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Category: India

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah will address the 119th Annual Session of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry as the Chief Guest in New Delhi tomorrow

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah will address the 119th Annual Session of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry as the Chief Guest in New Delhi tomorrow

    The theme of the annual session is ‘Viksit Bharat @ 2047: Marching towards the peak of progress’

    The entire country is moving rapidly with dedication and devotion towards the resolution of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to make India a developed nation by the year 2047

    Under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the country is moving towards becoming the third largest economy of the world

    Posted On: 09 OCT 2024 4:54PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah will address the 119th Annual Session of PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry as the Chief Guest on Thursday, 10 October 2024 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. The theme of the annual session is ‘Viksit Bharat @ 2047: Marching towards the peak of progress’.

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has pledged to make India a developed nation by the year 2047 and the whole country is moving rapidly in that direction with dedication and devotion.

    India has joined the top 5 economies of the world and under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi it is moving towards becoming the third largest economy of the world.

    Around 1500 business persons, Chartered Accountants, bankers, advocates etc. from the industry will participate in the 119th session.

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    RK/ASH/PR/PS

    (Release ID: 2063524) Visitor Counter : 75

    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PRESIDENT OF INDIA GRACES 8TH FOUNDATION DAY CELEBRATION OF ALL INDIA INSTITUTE OF AYURVEDA, NEW DELHI TODAY

    Source: Government of India

    PRESIDENT OF INDIA GRACES 8TH FOUNDATION DAY CELEBRATION OF ALL INDIA INSTITUTE OF AYURVEDA, NEW DELHI TODAY

    Ayurveda is one of the oldest holistic medical systems in the world. It focuses on establishing harmony between mind, body and spirit: Smt. Droupadi Murmu

    Ayurveda is a very ancient medical system, it is becoming popular in the world at a very fast pace: Shri Prataprao Jadhav

    Posted On: 09 OCT 2024 5:20PM by PIB Delhi

    The President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu graced the 8th Foundation Day celebration of All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA) in New Delhi today and also took a visit to the AIIA campus. Shri Vinay Kumar Saxena, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi; Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush were among the dignitaries who were present on the occasion along with senior officials from the Ministry of Ayush and senior faculty members of AIIA.

     

    The launch of the Ayush Aushadhi Pharmacy Programme and the unveiling of the Shashwat Ayush Expo by the President of India marked the inauguration of the Foundation Day celebrations. The pharmacy aims to make quality Ayurvedic medicines accessible to all, enhancing healthcare delivery through Ayurveda.

    Speaking on the occasion the President of India said, “Ayurveda is one of the oldest holistic medical systems in the world. It focuses on establishing harmony between mind, body and spirit. Ayurveda medical system is our heritage and the Ministry of Ayush is doing the work of establishing this heritage as an authentic medical system. As I got to know that in the last 10 years since its establishment in 2014, the Ministry of Ayush has been making continuous efforts to bring traditional medical systems into the mainstream. Many important changes have been brought by the Ministry of Ayush in education, research, quality control of medicines, medicine and public health.

    In a short period of just 5 years of its inauguration, AIIA GOA was established as a remarkable achievement of the institute, which is today becoming a major center of TRADITIONAL Medical Value Travel and Medical Health Tourism.

    Seeing the work being done in this institute today, I am confident that through the joint efforts of all of us, we can take forward our heritage like Ayurveda with the prescriptions of our grandmothers and get it recognized globally through EVIDENCE BASED and SCIENTIFIC APPROACH. I have been told that the theme of this year’s Ayurveda Day is – AYURVEDA INNOVATION FOR GLOBAL HEALTH which is timely and I hope that through this Ayurveda will be able to reach the masses in an easy manner. I wish good luck to the Ministry of Ayush for this.

    Shri Vinay Kumar Saxena, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi said, “If we look back, since its inception in 2014, AIIA has brought new hope to healthcare systems across the world. Reflecting on the journey so far, I am particularly impressed by the impact AIIA has made on the health of the community, where health services have been provided to over 28 lakh beneficiaries across various specialties.

    Shri Prataprao Jadhav, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Ayush, said, “Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has recently announced that 10 new Ayurveda Institutes will be opened in the country in next five years.

    Shri Prataprao added that ‘Today is a historic day for the Ministry of Ayush that the President of India visited our institute All India Institute of Ayurveda. Ayurveda is a very ancient medical system and it is becoming popular in the world at a very fast pace. The Minister said that the Ministry of Ayush has initiated “Ayush Aushadhi Kendra” to provide authentic and affordable Ayurvedic medicines to rural areas.

    In the past seven years, AIIA has marked significant milestones in advancing the integration and promotion of traditional medicine. AIIA has provided treatment to more than 27 lakh patients through its 44 specialty clinics, reinforcing its commitment to delivering high-quality Ayurvedic healthcare across the nation.

    A total of 73 national and international Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) have been signed, further solidifying AIIA’s global and domestic collaborations in the field of Ayurveda.

    Ayurveda, with its rich heritage and holistic approach to health, offers invaluable insights into achieving physical, mental and emotional well-being. Faced with the challenge of environmental degradation, Ayurveda offers holistic solutions that promote not only individual health but also the well-being of our environment.

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    MV/AKS

    (Release ID: 2063551) Visitor Counter : 82

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: “Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report” for the Quarter April-June, 2024

    Source: Government of India

    Ministry of Communications

    “Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report” for the Quarter April-June, 2024

    Posted On: 09 OCT 2024 5:36PM by PIB Delhi

    TRAI today has released the “Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicator Report” for the Quarter ending 30th June, 2024. This Report provides a broad perspective of the Telecom Services in India and presents the key parameters and growth trends of the Telecom Services as well as Cable TV, DTH & Radio Broadcasting services in India for the period covering 1st April, 2024 to 30th June, 2024 compiled mainly on the basis of information furnished by the Service Providers.

    Executive Summary of the Report is enclosed. The complete Report is available on TRAI’s website (http://www.trai.gov.in and under the link http://www. trai.gov.in/release-publication/reports/performance-indicators-reports). Any suggestion or any clarification pertaining to this report, Shri Amit Sharma, Advisor (F&EA), TRAI may be contacted on Tel. +91-20907772 and e-mail: advfea2@trai.gov.in.

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    SB/DP/ARJ

     

    The Indian Telecom Services Performance Indicators

    April–June, 2024

    Executive Summary

     

    1. Total number of Internet subscribers increased from 954.40 million at the end of Mar-24 to 969.60 million at the end of Jun-24, registering a quarterly rate of growth 1.59%. Out of 969.60 million internet subscribers, number of Wired Internet subscribers are 42.04 million and number of Wireless Internet subscribers are 927.56 million.

    Composition of internet subscription

    1. The Internet subscriber base is comprised of Broadband Internet subscriber base of 940.75 million and Narrowband Internet subscriber base of 28.85 million.
    2. The broadband Internet subscriber base increased by 1.81% from 924.07 million at the end of Mar-24 to 940.75 million at the end of Jun-24. The narrowband Internet subscriber base decreased from 30.34 million at the end of Mar-24 to 28.85 million at the end of Jun-24.
    1. Wireline subscribers increased from 33.79 million at the end of Mar-24 to 35.11 million at the end of Jun-24 with a quarterly rate of growth 3.90% and, on Y-O-Y basis, wireline subscriptions also increased by 15.81% at the end of QE Jun-24.
    2. Wireline Tele-density increased from 2.41% at the end of Mar-24 to 2.50% at the end of Jun-24 with quarterly rate of growth 3.67%.
    3. Monthly Average Revenue per User (ARPU) for wireless service increased by 2.55%, from Rs.153.54 in QE Mar-24 to Rs.157.45 in QE Jun-24. On Y-O-Y basis, monthly ARPU for wireless service increased by 8.11% in this quarter.
    1. Prepaid ARPU per month increased from Rs.150.74 in QE Mar-24 to Rs.154.80 in QE Jun-24 and Postpaid ARPU per month also increased from Rs.187.85 in QE Mar-24 to Rs.189.17 in QE Jun-24.                               
    2. On an all-India average, the overall MOU per subscriber per month decreased by 2.16% from 995 in Q.E. Mar-2024 to 974 in Q.E. Jun-2024. 
    1. Prepaid MOU per subscriber is 1010 and Postpaid MOU per subscriber per month is 539 in QE Jun-24.
    1. Gross Revenue (GR), Applicable Gross Revenue (ApGR) and Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) of Telecom Service Sector for the Q.E. Jun-24 has been Rs.86,031 Crore, Rs.83,087 crore and Rs.70,555 Crore respectively.  GR decreased by 2.16%, ApGR decreased by 1.02% and AGR increased by 0.13% in Q.E. Jun-24, as compared to previous quarter. 
    1. The Y-O-Y rate of growth in GR, ApGR and AGR in Q.E. Jun-24 over the same quarter in last year has been 6.34%, 6.05% and 7.51% respectively.
    1. Pass Through Charges decreased from Rs.13,482 Crore in QE Mar-24 to Rs.12,561 Crore in QE Jun-24 with quarterly rate of decline 6.84%. The Y-O-Y rate of decline 4.99% has been recorded in pass-through charges for QE Jun-24.
    2. The License Fee increased from Rs.5,637 Crore for the QE Mar-24 to Rs.5,645 Crore for the QE Jun-24. The quarterly and the  Y-O-Y rates of growth in license fees are 0.14% and 7.62% respectively in this quarter.  

    Service-wise composition of Adjusted Gross Revenue

    1. Access services contributed 82.40% of the total Adjusted Gross Revenue of telecom services. In Access services, Gross Revenue (GR), Applicable Gross Revenue (ApGR), Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR), License Fee, Spectrum Usage Charges (SUC) and Pass Through Charges increased by -0.69%, 1.32%, 2.83%, 2.81%, 0.35% and -6.93% respectively in QE Jun-24.
    2. The number of telephone subscribers in India increased from 1,199.28 million at the end of Mar-24 to 1,205.64 million at the end of Jun-24, registering a rate of growth 0.53% over the previous quarter. This reflects Year-On-Year (Y-O-Y) rate of growth 2.70% over the same quarter of the last year. The overall Tele-density in India increased from 85.69% as in QE Mar-24 to 85.95% as in QE Jun-24.

    Trends in Telephone subscribers and Tele-density in India

    1. Telephone subscribers in Urban areas increased from 665.38 million at the end of Mar-24 to 667.13 million at the end of Jun-24 however Urban Tele-density decreased from 133.72% to 133.46% during the same period.
    2. Rural telephone subscribers increased from 533.90 million at the end of Mar-24 to 538.51 million at the end of Jun-24 and Rural Tele-density also increased from 59.19% to 59.65% during the same period.
    1. Out of the total subscription, the share of Rural subscription increased from 44.52% at the end of Mar-24 to 44.67% at the end of Jun-24.

