Category: Politics

MIL-OSI Global: Defending humanitarian aid in terms of national security obscures its real purpose

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Chen Reis, Associate Clinical Professor, Director, Humanitarian Assistance Program, & Director, Human Rights MA, University of Denver

A woman scoops up portions of wheat to be allocated to each waiting family after it was distributed in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia in 2021. AP Photo/Ben Curtis

More than 305 million people require lifesaving humanitarian aid today. Most of them live in areas wracked by conflict, such as Sudan, Gaza, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

By many estimates, there is more need than ever for this assistance – and the need is growing. But humanitarian funding, which is primarily provided by governments, is declining. The Trump administration stopped disbursing nearly all U.S. humanitarian aid on Jan. 20, 2025. It made these cuts at a time when the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Belgium and other wealthy countries are slashing their own aid spending.

Judges have ruled that the U.S. government must rehire aid workers and make overdue payments for aid already delivered by nongovernmental companies, international agencies and private contractors. While legal disputes wend through the courts, these cuts are already having disastrous consequences for people in Afghanistan, Sudan and other places facing crises.

As scholars who study humanitarian aid, we are seeing not just a crisis of funding but also one that jeopardizes the credibility of the entire global system that provides this lifesaving assistance.

When conflict breaks out or a disaster like an earthquake strikes, people require emergency medical care, temporary shelter, food and water. In countries where the government is unable or unwilling to provide these services, humanitarian organizations and international agencies step in to fill the gaps. Humanitarian aid is based on empathy and the recognition that everyone has a right to live with dignity.

When discussing the impacts of its aid freeze and challenging the Trump administration’s misinformation about the U.S. Agency for International Development, many NGOs and experts on humanitarian assistance have not focused on empathy and rights.

They have in their defense of the agency responsible until now for most of the foreign aid the U.S. provides instead relied on arguments that appeal to U.S. national security, soft power and economic interests.

Sen. Chris Coons, a Connecticut Democrat, has warned that China will benefit from the U.S. aid cutoff.

“Our biggest global competitor and adversary is delighted that we’ve handed them an opportunity to say to communities and countries around the world that we are not a reliable partner,” Coons said.

By highlighting geopolitical, security and economic arguments for humanitarian aid, in our view, they risk further hurting the sector’s legitimacy.

Protesters rally in support of USAID in Washington on Feb. 5, 2025.
Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images

A ‘seismic shock’

Tom Fletcher, who leads the United Nations’ humanitarian efforts, has called the Trump administration’s aid reduction “a seismic shock to the sector.” But the latest cuts are part of a longer-term trend.

While needs have increased, humanitarian funding has been flat or declining for years, leaving millions of people who need food, health care, shelter and protection without the assistance they need.

Every year, the U.N. assesses humanitarian need for the coming year and issues what amounts to a global budget request to meet those needs. Government donors commit funds toward that budget request, and those funds are then distributed to U.N. agencies and NGOs that implement humanitarian programming.

Since 2016, the gap between funding requirements and funding commitments has grown. In 2024, the U.N. requested US$49.5 billion in humanitarian funding and received less than half, or $23.9 billion, with the U.S. contributing 41% of that amount.

Until January 2025, the U.S. accounted for 35%-46% of total annual global humanitarian funding. The abrupt cutoff of funds has led to a scramble to pay for food for malnourished children in Sudan, health care for refugees from Myanmar, and maternal health services in Yemen.

Without U.S. funding, the humanitarian work of the United Nations agencies and NGOs that deliver humanitarian aid in part funded by governments is in jeopardy.

Because of the cuts, Catholic Relief Services and the International Rescue Committee, for example, have laid off staff and shuttered health clinics that prevent or treat infectious diseases like malaria and HIV/AIDS. They can no longer provide access to clean water and sanitation services or other lifesaving aid in many places where they work.

Core principles violated

Humanitarian groups have historically embraced a set of core principles that emphasize the alleviation of human suffering wherever it may occur while remaining independent, neutral and impartial.

In conflict zones, these principles are essential for gaining access to people who need help. Aid workers build trust and acceptance by not picking sides in a conflict and providing aid based on need.

Focusing on what benefits donor countries instead of what serves humanitarian needs in areas experiencing famine, disasters or conflicts is at odds with these principles. However, in January, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that U.S. interests would decide how aid is allocated.

“Every dollar we spend, every program we fund and every policy we pursue must be justified with the answer to three simple questions,” Rubio said. “Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?”

Since late January, the Trump administration has cut 83% of USAID’s programs, according to recent reports.

Transactional arguments

In March, the State Department sent a questionnaire to nongovernmental organizations and U.N. agencies asking how they will conform to President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy and distribute aid in alignment with foreign policy goals.

Governments always consider their own interests as one factor when making decisions about humanitarian aid. But, we are concerned that humanitarian organizations and the public are not pushing back on these purely transactional arguments.

Instead, some organizations seem to be falling in line.

“This investment pays dividends by preventing humanitarian crises, containing disease outbreaks, and countering adversarial influence in vulnerable regions,” stated InterAction, an association of U.S.-based NGOs that distribute humanitarian aid and development assistance. “That’s why foreign aid has maintained decades of support across party lines — it is vital for U.S. security and international stability.”

We also see in these comments signs that justifications for aid are changing.

When former Secretary of State Colin Powell called nongovernmental organizations a “force multiplier” in 2001, it stirred controversy because he suggested that they were an extension of the government and a pillar of U.S. strategy. Even still, he acknowledged that NGOs required independence from government to do their essential work.

An important choice

Humanitarian organizations are grappling with the financial and operational consequences of their reliance on a small number of donor governments that have cut off or cut back aid. As they adjust to the new reality, we believe that they must make a choice.

They can embrace the increasingly transactional agendas of the rich countries that have historically provided most humanitarian aid funding. Doing so may increase aid flows but compromise humanitarian neutrality and impartiality – potentially restricting their access to the places they need to go to do their work.

Or they can focus on people affected by crises – as recipients of assistance and as agents of change. This option would likely mean operating on an even smaller budget at a time when needs are increasing.

Either way, the decisions made today will have significant implications for the future of humanitarian action.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

– ref. Defending humanitarian aid in terms of national security obscures its real purpose – https://theconversation.com/defending-humanitarian-aid-in-terms-of-national-security-obscures-its-real-purpose-252246

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Avoiding your neighbor because of how they voted? Democracy needs to you talk to them instead

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Betsy Sinclair, Professor and Chair of Political Science, Washington University in St. Louis

As Americans’ social worlds grow further apart, stereotypes intensify – driving an even deeper wedge between red and blue America. wildpixel/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Are you angry about politics right now? Seething? You’re not alone. According to the Mood of the Nation Poll by researchers at Penn State, 9 in 10 Americans can name a recent news event or something about American politics that made them angry.

Political scientists Steven Webster, Elizabeth Connors and I have investigated what happens to people’s social networks – their friends, family and neighbors – when partisan anger takes over. For example, suppose your neighbor is a member of the opposite political party. You’ve always watered their plants when they go on vacation. Given the news these days and how angry you’re feeling, what will you say when they ask for help during their next trip?

We found that when someone is angry with the opposite party, they avoid people with those views. That can include not assisting neighbors with various tasks, avoiding social gatherings attended by people from the other side, and refusing to date people who vote differently. It means being disappointed if your son or daughter marries a supporter of the opposing party, and even severing close friendships or distancing yourself from close relatives.

We see that political anger disrupts ordinary life – coffee with a friend – as well as more major life decisions. Political anger breaks our social networks.

People rely on their relationships to understand our world – and to vote. The more we isolate ourselves from people who see things differently, the easier it is to misunderstand them, pushing us to separate even more.

Stereotype vs. reality

During the Obama administration, my collaborators and I asked a nationally representative sample of voters to describe their stereotypes about the opposite party. Our questions were intended to tap into perceptions of the other side’s lifestyles and cultural values, in addition to policy attitudes.

First, we wanted to establish each side’s actual views. Our 2012-2016 study asked around 1,300 Americans whether they agreed with statements that are often associated with one party or the other – including creationism, guns, taxes and eco-friendliness.

For example, 42.5% of all Republicans we surveyed agreed with the statement that “this country would be safer if every law-abiding citizen possessed a firearm,” versus 25.1% of independents and 14.2% of Democrats. Meanwhile, 38.7% of Democrats agreed that “this country would be better if every citizen drove an electric car,” compared with 22% of independents and 11.4% of Republicans.

Which party do you associate with these cars?
3alexd/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Two months later, we went back to the same voters and asked them a different question: What percentage of Democrats and Republicans did they think would agree with these statements?

We saw dramatic evidence of stereotypes. For example, only 19% of Democrats agreed that all Americans should pay more taxes, but more than 80% of Republicans believed the percentage to be higher. The same pattern occurred with electric cars and firearms. Just over 42% of Republicans agreed that all “law-abiding” citizens should have a gun, but the typical Democrat believed the percentage to be 60%-80%.

Americans do not understand each other across the red-blue divide. Importantly, respondents with more ideologically extreme views themselves had less accurate perceptions of the other party.

Avoiding the Joneses

The more extreme our beliefs become, the harder it will be to understand our neighbors.

Suppose you are a Republican. You learn that your Democratic neighbors believe that everyone should drive an electric car, marijuana should be legal in all states, and universal health care should be available to all citizens. Or suppose you are a Democrat, and you learn that your Republican neighbors believe that humans and dinosaurs walked the Earth at the same time, that elementary school students should be required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance every morning, and that a fence should be built between the U.S. and Mexico.

Would you want to be friends?

These hypothetical neighbors have stereotypical beliefs – and most Americans say they do not want those neighbors in their social networks. Specifically, according to our 2023 study, they reported not wanting to become friends, not having this neighbor over for a family meal, and not feeling comfortable allowing their children to play with the neighbor’s kids, among other activities.

Stereotypes don’t just drive individual people and families apart; they make neighborhoods less cohesive. We ascribe stereotypical beliefs to people who are members of the opposite party – and then we react to these stereotypes, not to our neighbors themselves.

You’re still neighbors, no matter how you vote.
monkeybusinessimages/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Social citizens

Cutting off those in-person relationships isn’t just a problem for safety and friendliness around the block. It’s a problem for democracy because Americans need relationships with people whose politics are different than their own.

A majority of Americans have social circles that are politically homogeneous. Even in 2020, 53% of Republicans said that their network was exclusively composed of Donald Trump supporters, and 55% of Democrats said that their network was exclusively composed of Joe Biden supporters.

In her book “Through the Grapevine,” political scientist Taylor Carlson documents that approximately 1 in 3 American voters mostly learn about politics from socially transmitted information: news they get from talking with friends or scrolling on social media. Relying on these sources is particularly problematic in social networks that are homogeneous, as exposure to information from someone in your own party can lead people to have more extreme positions. Carlson’s work highlights that voters who rely on friends to shape their views rely upon a resource that is heavily biased.

In my own book “The Social Citizen,” I investigated the influence peers have on political decisions, from voting and donating to identifying with a political party. For example, if a neighbor knocks on your door and asks you to turn out to vote, you are 4%-11% more likely to go cast a ballot than if a stranger knocked on your door.

Democracy in action

What can we do to remedy the fractures? We need to understand each other.

The U.S. has a long tradition of political dialogue. Indeed, after a brutal election tested their friendship, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson did not exchange letters for 11 years. But the pair resumed their correspondence in 1812 with Adams’ statement – later echoed by Jefferson – “You and I, ought not to die, before We have explained ourselves to each other.”

What Adams and Jefferson understood in the 19th century still applies to the divisions in American society today: Reconciliation requires understanding. These conversations are frequently painful and hard; data scientists have noted that Thanksgiving dinners with guests who cross party lines are frequently shorter. But as my own research shows, we are most able to persuade people with whom we have the closest ties.

Democracy challenges us to participate in more ways than simply by voting. It challenges everyone to understand those around us and seek what is in the collective best interest.

And we have the most influence over people in our social networks. So that friend you’re really angry with about their politics? It’s time to give them a call and have a conversation.

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

– ref. Avoiding your neighbor because of how they voted? Democracy needs to you talk to them instead – https://theconversation.com/avoiding-your-neighbor-because-of-how-they-voted-democracy-needs-to-you-talk-to-them-instead-250376

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Trump’s firings of military leaders pose a crucial question to service members of all ranks

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Samuel C. Mahaney, Director, Missouri S&T Policy and Armed Forces Research and Development Institute; Lecturer of History, National Security, and Leadership, Missouri University of Science and Technology

President Donald Trump gave no specific reason for firing Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff less than halfway through Brown’s four-year term in office.

Nor did he give an explanation for similarly ousting other senior military leaders, including the only women ever to lead the Navy and the Coast Guard, as well as the military’s top three lawyers – the judge advocates general of the Army, Navy and Air Force.

The president is the commander-in-chief of the U.S. armed forces. But since the days of George Washington, the military has been dedicated to serving the nation, not a specific person or political agenda. I know this because I served 36 years in the U.S. Air Force before retiring as a major general. Even now, as a lecturer in history, national security and constitutional law, I know that nonpartisanship is central to the military’s primary mission of defending the country.

Trump’s actions could raise concerns about whether he is trying to change those centuries of precedent.

If so, military personnel at all levels would face a crucial question: Would they stand up for the military’s independent role in maintaining the integrity and stability of American democracy or follow the president’s orders – even if those orders crossed a line that made them illegal or unconstitutional?

After the American Revolution, George Washington resigned his military commission and returned to civilian life.
Herman Bencke via Library of Congress

Political neutrality from the start

Washington and other U.S. founders were very aware that a powerful military could overthrow the government or be subjected to political whims as different parties or factions controlled the presidency or Congress, so they thought long and hard about the role of the militia and the use of military power.

Julius Caesar, who used his army to seize power in ancient Rome, was a cautionary tale. So was Oliver Cromwell’s use of his military power in the English Civil War to execute King Charles I and rule England.

One of Washington’s most significant contributions to the apolitical tradition of the military was his resignation as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army after the American Revolution officially ended, in 1783. By voluntarily giving up his military power and returning to civilian life, the man who would become the nation’s first president demonstrated his commitment to civilian control of a military grounded in allegiance to the pursuit of life, liberty and happiness, not allegiance to any one party, faction or person.

Washington’s act set a powerful example for future generations. A few years later, the founders embedded civilian control over the military in the U.S. Constitution. Article I, Section 8 gives Congress the power to declare war and fund armies, while Article II, Section 2 designates the president as the commander-in-chief of the military.

This check and balance ensures the military remains neutral and subordinate to elected leaders. It also solidifies the allegiance of military leaders to a principled document, not to the ebbs and flows of politics.

As part of their training, U.S. military members learn about their duty to obey lawful, constitutional orders.
Michael S. Williamson/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Training and response to orders

Polling consistently shows that the American people trust the military more than any other element of the U.S. government. In part that trust comes from the military’s professional dedication to political neutrality, which includes training its personnel to uphold values like duty, honor and integrity.

Military members up and down the ranks take their allegiance to the Constitution seriously. At the beginning of their service, at every reenlistment and usually during promotion ceremonies, all military members – officers and enlisted – swear to support and defend the Constitution. The enlisted oath also includes a promise to follow the lawful orders of the president and of the officers appointed above them.

This foundational oath ensures that if members of the military receive orders that they believe are questionable, they will not follow those orders blindly. They are taught throughout their career – during basic training, officer candidate training and in recurring sessions through the years – to seek clarification. If necessary, they are told to challenge those orders through their chain of command, or through attorneys associated with their units, or by contacting their branch’s inspector general.

Depending on their ranks, military members’ responses to questionable orders can vary. Senior officers, who have extensive experience and higher levels of responsibility, have the authority and the duty to ensure that any orders they follow or pass down are lawful and in line with the Constitution. When evaluating uncertain orders or navigating unclear situations, they often consult with legal advisers, discuss the implications with peers and thoroughly analyze the situation before taking action.

Junior officers and senior enlisted personnel often find themselves in positions where they must make quick decisions based on the information available to them. While they are trained to follow orders, they are also encouraged to use their judgment and seek guidance when they believe an order to be unlawful – including getting advice from people with direct access to attorneys.

Junior enlisted personnel, who make up more than 40% of the military force, are also taught the importance of the legality and constitutionality of orders. They have the right to seek clarification if they believe an order is unlawful.

Even so, their training focuses heavily on discipline and obedience. This can make it challenging for them to question orders, especially in high-pressure situations.

