regularly reviews the Country of Origin Information (COI) products that are produced by the Home Office. The Home Office refers to COI where conditions in a foreign country are relevant to an immigration or asylum decision, for example when considering a claim for international protection under the Refugee Convention or immigration applications based on a human rights claim. The IAGCI’s reviews assess whether the content of COI is accurate, balanced, objective, and up-to-date, and they serve as the basis for an ICIBI inspection report.

    In addition to reviewing the Home Office’s country policy and information notes (CPINs) and responses to country of origin information requests (COIRs) relating to individual countries, the IAGCI examines the way that ‘cross-cutting’ themes are dealt with across all of the COI issued by the department. In the past, thematic reports commissioned by the IAGCI examined coverage of such topics as issues related to children, sexual orientation and gender identity or expression, and statelessness.

    At a forthcoming meeting, the IAGCI intends to consider the coverage of healthcare (including mental healthcare) and medical treatment in the COI produced by the Home Office. Country information on the availability and quality of healthcare and medical treatment is presented in numerous CPINs, including the following, which focus specifically on this area:

    In its consideration of this coverage, the IAGCI wishes to assess the quality, accuracy, and completeness of the information provided on healthcare and medical treatment in individual countries; to evaluate the overall approach taken to compiling and presenting information on this area across the range of relevant CPINs; and to identify any significant gaps in the coverage of medical provision issues in Home Office COI.

    To inform this discussion, the IAGCI seeks to commission a review paper to be prepared by an expert with in-depth knowledge of comparative healthcare systems. The reviewer commissioned to undertake this project will be an experienced researcher with demonstrated expertise in international healthcare. They will not be expected to be an expert on all countries concerned, but they should have an understanding of the relevance of information about healthcare and medical treatment to immigration and asylum decisions.

    Description of work

    The review paper will be a substantial piece of research that provides an assessment of the coverage of healthcare (including mental healthcare) and medical treatment in existing COI products, commenting on their:

    1. Completeness: the extent to which relevant available information on healthcare (including mental healthcare) and medical treatment has been reflected in relevant CPINs. Additional publicly available sources should be identified where appropriate.

    2. Accuracy and balance: whether relevant information from source material has been accurately and appropriately reflected in the CPIN, noting any specific errors or omissions.

    Though the review paper need not necessarily provide a comprehensive assessment of every relevant CPIN, it should offer a comparative summary, noting the strengths and weaknesses of the available reports. The review paper should also comment, and offer any relevant recommendations, on the Home Office’s overall approach to compiling and presenting information on healthcare and medical treatment. In addition, the review paper should seek to identify where coverage of healthcare and medical treatment in Home Office COI could usefully be expanded, whether that might be within existing CPINs or through the production of new CPINs covering additional countries or covering specific healthcare and medical issues in greater depth.  

    While there is room for individual discretion in the way the researcher approaches the task and prepares a review, the IAGCI requires that these guidelines be followed:

    1. The format and scope of the review should be agreed with the Chair of the IAGCI, and the reviewer will be expected to address any comments or suggestions the Chair may have on the final draft of the review.

    2. The COI under review should be assessed in terms of the situation in the country up to the stated ‘cut off’ date for inclusion of information in the relevant CPIN; if the reviewer wishes to recommend reference to more recent material, the review should make clear that that material was not available at the time the relevant CPIN was produced.

    3. Any suggestions for additional information (or corrections to information in the document) must be referenced to a source document for the Home Office to be able to use it. If no published source is available to support the suggested information, the reviewer may supply a letter providing the information for use as a source document.

    The reviewer will be expected to attend the IAGCI meeting at which their review will be considered. Representatives from the Home Office will also attend the meeting to provide responses to comments and recommendations made in the review.

    Reviews commissioned by the IAGCI may be used as source documents for future CPINs and other COI products.

    Payment for this work will be set at £6,000, payable following acceptance by the IAGCI Chair of the completed review and the reviewer’s participation in the IAGCI meeting to discuss the review. Contractual terms will be confirmed in a short-form contract.

    How to Apply

    Researchers interested in completing this review should submit:

    • a brief letter setting out (1) their relevant experience and expertise as a researcher with expert knowledge of international healthcare systems, (2) any relevant background demonstrating knowledge of how considerations around healthcare (including mental healthcare) and medical treatment relate to immigration and asylum decision-making, and (3) how they would approach the task of reviewing Home Office COI pertaining to healthcare (including mental healthcare) and medical treatment
    • their c.v.