    Composition of Telephone Subscribers

       

    1. With a net increase of 5.04 million subscribers during the quarter, the total wireless subscriber base increased from 1,165.49 million at the end of Mar-24 to 1,170.53 million at the end of Jun-24, registering a rate of growth 0.43% over the previous quarter. On Y-O-Y basis, wireless subscriptions also increased at the rate of 2.36% during the year.  
    2. Wireless Tele-density increased from 83.27% at the end of Mar-24 to 83.45% at the end of Jun-24 with quarterly rate of growth  0.21%.
    3. During this quarter, the following parameters in terms of QoS benchmarks have been fully complied by wireline service providers: –
      1. Fault incidences (No. of faults per 100 subs/month) (≤ 7)
      2. % Fault repaired by next working day (for rural and hilly areas) (≥ 75%)
      3. % Fault repaired within 7 days (for rural and hilly areas) (100%)
      4. Point of Interconnection (POI) Congestion (No. of PoIs not meeting benchmark) (≤ 0.5%)
      5. Metering and billing credibility- post-paid (≤ 0.1%)
      6. Metering and billing credibility- pre-paid (≤ 0.1%)
      7. Resolution of billing/charging/credit & validity complaints within 4 weeks (98% within 4 weeks)
      8. Resolution of billing/charging/credit & validity complaints within 6 weeks (100% within 6 weeks)
      9. Period of applying credit/waiver/adjustment to customer’s account from the date of resolution of complaints (100% within 1 week of resolution of complaint)
      10. Accessibility of call centre/ customer care (≥ 95%)
    5. The following parameters have shown improvement, as compared to the previous quarter, in QoS by wireline service providers: –
      1. Accessibility of call centre/ customer care ≥ 95%
      2. %age of calls answered by the operators (voice to voice) within ninety seconds ≥ 95%
    7. During this quarter, list of Parameters which are fully complied, as compared to the previous quarter, by all the Cellular Mobile service providers: –

     

    1. Call Set-up Success Rate and Session Establishment Success Rate for Circuit Switched Voice or VoLTE as applicable (within licensee’s own network) ≥ 95%
    2. Network QoS DCR Spatial Distribution Measure [Network_ QSD (90,90)] ≤ 2%
    3. Network QoS DCR Temporal Distribution Measure [Network_ QTD (97,90)] ≤ 3%
    4. Connections with good voice quality, Circuit Switched Voice Quality and VoLTE quality ≥ 95%
    5. Down Link (DL) Packet Drop Rate or DL-PDR ≤ 2%
    6. Up Link (UL) Packet Drop Rate or UL-PDR ≤ 2%
    7. Point of Interconnection (POI) Congestion (No. of POIs not meeting the benchmark) ≤ 0.5%
    8. Metering and billing credibility – postpaid ≤ 0.1%
    9. Metering and billing credibility – prepaid ≤ 0.1%
    10. Resolution of billing/charging/validity complaints – 98% within 4 weeks
    11. Resolution of billing/charging/validity complaints – 100% within 6 weeks
    12. Accessibility of call centre/ customer care ≥ 95%
    13. Termination / Closure of service < 7 days
    14. Time taken for refund of deposits after closures (100% within 60 days)

     

    1. The following parameters have shown deterioration, as compared to the previous quarter, in QoS by Cellular Mobile service providers: –

     

    1. BS Accumulated downtime (not available for service) (%age) <=2%
    2. Worst affected BSs due to downtime (%age) <=2%
    3. SDCCH/ Paging Channel Congestion/ RRC Congestion (%age) <=1%
    4. TCH, RAB and E-RAB Congestion (%age) <=2%
    5. Period of applying credit/ waiver/ adjustment to customer’s account from the date of resolution of complaints – 100% within 1 week of resolution of complaint
    6. Percentage of calls answered by the operators (voice to voice) within ninety seconds ≥ 95%

     

    1. A total of approximately 912 private satellite TV channels have been permitted by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) for uplinking only/downlinking only/both uplinking & downlinking.  
    1. As per the reporting done by broadcasters in pursuance of the Tariff Order dated 3rd March 2017, as amended, out of 902 permitted satellite TV channels which are available for downlinking in India, there are 362 satellite pay TV channels as on 30th June, 2024. Out of 362 pay channels, 259 are SD satellite pay TV channels and 103 are HD satellite pay TV channels.  
    2. During the QE 30th June 2024, there were 4 pay DTH service providers in the country.
    1. Pay DTH has attained total active subscriber base of around 62.17 million. This is in addition to the subscribers of the DD Free Dish (free DTH services of Doordarshan). The total active subscriber base has increased from 61.97 million in March 2024 to 62.17 million in June 2024.
    2. Apart from the radio channels operated by All India Radio – the public broadcaster, as per the data reported by FM Radio operators to TRAI, as on 30th June 2024, there are 388 operational private FM Radio channels in 113 cities operated by 36 private FM Radio operators. As compared to the previous quarter, there is no change in the number of operational private FM Radio channels, cities and FM Radio operators.
    1. The advertisement revenue reported by FM Radio operators during the quarter ending 30th June 2024 in respect of 388 private FM Radio channels is Rs.428.45 crore as against Rs.491.98 crore in respect of 388 private FM Radio channels for the previous quarter. 
    1. As on 30th June, 2024, 499 Community Radio stations are operational.

    SNAPSHOT

    (Data as on Q.E. 30th June, 2024)

    Telecom Subscribers (Wireless+Wireline)

    Total Subscribers

    1,205.64 Million

    % change over the previous quarter

    0.53%

    Urban Subscribers

    667.13 Million

    Rural Subscribers

    538.51 Million

    Market share of Private Operators

    91.97%

    Market share of PSU Operators

    8.03%

    Tele-density

    85.95%

    Urban Tele-density

    133.46%

    Rural Tele-density

    59.65%

    Wireless Subscribers

    Total Wireless Subscribers

    1,170.53 Million

    % change over the previous quarter

    0.43%

    Urban Subscribers

    635 Million

    Rural Subscribers

    535.53 Million

    Market share of Private Operators

    92.51%

    Market share of PSU Operators

    7.49%

    Tele-density

    83.45%

    Urban Tele-density

    127.03%

    Rural Tele-density

    59.32%

    Total Wireless Data Usage during the quarter

    56,183 PB

    Number of Public Mobile Radio Trunk Services (PMRTS)

    65,223

    Number of Very Small Aperture Terminals (VSAT)

    2,51,840

    Wireline Subscribers

    Total Wireline Subscribers

    35.11 Million

    % change over the previous quarter

    3.90%

    Urban Subscribers

    32.13 Million

    Rural Subscribers

    2.98 Million

    Market share of PSU Operators

    26.08%

    Market share of Private Operators

    73.92%

    Tele-density

    2.50%

    Rural Tele-density

    0.33%

    Urban Tele-density

    6.43%

    No. of Village Public Telephones (VPT)

                68,606

     

    No. of Public Call Office (PCO)

             16,958

     

    Telecom Financial Data

    Gross Revenue (GR) during the quarter

    Rs. 86,031/- crore

    % change in GR over the previous quarter

    -2.16%

    Applicable Gross Revenue (ApGR) during quarter

    Rs. 83,087/- crore

    % change in ApGR over the previous quarter

    -1.02%

    Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) during the quarter

    Rs.70,555/- crore

    % change in AGR over the previous quarter

    0.13%

    Share of Public sector undertakings in Access AGR

    3.53%
     

    Internet/Broadband Subscribers

    Total Internet Subscribers

    969.60 Million

    % change over previous quarter

    1.59%

    Narrowband subscribers

    28.85 Million

    Broadband subscribers

    940.75 Million

    Wired Internet Subscribers

    42.04 Million

    Wireless Internet Subscribers

    927.56 Million

    Urban Internet Subscribers

    562.27 Million

    Rural Internet Subscribers

    407.33 Million

     

    M

    Total Internet Subscribers per 100 population

    69.12

    Urban Internet Subscribers per 100 population

    112.48

    Rural Internet Subscribers per 100 population

    45.12

    Total Outgoing Minutes of Usage for Internet Telephony

    87.01 Million

    No. of Public Wi-Fi Hotspots

    1,64,909

    Aggregate Data Consumed (TB) for Public Wi-Fi Hotspots during the quarter

    13,094

    Broadcasting & Cable Services

    Number of private satellite TV channels permitted by the Ministry of I&B for uplinking only/downlinking only/both uplinking and downlinking

    902

    Number of Pay TV Channels as reported by broadcasters

    362

    Number of private FM Radio Stations (excluding All India Radio)

    388

    Number of total active subscribers with pay DTH operators

    62.17 Million

    Number of Operational Community Radio Stations

    499

    Number of pay DTH Operators

    4

    Revenue & Usage Parameters

    Monthly ARPU of Wireless Service

    Rs.157.45

    Minutes of Usage (MOU) per subscriber per month – Wireless Service

    974

    Wireless Data Usage

    Average Wireless Data Usage per wireless data subscriber per month

    21.30 GB

    Average revenue realization per GB for wireless data usage during the quarter

    Rs.8.31

    (Release ID: 2063567)

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: More than 34.84 lakh audit reports filed on e-filing portal of Income Tax Department upto 7th October, 2024

    Source: Government of India

    More than 34.84 lakh audit reports filed on e-filing portal of Income Tax Department upto 7th October, 2024

    About 34.09 lakh Tax Audit Reports (TARs) filed for AY 2024-25 with Y-o-Y growth of 4.8%

    Posted On: 09 OCT 2024 5:48PM by PIB Delhi

    More than 34.84 lakh audit reports, including about 34.09 lakh Tax Audit Reports (TARs), have been filed for AY 2024-25 on the e-filing portal till the end of the due date. There is an increase in the filing of Tax Audit Reports (TARs) for the AY 2024-25 by around 4.8% compared to the filings of TARs on the due date for AY 2023-24.

    To assist taxpayers, the department conducted extensive outreach programmes through emails, SMSs, webinars, social media campaigns and messages on the Income Tax portal to create and raise awareness among the tax payers about filing TARs and other audit forms by the due date. Various user awareness videos were uploaded on the Income Tax portal to provide guidance. These concerted efforts have been helpful to taxpayers and tax professionals in timely compliance in filing TARs in Form Nos. 10B, 10BB, 3CA-CD, 3CB-CD and other audit reports in Form Nos. 29B, 29C, 10CCB, etc.

    The e-filing Helpdesk team handled around 1.23 lakh queries from taxpayers during September and October 2024, proactively supporting them throughout the filing period. The team assisted taxpayers and tax professionals in resolving complexities and facilitated the smooth submission of audit forms. Helpdesk support was provided through inbound calls, outbound calls, live chats, WebEx, and co-browsing sessions. The team also supported the resolution of queries received on the Department’s X handle (formerly Twitter) through Online Response Management (ORM), by proactively reaching out to taxpayers and stakeholders and providing assistance to them on various issues in near real-time basis.

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    NB/KMN

    (Release ID: 2063573) Visitor Counter : 24

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister Shri Pralhad Joshi Concludes Successful Three Day Visit to Germany, Boosts Energy Cooperation

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 09 OCT 2024 5:43PM by PIB Delhi

    Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy, Shri Pralhad Joshi, completed a successful visit to Germany from 6th to 9th October 2024. The visit, which coincided with the Hamburg Sustainability Conference (HSC), underscored India’s commitment to global sustainability and renewable energy, and facilitated key discussions on enhancing bilateral cooperation in the energy sector.

    On 7th October, the Minister delivered the keynote address at Hamburg Sustainability Conference, where he highlighted India’s role in global renewable energy and energy transition initiatives, including the International Solar Alliance, which now has the support of over 100 countries. Shri Joshi underscored India’s remarkable progress in renewable energy over the last decade, driven by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s vision and leadership. He emphasized India’s commitment to sustainability, particularly in sectors like green shipping, and called for strengthening international collaboration to tackle the challenges posed by the global energy transition.

    As part of the visit, Shri Joshi held numerous bilateral meetings with global leaders. His meeting with Mr. Achim Steiner, Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), focused on India’s growing renewable energy landscape and future collaborations for sustainable development. He also met Ms. Svenja Schulze, German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), to discuss shared priorities in green energy and sustainability.

    Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Shri Pralhad Joshi interacts with Chancellor of Germany Mr. Olaf Scholz

    On the sidelines of the HSC, Shri Joshi exchanged pleasantries with Mr. Olaf Scholz, the Chancellor of Germany. Union Minister Joshi also interacted with Mr. Karim Badawi, Egypt’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources, and discussed bilateral relations and enhancing cooperation. He also met Ms. Roberta Casali, Vice President of the Asian Development Bank, and deliberated on renewable energy investments in India. Shri Joshi further engaged with Dr Jamshid Khodjaev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, where they discussed global shifts in the energy landscape and avenues to support energy transition.

    The Minister also met with Ms. Anneliese Dodds, the UK’s Minister of Development, and they deliberated on scaling up international cooperation for a cleaner, more sustainable future. He also exchanged views with Ms. Kristalina Georgieva, Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), on the IMF’s role in supporting global sustainability projects, and Mr. Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank, regarding India’s leadership in the green energy space.

    Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Shri Pralhad Joshi with Dr. Robert Habeck, Germany’s Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action

     

    In Berlin, Union Minister Shri Joshi was warmly received by Dr. Robert Habeck, Germany’s Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. Dr. Habeck also gave a special guided tour of German Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Action. Dr Habeck acknowledged the stunning growth of India’s Renewable sector in the last 10 years to Union Minister Joshi and was very optimistic on India’s journey towards Mission 500 GW from Renewable energy.  Shri Joshi posted on X

    “Held a bilateral meeting with Dr. Robert Habeck, Germany’s Vice-Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, on the sidelines of #HSC2024. We had a fruitful discussion on strengthening cooperation in renewable energy. Deliberation on opportunities in green hydrogen, offshore wind, biogas, and recycling of solar waste was also held during the meeting. We were happy to note that India and Germany’s cooperation on energy transition is progressing well. Expressed confidence that in the coming years, India will emerge as a trusted source of green hydrogen for Germany.”

    Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy Shri Pralhad Joshi with Indian Diaspora in Berlin, Germany

    During his time in Berlin, Shri Joshi interacted with members of the Indian diaspora at an event hosted by the Embassy of India, where he lauded their contributions to Germany’s economy and their role in enhancing India’s global presence.

    During the RE-INVEST 2024 held in September, 2024, India and Germany had launched the India-Germany Platform for Investment in Renewable Energies showing the growing bond between the two countries in Renewable Energy. The platform will facilitate to create further business opportunities and new avenues for the increasing demand for capital, support technology transfer and enhance the development of innovative technical solutions in RE.