Members of the U.S. military swear an oath to the Constitution.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Ultimate responsibility

The responsibility of scrutinizing orders falls on senior military leaders – admirals and generals, colonels and Navy captains. Junior officers and senior enlisted and junior enlisted personnel rely on their leaders to navigate the complexities of politics and ensure orders they receive are lawful and focused on national defense, not politics.

If senior military leaders fail in their responsibility, chaos could ensue: Units may end up following conflicting orders or ignoring directives altogether. This can lead to a breakdown in command and control, with some units acting independently or based on politically motivated directives. This would be a dangerous shift, making the military extremely vulnerable to operational failures and enemy attack.

President Lyndon Johnson, center, and Gen. William Westmoreland visit troops in South Vietnam in 1967.
AP Photo

Such a situation has never happened in the history of the U.S. military. But some events have come close to crossing the line. For instance, during the Vietnam War, President Lyndon Johnson was determined to demonstrate American strength and resolve, famously stating, “I will not lose in Vietnam.” His pressure landed on the shoulders of Gen. William Westmoreland.

Westmoreland responded by publicizing the numbers of enemy personnel killed in battle, attempting to show that U.S. efforts were reducing the size of opposing forces. But historians have found that this emphasis lacked clear military objectives, meaning troops faced confusion and contradictory orders. The price was a longer war, and more deaths for Americans and for Vietnamese civilians.

Ultimately, Westmoreland was accused of manipulating enemy troop strength estimates to create an impression of progress – in service of Johnson’s political desire to avoid defeat. His decisions did not directly violate the Constitution or U.S. law, but they exemplify how political pressures can adversely influence military strategies, with devastating consequences.

Unbiased sources of information

In addition to senior military leaders’ responsibility to remain apolitical, leaders also have clear responsibilities to the civilians elected and appointed above them.

For example, the president needs factual and unbiased information about the military’s capabilities from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, based on their experience and professional opinions. If advisers are hesitant to speak freely about what is and is not possible in any given situation, and about potential consequences both good and bad, the president will miss out on the kinds of critical insights that shape effective strategies.

The bottom line is that when top military experts give advice and take action influenced by politics, they undermine the centuries-old system of military training and ethics. Some traditions are worth keeping.

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

– ref. Trump’s firings of military leaders pose a crucial question to service members of all ranks – https://theconversation.com/trumps-firings-of-military-leaders-pose-a-crucial-question-to-service-members-of-all-ranks-247665

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Digital imperialism: How US social media firms are using American law to challenge global tech regulation

Source: The Conversation – USA – By Yasmin Curzi de Mendonça, Research associate, University of Virginia

The CEOs of Meta, Amazon, Google and X — Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Sundar Pichai and Elon Musk — attend the inauguration of Donald Trump on Jan. 20, 2025. Photo by Ricky Carioti – Pool/Getty Images

Social media platforms tend not to be that bothered by national boundaries.

Take X, for example. Users of what was once called Twitter span the globe, with its 600 millions-plus active accounts dotted across nearly every country. And each of those jurisdictions has its own laws.

But the interests of national regulatory efforts and that of predominantly U.S.-based technology companies often don’t align. While many governments have sought to impose oversight mechanisms to address problems such as disinformation, online extremism and manipulation, these initiatives have been met with corporate resistance, political interference and legal challenges invoking free speech as a shield against regulation.

What is brewing is a global struggle over digital platform governance. And in this battle, U.S. platforms are increasingly leaning on American laws to challenge other nation’s regulations. It is, we believe as experts on digital law – one an executive director of a forum monitoring how countries implement democratic principles – a form of digital imperialism.

A rumble in the tech jungle

The latest manifestation of this phenomenon occurred in February 2025, when new tensions emerged between Brazil’s judiciary and U.S.-based social media platforms.

Trump Media & Technology Group and Rumble filed a lawsuit in the U.S. against Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, challenging his orders to suspend accounts on the two platforms linked to disinformation campaigns in Brazil.

The case follows earlier unsuccessful efforts by Elon Musk’s X to resist similar Brazilian rulings.

Together, the cases exemplify a growing trend in which U.S. political and corporate actors attempt to undermine foreign regulatory authority by pressing the case that domestic U.S. law and corporate protections should take precedence over sovereign policies globally.

From corporate lobbying to lawfare

At the core of the dispute is Allan dos Santos, a right-wing Brazilian influencer and fugitive from justice who fled to the U.S. in 2021 after De Moraes ordered his preventive arrest for allegedly coordinating disinformation networks and inciting violence.

Dos Santos has continued his online activities abroad. Brazil’s extradition requests have gone unanswered due to claims by U.S. authorities that the case involves issues of free speech rather than criminal offenses.

Trump Media and Rumble’s lawsuit attempts to do two things. First, it seeks to frame Brazil’s judicial actions as censorship rather than oversight. And second, it seeks to portray the Brazilian court action as territorial overreach.

Their position is that as the target of the action was in the U.S., they are subject to U.S. free speech protections under the First Amendment. The fact that the subject of the ban was Brazilian and is accused of spreading disinformation and hate in Brazil should not, they argue, matter.

For now, U.S. courts agree. In late February, a Florida-based judge ruled that Rumble and Trump Media need not comply with the Brazilian order.

Big Tech pushback to regulation

The case signals an important shift in the contest over platform accountability – a move from corporate lobbying and political pressure to direct legal intervention in foreign jurisdictions. U.S. courts are now being used to challenge overseas decisions regarding platform accountability.

The outcome and the broader legal strategy behind the lawsuit could have far-reaching implications not only for Brazil but for any country or region – such as the European Union – attempting to regulate online spaces.

The resistance against digital regulation predates the Trump administration.

In Brazil, efforts to regulate social media platforms have long faced substantial opposition. Big Tech companies – including Google, Meta and X – have used their economic and political influence to lobby against tighter regulation, often framing such policies as a threat to free expression.

In 2020, the Brazilian “Fake News Bill,” which sought to hold platforms accountable for the spread of disinformation, was met with strong opposition from these companies.

Google and Meta launched high-profile campaigns to oppose the bill, warning it would “threaten free speech” and “harm small businesses.” Google placed banners on its Brazilian homepage urging users to reject the legislation, while Meta ran advertisements questioning its implications for the digital economy.

These efforts, alongside lobbying and political resistance, were successful in helping to delay and weaken the regulatory framework.

Mixing corporate and political power

The difference now is that challenges are blurring the line between the corporate and the political.

Trump Media was 53% owned by the U.S. president before he moved his stake into a revocable trust in December 2024. Elon Musk, the free speech fundamentalist owner of X, is a de facto member of the Trump administration.

Their ascent to power has coincided with the First Amendment being wielded as a shield against foreign regulations on digital platforms.

Free speech protections in the U.S. have been applied unequally, allowing authorities to suppress dissent in some cases while shielding hateful speech in others.

This imbalance extends to corporate power, with decades of legal precedent expanding protections for private interests. The case law cemented corporate speech protections, a logic later extended to digital platforms.

U.S. free speech advocates in Big Tech and the U.S. government are seemingly escalating this trend to an even more extreme interpretation: that American free speech arguments can be deployed to resist the regulation of other jurisdictions and challenge foreign legal frameworks.

For instance, in response to the European Union’s Digital Services Act, U.S. Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, expressed concerns that the act could threaten American free speech principles.

Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who has fought disinformation on tech platforms, attends a session of the country’s high court on Feb. 26.
Ton Molina/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Such an argument may have been fine if the same interpretation of free speech – and its appropriate protections – were universally accepted. But they are not.

The concept of free speech varies significantly across nations and regions.

Countries such as Brazil, Germany, France and others adopt what legal experts refer to as a proportionality-based approach to free speech, balancing it against other fundamental rights such as human dignity, democratic integrity and public order.

Sovereign countries using this approach recognize freedom of expression as a fundamental and preferential right. But they also acknowledge that certain restrictions are necessary to protect democratic institutions, marginalized communities, public health and the informational ecosystem from harms.

While the U.S. imposes some limits on speech – such as defamation laws and protection against incitement to imminent lawless action – the First Amendment is generally far more expansive than in other democracies.

The future of digital governance

The legal battle over platform regulation is not confined to the current battle between U.S.-based platforms and Brazil. The EU’s Digital Services Act and the Online Safety Act in the United Kingdom are other examples of governments trying to assert control over platforms operating within their borders.

As such, the lawsuit by Trump Media and Rumble against the Brazilian Supreme Court signals a critical moment in global geopolitics.

U.S. tech giants, such as Meta, are bending to the free speech winds coming out of the Trump administration. Musk, the owner of X, has given support to far-right groups overseas.

And this overlap in the policy priorities of social media platforms and the political interests of the U.S. administration opens a new era in the deregulation debate in which U.S. free speech absolutists are seeking to establish legal precedents that might challenge the future of other nations’ regulatory efforts.

As countries continue to develop regulatory frameworks for digital governance – for instance, AI regulation imposing stricter governance rules in Brazil and in the EU – the legal, economic and political strategies platforms employ to challenge oversight mechanisms will play a crucial role in determining the future balance between corporate influence and the rule of law.

Camille Grenier is Executive Director at the Forum on Information and Democracy, a non-profit entity led by civil society organisations and mandated to implement democratic principles.

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

– ref. Digital imperialism: How US social media firms are using American law to challenge global tech regulation – https://theconversation.com/digital-imperialism-how-us-social-media-firms-are-using-american-law-to-challenge-global-tech-regulation-252116

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Cuts to research into inequality, disparities and other DEIA topics harm science

Source: The Conversation – USA – By H. Colleen Sinclair, Associate Research Professor of Social Psychology, Louisiana State University

Scientists across the U.S. and in other countries have rallied in reaction to the Trump administration’s cuts to major science agencies. Mohamad Salaheldin Abdelg Alsayed/Anadolu via Getty Images

When I taught research methods to undergraduates, I would start by asking whether anyone in the class had $20. Though harder to come by thanks to digital payment options, inevitably someone would produce a $20 bill. I would then ask whether they knew how the bill came to look the way it does. Students would take guesses – often rooted in history and counterfeiting concerns.

While valid, the larger font and picture designs that came about in the 1990s and early 2000s were also the result of research intended to make the bills more accessible for the 3.5 million Americans with low vision. One of those Americans with low vision was a researcher on the team designing the new bill, experimental psychologist Gordon Legge.

These changes made it easier for those low-vision Americans, their families and others around the world to read and use American dollars. In other countries, bills and coins come in different sizes that pertain to their value, making them much easier for people with low vision and the blind to use. Legge’s research saved Americans the cost of having to completely redesign the currency to come in different sizes.

My goal in talking about the currency redesign with my students was to show them how research has shaped their lives, often in ways they didn’t even realize.

Now, following President Donald Trump’s executive order on federal projects related to DEIA – diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility – many research initiatives similar to the bill redesign project will lose funding.

As a social psychologist, some of the studies I’ve worked on would be considered DEIA work. Social psychology as a field grew, in part, during World War II as researchers tried to understand bias-motivated atrocities such as the Holocaust.

DEIA initiatives are projects that seek to reduce discrimination and promote equal opportunities and equal access in multiple spaces such as school and workplaces, as well as in legal, housing and medical systems.

While frequently focused on those who have faced long-standing barriers to these resources – for example, racial and ethnic minorities and people with disabilities – the results of research related to DEIA are often applied to help all people achieve their potential.

The Trump administration’s list of DEIA-related terms is so broad that it’s flagging non-DEIA related work for potential termination. I’ve heard many scientists discuss how their programs of research have been wrongfully included in the anti-DEIA sweeps because they use terms such as “biodiversity.”

However, research that would be considered DEIA work has made influential contributions to society over the past few decades – it raises the question of whether any flagging is actually right. The backlash to anti-DEIA research seems to have started with criticism of DEI-related human resources training in workplaces. But the word list goes well beyond what would appear in HR training.

DEIA research identifies the problems and proposes the solutions. Solutions such as translation services for the hearing impaired, parental leave for mothers and fathers, pay equity, time off for religious holidays and lactation rooms for nursing mothers all stem from what could be labeled DEIA research and advocacy.

For instance, lactation rooms came about based on research into what working mothers needed to ease their return to work after pregnancy. This included research into breast pumps and even architectural research on how to best design these rooms.

DEIA contributions

DEIA work is nothing new – just the label is. After all, it was DEIA research in the 1950s that psychologists Kenneth and Mamie Clark presented to the Supreme Court to argue that school segregation harmed children, leading to the banning of the policy.

Kenneth and Mamie Clark, left, with their two children. Research by the Clarks led to desegregation policies in school.
Charlotte Brooks for Look Magazine and Brooks Archive

This work continues today as new DEIA research reveals that schools are often still racially homogenous. That means many American students still go to schools where the student bodies are primarily white or primarily racial minorities. However, the reasons for these divides are no longer due to segregation being the law.

In the 1970s, it was DEIA research that inspired the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 and led to the creation of special education practices for neurodiverse students. These practices have improved educational outcomes for students with dyslexia, ADHD, autism and a variety of other neurodiversities.

And DEIA research is continuing to review and improve these practices today.

Starting in the 1980s, it was also DEIA research that led to HIV/AIDS, a virus disproportionately affecting the LGBTQ+ community, no longer being a death sentence. Doctors now have a drug that prevents HIV, including preventing the transmission of HIV from mother to infant.

Just today, I received a news alert about scientific breakthroughs in the neurological study of postpartum depression. Because “women” and “pregnant people” are on the list of terms flagged as DEIA-related, studies on postpartum depression could be considered DEIA.

DEIA science on DEIA science

It is DEIA science that has demonstrated how diverse research teams promote innovative performance. This research would suggest that America’s diversity may very well be one of the key elements shaping its prosperity.

Some might say “of course DEIA research will show DEIA works,” but it is also DEIA research that critiques the limitations of training to reduce bias – such as human resources workshops intended to teach workers about inclusive language, cultural sensitivity or implicit bias. Other non-DEIA HR training also faces criticism.

Scientists discuss these limitations, and the scientific process is constantly self-correcting as researchers search for better solutions. Recommendations about better training are proposed based on new research.

For instance, racial colorblindness is an ideology that grew out of the civil rights era and a desire to treat individuals equally regardless of race. However, it has led to some problems where people say they ignore race when really they don’t. For instance, in one study looking at race and dating preferences, white people endorsing a colorblind ideology were actually more likely to say they wouldn’t date a Black person than those who didn’t endorse colorblindness.

Many experts say that colorblindness is a flawed approach to talking about and understanding race and discrimination.

Colorblindness can also make people feel uncomfortable bringing up race in any context. One study shows how young people, who are not yet wary of identifying people by race, can outperform adults, who avoid race, during a game of Guess Who.

These studies are just some examples of DEIA science that showed the colorblindness approach is a mixed bag at best. Other times, it is harmful for minority groups and majority groups alike, or even backfires, making people more, not less, discriminatory and uncomfortable.

Alleged alternatives to DEIA

Despite its shortcomings, many prominent figures in the anti-DEIA movement have seemingly endorsed colorblindness.

For example, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott created executive order GA-55 to end DEIA policies and institute a “color-blind” approach instead. Texas public universities had to eliminate DEIA offices and practices but not legacy admissions and scholarships that studies show disproportionately benefit white students.

In his second inaugural address, Trump promised that his administration would “forge a society that is colorblind and merit-based.” While a meritocracy may sound good on paper, DEIA research has suggested that meritocracies don’t work in the current society.

Meritocracies assume a level playing field and can ignore disparities, such as wealth, that may afford some more opportunities than others – social mobility between income levels is rare and can take generations.

Hard work or talent does not compensate for imbalances in society as much as many people would like to believe.

Where we stand

Despite the anti-DEIA rhetoric present in American discourse, most Americans do not have negative attitudes toward DEIA; 52% even still think DEIA in the workplace is good. Most Americans, including white people, men and Republicans, also do not report having been harmed by DEIA policies. Overall, studies report that Americans value inclusivity.

Ultimately, blanket bans on anything remotely DEIA harm advancement across scientific disciplines. The disparities DEIA research examines still exist – in courts, in schools, in jobs, in health, in housing and in violent victimization rates.

Stopping cancer research because cancer prevention training doesn’t always work and sometimes backfires won’t stop cancer. Ignoring disparities will not make them go away. DEIA-related science is an ingrained part of the scientific enterprise, and cutting its funding could mean missing out on important breakthroughs.

H. Colleen Sinclair does not personally have any DEIA-related federal grants but she has received foundation research funding for math education research that includes looking at how to close disparities in achievement. The statements and opinions included in this The Conversation article are solely the author’s. Any statements and opinions included in these pages are not those of the Social Research and Evaluation Center, the College of Human Sciences & Education, the Louisiana State University, or the LSU Board of Supervisors.