    Expressions of interest should be submitted to IAGCI@icibi.gov.uk by close of 22 August 2025 and will be judged with reference to the bidder’s demonstrated knowledge and expertise of comparative standards of healthcare provision; their awareness of the relevance of information on healthcare and medical treatment to immigration and asylum decision-making; their research experience, including any relevant experience of reviewing country of origin information; and the soundness of their proposed approach to carrying out the review.

    It is expected that the successful bidder will be notified by 29 August 2025. The completed review will be due by the close of 5 December 2025 and will be discussed at an IAGCI meeting planned for early 2026.

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • MIL-OSI United Kingdom: IAGCI invites tenders to evaluate Home Office country information products on Afghanistan, Colombia, and India

    Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

    News story

    IAGCI invites tenders to evaluate Home Office country information products on Afghanistan, Colombia, and India

    Potential reviewers of country of origin information are invited to submit expressions of interest by the close of 22 August 2025.

    Section 48(2)(j) of the UK Borders Act 2007 provides that the Independent Chief Inspector of Borders and Immigration (ICIBI) shall:

    consider and make recommendations about … the content of information about conditions in countries outside the United Kingdom which the Secretary of State compiles and makes available, for purposes connected with immigration and asylum, to immigration officers and other officials.

    To assist the Independent Chief Inspector in fulfilling this statutory role, a body of experts sitting as the Independent Advisory Group on Country Information (IAGCI) regularly reviews the country of origin information (COI) products that are issued by the Home Office. These reviews assess whether the content of COI is accurate, balanced, objective, and up-to-date, and they serve as the basis for an ICIBI inspection report.

    Country of origin information

    The Home Office refers to COI products in procedures that assess claims of individuals for refugee status or other forms of international and humanitarian protection. COI is also used in policy formulation. COI is contained in:

    • country policy and information notes (CPINs)
    • responses to country of origin information requests (COIRs)

    CPINs are generated on an ongoing basis, generally focusing on countries from which asylum claims are most commonly received. These reports may provide general background information on a country, address aspects of conditions in a country that are relevant to common types of asylum claims, and/or describe the current humanitarian or security situation in a country. CPINs are compiled from material produced by a range of recognised external information sources (such as news reports, academic literature, independent research reports, and fact-finding reports from UK government or from other governments). CPINs also contain Home Office policy on the recommended position to be taken with respect to various types of claims, based on the available and accepted country information.

    COIR responses are prepared to address specific queries from caseworkers or other Home Office officials. These relate to information that is not covered in the CPINs.

    Description of work

    IAGCI commissions country experts or experienced researchers to evaluate and report upon the information contained in Home Office COI products. The IAGCI requires an expert to review the following COI products on Afghanistan, Colombia, and India (3 separate tenders; 1 for each country):

    Tender 1 (Afghanistan)

    Tender 2 (Colombia)

    Tender 3 (India)

    The successful bidder will review, in addition to up to 10 COIR responses on conditions in India, 3 of the CPINs below (to be agreed with the IAGCI prior to the commencement of work):

    The reviewer will be asked to evaluate the extent to which the material under review provides an accurate, balanced, and up-to-date summary of the key available sources regarding conditions in the country concerned and to identify any areas where the COI can be improved. Specifically, the review should entail:

    • assessing the extent to which information from source documents has been appropriately and accurately reflected in the CPIN reports
    • identifying additional sources detailing relevant aspects of current conditions in the country
    • noting and correcting any specific errors or omissions of fact
    • making recommendations for general improvements regarding, for example, the structure of the report, its coverage, or its overall approach
    • ensuring no reference is made to an individual source which could expose them to risk

    The reviewer should follow these guidelines:

    • the review should focus exclusively on the country of origin information contained within the document, and not pass judgment on the policy guidance provided
    • CPINs should be reviewed in the context of their purpose as set out above. It should consider the situation in the country up to the stated ‘cut off’ date for inclusion of information
    • when suggesting amendments, rather than ‘tracking changes’ on the original CPIN, a list of suggested changes should be provided as part of a stand-alone review paper, and each report should be reviewed separately. A reporting template will be provided to the reviewer
    • any suggestions for additional information (or corrections to information in the document) must be referenced to a source document (preferably open source) for the Home Office to be able to use it. The Home Office may use foreign language source documents, but only if the information is considered essential and is not available in an English-language source

    Previous reviews of COI products can be consulted on the ICIBI website.

    The selected reviewer will be expected to consult with the Chair of the IAGCI in advance of commencing work on the review and to address any comments or suggestions the Chair may have on the final draft. The reviewer will also be expected to attend an IAGCI meeting at which the review will be discussed. Representatives from the Home Office will also attend the meeting to provide responses to comments and recommendations made in the review.