    Shri Pralhad Joshi’s visit to Germany concluded with a commitment to furthering India’s leadership in renewable energy cooperation and energy transition initiatives. The meetings and interactions during the visit have laid a strong foundation for deeper collaboration in energy transition, reinforcing India’s role as a global leader in the pursuit of a sustainable future.

    Navin Sreejith

    (Release ID: 2063572) Visitor Counter : 29

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Results of Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey, July 2022- June 2023

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 09 OCT 2024 5:44PM by PIB Delhi

    A. Key Findings

    (i) Approximately 96.9 percent of persons aged 15-24 years are able to read and write simple statements with understanding and also able to perform simple arithmetic calculations. In the same age group, the figure stands around 97.8 percent for males and 95.9 percent for females.

    (ii) The mean years of schooling in formal education, for persons age 15 years and above is 8.4 at the all-India level and the same is 7.5 for persons age 25 years and above.

    (iii) The average out-of-pocket medical expenditure per household on hospitalization during last 365 days in rural and urban areas are Rs 4,129/- and Rs 5,290/-respectively. Additionally, the average out-of-pocket medical expenditure per household on non-hospitalization during last 30 days in rural and urban areas are Rs 539/- and Rs 606/- respectively.

    (iv) Approximately 93.7 percent urban population has convenient access to low-capacity public transport (bus, car, taxi, auto etc) within 500 meters from the place of living.

    (v) 78.4% of youth aged 15-24 years can send messages with attached files, while 71.2% can use copy-and-paste tools. Additionally, 26.8% can perform more advanced tasks like searching for information, sending emails, and conducting online banking.

    (vi) 95.7% of persons aged 15-24 years in rural areas can use mobile phones, with the figure being 97% in urban areas.

    (vii)  82.1% of rural youth aged 15-24 years can use the internet, compared to 91.8% in urban areas.

    (viii) Around 94.6% persons aged 18 years and above, having an account individually are jointly in any bank / other financial institution at all India level.

     

    B. Introduction

    As a part of the 79th round of the National Sample Survey (NSS) the Comprehensive Annual Modular Survey (CAMS) was conducted from July, 2022 to June, 2023. The primary objective of CAMS was to collect data to generate indicators related to education, out-of-pocket medical expenditure, use of mobile and internet, financial inclusion, ICT skills, possession of assets, etc. In addition, information related to drinking water, sanitation, energy use, birth registration, access to transport facilities, etc., was also collected. The report is available on the Ministry’s website (http://www.mospi.gov.in).

    C. Sample Design

    In this survey, Two Stage Stratified Sampling was used, where First Stage Units (FSU) were villages/sub-units (SUs) in rural areas, and Urban Frame Survey (UFS) blocks/SUs in urban areas. The FSUs were allocated to States and UTs in proportion to the population as per Census 2011. The Second Stage Units (SSUs) were households in both rural and urban areas. The selection of FSUs and SSUs was done using Simple Random Sampling without Replacement (SRSWOR).

    D. Survey Coverage

    The survey covered the whole of the India Union except for some villages of Andaman and Nicobar Islands which were difficult to access. At the all-India level, the total number of first-stage units (FSUs) surveyed for the central sample was 15,298 (8,758 in rural areas and 6,540 in urban areas). The total number of households surveyed was 3,02,086 (1,73,096 in rural areas and 1,28,990 in urban areas) and the total number of persons enumerated was 12,99,988 (7,85,246 in rural areas and 5,14,742 in urban areas).

    E. Comparability of results and release of unit-level data

    The data collected in this survey represents the demand-side information of the households surveyed. In contrast, administrative data, wherever available, typically reflects the supply-side metrics. It is also important to recognize that respondents sometimes reluctant to provide specific information which may lead to under-reporting of some information, particularly in questions related to government schemes. Moreover, the coverage and definitions used in alternative data sources may not align perfectly with those adopted in this survey. To mention some specific cases, in this survey primary source of energy used by the household for cooking is defined as the source of energy which the household used majority of the time for cooking, whereas, the administrative record is based on the definition of the number of LPG connections/ consumers. Similarly, in this survey, the principal source of drinking water is defined as the source from which the household obtained most of its drinking water over the past 365 days, however, the administrative record is based on the number of pipe water connections provided. These variations in methodology, scope, and timeframes may affect the comparability of results across different data sources.

    Additionally, this survey attempted to collect person-level information on the formal education of erstwhile household members aged 18 years or above who are currently studying outside India. However, the total number of samples representing the information is insufficient to generate reliable estimates for the indicator. Since the dataset is not robust enough for policy purposes, the unit-level data collected to generate the indicator will not be disseminated to avoid possible ambiguity in interpreting the results.

    F. Major findings of the survey

    (i) Percentage of persons able to read and write short simple statements in their everyday life with understanding and also able to perform simple arithmetic calculations

     

    In rural areas, about 96.5 percent of persons in the age group 15-24 years are able to read and write short simple statements in their everyday life with understanding and also able to perform simple arithmetic calculations while in urban areas it has been around 97.9 percent. Sector-wise estimates for different age groups are shown in Figure 1.

    (ii) Mean years of schooling in formal education

    The gender-sector-wise mean years of schooling in formal education for age 15 years and above and 25 years and above is given in Figure 2 and Figure 3 respectively. The mean years of schooling in formal education is marginally higher in the age group 15 years and above compared to the age group 25 years and above.    

    (iii) Average out-of-pocket medical expenditure

    The average out-of-pocket medical expenditure per household and per person on hospitalized treatment during last 365 days and non-hospitalized treatment during last 30 days were estimated separately for rural and urban India. Figure 4 and Figure 5 present sector-wise expenditure on different types of treatment.

     

    F. In addition to the above, estimates of some of the indicators at the all-India level are given below:

     

    Sl No

    Item Description

    Rural

    Urban

    All

    (Rural + Urban)

    1

    Percentage of persons aged 15-24 years able to read and write short simple statements in their everyday life with understanding

    96.7

    98.0

    97.0

    2

    Percentage of persons of age 6 to 10 years who reported as currently enrolled in primary education (Class I to Class V) at the time of survey

    90.5

    89.2

    90.1

    3

    Percentage of persons of age 25 years and above with some secondary education

    30.4

    56.6

    38.6

    4

    Percentage of persons of age 6 to 18 years who never enrolled in formal education

    2.2

    1.9

    2.1

    5

    Percentage of persons aged 21-35 years who graduated in Science and Technology among all graduates

    31.4

    44.4

    37.8

    6

    Precentage of youth in formal and non-formal education and training in the previous 12 months in the age group 15-24 years

    45.9

    57.1

    49.0

    7

    Percentage of youth reported to be not in education, employment, or training, as on date of survey for the age group 15-24 years

    25.0

    19.0

    23.3

    8

    Percentage of persons (age ≥ 18 years) who have an account individually or jointly in any bank/ other financial institution/mobile money service provider

    94.6

    94.4

    94.6

    9

    Number of borrowers (age ≥ 18 years) per 1,00,000 persons

    18,714

    17,442

    18,322

    10

    Percentage of persons able to use mobile (including smart phone) as on date of survey (age 15-24 years)

    95.7

    97.0

    96.1

    11

    Percentage of persons who used mobile telephones with an active sim card, at least once, during the last three months preceding the date of the survey (age 15-24 years)

    92.6

    95.3

    93.3

    12

    Percentage of persons able to use internet as on date of survey (age 15-24 years)

    82.1

    91.8

    84.8

    13

    Percentage of persons who used internet during last three months preceding the date of survey (age 15-24 years)

    80.4

    90.8

    83.3

    14

    percentage of persons covered by 4G or above mobile technology

    99.5

    99.8

    99.7

    15

    Percentage of persons aged 15-24 years reported execution of skill of ‘sending messages (e.g., e-mail, messaging service, SMS) with attached files (e.g., documents, pictures, and video)’

    74.9

    87.3

    78.4

    16

    Percentage of persons aged 15-24 years reported execution of skill of ‘copy and paste tools to duplicate or move data, information, documents, etc.’

    67.1

    81.8

    71.2

    17

    Percentage of persons who can search internet for information and who can send or receive emails and who can perform online banking transactions simultaneously in the age group 15-24 years

    21.0

    40.2

    26.8

    18

    Percentage of households possessing telephone/ mobile phone1

    94.2

    97.1

    95.1

    19

    Percentage of households possessing computer2

    4.2

    21.6

    9.9

    20

    Percentage of the urban population having convenient access to high-capacity public transport (train, metro, ferry etc.) within 1 km from place of living

    –

    41.6

    –

    21

    Percentage of the rural population with all-weather roads within in a distance of 2 km from the place of living

    94.2

    –

    –

    22

    percentage of persons of age less than 5 years who have registered with civil authority for the birth certificate ever (including those who received birth certificates)

    90.5

    90.8

    90.6

    23

    Percentage of households using clean fuel for cooking (among households reported having cooking arrangements)

    49.3

    92.9

    63.4

    24

    Percentage of households having access to improved principal source of drinking water

    94.9

    97.5

    95.7

    25

    Percentage of households having access to improved latrine (among households with access to latrine)

    97.1

    98.9

    97.8

    Notes:

    1. telephone includes landline and mobile phone includes smart phone

    2. Computer includes desktop PC, laptop etc.

     

    *****

     

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DEPwD and its institutions organizing series of activities during Mental Health Awareness Week 2024

    Source: Government of India

    DEPwD and its institutions organizing series of activities during Mental Health Awareness Week 2024

    Campaign aims to build a National Dialogue on Mental health for building Inclusive and Supportive Communities

    Posted On: 09 OCT 2024 5:40PM by PIB Delhi

    National Institutes under the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, are taking proactive steps in organizing a series of activities under the Mental Health Awareness Week 2024. The activities are aimed at promoting mental health awareness across the country, and fostering inclusive communities that prioritize mental well-being for all.

    In a major initiative, the National Institute of Mental Health Rehabilitation (NIMHR), Sehore, is running a dedicated campaign themed ‘Mental Health at the Workplace’, conducting multiple workshops to inspire action towards creating supportive and healthy work environments. This campaign aims to shed light on the crucial role that workplaces play in maintaining the mental well-being of individuals and calls for collective efforts to make workspaces more inclusive and mentally healthy.

     

    The National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Intellectual Disabilities (NIEPID), Secunderabad, kick-started the week with a motivational rally, creating energy and awareness around mental health issues.

     

    Simultaneously, the National Institute for Locomotor Disabilities (NILD), Kolkata, and the Pt. Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilities (Pt. DDU NIPPD), New Delhi, are hosting a variety of workshops, health camps, and other interactive activities to engage communities and offer support.

     

    Through these efforts, the DEPwD and its institutions are working to build a national dialogue on mental health, encouraging people from all walks of life to take mental well-being seriously. These steps are aimed at creating a culture where mental health is prioritized, and every individual can thrive.

     

    *****

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: EXERCISE MALABAR 2024 – OPENING CEREMONY

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 09 OCT 2024 6:04PM by PIB Delhi

    The Opening Ceremony of MALABAR 2024 under the aegis of Eastern Naval Command was held onboard Indian Naval Ship Satpura at Visakhapatnam on 09 Oct 24. The 28th edition of the multi-national maritime exercise that commenced on 08 Oct 24, would extend till 18 Oct 24. MALABAR, which was initiated in 1992 as a bilateral exercise between India and the US, gained further traction as a significant maritime engagement, with Japan and Australia joining in subsequently.

    The ceremony, hosted by Vice Admiral Rajesh Pendharkar, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, was attended by senior naval and military dignitaries from participating nations. The heads of delegations and other dignitaries participating included General Yoshihide YOSHIDA, Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, Japan, Admiral Stephen Koehler, Commander US Pacific Fleet, VAdm Katsushi OMACHI, C-in-C, Japan Self Defence Fleet and RAdm Chris Smith, Commander Australian Fleet. The crew and planning staff of participating Ships, Aircraft and Special Forces from Australia, India, Japan and the USA were also present. The Commanders of all participating navies acknowledged the importance of Ex MALABAR in enhancing understanding, collaboration and engagement to address common maritime challenges and to create cooperative framework.

    The exercise will be conducted in two distinct phases both at Harbour and at Sea. MALABAR 2024 will witness live weapon firings, complex surface, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare drills and joint manoeuvres. The high-tempo event will witness participation by destroyers, frigates, corvettes and fleet support ships along with long range maritime patrol aircraft, jet aircraft, integral helicopters and submarine assets.