– ref. Cuts to research into inequality, disparities and other DEIA topics harm science – https://theconversation.com/cuts-to-research-into-inequality-disparities-and-other-deia-topics-harm-science-252241

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: The management of the State University of Management took part in a strategic session on strengthening Russia’s position in the international educational space

Translartion. Region: Russians Fedetion –

Source: State University of Management – Official website of the State –

On March 21, 2025, the Higher School of Economics hosted a strategic session entitled “Strengthening Russia’s Position in the International Educational Space,” which was attended by Rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev and Vice-Rector Dmitry Bryukhanov.

The strategy session was attended by rectors of major universities, vice-rectors responsible for international cooperation, representatives of a number of ministries that founded universities, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture, Rossotrudnichestvo, Rosobrnadzor, other government bodies, and companies with interests abroad.

The main speaker of the plenary session was the Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Valery Falkov, who reported that at present, 232 associations of graduates of domestic universities operate in Russia and abroad to maintain ties between Russian universities and foreign citizens. Their total number exceeds 530 thousand people, and the geography of graduates covers 80 countries.

According to the Minister, one of the global trends in the higher education system in the world remains the growth of foreign students and the increase in migration flows. Russia is among the top ten countries in the world that provide high-quality higher education. Today, more than 395 thousand foreign students study in Russia.

“This is a great resource, and our task today is to take a broader look at the work that we are doing together. Let me remind you that Russian President Vladimir Putin has set the task of increasing the number of foreign students to 500 thousand by 2030. At the same time, we have a lot of work to do to improve the quality of the contingent of foreign students, to select the most motivated guys. We will pay primary attention to this,” noted Valery Falkov.

The Ministry of Education and Science is developing a “white list” of recruiting companies to attract foreign students to Russian universities. Also, together with the Ministry of Digital Development, work is underway to create a digital profile of a foreign student, which will contain various information about a foreign citizen. In addition, within the framework of the national project “Youth and Children”, a system of grant support for talented students on a competitive basis is being launched.

At the same time, the head of the Ministry of Education and Science noted the high importance of pre-university training for foreign applicants, for which universities need to independently create pre-university training centers abroad – the so-called remote preparatory faculties.

After the plenary session, the experts split into thematic working groups. Rector of the State University of Management Vladimir Stroyev and Vice-Rector Dmitry Bryukhanov became members of the working group on the topic of “Educational Work and Adaptation of Foreign Students in Russia”, which was led by Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation Olga Petrova. Let us recall that the State University of Management is one of the leading universities in Russia in the field of educational work. The goal of the work in the groups was to prepare proposals for the Ministry of Education and Science to solve the problems outlined by the topics of the working groups, which, in addition to the above, included the promotion of the Russian language abroad, the development of academic mobility, attracting talent from abroad, employment of foreign students, and others.

The strategic session will continue on Saturday, March 22.

Subscribe to the TG channel “Our GUU” Date of publication: 03/21/2025

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

MIL OSI Russia News –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: 16 new trustees appointed to the British Museum, Tate and V&A
Source: United Kingdom – Government Statements

Press release

16 new trustees appointed to the British Museum, Tate and V&A

Appointees include Claudia Winkleman, June Sarpong, Mariella Frostrup and Vick Hope
Culture Minister Chris Bryant has announced the appointment of 16 new trustees for the British Museum, the Tate and the Victoria and Albert Museum.

The new cohort of trustees includes well known TV broadcaster and writer Claudia Winkleman, critically acclaimed British artist and filmmaker Sir Isaac Julien CBE, best selling author and historian Tom Holland and television and radio presenter, journalist and published author Vick Hope and Founder of Lessons at 10 and Co-Founder of the Richmond Project Akshata Murty. It showcases the wide range of talent across our sectors joining DCMS boards.

In July 2024 Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy announced a major drive to attract the widest pool of talent to the public appointments system, from leaders to innovators and changemakers across the country to help change lives for the better.

Trustees from a wider range of background and industry offer diversity of thought, new ideas, insights and energy to help ensure our institutions continue to represent the people they serve.

A public appointment is a board role within a public body which is usually appointed by Ministers. Public appointees provide strategic leadership and advice, and bring an external perspective to help some of the nation’s most beloved and vital institutions deliver on their objectives. Trustees of the British Museum, Tate and V&A are appointed by the Prime Minister.

Culture Minister Sir Chris Bryant said:

Public appointees help to lead some of the UK’s best known institutions, and these immensely talented individuals with a wide range of personal and professional experience will make great contributions to how they are run and help to promote British soft power abroad.

These roles are an important part of our cultural infrastructure and I’m delighted that we have 16 new trustees for the V&A, Tate and British Museum.

The full list of new trustees are:

British Museum

Lord Daniel Finkelstein OBE

Tom Holland

Dr. Tiffany Jenkins

Martha Kearney

Claudia Winkleman

Tate

Nick Clarry

Sir Isaac Julien CBE *Jack Kirkland

Tim Richards CBE

June Sarpong OBE

V&A

Mariella Frostrup

Andrew Keith

Akshata Murty

Nigel Newton CBE

Victoria Nwosu-Hope

Pedro Pina

ENDS

Notes to editors

DCMS is committed to ensuring that the boards of public bodies benefit from a range of talents, backgrounds, and perspectives, and welcome applications from across the country. To hear about new Public Appointment opportunities, please sign up to the DCMS Appointments Network

These appointments have been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. The appointments process is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments.

Trustees of the British Museum, Tate and V&A are not remunerated, trustees can claim reasonable expenses which are properly and necessarily incurred on official business.

DCMS has around 400 regulated Public Appointment roles across 42 Public Bodies including Arts Council England, Theatres Trust, the National Gallery, UK Sport and the Gambling Commission. We encourage applications from talented individuals from all backgrounds and across the whole of the United Kingdom. To find out more about Public Appointments or to apply to be a Trustee of a National Museum or Gallery visit the HM Government Public Appointments Website.

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Published 21 March 2025
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI USA News: Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Eliminates Information Silos to Stop Waste, Fraud, and Abuse
Source: The White House
STOPPING WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE THROUGH DATA TRANSPARENCY: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order stopping waste, fraud, and abuse by eliminating information silos.
- Agency Heads are directed to grant full and prompt access of unclassified Agency records, data, and systems to Federal officials in order to identify and eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse.
  
  This includes authorizing and facilitating both the intra- and inter-Agency sharing and consolidation of unclassified Agency records.
- Agency Heads must ensure immediate, unfettered access to comprehensive data from all state programs that receive federal funding, including third-party databases, to enhance oversight.
- The Secretary of Labor will gain access to unemployment data and payment records to strengthen fraud detection efforts.
- This Executive Order enhances accountability and streamlines government operations by ensuring Federal Agencies share critical data, consistent with applicable privacy protections.
ELIMINATING BUREAUCRATIC INEFFICIENCY: Decades of restricted data access within and between agencies have led to duplicated efforts, undetected overpayments, and unchecked fraud, costing taxpayers billions.
- The Biden Administration’s lack of transparency allowed waste to flourish, with billions lost annually to improper payments and fraudulent claims.
- In fiscal year 2023, the Biden Administration reported an estimated $236 billion in improper payments as the result of overpayments, inaccurate recordkeeping, and fraud.
  
  74% of these errors were overpayments, including payments to deceased individuals.
- The Biden Administration lost more than $925 billion total over four years to improper payments.
- Over the last 20 years, the Federal Government has made an estimated $2.7 trillion in such improper payments.
- This Executive Order dismantles unnecessary barriers, promotes inter-agency collaboration, and ensure the Federal Government operates responsibly and efficiently to safeguard public funds.
SHRINKING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT: Since returning to office, President Trump has moved swiftly to fulfill his promise of a leaner, more effective government.
- On Day One, President Trump established the “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) to examine how to streamline the Federal Government, eliminate unnecessary programs, and reduce bureaucratic inefficiency.
- President Trump directed a hiring freeze across federal agencies and limited new hires to one for every four departures.
- President Trump eliminated unnecessary agencies and government programs.
- President Trump launched a 10-to-1 deregulation initiative, ensuring every new rule is justified by clear benefits.
- President Trump promised to “cut waste, fraud, and abuse everywhere that we can find it, and there’s plenty of it.”
MIL OSI USA News –
March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Canada: The governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador invest in critical housing infrastructure

Source: Government of Canada News (2)

St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador, March 21, 2025 — The governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador have finalized a 10-year agreement under the Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund (CHIF).

Through this agreement, communities across Newfoundland and Labrador will be able to build or improve the critical infrastructure related to drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste – that will in turn help them build more homes. Newfoundland and Labrador will receive $123.1 million to address their housing-enabling infrastructure priorities.

Under CHIF, funding is available over ten years to support long-term provincial and territorial infrastructure priorities that will directly enable increased housing supply. Such initiatives could include projects that provide the critical infrastructure necessary to enable more homes or increase densification, provide the drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater systems required to support community growth, preserve existing capacity or increase reliability and access to drinking water, or implement waste diversion initiatives to reduce landfill use.

The CHIF agreement adds to existing federal and provincial investments in infrastructure providing services to communities across Newfoundland and Labrador. Through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program, federal, provincial and municipal governments are also investing more than $86 million in 73 separate projects to build or upgrade water and wastewater infrastructure across the province.

By working together to invest in drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste projects across Newfoundland and Labrador, we are helping to ensure that communities have the capacity to support housing projects that meet the demands of a growing population.

MIL OSI Canada News –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Chinese commerce minister meets Broadcom CEO

Source: China State Council Information Office

Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao met with Hock Tan, president and CEO of Broadcom, a technology company headquartered in the United States, in Beijing on Friday.

During the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on topics including Broadcom’s business development in China and cooperation between Chinese and U.S. technology companies, according to a statement released by the Ministry of Commerce.

China is accelerating the development of new quality productive forces, actively promoting the deep integration of the Internet, big data, artificial intelligence and the real economy, advancing an “AI Plus” initiative, and fostering the growth of the intelligent industry, Wang said.

This will provide more opportunities for cooperation among global high-tech enterprises and technological advancements in related fields will also bring more benefits to humanity, he noted.

Wang emphasized that in the face of a complex and challenging international landscape, China remains steadfast in its commitment to expanding its opening up to the world.

China is committed to creating a stable, transparent and predictable investment environment for multinational corporations operating in the country, Wang said.

He added that China welcomes U.S. companies, including Broadcom, to continue investing in the Chinese market and to share in its development opportunities.

Tan said China has been continuously advancing technological innovation as well as opening up and cooperation in recent years and has achieved remarkable accomplishments.

It is the stability and certainty of the Chinese government and its policies that enable enterprises to better forecast the market and drive innovation, Tan added.

He said that Broadcom will continue to provide stable and high-quality products and services to Chinese customers and partners and support China’s high-quality development.

MIL OSI China News –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China building more pumped-storage power stations to meet rising demand

Source: China State Council Information Office

In the mountainous region of Daixian County, north China’s Shanxi Province, a pumped-storage power station with a total installed capacity of 1.4 million kilowatts is set to begin construction in June.

Li Zhitao, deputy general manager of Shanxi Daixian Zhenghuaneng Energy Development Co., Ltd., was busy working with his colleagues to finalize preparations for the commencement of the project, which involves an investment of 10.99 billion yuan (about 1.53 billion U.S. dollars).

“This project primarily serves new energy generation in northern Shanxi. The construction will take 72 months. Once completed, it will have an annual full-capacity power generation of 2.98 billion kilowatt-hours,” said Li.

As of the end of last year, the total installed capacity of new and clean energy in the three cities in northern Shanxi had reached nearly 31 million kilowatts.

To cope with the instability of wind and solar power output, a pumped-storage power station is needed to regulate and ensure the safe operation of the power grid, as well as reducing the waste of unused renewable energy.

Cai Pin, a renowned Chinese expert in hydropower industry, said that pumped-storage projects enjoy numerous advantages, including a long service life, mature technology, large-scale capacity, and low costs, making them the most economical energy storage option available.

China is actively striving to achieve “carbon peak” and build a new power system centered around renewable energy. According to the latest data released by the National Energy Administration, by the end of 2024, the country’s installed solar power capacity is approximately 890 million kilowatts, a year-on-year increase of 45.2 percent. Meanwhile, wind power capacity reached about 520 million kilowatts during the same period, marking an 18-percent increase.

Due to the demand for new energy installations, pumped-storage power stations have become a new investment hotspot in China’s power industry.

According to official data, by the end of 2024, China’s installed pumped-storage capacity had exceeded 58 million kilowatts, with the industry showing an overall positive development trend.

“Since 2021, the annual power generation growth rate of the State Grid’s pumped-storage power stations has remained above 18 percent, with an average of over 28 billion kilowatt-hours of new energy accommodated each year,” said Le Zhenchun with the State Grid.

China’s pumped-storage installed capacity remains the largest in the world, but industry experts said relying solely on the State Grid for construction will no longer be sufficient to meet the rapidly growing market demand. In response, the Chinese government has introduced policies to accelerate the development of pumped-storage power stations.

In addition to Shanxi’s plans to construct 10 such stations, other provinces across China have also introduced plans to accelerate the layout of pumped-storage power stations.

A national medium- and long-term plan for the industry has indicated that 340 key projects with a total planned installed capacity of approximately 420 million kilowatts will be constructed by 2035, while the total operational capacity is expected to reach around 120 million kilowatts by 2030.

As China’s new energy installations expand into deserts and seas, pumped-storage projects will also extend into these areas.

“With the support of innovations such as distributed pumped storage and seawater-based pumped storage, these projects will play a crucial role in helping China achieve its ‘dual carbon’ goals,” Cai said.

MIL OSI China News –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China donates medical supplies to Sao Tome and Principe

Source: People’s Republic of China Ministry of Health

SAO TOME — The Chinese government donated a batch of medical supplies to Sao Tome and Principe during a handover ceremony held here on Tuesday.

The supplies included essential medicines, basic surgical tools, and routine examination equipment.

Celso Matos, Sao Tome and Principe’s minister of health, praised China as a “reliable partner” in the country’s healthcare development.

Noting that the supplies would help ease shortages, the minister voiced hope for continued medical cooperation between the two sides.

Xu Yingzhen, Chinese ambassador to Sao Tome and Principe, reaffirmed China’s commitment to deepening cooperation, particularly in technical exchanges and training of healthcare professionals, to protect the lives and health of local people.

Zhao Linyong, head of the 19th batch of the Chinese medical team in the country, said local health authorities would distribute the supplies to hospitals and clinics nationwide.

In November, China donated medical equipment to the African country, including ventilators, monitors, and central venous catheters, to support intensive care units and surgical procedures.

MIL OSI China News –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: South Africa has a problem with people in the public service lying about their qualifications: what needs to change

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Busani Ngcaweni, Visiting Adjunct Professor, Wits School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand

The persistent challenge of falsified or misrepresented qualifications in South Africa exposes serious shortcomings in recruitment and appointment processes. Although the scale of the problem is difficult to quantify, it’s considered to be reaching “pandemic” levels. It is worse in the public sector.

The problem became so serious that government introduced the National Qualifications Framework Amendment Act in 2019, making it a criminal offence to misrepresent qualifications. It is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Yet the scourge continues, despite severe personal and professional consequences for some.

The alarmingly high number of individuals pretending to be qualified for high-profile positions undermines trust and capability in organisations.

There have been cases involving top executives and directors of parastatals. Some major companies have not been spared.

Once unsuitable people occupy positions of responsibility, it is difficult to remove them. Their performance seldom improves because they lack the foundation.

Their incompetence can affect institutions severely because they can make wrong decisions that result in financial losses. The South African Broadcasting Corporation, for instance, suffered financially due to poor decisions made by unqualified executives.

Read more:
South Africa’s public service: real spending is falling, but demand is growing

Some municipalities with unqualified personnel often hire expensive consultants.

Teachers with fraudulent credentials compromise quality education. This deprives children of opportunities to better their lives.

Unscrupulous individuals have also been caught masquerading as medical doctors, putting lives at risk.

Important infrastructure projects have collapsed owing to fake engineers.

I am a researcher and practitioner of public sector reforms. I also head the National School of Government, which leads the drive to make the country’s public sector professional. I argue that to deter qualifications fraud, the management of human resources in the public sector must be professional.

South Africa can draw lessons from the private sector and other governments.

Loopholes in the system

The National Qualifications Framework Amendment Act is aimed at deterring fraudulent qualifications. Some people have gone to jail for this crime.

But measures to deter and punish it must be complemented by human resources management reforms.

In my view, poor human resource screening processes, inadequate verification systems and ambiguous job descriptions and entry requirements contribute to appointing unsuitable candidates.

The weekly public sector vacancies circular, published by the Department of Public Service and Administration, is a major source of data showing these limitations. It’s full of job advertisements where the minimum qualifications requirements are either too wide or below standard.

Read more:
South Africa’s public service is dysfunctional – the 5 main reasons why

Some of the people who recruit and select staff are negligent. They fail to conduct thorough background checks or to screen applicants properly. This results in the appointment of unqualified and fraudulent candidates.

Learning from the private sector

The private sector, driven by competitive pressures and stakeholder expectations, developed robust systems to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of human resource functions. These systems can guide public sector reforms.

Companies invest in advanced technologies and third-party verification services. They use agencies to check candidates’ fingerprints, verify qualifications, find references, and even do personality profiles.

In contrast, public sector human resources personnel often rely on manual processes. These consume time and are prone to inaccuracies and manipulation. They can also be cumbersome as junior and middle management job advertisements often attract thousands of applicants.

The private sector uses well-defined competency frameworks. These outline the skills, knowledge and experience required to evaluate a candidate.

Read more:
Africa should be building private-public partnerships in education

Many private sector human resources practitioners belong to professional bodies. These enforce ethical standards. They also certify practitioners and promote ongoing professional development.

Businesses also employ licensed and professional human resources practitioners. These are expected to be innovative, productive and ethical, and to act in the best interests of their employers. They can be dismissed if they lose their professional licence. These are guardrails against abuse.

Learning from other governments

India, China, South Korea, Singapore and several European nations have stringent public sector recruitment and selection methods. They emphasise merit and transparency to ensure only qualified and competent people are appointed.

India’s Union Public Service Commission conducts a highly competitive civil services examination to recruit candidates.

China uses the National Civil Service Examination, known as the Guokao. It evaluates candidates’ intellectual aptitude, policy knowledge and professional skills for jobs in government ministries and state-owned enterprises.

South Korea’s Civil Service Examination system is a rigorous process which tests candidates’ analytical and managerial capabilities.

Singapore is known for its efficient government. It employs structured assessment centres, psychometric testing and panel interviews to ensure capable people join the public sector.

Read more:
South Africa has a plan to make its public service professional. It’s time to act on it

To uphold high standards of professionalism and integrity in governance, Germany and France have competitive entrance assessments for civil service roles.

France’s Institut National du Service Public uses stringent entry requirements to prepare candidates for senior public service.

South Africa introduced a pre-entry assessment called Nyukela/Step Up in 2020. It is applicable to public servants and citizens who wish to apply for a position in the senior management service.

Professionalising the public sector

Cabinet approved the National Framework Towards Professionalisation of the Public Sector in October 2022. It aims to tighten pre-entry requirements and carefully screen applicants. This includes verifying qualifications, testing integrity and assessing competence. The framework requires that public sector entities develop detailed job descriptions.

The framework will help block fraud by professionalising human resources, supply chain management and legal services, among others. It will help human resources practitioners improve their competencies and make them part of a wider professional network. This is important for continued professional development.

There will be consequences when officials violate their professional code of ethics. This has worked for lawyers and accountants who are disbarred for ethical and professional breaches.

The framework gives the Public Service Commission a role in recruiting of heads of departments. This step controls entry to top positions in the civil service. The commission will bring two or more subject matter sector experts into the selection panels, making the process more rigorous.

Busani Ngcaweni is affiliated with the University of Johannesburg as Senior Research Associate and Wits School of Governance as Visiting Adjunct Professor

– ref. South Africa has a problem with people in the public service lying about their qualifications: what needs to change – https://theconversation.com/south-africa-has-a-problem-with-people-in-the-public-service-lying-about-their-qualifications-what-needs-to-change-244942

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Global: Barbara Steveni: I Find Myself – a pioneering artist who influenced the civil service

Source: The Conversation – UK – By Martin Lang, Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader in Fine Art , University of Lincoln

Barbara Steveni (1928-2020) was a pioneering artist who broke boundaries with new concepts such as “the artist as a living archive” and “art as social strategy”. The legacy of her 70-year career is explored in a new exhibition, Barbara Steveni: I Find Myself, at Modern Art Oxford.

Steveni was an activist whose art had real-world impacts. One of her pioneering works was the foundation of the Artists Placement Group (APG), which placed artists in various industries and public institutions, ranging from zoos to corporations. The group arose from the idea that artists could provide unique insights and assist with the decision-making processes of these institutions.

In 1972, she successfully negotiated with the civil service to place artists in government departments – which led, for example, to the placement of artist John Latham at the Scottish Office in Edinburgh (1975-76). This resulted in radical proposals for the future of the huge industrial spoil tips, known as “bings”, found in the region. Latham proposed retaining them as works of art and marking them with beacons.

Today, the Policy Lab, a new civil service department, continues the spirit of APG by placing artists in government departments.

The exhibition includes work associated with the APG such as The Sculpture (1971) – the board table around which APG artists. This table is not only a functional object but has twice previously been exhibited as a conceptual sculpture, inviting live discussions.

Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.

Modern Art Oxford activates The Sculpture every Friday, inviting people including Policy Lab to engage with artists in discussions. Various APG archive materials – such as contracts and video footage of Steveni advocating for the inclusion of artist-advisors in business and policy decision-making – surround this table.

But the exhibition is much more than a history of APG. It’s a reassessment of Steveni’s importance and influence as an artist. After spending much of her earlier career denying she was an artist at all (in one APG video, she declares: “I am not and have never called myself an artist”), in the late 2000s she had the revelation that she was the vessel which contained her archive and practice. That Steveni was herself an archive, and that her art was her life, is the central theme of this exhibition.

Steveni’s assemblages – three-dimensional works composed of found objects – reflect a modernist heritage that dates back to Picasso and was developed by the Dadaists and Surrealists. However, the exhibition primarily focuses on her “dematerialised” practice, which includes non-traditional art objects and processes such as meetings, conversations and collections. These are considered precursors to today’s contemporary art where human interaction is central, and in some cases the art itself.

In the spirit of Steveni’s collaborative and discursive ethos, Modern Art Oxford commissioned artists to realise some of her unfinished works and reinterpret existing ones. For example, Laure Prouvost, a long-time collaborator, created Dancing Thought Leftovers with Steveni.

This immersive installation fills an entire room with music reminiscent of a child’s toy, alongside Steveni’s found objects hanging from the ceiling in front of projected films. The objects cast shadows on the walls, creating a nursery-like atmosphere.

Both these objects and those in the films look like the kind of things you might dredge from a river: a knackered car tyre, a crumpled sheet of metal, a horseshoe, and part of an old speaker. Two car wing mirrors protrude from a wall.

Mundane fillers around good art

Steveni was at the forefront of developing the notion of the artist as a living archive, as well as “dematerialised art practice”, where ideas replace physical art, and artists’ involvement in decision-making. All this comes across strongly in the exhibition, but its curatorial approach gives the impression that filler material was also needed.

At times, it feels as if you are looking at an exhibition of the artist’s admin rather than her art. Meeting notes, contacts and the contents of a paper shredder are displayed, blurring the line between art and life.

In 1971, Linda Nochlin, a contemporary of Steveni, published the influential article Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?. This essay is often seen as the beginning of feminist art history.

Nochlin acknowledged that while many interesting and good women artists remained insufficiently investigated or appreciated, there had been no great women artists due to systemic barriers. She warned: “No amount of manipulating the historical or critical evidence will alter the situation; nor will accusations of male-chauvinist distortion of history.”

Nochlin’s point was that presenting mediocre art as great ignores these systemic barriers and hinders work to lift them. I am not suggesting Steveni’s work is mediocre, but it feels like the exhibition’s curators overreached regarding the classification of her personal effects as art, which distracts from the important work she did.

The curators, no doubt, intended to highlight the balance women artists must strike between domestic chores and their practice. However, Nochlin’s treatise explicitly warns against having different standards for women’s art compared with men’s.

While presenting Steveni’s personal effects as part of her living archive is appropriate, the inclusion of mundane items like clothes and biscuit recipes raises questions about their relevance. Do we really need to see Steveni’s old newspapers? Would we expect this in a retrospective of a male artist?

In my view, these examples distract from her important artistic work. Nonetheless, the exhibition successfully highlights Steveni’s pioneering contributions, and her lasting impact on the art world.

Barbara Steveni: I Find Myself is on at Modern Art Oxford till June 8 2025

Martin Lang 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. Barbara Steveni: I Find Myself – a pioneering artist who influenced the civil service – https://theconversation.com/barbara-steveni-i-find-myself-a-pioneering-artist-who-influenced-the-civil-service-252761

MIL OSI – Global Reports –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) to Speak at Invest in African Energy (IAE) 2025

Source: Africa Press Organisation – English (2) – Report:

PARIS, France, March 21, 2025/APO Group/ —

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, will take the stage at the Invest in African Energy (IAE) Forum in Paris this May, offering insights into Nigeria’s strategy to leverage its natural gas resources for long-term development. As a key decision-maker shaping Nigeria’s gas policies, Minister Ekpo’s participation will provide valuable perspectives on the country’s current gas-focused investment opportunities, relevant regulatory reforms and role within Nigeria’s energy mix.

Nigeria remains one of Africa’s most attractive energy investment destinations and is targeting $10 billion in deepwater gas exploration investments through tax incentives and new policy measures. The country is prioritizing gas as a transition fuel, with major developments underway to expand both domestic and export infrastructure, alongside plans to auction undeveloped oil and gas blocks to accelerate exploration and production. TotalEnergies’ $500 million Ubeta onshore field development is set to begin production in 2027, supplying gas to the Nigeria LNG plant. The company is also planning to sanction the $750 million Ima dry gas project this year to further boost LNG supplies. Other recent milestones include Shell’s sale of its Nigerian onshore subsidiary, signaling a shift toward greater local participation in the sector.

IAE 2025 (apo-opa.co/4htIbEq) is an exclusive forum designed to facilitate investment between African energy markets and global investors. Taking place May 13-14, 2025 in Paris, the event offers delegates two days of intensive engagement with industry experts, project developers, investors and policymakers. For more information, please visit www.Invest-Africa-Energy.com. To sponsor or participate as a delegate, please contact sales@energycapitalpower.com.

Nigeria is also advancing several major pipeline projects to expand its gas sector and strengthen regional energy security and export capacity. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company is undertaking a $1.2 billion rehabilitation of the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline to enhance gas supply for power generation and industrial use. Last month, Nigeria, along with the governments of Algeria and Niger, signed agreements to accelerate the implementation of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline project, which aims to transport Nigerian gas through Niger and Algeria to Europe. Agreements for the construction of the Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline, which would connect West African markets to European demand by running along the Atlantic coast through several countries, are also expected to be signed in 2025.

As Nigeria places renewed focus on monetizing its more than 200 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, Minister Ekpo’s participation at IAE 2025 comes at a pivotal moment for the country’s gas industry. His participation will offer critical insights into Nigeria’s investment climate, ongoing infrastructure projects and how global stakeholders can engage with local ministries, regulators and the evolving gas market to advance the energy transition while securing energy supplies.

MIL OSI Africa –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: South Africa has a problem with people in the public service lying about their qualifications: what needs to change

Source: The Conversation – Africa – By Busani Ngcaweni, Visiting Adjunct Professor, Wits School of Governance, University of the Witwatersrand

The persistent challenge of falsified or misrepresented qualifications in South Africa exposes serious shortcomings in recruitment and appointment processes. Although the scale of the problem is difficult to quantify, it’s considered to be reaching “pandemic” levels. It is worse in the public sector.

The problem became so serious that government introduced the National Qualifications Framework Amendment Act in 2019, making it a criminal offence to misrepresent qualifications. It is punishable by up to five years in prison.

Yet the scourge continues, despite severe personal and professional consequences for some.

The alarmingly high number of individuals pretending to be qualified for high-profile positions undermines trust and capability in organisations.

There have been cases involving top executives and directors of parastatals. Some major companies have not been spared.

Once unsuitable people occupy positions of responsibility, it is difficult to remove them. Their performance seldom improves because they lack the foundation.

Their incompetence can affect institutions severely because they can make wrong decisions that result in financial losses. The South African Broadcasting Corporation, for instance, suffered financially due to poor decisions made by unqualified executives.

Read more: South Africa’s public service: real spending is falling, but demand is growing

Some municipalities with unqualified personnel often hire expensive consultants.

Teachers with fraudulent credentials compromise quality education. This deprives children of opportunities to better their lives.

Unscrupulous individuals have also been caught masquerading as medical doctors, putting lives at risk.

Important infrastructure projects have collapsed owing to fake engineers.

I am a researcher and practitioner of public sector reforms. I also head the National School of Government, which leads the drive to make the country’s public sector professional. I argue that to deter qualifications fraud, the management of human resources in the public sector must be professional.

South Africa can draw lessons from the private sector and other governments.

Loopholes in the system

The National Qualifications Framework Amendment Act is aimed at deterring fraudulent qualifications. Some people have gone to jail for this crime.

But measures to deter and punish it must be complemented by human resources management reforms.

In my view, poor human resource screening processes, inadequate verification systems and ambiguous job descriptions and entry requirements contribute to appointing unsuitable candidates.

The weekly public sector vacancies circular, published by the Department of Public Service and Administration, is a major source of data showing these limitations. It’s full of job advertisements where the minimum qualifications requirements are either too wide or below standard.

Read more: South Africa’s public service is dysfunctional – the 5 main reasons why

Some of the people who recruit and select staff are negligent. They fail to conduct thorough background checks or to screen applicants properly. This results in the appointment of unqualified and fraudulent candidates.

Learning from the private sector

The private sector, driven by competitive pressures and stakeholder expectations, developed robust systems to ensure the integrity and effectiveness of human resource functions. These systems can guide public sector reforms.

Companies invest in advanced technologies and third-party verification services. They use agencies to check candidates’ fingerprints, verify qualifications, find references, and even do personality profiles.

In contrast, public sector human resources personnel often rely on manual processes. These consume time and are prone to inaccuracies and manipulation. They can also be cumbersome as junior and middle management job advertisements often attract thousands of applicants.

The private sector uses well-defined competency frameworks. These outline the skills, knowledge and experience required to evaluate a candidate.

Read more: Africa should be building private-public partnerships in education

Many private sector human resources practitioners belong to professional bodies. These enforce ethical standards. They also certify practitioners and promote ongoing professional development.

Businesses also employ licensed and professional human resources practitioners. These are expected to be innovative, productive and ethical, and to act in the best interests of their employers. They can be dismissed if they lose their professional licence. These are guardrails against abuse.

Learning from other governments

India, China, South Korea, Singapore and several European nations have stringent public sector recruitment and selection methods. They emphasise merit and transparency to ensure only qualified and competent people are appointed.

India’s Union Public Service Commission conducts a highly competitive civil services examination to recruit candidates.

China uses the National Civil Service Examination, known as the Guokao. It evaluates candidates’ intellectual aptitude, policy knowledge and professional skills for jobs in government ministries and state-owned enterprises.

South Korea’s Civil Service Examination system is a rigorous process which tests candidates’ analytical and managerial capabilities.

Singapore is known for its efficient government. It employs structured assessment centres, psychometric testing and panel interviews to ensure capable people join the public sector.

Read more: South Africa has a plan to make its public service professional. It’s time to act on it

To uphold high standards of professionalism and integrity in governance, Germany and France have competitive entrance assessments for civil service roles.

France’s Institut National du Service Public uses stringent entry requirements to prepare candidates for senior public service.

South Africa introduced a pre-entry assessment called Nyukela/Step Up in 2020. It is applicable to public servants and citizens who wish to apply for a position in the senior management service.

Professionalising the public sector

Cabinet approved the National Framework Towards Professionalisation of the Public Sector in October 2022. It aims to tighten pre-entry requirements and carefully screen applicants. This includes verifying qualifications, testing integrity and assessing competence. The framework requires that public sector entities develop detailed job descriptions.

The framework will help block fraud by professionalising human resources, supply chain management and legal services, among others. It will help human resources practitioners improve their competencies and make them part of a wider professional network. This is important for continued professional development.

There will be consequences when officials violate their professional code of ethics. This has worked for lawyers and accountants who are disbarred for ethical and professional breaches.

The framework gives the Public Service Commission a role in recruiting of heads of departments. This step controls entry to top positions in the civil service. The commission will bring two or more subject matter sector experts into the selection panels, making the process more rigorous.

– South Africa has a problem with people in the public service lying about their qualifications: what needs to change
– https://theconversation.com/south-africa-has-a-problem-with-people-in-the-public-service-lying-about-their-qualifications-what-needs-to-change-244942

MIL OSI Africa –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s remarks at the Ceremony marking the 600th Anniversary of the University of Leuven [as delivered]

Source: United Nations – English

ear Rector Magnificus, Chère Madame la Rectrice,

Allow me to address you with the expression that in my country is reserved for the rectors of the university of the Coimbra, your sister university: Magnificus rectorus, magnificent rectors.

Thank you for your warm welcome, your very kind words and this significant honour.

I am proud to accept it on behalf of the United Nations and remembering the women and men of the UN all over the world.

You will find them working everywhere and around the clock.

Building and keeping peace.

Delivering lifesaving relief in the most desperate places on earth.

Fighting poverty and standing up for the marginalized.

Advancing human rights and the rule of law.

And striving to realize the universal values that express the very best of the human spirit.

By bestowing this honour at this consequential time, you are sending a clear message.

A message of support for the noble mission of the United Nations —a message of solidarity to all those working to make it real – and a message of inspiration for us to keep up the fight.

On behalf of the United Nations — thank you.

Distinguished Guests, Dear Students, Ladies and Gentlemen,

You honour the United Nations as we celebrate a remarkable milestone:

The 600th anniversary of the University of Leuven, one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious institutions of higher learning, today represented by the two universities that are together in this beautiful ceremony.

Six centuries ago, scholars lit a flame of knowledge.

Generation after generation have kept this flame alive.

Through times of turmoil and triumph.

In war and in peace.

From the Renaissance to the information age.

It is here at Leuven that Erasmus refined his humanist thought, teaching the world to see learning as a path to compassion and understanding.

It was here that Mercator mastered cartography, revolutionizing navigation and the way we see our world — opening new horizons across continents.

It was here that future Prime Minister and statesman August Beernaert began his intellectual journey that led to his bold vision of peace through arbitration, which was recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize in 1909.

It was here that a young Georges Lemaître gazed at the stars and proposed what became the Big Bang theory — forever reshaping humanity’s understanding of the universe itself.

And it was here that Dominique Pire, a humble Dominican friar, developed humanitarian principles that would earn him the Nobel Peace Prize for working with refugees and bringing hope to the forgotten.

All of you are keeping this flame alive in the 21st century.

Your scholars have helped lead the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change — and the need for urgent climate action.

Your universities played a pivotal role in launching the Global University Academy — supporting higher education for refugees worldwide.

The Leuven Institute for Artificial Intelligence fosters knowledge-sharing and international partnerships on AI.

Your startup incubators and technology transfer efforts transform innovative research into tangible benefits for humanity.

And you are opening new doors to equality and justice through your Gender Equality Plan, and by actively participating in initiatives like the Belgian Women in Science Network to increase the number of female students and staff in science, technology, engineering and math.

This joint celebration — bringing together KU Leuven and UC Louvain — is yet another example of your spirit of common purpose and renewed partnership…

One that shines a light towards a better, more equal future for all.

Excellencies, dear friends,

We need that light more than ever.

I am here today to deliver a simple and stark message:

Multilateralism matters.

But it is under attack like never before.

We can and must overcome this threat together.

Now is the time.

Your 600th anniversary coincides with a moment of reflection for the United Nations.

2025 marks our 80th anniversary as an organization and as the epicenter of multilateralism.

Our founding Charter embodies the world’s conviction that by working together and adhering to shared principles and values, we can solve global problems.

Standing here in Europe, we know this same commitment to multilateralism is the beating heart of your own European union.

At home and around the world, Belgium and the European Union champion international cooperation, democracy, human rights and global solidarity.

Over the decades, Belgium has brought to life its motto of “unity makes strength” — contributing troops to UN peacekeeping missions, advancing peacebuilding and supporting lifesaving relief around the world.

Today, the European ideal stands as a powerful reminder of our shared responsibility to the world’s most vulnerable people, and proof that isolationism is an illusion, never a solution.

A strong and united Europe is not just essential for the continent.

It is a fundamental pillar of a strong and effective United Nations.

Around the globe, the European Union and the United Nations work hand-in-hand:

Providing humanitarian aid to those in desperate need.

Building peace in fragile states and strengthening democratic institutions.

Defending human rights and dignity.

Supporting sustainable development and climate action.

And putting the spotlight on ending the scourge of domestic violence.

But these and other investments in international cooperation are under threat.

Deadly conflicts are multiplying and deepening, exacting a devastating human toll.

And a contagion of impunity is taking hold.

Poverty, hunger and inequalities are growing — while the wealth of a handful of men eclipses that of half of humanity.

The climate crisis is raging.

Vulnerable countries are often locked out of decision-making rooms.

Technology is outpacing our ability to protect people’s safety, rights and dignity.

We see a dangerous rollback of fundamental freedoms.

Women’s rights are under attack.

Minorities, refugees and migrants are demonized.

The voices of nationalism and isolationism are growing louder with a dangerous resurgence of strongarm politics.

And donors are dramatically scaling-back humanitarian and development support — while defense budgets soar.

It would be the cruelest of ironies for the poor to be made to pay for the weapons of the rich.

Last week, I was in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh during the holy month of Ramadan on a mission of solidarity with Rohingya refugees, and with the Bangladeshi communities that so generously host them.

The entire refugee population depends on humanitarian aid.

But with looming cuts, Cox’s Bazar is fast-becoming ground zero of the funding crisis, with money for basic essentials like food, running out.

And I am hopeful that what we are doing now with several donor countries will help us overcome this tragic situation, because without a reversal of these cuts in Cox’s Bazar and beyond — people will suffer and people will die.

Dear friends,

As the darkness spreads, we risk losing sight of Europe’s greatest gift to civilization — the Enlightenment.

Everywhere we look, the fruits of the Enlightenment are being challenged by the voices of irrationality, ignorance and isolationism.

Truth, science and knowledge are being questioned.

Expertise and experience have somehow become liabilities.

And the multilateral values that the United Nations embodies — collaboration, solidarity, united action and human rights — are being undone by mistrust and geopolitical divisions.

Excellencies, dear friends,

Anniversaries are about more than looking to the past.

At their best, they are about renewing for the future.

And renewal sometimes means asking hard questions.

Let’s be clear: The UN was never meant to be stuck in time.

The world has changed in fundamental ways — most notably the rise in economic influence and political power across the Global South.

How, can we justify, today, a Security Council without permanent representation for Africa — home to one-quarter of humanity?

How can we accept an unfair and dysfunctional global financial architecture that inadequately supports developing countries in their hour of need?

How can we passively accept that the great promise of Artificial Intelligence might be won at the expense of handing over our humanity to algorithms?

Renewal is the driving force of the Pact for the Future, agreed at the United Nations in September.

And multilateralism must be the engine of this renewal.

We need all countries working together — in solidarity — as we tackle the challenges facing our world.

In this spirit of renewal through multilateralism, I want to outline four areas where we can overcome today’s threats by standing as one and forging common solutions.

First — we must find common solutions for peace in our fragmented world.

Around the world, peace is in short supply.

Look no further than Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — an open wound in Europe.

This brutal war is now in its fourth year and has claimed thousands of lives, displaced millions — including many who have found shelter here in Belgium — and challenged the very foundations of European security and international order.

It is time for a just and lasting peace. But a just peace means that it must be based on the UN Charter, international law and UN resolutions, including the respect for territorial integrity.

In Gaza, since the horrific terror attacks by Hamas on October 7, the ensuing Israeli military operations have unleashed an unprecedented level of death and destruction.

I am outraged at this week’s Israeli attacks in Gaza, which killed hundreds of people.

I was deeply saddened and shocked to learn of the death of one of our UN staff members — and the wounding of five other UN personnel — when two UN guesthouses in Deir al Balah were hit in strikes.

And appallingly another 5 UNRWA humanitarians were also killed this week, bringing the death toll to 284.

The ceasefire had finally allowed some measure of relief to ease the horrendous suffering of Palestinians in Gaza — and relief to Israeli families finally welcoming home hostages after over a year of anguish and desperation.

All of that has now been shattered.

Escalation is not the answer.

There is no military solution to this conflict.

I strongly appeal for the ceasefire to be restored, for unimpeded humanitarian assistance to be reestablished and for the remaining hostages to be released immediately and unconditionally.

Beyond ending this terrible war, we must lay the foundations for lasting peace — through immediate and irreversible steps towards a two-State solution — with Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security, in line with international law and relevant UN resolutions, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo — a country whose tragic history resonates so strongly here in Belgium — renewed fighting, fueled by external interference and armed militias, has devastated communities and plunged the region into a deeper crisis, naturally aggravated by the presence of Rwandan troops, violating the territorial integrity of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

In Sudan, bloodshed, displacement and famine are engulfing the country.

The warring parties must take immediate action to protect civilians, uphold human rights, cease hostilities and forge peace.

And domestic and international human rights monitoring and investigation mechanisms must be permitted to document what is happening on the ground.

Beyond these and other conflicts, we need to reform the global security architecture.

Drawing from proposals included in the New Agenda for Peace that we developed, the Pact for the Future calls for strengthening the machinery of peace by prioritizing the tools of prevention, mediation and peacebuilding.

The changing nature of conflict calls for a review of our global peace operations;

Enhancing coordination with regional organizations;

And the Pact includes also the first multilateral agreement on nuclear disarmament in more than a decade, even if we are still very far from a world free of nuclear weapons.

Dear friends,

Second — we can overcome threats to multilateralism by finding common solutions to reduce inequalities and ensure financial justice for all.

The Pact includes a call for a massive Stimulus to help countries invest in the Sustainable Development Goals.

It also urges bold reforms of the international financial architecture, including expanding the voice and representation of developing countries in institutions.

We must also substantially increase the lending capacity of Multilateral Development Banks to make them bigger, bolder and better.

And we must review the debt architecture to stop debt from bleeding countries dry.

No country should have to choose between servicing their debt and serving their people.

Our global economy also needs open, predictable and inclusive trade to spur broad-based prosperity and help developing countries to better link to global markets and supply chains.

The Pact also reminds us of a basic truth: societies can only thrive when all women and girls enjoy their full rights.

Investing in their education, economic empowerment, and social protection is not only fair — it is essential for a better future for all.

Third — we can strengthen multilateralism for the future by finding common solutions for climate action before it is too late.

The climate crisis is costing lives, livelihoods, and billions in damages.

Record heatwaves scorch continents.

2024 was the hottest year — in the hottest decade in history.

Relentless storms ravage communities.

Rising seas threaten coastlines — including here.

And those least responsible are bearing the heaviest burden.

If we are to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees — essential to avoid the worst of climate catastrophe — the science is clear:

Global emissions must peak this year and rapidly decline afterwards.

And we must recognize this challenge for what it is: a moment of enormous opportunity.

The benefits of the clean energy transition are clear.

Renewables renew economies.

They boost growth, lower energy bills, and help us all breathe easier with cleaner air.

This year — in advance of the UN Climate Conference, or COP30, in Brazil — every country must submit new economy-wide national climate plans that align with the 1.5 degree limit and seize the benefits of clean energy.

I am working closely with President Lula of Brazil to drive action by the biggest emitters.

The United Nations is also helping nearly 100 developing countries to prepare their national climate action plans.

And we will convene a special event to take stock of the plans of all countries, push for action to keep 1.5 within reach, and deliver climate justice.

I urge Europe to keep leading the way.

To set strong and ambitious emission reduction targets.

And to put an end to the myth that fossil fuels are the future.

We must accelerate the renewables revolution which can lower emissions, boost energy security, create good jobs, and provide cheap and accessible power.

Throughout, we must continue supporting developing and vulnerable nations, by making good on long-standing promises and delivering on climate finance across the board.

Climate solidarity is a moral obligation — and a matter of survival for us all.

Fourth and finally — we can overcome threats to multilateralism by making sure technology upholds human rights and dignity for all.

The information age is unfolding at a dizzying scale and speed.

Artificial Intelligence holds great promise.

But today, those benefits remain concentrated in the hands of a privileged few.

And while some are racing ahead with record investments, most developing countries are left in the dark.

Without guardrails, AI risks deepening geopolitical divides and inequalities;

Enabling surveillance, amplifying disinformation, facilitating cyberattacks;

And even making life-and-death decisions.

Humans must always retain control — guided by international law, human rights and ethical principles.

Technology must serve humanity, not the other way around.

That is the spirit of the Global Digital Compact also adopted at the United Nations last year.

It calls for closing the digital divide, so all countries can benefit.

It includes the first universal agreement on AI governance to bring every country to the table.

It calls for an Independent International Scientific Panel on AI that promotes a common understanding of AI risks, benefits and capabilities.

It proposes initiating a Global Dialogue on AI Governance — within the United Nations — to ensure that all countries have a voice in shaping common governance standards that help uphold human rights and prevent misuse.

And it urges support for helping grow AI tools and skills in developing countries.

I will soon present a report on innovative voluntary financing models and capacity-building initiatives to help all countries harness AI as a force for good.

Excellencies, dear students,

These are all ways that we can overcome the clear and present dangers to multilateralism in our time.

I am convinced that we can do it.

Every generation faces moments of decisive choice.

Yet none has possessed our tools, knowledge, and global awareness.

Today, we are celebrating history.

But history is also unfolding before our eyes — and I urge you to be on the frontlines for human dignity.

Refuse indifference. Choose hope. Confront injustice. Defend truth.

And for that you can draw, being inspired by the values these universities represent.

Dear students, I ask you today to draw strength and inspiration from your universities’ history.

Dear Rector Sels and Rector Smets,

I wish to conclude by reinforcing your opening words.

You recounted the powerful story of the University’s library — destroyed in 1914, and again in 1940.

In the midst of two world wars — and the rubble of this very city — the global shock and outrage that followed the destruction of a library sent a clear and powerful message.

These were not only attacks on books and manuscripts.

These were attacks on history, science, reason, knowledge and art.

These were attacks on the very hallmarks of humanity.

These were attacks on our common soul.

Twice the forces of ignorance tried to extinguish Leuven’s light of knowledge.

And twice the world answered Leuven’s call — and helped you restore that light brighter than ever.

Because in the aftermath of these attacks, we saw other aspects of humanity’s soul revealed and shining brightly.

We saw generosity, in countries providing funding to rebuild, and books to re-stock the library.

We saw the power of collaboration, in countries standing with Belgium and with Leuven to resurrect this library not once, but twice.

And yes, we saw humanity’s hunger for the eternal values that have guided your universities for 600 years — and the United Nations for 80 years.

Generosity, solidarity, renewal.

This is more than just your story — it is humanity’s story.

It shows that no matter the challenge, we can face down threats.

We can overcome obstacles.

We can build stronger than before.

And so, let us carry this legacy forward.

And let’s keep building — together.

Happy 600th anniversary.

And I thank you. Dank u. Merci.

MIL OSI Africa –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Solar panel initiative should be just a first step
Source: Green Party of England and Wales

21 March 2025/ 21 March 2025 by Green Party
Green Party MP and co-leader Adrian Ramsay welcomed government plans to fund the installation of 400 solar power projects for schools and hospitals, (1) and called for Ministers to be more ambitious.

“This is an important first step in recognising the enormous energy resource offered by all the unused roof space on schools and hospitals that will also help them to cut energy costs. Now need the government to get out of the slow lane.

“We need the government to scale up this initiative. For instance, there are 24,000 schools in England alone, many of which could become energy generators with solar panels on their roofs. And the government should be extending the initiative to factories and warehouses.

“Better still, the government should be insisting that all new buildings include solar panels in their design.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

Great British Energy to cut bills for hospitals and schools – GOV.UK
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Update on bio-safety laboratories in the country

Source: Government of India (2)

Update on bio-safety laboratories in the country

165 bio-safety laboratories, including 11 BSL-3 level labs and 154 BSL-2 level labs approved under the scheme “Setting up of a Nationwide Network of Laboratories for Managing Epidemics and National Calamities”

Since 2021, a total of 42 Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories approved under the Scheme; 38 labs out of these already functional, 4 labs approved in FY2024-25

Bio-safety laboratories established in various institutes of government bodies and departments: Department of Biotechnology-26 labs; ICMR- 21 labs; CSIR-11 labs; and ICAR-9 labs

5 BSL/ABSL-3 labs funded by Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF)

Posted On: 21 MAR 2025 4:05PM by PIB Delhi

The Department of Health Research (DHR), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has established a network of Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratory (VRDL) under the central sector scheme “Setting up of a Nationwide Network of Laboratories for Managing Epidemics and National Calamities”. Under this scheme, 165 bio-safety laboratories, including 11 BSL-3 level labs and 154 Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) labs have been approved. Besides that, there are 21 other bio-safety laboratories established at various institute of Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), having equipped with different level of biosafety such as BSL-4 (1), BSL-3 (8) and BSL-2 (12).

As informed by Department of Science & Technology (DST), Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has also funded 5 BSL/ABSL-3 labs under the Intensification of Research in High Priority Areas (IRHPA) programme. Based on inputs from the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), 26 bio-safety laboratories have been established in various institutes of DBT.

According to Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), 9 bio-safety laboratories have been established in various institutes of ICAR. As per information provided by Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), 11 bio-safety laboratories have been established in various institutes of CSIR.

Since the year 2021, a total of 42 Virus Research and Diagnostic Laboratories have been approved under the scheme “Setting up of a Nationwide Network of Laboratories for Managing Epidemics and National Calamities”, out of which 41 labs are BSL-2 and 1 lab is BSL-3. These labs are mainly located in the Microbiology Departments of various medical colleges and research institutions.

The funds from the scheme are utilized for upgradation of infrastructure, procurement of equipment, consumables and manpower support. These labs are mandated to conduct diagnosis & research on mainly viral pathogens of public health importance. The testing data are fed on the dedicated data portal setup at ICMR-National Institute of Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE), Chennai, which also has data sharing interface with Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) portal. The laboratory is considered functional once the lab starts reporting on the data portal.

As on date, out of 42 VRDLs, 38 labs are functional since these are reporting the testing data on the ICMR-NIE portal. 4 labs namely, Nagaon Medical College & Hospital, Nagaon, Assam; Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology (SCTIMST), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala; Dr Laxminarayan Pandey Government Medical College, Ratlam and Dr B.R. Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences, Mohali were sanctioned in the financial year 2024-25.

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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MV

HFW/Update on bio-safety laboratories in the country/21March 2025/4

(Release ID: 2113685) Visitor Counter : 5

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Measures taken by the government to use AI in the public health system

Source: Government of India (2)

Measures taken by the government to use AI in the public health system

AIIMS Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh and AIIMS Rishikesh designated as ‘Centres of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence’ with an aim to promote development and use of AI based solutions in Health

Media Disease Surveillance (MDS), supporting event-based surveillance for infectious diseases put in use; over 4,500 event alerts published, contributing to timely prevention and mitigation of disease outbreaks

Clinical Decision Support System’ (CDSS) integrated into eSanjeevani to enhance consultation quality and providing AI-based differential diagnosis recommendations

Cough against TB, an AI solution being used for screening for pulmonary TB in the community settings; aiding in reporting missing cases

AI solution, ‘Prediction of Adverse TB Outcomes’ deployed; 27% decline in adverse outcomes reported since deployment

Posted On: 21 MAR 2025 4:04PM by PIB Delhi

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) is leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to drive transformative change in public health services across India. The Ministry has designated AIIMS Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh and AIIMS Rishikesh as ‘Centre of Excellence for Artificial Intelligence’ with an aim to promote development and use of AI based solutions in Health. MoHFW has developed AI solution like Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) in e-Sanjeevani, Media Disease Surveillance Solution in IDSP, Diabetic Retinopathy Identification solution and the Abnormal Chest X-ray Classifier Model and various others are in early stages.

‘Media Disease Surveillance’ (MDS) is an AI-driven tool that has been supporting event-based surveillance for infectious diseases since April 2022. This tool scans digital news sources across the country and shares relevant information with districts for early action and response. Since April 2022, it has published over 4,500 event alerts, contributing to the timely prevention and mitigation of disease outbreaks, thereby reducing mortality and morbidity.

The ‘Clinical Decision Support System’ (CDSS), an AI solution has been integrated into the national telemedicine platform, eSanjeevani, to enhance consultation quality by streamlining patient complaints entry and providing AI-based differential diagnosis recommendations. Since CDSS integration, 196 million eSanjeevani consultations benefitted from standardized data capture, ensuring consistency across health and wellness centres and 12 million consultations have been aided by AI-recommended diagnoses, allowing doctors to make informed decisions.

Under the Tuberculosis elimination program, ‘Cough against TB’ AI solution is used for screening for pulmonary TB in the community settings. In the deployed geographies, the solution has shown an additional yield of 12-16% in TB reported, which may have been missed if patients were screened using conventional methods.

The ‘Prediction of Adverse TB Outcomes AI Solution’ helps in predicting TB patients who have a high chance for going for adverse outcomes as soon as the patient is initiated on treatment. 27% decline in adverse outcomes is reported after deployment of the AI Solution.

Sector-specific measures to enhance the use of AI in healthcare are thus duly being taken by the Ministry.

The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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HFW/Measures taken by the govt to use AI in public health system /21March 2025/1

(Release ID: 2113683) Visitor Counter : 15

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Steps taken by the Government to expand healthcare infrastructure
Source: Government of India (2)

Steps taken by the Government to expand healthcare infrastructure

PM-ABHIM enhancing public health infrastructure through investments in health centres, critical care beds, block public health units, and integrated district laboratories, focusing on improved rural healthcare access

Grants to local governments recommended by Fifteenth Finance Commission to strengthen grassroots health systems from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26

PMSSY aims to correct regional imbalances in affordable tertiary healthcare and enhance facilities for quality medical education

Provisions for incentives and honorariums under NHM encourage doctors and paramedics to practice in rural and remote areas, ensuring equitable access to medical facilities across all States/UTs

Posted On: 21 MAR 2025 4:01PM by PIB Delhi

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides technical and financial support to the States/UTs to strengthen the public healthcare system including setting up of health facilities and recruitment of medical personnel based on the proposals received in the form of Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs) under National Health Mission. Government of India provides approval for the proposal in the form of Record of Proceedings (RoPs) as per norms & available resources.

Further, Government of India has launched several schemes to address healthcare infrastructure in all the States/UTs in the country in addition to National Health Mission:
- Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM) envisages increased investments in public health and other health reforms to provide better access to health in rural areas by i) Strengthening of Health and Wellness Centres in villages and cities for early detection of diseases; ii) Addition of new critical care-related beds at district level hospitals; iii) Support for Block Public Health Units (BPHU) in 11 high focus States; and iv) Integrated district public health laboratories in all districts.
- The Fifteenth Finance Commission (FC-XV) has recommended grants through local governments for specific components of the health sector and spread over the five-year period from FY 2021-22 to FY 2025-26 to facilitate strengthening of health system at the grass-root level.
- The Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY) aims at correcting regional imbalances in the availability of affordable tertiary healthcare services and to augment facilities for quality medical education in the country. The Scheme has two components, namely: i) setting up of all India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS); and (ii) upgradation of existing Government Medical Collages/ Institution (GMCIs).
- Under Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), ‘Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals’, with preference to underserved areas and aspirational districts, where there is no existing Government or private medical college. The fund sharing mechanism between the Centre and State Governments is in the ratio of 90:10 for North Eastern and Special Category States, and 60:40 for others.
Under NHM, following types of incentives and honorarium are provided for encouraging doctors and paramedics to practice in rural and remote areas to ensure equitable access to medical facilities across all the States/UTs in the country:
- Hard area allowance to specialist doctors for serving in rural and remote areas and for their residential quarters so that they find it attractive to serve in public health facilities in such areas.
- Honorarium to Gynecologists/ Emergency Obstetric Care (EmOC) trained, Pediatricians & Anesthetist/ Life Saving Anaesthesia Skills (LSAS) trained doctors is also provided to increase availability of specialists for conducting Cesarean Sections in rural & remote area.
- Incentives like special incentives for doctors, incentive for Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife (ANM) for ensuring timely Antenatal Checkup (ANC) checkup and recording, incentives for conducting Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health activities.
- States are also allowed to offer negotiable salary to attract specialist including flexibility in strategies such as “You Quote We Pay”.
- Non-Monetary incentives such as preferential admission in post graduate courses for staff serving in difficult areas and improving accommodation arrangement in rural areas have also been introduced under NHM.
- Multi-skilling of doctors is supported under NHM to overcome the shortage of specialists. Skill upgradation of existing HR is another major strategy under NRHM for achieving improvement in health outcomes.
The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Prataprao Jadhav stated this in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.

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(Release ID: 2113679) Visitor Counter : 19

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –
March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Urban Water Transport

Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 21 MAR 2025 3:52PM by PIB Delhi

The key parameters considered in selection of 17 cities for conducting feasibility study for Urban Water Transport System includes minimum population of 1 million, proximity to existing navigable inland waterways and the presence of substantial ferry services.

In order to integrate the proposed Urban Water Transport System with existing metro, bus and railway networks to ensure seamless multi-modal connectivity, Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) has beean engaged to conduct feasibility study for Urban Water Transport System for the 17 locations. As of now, there is no such proposal to expand this in additional cities.

The work for conducting feasibility study in 17 cities, which also includes Mangalore (Gurupura River) has been awarded to KMRL. The roadmap depends on the outcome of the feasibility study.

Guwahati and Dhubri in Assam are among the 17 identified locations from North-Eastern States for conducting feasibility study. There is no specific plan for Chhatisgarh as of now. Implementation of Urban Water Transport System depends on the outcome/ recommendations of the feasibility study.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

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GDH/HR/SJ

(Release ID: 2113672) Visitor Counter : 55

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Speech by SCST at inauguration of Lo Kwee Seong Pavilion and Harold and Christina Lee Gallery of Art Museum, Chinese University of Hong Kong and opening of “Transcending Transience: Art and Culture of Late Ming Jiangnan” exhibition

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Speech by SCST at inauguration of Lo Kwee Seong Pavilion and Harold and Christina Lee Gallery of Art Museum, Chinese University of Hong Kong and opening of “Transcending Transience: Art and Culture of Late Ming Jiangnan” exhibition
Vice-Chancellor and President of the CUHK (Chinese University of Hong Kong), Professor Dennis Lo, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good afternoon. It is both a privilege and an honour for me to officiate at the inauguration ceremony of the Lo Kwee Seong Pavilion of the Art Museum of my alma mater. When I studied at the CUHK, I remembered that the Museum was a relatively small gallery entered through a beautiful courtyard with a pond and many koi fish in the centre of the campus. The phenomenal growth and expansion of the university’s Art Museum mirrors the extraordinary development of our city’s vibrant art scene.

It is wonderful indeed to see many friends in the media with us today. Media attention has often centred on large cultural institutions, but boutique museums such as the CUHK Art Museum have also contributed significantly to the local art ecosystem by offering unique and thematic exhibitions and facilitating dialogues with museum professionals worldwide. On that note, I would like to acknowledge that the CUHK Art Museum will serve as a strategic partner for the Museum Summit to be held next week. I look forward to more fruitful and inspirational discussions on the development of museums at the upcoming Summit.

For the benefit of our media here, I should also say a few words in Cantonese. So here it goes:

多年來，我們非常樂見（香港）中文大學文物館的持續發展，同時見證着香港躍動成為中外文化藝術交流中心的歷程。今日，作為校友，非常榮幸出席中大文物館羅桂祥閣及利孝和陸雁群伉儷展覽廳的啓用典禮。中大文物館的成長，離不開中大同仁的持續努力，也離不開社會各界，特別今日在座各位的支持和厚愛。在此，我向香港中文大學為推動文化藝術發展作出的貢獻表示由衷敬意，同時向在座各位以及社會各界的大力支持表示衷心感謝。

在國家《十四五規劃綱要》的明確支持下，政府致力發展香港成為中外文化藝術交流中心。政府會在資源情況許可之下持續改善文化設施，為舉辦多元化的文化藝術活動提供支持。舉例而言，東九文化中心預計將於今年內全面啓用，為市民和業界提供一個全新的表演場地。同樣地，我相信日益完善的中大文物館亦將成為香港的獨特魅力所在，吸引更多香港市民和訪港旅客參觀，為大家提供富有特色的文化藝術體驗。

I hope that any students here – not only current students but also overseas exchange students and prospective college students – will cherish all the wonderful exhibitions and cultural artifacts that this Museum has to offer. I look forward to working more closely with the CUHK community to cultivate our art hub. I wish the CUHK Art Museum a bright future and the “Transcending Transience: Art and Culture of Late Ming Jiangnan” exhibition a resounding success. Thank you.

Issued at HKT 18:15

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Categories24-7, Asia Pacific, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Government special administrative region, MIL OSI

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: 754 Fast Track Courts, Including 404 POCSO Courts functional in 30 states, dispose over 3.06 Lakh cases by January 2025

Source: Government of India

754 Fast Track Courts, Including 404 POCSO Courts functional in 30 states, dispose over 3.06 Lakh cases by January 2025

Government takes steps to create awareness on POCSO Act provisions through Media, Workshops & Training

Posted On: 21 MAR 2025 3:32PM by PIB Delhi

Government accords the highest priority for ensuring safety and security of children and has undertaken various initiatives in this regard. To safeguard children against sexual abuse and sexual harassment, Government has enacted The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012. It defines a child as any person below the age of 18 years.

The Act was amended in 2019 to introduce more stringent punishment including death penalty for committing sexual crimes on children, with a view to deter the perpetrators & prevent such crimes.

Section 4 of the Act prescribes rigorous imprisonment for a minimum of 20 years, which can extend to life imprisonment, for “Penetrative Sexual Assault”. If the assault results in the death or causes the victim to be in a persistent vegetative state, Section 6 provides for the death penalty or life imprisonment.

Section 8 outlines imprisonment for a minimum of three to five years for those found guilty of sexual assault, while Section 10 increases this to a minimum of five years for Aggravated Sexual Assault (A person can be charged with this offense in certain aggravating circumstances, such as if the rape occurs within a relationship of trust or authority, or if it leads to pregnancy, among others). Section 14 of the Act imposes imprisonment of up to seven years for using children for pornographic purposes.

Additionally, the Act mandates special courts for speedy trials under Section 28; ensuring that the cases are handled with the utmost urgency and sensitivity, reflecting the law’s zero-tolerance approach to crimes against children.

Further the POCSO Rules, 2020 were also notified to protect the children from exploitation and violence and sexual exploitation. Rule 3 provides that any institution housing children or coming in regular contact with children including schools, creches, sports academies or any other facility for Children must ensure police verification and background check on periodic basis, of every staff, teaching or non-teaching, regular or contractual, or any other person being an employee of such Institution coming in contact with the child. Such Institution shall also ensure that periodic training is organized for sensitizing them on child safety and protection.

Rule-9 of the POCSO Rules provides that the Special Court may, in appropriate cases, on its own or on an application filed by or on behalf of the child, pass an order for interim compensation to meet the needs of the child for relief or rehabilitation at any stage after registration of the First Information Report (FIR). Such interim compensation paid to the child shall be adjusted against the final compensation, if any.

Further, the POCSO Rules also provide that for special relief, if any, to be provided for contingencies such as food, clothes, transport and other essential needs, Child Welfare Committee may recommend immediate payment of such amount. Such immediate payment shall be made within a week of receipt of recommendation from the CWC.

Department of Justice is implementing a scheme for setting up Fast Track Special Courts (FTSCs) including Exclusive POCSO Courts for expeditious trial and disposal of cases related to rape and POCSO cases. As per the information received from High Courts, as of 31.01.2025, 754 FTSCs including 404 exclusive POCSO Courts are functional in 30 States/UTs, which have disposed more than 3,06,000 cases.

Further, the Government has taken various steps from time to time to create awareness of the provisions of the POCSO Act through electronic and print media, consultations, workshops and training programmes with stakeholders concerned. In order to generate awareness about the POCSO Act, a short film was disseminated in Cinema Halls and Doordarshan across the nation. Thereafter, Ministry has undertaken awareness campaign to encompass various aspects of the POCSO Act in an effective manner by way of a short video clips, an audio clip and a poster which have been disseminated through various means all over India. For effective dissemination of these creatives, they have also been translated into regional languages for effective outreach. National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has published Childline 1098 which is a 24x7x365 toll free Helpline for children and POCSO E-box on the back side of the front cover of all the course books from class 6th to class 12th to equip the children with the information regarding the possible modes of protection/ complaints and emergency outreach.

Ministry of Women and Child Development has organized following zonal conferences and sensitization/dissemination workshops under Mission Vatsalya Scheme:

i. Zonal Conferences: Outreach with State Governments/UT Administrations and Stakeholders through Zonal Conferences on Strategic Interventions for addressing Malnutrition Concerns and for the Development, Empowerment and Protection of Women and Children including Mission Vatsalya scheme were organised.

ii. Dissemination Workshops: National Dissemination Workshop on Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children ) Act, 2015, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 and the rules there under and the Adoption Regulations, 2017 including Mission Vatsalya Scheme were organised with all States/UTs, line Ministries/ Departments, representatives from Police, National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR), Child Protection functionaries including members of Child Welfare Committees(CWCs)/Juvenile Justice Boards(JJBs) and other stakeholders.

iii. Workshops on Sensitization/ Training Programme for representatives of Panchayati Raj Representatives (PRIs), Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Police on Child Rights & Protection including Mission Vatsalya Scheme at Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) in collaboration with UT Administration. This workshop was attended by officers from Ministry, NCPCR, UT of J&K, Administrative and Police Training. Institutes, District Child Protection Officers (DCPOs), CWCs, JJBs, Special Juvenile Police Units (SJPUs), representative from UNICEF and other Stakeholders.

iv. Vatsal Bharat: Regional Symposiums on ‘Child Protection, Child Safety and Child Welfare’ including Mission Vatsalya were organized at Delhi, Bhopal, Mumbai, Ranchi, Guwahati and Varanasi. In the Regional Symposiums, representatives from States/UTs including members of Child Welfare Committees (CWCs), Juvenile Justice Boards (JJBs), Members of Village Child Protection Committee (VCPC) and Anganwadi Workers had participated.

v. A virtual technical training Session on the Modules of Institutional and Non- Institutional Care in the Mission Vatsalya Portal for North Eastern States (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura) was organized by the Ministry.

Furthermore, NCPCR, as per its mandate under Section 13(1)(h) of the CPCR Act, 2005, has also been continuously conducting sensitization and awareness-generation activities, along with monitoring efforts, focusing on various critical child protection themes, particularly POCSO mechanisms, to ensure that stakeholders are well-informed, actively involved, and effectively equipped to enhance child protection efforts and address child welfare concerns, especially within the POCSO framework. Engaging a wide range of stakeholders, including government functionaries at the State, District, Village, and Block levels, SPs, DMs, NGOs, CWCs, DCPOs, volunteers, and others, these initiatives are as follows:

1.Development of Digital Portals: Following the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court under SMWP(C) of 4/2020 and SMWP(C) of 6/2021, the Commission developed several digital portals to ensure timely, efficient, and seamless monitoring of data related to violations and deprivation of child rights. One such portal is the Baal Swaraj-POCSO tracking portal. This portal facilitates real-time tracking of child sexual abuse cases, providing services like victim compensation and rehabilitation to ensure the care and safety of POCSO victims.

2. Addressing Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM): In August 2024, the Commission convened a meeting on child sexual abuse material (CSAM), inviting social media platforms to discuss issues surrounding the online availability of sexually provocative material involving children. Additionally, in a joint meeting on 05.08.2024, the Commission explored potential solutions to address the alarming increase in crimes committed by minors after viewing pornographic content. This meeting included representatives from Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Law and Justice, and others.

3. Regional Meetings on POCSO Implementation: The Commission organized regional meetings on POCSO: Factors Hindering Implementation and Aspects of Assistance to Victims to address victim support mechanisms and identify specific areas where NCPCR/SCPCRs could provide assistance. These meetings, held in collaboration with NALSA, NFSU, SVPNPA, and BPR&D, brought together key stakeholders, including forensic experts, police officials, and legal representatives. Additionally, through its North East Cell, NCPCR conducted consultations and State-Level Workshops on Handling POCSO Cases to enhance victim assistance and improve the implementation of POCSO provisions in the region.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Savitri Thakur in Lok Sabha in reply to a question today.

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(Release ID: 2113660) Visitor Counter : 27

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Multiple Schemes Launched by Govt to Provide Financial Support to Women Across India

Source: Government of India

Posted On: 21 MAR 2025 3:31PM by PIB Delhi

Recognizing the transformative potential of start-ups, the Government has introduced several initiatives to support and nurture entrepreneurship, including women’s entrepreneurship. More than 73000 start-ups, representing nearly half of the 157066 start-ups supported by the government under the Start-up India Initiative, have at least one-woman director, underscoring the crucial role women play in driving innovation and economic growth.

There are a number of schemes/ initiatives being implemented by various Ministries/ Departments of the Government of India across the country to financially support women.

The schemes to provide skilling opportunities for women include Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojna (PMKVY) and Mahila Coir Yojana (MCY) which is a sub-component of the Coir Vikas Yojana, among others.

Some of the schemes to facilitate women entrepreneurs and start-ups include

(i) The Indian Patent Act that provides for expedited examination, when at least one of the applicants is a female. It is a concerted effort to encourage women innovators to file patent applications and protect their inventions.

(ii) Women entrepreneurs, who file for protection of their Intellectual Property in individual capacity, have to pay reduced fees as compared to other large entities. Patent filings by women has increased over 905% in the past 5 years. Women lead about one-third of the start-ups incubated under the Atal Innovation Mission’s Atal Incubation Centres, which foster innovation at universities, institutions and corporates among others.

(iii) Stand Up India, Start Up India and MUDRA Yojna facilitate bank loans and entrepreneurial activities and have majorly benefitted women entrepreneurs.

(iv) The Credit Guarantee Scheme for Start-ups (CGSS) to provide credit guarantee up to a specified limit against loans extended by Member Institutions (MIs) to finance eligible borrowers including women as defined in the Gazette Notification issued by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) and amended from time to time.

(v) The Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP) which is a major credit-linked subsidy programme aimed at generating self-employment opportunities through establishment of micro-enterprises in the non-farm sector.

(vi) The Government has made enabling provisions in the Companies Act, 2013, mandating companies to have at least one woman Director.

(vii) Schemes such as Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors AtmaNirbhar Nidhi (PM SVANidhi) provides employment/ self-employment and credit facilities to street vendors. Majority of the beneficiaries under these schemes are women.

In addition to the above schemes, there are several other schemes/ initiatives also being implemented by nationalised banks to support women entrepreneurs. These include Mahila Udyam Nidhi Yojana, Dena Shakti Scheme, Stree Shakti Package for Women Entrepreneurs and Cent Kalyani Scheme etc.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Savitri Thakur in Lok Sabha in reply to a question today.

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(Release ID: 2113658) Visitor Counter : 32

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Immigration Department repatriates 18 Vietnamese illegal immigrants to Vietnam (with photos)

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Immigration Department repatriates 18 Vietnamese illegal immigrants to Vietnam
The ImmD has been committed to promptly removing unsubstantiated non-refoulement claimants from Hong Kong to maintain effective immigration control and safeguard the public interest. Under the updated removal policy effective from December 7, 2022, the ImmD may generally proceed with the removal of a claimant whose judicial review case has been dismissed by the Court of First Instance of the High Court, thereby enhancing the efficiency of and efforts in removing unsubstantiated claimants.

The ImmD will remain committed to expediting the removal process to repatriate illegal immigrants and overstayers from Hong Kong as soon as practicable according to the actual situation through appropriate measures as necessary.
Issued at HKT 17:30

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Categories24-7, Asia Pacific, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Government special administrative region, MIL OSI

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Appointments to Securities and Futures Appeals Tribunal

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Appointments to Securities and Futures Appeals Tribunal
The membership of the SFAT for the new term is as follows:

Chairmen
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Mr Michael John Hartmann
Mr Michael Victor Lunn
Mr Ian Charles McWalters

New appointees
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Mr Johnny Chan Kok-chung
Mr Arthur Chan Sung-lai
Ms Annie Chen Poonis
Professor Terence Chong Tai-leung
Professor Fong Yuk-fai
Dr Jia Hongrui
Mr Ernest Lee Chun-ho
Dr Leung Chuen-yan
Mr Wiley Pun Wang-fung

Reappointed members
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Dr Chordio Chan Siu-ping
Ms Florence Chan Yuen-shan
Ms Lorna Chen Xin
Mr Gary Cheung Wai-kwok
Ms Ivy Chua Suk-lin
Mr Stephen Hung Wan-shun
Ms Sammy Koo Chi-sum
Dr Bankee Kwan Pak-hoo
Mr Lau Pak-wai
Ms Carol Lui Kit-fong
Mr Webster Ng Kam-wah
Mr Hamilton Ty Tang
Professor Tang Hei-wai
Dr Christopher To Wing
Mr Yip Chai-tuck
Mr Edward Yuen Siu-bun

The Government also expressed gratitude to the outgoing members. They are Professor Chan Ka-lok, Professor Chan Koon-hung, Ms Dilys Chau Suet-fung, Mr Kent Ho Ching-tak, Mr Peter Leung Ming-hym, Mrs Natalia Seng Sze Ka-mee and Ms Amelia Yau Yu-xin.

“The SFAT provides an effective safeguard to ensure that the relevant regulatory decisions are reasonable and fair, thus enhancing the accountability of the regulatory bodies concerned. We are thankful to the outgoing members for their service, which has effectively conserved the proper regulation of the securities and futures industry in Hong Kong,” a Government spokesman said.

The SFAT is a statutory tribunal established under the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) (SFO). According to the law, the SFAT is chaired by a judge or former judge for hearing appeals against specified decisions made under the SFO by the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), the Hong Kong Monetary Authority, and the investor compensation company recognised by the SFC.
Issued at HKT 17:00

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Categories24-7, Asia Pacific, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Government special administrative region, MIL OSI

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 22, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Statistics of payment cards issued in Hong Kong for fourth quarter 2024

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Statistics of payment cards issued in Hong Kong for fourth quarter 2024
The payment card statistics (see Annex) include quarterly data on credit and debit cards issued in Hong Kong under the credit and/or debit card schemes of the eight payment card scheme operators (Note 1). The HKMA began to publish the payment card statistics on a quarterly basis in June 2010 to enhance transparency of the payment card industry in Hong Kong, in line with international practice.

According to the quarterly statistics, the total number of credit cards in circulation (Note 2) was 20.94 million by the end of Q4/2024. The figure represents a 3.2 per cent increase from the previous quarter and a 6.4 per cent increase from the previous year. The number and value of credit card transactions (including retail sales and cash advances) (Note 3) are susceptible to seasonal factors and the general economic environment, making the trends more prone to fluctuation. The total number of credit card transactions was 339.27 million for Q4/2024, representing a 3.1 per cent increase from the previous quarter and a 11.9 per cent increase from the same period in 2023. The total value of credit card transactions was HK$271.4 billion for Q4/2024, representing a 9.1 per cent increase from the previous quarter and a 10.8 per cent increase from the same period in 2023. Of the total transaction value, HK$182.8 billion (67.4 per cent) was related to retail spending in Hong Kong, HK$79.3 billion (29.2 per cent) in retail spending overseas and HK$9.3 billion (3.4 per cent) in cash advances.

The total number of debit cards in circulation is not available due to overlapping of debit card brands in a single card. Like the number and value of credit card transactions, the number and value of debit card transactions in relation to retail sales and bills payments (Note 4) are also affected by seasonal factors. On a quarterly basis, the total number of debit card transactions in relation to retail sales and bills payments increased by 2.7 per cent to 55.50 million while the total value increased by 6.6 per cent to HK$73.0 billion in Q4/2024. When compared to the same period in 2023, the total number increased by 14.1 per cent and the total value dropped by 0.2 per cent in Q4/2024.

Note 1: The payment card statistics are compiled from data on credit and debit cards issued in Hong Kong by both authorized institutions (AIs) and non-authorized institutions (non-AIs) under the credit and/or debit card schemes of the eight payment card scheme operators (“the card operators”). The card operators, in alphabetical order, are American Express International, Inc., Discover Financial Services (Hong Kong) Limited, EPS Company (Hong Kong) Limited (EPSCO), JCB International (Asia) Ltd, Joint Electronic Teller Services Ltd. (JETCO), MasterCard Asia/Pacific Pte. Ltd., UnionPay International Co. Ltd and Visa Worldwide Pte. Limited.Issued at HKT 16:55

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Categories24-7, Asia Pacific, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Government special administrative region, MIL OSI

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 22, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: PARLIAMENT QUESTION: ACHIEVEMENTS UNDER NHDP

Source: Government of India (2)

Ministry of Textiles

PARLIAMENT QUESTION: ACHIEVEMENTS UNDER NHDP

Posted On: 21 MAR 2025 12:56PM by PIB Delhi

The details of the targets set & achievements under the National Handicraft Development Programme (NHDP) and the Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) during the last five years, including the number of toolkits distributed, infrastructure projects sanctioned and completed, artisans provided with interest rate subvention, and mega clusters established, year-wise are enclosed at below.

The details of fund sanctiond and released, under NHDP and CHCDS during the last five years, state-wise and year-wise are enclosed at below. Under the various components of the scheme, the funds are released ranging between 50-75% of the sanctioned amount, therefore the released amount every year is less than the sanctioned amount.

The office of DC (handicrafts) has sanctioned one project namely Strengthening of Urban Haat under NHDP scheme at Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh during last five year and its current status is completed. Further, this office has also sanctioned projects to the state of Andhra Pradesh under CHCDS scheme and the details including current status are as given below:

Sl. No	Name of Infrastructure component	Year of sanction	District	Current Status
1	Common Facility Centre	2022-23	Eluru	Ongoing project
2	Common Facility Centre	2022-23	Palnadu	Ongoing project
3	Common Facility Centre	2022-23	NTR	To be started
4	Common Facility Centre	2022-23	Eluru	To be started
5	Common Facility Centre	2022-23	Parvathipuram Manyam	To be started
6	Raw Material Bank	2022-23	NTR	To be started

The number of artisans who have benefited from skill development programme, training, and financial assistance under NHDP in Andhra Pradesh, district-wise, during the last three years are given in below.

The office of the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts) under the aegis of Ministry of Textiles plans for need based programmes & interventions for the sector based on the requirement projected by the artisans, non-profit organizations & state Government agencies as per the financial target approved in EFC for NHDP and SFC for CHCDS scheme respectively.

Statement referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha unstarred Question No. 2978 for answer on 18.03.2025.

The details of the targets set and achievements under the National Handicraft Development Programme (NHDP) and the Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) during the last five years are as under:

S. No	Name of the Scheme	FY 2019-20		FY 2020-21
S. No	Name of the Scheme	Target	Achievements	Target	Achievements
1	National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP)	382 Domestic & International Marketing event	213 Domestic & International Marketing event	433 Domestic & International Marketing event	91 Domestic & International Marketing event
		404 Skill & Design Development Training	527 Skill & Design Development Training	574 Skill & Design Development Training	331 Skill & Design Development Training
		3,750 toolkits distributions	2,935 toolkits distributions	3,750 toolkits distributions	4,250 toolkits distributions
		65 Clusters Formation	65 Clusters Formation	Formation of 40 Producer Companies	Formation of 45 Producer Companies
		05 Infrastructure projects	08 Infrastructure projects	13 Infrastructure projects	08 Infrastructure projects
		Financial Support to 300 artisans under indigent circumstances	Financial Support to 302 artisans under indigent circumstances	Financial Support to 300 artisans under indigent circumstances	Financial Support to 302 artisans under indigent circumstances
		Interest Subvention to 50,000 artisans	0	Interest Subvention to 50,000 artisans	0
		Coverage of 2.00 lakhs artisans under Bima Yojanas	Coverage of 2,346 artisans under Bima Yojanas	Coverage of 2.00 lakhs artisans under Bima Yojanas	0
		Issuance of 3.50 Lakhs artisans Identity card	Issuance of 2.50 Lakhs artisans Identity card	Margin Money to 3000 artisans	Margin Money to 3,000 artisans
		Issuance of 3.50 Lakhs artisans Identity card	Issuance of 2.50 Lakhs artisans Identity card	Issuance of 3.50 Lakhs artisans Identity card	Issuance of 2.50 Lakhs artisans Identity card
		15 Survey/ Studies	15 Survey/ Studies	13 Survey/ Studies	13 Survey/ Studies
		44 Seminar/ Workshops	45 Seminar/ Workshops	40 Seminar/ Workshops	40 Seminar/ Workshops
2	Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS)	Completion of 09 Mega Cluster projects, 10 IDPH Projects	Completion of projects at advanced level	Completion of 09 Mega Cluster projects, 10 IDPH Projects and setting up of 2 new IDPH projects	Completion of all projects at final stage and sanctioned of 2 new IDPH projects

S. No	Name of the Scheme	FY 2021-22		FY 2022-23
S. No	Name of the Scheme	Target	Achievements	Target	Achievements
1	National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP)	149 Domestic & International Marketing event	286 Domestic & International Marketing event	165 Domestic & International Marketing event	338 Domestic & International Marketing event
		366 Skill & Design Development Training	584 Skill & Design Development Training	375 Skill & Design Development Training	315 Skill & Design Development Training
		8,000 toolkits distributions	13,267 toolkits distributions	10,000 toolkits distributions	9,750 toolkits distributions
		Identification of 60 Adopted & Export Oriented Clusters	Identification of 73 Adopted & Export Oriented Clusters	Identification of 60 Adopted & Export Oriented Clusters	0
		Formation of 40 Producer Companies	Formation of 16 Producer Companies	Formation of 40 Producer Companies	Formation of 90 Producer Companies
		08 Infrastructure projects	10 Infrastructure projects	07 Infrastructure projects	28 Infrastructure projects
		Financial Support to 365 artisans under indigent circumstances	Financial Support to 365 artisans under indigent circumstances	Financial Support to 410 artisans under indigent circumstances	Financial Support to 339 artisans under indigent circumstances
		Interest Subvention to 4,000 artisans	Interest Subvention to 25 artisans	Interest Subvention to 4,000 artisans	Interest Subvention to 130 artisans
		Margin Money to 1,500 artisans	Margin Money to 25 artisans	Margin Money to 1,500 artisans	Margin Money to 212 artisans
		Issuance of 2.0 Lakhs artisans Identity card	Issuance of 1.70 Lakhs artisans Identity card	Issuance of 1.5 Lakhs artisans Identity card	Issuance of 1.82 Lakhs artisans Identity card
		80 Awareness Programme	06 Craft Awareness Programme, 08 Workshops and 670 Chaupal conducted	125 Awareness Programme	14 Workshops and 670 Chaupal
		17 Survey/ Studies	20 Survey/ Studies	20 Survey/ Studies	04 Survey/ Studies
		55 Seminar/ Workshops	212 Seminar/ Workshops	55 Seminar/ Workshops	231 Seminar/ Workshops
2	Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS)	Setting up of 3 Mega Clusters	Setting up of 4 Mega Clusters	Setting up of 7 Mega Clusters	Setting up of 8 Mega Clusters

S. No	Name of the Scheme	2023-24
S. No	Name of the Scheme	Target	Achievements
1	National Handicrafts Development Programme (NHDP)	181 Domestic & International Marketing event	208 Domestic & International Marketing event
		378 Skill & Design Development Training	452 Skill & Design Development Training
		10,000 toolkits distributions	9,050 toolkits distributions
		Identification of 60 Adopted & Export Oriented Clusters	Identification of 22 Adopted & Export Oriented Clusters
		Formation of 40 Producer Companies	Formation of 49 Producer Companies
		08 Infrastructure projects	21 Infrastructure projects
		Financial Support to 465 artisans under indigent circumstances	Financial Support to 538 artisans under indigent circumstances
		Interest Subvention to 4,000 artisans	Interest Subvention to 1,144 artisans
		Margin Money to 1,500 artisans	Margin Money to 299 artisans
		Issuance of 1.5 Lakhs artisans Identity card	Issuance of 1.53 Lakhs artisans Identity card
		125 Awareness Programme	670 Awareness Programme
		22 Survey/ Studies	10 Survey/ Studies
		60 Seminar/ Workshops	137 Seminar/ Workshops
2	Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS)	Setting up of 5 Mega Clusters/ IDPH	Setting up of 1 Mega Clusters

Statement referred to in reply to part (b) of the Lok Sabha unstarred Question No. 2978 for answer on 18.03.2025.

The details of fund sanctioned & released, under National Handicraft Development Programme (NHDP) during the FY 2019-20 to 2023-24 are as under :

(Rs. In Lakhs)

Sl. No	States/UTs	2019-20		2020-21		2021-22		2022-23		2023-24
Sl. No		Funds sanctioned	Funds released	Funds sanctioned	Funds released	Funds sanctioned	Funds released	Funds sanctioned	Funds released	Funds sanctioned	Funds released
	A & N Islands	93.37	46.68	53.84	29.41	31.19	26.73	20.28	20.28	17.45	17.45
	Andhra Pradesh	353.13	183.57	526.02	312.55	1,528.20	807.19	548.52	323.49	391.57	321.18
	Arunachal Pradesh	38.97	31.37	23.89	17.01	149.64	124.19	23.44	23.44	59.77	44.74
	Assam	315.78	195.64	691.64	396.73	717.84	494.30	728.57	536.59	326.11	247.76
	Bihar	495.81	223.41	397.38	193.42	220.77	128.12	717.73	481.05	451.44	248.84
	Chandigarh	98.68	53.81	0.00	0.00	50.25	20.25	72.91	44.18	27.84	20.88
	Chhattisgarh	203.94	131.19	146.81	110.47	139.44	99.49	118.93	94.98	56.34	47.03
	Daman & Dew	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	8.94	6.71	0.00	0.00
	Delhi	2,234.11	2,105.66	2,965.05	2,901.15	3,011.61	2,759.39	947.53	785.52	1,332.61	816.59
	Goa	25.50	12.75	0.00	0.00	49.35	43.39	53.09	44.92	45.28	31.36
	Gujarat	310.57	165.79	503.50	265.76	1,654.40	1,018.29	1,430.52	840.22	999.29	592.58
	Haryana	286.53	149.32	163.88	81.94	287.71	164.84	291.30	210.47	291.17	195.46
	Himachal Pradesh	513.15	292.86	289.63	192.62	300.70	198.05	121.32	91.51	106.64	79.68
	Jammu and Kashmir	51.95	25.98	373.07	170.22	584.62	431.71	1,172.36	796.56	1,076.91	686.72
	Jharkhand	290.81	190.00	443.68	266.64	191.40	133.37	256.22	190.83	251.51	156.83
	Karnataka	195.74	123.54	149.70	86.63	433.44	273.18	441.08	333.41	361.34	282.69
	Kerala	209.84	130.92	241.80	121.18	307.67	184.76	275.81	234.46	202.80	168.35
	Ladakh	29.70	23.76	5.94	3.97	45.44	31.29	35.55	29.84	112.04	24.40
	Madhya Pradesh	726.01	429.62	680.29	390.84	531.76	331.13	588.77	437.32	452.77	311.09
	Maharashtra	337.99	204.88	278.36	150.34	390.35	266.95	326.58	265.78	919.61	423.06
	Manipur	76.68	59.63	249.81	140.03	1,198.22	768.81	1,169.90	656.12	266.11	194.89
	Meghalaya	86.52	56.73	15.50	15.50	242.99	184.01	89.71	76.92	100.84	53.93
	Mizoram	19.97	19.97	11.50	11.48	131.55	98.93	48.89	45.09	38.59	22.60
	Nagaland	226.85	131.78	70.61	41.56	238.20	144.66	408.72	239.08	279.36	220.03
	Odisha	155.32	83.62	194.87	112.91	888.00	687.15	462.47	358.49	475.47	341.27
	Puducherry	33.25	16.62	124.74	76.16	234.97	153.61	142.42	100.62	71.77	42.96
	Punjab	483.47	281.05	402.06	236.66	565.55	345.88	413.11	318.18	96.13	74.53
	Rajasthan	412.33	293.46	622.25	337.29	1,127.93	698.82	1,715.64	997.32	2,163.86	611.77
	Sikkim	181.00	114.39	12.50	12.50	43.48	34.49	89.97	77.11	38.92	30.07
	Tamil Nadu	109.94	68.34	652.90	130.08	417.52	242.89	333.62	264.64	401.68	282.88
	Telangana	261.21	152.09	287.26	172.52	219.63	152.25	299.31	226.03	339.06	223.04
	Tripura	75.51	53.73	136.63	86.42	94.22	58.80	103.57	86.10	97.61	66.32
	Uttar Pradesh	1,283.77	663.25	2,141.73	1,179.84	3,241.81	2,506.53	5,524.95	3,120.76	3,251.86	1,990.44
	Uttarakhand	230.70	116.04	313.78	203.30	333.68	199.95	222.59	176.29	91.12	76.71
	West Bengal	208.79	121.86	242.13	132.13	416.66	250.92	741.98	527.28	571.09	391.84
	All India (non state Specific)	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	211.14	67.67	1,083.01	1,079.26
	International Marketing	1,195.13	0.00	371.29	0.00	737.02	0.00	2,136.10	0.00	674.12	500.03
	Total	11,852.02	6,953.29	13,866.02	8,600.75	20,757.22	14,064.34	22,293.52	13,129.25	17,523.09	10,919.25

Fund allocated and released under Comprehensive Handicrafts Cluster Development Scheme (CHCDS) during 2019-20 to 2023-24

(Rs. In Lakhs)

Sl. No.	States/UTs	2019-20		2020-21		2021-22		2022-23		2023-24
		FUNDS SANCTIONED	FUNDS RELEASED	FUNDS SANCTIONED	FUNDS RELEASED	FUNDS SANCTIONED	FUNDS RELEASED	FUNDS SANCTIONED	FUNDS RELEASED	FUNDS SANCTIONED	FUNDS RELEASED
	Andhra Pradesh	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	129.09	129.09	0.00	0.00	328.00	328.00
	Bihar	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	2,927.57	0.00	99.17	99.17
	Goa	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	2.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
	Gujarat	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	687.01	0.00	244.52	196.00	0.00	0.00
	Himachal Pradesh	0.00	0.00	632.82	316.41	253.13	253.13	0.00	0.00	0.00	196.90
	Jammu and Kashmir	593.61	593.61	2.84	2.84	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
	Ladakh	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	1,754.55	60.75	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
	Madhya Pradesh	1,000.58	1,000.58	0.00	0.00	51.80	0.00	0.00	0.00	612.17	612.17
	Odisha	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	2,728.72	545.98	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
	Rajasthan	1,183.35	1,167.60	1,469.38	1,469.38	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00
	Telangana	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	171.80	163.67	8.13	8.13	150.00	150.00
	Tripura							0.00	0.00	464.00	464.00
	Uttar Pradesh	450.15	450.15	281.78	141.88	13.33	13.33	1,852.24	89.02	0.00	0.00
	Total	3,227.69	3,211.94	2,386.824	1,930.517	5,789.434	1,165.95	5,034.46	293.1478	1,653.34	1,850.24

Statement referred to in reply to part (D) of the Lok Sabha unstarred Question No. 2978 for answer on 18.03.2025.

The number of artisans who have benefited from skill development, training, and financial assistance

under NHDP in Andhra Pradesh, district-wise, during the last three years are as under:

Sl. No.	2022-23		2023-24		2024-25
	District	Number of artisans	District	Number of artisans	District	Number of artisans
	Krishna	120	Guntur	159	Krishna	44
	Annakapalli	128	Annakapalli	232	Annakapalli	66
	Vishakhapatnam	101	Vishakhapatnam	5	Alluri Seetharamaraju	30
	East Godavari	80	East Godavari	40	Bapatla	30
	Eluru	385	Eluru	114	East Godavari	50
	Guntur	40	Konaseema	124	Eluru	34
	Kakinada	50	Krishna	109	Konaseema	35
	NTR	457	NTR	325	Krishna	44
	Palnadu	280	Palnadu	34	NTR	76
	Srikakulam	95	Parvathi puram manyam	144	Palnadu	4
	West Godavari	545	Srikakulam	85	Parvathi puram manyam	34
	Sri Sathya Sai	150	Vijayanagaram	5	Srikakulam	4
	Tirupati	30	West Godavari	161	Vijayanagaram	5
	Chittoor	30	Sri Sathya Sai	100	West Godavari	75
	Nellore	1	Chittoor	50	Annamayya	30
	Vijayanagaram	1	Tirupati	30	Kurnool	31
			Kurnool	01	Tirupati	3
					Srisathya sai	3
					Vishakhapatnam	1
Total		2,493		1,718		599

This information was provided by THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES SHRI PABITRA MARGHERITA in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

*******

DHANYA SANAL K

DIRECTOR

(Lok Sabha US Q2978)

(Release ID: 2113554)

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 22, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Housing Authority endorses tightening of “Well-off Tenants Policies” and review of implementation details

Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region

Housing Authority endorses tightening of “Well-off Tenants Policies” and review of implementation details
     The Hong Kong Housing Authority (HA) Subsidised Housing Committee (SHC) endorsed today (March 21) the tightening of “Well-off Tenants Policies” (WTP) and the rationalisation of some of the implementation details.

“The Chief Executive announced in the 2024 Policy Address that the WTP of public rental housing (PRH) will be tightened up, by raising the additional rent and lowering the income limit of well-off tenants. In this connection, the HA has reviewed various arrangements to expedite the circulation of PRH flats and encourage upward mobility of well-off tenants,” a spokesman for the HA said.

Tightening up the WTP

     Under the existing WTP, PRH tenants who have resided in PRH for 10 years or more are required to declare biennially their income, assets and whether they own domestic properties in Hong Kong. Households whose family income exceeds five times the prevailing PRH income limits (PRHILs) or with a total household net asset value exceeding 100 times the prevailing PRHILs or who have domestic property ownership in Hong Kong (applicable to all PRH households regardless of their length of residence in PRH), or refuse to make declaration should vacate their PRH flats. PRH households who do not have domestic property ownership in Hong Kong and whose household income exceeds two times and not more than three times the prevailing PRHILs, will be required to pay 1.5 times net rent plus rates; if their household income exceeds three times and not more than five times the prevailing PRHILs, they will be required to pay double net rent plus rates. These tenants may continue to reside in their PRH flats.

Raising the additional rent for well-off tenants

     In order to allocate resources properly, the SHC has endorsed reducing the subsidies for well-off tenants by raising their additional rents. Households whose family income exceeds two times and not more than three times the prevailing PRHILs will be required to pay 2.5 times net rent plus rates; households whose family income exceeds three times and not more than four times the prevailing PRHILs will be required to pay 3.5 times net rent plus rates; households whose family income exceeds four times and not more than five times the prevailing PRHILs will be required to pay 4.5 times net rent plus rates. For details, please refer to the Annex.

“With the increase in additional rents for well-off tenants, average rent to total household income of well-off tenants will account for about 11 per cent. While this is still much lower than the median rent-to-income ratio of 31.5 per cent for households renting private residential flats, it is comparable to general PRH tenants, which is more reasonable,” the spokesman said.

     The new additional rent level will take effect from the declaration cycle in October this year, and the first batch of well-off tenants will pay rent in accordance with the new additional rent level on October 1, 2026.

Adjusting the threshold for vacating PRH flats

     The SHC also endorsed that PRH tenants with income levels exceeding four times but not five times the PRHILs after two declaration cycles (i.e. four years in total) must also vacate their flats.

“This adjustment will not affect tenants whose financial condition has just begun to improve, and it will also enable better-off PRH tenants to make early arrangements for vacating their PRH flats to ensure the proper use of public housing resources,” the spokesman said.

Encourage upward mobility of well-off tenants

The SHC also endorsed the suggestions below:

(a) Starting from the next home ownership scheme (HOS) sale exercise, adjust the quota allocation ratio of Green Form (GF) and White Form (WF) to 50:50;
“Under the whole package of enhancements to the WTP, we have on the one hand reduced the subsidy for well-off tenants, and at the same time increased their chances of success in purchasing SSF. This aligns with the principles and vision of the HA in optimising the use of public housing resources and encouraging upward mobility,” the spokesman said.

Rationalising the implementation details of the WTP

Arrangements for PRH tenants who have purchased domestic properties in Hong Kong

     Under the prevailing arrangements, if an individual member of a PRH tenancy purchased an SSF using WF status or purchased private domestic property, the HA will issue a Notice To Quit to the tenant concerned for the surrender of the PRH flat, irrespective of whether or not the property concerned has been completed. As for the GF applicants, they do not need to vacate their flat before taking possession of the purchased property and can continue to pay the prevailing level of rent.

     To encourage and enable the upward mobility of PRH tenants and with the completion of more SSFs in the future, the SHC endorsed:
Enhancing the declaration arrangements of the WTP

     Under the existing declaration form under the WTP, all household members of a PRH tenancy are required to declare jointly whether they own any domestic property in Hong Kong, and all members of the household are jointly responsible for the truthfulness and accuracy of the contents of the declaration. The SHC endorsed the enhancement direction of the declaration arrangement. The HA will require each family member to declare individually whether they own any domestic property in Hong Kong under the WTP declaration, so as to identify those who has made false declarations for the purpose of taking enforcement measures. The member who has made false declarations will be subject to a five-year debarment for the application of PRH and liable to prosecutions.

     Measures related the rationalisation of the implementation details of the WTP, will be implemented from March 31, this year onwards. “Policy on Grant of New Tenancy” and “Tenancy Management Policies” adopt the same implementation criteria as the WTP, and the relevant policies will also be implemented on the same date.Issued at HKT 15:14

NNNN

Categories24-7, Asia Pacific, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Government special administrative region, MIL OSI

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

March 22, 2025

Category: Politics

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A rumble in the tech jungle

From corporate lobbying to lawfare

Big Tech pushback to regulation

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Measures taken by the government to use AI in the public health system

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