    Reviews commissioned by the IAGCI will be published and may be used as source documents for future CPINs or other Home Office COI products.

    Payment for this work will be set at £3,000, payable following acceptance by the IAGCI Chair of the completed review and the reviewer’s participation in the IAGCI meeting to discuss the review. Contractual terms will be confirmed in a short-form contract.

    How to Apply

    Experts interested in conducting one of these reviews should submit:

    • a brief letter setting out (1) their relevant experience and expertise, including knowledge of human rights and/or asylum issues, pertaining to Afghanistan, Colombia, or India; and (2) how they would approach the task of reviewing the selected COI.
    • their c.v.

    Expressions of interest should be submitted to IAGCI@icibi.gov.uk by the close of 22 August 2025 and will be judged with reference to the bidder’s demonstrated country knowledge and expertise; their awareness of human rights and/or asylum issues; their research experience, including any relevant experience of reviewing country of origin information; and the soundness of their proposed approach to carrying out the review.

    It is expected that the successful bidder will be notified by 29 August 2025. The final review will be due by the close of 24 October 2025 and will be discussed at an IAGCI meeting planned for later in the year.

    Updates to this page

    Published 11 July 2025

    MIL OSI United Kingdom –

  • Semicon India 2025 to feature global pavilions, country roundtables, and record participation

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The fourth edition of Semicon India 2025, scheduled for September 2–4 at Yashobhoomi (India International Convention and Expo Centre), New Delhi, will see the largest-ever global participation, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) announced on Friday.

    Jointly organised by the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) and SEMI, the event aims to showcase India’s expanding capabilities across the microelectronics and semiconductor value chain. This year’s theme is ‘Building the Next Semiconductor Powerhouse’.

    According to the ministry, over 300 companies from 18 countries will exhibit at Semicon India 2025 — the highest to date. The event will, for the first time, feature four international pavilions from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Malaysia. Eight country roundtables are also planned to promote bilateral partnerships between India and key semiconductor markets.

    In line with India’s push to strengthen its talent pipeline, the event will include dedicated skilling and workforce development programmes. Students and engineers will have access to training, upskilling sessions, and career counselling. A dedicated Semiconductor Design Startup Pavilion will highlight innovation-driven chip design firms, while the number of State Government Pavilions has risen to nine from six in the last edition.

    The three-day conference will bring together global CXOs, technology leaders, and policy experts to share insights on manufacturing trends, supply chain strategies, and emerging technologies.

    The Centre has been working to position India as a trusted semiconductor hub, supported by the Semicon India programme — a ₹76,000-crore initiative to build a robust domestic semiconductor and display manufacturing ecosystem. The government recently revised the programme to keep pace with aggressive incentives offered by other countries and the limited number of companies with advanced node technologies.

    In a related development, the Union Cabinet has approved India’s sixth semiconductor manufacturing unit, which will come up near Jewar Airport in Uttar Pradesh through a joint venture between the HCL Group and Taiwan’s Foxconn. The facility, with a capacity of 20,000 wafers per month, is expected to produce 36 million chips monthly and create employment for around 2,000 people.

    Meanwhile, work is underway on the other five approved units, one of which is expected to be inaugurated later this year.

    To further boost the sector, the government recently amended Special Economic Zone (SEZ) rules to address the unique requirements of semiconductor and electronics component manufacturing. Given the capital-intensive nature and longer gestation periods of these industries, the changes are intended to attract pioneering investments and strengthen India’s position in the global semiconductor landscape.

     

  • ENG vs IND, 3rd Test: Pope has his “fingers crossed” as Stokes battles injury at Lord’s

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    England captain Ben Stokes was seen limping with a possible groin injury during Day 1 of the third Test at Lord’s on Thursday, raising concerns ahead of a crucial phase in the series against India.

    Vice-captain Ollie Pope said he had his “fingers crossed” that Stokes would recover in time, with the series locked at 1-1.

    “Fingers crossed he can pull something magical off and come back strong. We’ve got a big Test over the next four days, and two more after this, so it’s important to manage him well,” Pope said after play.

    “One of my jobs is to make sure he doesn’t push himself too far”, England’s No. 3 added.

    On a hard-fought day, Joe Root held firm with an unbeaten 99 as England reached 251/4 in 83 overs at stumps. Pope contributed 44 off 104 balls as England, known for their aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach, opted for a more measured innings against a disciplined Indian attack.

    “It was not necessarily the way we are used to starting the first innings but 251/4 is a pretty good score. Hopefully we can take it past 400, maybe 500,” Pope said. “Considering the nature of the surface and the way India bowled, it’s a day we’ll take. We had to adapt — that’s something we’re always trying to improve, working out when to press and when to absorb pressure.”