    The exercise brings together like-minded nations to further enhance the ability to train and operate jointly, towards establishing the synergy critical to achieve shared objectives. The exercise is aligned with the Indian Government’s vision of Security & Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR) and reflects India’s growing engagement with like-minded nations.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), observes World Habitat Day 2024 today in New Delhi

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), observes World Habitat Day 2024 today in New Delhi

    Youth are the Missing Piece of the Urban Puzzle: Shri Tokhan Sahu

    Posted On: 09 OCT 2024 5:54PM by PIB Delhi

    The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India observed the World Habitat Day 2024 on 9th October, 2024 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. The Minister of State, Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA), Government of India, Shri Tokhan Sahu honored the event. The event was also graced by Shri Srinivas Katikithala, Secretary, MoHUA, Shri Satinder Pal Singh, Additional Secretary (Housing), MoHUA and Shri Dinesh Kapila, Economic Adviser (Housing). The other invitees at the event included various stakeholders from Central and State Government functionaries, Mr. Shombi Sharp, Resident Coordinator UNINDIA, senior officials of the Ministry, senior officials of public-sector and autonomous organisations, research and academic institutions and civil-society organisations

    “Youth of the country, are crucial and somewhat missing piece of the urban puzzle, to achieve faster growth and also build a brighter and more sustainable future for cities.”, said Shri Tokhan Sahu during his address at the World Habitat Day 2024 Celebration. Minister of State (HUA), in alignment with the theme of World Habitat Day, ‘Engaging Youth to Create a Better Urban Future’, highlighted that India’s population of youth is significantly high compared to other nations with an average age below 35. Therefore, active involvement of the Youth becomes imperative for the success of any scheme/ policy and for achieving the Government’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047. Expressing heartfelt wishes for a bright future for the children, the Honourable Minister of State (HUA) also extended sincere congratulations and best wishes to their teachers and parents for their invaluable guidance and support

    The theme for this year’s World habitat Day is ‘Engaging Youth to Create a Better Urban Future’ which aims at addressing the challenges and opportunities of rapid urbanisation through involvement of youth in participatory processes and local leadership opportunities. The emphasis is on advocating for young people’s active participation in urban planning and decision-making processes to create more inclusive, resilient and sustainable urban environments.

    The Secretary, Shri Srinivas Katikithala stressed that India is experiencing a demographic window of opportunity, a “youth bulge”. This youth bulge, can yield critical thinkers, change makers and leaders who will drive India’s growth with proper guidance and support. This young demographic profile of India will be a key driver in reshaping our urban centre, which is marked by their digital proficiency, innovative thinking, and an entrepreneurial spirit. The Secretary, further elaborated on several programmes of the Government such as PMAY-U, DAY-NULM, AMRUT 2.0 etc. which meaningfully engage youth for creating better Urban future.

    Additional Secretary (Housing) welcomed all the dignitaries and drew attention to the current theme of the World Habitat Day of Engaging Youth to Create a Better Urban Future. He underlined the importance of identifying and cultivating the skills for unlocking the potential of young people for sustainable urban development and economic growth.

    The Government of India has also introduced a range of initiatives in the Union Budget 2024-25 to boost youth education, skill development, innovation, and overall progress. Internship opportunities would be provided to 1 crore youth in the coming 5 years in 500 top companies. A special allocation of ₹2 lakh crore has been allocated towards providing employment and skilling opportunities to 4.1 crore youth over the next five years.

     On this occasion, Mr. Shombi Sharp, UN Resident Coordinator delivered the message of the Secretary General, United Nations and Ms. Parul Agarwala, Country Programme Manager read out the message of Executive Director, UN Habitat. They emphasised that cities are growing rapidly, and by 2030, 60 percent of urban residents will be under the age of 18. This demographic shift presents a unique opportunity to harness the energy of youth to address urban challenges and create sustainable solutions.

    The event was marked by the release of publications by the Minister of State (HUA) and other distinguished guests and prize distribution to school children including specially-abled children in various competitions organised to commemorate the event.

     The winners of ‘HUDCO Best Practices award to improve the living environment’ were also felicitated during the event. Shri Dinesh Kapila, Economic Advisor, MoHUA delivered the Vote of Thanks

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: DigiLocker Partners with UMANG: Unlock Seamless Access to Government Services

    Source: Government of India

    Posted On: 09 OCT 2024 6:27PM by PIB Delhi

    The National e-Governance Division (NeGD) has announced the integration of the UMANG app with DigiLocker- India’s Digital Wallet. This collaboration aims to provide citizens with seamless access to a wide range of government services bringing greater convenience and allowing users to manage multiple services through a single platform.

    Access UMANG services with just a few simple steps

    The UMANG app is accessible to all Android users with an expansion to iOS in the pipeline. And now, with just a few easy steps, these services can be accessed through the DigiLocker app as well.

    How to Get Started:

    1. Update your DigiLocker app to the latest version
    2. Open the DigiLocker app on your Android device
    3. Click on the UMANG icon within the DigiLocker app
    4. Install the UMANG app when prompted
    5. Access a variety of government services in the DigiLocker app

     

    Simplified Citizen-Government interaction

    This integration makes it easier for citizens to interact with the Government in an efficient, digital-first manner. DigiLocker has always been a pioneer in simplifying access to personal and official documents, and after integration with UMANG, it has expanded the range of services you can access on the go.

    About DigiLocker
    DigiLocker is a flagship initiative under the Digital India program aimed at providing secure cloud-based storage of essential documents. By integrating with e-governance services such as UMANG, DigiLocker further is committed to further enhance accessibility and ease of living.

    For more information, please visit http://www.digilocker.gov.in.

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: IIAS-DARPG India Conference 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi from 10-14 February

    Source: Government of India

    IIAS-DARPG India Conference 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi from 10-14 February

    Theme of the Conference is “Next Generation Administrative Reforms – Empowering Citizens and Reaching the Last Mile”

    Website https://iias-iisa.org/iias-darpg-indiaconference2025/ open for registration/submission of research papers

    Posted On: 09 OCT 2024 6:32PM by PIB Delhi

    Department of Administrative Reforms and Public Grievances (DARPG), Government of India will host the IIAS-DARPG India Conference-2025 in collaboration with International Institute of Administrative Sciences (IIAS), Brussels at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi from 10-14 February 2025. The theme of the Conference is: “Next Generation Administrative Reforms – Empowering Citizens and Reaching the Last Mile”.

    The event will provide a unique opportunity for academia, students scholars, research institutions, Public Administrative Institutes like IIT/IIM/Universities/IIPA/HIPA/ATI, etc. to interact with international experts and present their research work before them through IIAS- DARPG Conference on recent developments in the areas of Public Administration and Governance reforms. It will also provide an opportunity to research scholars for publication of their research work as Research publications/papers in IIAS.

    The event is a 05 day conference and is likely to be attended by about 500-600 national and international delegates. The lIAS-DARPG lndia Conference 2025 is built on the premise that future administrative reforms should emphasize greater civil society participation and prioritize public service delivery as a core state function. The IIAS-DARPG lndia Conference 2025 invites students, scholars, and practitioners in the field of public administration from around the world

    The registration for participation in the conference is open from 2nd October 2024. Participants are requested to visit the website https://iias-iisa.org/iias-darpg-indiaconference2025/ for registration / submission of research papers.

     

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: TCIL pays dividend of Rs. 33.72 Crore for the year 2023-24 to the Government of India

    Source: Government of India

    TCIL pays dividend of Rs. 33.72 Crore for the year 2023-24 to the Government of India

    CMD, TCIL handed over the Dividend Cheque to the Minister of Communications, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia.

    This marks an annual jump of 137% in the dividend amount compared to the year 2022-23.

    Posted On: 09 OCT 2024 6:37PM by PIB Delhi

    Telecommunications Consultants India Ltd. (TCIL) today paid dividend of Rs. 33.72 crore to the Government of India for the year 2023-24.  Chairman & Managing Director Shri Sanjeev Kumar presented the dividend cheque to Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of Communications, in the presence of Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

    The Government holds 100 percent equity in the TCIL and in the year 2022-23, the PSU paid a dividend of Rs. 14.19 Crore for the year 2022-23 to the Government. This marks an annual jump of 137% in the amount of dividend paid by TCIL to the government, thus showing financial robustness and sustainability.

     

    TCIL, established in August 1978, operates under the administrative control of the Department of Telecommunications. The company, a Miniratna PSU, has consistently remained profitable over the years.

    TCIL is one of the most diversified PSU, executing Projects in the field of Telecommunications & Information Technology in India and abroad. TCIL has executed projects in over 70 countries across the globe. Its overseas operations are currently in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Mauritius & Nepal apart from the ongoing prestigious Pan Africa e-Vidya Bharti & Arogya Bharti Network project operating in more than 15 African countries.

     

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Sh. Kirti Vardhan Singh Visits National Zoological Park, Delhi to Review Elephant Shankar’s Health

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 09 OCT 2024 6:54PM by PIB Delhi

    Minister of State for Environment, Forest and Climate Change and External Affairs Kirt Vardhan Singh inspected Delhi Zoological Park on Wednesday. The main objective of the inspection was to take stock of the health and maintenance arrangements of the African elephant Shankar. He also inquired about the facilities available for tourists, animals and birds.

    MoS Shri Singh inspected the enclosure of the African elephant ‘Shankar’ and had detailed discussions with ‘mahouts’ and veterinary doctors.  He also fed fruits to elephant Shankar. During the inspection, Dr. Adrian, an expert from Vantara, Jamnagar, Gujarat and an elephant expert from South Africa was also present. There was also a detailed discussion on measures to further improve Shankar’s health and an action plan has been prepared in this regard. To further improve the health of Shankar, he advised the experts from Vantara, Jamnagar to train the mahouts, make requisite diet plan for the elephant and bring about radical changes in the enclosure.

    During this, upgradation and modernization of the zoo to global standards was also discussed. Minister of State Shri Singh said that due to the wildlife related policies of the Central Government, people’s connection with nature and wildlife has increased. At the same time, awareness among people about the importance of conservation is also continuously increasing. During this, they also became aware of the activities of Wildlife Week.

    He briefed the forest officials about letters written to the South African countries South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania, Namibia, Kenya, Botswana for a companion for the African elephant Shankar. In a positive move, Botswana and Zimbabwe have pledged to donate the elephant and formalities related to the same are being completed.

    ADG Wildlife of the ministry Sh. Sushil Awasthi and Director of Delhi Zoological Park, Sh. Sanjeet Kumar were present in the meeting.

    *****

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: ITU-WTSA Hackathon Phase-2, the 40 hour in-person coding event, concludes at Bharat Mandapam

    Source: Government of India

    ITU-WTSA Hackathon Phase-2, the 40 hour in-person coding event, concludes at Bharat Mandapam

    The event featured expert talks, mentoring sessions, demos, and evaluations

    National and international teams developed solutions for challenges such as flood monitoring and alert systems, traffic optimization, urban mobility, and women’s safety

    Posted On: 09 OCT 2024 7:29PM by PIB Delhi

    The Phase-2 of the ITU WTSA Hackathon concluded on 8th October 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, bringing together participants from across the globe under the banner of the “AI Bharat 5G/6G Sandbox.” The event, launched by Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary of the Department of Telecommunications, was a collaborative effort between the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).

    The hackathon attracted 88 registered teams, with 12 advancing to Phase-2 after submitting high-quality proposals aligned with ITU standards. These teams took part in an intensive 40-hour in-person coding competition, held from 7th to 8th October, featuring expert talks, mentoring sessions, live demos, and evaluations. Participants received guidance from ITU experts and global mentors, including professors, high-level speakers from the Department of Telecommunications, and a panel of elite Indian and international mentors.

    The hackathon focused on integrating AI/ML into 5G/6G networks, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The goal was to address practical and relevant global issues using cutting-edge technology and global standards.

    Teams worked on innovative solutions, addressing key challenges in areas such as public transportation, flood monitoring, and drone-based resource scheduling. Among the notable projects were a 5G-enabled smart city public transportation system, a flood monitoring and alerting system, and solutions for waste management on river beds. Other teams focused on AI-based 6G standards barrier reduction, dynamic beamforming optimization, and traffic optimization to enhance urban mobility. Women’s safety was also a priority, with the AuratRaksha solution offering advanced protection measures. In addition, teams tackled issues such as SIM fraud protection and real-time network reliability prediction, showcasing a broad range of applications and technological innovations.

    Each team was evaluated on their preparedness, problem statement design, and the effectiveness of their solution, with a focus on the three critical dimensions of the hackathon: UN-SDGs, AI machine learning models, and their application to NextGen telecom networks. Teams were also provided with cloud credits worth Rs. 83,500 (USD 1,000) to train and optimize their AI models, pushing the boundaries of innovation in AI solutions for telecommunications.