    England will resume play on Friday with Root one run short of his 31st Test century.

    —IANS

  • China’s GDP growth set to slow, raising pressure on policymakers

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    China’s economy is expected to have slowed down in the second quarter from a solid start to the year as trade tensions with the United States added to deflationary pressures, reinforcing expectations that Beijing may need to roll out more stimulus.

    The world’s second-largest economy has so far avoided a sharp slowdown in part due to a fragile U.S.-China trade truce and policy stimulus, but markets are braced for a gloomier second half pressured by slowing exports, weak consumer demand, and a persistent property downturn.

    Gross domestic product growth in April-June is forecast at 5.1% year-on-year, cooling from 5.4% in the first quarter, a Reuters poll of 40 economists showed on Friday.

    The projected pace would still exceed the 4.7% growth forecast in a Reuters poll in April and remain broadly in line with the official full-year target of around 5%.

    Investors are closely watching for signs of fresh stimulus at the upcoming Politburo meeting due in late July, which is likely to shape economic policy for the remainder of the year.

    “We expect second-quarter GDP growth to exceed 5%, compared to 5.4% in the first quarter, indicating that there is no immediate need for additional stimulus,” analysts at Societe Generale said in a note.

    GDP growth is projected to slow to 4.5% in the third quarter and 4.0% in the fourth, according to the poll, underscoring mounting economic headwinds as U.S. President Donald Trump’s global trade war leaves Beijing with the tough task of getting households to spend more at a time of uncertainty.

    “We see a demand cliff in the second half, driven by multiple factors,” said Ting Lu, chief China economist at Nomura, in a note. Lu cited slowing exports under U.S. tariffs, the fading boost from a consumer goods trade-in program, austerity measures, and a protracted property slump.

    “We believe Beijing will very likely rush to roll out a new round of supportive measures at some point during H2.”

    For the whole of 2025, China’s GDP growth is forecast to cool to 4.6% – falling short of the official goal – from last year’s 5.0% and ease further to 4.2% in 2026, according to the poll.

    On a quarterly basis, the economy is forecast to have expanded 0.9% in the second quarter, slowing from 1.2% in January-March, the poll showed.

    The government is due to release second-quarter GDP data and June retail sales, industrial production and investment data at 0200 GMT on July 15.

    STIMULUS ALONE NOT ENOUGH

    Beijing has ramped up infrastructure spending and consumer subsidies, alongside steady monetary easing. In May, the central bank cut interest rates and injected liquidity as part of broader efforts to cushion the economy from Trump’s trade tariffs.

    Analysts polled by Reuters expect the central bank to cut its key policy rate – the seven-day reverse repo rate – by 10 basis points in the fourth quarter, along with a similar cut to the benchmark loan prime rate (LPR). The central bank is also expected to lower the weighted average reserve requirement ratio (RRR) by 20 basis points during the same period.

    But China observers and analysts say stimulus alone may not be enough to address deflation, which deepened to its worst level in almost two years in June.

    China’s GDP deflator – the broadest measure of prices across goods and services – is expected to decline further in the second quarter, marking a ninth consecutive quarterly drop, the longest streak since records began in 1993.

    Analysts polled by Reuters estimate a 0.1% rise in China’s consumer prices for this year, well below the government’s target of around 2%, before picking up 1.0% in 2026.

    Expectations are growing that China could accelerate supply-side reforms to curb excess industrial capacity and find new ways to boost domestic demand.

    Chinese government advisers are stepping up calls to make the household sector’s contribution to broader economic growth a top priority at Beijing’s upcoming five-year policy plan, as the trade tensions and deflation threaten the outlook.

    (Reuters)

  • WAVES 2025: Where sports, esports, and storytelling reimagined the future of fan engagement

    Source: Government of India

    Source: Government of India (4)

    The WAVES Summit 2025 in Mumbai highlighted the transformative role of technology in redefining sports, esports, and the way fans engage with both.

    From cricket fields to esports arenas, WAVES 2025 captured a global transition: fans are no longer just spectators, but participants in an evolving, tech-driven sports ecosystem.

    One of the most talked-about sessions spotlighted Saudi Arabia’s ambitious vision for gaming and esports, presented by Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan Al Saud, Chairman of the Saudi Esports Federation.

    With over 67% of its population identifying as gamers, the Kingdom is building a comprehensive, youth-focused ecosystem.

    Initiatives like Gamers Without Borders, the Esports World Cup, and the Saudi Esports Academy aim to foster talent in areas such as coaching, game development, content creation, and event production, blending economic strategy with cultural innovation.