    During the concluding session, successful teams were awarded ITU-WTSA hackathon participation certificates.

    The competition kicked off with 12 shortlisted teams—seven from India and five international—participating in late-night coding marathons and online mentoring sessions during the two-day event. The hackathon was supported by an elite panel of Indian and international mentors, including 12 Indian and two international experts, along with guidance from an ITU Programme Officer.

    First Phase:

    The first phase took place from 7th August to 30th September 2024. During this online phase, participants from diverse backgrounds, including international teams, competed in a series of challenges aimed at integrating AI/ML into 5G/6G infrastructures.

    The Hackathon focuses on two problem statements:

    1.         AI Bharat 5G/6G Sandbox – Build Your Own AI/ML Model for 5G/6G: Teams will develop AI/ML pipelines leveraging ITU recommendations, including ITU-T Y.3172 and ITU-T Y.3061, with the aim of creating innovative use cases for 5G/6G.

    2.         AI Bharat 5G/6G Sandbox – Build Your Own xApp for Autonomous 5G/6G: Participants will create xApps to enhance autonomous 5G/6G networks, guided by ITU experts.  

     

    The AI Bharat 5G/6G Hackathon has become a hub for innovation, bringing together students, startups, and technology enthusiasts from India and across the globe. It will help shape the future of AI and next-generation telecommunications.

    (For further updates on the hackathon, please visit: https://challenge.aiforgood.itu.int/match/matchitem/95.)

    The ITU WTSA Hackathon event is a precursor to the World Telecommunication Standardization Assembly (WTSA) 2024, a pivotal global event that will bring together more than 3,000 participants including industry leaders, ​​policy-makers and tech experts from 190+ countries, representing telecom, digital, and ICT sectors. This event, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and hosted by Department of Telecommunication (DoT) will be held in New Delhi from 15th -24th Oct 2024, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurating the event along with India Mobile Congress 2024, on October 15th, 2024 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. Along with the WTSA and IMC, several parallel events will take place.

    Organized every four years, WTSA is the governing conference for the standardization work of ITU, the United Nations Agency for Digital Technologies. It is for the first time that the ITU-WTSA will be hosted in India and the Asia-Pacific.

    WTSA 2024 provides a platform for countries to discuss and decide the future of standards of next-generation critical technologies like 6G, AI, IoT, Big Data, cybersecurity, etc. Hosting this event in India will provide the country an opportunity to play a key role in shaping the global telecom agenda and to set the course for future technologies. Indian startups and research institutions are set to gain critical insights into developing Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and Standard Essential Patents (SEPs).

    (More details are available at:  http://www.delhiwtsa24.in )

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  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Inaugurates Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) Mumbai

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Inaugurates Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) Mumbai

    The Institute to train 5000 students annually in Industry 4.0 skills

    Posted On: 09 OCT 2024 7:13PM by PIB Delhi

    The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for various development projects in Maharashtra worth over Rs 7600 crore via video conference today. In a significant step towards enhancing the employability of Indian youth for national and global opportunities, the Prime Minister inaugurated the Indian Institute of Skills (IIS) in Mumbai as one of these projects, which aims to cultivate an industry-ready workforce for Industry 4.0, equipped with cutting-edge technology and hands-on training across a range of trades including factory automation, digital manufacturing, mechatronics, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and additive manufacturing catering to both the services and manufacturing sectors, as well as other emerging businesses.

    Established through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, the institute is a collaboration between the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Government of India and Tata IIS (a section 8 company under Tata Trusts).

    The Prime Minister emphasized that the world only trusts a country when its youth is filled with confidence. He noted that the confidence of today’s young India is writing the story of a new future for the nation and highlighted that the global community sees India as a significant hub for human resources, with vast opportunities in education, skilling, healthcare, and software development across the globe. To prepare India’s youth for these opportunities, the Prime Minister emphasised that the government is aligning their skills with global standards.

     

    Expressing his happiness on the inauguration of IIS Mumbai, Shri Jayant Chaudhary, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge), Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship and Minister of State, Ministry of Education, Govt of India remarked, “Institutions like IIS are pivotal in shaping a future-ready workforce, translating the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of India as the ‘Skill Capital of the World’ into a reality. By equipping our youth with cutting-edge expertise, this institute is not merely opening doors to opportunities within India but is positioning them to compete and excel in global markets as well.”

    Built on a sprawling 4-acre campus within the National Skill Training Institute (NSTI) in Chunabhatti, Mumbai, IIS is designed to cultivate an industry-ready workforce equipped with cutting-edge technology and hands-on training. IIS Mumbai will offer specialized training in key sectors such as factory automation, digital manufacturing, mechatronics, artificial intelligence, data analytics, and additive manufacturing.

    The institute will initially launch six specialized courses: Advanced Industrial Automation & Robotics, Industrial Automation Fundamentals, Advanced ARC Welding Techniques, Additive Manufacturing, Electric Vehicle Battery Specialist, and 2&3 Wheeler EV Technician. The institute will also extend hostel facilities for candidates to enhance their learning experience in the near future.

    “By imparting advanced technical skills and hands-on experience to our youth, we are positioning India at the forefront of global skill development. This initiative is about more than just training; it’s about creating pathways for young talent across the nation to not only excel but also become pivotal contributors to India’s economic and technological progress. We are forging strategic partnerships like these with cutting-edge industries to ensure our skilling frameworks are not only relevant but also visionary—preparing an agile, future-ready workforce capable of meeting the fast-evolving demands of a globalized economy,” Shri Chaudhary added.

    Mangal Prabhat Lodha, Minister for Skills, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Government of Maharashtra said “The IIS centre launched today is going to be a state-of-the-art facility that will attract people from around the World. The Tata Group is a synonym for trust and growth. This is an opportunity for every candidate associated with this organization to work and learn. The Prime Minister has emphasized on prioritizing upskilling at many occasions and provided the necessary budget for ongoing and upcoming skilling initiatives.”

    The institute will initially have advanced laboratories developed in partnership with over 15 global and Indian Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), ensuring that students gain practical experience at an affordable cost, using real industry equipment. Once their training is complete, they will be ready to be absorbed by new-age industries like EV manufacturers, AI, and robotics, among others.

    In addition to its core offerings, IIS will also provide short-term courses in collaboration with industry partners, such as Industrial Robotics with Fanuc India, Industrial Automation with SMC India, and Culinary & Core Housekeeping with Taj Skyline. With its innovative approach to vocational training and robust industry ties, Tata IIS Mumbai is poised to emerge as a premier institution for skill development in India.

    “India’s growing economy increasingly demands a skilled, resilient workforce – which can, in turn, advance productivity, economic growth, prosperity, and national development. By equipping our youth with useful skills, we can empower them to lead lives of independence and dignity and prepare them to keep pace with the evolving needs of industry today. The Indian Institute of Skills, Mumbai, with its world-class facilities, is a symbol of the Tata Group’s vision to take bold and agile steps to solve the nation’s challenges and help the youth transition to employment and enterprise,” said Shri Venu Srinivasan, Chairman, Tata Indian Institute of Skills

    The event was graced by several distinguished dignitaries, including Shri Atul Kumar Tiwari, Secretary, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), and Shri Nilambuj Sharan, Senior Economic Advisor, MSDE. Key figures from Tata Trusts and Tata companies were also in attendance, including Shri Venu Srinivasan, Chairman of Tata IIS, Shri Siddharth Sharma, CEO of Tata Trusts, Shri Sabyasachi Das, CEO of Tata IIS, and Shri Girish Krishnamurthy, CEO of Tata MD. Additionally, Shri H N Shrinivas, Senior Advisor at Tata IIS, along with other senior dignitaries, faculty members, and trainees from IIS Mumbai, were present to celebrate this milestone moment in the evolution of skill development in India.

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    PSF

    (Release ID: 2063625) Visitor Counter : 54

    Read this release in: Hindi

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Secretary Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi and Ambassador of Italy in India Antonio Bartoli expresses their commitment to advancing cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 09 OCT 2024 7:51PM by PIB Delhi

    Secretary, Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi today met with H.E. Ambassador Antonio Bartoli of Italy at Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi today . The discussions focused on exploring potential areas of cooperation in the agriculture sector between India and Italy.

                  

    Dr. Devesh Chaturvedi underscored the strong and friendly relations between India and Italy, highlighting the significant potential for collaboration in areas of mutual interest such as trade, investment and technology in the agriculture and allied sectors. He suggested that this cooperation could be further strengthened by leveraging the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two nations, particularly through regular Joint Working Group (JWG) meetings. He also pointed out opportunities for Italian companies to invest including in India’s food parks.

    Both sides recognized the importance of advancing cooperation across several areas, including technical and legal collaboration on plant variety protection and the seeds sector, agricultural research and education, protection of Geographical Indications, organic and natural farming, the application of innovative technologies in precision agriculture, skill development for Indian migrant workers and fostering industry interaction.

    The meeting was also attended by representatives from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Ministry of External Affairs, and senior officials from various divisions of the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers’ Welfare.

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    SS

    (Release ID: 2063643) Visitor Counter : 71

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: NCBC tenders advice to Union Government for inclusion of certain Castes/Communities from Maharashtra, in the Central List of OBCs

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 09 OCT 2024 8:16PM by PIB Delhi

    The National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) has tendered its advice to the Union Government on 9th October, 2024 regarding the inclusion of (i) Lodh, Lodha, Lodhi; (ii) Badgujar, (iii) Suryavanshi Gujar, (iv) Leve Gujar, Reve Gujar,  Reva Gujar; (v) Dangari; (vi) Bhoyar, Pawar (vii) Kapewar, Munnar Kapewar, Munnar Kapu, Telanga, Telangi, Pentarreddy, Bukekari castes/communities in the Central List of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) for the State of Maharashtra.

    The two-member Bench of the NCBC, comprising of Hon’ble Chairperson, Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, and Hon’ble Member, Shri Bhuvan Bhushan Kamal,  held hearings regarding the inclusion, on 17th October, 2023 and 26th July, 2024, in Mumbai. The final decision to tender the advice to the Union Government for the inclusion of the above castes under the Central List of OBCs, for the State of Maharashtra, was taken on 8th October, 2024.

     

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    VM

    (Release ID: 2063661) Visitor Counter : 24

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Meeting with prominent Sikh achievers and individuals of eminence held in National Commission for Minorities

    Source: Government of India (2)

    Posted On: 09 OCT 2024 8:07PM by PIB Delhi

    A meeting with the prominent Sikh achievers and individuals of eminence was held on 9th October, 2024 in the National Commission for Minorities under the Chairmanship of Shri Iqbal Singh Lalpura, Chairman.

    The participants shared their views relating to the issues of Sikh community.Expressing the support of the Commission for the Sikh community to work towards addressing their concerns, fostering unity, and promoting a positive narrative for future generations, Chairman Shri Iqbal Singh Lalpura assured that the Commission would endeavour to take up their issues at appropriate level as and when required.

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    SS/PRK

    (Release ID: 2063654) Visitor Counter : 42

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Attorney General Alan Wilson sues TikTok for violating South Carolina consumer protection lawsRead More

    Source: US State of South Carolina

    (COLUMBIA, S.C.) – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson today joined a bipartisan coalition of 14 attorneys general in filing separate enforcement actions against TikTok for violations of state consumer protection laws. Attorney General Wilson’s action alleges that TikTok exploits and harms young users and deceives the public about the social media platform’s dangers.

    “TikTok is knowingly addicting children to their platform and monetizing this behavior, all while deceiving parents about the safety of their business model,” said Attorney General Wilson.​

    Use of TikTok is pervasive among young people in the United States. In 2023, 63% of all Americans aged 13 to 17 who responded to a Pew Research survey reported using TikTok, and most teenagers in the U.S. were using TikTok daily.  In today’s lawsuit, Attorney General Wilson alleges TikTok violated South Carolina consumer protection statutes.

    TikTok’s misconduct arises from its underlying business model that focuses on maximizing young users’ time on the TikTok platform to enable the company to boost revenue from selling targeted advertising space. TikTok’s misconduct includes:

    • Deploying a business model that is designed to be addictive and maximize the time young users spend on the platform.
    • Using manipulative features, such as continuous scrolling, to keep kids and teens on the platform longer.
    • Marketing the platform and platform features to parents as safe for kids and teens online and in app stores.

    Attorneys general from the following states join Attorney General Wilson today in filing separate enforcement actions against TikTok to hold it accountable for its role in the children’s mental health crisis: California, New York, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, and the District of Columbia.

    As of today, 23 attorneys general have filed actions against TikTok for its conduct toward youth, including existing actions filed by the attorneys general of Utah, Nevada, Indiana, New Hampshire, Nebraska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, and Texas.

    You can read the complaint here.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Administrator Samantha Power Meets with Indian Ambassador to the United States Vinay Kwatra

    Source: USAID

    The below is attributable to Spokesperson Benjamin Suarato:‎

    On October 7, Administrator Samantha Power met with India’s new Ambassador to the United States Vinay Kwatra. The Administrator highlighted opportunities to build on the U.S. and India’s evolving strategic development partnership to address shared global goals and emphasized our joint work in the Indo-Pacific under the Triangular Development Partnership (TriDeP). 

    Administrator Power and Ambassador Kwatra discussed India’s leadership role in catalyzing regional clean energy ambitions, and Administrator Power reaffirmed USAID’s commitment to the U.S.-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 Partnership.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: House Passes Vasquez’s Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Wildfires, Support Ranchers

    Source: United States House of Representatives – Representative Gabe Vasquez’s (NM-02)

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – On September 24, 2024, the House passed U.S. Representatives Gabe Vasquez (D-NM-02) and Doug LaMalfa’s (R-CA-01) bill, the bipartisan Utilizing Grazing for Wildfire Risk Reduction Act, to help prevent wildfires through proactive grazing. The bill passed as part of the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act. Prior to passage, Vasquez spoke on the House Floor about the importance of his bill to New Mexico. 

    WATCH: Vasquez Delivers Remarks on the House Floor

    “We need to use every tool in our toolbox to lessen the frequency and severity of wildfires. Livestock grazing can help us accomplish that goal. Grazing targeted areas can help slow the spread of an intense burn and control the temperature of a fire by reducing the amount of flammable organic fuel,” saidVasquez. “In New Mexico, we know the cost of fighting wildfires is astronomical, so we must use every available resource to prevent future natural disasters.”

    Vasquez is committed to preventing and reducing wildfires that threaten New Mexican’s homes, land and livelihoods. The recent South Fork and Salt Fires, which tragically took the lives of three New Mexicans and destroyed hundreds of homes and tens of thousands of acres, underscores the importance of using every option available to prevent dangerous wildfires.

    This bill ensures that grazing can be used proactively to mitigate wildfires and keep New Mexicans safe. It helps cut through red tape and makes it easier for New Mexican farmers and ranchers to assist in preventing wildfires that could devastate their land and livelihood.

    Vasquez voted in support of the bipartisan Fix Our Forests Act today, which improves local capacity to address wildfire impacts by allowing different agencies to work together to tackle wildfire risks. The bill advances research, supports local building codes, reduces wildfire impacts, encourages partnerships and offers technical and financial assistance. This allows the U.S. Forest Service to focus its resources more directly on fireshed management by hiring additional staff and conducting hazardous fuels management. 

    The Fix Our Forest Act also ensures that when Tribes conduct fire management efforts, such as trimming excess limbs off trees, they are able to sell the timber and use the profits for forest restoration activities. This will help support Tribal sovereignty and economic prosperity. It is endorsed by the National Congress of American Indians, the Citizens’ Climate Lobby and the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. 

    Vasquez and LaMalfa originally introduced their bipartisan Utilizing Grazing for Wildfire Risk Reduction Act in March.

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    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI Banking: In preparation for Hurricane Milton landfall, Verizon offers relief to impacted customers

    Source: Verizon

    Headline: In preparation for Hurricane Milton landfall, Verizon offers relief to impacted customers

    What you need to know:

    • Verizon to waive domestic call, text, and data usage for postpaid consumer and Verizon Small Business customers most impacted by the storm in parts of Florida from Oct.9th-Oct. 23rd, 2024.

    ALPHARETTA, GA – In response to Hurricane Milton’s forecasted impact on Florida, Verizon is providing an initial relief offer to help affected customers. From Oct. 9th to Oct. 23rd, Verizon will waive domestic call, text, and data usage for postpaid consumer and Verizon Small Business customers* in the following Florida counties:

    Alachua, Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, DeSoto, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hardee, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Saint Johns, Saint Lucie, Sarasota, Seminole, Sumter, Volusia.

    Customers do not have to take any action to take advantage of the offer. Any overages for those whose billing cycles have already closed will be automatically credited back. No action is needed— overages will be automatically credited.*

    “As Hurricane Milton approaches, Verizon is ready to stand by our customers before, during and after the storm,” said Atlantic South Market President, Leigh Anne Lanier. “We know how critical it is to stay connected in times of uncertainty, and we hope this offer provides much-needed relief in the aftermath of the storm.”

    This offer extends to all postpaid consumer and Verizon Small Business customers in the affected counties. No action is needed— overages will be automatically credited.

    *Verizon small business customers include customers with 50 lines or less.

    MIL OSI Global Banks –

  • MIL-OSI USA: PHOTOS AVAILABLE: Governor Cooper, FEMA Administrator Criswell, Federal Highway Administration Officials Travel to Yancey and Mitchell Counties to Survey Damage, Thank First Responders

    Source: US State of North Carolina

    Headline: PHOTOS AVAILABLE: Governor Cooper, FEMA Administrator Criswell, Federal Highway Administration Officials Travel to Yancey and Mitchell Counties to Survey Damage, Thank First Responders

    PHOTOS AVAILABLE: Governor Cooper, FEMA Administrator Criswell, Federal Highway Administration Officials Travel to Yancey and Mitchell Counties to Survey Damage, Thank First Responders
    mseets

    Today, Governor Roy Cooper traveled to Burnsville in Yancey County and Spruce Pine in Mitchell County and was joined by FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, Federal Highway Administration Acting Administrator Kristin White and other state and federal officials to assess storm damage, thank volunteers and speak with people impacted by Hurricane Helene. The Governor visited the Burnsville and Spruce Pine fire departments and toured the Sibelco Quartz Mine in Spruce Pine, a facility that is integral to the global production of solar panels and semiconductor chips and a major employer in Mitchell County. The facility has been temporarily shut down due to impacts from Helene.

    “Today I visited Burnsville and Spruce Pine where more heroic work is being done by volunteers and first responders to save lives and get relief to people who need it,” said Governor Cooper. “We’ll continue our around-the-clock work to surge resources and aid into Western North Carolina, helping communities recover and working to re-open facilities like the Sibelco Quartz Mine that are critical for both local and global economies.”

    The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is working to quickly get food, water and baby formula to impacted areas in Western North Carolina. DHHS has distributed over 30,000 gallons of water to Mitchell County and nearly 25,000 gallons to Yancey County. In addition, over 95,000 meals ready to eat (MREs) have been distributed to Mitchell County and over 55,000 to Yancey County. Eight pallets of formula via the National Guard have been distributed to 34 feeding sites across Western North Carolina.

    Photos from the Governor’s visit to Yancey and Mitchell counties can be found here.

    North Carolina National Guard and Military Response

    More than 3,000 Soldiers and Airmen are now working in Western North Carolina. Joint Task Force- North Carolina, the task force led by the North Carolina National Guard is made up of Soldiers and Airmen from 12 different states, two different XVIII Airborne Corps units from Ft. Liberty, a unit from Ft. Campbell’s 101st Airborne Division, and numerous civilian entities are working side-by-side to get the much-needed help to the citizens in western North Carolina.

    National Guard and military personnel are operating more than 40 helicopters and more than 1,200 specialized vehicles in Western North Carolina to facilitate these missions. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is helping to assess water and wastewater plants and dams. Residents can track the status of the public water supply in their area through a website launched on Saturday.

    FEMA Assistance

    More than $37 million in FEMA Individual Assistance funds have been paid so far to Western NC disaster survivors and more than 123,000 people have registered for Individual Assistance. Approximately 2,600 people are now housed in hotels through FEMA’s Transitional Sheltering Assistance. Federal partners have delivered approximately 9.78 million liters of water and approximately 7.7 million meals in North Carolina to support both responders and people living in the affected communities.

    More than 900 FEMA staff are in the state to help with the western North Carolina relief effort. In addition to search and rescue and providing commodities, they are meeting with disaster survivors in shelters and neighborhoods to provide rapid access to relief resources. They can be identified by their FEMA logo apparel and federal government identification.

    The Major Disaster Declaration requested by Governor Cooper and granted by President Biden now includes 27 North Carolina counties (Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba, Clay, Cleveland, Gaston, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga, Wilkes and Yancey) and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

    North Carolinians can apply for Individual Assistance by calling 1-800-621-3362 from 7am to 11pm daily or by visiting www.disasterassistance.gov, or by downloading the FEMA app. FEMA may be able to help with serious needs, displacement, temporary lodging, basic home repair costs, personal property loss or other disaster-caused needs.

    Help from Other States

    More than 1,300 responders from 35 state and local agencies have performed 118 missions supporting the response and recovery efforts through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). This includes public health nurses, emergency management teams supporting local governments, veterinarians, teams with search dogs and more.

    Beware of Misinformation

    North Carolina Emergency Management and local officials are cautioning the public about false Helene reports and misinformation being shared on social media. NCEM has launched a fact versus rumor response webpage to provide factual information in the wake of this storm. FEMA also has a rumor response webpage.

    Food, Water and Commodity Points of Distribution

    Efforts continue to provide food, water and basic necessities to residents in affected communities, using both ground resources and air drops from the NC National Guard. More than 20,000 hot meals a day are being prepared and served by mobile kitchens. Food, water and commodity points of distribution are open throughout western North Carolina. For information on these sites in your community, visit your local emergency management and local government social media and websites or visit ncdps.gov/Helene.

    Missing Persons

    To report a missing person or request non-emergency support, please call NC 211 or 1-888-892-1162 if calling from out-of-state. NC 211 also has a registry page for missing persons and welfare check requests.

    Shelters

    A total of 17 shelters are open in Western North Carolina serving 737 people and 106 pets.

    Storm Damage Cleanup

    If your home has damages and you need assistance with clean up, please call Crisis Cleanup for access to volunteer organizations that can assist you at 844-965-1386.

    Power Outages

    Across Western North Carolina, more than 107,000 customers remain without power as of Tuesday, down from a peak of more than 1 million. Overall power outage numbers will fluctuate up and down as power crews temporarily take circuits or substations offline to make repairs and restore additional customers.

    Road Closures

    Travel remains dangerous, with hundreds of roads closed. Many of these roads are primary routes connecting the region. As connectivity and reporting measures improve, these number may increase.

    NCDOT is asking people to avoid unnecessary travel to or in Western North Carolina. NCDOT has posted at ncdot.gov an interstate detour map for travelers to avoid western N.C. NCDOT currently has more than 2,050 employees and 1,100 pieces of equipment working on approximately 4,700 damaged road sites.

    Fatalities

    Eighty-nine storm-related deaths have been confirmed in North Carolina by the Office of Chief Medical Examiner. We expect that this number will continue to rise over the coming days. The North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner will continue to confirm numbers twice daily. If you have an emergency or believe that someone is in danger, please call 911. To report that you have been unable to reach a person in Western North Carolina, please call 211.

    Volunteers and Donations

    Due to dangerous road conditions and the need to maintain open routes for emergency operations, travel to Western North Carolina is strongly discouraged. Instead, consider the following options for donations and volunteer opportunities:

    • If you would like to donate to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, visit nc.gov/donate. Donations will help to support local nonprofits working on the ground.
    • For information on volunteer opportunities, please visit nc.gov/volunteernc

    Additional Assistance

    There is no right or wrong way to feel in response to the trauma of a hurricane. If you have been impacted by the storm and need someone to talk to, call or text the Disaster Distress Helpline at 1-800-985-5990. Help is also available to anyone, anytime in English or Spanish through a call, text or chat to 988. Learn more at 988Lifeline.org.

    If you are seeking a representative from the North Carolina Joint Information Center, please email ncempio@ncdps.gov or call 919-825-2599.

    For general information, access to resources, or answers to frequently asked questions, please visit ncdps.gov/helene.

    If you are seeking information on resources for recovery help for a resident impacted from the storm, please email IArecovery@ncdps.gov.

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    Oct 8, 2024

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI USA: Crapo, Risch Join Effort to Protect Idaho Transportation Department from Federal Overreach

    US Senate News:

    Source: United States Senator for Idaho Mike Crapo

    Washington, D.C.–U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) joined a bicameral group of colleagues in filing an amicus brief requesting an Appeals Court uphold a District Court decision vacating a rule that would require local entities to regulate greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions from cars and trucks.  

    In November 2023, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) adopted a final rule requiring state departments of transportation and metropolitan planning organizations to measure GHG emissions on the highway system and set declining targets.  The rule would hamstring the Idaho Transportation Department with costly and burdensome requirements that would divert limited funds for needed infrastructure improvements across the state to costly and expensive compliance measures by the federal government.