    On the traditional sports front, the summit hosted a dynamic panel moderated by filmmaker Dheer Momaya, featuring cricket icon Ravi Shastri and leaders from Dream Sports, Tata Communications, Kosmos, and Jiostar.

    The discussion focused on how technology is transforming the fan experience, from algorithm-driven content to interactive platforms that allow users to become strategists and storytellers.

    Technologies like AI-based personalization, sign-language commentary, and customizable viewing formats are making live sports more accessible and immersive than ever before. Yet amid all this innovation, speakers emphasized that the heart of sport still lies in its stories: the personal journeys, rivalries, and real-time emotions that connect fans to players.

    WAVES 2025 ultimately highlighted a powerful convergence: technology is not replacing tradition but amplifying it. Whether through data, design, or digital platforms, the future of sport is being shaped by ideas that are inclusive, intelligent, and deeply human.

  • MIL-OSI USA: SPC Jul 11, 2025 0600 UTC Day 2 Convective Outlook

    Source: US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

    SPC AC 110710

    Day 2 Convective Outlook CORR 3
    NWS Storm Prediction Center Norman OK
    0210 AM CDT Fri Jul 11 2025

    Valid 121200Z – 131200Z

    …THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTHEAST
    INDIANA…NORTHWEST OHIO…AND MUCH OF EASTERN MICHIGAN…

    CORRECTED FOR INCORRECT MARGINAL LINE GROUPING

    …SUMMARY…
    Scattered damaging winds are possible across northeast Indiana,
    northwest Ohio, into eastern Michigan on Saturday. A broad swath of
    isolated severe thunderstorms is anticipated from the Great Lakes to
    the southern High Plains, mainly Saturday afternoon/evening.

    … Synopsis …

    The large-scale pattern across the US on Saturday will feature
    mid-level ridges on both coasts and a broad trough across the
    central US. Within this cyclonic flow, multiple vorticity ribbons
    will quickly move northeast across the Great Lakes and into Ontario.

    At the surface, a cold front will stretch from Wisconsin southwest
    into northwest Oklahoma and the Texas Panhandles at the start of the
    forecast period and should move east across Michigan while making
    little forward progress across the southern Great Plains.

    … Great Lakes Region …

    A lead shortwave trough/vorticity maximum will quickly move through
    eastern Wisconsin and lower Michigan during the late morning into
    afternoon. In response to the approaching trough, a modest low-level
    jet will support surface dewpoints rising to/being sustained in the
    upper 60Fs to lower 70Fs range. Given the degree of low-level
    moisture, modest diurnal heating will support most-unstable CAPE
    values in excess of 2000 J/kg.

    As large-scale ascent overspreads the surface cold front across
    lower Michigan, one or more bands of convection are expected to
    develop along and ahead of the front. Despite effective-layer shear
    being generally less than 35 knots, some severe potential will exist
    with this convection — primarily strong downdraft winds — owing to
    the degree of instability and precipitable water values around
    1.75″. Additionally, with a modest low-level jet and a preexisting
    boundary in the vicinity, a tornado or two cannot be ruled out.

    Farther west, in response to the large-scale ascent for the second,
    stronger shortwave trough, a second round of thunderstorms may
    develop across portions of Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of
    Michigan. Despite being post frontal, diurnal heating and residual
    low-level moisture will support most-unstable CAPE around 1000-1500
    J/kg. Isolated large hail and strong thunderstorm outflows will be
    possible.

    … Central and Southern Rockies into the Southern Plains …

    One or more decaying MCSs and perhaps attendant MCVs may be ongoing
    at the start of the period across the Texas/Oklahoma Panhandles into
    Oklahoma. The combination of multiple potential outflow boundaries
    and localized ascent associated with any MCV will result in
    scattered to widespread thunderstorm development through the period.
    Diurnal heating of a very moist airmass will result in CAPE values
    perhaps as high as 3000 J/kg across portions of the area. This
    degree of instability coupled with precipitable water values
    approaching 2 inches will yield the potential for wet microbursts
    and associated damaging winds. Despite wind being the more likely
    severe threat, isolated large hail may also be possible given the
    degree of instability, especially early in the thunderstorm life
    cycle.

    During the afternoon, additional thunderstorms are anticipated
    across the higher terrain of the central and southern Rockies within
    a moist upslope low-level flow. Modest northwesterly mid-level flow
    and perhaps a subtle short-wave trough will help organize the
    convection into a slow moving south-southeast moving MCS. If
    confidence increases in a well-organized MCS, the area may need to
    be upgraded to categorical upgrade to Level 2/Slight Risk driven by
    wind potential.

    ..Marsh.. 07/11/2025

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