    Crapo and Risch joined a bipartisan Congressional Review Act joint resolution of disapproval to overturn the rule.  The resolution passed the Senate by a vote of 53 to 47 in April, reiterating Congress’s opposition to FHWA’s overreach

    Shortly after the rule was finalized, 21 state attorneys general filed litigation challenging the regulation.  The U.S. District Court found the Biden Administration rule to be illegal, but FHWA appealed the decision to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals and it remains under further consideration.

    The brief, led by Senators Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), argues Congress debated and rejected granting FHWA the authority to issue GHG performance measure rules and the FHWA then intentionally misconstrued Congressional intent to justify its improper exercise of authority.  It also argues the rulemaking is not consistent with recent Supreme Court decisions paring back Executive Branch overreach, and FHWA is bypassing principles of federalism to further its own policy agenda.

    “Congress considered, and ultimately rejected, providing [FHWA] with the authority to issue a GHG performance measure regulation, but [FHWA] contorted ancillary existing authorities to impose one anyway,” the members argued.  “In doing so, [FHWA] impermissibly usurped the Legislative Branch’s authority and promulgated the GHG performance measure without statutory authority delegated by Congress.”

    “Put simply, when [FHWA] established a GHG performance measure regulation, it exceeded the powers Congress authorized.  And it did so both at the expense of separation of powers and in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act,” continued the members.

    Additional cosigners of the amicus brief include U.S. Senators John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Dan Sullivan (R-Arkansas), John Thune (R-South Dakota), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), and U.S. Representatives Sam Graves (R-Missouri), Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Rick Crawford (R-Arkansas), Chairman of the Highways and Transit Subcommittee.

    Click here for the amicus brief.

    MIL OSI USA News –

  • MIL-OSI China: National Day holiday sees surge in online payments

    Source: China State Council Information Office 3

    An Indian passenger (L) asks about Weixin Pay, one of China’s major mobile payment platforms, at Terminal 2 of Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in Guangzhou, south China’s Guangdong Province, April 3, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

    China’s just-concluded National Day holiday has seen strong consumption momentum, as indicated by a surge in the number of transactions made via Weixin Pay, a major e-payment method in China.

    Over the week-long holiday ending on Monday, the total number of online and offline transactions going through Weixin Pay increased by 20 percent year on year, said a report released by WeChat, an all-in-one social media app operated by Tencent.

    According to the report, cross-border transactions using the service during the period surged by 68 percent compared to last year, suggesting high demand for overseas travel. Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR), Macao SAR, Thailand, the Republic of Korea, Singapore and Japan are among the most popular overseas destinations based on the transaction figures.

    Meanwhile, Hong Kong residents were also active shoppers on the Chinese mainland during the holiday, with both the number and amount of transactions using WeChat Pay approximately doubling year on year, it said.

    A boom in tourism and consumption has characterized this year’s National Day holiday, during which 765 million domestic trips were made, marking a yearly increase of 5.9 percent, while domestic tourist spending climbed 6.3 percent to 700.8 billion yuan (about 99.11 billion U.S. dollars), according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

    MIL OSI China News –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Audit Commission personnel attending 16th Assembly and 9th Symposium of Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (with photos)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

    Audit Commission personnel attending 16th Assembly and 9th Symposium of Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (with photos)
    Audit Commission personnel attending 16th Assembly and 9th Symposium of Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (with photos)
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         The Director of Audit, Professor Nelson Lam, attended the 16th Assembly and 9th Symposium of the Asian Organisation of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) held from September 21 to 27 in New Delhi, India. At the invitation of the National Audit Office of the People’s Republic of China (CNAO), Professor Lam participated as a member of the People’s Republic of China Delegation, which was led by the Auditor General of CNAO and Secretary General of ASOSAI, Mr Hou Kai. The Assembly and Symposium were hosted by the Supreme Audit Institution of India and focused on “Digital Public Infrastructure and Gender Divide – Issues of Inclusion and Accessibility”. Mr Hou participated in the meetings and chaired some agenda items. The President of India, Mrs Droupadi Murmu, attended and spoke at the opening ceremony.      Attended by 201 delegates from 44 ASOSAI members and observers, the Assembly endorsed the work report of the ASOSAI Secretariat, made additions and amendments to the ASOSAI Regulations, and held discussions on issues related to the three newly established working groups on state-owned enterprise, information technology audit and data analytics, and regional and municipal audit. Also, members of the new term of the Governing Board and the Audit Committee of ASOSAI were elected. It was affirmed that the next Assembly will be held in Saudi Arabia.      Professor Lam, along with Senior Auditor Mr Alfred Wong, who also joined the meetings and activities, exchanged ideas and experiences with Mr Hou, the Commissioner of Audit of the Macao Special Administrative Region, Mr Ho Veng-on, and leaders of audit institutions of various Asian countries on the theme of the Assembly, as well as on the management and development of public sector auditing bodies. Professor Lam also shared on the current work and updates of Audit, and expressed his wish to have further exchanges with the participating audit institutions.             Professor Lam said that the ASOSAI Assembly and Symposium, which were held physically for the first time since the pandemic, brought together representatives from various audit institutions to engage in face-to-face exchanges that proved to be fruitful and beneficial. He thanked CNAO and Mr Hou for their support and care for Audit. With strong support from the motherland, auditors from Hong Kong have had the privilege to, as part of the national teams, connect with the world through taking part in worldwide audit forums and United Nations audit assignments. These forums and assignments have provided great opportunities for Hong Kong auditors to assimilate good audit practices from around the world and apply the acquired knowledge in their roles at work. Not only did these valuable experiences enhance professional development within Audit, but they also enabled Audit to tell good stories of China, Hong Kong, and auditing on international platforms.  

     
    Ends/Wednesday, October 9, 2024Issued at HKT 11:42

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    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

  • MIL-OSI Economics: Money Market Operations as on October 08, 2024

    Source: Reserve Bank of India
    (Amount in ₹ crore, Rate in Per cent)
      Volume
    (One Leg)    		 Weighted
    Average Rate    		 Range
    A. Overnight Segment (I+II+III+IV) 524,659.73 6.24 2.00-7.30
         I. Call Money 9,875.51 6.42 5.10-6.50
         II. Triparty Repo 366,048.45 6.21 6.11-6.26
         III. Market Repo 147,457.77 6.29 2.00-6.45
         IV. Repo in Corporate Bond 1,278.00 6.46 6.39-7.30
    B. Term Segment      
         I. Notice Money** 103.00 6.26 5.95-6.75
         II. Term Money@@ 254.50 – 6.60-6.85
         III. Triparty Repo 267.00 6.35 6.35-6.37
         IV. Market Repo 206.06 6.60 6.60-6.60
         V. Repo in Corporate Bond 0.00 – –
      Auction Date Tenor (Days) Maturity Date Amount Current Rate /
    Cut off Rate
    C. Liquidity Adjustment Facility (LAF), Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) & Standing Deposit Facility (SDF)
    I. Today’s Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo          
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo Tue, 08/10/2024 3 Fri, 11/10/2024 9,398.00 6.49
    3. MSF# Tue, 08/10/2024 1 Wed, 09/10/2024 5,308.00 6.75
    4. SDFΔ# Tue, 08/10/2024 1 Wed, 09/10/2024 88,739.00 6.25
    5. Net liquidity injected from today’s operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*       -92,829.00  
    II. Outstanding Operations
    1. Fixed Rate          
    2. Variable Rate&          
      (I) Main Operation          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo Fri, 04/10/2024 14 Fri, 18/10/2024 44,275.00 6.49
      (II) Fine Tuning Operations          
         (a) Repo          
         (b) Reverse Repo Mon, 07/10/2024 4 Fri, 11/10/2024 36,825.00 6.49
    3. MSF#          
    4. SDFΔ#          
    5. On Tap Targeted Long Term Repo Operations€ Mon, 15/11/2021 1095 Thu, 14/11/2024 250.00 4.00
    Mon, 27/12/2021 1095 Thu, 26/12/2024 2,275.00 4.00
    6. Special Long-Term Repo Operations (SLTRO) for Small Finance Banks (SFBs)£ Mon, 15/11/2021 1095 Thu, 14/11/2024 105.00 4.00
    Mon, 22/11/2021 1095 Thu, 21/11/2024 100.00 4.00
    Mon, 29/11/2021 1095 Thu, 28/11/2024 305.00 4.00
    Mon, 13/12/2021 1095 Thu, 12/12/2024 150.00 4.00
    Mon, 20/12/2021 1095 Thu, 19/12/2024 100.00 4.00
    Mon, 27/12/2021 1095 Thu, 26/12/2024 255.00 4.00
    D. Standing Liquidity Facility (SLF) Availed from RBI$       6,300.46  
    E. Net liquidity injected from outstanding operations [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -71,259.54  
    F. Net liquidity injected (outstanding including today’s operations) [injection (+)/absorption (-)]*     -164,088.54  
    G. Cash Reserves Position of Scheduled Commercial Banks
         (i) Cash balances with RBI as on October 08, 2024 988,113.30  
         (ii) Average daily cash reserve requirement for the fortnight ending October 18, 2024 1,001,756.00  
    H. Government of India Surplus Cash Balance Reckoned for Auction as on¥ October 08, 2024 0.00  
    I. Net durable liquidity [surplus (+)/deficit (-)] as on September 20, 2024 418,318.00  
    @ Based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) / Clearing Corporation of India Limited (CCIL).
    – Not Applicable / No Transaction.
    ** Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 2 to 14 days tenor.
    @@ Relates to uncollateralized transactions of 15 days to one year tenor.
    $ Includes refinance facilities extended by RBI.
    & As per the Press Release No. 2019-2020/1900 dated February 06, 2020.
    Δ As per the Press Release No. 2022-2023/41 dated April 08, 2022.
    * Net liquidity is calculated as Repo+MSF+SLF-Reverse Repo-SDF.
    € As per the Press Release No. 2020-2021/520 dated October 21, 2020, Press Release No. 2020-2021/763 dated December 11, 2020, Press Release No. 2020-2021/1057 dated February 05, 2021 and Press Release No. 2021-2022/695 dated August 13, 2021.
    ¥ As per the Press Release No. 2014-2015/1971 dated March 19, 2015.
    £ As per the Press Release No. 2021-2022/181 dated May 07, 2021 and Press Release No. 2021-2022/1023 dated October 11, 2021.
    # As per the Press Release No. 2023-2024/1548 dated December 27, 2023.
    Ajit Prasad            
     Deputy General Manager
    (Communications)    
    Press Release: 2024-2025/1251

    MIL OSI Economics –

  • MIL-OSI: OCI Holdings Accelerates Its Presence in Malaysia: Implementing a Targeted Localisation Strategy, including Sponsorship of Sports and Cultural events

    Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

    SEOUL, KOREA, Oct. 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — OCI Holdings just announced on October 7 that it has made significant strides in strengthening its relationships with key figures and local residents in Sarawak, Malaysia, the production hub for its solar PV polysilicon.

    • To develop stronger relationships with key figures and local residents in Malaysia, a running event and badminton class were held in late September.
    • Announcing a new slogan ‘Envisioning a healthier future through life science and clean energy’
    • Online and offline training on Malay language and culture were provided for Korean employees in Seoul in late August.

    OCI Holdings plans to enhance its ties with the local community and conduct environmental, social, governance (ESG) activities in Malaysia to support its subsidiary OCI M. These initiatives aim to navigate the challenges posed by global economic uncertainties in the second half of this year, including the potential impact of the U.S. presidential election and U.S. tariffs on China, as well as a potential temporary slowdown in demand in the solar PV industry.

    Fostering stronger relationships with localresidents, led by sports star Lee Yong-dae

    OCI Holdings hosted a one-day badminton class at the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) Bintulu Campus on September 29. The purpose of the event was to nurture young sports talents and promote health among local residents and featured Korean badminton legend Lee Yong-dae from the Leeyongdae Badminton Foundation.

    In the morning, Lee provided one-point lessons to 30 young players recommended by the Bintulu Badminton Association. He focused on various game situations and fundamental techniques, including the serve, smash, forehand step-in, and backhand return. In the afternoon, he engaged in friendly matches with badminton club members and local residents.

    The popular badminton legend drew a crowd of more than 300 spectators who filled the gymnasium with excitement. His star power rivals that of top idols with his widespread appeal.

    Given the widespread popularity of badminton in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and India, OCI Holdings partnered with Lee in consideration of his influence and expertise.

    Lee Yong-dae, a leading badminton star from Korea who won gold in mixed doubles at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and bronze in men’s doubles at the 2012 London Olympics, was an active player in Indonesia near Sarawak in 2015.

    On September 27, Lee met with young players from Persatuan Badminton Bumiputra Sarawak (PBBS) comprised of ethnic Malays, and provided one-on-one coaching to support their aspirations.

    Joint eco-friendly running event organized with key Sarawak organizations

    OCI Holdings co-hosted the Kuching Green Run 2024 in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia on September 28.

    The Kuching Green Run 2024, an inaugural eco-friendly cultural event held to raise community awareness of sustainable renewable energy and climate protection, was organized by the local social enterprise Green Generation in collaboration with OCI Holdings, Dewan Bandaraya Kuching Utara (DBKU), and Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC).

    Several local companies, including the Malaysian national petroleum company PETONAS and China Communications Construction Company, participated as sponsors.

    The opening ceremony was attended by OCI Holdings Chairman Woo Hyun Lee, OCI M President Seong Gil Choi, and more than 20 key figures from Sarawak, including Sarawak Economic Development Corporation (SEDC) Chairman Tan Sri Datuk Amar Abdul Aziz Husain and State Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts of Sarawak Datuk Sebastian Ting Yew.

    Despite the hot and humid weather, Chairman Lee, who had traveled from Seoul for the event, visited every area of the venue, encouraging participants along the way.

    He remarked, “It is meaningful for us to promote a healthy lifestyle with sports and engage with the local community. In line with our motto, ‘Envisioning a healthier future through life science and clean energy,’ OCI M, as a prominent company in Sarawak, will actively participate in various ESG initiatives including cultural events and scholarship programs.”

    On September 30, OCI M donated an ultrasound machine, valued at tens of millions of won, to Sarawak General Hospital in partnership with Sarawak Badan Amal Tenaga Isteri-Isteri (SABATI), a nonprofit charity organization led by the spouses of prominent figures in Sarawak, contributing to healthcare and well-being in the local community.

    In Korea, staff are learning the Malaysian greeting “Salam.”

    OCI Holdings organized a special lecture on Malaysian culture and history for its employees at the headquarters in Jung-gu, Seoul, in late August.

    Professors Ummi Hani Binti Abu Hassan and Kim Dong-hun from the Department of Malay-Indonesian Studies at Hankook University of Foreign Studies conducted the lecture to 100 employees.

    The lecture encompassed Malaysia’s history, its multicultural nature, and business etiquette with sessions streamed online for employees of domestic and international subsidiaries.

    Professor Ummi, a Malaysian, demonstrated the Muslim greeting “salam,” which involves raising the right hand to the left breast and lowering one’s head. Employees followed her example and learned the meaning behind the gesture: “I greet you with my heart.”

    Despite being a predominantly Muslim country, Malaysia is a multicultural state composed of various ethnic groups including Malays (57.9%), Chinese (22.6%), and Indians (6.6%). With this lecture, employees gained valuable insights into these cultural differences. For instance, only Malaysian Muslims have the word “Islam” on their identification cards.

    Yong-sun Cho, team manager of the Strategy Team I of OCI Holdings, who participated in the lecture, said, “It was a valuable opportunity to gain knowledge about Malaysia’s history and cultural nuances that I was previously unaware of. Thanks to the Malaysian lessons I have attended, I can now communicate more effectively with local Malaysians.”

    OCI Holdings has also offered a three-month basic Malaysian conversation course to employees at the team manager level and above starting in June.

    Media Contact

    Brand: OCI Holdings Company Ltd.

    Contact: +82-10-5591-8126

    Email: yunhs@ocihc.co.kr

    Website: https://www.oci-holdings.co.kr/en

    SOURCE: OCI Holdings Company Ltd.

    The MIL Network –

  • MIL-Evening Report: Why did Japan’s new leader trigger snap elections only a week after taking office? And what happens next?

    Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Craig Mark, Adjunct Lecturer, Faculty of Economics, Hosei University

    Japan’s new prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, has been in the job for just over a week. But today, as had been widely expected, he dissolved Japan’s parliament, the Diet, triggering a snap election for later this month. It’s the fastest dissolution by a postwar leader in Japan.

    The typically short campaign will officially start on October 15, with election day on October 27.

    So, why is this election happening so soon after Ishiba took office? And what could happen next?

    Why hold elections now?

    Ishiba became prime minister on September 27 after finally winning the contest to be leader of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) on his fifth attempt. He narrowly beat the ultra-nationalist Sanae Takaichi, denying her bid to become Japan’s first female prime minister.

    By holding a snap election for the House of Representatives, a year before it is required under the Constitution, Ishiba is hoping to catch the opposition parties off guard and secure a more solid mandate to pursue his policy agenda. He’s banking on the public rallying behind a new face and image for his party, following the unpopularity of former Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

    The LDP should win next month’s election handily, despite the turbulence caused by recent scandals and leadership changes in the party. The LDP is still far ahead of the opposition in recent polling. A large number of people, however, remain uncommitted to any political party.

    The first approval rating poll for Ishiba’s new cabinet was also just over 50%. That’s lower than the polling for Kishida’s first cabinet three years ago. This indicates the public is not as enthusiastic for the new prime minister as the LDP might have hoped.

    The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party (CDP) has also just elected a new leader, former Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda. It is hoping to boost its consistently low opinion poll ratings by attempting to project an image of reliability and stability.

    What is Ishiba promising?

    In his first policy statement to the Diet last week, Ishiba pledged to revitalise the economy, particularly through doubling subsidies and stimulus spending for regional areas. He also promised to address wage growth, which remains weak due to cost of living pressures. It has been made worse by the relatively weak yen.

    Ishiba also wants to boost investment in next-generation technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing. And he indicated he may support an increase in the corporate tax rate. This could tap the massive cash reserves of major corporations to fund regional revitalisation programs. It could also provide more support to families of young children to boost Japan’s sagging birth rate.

    Tax hikes would also be necessary to maintain the higher defence spending that began under former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and continued under Kishida.

    To appease the conservative wing of his party, which had backed Takaichi in the LDP leadership contest, Ishiba has backtracked on several policy positions he had previously supported. This includes reducing Japan’s reliance on nuclear power, allowing women to keep their family names after marriage, legalising same-sex marriage, and encouraging the Bank of Japan to gradually increase interest rates.

    Ishiba also conceded his proposal to pursue an “Asian-style NATO” will have to remain a longer-term ambition, after officials from India and the US expressed doubts over the proposal.

    Ishiba has confirmed, after some initial uncertainty, that his party will not endorse ten Diet members in the election who were implicated in a slush fund scandal that had damaged Kishida’s government. These Diet members are mainly from the large conservative wing of the party, removing some internal opposition to the new prime minister.

    However, public doubts over Ishiba’s commitment to genuine party reform, as well as infighting from the resentful remaining members of the conservative wing, could also result in a drop in support for the LDP.

    Is there any hope for the opposition?

    If it fares poorly in the election, the LDP could be even more dependent on support from its coalition partner, the Komeito Party, to retain control of the lower house and remain in government.

    The Komeito Party is backed by the Buddhist Soka Gakkai religious movement. It currently has 32 members in the Diet, compared to 258 for the LDP.

    To even have a chance of forming a minority government, the main opposition CDP (which has 99 seats currently) will need to present an appealing alternative policy program, which it has so far been unable to do. Japan has not had a minority government since 1993.

    Should the LDP-Komeito coalition nevertheless drop below the 233 Diet members required to maintain a majority, the second-largest opposition party, the populist, right-wing Japan Innovation Party, could find itself holding the balance of power.

    Ishiba’s challenge in this early election is not only to win enough votes to retain government, but to be electorally successful enough to hold off his rivals from the conservative wing of the LDP. They will be seeking to exploit any future failures by Ishiba to pressure him to step down early.

    If that were to happen, Takaichi would likely be a leadership contender again.

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

    – ref. Why did Japan’s new leader trigger snap elections only a week after taking office? And what happens next? – https://theconversation.com/why-did-japans-new-leader-trigger-snap-elections-only-a-week-after-taking-office-and-what-happens-next-240888

    MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

  • MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Special meeting of Pest Control Steering Committee convened to enhance interdepartmental collaboration in preventing spread of dengue fever and rat Hepatitis E virus (with photo)

    Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

         The interdepartmental Pest Control Steering Committee (PCSC) convened a special meeting today (October 9) to discuss the response measures for preventing the local transmission of dengue fever (DF) through imported cases, the work plan for mosquito control in the coming year, as well as follow-up actions in response to the recent human infection of rat Hepatitis E virus (HEV).
         
    Preventing the spread of DF

         In the meeting, the Centre for Health Protection (CHP) of the Department of Health explained to the attendees the details of the latest imported DF cases and the CHP’s risk assessment. As of October 3, the CHP has recorded a total of 77 DF cases this year, including 73 imported cases (12 from the Mainland) and four local cases. The number of imported DF cases this year has surpassed the 62 cases recorded last year, with 13 cases recorded within the two-week period from September 20 to October 3. The patients had traveled to Guangdong Province (Foshan (nine cases) and Shenzhen (one case)), India (two cases), and Nepal (one case) during the incubation periods. According to the Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangdong Province recorded over 3 000 local DF cases in September, 1 764 local DF cases within the past week from September 30 to October 6, with the highest numbers of cases reported in Foshan, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Jiangmen and Zhongshan. The continued occurrence of DF cases outside Hong Kong, coupled with the frequent travel by residents to and from Guangdong, Hong Kong and other areas, resulted in an increased risk of importing DF cases into Hong Kong, posing a risk of local transmission.

         While the local gravidtrap index has shown a downward trend with the passing of the rainy season, in view of the DF situation in other areas, the Government not only instructed various bureaux and departments, as well as trade stakeholders, to strengthen territory-wide mosquito prevention and control work to prevent the local spread of DF in early October, but also discussed response measures with the bureaux and departments in today’s meeting.
         
    Mosquito control

         The representative from the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department (FEHD) reported to the PCSC that the mosquito infestation this year continues to be under control, and the overall trend of the gravidtrap index for Aedes albopictus this year is similar to that of last year. The FEHD has also conducted site inspections with relevant departments, and provided them with professional advice and technical support to assist them in formulating and implementing effective anti-mosquito measures swiftly, as well as strengthening publicity and education in parallel. The departments will pay special attention to environments prone to mosquito breeding under their purviews, and proactively strengthen their mosquito preventive and control measures at places under their management, including carrying out regular inspections of the surrounding environment, eliminating potential mosquito breeding places, removing stagnant water, applying larvicides at appropriate locations, aptly placing more mosquito trapping devices and applying ultra-low volume foggers, etc. Looking ahead, the FEHD will continue to work closely with other departments and proactively take mosquito control actions, including eliminating potential mosquito breeding places, as well as the timely conducting of fogging operations in a concerted manner until the end of the rainy season. The departments will closely monitor the situation of mosquito infestation as reflected by the surveillance indices, and constantly update the list of mosquito infestation hotspots to adjust and plan their work based on the actual situation to ensure rapid and effective mosquito prevention and control efforts.

    Investigation of human infection of HEV
     
         Regarding the recent case of human infection of HEV, the CHP’s epidemiological investigations revealed that the patient resides in Hung Hom. She claimed that she did not have direct contact with rodents or rats, and had no travel history during the incubation period, indicating that this is a locally acquired infection.
          
         The CHP and the FEHD reported to the PCSC that in response to the above-mentioned HEV case, the FEHD has carried out follow-up work over the past two weeks, including visiting the patient’s residence and surrounding areas to conduct rodent infestation investigations, providing advice on rodent control measures to property management personnel; as well as inspecting the patient’s residence, the places she visited before onset of the disease and the surrounding public areas, and stepping up street washing, rodent prevention and control work.
          
         In the meeting, the FEHD reminded all bureaux and departments to diligently implement various rodent prevention and control measures in areas under their purview. Anti-rodent work requires co-operation from all sectors. The PCSC appealed to members of the public and all sectors to strengthen rodent prevention and control measures in their respective areas and tie in with the rodent prevention and control work of the Government to reduce the risk of HEV transmission.
          
         The Environment and Ecology Bureau will also meet with the trade later to gather the collective efforts of different sectors, promoting cross-sector, multidisciplinary and public participation in preventing the spread of DF and HEV.
          
         The meeting today was chaired by the Under Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Miss Diane Wong. Government bureaux, departments and organisations attending the meeting were the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department; the Architectural Services Department; the Buildings Department; the Civil Engineering and Development Department; the Development Bureau; the Department of Health; the Drainage Services Department; the Education Bureau; the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department; the Environmental Protection Department; the FEHD; the Government Property Agency; the Hospital Authority; the Home Affairs Department; the Housing Department; the Highways Department; the Information Services Department; the Lands Department; the Leisure and Cultural Services Department; the Marine Department; the Social Welfare Department; and the Water Supplies Department.   

    MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –