Category: Politics

MIL-OSI: International Petroleum Corporation Announces Third Quarter 2024 Financial and Operational Results

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

TORONTO, Nov. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — International Petroleum Corporation (IPC or the Corporation) (TSX, Nasdaq Stockholm: IPCO) today released its financial and operational results and related management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024.

William Lundin, IPC’s President and Chief Executive Officer, comments: “We are pleased to announce another positive quarter of operational performance. IPC achieved average net daily production during the third quarter of 45,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), following planned maintenance shutdowns during the quarter. We also continue to purchase IPC common shares under the normal course issuer bid (NCIB). We have now almost completed the 2023/2024 NCIB, reducing the outstanding number of common shares by over 6% since the beginning of December 2023. We intend to seek Toronto Stock Exchange approval to renew the NCIB in December 2024. We are also pleased to report on the progress achieved at the Blackrod Phase 1 development in Canada, which remains on schedule and on budget.”

Q3 2024 Business Highlights

Average net production of approximately 45,000 boepd for Q3 2024, in line with guidance (49% heavy crude oil, 17% light and medium crude oil and 34% natural gas).⁽¹⁾
Successful completion of planned maintenance shutdowns at Onion Lake Thermal (OLT) in Canada and the Bertam field in Malaysia.
Drilling activity at the Suffield area in Canada continued with four wells drilled in Q3 2024 and completed by October 2024.
Development activities on Phase 1 of the Blackrod project continue to progress on schedule and on budget, with forecast first oil in late 2026.
2.6 million IPC common shares purchased and cancelled during Q3 2024 under IPC’s normal course issuer bid (NCIB), on track to complete the 2023/2024 NCIB during November 2024.
IPC plans to seek Toronto Stock Exchange approval for the renewal of the NCIB in December 2024.

Q3 2024 Financial Highlights

Operating costs per boe of USD 17.9 for Q3 2024, below guidance.⁽³⁾
Operating cash flow (OCF) and Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) of MUSD 73 and MUSD 68 respectively in line with guidance for Q3 2024.⁽³⁾
Capital and decommissioning expenditures of MUSD 102 for Q3 2024, in line with guidance.
Free cash flow (FCF) for Q3 2024 amounted to MUSD -38 (MUSD 44 pre-Blackrod Phase 1 project funding).⁽³⁾
Gross cash of MUSD 299 and net debt of MUSD 157 as at September 30, 2024.⁽³⁾
Net result of MUSD 23 for Q3 2024.

Reserves and Resources

Total 2P reserves as at December 31, 2023 of 468 MMboe, with a reserves life index (RLI) of 27 years.⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾
Contingent resources (best estimate, unrisked) as at December 31, 2023 of 1,145 MMboe.⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾

2024 Annual Guidance

Full year 2024 average net production guidance range maintained at 46,000 to 48,000 boepd.⁽¹⁾
Full year 2024 operating costs guidance revised to below USD 18 per boe.⁽³⁾
Full year 2024 OCF guidance estimated at between MUSD 335 and 342, assuming Brent USD 70 to 80 per barrel for the remainder of 2024.⁽³⁾
Full year 2024 capital and decommissioning expenditures guidance forecast maintained at MUSD 437.
Full year 2024 FCF guidance estimated at between MUSD -140 and -133 (between MUSD 222 and 229 pre-Blackrod Phase 1 project funding), assuming Brent USD 70 to 80 per barrel for the remainder of 2024.⁽³⁾

	Three months ended September 30			Nine months ended September 30
USD Thousands	2024		2023	2024		2023
Revenue	173,200		257,366	598,659		655,446
Gross profit	39,505		93,429	167,397		210,559
Net result	22,875		71,681	101,804		143,269
Operating cash flow ⁽³⁾	72,589		119,142	263,831		279,414
Free cash flow ⁽³⁾	(38,269	)	34,703	(74,021	)	67,379
EBITDA ⁽³⁾	68,313		123,054	259,304		284,334
Net cash/(debt) ⁽³⁾	(157,228	)	83,097	(157,228	)	83,097

Oil prices softened in the third quarter with Brent prices averaging USD 80 per barrel compared with USD 85 per barrel in the second quarter. Volatility during the quarter was high with Brent prices ranging from USD 89 per barrel in July to USD 70 per barrel in September. Notwithstanding the volatility in prices, the crude market was in a deficit through the third quarter, aided by the proactive supply management by the OPEC+ group. The continued conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine led to increased oil prices, though these were partially offset by concerns over global oil demand growth, in particular consumer and industrial demand in China. Despite some of these negative factors, the physical market remains tight with OECD crude stock levels below the five-year average, with oil demand expected to be at an all-time high in 2024 and continue to grow in 2025. Approximately 50% of IPC’s forecast 2024 oil production is hedged at USD 80 per barrel WTI or USD 85 per barrel Dated Brent through to the end of 2024.

The third quarter 2024 WTI to Western Canadian Select (WCS) price differentials averaged just under USD 14 per barrel, in line with the second quarter and approximately USD 5 per barrel lower than the first quarter differential average of USD 19 per barrel. The Trans Mountain expansion (TMX) pipeline continues to support tighter differentials with the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) now having excess spare pipeline capacity for the first time in more than a decade. Crude exports from the new TMX pipeline are flowing off the coast of British Columbia, with deliveries to the US West Coast and Asia creating new end destinations for Canadian heavy oil. Around 70% of our forecast 2024 Canadian WCS production volumes are hedged at a WTI/WCS differential of USD 15 per barrel.

Natural gas prices in Canada remained suppressed in the third quarter, with AECO pricing averaging CAD 0.67 per Mcf during the period, compared to CAD 1.17 per Mcf average for the second quarter. This has led to some Canadian natural gas producers curtailing production as western Canada gas storage levels continue to sit above the five-year range. IPC implemented hedges during the third quarter for approximately 14,500 Mcf per day at CAD 1.57 per Mcf from August to year end 2024.

Third Quarter 2024 Highlights and Full Year 2024 Guidance

IPC delivered average daily production rates of 45,000 boepd for the third quarter. The average daily production for the first nine months of 2024 was 47,400 boepd and the full year Capital Markets Day (CMD) production guidance of 46,000 to 48,000 boepd is maintained. During the third quarter, planned maintenance shutdowns at the Onion Lake Thermal (OLT) asset in Canada and at the Bertam field in Malaysia were successfully completed. High uptimes were achieved across all major producing assets in our portfolio during the quarter and the business benefited from the oil wells drilled within our Southern Alberta assets and the new wells brought on stream from sustaining Pad L at the OLT asset.⁽¹⁾

Operating costs in the third quarter of 2024 were below forecast at USD 17.9 per boe. The lower costs were largely driven by lower energy input costs within our Canadian asset base. Full year 2024 operating costs guidance is revised to less than USD 18 per boe, below the CMD guidance range of USD 18 to 19 per boe.⁽³⁾

Operating cash flow (OCF) for the third quarter of 2024 was USD 73 million in line with forecast. Full year 2024 OCF guidance is revised to USD 335 to 342 million (assuming Brent USD 70 to 80 per barrel for the remainder of 2024).⁽³⁾

Capital and decommissioning expenditure for the third quarter was in line with plan at USD 102 million. Our full year 2024 capital and decommissioning expenditure guidance is unchanged at USD 437 million.

Free cash flow (FCF) was USD -38 million (or USD 44 million pre-Blackrod Phase 1 development funding) during the third quarter of 2024. Full year 2024 FCF guidance is revised to USD -140 to -133 million (or USD 222 to 229 million pre-Blackrod Phase 1 development funding) assuming Brent USD 70 to 80 per barrel for the remainder of 2024.⁽³⁾

Net debt was increased during the third quarter of 2024 by approximately USD 69 million to USD 157 million.⁽³⁾ This is due to the growth capital expenditure at the Blackrod Phase 1 project and continued funding of the normal course issuer bid (NCIB) share repurchase program. The gross cash position as at September 30, 2024 was USD 299 million. In the third quarter, IPC enhanced its financing position by entering into a letter of credit facility in Canada to cover all of its existing operational letters of credit, giving full availability under IPC’s undrawn CAD 180 million Revolving Credit Facility.

With a robust balance sheet and strong cashflow generation from the producing assets, IPC is strongly positioned to deliver on our three strategic pillars of organic growth, shareholder returns and pursue value-adding M&A.

Blackrod Phase 1 Project

The Blackrod asset is 100% owned by IPC and hosts the largest booked reserves and contingent resources within the IPC portfolio. After more than a decade of pilot operations, subsurface delineation and commercial engineering studies, IPC sanctioned the Phase 1 development in the first quarter of 2023. The Phase 1 development targets 218 MMboe of 2P reserves, with a multi-year forecast capital expenditure of USD 850 million to first oil planned in late 2026. The Phase 1 development is planned for plateau production of 30,000 bopd which is expected by early 2028.⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾

2024 marks a peak investment year at the Blackrod Phase 1 project for IPC, with USD 362 million planned to be spent in the year. Project progress has advanced according to plan, with approximately USD 245 million spent through the first nine months of 2024. All major third-party contracts have been executed, including but not limited to, the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) agreements for the central processing facility (CPF) and well pad facilities, midstream agreements for the input fuel gas, diluent and oil blend pipelines, and drilling rig and stakeholder agreements. All major long lead items have been procured and pre-operations onboarding continues as the asset undergoes rapid change from a pilot steam assisted gravity drainage (SAGD) operation to a commercial SAGD operation. IPC’s core operational philosophy is to responsibly develop and commission projects with the staff that are going to manage and operate the asset to ensure the seamless transition from development to operations.

As at the end of the third quarter of 2024, over half of the Blackrod Phase 1 development capital had been spent since the project sanction in early 2023. All major work streams are progressing as planned and the focus continues to be on executing the detailed sequencing of events as facility modules are safely delivered and installed at site. The total Phase 1 project guidance of USD 850 million capital expenditure to first oil in late 2026 is unchanged. IPC intends to fund the remaining Blackrod Phase 1 development costs with forecast cash flow generated by its operations and cash on hand.

Stakeholder Returns: Normal Course Issuer Bid

Under the current 2023/2024 NCIB, IPC has the ability to repurchase up to approximately 8.3 million common shares over the period of December 5, 2023 to December 4, 2024. IPC repurchased and cancelled approximately 7.5 million common shares up to the end of September 2024. The average price of common shares purchased under the 2023/2024 NCIB was SEK 132 / CAD 17 per share. IPC expects to complete the 2023/2024 NCIB during November 2024, resulting in the cancellation of 6.5% of the total number of common shares outstanding as at the beginning of December 2023.

As at September 30, 2024, IPC had a total of 120,751,038 common shares issued and outstanding and IPC held 30,000 common shares in treasury. As at October 31, 2024, IPC had a total of 120,244,638 common shares issued and outstanding and IPC held 44,400 common shares in treasury.

The IPC Board of Directors has approved, subject to acceptance by the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), the renewal of IPC’s NCIB for a further twelve months from December 2024 to December 2025. We expect that the 2024/2025 NCIB will permit IPC to purchase on the TSX and/or Nasdaq Stockholm, and cancel, up to a further approximately 7.5 million common shares, representing approximately 6.2% of the total outstanding common shares (or 10% of IPC’s “public float” under applicable TSX rules) following completion of the current 2023/2024 NCIB. IPC continues to believe that reducing the number of common shares outstanding while in parallel investing in material production growth at the Blackrod project will prove to be a winning formula for our stakeholders.

Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Performance

As part of IPC’s commitment to operational excellence and responsible development, its objective is to reduce risk and eliminate hazards to prevent occurrence of accidents, ill health, and environmental damage, as these are essential to the success of our business operations. During the third quarter of 2024, IPC recorded no material safety or environmental incidents.

As previously announced, IPC targets a reduction of our net GHG emissions intensity by the end of 2025 to 50% of IPC’s 2019 baseline and IPC remains on track to achieve this reduction. During the first quarter of 2024, IPC announced the commitment to remain at end 2025 levels of 20 kg CO₂/boe through to the end of 2028.⁽⁴⁾

Notes:

(1) See “Supplemental Information regarding Product Types” in “Reserves and Resources Advisory” below. See also the annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2023 (AIF) available on IPC’s website at www.international-petroleum.com and under IPC’s profile on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.
(2) See “Reserves and Resources Advisory“ below. Further information with respect to IPC’s reserves, contingent resources and estimates of future net revenue, including assumptions relating to the calculation of NPV, are described in the AIF.
(3) Non-IFRS measures, see “Non-IFRS Measures” below and in the MD&A.
(4) Emissions intensity is the ratio between oil and gas production and the associated carbon emissions, and net emissions intensity reflects gross emissions less operational emission reductions and carbon offsets.

International Petroleum Corp. (IPC) is an international oil and gas exploration and production company with a high quality portfolio of assets located in Canada, Malaysia and France, providing a solid foundation for organic and inorganic growth. IPC is a member of the Lundin Group of Companies. IPC is incorporated in Canada and IPC’s shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and the Nasdaq Stockholm exchange under the symbol “IPCO”.

For further information, please contact:

Rebecca Gordon SVP Corporate Planning and Investor Relations rebecca.gordon@international-petroleum.com Tel: +41 22 595 10 50		Or		Robert Eriksson Media Manager reriksson@rive6.ch Tel: +46 701 11 26 15

This information is information that International Petroleum Corporation is required to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the contact persons set out above, at 07:30 CET on November 5, 2024. The Corporation’s unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements (Financial Statements) and management’s discussion and analysis (MD&A) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 have been filed on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) and are also available on the Corporation’s website (www.international-petroleum.com).

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains statements and information which constitute “forward-looking statements” or “forward-looking information” (within the meaning of applicable securities legislation). Such statements and information (together, “forward-looking statements”) relate to future events, including the Corporation’s future performance, business prospects or opportunities. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release, unless otherwise indicated. IPC does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws.

All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, forecasts, guidance, budgets, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as “seek”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”, “may”, “will”, “project”, “forecast”, “predict”, “potential”, “targeting”, “intend”, “could”, “might”, “should”, “believe”, “budget” and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be “forward-looking statements”.

Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to:

2024 production ranges (including total daily average production), production composition, cash flows, operating costs and capital and decommissioning expenditure estimates;
Estimates of future production, cash flows, operating costs and capital expenditures that are based on IPC’s current business plans and assumptions regarding the business environment, which are subject to change;
IPC’s financial and operational flexibility to continue to react to recent events and navigate the Corporation through periods of volatile commodity prices;
The ability to fully fund future expenditures from cash flows and current borrowing capacity;
IPC’s intention and ability to continue to implement strategies to build long-term shareholder value;
The ability of IPC’s portfolio of assets to provide a solid foundation for organic and inorganic growth;
The continued facility uptime and reservoir performance in IPC’s areas of operation;
Development of the Blackrod project in Canada, including estimates of resource volumes, future production, timing, regulatory approvals, third party commercial arrangements, breakeven prices and net present value;
Current and future production performance, operations and development potential of the Onion Lake Thermal, Suffield, Brooks, Ferguson and Mooney operations, including the timing and success of future oil and gas drilling and optimization programs;
The potential improvement in the Canadian oil egress situation and IPC’s ability to benefit from any such improvements;
The ability to maintain current and forecast production in France and Malaysia;
The intention and ability of IPC to acquire further common shares under the NCIB, including the timing of any such purchases;
The ability of IPC to renew the NCIB and the number of common shares which may be purchased under a renewed NCIB;
The return of value to IPC’s shareholders as a result of the NCIB;
The ability of IPC to implement further shareholder distributions in addition to the NCIB;
IPC’s ability to implement its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions intensity and climate strategies and to achieve its net GHG emissions intensity reduction targets;
IPC’s ability to implement projects to reduce net emissions intensity, including potential carbon capture and storage;
Estimates of reserves and contingent resources;
The ability to generate free cash flows and use that cash to repay debt;
IPC’s continued access to its existing credit facilities, including current financial headroom, on terms acceptable to the Corporation;
IPC’s ability to maintain operations, production and business in light of any future pandemics and the restrictions and disruptions related thereto, including risks related to production delays and interruptions, changes in laws and regulations and reliance on third-party operators and infrastructure;
IPC’s ability to identify and complete future acquisitions;
Expectations regarding the oil and gas industry in Canada, Malaysia and France, including assumptions regarding future royalty rates, regulatory approvals, legislative changes, and ongoing projects and their expected completion; and
Future drilling and other exploration and development activities.

Statements relating to “reserves” and “contingent resources” are also deemed to be forward-looking statements, as they involve the implied assessment, based on certain estimates and assumptions, that the reserves and resources described exist in the quantities predicted or estimated and that the reserves and resources can be profitably produced in the future. Ultimate recovery of reserves or resources is based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management.

Although IPC believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because IPC can give no assurances that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks.

These include, but are not limited to general global economic, market and business conditions; the risks associated with the oil and gas industry in general such as operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to reserves, resources, production, revenues, costs and expenses; health, safety and environmental risks; commodity price fluctuations; interest rate and exchange rate fluctuations; marketing and transportation; loss of markets; environmental and climate-related risks; competition; innovation and cybersecurity risks related to our systems, including our costs of addressing or mitigating such risks; the ability to attract, engage and retain skilled employees; incorrect assessment of the value of acquisitions; failure to complete or realize the anticipated benefits of acquisitions or dispositions; the ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; failure to obtain required regulatory and other approvals; geopolitical conflicts, including the war between Ukraine and Russia and the conflict in the Middle East, and their potential impact on, among other things, global market conditions; and changes in legislation, including but not limited to tax laws, royalties, environmental and abandonment regulations.

Additional information on these and other factors that could affect IPC, or its operations or financial results, are included in the MD&A (See “Risk Factors”, “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information” and “Reserves and Resources Advisory” therein), the Corporation’s Annual Information Form (AIF) for the year ended December 31, 2023, (See “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information”, “Reserves and Resources Advisory” and “Risk Factors”) and other reports on file with applicable securities regulatory authorities, including previous financial reports, management’s discussion and analysis and material change reports, which may be accessed through the SEDAR+ website (www.sedarplus.ca) or IPC’s website (www.international-petroleum.com).

Management of IPC approved the production, operating costs, operating cash flow, capital and decommissioning expenditures and free cash flow guidance and estimates contained herein as of the date of this press release. The purpose of these guidance and estimates is to assist readers in understanding IPC’s expected and targeted financial results, and this information may not be appropriate for other purposes.

Non-IFRS Measures
References are made in this press release to “operating cash flow” (OCF), “free cash flow” (FCF), “Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization” (EBITDA), “operating costs” and “net debt”/”net cash”, which are not generally accepted accounting measures under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and do not have any standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and, therefore, may not be comparable with similar measures presented by other public companies. Non-IFRS measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures prepared in accordance with IFRS.

The definition of each non-IFRS measure is presented in IPC’s MD&A (See “Non-IFRS Measures” therein).

Operating cash flow
The following table sets out how operating cash flow is calculated from figures shown in the Financial Statements:

	Three months ended September 30				Nine months ended September 30
USD Thousands	2024		2023		2024		2023
Revenue	173,200		257,366		598,659		655,446
Production costs	(100,984	)	(130,765	)	(328,110	)	(364,889	)
Current tax	373		(7,459	)	(6,718	)	(16,045	)
Operating cash flow	72,589		119,142		263,831		274,512

The operating cash flow for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 including the operating cash flow contribution of the Brooks assets acquisition from the effective date of January 1, 2023 to the completion date of March 3, 2023 amounted to USD 279,414 thousand.

Free cash flow
The following table sets out how free cash flow is calculated from figures shown in the Financial Statements:

	Three months ended September 30				Nine months ended September 30
USD Thousands	2024		2023		2024		2023
Operating cash flow – see above	72,589		119,142		263,831		274,512
Capital expenditures	(99,100	)	(76,844	)	(308,457	)	(183,904	)
Abandonment and farm-in expenditures¹	(2,575	)	(2,755	)	(4,938	)	(7,683	)
General, administration and depreciation expenses before depreciation²	(3,903	)	(3,547	)	(11,245	)	(11,124	)
Cash financial items³	(5,280	)	(1,293	)	(13,212	)	(3,593	)
Free cash flow	(38,269	)	34,703		(74,021	)	68,208

¹ See note 16 to the Financial Statements
² Depreciation is not specifically disclosed in the Financial Statements
³ See notes 4 and 5 to the Financial Statements

The free cash flow for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 including the free cash flow contribution of the Brooks assets acquisition from the effective date of January 1, 2023 to the completion date of March 3, 2023 amounted to USD 67,379 thousand.

EBITDA
The following table sets out the reconciliation from net result from the consolidated statement of operations to EBITDA:

	Three months ended September 30			Nine months ended September 30
USD Thousands	2024	2023		2024	2023
Net result	22,875	71,681		101,804	143,269
Net financial items	4,124	4,257		23,942	16,227
Income tax	8,257	25,451		29,473	50,671
Depletion and decommissioning costs	30,491	31,687		96,305	71,488
Depreciation of other tangible fixed assets	2,023	1,509		6,503	6,503
Exploration and business development costs	197	(24	)	344	2,007
Depreciation included in general, administration and depreciation expenses ¹	346	405		933	1,180
Sale of Assets	–	(11,912	)	–	(11,912	)
EBITDA	68,313	123,054		259,304	279,433

¹ Item is not shown in the Financial Statements

The EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 including the EBITDA contribution of the Brooks assets acquisition from the effective date of January 1, 2023 to the completion date of March 3, 2023 amounted to USD 284,334 thousand.

Operating costs
The following table sets out how operating costs is calculated:

	Three months ended September 30				Nine months ended September 30
USD Thousands	2024		2023		2024		2023
Production costs	100,984		130,765		328,110		364,889
Cost of blending	(29,818	)	(39,836	)	(116,699	)	(128,523	)
Change in inventory position	2,755		(8,067	)	3,160		2,228
Operating costs	73,921		82,862		214,571		238,594

The operating costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2023 including the operating costs contribution of the Brooks assets acquisition from the effective date of January 1, 2023 to the completion date of March 3, 2023 amounted to USD 245,395 thousand.

Net cash/(debt)
The following table sets out how net cash/(debt) is calculated:

USD Thousands	September 30, 2024		December 31, 2023
Bank loans	(6,431	)	(9,031	)
Bonds¹	(450,000	)	(450,000	)
Cash and cash equivalents	299,203		517,074
Net cash/(debt)	(157,228	)	58,043

¹ The bond amount represents the redeemable value at maturity (February 2027).

Reserves and Resources Advisory
This press release contains references to estimates of gross and net reserves and resources attributed to the Corporation’s oil and gas assets. For additional information with respect to such reserves and resources, refer to “Reserves and Resources Advisory” in the MD&A. Light, medium and heavy crude oil reserves/resources disclosed in this press release include solution gas and other by-products. Also see “Supplemental Information regarding Product Types” below.

Reserve estimates, contingent resource estimates and estimates of future net revenue in respect of IPC’s oil and gas assets in Canada are effective as of December 31, 2023, and are included in the reports prepared by Sproule Associates Limited (Sproule), an independent qualified reserves evaluator, in accordance with National Instrument 51-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Oil and Gas Activities (NI 51-101) and the Canadian Oil and Gas Evaluation Handbook (the COGE Handbook) and using Sproule’s December 31, 2023 price forecasts.

Reserve estimates, contingent resource estimates and estimates of future net revenue in respect of IPC’s oil and gas assets in France and Malaysia are effective as of December 31, 2023, and are included in the report prepared by ERC Equipoise Ltd. (ERCE), an independent qualified reserves auditor, in accordance with NI 51-101 and the COGE Handbook, and using Sproule’s December 31, 2023 price forecasts.

The price forecasts used in the Sproule and ERCE reports are available on the website of Sproule (sproule.com) and are contained in the AIF. These price forecasts are as at December 31, 2023 and may not be reflective of current and future forecast commodity prices.

The reserve life index (RLI) is calculated by dividing the 2P reserves of 468 MMboe as at December 31, 2023 by the mid-point of the 2024 CMD production guidance of 46,000 to 48,000 boepd.

IPC uses the industry-accepted standard conversion of six thousand cubic feet of natural gas to one barrel of oil (6 Mcf = 1 bbl). A BOE conversion ratio of 6:1 is based on an energy equivalency conversion method primarily applicable at the burner tip and does not represent a value equivalency at the wellhead. As the value ratio between natural gas and crude oil based on the current prices of natural gas and crude oil is significantly different from the energy equivalency of 6:1, utilizing a 6:1 conversion basis may be misleading as an indication of value.

Supplemental Information regarding Product Types

The following table is intended to provide supplemental information about the product type composition of IPC’s net average daily production figures provided in this press release:

	Heavy Crude Oil (Mbopd)	Light and Medium Crude Oil (Mbopd)	Conventional Natural Gas (per day)	Total (Mboepd)
Three months ended
September 30, 2024	21.9	7.8	91.9 MMcf (15.3 Mboe)	45.0
September 30, 2023	25.8	7.1	103.4 MMcf (17.3 Mboe)	50.2
Nine months ended
September 30, 2024	23.7	7.9	94.8 MMcf (15.8 Mboe)	47.4
September 30, 2023	25.9	8.6	102.4 MMcf (17.1 Mboe)	51.6
Year ended
December 31, 2023	25.8	8.1	102.8 MMcf (17.1 Mboe)	51.1

This press release also makes reference to IPC’s forecast total average daily production of 46,000 to 48,000 boepd for 2024. IPC estimates that approximately 50% of that production will be comprised of heavy oil, approximately 16% will be comprised of light and medium crude oil and approximately 34% will be comprised of conventional natural gas.

Currency
All dollar amounts in this press release are expressed in United States dollars, except where otherwise noted. References herein to USD mean United States dollars and to MUSD mean millions of United States dollars. References herein to CAD mean Canadian dollars.

The MIL Network –

January 26, 2025

MIL-OSI Africa: Secretary-General’s message on World Tsunami Awareness Day [scroll down for French version]

Source: United Nations – English

his year marks the 20th anniversary of the Indian Ocean Tsunami – one of the deadliest disasters in recent history. More than 230,000 people lost their lives.

On this World Tsunami Awareness Day, we honour the victims and recommit to protecting the 700 million people around the world who are at risk from tsunamis.

The best way to do so is by all partners delivering on the United Nations Early Warnings for All initiative that helps ensure every person on Earth is alerted when tsunamis and other disasters are on the way.

Education is vital to saving lives, and as this year’s theme reminds us, the participation of children and young people is critical. I urge governments and partners in coastal communities to raise awareness, so children and young people know how and where to evacuate to higher ground.

Together, let’s ensure people’s futures are not swept away by tsunamis. Let’s build resilience – now.

***

Cette année marque le vingtième anniversaire du tsunami survenu dans l’océan Indien, l’une des catastrophes les plus meurtrières de l’histoire récente, qui a coûté la vie à plus de 230 000 personnes.

En cette Journée mondiale de sensibilisation aux tsunamis, nous honorons la mémoire des victimes et nous renouvelons notre engagement à protéger les 700 millions de personnes dans le monde qui sont menacées par les tsunamis.

Le meilleur moyen d’y parvenir est que tous les partenaires mettent en œuvre l’initiative « Alertes précoces pour tous » des Nations Unies, qui permet d’alerter chaque personne sur Terre à l’approche de tsunamis ou d’autres catastrophes.

L’éducation est essentielle pour sauver des vies et, comme le rappelle le thème de cette année, la participation des enfants et des jeunes est cruciale. J’invite les gouvernements et les partenaires dans les zones côtières à sensibiliser les populations, afin que les enfants et les jeunes sachent comment procéder, en cas d’évacuation, pour regagner des zones plus élevées.

Ensemble, agissons pour que l’avenir de nos semblables ne soit pas balayé par les tsunamis. Renforçons la résilience, maintenant !

MIL OSI Africa –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI China: US election day voting begins with first ballots cast in New Hampshire

Source: China State Council Information Office

Voters in Dixville Notch, New Hampshire, went to the polls early Tuesday morning, marking the official start of Election Day voting for the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

Six registered voters of the tiny town in northeastern United States cast their ballots at midnight, following a tradition that dates back decades ago.

Amid heightened security for fears of violence and chaos, the vast majority of polling stations across the country open on Tuesday morning and will remain open until the evening.

Prior to this, tens of millions of voters across the country have already cast their ballots early, either by voting in person at polling stations or by mail. According to data from the University of Florida’s Election Lab, as of Monday night, more than 82 million voters had already cast their ballots.

This election is widely regarded as one of the most divisive in American history. Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and Republican candidate Donald Trump have repeatedly warned against potentially catastrophic consequences inflicted on the country if the other is elected. Voters hold vastly different views on key issues such as the economy, immigration, and abortion rights.

According to an annual survey conducted by the American Psychological Association, 77 percent of U.S. adults said the future of the nation was a significant source of stress in their lives. Additionally, 74 percent said they were worried that the election results could lead to violence.

“I would hope that whoever wins the presidential election will handle it gracefully, and whoever doesn’t win, likewise, will handle it gracefully,” Annmarie Pintal, one of the just six voters registered to vote in Dixville Notch, told Xinhua.

“We need unity. We need to come together on the common ground, and, be willing to set aside our differences,” said Scott Maxwell, another voter in the small town.

MIL OSI China News –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: UK to create world-first ‘early warning system’ for pandemics
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

The government is set to partner with Oxford Nanopore, which uses technology to rapidly diagnose a range of cancers, along with rare and infectious diseases
New partnership with cutting-edge life sciences company Oxford Nanopore will lead to better scientific research and could create tests and treatments for patients, saving lives

Patients suspected of having severe acute respiratory infections will be diagnosed within 6 hours, supporting the establishment of a new diagnostic system

Technology will allow potential outbreaks of bacterial or viral diseases to be monitored alongside antimicrobial resistance, shifting NHS from analogue to digital as part of 10-Year Health Plan

The UK will create the world’s first real-time surveillance system to monitor the threat of future pandemics, prevent disease, and protect the public.

Plans have been announced to form a new partnership between the government, Genomics England, UK Biobank, NHS England, and Oxford Nanopore – a UK-headquartered, world-leading life sciences company.

Oxford Nanopore uses long read sequencing technology to analyse genes and pathogens to rapidly diagnose a range of cancers, along with rare and infectious diseases. The technology can sequence long strands of DNA or RNA in one go, without breaking it up into smaller fragments.

In infectious diseases, Oxford Nanopore’s technology will help to create an early warning system for future pandemics and potential biological threats, both preventing disease and protecting the public.

It will be used in the expansion of NHS England’s Respiratory Metagenomics programme, being led by Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT). It uses samples from patients with severe respiratory infections and rapid genetic testing to match those patients with the right treatments within 6 hours.

This novel and world-leading application, developed in partnership with the NHS, will allow potential outbreaks of bacterial or viral diseases to be monitored alongside antimicrobial resistance across the country.

Following an initial successful pilot at St Thomas’ Hospital, the technology will now be rolled out from 10 to up to 30 NHS sites to address the current time lag between new pathogens emerging in the UK and action being taken to both treat affected patients and to prevent their spread, which will benefit people everywhere.

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said:

If we fail to prepare, we should prepare to fail. Our NHS was already on its knees when the pandemic struck, and it was hit harder than any other comparable healthcare system.

We cannot let history repeat itself. That’s why this historic partnership with Oxford Nanopore will ensure our world-leading scientists have the latest information on emerging threats at their fingertips.

As we embrace the technological revolution, our 10-Year Health Plan will shift the NHS away from analogue to digital, saving countless more lives.

Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said:

During the Covid pandemic, we saw the power of the UK life sciences sector very clearly, from the Oxford-Astra Zeneca vaccine that saved so many lives, through to operating one of the world’s most effective Covid surveillance systems, which spotted several emerging variants of the disease.

This partnership will build on that expertise to monitor emerging diseases as they arise, putting our scientists and decision-makers one-step ahead and providing the information they need to make informed decisions.

Together with the ability to better diagnose cancers and rare diseases, we are leveraging UK life sciences to protect the public and ultimately save lives.

Professor Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Advisor at UK Health Security Agency, said:

Early detection is absolutely crucial in enabling us to respond effectively to any emerging pathogen. The UK already has a wealth of expertise in genomic surveillance, and this programme will build on that expertise and enable us to bring our resources and capability to tackle developing threats at greater speed. Enhancing the capacity for the NHS to determine new and emerging pathogens causing severe acute respiratory infections will improve the detection and emergence of infections.

As part of the 100 days mission, this will enable the development of effective diagnostics for novel pathogens and enhance our pandemic preparedness.

Oxford Nanopore CEO Gordon Sanghera said:

The UK has a remarkable life science ecosystem, and we are delighted to be working more closely with the UK government and the NHS in this collaboration.

The world-renowned Genomics England and UK Biobank have led the way in scaling genomics discovery and translating these advances into patient impact.

By working alongside our partners on shared goals of improved patient outcomes – whether in cancer, genetic disease or infectious disease – and pandemic preparedness, we believe we can deploy our unique DNA sequencing technology in ways that are most impactful for the people of the UK.

Professor Ian Abbs, chief executive of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, said:

We’ve been working on the respiratory metagenomics programme for over 4 years and have clearly seen the benefit to our patients. It’s a momentous day now that we can ensure other hospitals, and more patients, can also benefit from faster and more accurate treatment for severe respiratory conditions thanks to new genomic technology.

As part of the expansion to the metagenomics programme, the data gathered using Oxford Nanopore’s technology will be provided to the UK Health and Security Agency, allowing quicker detection and action on emerging infectious diseases to be taken.

The collaboration between the government and Oxford Nanopore – which will also join up Genomics England and UK Biobank with NHS England – is another key vote of confidence in the UK’s life sciences sector, which will help kickstart economic growth and support the 10-Year Health Plan’s ambition to shift the health service from analogue to digital and from sickness to prevention, helping keep patients out of hospital.

Genomics England will work strategically with Oxford Nanopore to further insights from the data they hold, including on cancer and rare diseases, to enable future breakthroughs in identifying genomic mutations that may be treatable and preventing these devastating conditions. UK Biobank will also continue to work with Oxford Nanopore and the government to improve the insights from their data and translate these into impact for NHS patients.

Along with the vast benefits to patients, this work will drive economic growth, supporting the expansion of one of our most promising life sciences companies.

This partnership comes hot on the heels of the Budget, where the government announced investment of £40m over 5 years in a Proof of Concept Fund for spinouts, companies formed based on academic research generated within and owned by a university.

This will build on the excellent example set by Oxford Nanopore, one of the UK’s most successful spinout companies, having been founded at Oxford University in 2005. This fund could help to unleash a raft of innovative new spinouts like Oxford Nanopore, helping to drive job creation and economic growth.

Share this page

The following links open in a new tab

Share on Facebook (opens in new tab)

Share on Twitter (opens in new tab)

Updates to this page

Published 5 November 2024
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: CMA provisionally finds Vodafone / Three could address competition concerns through network investment and customer protections
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

CMA inquiry group investigating Vodafone / Three merger publishes Remedies Working Paper.
iStock

CMA inquiry group investigating Vodafone / Three merger publishes Remedies Working Paper.

Merger could proceed if appropriate remedies are implemented.

CMA to seek feedback before making a final decision by 7 December.

The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has provisionally found that a multi-billion-pound commitment to upgrade the merged company’s network across the UK, including the roll-out of 5G, combined with short-term customer protections could solve competition concerns identified in September and allow the merger to go ahead.

The CMA investigation – led by an independent inquiry group – provisionally found in September that the merger could lead to higher prices for customers and harm the position of mobile virtual network operators, such as Sky Mobile, Lyca, Lebara and iD Mobile. The CMA also consulted on potential solutions to address its concerns – known as remedies.

The CMA has today set out a Remedies Working Paper to seek views on the effectiveness of a proposed remedy package.

It provisionally finds that a legally binding commitment to undertake the network integration and investment programme proposed by Vodafone and Three would significantly improve the quality of the merged company’s mobile network, boosting competition between mobile network operators in the long term and benefiting millions of people who rely on mobile services.

The CMA also found that short term protections would be needed to ensure that retail consumers and mobile virtual network operators can continue to secure good deals during the initial years of network integration and investment roll-out.

The remedies proposed today would require Vodafone and Three to:

deliver their joint network plan – which sets out the network upgrade and improvements they will make through significant levels of investment over the next 8 years across the UK. This would be a legal obligation overseen by both Ofcom – the telecoms regulator – and the CMA

commit to retain certain existing mobile tariffs and data plans for at least 3 years, protecting millions of current and future Vodafone / Three customers (including customers on their sub-brands) from short-term price rises in the early years of the network plan

commit to pre-agreed prices and contract terms to ensure that Mobile Virtual Network Operators can obtain competitive wholesale deals

Stuart McIntosh, chair of the inquiry group leading the investigation, said:

We believe this deal has the potential to be pro-competitive for the UK mobile sector if our concerns are addressed.

Our provisional view is that binding commitments combined with short-term protections for consumers and wholesale providers would address our concerns while preserving the benefits of this merger.

A legally binding network commitment would boost competition in the longer term and the additional measures would protect consumers and wholesale customers while the network upgrades are being rolled out.

Today’s announcement is provisional, with a final decision due before the 7 December statutory deadline. The inquiry group is inviting feedback on today’s announcement by 5pm on 12 November.

More information can be found on the  Vodafone / CK Hutchison JV case page and on  the detailed guidance page.

Notes to editors

The CMA’s guidance explains that the Remedies Working Paper may be published on the CMA website if the CMA deems wider consultation to be necessary. In this case, the CMA considers the publication of the Remedies Working Paper is appropriate for third parties to understand its provisional decision and provide any further views before the final decision.

The inquiry group’s decision set out in the Remedies Working Paper published today on the appropriate remedy to address the competition concerns identified in the provisional findings is provisional. Following consultation on the Remedies Working Paper, the Group will take its final decision on both the competition issues and any remedies by 7 December 2024.

Vodafone UK (which is owned by Vodafone Group Plc) and Three UK (which is owned by CK Hutchison Holdings Limited) are two major providers of mobile telecommunication services in the UK. Last year both businesses announced a joint venture agreement which would bring their 27 million customers under a new, single network operator.

The 4 mobile network operators in the UK are Vodafone UK, Three UK, BTEE and Virgin Media O2.

‘Virtual’ network operators – such as Sky Mobile, Tesco Mobile, Lebara, Lyca Mobile and iD Mobile – do not own their own networks and rely on access to a mobile network operator’s network to supply mobile services to their customers.

Part way through the Phase 2 investigation, Vodafone and Three entered into an agreement with VMO2 (Beacon 4.1) which involves, among other things, the divestment of spectrum to VMO2 (conditional on CMA approval for the merger). The CMA has considered the impact of this as part of its assessment.

Share this page

The following links open in a new tab

Share on Facebook (opens in new tab)

Share on Twitter (opens in new tab)

Updates to this page

Published 5 November 2024
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: SFST promotes HK in Zurich

Source: Hong Kong Information Services

Secretary for Financial Services & the Treasury Christopher Hui yesterday began a visit to Switzerland, where he is promoting Hong Kong’s status as an international centre for asset, wealth and risk management.

In Zurich, Mr Hui met Swiss Re Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Solutions Ivan Gonzalez, and Chairman of the Board of Zurich Insurance Group Michel M Liès, giving them an update on initiatives announced in the 2024 Policy Address to strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a global risk management centre.

These initiatives include reviewing the risk-based capital regime implemented in July and examining capital requirements for infrastructure investment in order to enrich insurance companies’ asset allocations for risk diversification and drive investment in infrastructure. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government will also continue to invite Mainland and overseas enterprises to establish captive insurers in Hong Kong.

Mr Hui also had a lunch meeting with the Swiss-Hong Kong Business Association, a member of the Federation of Hong Kong Business Associations. He briefed the association on investment opportunities in Hong Kong’s asset and wealth management sectors, stressing that the city welcomes investors and family offices from around the world.

At another gathering, with leaders of a multinational financial service provider, Mr Hui spoke of the enhancements proposed in the Policy Address to strengthen Hong Kong’s status as an asset and wealth management hub.

The industry is to be consulted on increasing the types of transactions, by funds and family offices, that are eligible for tax concessions. It is proposed that emission derivatives and allowances, virtual assets, insurance-linked securities, loans and private credit investments, and more, be made eligible.

Mr Hui added that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government’s issuance of green bonds is attracting strong interest from local and international investors, with $220 billion in government green bonds having been issued so far.

The treasury chief also met the Swiss National Bank’s Head of Bilateral Cooperation of Lena Lee Andresen to discuss issues of mutual concern such as global trends in monetary policy.

In addition, Mr Hui visited the headquarters of Gategroup, a market-leading inflight caterer with a global presence and operations in Hong Kong, and met its Chief Financial Officer Urs Schwendinger.

Highlighting that Hong Kong is an international aviation hub and that development of its Airport City is ongoing, he invited Gategroup to expand its operations in the SAR.

Mr Hui’s visit to Switzerland will continue today in Geneva.

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Foreign Minister Lin visits jointly constructed neonatal building of San Juan de Dios Hospital and joins Guatemalan Foreign Minister Martínez in celebrating 90th anniversary of bilateral ties

Source: Republic of China Taiwan 3

Foreign Minister Lin visits jointly constructed neonatal building of San Juan de Dios Hospital and joins Guatemalan Foreign Minister Martínez in celebrating 90th anniversary of bilateral ties

Date：2024-10-27
Data Source：Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs

October 27, 2024
No. 371

On October 25, during his visit to Guatemala, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung met with President Bernardo Arévalo, Foreign Minister Carlos Martínez, and other senior officials. He also toured the neonatal building of San Juan de Dios Hospital, which finished construction this year with assistance from Taiwan. While at the new building, Minister Lin interacted with families that benefited from the joint endeavor, giving him the opportunity to better understand the fruits of Taiwan-Guatemala collaboration.

Hospital Director Erika Pérez and Pediatrics Department Chief Juan Carlos Reyes introduced the facilities and functions of the building to Minister Lin when he toured the neonatal building in the morning. Accompanied by Guatemalan Minister of Public Health and Social Assistance Joaquín Barnoya, Minister Lin attended a traditional Taiwanese ceremony to bless infants and gave gifts to the attending families.

In his remarks at San Juan de Dios Hospital, Minister Lin stated that, in addition to the joint construction of the hospital’s neonatal building, Taiwan’s technical mission and Guatemala are working on a program to promote maternal and neonatal health care. The initiative will assist in training medical professionals at hospitals and birth centers in Guatemala City to enhance their ability to give women clinical care before, during, and after childbirth and reduce premature birth and infant mortality risks, benefiting 70,000 people each year. It will also arrange for related personnel from Guatemala to travel to Taiwan for training. Over 450 health care professionals are expected to receive training, thereby raising the quality of services available to women and children in Guatemala. It took just 12 months for Taiwan and Guatemala to complete the planning and construction of the neonatal building of San Juan de Dios Hospital, which has helped improve maternal and neonatal care. The important project has been met with wide approval from the government and civil society of Guatemala.

In the afternoon, Minister Lin called at Guatemala’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to meet with Minister Martínez, who invited him to view bamboo planted by Taiwan’s technical mission in the square outside the building. The plants commemorate 90 years of friendship and diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Guatemala. (E)

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Foreign Minister Lin leads delegation to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as presidential envoy to attend 45th independence anniversary celebrations

Source: Republic of China Taiwan 3

Foreign Minister Lin leads delegation to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as presidential envoy to attend 45th independence anniversary celebrations

Date：2024-10-28
Data Source：Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs

October 28, 2024
No. 375

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung, serving as President Lai Ching-te’s special envoy, led a delegation to Caribbean ally Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on October 26. He participated in a ceremony and other celebrations marking the 45th anniversary of the independence of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In addition, he met with Governor-General Susan Dougan, held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, attended a welcome reception hosted by the government, and took part in other official events.

Minister Lin joined Prime Minister Gonsalves in presiding over the groundbreaking ceremony for the Arnos Vale Acute Care Hospital. He also attended the official opening of a farmers training room and a cold storage facility built at Orange Hill Farm with Taiwan’s support; a plaque unveiling for a new livestock facility at the Rabacca National Breeding Station; and an October fair celebrating the national days of both countries. Minister Lin reaffirmed President Lai’s staunch commitment to deepening relations with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and, together with local residents, witnessed the results of Taiwan’s international development programs.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Arnos Vale Acute Care Hospital, Minister Lin said that the important project highlighted the close partnership between the two countries. He expressed confidence that it would not only contribute to medical care modernization but also create job opportunities in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. He stated that in addition to building the hospital, Taiwan had also promoted other infrastructure projects, including the modernization of Kingstown Port, road renovation, and the construction of the House of Assembly and courthouse buildings.

During the event at Orange Hill Farm, Minister Lin noted that bilateral cooperation in agricultural technology had yielded significant results. He commended the establishment of Orange Hill Biotechnology Center, which had long served as a key pillar for agricultural advancement and modernization of the sector in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. He also spoke about the launch of a new agricultural cooperation program in 2025 focusing on the introduction of smart agricultural technologies to improve productivity and bolster young people’s engagement in agriculture.

The Republic of China (Taiwan) and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines established diplomatic relations in 1981. Over the past 43 years, bilateral cooperation projects have produced remarkable achievements. The two countries enjoy a cordial and solid partnership; share the core values of democracy, freedom, and human rights; and engage in close collaboration in such domains as agriculture, food security, infrastructure, medical care, public health, ICT, and women’s empowerment. Both nations will continue to build on the existing robust foundation to strengthen cooperation and deepen their partnership based on shared prosperity and mutual benefit. (E)

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 26, 2025

MIL-OSI: Valeura Energy Inc.: Completion of Internal Restructuring

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

SINGAPORE, Nov. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Valeura Energy Inc. (TSX:VLE, OTCQX:VLERF) (“Valeura” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce the completion of an internal restructuring of its Thailand subsidiary companies.

Valeura’s working interests in all its Thai III fiscal contracts, covering the Nong Yao, Manora and Wassana fields, are now held by Valeura Energy (Thailand) Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Valeura, which previously had only held an interest in the Wassana asset. The Company anticipates that the new structure offers the potential to optimise various operational and financial aspects of these assets. In particular, the Company anticipates realising efficiencies through ongoing contracting and procurement, as well as the pooling of future costs and historical tax loss carry-forwards associated with these assets. As of September 30, 2024, the cumulative tax loss carry-forwards are estimated at US$397 million⁽¹⁾.

Dr. Sean Guest, President and CEO commented:

“Today marks a milestone in delivering value for our shareholders, and completes the integration work we started after our Gulf of Thailand acquisitions in 2022 and 2023. Early on, we identified the potential for greater efficiency by bringing our Thai III assets together through a re-organisation; our team recognised that together, these assets are worth more than the sum of their parts.

Pursuing this type of synergy strengthens our ability to re-invest in the business for the benefit of all stakeholders. We intend to continue investing directly into the many organic growth opportunities inherent in our Thailand portfolio, and also seeking new ways to provide further value, including through acquisition-led growth.”

Under Thailand’s income tax provisions, from today forward, petroleum income tax for the three subject assets will be assessed as a single entity. Tax obligations relating to the previous subsidiary company arrangement are required to be assessed immediately and settled within the next 30 days. Taxation arrangements for the Jasmine field, which is governed by a different vintage of fiscal terms (known as Thai I), and held in a separate subsidiary entity, will continue unchanged.

(1) Unaudited internal management estimate based on Thai baht exchange rate as of November 1, 2024, subject to review by tax advisors and auditors.

For further information, please contact:

Valeura Energy Inc. (General Corporate Enquiries)	+65 6373 6940
Sean Guest, President and CEO
Yacine Ben-Meriem, CFO
Contact@valeuraenergy.com

Valeura Energy Inc. (Investor and Media Enquiries)	+1 403 975 6752 / +44 7392 940495
Robin James Martin, Vice President, Communications and Investor Relations
IR@valeuraenergy.com

Contact details for the Company’s advisors, covering research analysts and joint brokers, including Auctus Advisors LLP, Canaccord Genuity Ltd (UK), Cormark Securities Inc., Research Capital Corporation, and Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited, are listed on the Company’s website at www.valeuraenergy.com/investor-information/analysts/.

About Valeura

Valeura Energy Inc. is a Canadian public company engaged in the exploration, development and production of petroleum and natural gas in Thailand and in Türkiye. The Company is pursuing a growth-oriented strategy and intends to re-invest into its producing asset portfolio and to deploy resources toward further organic and inorganic growth in Southeast Asia. Valeura aspires toward value accretive growth for stakeholders while adhering to high standards of environmental, social and governance responsibility.

Additional information relating to Valeura is also available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Advisory and Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

Certain information included in this news release constitutes forward-looking information under applicable securities legislation. Such forward-looking information is for the purpose of explaining management’s current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as “anticipate”, “believe”, “expect”, “plan”, “intend”, “estimate”, “propose”, “project”, “target” or similar words suggesting future outcomes or statements regarding an outlook. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to: the potential to optimise various operational and financial aspects, relating to such matters as ongoing contracting and procurement, as well as the pooling of future costs and historical tax loss carry-forwards associated with these assets and statements with respect to the growth opportunities inherent in the Company’s Thailand portfolio and the Company seeking new ways to provide further value.

Forward-looking information is based on management’s current expectations and assumptions regarding, among other things: the ability of the Company to obtain the anticipated benefits from the internal restructuring; political stability of the areas in which the Company is operating; continued safety of operations and ability to proceed in a timely manner; continued operations of and approvals forthcoming from governments and regulators in a manner consistent with past conduct; future drilling activity on the required/expected timelines; the prospectivity of the Company’s lands; the continued favourable pricing and operating netbacks across its business; future production rates and associated operating netbacks and cash flow; decline rates; future sources of funding; future economic conditions; the impact of inflation of future costs; future currency exchange rates; interest rates; the ability to meet drilling deadlines and fulfil commitments under licences and leases; future commodity prices; the impact of the Russian invasion of Ukraine; royalty rates and taxes; future capital and other expenditures; the success obtained in drilling new wells and working over existing wellbores; the performance of wells and facilities; the availability of the required capital to funds its exploration, development and other operations, and the ability of the Company to meet its commitments and financial obligations; the ability of the Company to secure adequate processing, transportation, fractionation and storage capacity on acceptable terms; the capacity and reliability of facilities; the application of regulatory requirements respecting abandonment and reclamation; the recoverability of the Company’s reserves and contingent resources; ability to attract a partner to participate in its tight gas exploration/appraisal play in Türkiye; future growth; the sufficiency of budgeted capital expenditures in carrying out planned activities; the impact of increasing competition; the ability to efficiently integrate assets and employees acquired through acquisitions; global energy policies going forward; future debt levels; and the Company’s continued ability to obtain and retain qualified staff and equipment in a timely and cost efficient manner. In addition, the Company’s work programmes and budgets are in part based upon expected agreement among joint venture partners and associated exploration, development and marketing plans and anticipated costs and sales prices, which are subject to change based on, among other things, the actual results of drilling and related activity, availability of drilling, offshore storage and offloading facilities and other specialised oilfield equipment and service providers, changes in partners’ plans and unexpected delays and changes in market conditions. Although the Company believes the expectations and assumptions reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, they may prove to be incorrect.

Forward-looking information involves significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Exploration, appraisal, and development of oil and natural gas reserves and resources are speculative activities and involve a degree of risk. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated by the Company including, but not limited to: the ability of management to execute its business plan or realise anticipated benefits from acquisitions; the risk of disruptions from public health emergencies and/or pandemics; competition for specialised equipment and human resources; the Company’s ability to manage growth; the Company’s ability to manage the costs related to inflation; disruption in supply chains; the risk of currency fluctuations; changes in interest rates, oil and gas prices and netbacks; potential changes in joint venture partner strategies and participation in work programmes; uncertainty regarding the contemplated timelines and costs for work programme execution; the risks of disruption to operations and access to worksites; potential changes in laws and regulations, the uncertainty regarding government and other approvals; counterparty risk; the risk that financing may not be available; risks associated with weather delays and natural disasters; and the risk associated with international activity. See the most recent annual information form and management’s discussion and analysis of the Company for a detailed discussion of the risk factors.

The forward-looking information contained in this new release is made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking information contained in this new release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.

This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction, including where such offer would be unlawful. This announcement is not for distribution or release, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Ireland, the Republic of South Africa or Japan or any other jurisdiction in which its publication or distribution would be unlawful.

Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

This information is provided by Reach, the non-regulatory press release distribution service of RNS, part of the London Stock Exchange. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.

The MIL Network –

January 26, 2025

MIL-OSI: Progress on share buyback programme
Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

Progress on share buyback programme

ING announced today that, as part of our €2.0 billion share buyback programme announced on 31 October 2024, in total 4,016,274 shares were repurchased during the week of 31 October 2024 up to and including 1 November 2024.

In line with the purpose of the programme to reduce the share capital of ING, the ordinary shares were repurchased at an average price of €15.64 for a total consideration of €62,798,086.93. To date approximately 3.14% of the maximum total value of the share buyback programme has been completed.

For detailed information on the daily repurchased shares, individual share purchase transactions and weekly reports, see the ING website at www.ing.com/investorrelations.

Note for editors

For more on ING, please visit www.ing.com. Frequent news updates can be found in the Newsroom or via X @ING_news feed. Photos of ING operations, buildings and its executives are available for download at Flickr.

ING PROFILE
ING is a global financial institution with a strong European base, offering banking services through its operating company ING Bank. The purpose of ING Bank is: empowering people to stay a step ahead in life and in business. ING Bank’s more than 60,000 employees offer retail and wholesale banking services to customers in over 40 countries.

ING Group shares are listed on the exchanges of Amsterdam (INGA NA, INGA.AS), Brussels and on the New York Stock Exchange (ADRs: ING US, ING.N).

ING aims to put sustainability at the heart of what we do. Our policies and actions are assessed by independent research and ratings providers, which give updates on them annually. ING’s ESG rating by MSCI was reconfirmed by MSCI as ‘AA’ in August 2024 for the fifth year. As of December 2023, in Sustainalytics’ view, ING’s management of ESG material risk is ‘Strong’. Our current ESG Risk Rating, is 17.2 (Low Risk). ING Group shares are also included in major sustainability and ESG index products of leading providers. Here are some examples: Euronext, STOXX, Morningstar and FTSE Russell.

Important legal information

Elements of this press release contain or may contain information about ING Groep N.V. and/ or ING Bank N.V. within the meaning of Article 7(1) to (4) of EU Regulation No 596/2014 (‘Market Abuse Regulation’).

ING Group’s annual accounts are prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union (‘IFRS- EU’). In preparing the financial information in this document, except as described otherwise, the same accounting principles are applied as in the 2023 ING Group consolidated annual accounts. All figures in this document are unaudited. Small differences are possible in the tables due to rounding.

Certain of the statements contained herein are not historical facts, including, without limitation, certain statements made of future expectations and other forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current views and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to diﬀer materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. Actual results, performance or events may diﬀer materially from those in such statements due to a number of factors, including, without limitation: (1) changes in general economic conditions and customer behaviour, in particular economic conditions in ING’s core markets, including changes affecting currency exchange rates and the regional and global economic impact of the invasion of Russia into Ukraine and related international response measures (2) changes affecting interest rate levels (3) any default of a major market participant and related market disruption (4) changes in performance of financial markets, including in Europe and developing markets (5) fiscal uncertainty in Europe and the United States (6) discontinuation of or changes in ‘benchmark’ indices (7) inflation and deflation in our principal markets (8) changes in conditions in the credit and capital markets generally, including changes in borrower and counterparty creditworthiness (9) failures of banks falling under the scope of state compensation schemes (10) non-compliance with or changes in laws and regulations, including those concerning financial services, financial economic crimes and tax laws, and the interpretation and application thereof (11) geopolitical risks, political instabilities and policies and actions of governmental and regulatory authorities, including in connection with the invasion of Russia into Ukraine and the related international response measures (12) legal and regulatory risks in certain countries with less developed legal and regulatory frameworks (13) prudential supervision and regulations, including in relation to stress tests and regulatory restrictions on dividends and distributions (also among members of the group) (14) ING’s ability to meet minimum capital and other prudential regulatory requirements (15) changes in regulation of US commodities and derivatives businesses of ING and its customers (16) application of bank recovery and resolution regimes, including write down and conversion powers in relation to our securities (17) outcome of current and future litigation, enforcement proceedings, investigations or other regulatory actions, including claims by customers or stakeholders who feel misled or treated unfairly, and other conduct issues (18) changes in tax laws and regulations and risks of non-compliance or investigation in connection with tax laws, including FATCA (19) operational and IT risks, such as system disruptions or failures, breaches of security, cyber-attacks, human error, changes in operational practices or inadequate controls including in respect of third parties with which we do business and including any risks as a result of incomplete, inaccurate, or otherwise flawed outputs from the algorithms and data sets utilized in artificial intelligence (20) risks and challenges related to cybercrime including the eﬀects of cyberattacks and changes in legislation and regulation related to cybersecurity and data privacy, including such risks and challenges as a consequence of the use of emerging technologies, such as advanced forms of artificial intelligence and quantum computing (21) changes in general competitive factors, including ability to increase or maintain market share (22) inability to protect our intellectual property and infringement claims by third parties (23) inability of counterparties to meet financial obligations or ability to enforce rights against such counterparties (24) changes in credit ratings (25) business, operational, regulatory, reputation, transition and other risks and challenges in connection with climate change and ESG-related matters, including data gathering and reporting (26) inability to attract and retain key personnel (27) future liabilities under defined benefit retirement plans (28) failure to manage business risks, including in connection with use of models, use of derivatives, or maintaining appropriate policies and guidelines (29) changes in capital and credit markets, including interbank funding, as well as customer deposits, which provide the liquidity and capital required to fund our operations, and (30) the other risks and uncertainties detailed in the most recent annual report of ING Groep N.V. (including the Risk Factors contained therein) and ING’s more recent disclosures, including press releases, which are available on www.ING.com.

This document may contain ESG-related material that has been prepared by ING on the basis of publicly available information, internally developed data and other third-party sources believed to be reliable. ING has not sought to independently verify information obtained from public and third-party sources and makes no representations or warranties as to accuracy, completeness, reasonableness or reliability of such information.

Materiality, as used in the context of ESG, is distinct from, and should not be confused with, such term as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or as defined for Securities and Exchange Commission (‘SEC’) reporting purposes. Any issues identified as material for purposes of ESG in this document are therefore not necessarily material as defined in the Market Abuse Regulation or for SEC reporting purposes. In addition, there is currently no single, globally recognized set of accepted definitions in assessing whether activities are “green” or “sustainable.” Without limiting any of the statements contained herein, we make no representation or warranty as to whether any of our securities constitutes a green or sustainable security or conforms to present or future investor expectations or objectives for green or sustainable investing. For information on characteristics of a security, use of proceeds, a description of applicable project(s) and/or any other relevant information, please reference the offering documents for such security.

This document may contain inactive textual addresses to internet websites operated by us and third parties. Reference to such websites is made for information purposes only, and information found at such websites is not incorporated by reference into this document. ING does not make any representation or warranty with respect to the accuracy or completeness of, or take any responsibility for, any information found at any websites operated by third parties. ING specifically disclaims any liability with respect to any information found at websites operated by third parties. ING cannot guarantee that websites operated by third parties remain available following the publication of this document, or that any information found at such websites will not change following the filing of this document. Many of those factors are beyond ING’s control.

Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of ING speak only as of the date they are made, and ING assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or for any other reason.

This document does not constitute an oﬀer to sell, or a solicitation of an oﬀer to purchase, any securities in the United States or any other jurisdiction.

Attachment
- Progress on share buyback programme
The MIL Network –
January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Foreign Minister Lin visits jointly constructed neonatal building of San Juan de Dios Hospital and joins Guatemalan Foreign Minister Martínez in celebrating 90th anniversary of bilateral ties
Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Lin visits jointly constructed neonatal building of San Juan de Dios Hospital and joins Guatemalan Foreign Minister Martínez in celebrating 90th anniversary of bilateral ties
- Date：2024-10-27
- Data Source：Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs
October 27, 2024

No. 371

On October 25, during his visit to Guatemala, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung met with President Bernardo Arévalo, Foreign Minister Carlos Martínez, and other senior officials. He also toured the neonatal building of San Juan de Dios Hospital, which finished construction this year with assistance from Taiwan. While at the new building, Minister Lin interacted with families that benefited from the joint endeavor, giving him the opportunity to better understand the fruits of Taiwan-Guatemala collaboration.

Hospital Director Erika Pérez and Pediatrics Department Chief Juan Carlos Reyes introduced the facilities and functions of the building to Minister Lin when he toured the neonatal building in the morning. Accompanied by Guatemalan Minister of Public Health and Social Assistance Joaquín Barnoya, Minister Lin attended a traditional Taiwanese ceremony to bless infants and gave gifts to the attending families.

In his remarks at San Juan de Dios Hospital, Minister Lin stated that, in addition to the joint construction of the hospital’s neonatal building, Taiwan’s technical mission and Guatemala are working on a program to promote maternal and neonatal health care. The initiative will assist in training medical professionals at hospitals and birth centers in Guatemala City to enhance their ability to give women clinical care before, during, and after childbirth and reduce premature birth and infant mortality risks, benefiting 70,000 people each year. It will also arrange for related personnel from Guatemala to travel to Taiwan for training. Over 450 health care professionals are expected to receive training, thereby raising the quality of services available to women and children in Guatemala. It took just 12 months for Taiwan and Guatemala to complete the planning and construction of the neonatal building of San Juan de Dios Hospital, which has helped improve maternal and neonatal care. The important project has been met with wide approval from the government and civil society of Guatemala.

In the afternoon, Minister Lin called at Guatemala’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to meet with Minister Martínez, who invited him to view bamboo planted by Taiwan’s technical mission in the square outside the building. The plants commemorate 90 years of friendship and diplomatic relations between Taiwan and Guatemala. (E)

MIL OSI China News –
January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Foreign Minister Lin leads delegation to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as presidential envoy to attend 45th independence anniversary celebrations
Source: Republic of Taiwan – Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Foreign Minister Lin leads delegation to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as presidential envoy to attend 45th independence anniversary celebrations
- Date：2024-10-28
- Data Source：Department of Latin American and Caribbean Affairs
October 28, 2024

No. 375

Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung, serving as President Lai Ching-te’s special envoy, led a delegation to Caribbean ally Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on October 26. He participated in a ceremony and other celebrations marking the 45th anniversary of the independence of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In addition, he met with Governor-General Susan Dougan, held bilateral talks with Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves, attended a welcome reception hosted by the government, and took part in other official events.

Minister Lin joined Prime Minister Gonsalves in presiding over the groundbreaking ceremony for the Arnos Vale Acute Care Hospital. He also attended the official opening of a farmers training room and a cold storage facility built at Orange Hill Farm with Taiwan’s support; a plaque unveiling for a new livestock facility at the Rabacca National Breeding Station; and an October fair celebrating the national days of both countries. Minister Lin reaffirmed President Lai’s staunch commitment to deepening relations with Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and, together with local residents, witnessed the results of Taiwan’s international development programs.

Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony for the Arnos Vale Acute Care Hospital, Minister Lin said that the important project highlighted the close partnership between the two countries. He expressed confidence that it would not only contribute to medical care modernization but also create job opportunities in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. He stated that in addition to building the hospital, Taiwan had also promoted other infrastructure projects, including the modernization of Kingstown Port, road renovation, and the construction of the House of Assembly and courthouse buildings.

During the event at Orange Hill Farm, Minister Lin noted that bilateral cooperation in agricultural technology had yielded significant results. He commended the establishment of Orange Hill Biotechnology Center, which had long served as a key pillar for agricultural advancement and modernization of the sector in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. He also spoke about the launch of a new agricultural cooperation program in 2025 focusing on the introduction of smart agricultural technologies to improve productivity and bolster young people’s engagement in agriculture.

The Republic of China (Taiwan) and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines established diplomatic relations in 1981. Over the past 43 years, bilateral cooperation projects have produced remarkable achievements. The two countries enjoy a cordial and solid partnership; share the core values of democracy, freedom, and human rights; and engage in close collaboration in such domains as agriculture, food security, infrastructure, medical care, public health, ICT, and women’s empowerment. Both nations will continue to build on the existing robust foundation to strengthen cooperation and deepen their partnership based on shared prosperity and mutual benefit. (E)

MIL OSI China News –
January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Citywide contact center begins testing new AI-powered tool

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

The citywide contact center (CCC) has begun using new domestically developed large language models (LLM) in pilot mode. This is a type of artificial intelligence that enables a voice assistant to quickly find the right option in the knowledge base, answer several questions from subscribers at once, and learn independently. Its use will help improve the quality and speed of providing consultations on hotlines, and will also give operators time to resolve more complex requests from residents.

“The use of language models is being piloted on the Moscow Government’s unified helpline for two important tasks: providing consultations on incoming calls and classifying feedback based on service results. In combination, this approach allows not only to train the voice assistant without the help of operators, but also to improve the quality of consultations: the language model classifies residents’ feedback based on call results, which will further help improve the knowledge base and consultation scenarios, and, if necessary, improve the qualifications of operators,” said Andrey Savitsky, head of the citywide contact center.

What are large language models?

Large language models are a type of deep learning based on a neural network with many parameters. The large amount of data allows them to search for answers to several questions at once in a single query.

For example, if a resident calls the line and asks how to obtain a Russian passport and which My Documents offices are near the desired metro station, and also asks to clarify the opening hours of the institution, then a large language model will be able to give a comprehensive answer to all questions at once, providing only the necessary information. In contrast, a regular voice assistant processes only one question, and the rest have to be repeated.

A Million More Calls: How Digital Technologies Make City Hotlines More Accessible to Muscovites The citywide contact center’s voice assistant has handled over 135 million calls in 10 years

How does this work

The use of language models on the Moscow Government’s unified information service line is invisible to residents. When a person calls the line and asks a question, the speech recognition system is activated. With its help, the message is recorded, converted from audio format to text and sent to the language model. The latter, in turn, using additional filters, finds the necessary articles with information in the knowledge base, highlights the essence and then generates an answer that the voice assistant tells the subscriber. At the same time, the most accurate comprehensive answer to all the resident’s questions is formed without unnecessary information.

Large language models can independently and in a split second find information on each new topic in the entire contact center knowledge base and voice it to the applicant. Unlike a standard voice assistant, which reads out the answer from the knowledge base, an assistant based on LLM can support a live dialogue, focusing on the intonation and manner of communication of the subscriber.

In addition, a large language model based on a neural network trains the voice assistant. If previously operators had to manually upload new topics and answers in various variations to the virtual assistant, now LLM helps the voice assistant independently find the necessary information in the general knowledge base.

The role of a human is not excluded. Some calls are still processed by operators, and the editors involved in the hotline work monitor the relevance of the information in the knowledge base. Thus, a neural network trains a neural network, but under the strict control of contact center specialists.

Constant learning and love for people: DIT Moscow on the work of city hotline operators

Feedback processing

Another important area for using language models is a new approach to classifying feedback after service. The voice assistant can already collect feedback from residents on contact center lines, but the comments were still processed by contact center specialists. Now, thanks to the implementation of language models, when receiving an assessment from a resident or a comment after a consultation, the neural network ranks them as positive, negative, and neutral, allowing quality control department employees to quickly identify shortcomings and make the consultations provided even faster and more accurate.

The use of large language models on the hotlines of the OKC to work on the quality of consultations complements the already implemented tools based on artificial intelligence. For example, digital audit, which has been operating since 2023, and speech analytics project, launched this year.

The hotline of the unified reference service of the Moscow Government of the citywide contact center has been operating since 2015. It is available at the number: 7 495 777-77-77. Most often, residents call the line to clarify the work schedule and addresses of the My Documents government service centers and city departments, find out information about the issuance and replacement of Russian passports, and contact the portal’s technical support mos.ruand get advice on receiving government services electronically.

The voice assistant has been working on the hotline for eight years. The virtual assistant takes 40 percent of incoming calls on almost 300 topics.

The use of digital technologies and artificial intelligence to improve the quality of life of city residents is in line with the objectives of the national program “Digital Economy of the Russian Federation” and the Moscow regional project “Digital Public Administration”. More information about this and other national projects implemented in Moscow can be found Here.

Help for residents and businesses: Moscow contact center voice assistant received almost 160 million calls How domestic developments help the work of artificial intelligence in a citywide contact center The citywide contact center project received high praise from the jury of the Crystal Headset competition

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.

Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

http://vvv.mos.ru/nevs/item/146187073/

MIL OSI Russia News –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Russia: Sergei Sobyanin spoke about the work of the Moscow Aviation Center

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Moscow Government – Government of Moscow –

In the capital, active assistance in emergency situations is provided to residents of the capital by aircraft crews. Since the beginning of 2024, medical helicopters Moscow Aviation Center (MAC) 308 injured and somatic patients were evacuated to city hospitals, and firefighting aircraft participated in the elimination of 11 major fires. This was reported by Sergei Sobyanin in his telegram channel.

“To successfully perform their work, the aviation center’s specialists are constantly improving their qualifications. In 2022, it opened its own training center. Previously, employees had to travel to other cities, but now they can study without interrupting their main work,” the Moscow Mayor wrote.

Source: Sergei Sobyanin’s Telegram channel @mos_sobyanin

In the first year, employees could study in eight educational programs; today there are already 14. The main goal of the training is to prepare universal specialists who will act confidently in any situation.

Two more programs are currently being developed that will allow train pilots operate both firefighting and medical helicopters.

This year, more than 150 people have already completed the training. Among them are rescuers, pilots, flight mechanics, navigators, engineers and technicians.

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.

Please note; This information is raw content directly from the information source. It is accurate to what the source is stating and does not reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

https://vvv.mos.ru/major/themes/11992050/

MIL OSI Russia News –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: For the1st time three Govt. School Band Teams to perform in the Republic Day Parade 2025

Source: Government of India

For the1st time three Govt. School Band Teams to perform in the Republic Day Parade 2025

School bands from Jharkhand, Sikkim, and Karnataka to perform at the Republic Day Parade and Vijay Chowk

Jharkhand Girls from rural underprivileged backgrounds to perform at Rostrum opposite Presidential dais

Posted On: 25 JAN 2025 2:23PM by PIB Delhi

Three government school teams are all set to perform in the Republic Day Parade for the very first time on 26 January 2025. The team from PM SHRI KGBV Patamda, Jharkhand, will have the honour of performing at the Rostrum opposite the Presidential dais, synchronized with the Army band. Meanwhile, the teams from Govt. Sr. Sec School West Point, Gangtok, Sikkim, and PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2 Belagavi Cantonment, Karnataka, will showcase their performances at the Vijay Chowk. These school bands are among 16 teams competing in the Grand Finale of the National School Band Competition 6.0, taking place on 24-25 January 2025 at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in New Delhi.

The Pipe Band Girls Team from PM Shri Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) Patamda, East Singhbhum, Jharkhand, showcases an inspiring journey of determination and achievement. This 25-member team comprises girls from underprivileged families, many reliant on farming and daily labour. For most, this is their first train journey to Delhi. They have received guidance from instructors of the Sikh Regiment and Punjab Regiment located at Ramgarh Army Regimental Centre.

The team has been practising the pipe band for the past three years. In the 2024-25 State-Level (Inter-District) School Band Competition held in Ranchi, the team claimed first place in the pipe band category, surpassing the previous year’s champions and a strong Ranchi district team. Emerging from humble beginnings in remote villages, these determined young girls committed themselves to mastering the pipe band, braving freezing mornings and enduring long, gruelling practice sessions with unwavering dedication.

The Brass Band Girls’ Team: Govt. West Point Sr. Secondary School, Gangtok, Sikkim, has set benchmarks of excellence, claiming state, zonal, and national-level accolades. Competing against seven champion teams, the team showcased unmatched dedication and emerged as Eastern Region Champions. Many of these students hail from humble and challenging backgrounds.

The pipe band (boys) contingent of PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya No. 2 Belagavi Cantt., Karnataka, has many students from families with parents serving in the Indian Army. The team has been trained by MLIRC (Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre Belagavi).

In tandem with the “whole of Government approach”, initiative has been taken for training of PM SHRI school band teams by the band instructors/teams of Army Regimental Centres. Training has begun in 11 States/UTs and will commence shortly in the rest of the States/UTs. Subsequently, more schools would join the Band System, with support from the Army Regional Centres, opening new opportunities for children. This is a step towards imparting holistic education to students of PM SHRI schools and developing them into well-rounded personalities.

Under the innovation component of the Centrally sponsored scheme – Samagra Shiksha – financial support is being provided to States/UTs for organizing the Band Competition at the State level.

The National Education Policy 2020 is the first education policy of the 21st century and aims at large-scale transformational reforms in the education sector. In that direction, this program will not only instil a sense of patriotism and national pride but will also enhance the musical skills of the students and inculcate discipline among them. This initiative aims to rejuvenate the spirit of patriotism and unity amongst school students throughout the country and help in the furtherance of holistic education.

*****

MV/AK

MOE/DoSEL/25 January 2025/4

(Release ID: 2096083) Visitor Counter : 75

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Special Guests at Republic Day: Union Health Ministry hosts ASHAs and applauds their contributions towards the success of various health initiatives

Source: Government of India (2)

Special Guests at Republic Day: Union Health Ministry hosts ASHAs and applauds their contributions towards the success of various health initiatives

ASHAs are the backbone of health schemes in the country. Notable success in the TB elimination mission is significantly attributed to the grassroots level work done by the ASHAs: Union Health Secretary

Posted On: 25 JAN 2025 1:57PM by PIB Delhi

Union Health Ministry hosted ASHAs who are special invitees at the 76^th Republic Day celebrations to honour and respect their tireless efforts contributing to the success of various health initiatives, here today.

To commemorate the outstanding contributions of ASHA, Government of India has invited around 250 ASHA along with their spouses across various States of India as Special Guests to the 76th Republic Day Ceremony. This recognition not only uplifts the morale of these dedicated health workers but also underscores the crucial value of their contributions, setting a strong precedent for acknowledging their essential role. It highlights the significance of their work in advancing public health across India, reinforcing the vital impact they have in improving healthcare access and outcomes.

Speaking at the occasion, the Union Health Secretary stated that “ASHAs are the backbone of health schemes in the country.” Appreciating their immense contribution to the society, she highlighted that “notable success in the TB elimination mission is significantly attributed to the grassroots level work done by the ASHAs.” She also described ASHA as a display of India’s Nari Shakti.

Currently, over 10.29 lakh ASHAs serve as the first point of contact in India’s healthcare system, acting as a crucial link between communities and essential health services. They play a pivotal role in various government health initiatives, such as maternal and child healthcare, promoting immunization, and supporting the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program. ASHAs are also instrumental in addressing the growing burden of non-communicable diseases and contribute to a wide range of other national health programs. Through their efforts, they are saving countless lives and ensuring that critical health interventions reach those in need, particularly in remote and underserved areas.

Upon their arrival in the capital, they were warmly received by the officials of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Special sightseeing arrangements are made for them to visit Delhi’s iconic landmarks. They will visit the National War Memorial at Kartavya Path with a stop at India Gate allowing them to pay homage to the nation’s martyrs and will witness the 76th Republic Day parade tomorrow.

The event was also attended by Smt. Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary & Mission Director (NHM) and Senior Officials of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

***

MV

HFW/High Tea with ASHAs/25^th January 2025/1

(Release ID: 2096075) Visitor Counter : 56

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) imposes penalty of ₹ 3 Lakh on a coaching centre for advertising misleading claim regarding UPSC CSE 2020 result
Source: Government of India

Posted On: 25 JAN 2025 1:26PM by PIB Delhi

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has imposed penalty of ₹ 3 lakh on Vision IAS for advertising misleading claim regarding result of UPSC CSE 2020. The decision was taken to protect & promote the rights of consumers as a class and ensure that no false or misleading advertisement is made of any goods or services which contravenes the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019.

In view of the violation of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, the CCPA, headed by Chief Commissioner, Smt. Nidhi Khare, and Commissioner, Shri Anupam Mishra has issued an Orders against Vision IAS.

Vision IAS in its advertisement made the following claim-
1. “10 in Top 10 selections in CSE 2020 from various programs of Vision IAS”
The CCPA found out that Vision IAS prominently displayed successful candidate’s names & pictures. However, the information with respect to the course opted by the said successful candidates in UPSC Civil Service Exam 2020 was not disclosed in the abovementioned advertisement.

Vision IAS mentioned the course opted by AIR 1- UPSC CSE 2020 i.e. GS Foundation Batch Classroom Student but deliberately concealed information regarding the courses chosen by the other nine successful candidates. This concealment created misleading impression that the remaining nine candidates were also enrolled in the ‘GS Foundation Batch Classroom Student’ course which was not true. Out of remaining 9 candidates- 1 took foundation courses, 6 took test series related to Pre and Mains stage and 2 took Abhyaas test.

Further, CCPA examined the digital profiles and fee receipts submitted by Vision IAS and discovered that the Foundation course is the most expensive, costing ₹1,40,000/-, whereas the Abhyaas one-time prelims mock test costs only ₹750. As per the available information, Rank 1 enrolled in the Foundation Course 2018 (Classroom/Offline), and Rank 8 enrolled in the Online Foundation Course 2015 of the Institute.

CCPA found that Rank 2, Rank 3, Rank 5, Rank 7, Rank 8, and Rank 10 of UPSC CSE 2020 enrolled in the GS Mains Test Series. This comes into play in Mains examination i.e. after clearing prelims examination which is a screening test wherein approximately only 1% students able to clear the said stage, making it the toughest stage with the most competition. The abovementioned students took GS Mains test series which is one of the various components of the Mains examination which implies that the aforementioned candidates cleared the prelims and Interview stages on their own, without any contribution of opposite party.

Additionally, Rank 4 and Rank 9 of UPSC CSE 2020 enrolled in Abhyaas test, a mock test for the Prelims exam. Rank 6 enrolled in the GS Prelims Test Series. This implies that the abovementioned candidates cleared the Mains and Interview stages on their own, without any contribution of opposite party.

By deliberately concealing about the specific course opted by each of the successful candidates, the Vision IAS made it look like all the courses offered by it had the same success rate for the consumers, which was not right. These facts are important for the potential students to decide on the courses that may be suitable for them and should not have been concealed in the advertisement.

CCPA has observed that several coaching institutes use the same successful candidate’s names and photographs in their advertisements while deliberately concealing important information about specific course opted by them to create a deception that the successful candidates were regular classroom students at coaching institute or were students of several courses offered in the advertisement.

Therefore, information regarding the specific course opted by successful candidates is vital for the knowledge of consumers to enable them to make an informed choice while deciding the course and coaching institute/platform to enroll in.

In light of these circumstances, CCPA found it necessary to impose a penalty in the interest of young and impressionable aspirants/consumers to address such false or misleading advertisement.

CCPA had taken action against several coaching institutes for misleading advertisements and unfair trade practice. In this regard, CCPA has so far issued 46 notices to various coaching institutes for misleading advertisements and unfair trade practice. The CCPA has imposed a penalty of 74 lakhs 60 thousands on 23 coaching institutes and directed them to discontinue the misleading advertisements.

(Final Order is available on the Central Consumer Protection Authority website https://doca.gov.in/ccpa/orders-advisories.php?page_no=1 )

****

AD/NS

(Release ID: 2096067) Visitor Counter : 84

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –
January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh to inaugurate Handloom Conclave ‘Manthan’ at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre Janpath, New Delhi on 28.01.2025.
Source: Government of India (2)

Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh to inaugurate Handloom Conclave ‘Manthan’ at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre Janpath, New Delhi on 28.01.2025.

HMoT to launch Handloom weavers E- Pehchan Portal and Handloom Awards Online module.

Posted On: 25 JAN 2025 11:58AM by PIB Delhi

“Handloom Conclave- Manthan” is an interactive workshop with various stakeholders of Handloom sector viz. Handloom weavers/manufacturers, Retailers, Buyers, Designers, Academicians,Startup Founders,Handloom Entrepreneurs/Innovators,Handloom Co-operatives, E commers companies, from all segments of 5F vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister -Farm to Fibre to Factory to Fashion to Foreign to chalk out future road map for handloom sector. The conclave will be attended by almost 250 stakeholders comprising 21 panelists, 120 handloom beneficiaries coming from all parts of the country to join the conference , 35 officials from Weavers Service Centres and IIHTs, around 25 State Govt. Officials (Handloom,Silk & Textiles) and officials from various other departments and establishments of the Textile Ministry. The conclave aims to serve as a platform for various stakeholders to come together and share best practices, innovations, and strategies for growth in the handloom sector.

This initiative aligns with the government’s ongoing efforts to enhance the livelihoods of weavers and improve the overall handloom industry. It will also help in developing the handloom sector as a key sector with immense potential to act as a growth engine for Viksit Bharat 2047.

Hon’ble Union Minister of Textiles will grace the event as the chief guest for the Inauguration. The Hon’ble Minister of State for Textiles will be the guest of honour, in the gracious presence of Secretary (Textiles) and Development Commissioner for Handlooms.

Key highlights of the Event:
- There will be 03 Technical Sessions:
1. Support for start-up eco system in Handloom Sector.
2. Handloom Marketing Avenues and strategies.
3. Modelling Handloom Sector for Young Weavers: Approach and Strategy.
The Technical session on “Support for start-up eco system in Handloom Sector” will highlight various initiatives of Office of DC (Handlooms) to support start-ups and young entrepreneurs and to create a robust eco-system for start-ups working in handloom sector.

In the panel discussion on “Handloom Marketing Avenues and Strategies” experiences and best practices of the handloom marketing will be shared by the distinguished panellists. This discussion would be useful for the aspiring entrepreneurs, organizations and also for the entire handloom sector.

The final session will be focussed on discussing various strategies for making the handloom sector attractive for the younger generation and involving the youth in creating a more vibrant and sustainable value chain in the handloom sector by adding more value proposition through various technical interventions and help of social and digital media.

The panelists of above technical sessions will be representing various entities of the entire handloom value chain such as Government Officials, Technical Experts, Start-up founders, Handloom Co-operatives, Producer Companies,Academicians from NIFT and other institutes,E-Commerce stores, Handloom retailers, Weaver Entrepreneurs/innovators, Sustainable brands, Handloom Exporters and designers; their valuable insights will benefit the entire handloom community attending Handloom Conclave: Manthan.

****

Dhanya Sanal K

Director

(Release ID: 2096040) Visitor Counter : 33

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –
January 26, 2025

MIL-OSI Asia-Pac: Year End Review 2024: Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation,

Source: Government of India (2)

Posted On: 25 JAN 2025 10:14AM by PIB Delhi

The Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of JalShakti has been working relentlessly towards achieving the vision and mission of making India a ‘Water Secure Country’ as envisioned by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi. The Ministry of Jal Shakti, formed in 2019 by bringing together all water related departments and organizations under one umbrella Ministry, has been playing a pivotal role in implementation of a focused strategy towards making India ‘Water Secure’ while ensuring optimal utilization of precious and scarce water resources across the nation. During the year2024, the Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation has undertaken several new initiatives and achieved significant outcomes/milestones. Following is some of the key achievements of the Department in 2024:

National Mission forClean Ganga (NMCG)

National Mission for Clean Ganga, in the year 2024, completed 25 projects which resulted in the completion of a cumulative total of 303 projects, sofar, and also sanctioned 39 new projects amounting to ₹ 2,056 crore, bringing the cumulative total to 488 projects sanctioned worth ₹ 39,730 crore. In sewerage infrastructure, 12 projects for the creation/ rehabilitation of 305 MLD sewage treatment capacity have been sanctioned between January to December 2024. In the same period, 16 projects for the creation/ rehabilitation of 750 MLD sewage treatment capacity have been completed. Till date, a total of 203 sewerage infrastructure projects have been sanctioned in the Ganga Basin for the creation of 6,255 MLD sewage treatment capacity and the laying of a 5,249 km sewer network.

Other key achievements during the year 2024 are as follows:

(A) Inauguration and Laying of Foundation Stones Sewerage infrastructure projects by Hon’ble Prime Minister (Under Nirmal Ganga)

On 25^thJanuary 2024, the Hon’ble Prime Minister inaugurated the following projects with a cumulative cost of ₹ 790.5 Crores from Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh.

Construction of 30 MLD STP at Masani, Mathura (under Hybrid Annuity-basedPPP (HAM) model under Namami Gange Program), Rehabilitation of existing (30 MLD at Trans Yamuna and 6.8 MLD STP at Masani, Mathura) total 36.8 MLD and Construction of 20 MLD TTRO plant (Tertiary Treatment and Reverse Osmosis Plant), Masani, Mathura

Construction of 58 MLD STP with 264 km and sewerage Network at Moradabad

On 1st March 2023, the Hon’ble Prime Minister inaugurated three projects worth
₹ 575 crore from Hooghly, West Bengal. These projects include, 40 MLD STP work with Interception & Diversion at Bally, West Bengal, 60 MLD STP work with Interception & Diversion at Kamarhati and Baranagar Municipalities, West Bengal and 65 MLD STP work with Interception & Diversion at Howrah.

On 2^nd March 2024, the Hon’ble Prime Minister inaugurated twelve projects worth ₹ 2,189 crore from Aurangabad, Bihar. These projects include 60 MLD STP and 162 km sewerage network at Saidpur, Patna, 60 MLD STP at Pahari, Patna, 93 km sewerage network at Pahari Zone IVA (S), Patna, 116 km sewerage network at Pahari Zone V, Patna, 180 km sewerage network at Beur, Patna, 96 km sewerage network at Karmalichak, Patna, 11 MLD STP at Barh, Patna, 10 MLD STP at Sultanganj, Bhagalpur, 9 MLD STP at Naugachia, Bhagalpur, 3.50 MLD STP at Sonepur, Saran, 32 MLD STP at Chhapra, Saran.

On 10^th March 2024, the Hon’ble Prime Minister inaugurated three sewage projects worth ₹ 1,114 crore from Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh. These projects include 72 MLD STP and I&D network work at Naini (District-G, 42 MLD), Phaphamau (District-F, 14 MLD) and Jhunsi (16 MLD), Prayagraj, 30 MLD STP and I&D network work at Jaunpur and 45 MLD STP and I&D network work at Etawah.

On 2^nd October 2024, the Hon’ble Prime Minister inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for ten sewage treatment plant (STP) projects with a total cost of ₹ 1,555 crore. Among these, five projects worth ₹ 534.25 crore were inaugurated across Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Additionally, laid the foundation stone for five more projects across Bihar, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh, amounting to ₹ 1,021 crore.

(B) Inauguration and Laying of Foundation Stones Sewerage infrastructure projects by Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti (Under Nirmal Ganga)

On 4^th January 2024, the Hon’ble Union Minister for Jal Shakti inaugurated 14 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) with a 2.4 km Interception & Diversion (I&D) Network worth ₹ 77.36 crores in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh.

On 18^th January 2024, the Hon’ble Union Minister for Jal Shakti laid the foundation stone for the 220 MLD Meerut sewage treatment plant (STP) with interception and diversion (I&D) project worth ₹ 370 crore in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.

Training on Occupational Health & Safety Audit

NMCG organized 9 virtual safety training program and trained more than 1,500 officials on “Occupational Health and Safety Audit (OHSA)” From January 2024 to December 2024, to ensure workplace safety and compliance.

Activities Under Biodiversity Conservation (Under Aviral Ganga)

The programme has sanctioned projects focused on protecting and rehabilitating fishery, turtles, crocodiles, and dolphins. Projects Sanctioned in the year 2024 are as under :

Advancing Rescue System for the protection of stranded Ganges river Dolphins.
Conservation, Reintroduction, and Rehabilitation of threatened Turtles along ganga basin.

· Expanding Conservation Breeding Programme of Freshwater Turtle and Gharial at Kukrail Rehabilitation Centre, Lucknow

NMCG, in partnership with CIFRI, has successfully implemented fish ranching programs for Indian Major Carps and other species. In 2024, notable achievements include – Ranching of Indian Major Carps (IMC): 49.25 lakhs, Mahseer: 7,370, Hilsa: 42,117 and Hilsa tagging: 1,387 nos.

Important Activities (under Jan Ganga)

Launch of Namami Niranjana Abhiyan: NMCG launched the “Namami Niranjana Abhiyan” on 20^th February 2024, aimed at ensuring the perennial flow of the Niranjana (Falgu) river and bolstering the ongoing efforts of the “Niranjana (Falgu) River Recharge Mission”. The Falgu river, revered as Niranjana in Bodhgaya and Falgu in Gaya, originates from Belgadda in the Simaria block of Chatra district, Jharkhand, holding profound significance in the Hindu Sanatan religion. Pilgrims partake in rituals such as PindDaan and Tarpan for their ancestors using water from the Falgu river.
Celebration of International Day of Yoga: On the occasion of the International Day of Yoga, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) organized ‘Ghat Par Yoga’ at BSF Camp, Zero Pushta, Sonia Vihar in Delhi on the bank of River Yamuna on 21^st June, 2024. Over 1,000 people participated in the event including officials and staff from the NMCG, NGOs under the Yamuna Action Plan (YAP-III) of the Delhi Jal Board (DJB), the Border Security Force (BSF), Ganga Vichar Manch, various other NGOs, as well as students and children.
8^thIndia Water Week 2024: The 8^th edition of India Water Week (IWW) 2024 was held during 17-20 September 2024, in New Delhi, on the theme “Partnerships and Cooperation for Inclusive Water Development and Management.” This prestigious international event has become a key platform for collaboration in water resource management. The event was inaugurated by the President of India, alongside Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti, and Hon’ble Minister of State for Jal Shakti.

Ganga Utsav- A River Festival 2024: On 4^th November 2024, the 8th edition of Ganga Utsav was organized by NMCG at scenic Chandi Ghat in Haridwar to promote the conservation of the Ganga River, emphasize its cultural and spiritual importance, and raise public awareness about cleanliness. The event was inaugurated by Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti in the august presence of the Hon’ble Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti, Hon’ble Uttarakhand Minister for Women & Child Welfare, Secretary, DoWR, RD & GR, Ministry of Jal Shakti, and DG, NMCG. This eighth edition of the event was the first time held on the riverbank, with celebrations extending across more than 110 districts in the Ganga basin states.The event featured participants from diverse spheres, including students, scientists, spiritual leaders, and more.
9^th India Water Impact Summit: The 9^th India Water Impact Summit (IWIS) & 2^nd Climate Investments and Technology Impact Summit were organised jointly by NMCG & c-Ganga from 4^th to 6^th December 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi.

International Collaboration

Meeting with German Delegates: On 9^th May 2024, a meeting was held with the Deputy Head of the Economic Division, German Embassy to discuss the current status of projects aimed at rejuvenating the Ganga River, supported through bilateral cooperation between India and Germany.
Workshop on Strengthening Quality Infrastructure for Water Monitoring of the Ganges River II: NMCG in association with Physikalisch- Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) under Indo-German Technical Cooperation Programme organised a 6-day training programme from 22^nd July to 31^st July 2024.
Inception Workshop for District Ganga Plans: On 5^th July 2024, NMCG in association with GIZ organized an inception workshop for the District Ganga Plans. The workshop aimed to create comprehensive District Ganga Plans (DGPs) based on a River Basin Management approach, which has been prepared for four pilot districts.
Smart Laboratory for Clean Rivers (SLCR): The Smart Lab for Clean Rivers (SLCR) has been set up under the Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark to bring global solutions on current challenges in the field of clean river water, conduct collaborative research and development to fit in real environment through Living lab approach and creation of platform between Government authorities, academic institutions and technology providers for knowledge sharing and co-creation to achieve clean river water.
Meeting of the Joint Review Committee: On 9^th October 2024, the first meeting of the Joint Review Committee (JRC) under the India-Israel Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was held under the chairmanship of DG, NMCG, to address priority areas such as reducing non-revenue water, urban water management through IoT and AI, wastewater treatment, and sewage sludge management.

Development of knowledge products (Under Gyan Ganga)

The ‘River Atlas for Ganga Main Stem Districts’, an in-house developed knowledge product of the GKC was launched by the Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti on 09^thDecember 2024 during the 13th Empowered Task Force Meeting. The atlas comprises maps of River Ganga and its tributaries, covering five main stem states in the Ganga basin – Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. This comprehensive Atlas is essential for the effective implementation of policies and programs and accurate planning and informed decision-making.

National Water Mission (NWM)

MoU with Girganga Parivar Trust (Girganga) has been signed on 22.10.2024 on Pro bono basis. They have committed to build 11,111 bore well recharge and 11,111 check dams.
MoU with Sarkaritel.com/jalprahari.in has been signed on 13.12.2024 on Pro bono basis. They have committed for generating awareness on Water Conservation in the public.
MoU with Vyakti Vikas Kendra India (VVKI), the Art of Living has been signed on 16.12.2024 on Pro bono basis. They have committed for creating of Water recharge structure with the help of implementing many River Rejuvenation Programs through Government scheme MGNREGA

Central Water and Power Research Station, Pune
Central Soil and Material Research Station, New Delhi
National Institute of Hydrology, Roorkee
Central Water Commission, New Delhi

Publication of research/ technical reports – 281 Nos.
Organisation of Trainings and workshops – 94 Nos.
Training of people for capacity building- 2623 persons
Publication of high impact technical report & research papers – 18 Nos.

13 new research schemes has been recommended by Standing Advisory Committee and approved by Secretary (WR).
The research project “Hydro-geological Assessment and Socio-Economic implications of Depleting Water Resources in tourist towns of Uttarakhand” has been completed.
The research project “Irrigation Efficiency Improvement through On–farm Water Management” has been completed.
The research project “Dynamic Downscaling to study Climate Change Impacts on
Water Resource in India” has been completed.

National Water Development Agency (NWDA): Inter-Linking of Rivers Project

Under National Perspective Plan (NPP) formulated by Government of India, 30 inter-basin water transfer links (16 Peninsular and 14 Himalayan component) have been identified by National Water Development Agency for preparation of Feasibility Reports. Detailed Projects Reports (DPRs) of 11 links, Feasibility Reports (FRs) of 26 links and Pre-Feasibility Reports (PFRs) of all the 30 links have been prepared. The Inter-Linking River (ILR) Programme has been taken up on high priority by Government of India. The works related to ILR projects are already in progress. Five links have been identified as priority links by Govt. of India viz., Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP), Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal Link Project (MPKC) and Godavari-Cauvery (G-C) Link Project (comprising of 3 link systems).

System studies of four link projects viz.; Manas-Sanksoh-Teesta-Ganga (MSTG) link, Ganga-Damodar-Subernarekha (GDS) link, Subernarekha-Mahanadi (SM) link and Farakka-Sunderbans (FS) link have been initiated and the work of these four links has been awarded to IIT, Guwahati, NIT, Patna, NIT, Warangal and NIH, Roorkee respectively. Inception Reports have been submitted in June, 2023 by all the four Institutes. The draft final reports of MSTG and GDS have been submitted by the respective Institutes. The system studies of Mahanadi-Godavari link have been completed by NIH, Roorkee and the Final Report has been submitted in May, 2023. Awarding of work for system studies of southern linkage initiated, however, it may be taken up after finalization of quantity of water that can be transferred from MSTG, GDS, FS and SM link projects to Mahanadi river, as per system studies.

Ken-Betwa Link Project (KBLP): is the first inter-linking of rivers (ILR) project for which implementation has been initiated. The project will be of immense benefit to the water starved Bundelkhand Region, spread across the States of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh which includes districts of Panna, Tikamgarh, Niwari, Chhatarpur, Sagar, Damoh, Datia, Vidisha, Shivpur&Raisen and Banda, Mahoba, Jhansi & Lalitpur respectively. The status of KBLP is as given below:

Subsequent to signing of tripartite agreement in year, 2021, Govt. of India approved implementation of the project in December, 2021 at an estimated cost of Rs. 44,605 Crore with central support of Rs. 39,317 Crore.
With allocation of budget under RE of FY 2021-22, the implementation of the project has started.
Steering Committee and Ken-Betwa Link Project Authority (KBLPA) were been constituted vide Gazette Notification dated 11.02.2022.
KBLPA HQ Office is set up at Bhopal with three more offices at Chhatarpur, Panna and Jhansi, which are fully functional with regular CEO/ACEOs, Director (Fin.) and other officials.
Six meetings of Steering Committee and Six meetings of KBLPA have been held so far.
Initially the focus is on land acquisition, R&R, fulfilling the compliances to the conditions of forest clearance and wildlife clearance.
Greater Panna Landscape Council (GPLC) under Chief Secretary, Govt. of MP has been constituted for implementation of Landscape Management Plan through various stakeholders. Its first meeting was held on 05.09.23. Sub-Committee of GPLC was constituted on 16.10.2023 and its 1^st& 2^nd meetings were held on 17.10.2023 & 29.11.2023 respectively.
Planning for an Integrated Research and Learning Centre (IRLC) at Panna has already been initiated by WII.
The Monitoring Committee for R&R works of KBLP under Secretary, DoLR, MoRD has been constituted.
Collector, Chhattarpur has made payment of Rs. 197.23 Crore to the affected Families. Whereas, Collector Panna has made payment of Rs.76.82 Crore to the affected families of Panna. The remaining Land Acquisition Payment for Private land in both the districts are in Progress.
The work for engagement of Project Management Consultant (PMC) is in process. 9 bids were received for PMC, Result of Technical Evaluation of Bids was published on the CPP Portal on 22.08.2024. The Financial Proposals of the 5 technically qualified firms were opened on 10.09.2024. 20 meetings of Consultancy Evaluation Committee (CEC) for hiring PMC have been held so far. 20^th meeting of CEC was held on 11.09.2024 for financial evaluation of bids. After financial and technical evaluation of bids received, recommendations of the CEC have been submitted to DoWR,RD&GR, MoJS for approval on 13.09.2024.
A Technical Advisory Group for KBLP (TAG-KBLP) for KBLPA has been constituted to review and advise KBLPA on various planning and technical matters on implementation of various components of the link project. 10 meetings of TAG have been held so far.
The tender document for the main component of the project i.e. Daudhan dam and its Appurtenant works (EPC mode) was finalized by Technical Advisory Group of KBLP and the Tender Evaluation Committee (TEC) and floated on CPP portal on 11.08.2023. The complete proposal of technical and financial evaluation of bids was sent to Ministry of Jal Shakti that has been approved by Ministry. Subsequently, KBLPA has issued Letter of Acceptance to M/s NCC Limited for the work of Daudhan dam on 28.11.2024.
Stage–II Forest Clearance for diversion of 6017.00 ha of forest land for development of KBLP has been accorded by MoEF& CC on 03.10.2023.
The draft tender for EPC execution of Ken-Betwa Link Canal is prepared in two packages and circulated to State Governments of MP and UP for their comments/suggestions. Suggestions from Govt. of UP have been received.
PTR has accepted total 6017 ha non-forest land Transferred/ Mutated. Notification of 6017 ha has been completed by Forest Department under section-29 of Indian Forest Act-1927 and has been published.
Land in submergence: 3239 ha (Govt. Land: 1784.67 ha + Private Land 1454.33 ha) of land is coming under submergence area of Daudhan Dam. Private land of 1454.33 ha and Government land of 1604.429 ha has been mutated in favour of WRD, MP. Balance 180.241 ha Government land is likely to be transferred to WRD, MP soon.
Land Acquisition for Ken Betwa Link canal (99 villages of MP and 10 villages of UP) is under progress.
The work on State specific components like Lower Orr, Kotha Barrage and Bina Complex Multipurpose Project is already in progress. Head Works of Lower Orr has been completed whereas Head Works for Kotha & Bina are ongoing.

Cumulative Progress (%) upto December, 2024

Lower Orr : 67.00
Kotha Barrage: 59.00
Bina Complex: 50.20

The preparation of DPRs of components of UP likes two barrages, renovation and modernization of Tanks of Mahoba district, renovation and modernization of three weirs and ken command system is in progress.
Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji laid the Foundation Stone of KBLP on 25.12.2024 at Khajuraho (Madhya Pradesh).
The project is planned to be completed in 8 years by March, 2030.

Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal Link Project (MPKC):

PFR has been circulated to concerned States. The work of DPRs is under progress.
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed on 28.01.2024 amongst States of MP, Rajasthan and Govt. of India.
Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) of Modified Parbati-Kalisindh-Chambal link project has been signed on 05.12.2024 amongst States of MP, Rajasthan and Govt. of India. Subsequently Hon’ble Prime Minister declared the signing of the agreement on 17^th December, 2024 at Rajasthan.

Godavari-Cauvery (G-C) Link Project (comprising of 3 link systems):

Modified proposal for transfer of 4189 MCM of water from Godavari along with supplementation in Krishna basin through Bedti-Varda link (524 MCM) has been studied by NWDA.
Draft DPR of the modified /revised proposal has circulated to the concerned State/UT during Jan., 2024.
Draft MoA has been prepared for implementation of the project and circulated to concerned State/UT for perusal and observation during April, 2024.
Concerted efforts are being made for building up consensus amongst the States/UT for signing of MoA for the early implementation of this link project.

8^th India Water Week 2024:

IWW-2024 was successfully organized/held from 17^th to 20^th September, 2024 at Bharat Mandapam, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi.
The theme of the 8^th India Water Week is “Partnerships and Cooperation for Inclusive Water Development and Management”.
The mega event was inaugurated by the Hon’ble President of India.
The four-day multi-disciplinary conference comprises of Ministerial Plenary, Global Water Leaders’ Plenary (2), Country Forum (4), Water Leaders Forum (9), Practitioner’s Forum (8), Startup Forum, Youth Forum, Water Convention (18) one-day study tour and concurrently organized exhibition. Denmark, Australia and Israel were the Partner Countries. There were 15 Partner States viz.; Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Haryana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, J&K, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana.

More than 4500 delegates from India & abroad participated in the IWW-2024. About 215 delegates from 40 countries participated in the conference. Parallel to the conference, in the exhibition 143 Exhibitors from Central, States Government, Public Sector undertakings, Private Firms, NGOs, Startups and Schools etc. showcased their technologies.

Central Water Commission (CWC)

(i) Central Water Commission has undertaken sedimentation assessment studies of selected reservoirs located in various States using Satellite Remote Sensing technique under the plan scheme “Research & Development Programme in Water Sector”. It is planned to take up the studies in respect of 80 reservoirs during 2021-26. Accordingly, the work of carrying out the study for the first batch of 40 reservoirs was outsourced. Due to non-availability of either the desired water levels or satellite data for a reservoir on date of satellite pass, study in respect of 31 reservoirs was feasible which has been completed and reports published during 2022 to 2024. Besides this sedimentation studies in respect of 30 reservoirs have been completed in-house using Remote Sensing Techniques. Furthermore, a Google Earth Engine-based tool has also been developed by CWC officers, in-house under Smart Water Resources Modelling Organization (SWRMO) – Centre for Excellence, to automate the assessment of sedimentation in the live storage zone of reservoir.

(ii) A World Bank (WB) and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) team conducted the Mid-Term Review (MTR) mission for the Second Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP-2) between January 17 and May 3, 2024. The mission held discussions with Implementing Agencies (IAs) in Bhubaneshwar (Odisha), Surat (Gujarat), and New Delhi and undertook field visits to selected dams in Gujarat (Ukai) and Odisha (Hirakud, Rengali). The wrap-up meeting was held in New Delhi, chaired by Joint Secretary, D/o WR, RD&GR, Ministry of Jal Shakti (MoJS) and attended by Project Director, Central Water Commission (CWC), members of the Central Project Management Unit (CPMU), the Engineering and Management Consultant (EMC), and representatives of all Implementing Agencies (IA). As part of the mission, a detailed exercise on the use of the rapid risk assessment tool for Indian dams, in compliance with the National Dam Safety Act 2021, was carried out between March 5 and May 3, 2024.

(iii) The quarterly dialogues on Coastal Area Management, initiated as per the direction of the Chairman, Central Water Commission (CWC) was held in April and May 2024.These dialogues brought together stakeholders from various levels of government, research institutions, and relevant departments to discuss pressing issues such as coastal erosion, salinity ingress, and the need for robust data collection and management. The dialogues provided a platform for sharing information, best practices, and innovative solutions from all stakeholders. As an outcome of the Quarterly Dialogue, CWC has published a report titled “Status Report on Coastal Area Management- An Indian Perspective, Region Issues & Remedial Measures”. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and initiatives related to coastal management in India. The report highlights the significant impacts of coastal erosion and salinity ingress, emphasizing the need for robust data collection, effective mitigation strategies, and increased collaboration among stakeholders.

(iv) A Smart Water Resources Modelling Organization acts as Centre of Excellence to grow as a pioneering hub for developing in-house expertise and innovation in tackling diverse problem statements and studies in water sector and directly reports to Chairman, CWC.

(v) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on 06.06.2024between Central Water Commission (CWC) and IIT, Roorkeefor research work related to Irrigation Efficiency Assessment, Water Accounting studies, Cropped Area Mapping, Water Auditing, Urban Flood Forecasting & Risk Management, Urban Flood Inundation & Hazard Mapping, etc. These works will be carried out through mutual consultations and collaboration, leveraging the expertise and resources of both institutions.

(vi) A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Central Water Commission (CWC) and Space Application Centre (SAC) in the field of hydrology and water resources management, leveraging remote sensing and collaborative research efforts for mutual benefit on 08^th July,2024.

(vii) Support for Irrigation Modernization Program (SIMP): Central Water Commission (CWC), DoWR, RD & GR has taken up an initiative Support for Irrigation Modernization Program (SIMP) with technical assistance from theAsian Development Bank (ADB) to modernize Major/ Medium Irrigation (MMI) projects in the country.

(viii) SIMP is proposed to be taken up in 4 phases. SIMP Phase-1 concluded on 31.12.2021 under which 4 MMI projects have been identified for inclusion under 1st batch of projects for preparation of Irrigation Modernization Plans (IMPs) out of the 57 proposals received from 14 States and 2 UTs. The entire process including the preparation of IMPs, Detailed Project Report (DPRs), detailed designs and final implementation/ project execution is expected to be completed by Phase-4. Implementation of the project would lie with the concerned States who would have an option to either fund it from their own resources or they can avail loan facility from ADB or any other financial institutions.

(ix) SIMP Phase-2 was initiated from November 2022. Irrigation Modernization Plan (IMP) of four projects namely VanivilasaSagara Project, Karnataka, Palkhed Project Maharashtra, Purna Project, Maharashtra and Loharu Lift Irrigation Project, Haryana have been prepared. As a 1st step for preparation of IMPs, FAO developed RAP-MASSCOTE (Rapid Appraisal Procedure-Mapping System and Services for Canal Operation Techniques) workshops were organized to assess the present status of the identified four projects. The findings of RAP MASSCOTE workshops and issues related to Batch 1 SIMP projects were discussed in a mid-term workshop organized by ADB and CWC on 09.06.2023 at New Delhi.

For capacity building under SIMP phase-II, the following activities were organized:

From 6th to 10th November 2023, a five days training on modernization and design of Pipe Distribution Networks (PDN) was organized at Panchkula/ Chandigarh. 22 Engineers from Karnataka, Maharashtra, Haryana, Punjab and CWC participated in the training.
On 15th and 20th December 2023, a Webinar on Irrigation Modernization and Design of PDN Systems was organized.
A Training on Asset Management Planning for Irrigation Schemes was held from 8^th to 12^th January 2024 at WALMI, Aurangabad.
A training on new technologies in Agriculture and Water Practices was held from 22^nd to 25^th January 2024 at HIRMI, Kurukshetra, Haryana.

The Preliminary Project Reports (PPR) of all the four projects has been submitted by ADB to the concerned project authorities. PPR of Loharu, Haryana is under process with Govt department. PPR of Palkhed and Purna, Maharashtra is under process in Planning Department of Haryana, PPR of VVS, Karnataka is under process with state finance Govt of Maharashtra.

PPRs are to be finalized by the states and submitted to DEA. After necessary approval from DEA, action for phase-3 will be taken up for preparation of DPRs.

(x) A Training program on the application of Rapid Risk Assessment tool, in association with the World Bank for the officers of the core group was held during April 22, 2024 – May 3, 2024 at Auditorium, 1st floor, CWC Library Building, Near Sewa Bhawan, Sector-1, R K Puram, New Delhi. Total 66 officials nominated by CWC, NDSA and States / DRIP IAs for taking forward the assignment of carrying out the Rapid Risk Assessment of specified dams in the country.

GLOF and Flood forecasting activities: –

CWC finalized the criteria for Risk Indexing of Glacial Lakes in the Indian Himalayan Region in September 2024, which provide a comprehensive methodology for identifying and categorizing Glacial Lakes based on factors such as Glacial Lake size, Glacial Lake type, Side slope, Snout distance from GL etc. and the potential socio-economic impacts of a Glacial Lake Outburst Flood.

In the year 2024, 2 new stations (Inflow) have started functioning. Currently CWC is providing flood forecast at 340 stations (200-level forecasting stations & 140-inflow forecasting stations). During the period from 1st April to 30.11.2024, 10415 (i.e. 7093 Level and 3322 Inflow) forecasts were issued, out of which 9947 (95.5%) forecasts were found within the accuracy limit (±0.15m for level forecast and ±20% for inflow forecast).During flood season, CWC operates the Central Flood Control Room on 24×7 basis at its headquarter in New Delhi and 36 Divisional Flood Control Rooms spread throughout the country for monitoring flood situation. On an average, about 10,000 forecasts are issued during flood season every year by the CWC. Normally, these forecasts are issued 6 to 30 hours in advance, depending upon the river terrain and location of the flood forecasting sites and their base stations. In addition to conventional flood forecasting techniques, mathematical model forecasting based on rainfall-run off methodology is being used for some areas. This has enabled CWC to issue 7-day advance flood advisory.

Automated online 7-day flood advisory for all the level and inflow forecasting stations is maintained. “Flood Situation for next seven days” in respect of stations likely to be above warning level has been added in the “Daily Flood Situation Report cum Advisory” based on the 7-day advisory.

Flood Plain Zoning

In order to have a reasonable degree of protection, floods need to be managed through both structural & non-structural measures so as to reduce the losses. Non-structural measures are planned activities to modify susceptibility due to flood related damages. These are meant to keep people away from floods. Flood Plain Zoning is one of the main non-structural measures for management of floods worldwide.

A technical committee under the chairmanship of Member (RM) was constituted during November 2022 for formulation of ‘Technical Guidelines on Flood Plain Zoning’ . After due deliberations, the committee submitted the guidelines to Ministry. The guidelines is presently under circulation to the states for their comments/review. Once implemented, these guidelines shall serve as a valuable document in guiding the states in framing their own legislation in protecting their rivers from future encroachments.

Hydrological Studies:

The success of a project is largely governed by the hydrological inputs. The success of a project is largely governed by the hydrological inputs. The Hydrological Studies Organization (HSO), a specialized unit under Design and Research (D&R) Wing of CWC, carries out hydrological studies in respect of the water resources projects in the country. The inputs in Detailed Project Report (DPR) or Pre- Feasibility (PFR) stage are made available in the form of:

Water availability/yield studies.
Design flood estimation.
Sedimentation studies.
Diversion flood studies.

The country has been divided into 7 zones and further into 26 hydro- meteorologically homogeneous sub-zones and flood estimation models are developed for each subzone to compute the design flood in ungauged catchments. So far, flood estimation reports covering 24 sub-zones have been published. During the year 2024- 25, technical examinations of hydrological aspects of DPRs in respect of 88 projects have been carried out in CWC. Out of this, 46 projects have been cleared and comments were issued for 17 projects. Rest of the projects are under examination.

Some of the major works carried out during this period are:

• Flood frequency analysis & carrying capacity of Yamuna River from Hathnikund Barrage to Delhi.

• Hydrology Chapter for Bakchachuu HEP, Ringyang HEP, &RimbiKhola HEP has been submitted.

• 100 yr& 500 yr Return Period flood of Chandrawal River under Ken Betwa Link project.

• Water Availability of the untapped catchment between alignment of feeder canal, Mahalpur barrage and Navnera Barrage Under MPKC link.

Technical Assistance / Advice tendered

HSO has provided secretariat assistance to various technical/ expert committees for undertaking special studies on various aspects related to water resources development and management. Some of the important contributions during the year 2024- 25 are as under:

Hydrological Studies for Ponnaiyar River Basin, to resolve the interstate issue between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
Hydrological modeling for heavy rainfall across the Yamuna River catchment in July 2023 caused significant runoff and discharge, leading to rapid water level rises. In this study estimated submergence areas for different return-period floods, analyzed embankment overtopping, and identified drainage congestion and afflux of existing structures using 2-D modeling for the river reach between 21 km upstream of Wazirabad barrage and 10 km downstream of Okhla barrage.

Hydrological modeling for tackling issues related to high intensity rainfall, riverine flood, drainage and interrelated issues in urban areas.

Planning and Design of Water Resources Projects

CWC is actively associated with design of majority of the mega water resources projects in India and neighboring countries, viz., Nepal and Bhutan by way of design consultancy or in the technical appraisal of the projects. At present CWC is provided design consultancy to 94 projects. Out of this, 31 projects (including 3 from neighboring countries) are at construction stage, 35 projects (including 2 from neighboring countries) are at DPR stage and 28 projects involve special problems.

National Committee on Seismic Design Parameters: –

The National Committee on Seismic Design Parameters (NCSDP) was constituted by MoWR Order dated 21 st October, 1991 with the objective to recommend the seismic design parameters for the proposals received from the dam owners. Member (D&R), CWC is the chairman of the committee with 12 other experts from various engineering disciplines from different technical institutions and Government organizations as its members. Director (FE&SA), CWC is the member Secretary of NCSDP. The 38th meeting of NCSDP was held on 10.05.2024 at CWC, New Delhi under the Chairmanship of Member (D&R) wherein six projects were cleared.

Further, a special meeting of NCSDP was held on 05.06.2024 wherein the Guideline for Preparation and Submission Of Site-Specific Seismic Study Report of River Valley Project To National Committee On Seismic Design Parameters was revised comprehensively to be in line with the International practices.

National Register of Large Dams:

Before enactment of Dam Safety Act 2021, Dam Safety Organisation (DSO) , CWC compiled and maintained the register of large dams across the country in the form of National Register of Large Dams (NRLD) based on information provided by State Govts. / PSUs. After enactment of Dam Safety Act 2021, the NDSA has been mandated to maintain National level database of all specified dam in the country. The National Register of Specified (Large) Dams 2023 was released by Hon’ble Vice President of India in International Conference on Dam Safety held during 14th-15th September 2023 at Jaipur. As per NRLD- 2023, there are 6138 constructed and 143 under construction dams in the country. The NRLD, 2023 is available on CWC’s website and can be accessed by l ink- https:// cwc. gov. in/ publication/nrld.

Technical Examination of Instrumentation aspects of the projects:

Hydroelectric project:-

Detailed Project Report (DPR)/ construction drawings of 29 river valley projects in various States/ countries namely Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Odisha, Sikkim Uttarakhand, West Bengal, Jammu & Kashmir, Bhutan and Nepal were examined, out of which 4 projects have been cleared with respect to instrumentation aspects and remaining 25 projects are at various stages of examination.

Pumped storage Project:-

Detailed Project Report (DPR)/ construction drawings of 42 river valley projects in various States/ countries namely Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh were examined, out of which 6 projects have been cleared with respect to instrumentation aspects and for remaining 36 projects, clearance from instrumentation aspects is no longer required as per the latest CEA guidelines.

Standing Technical Advisory Committee of CSMRS

The Standing Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) was constituted under the Chairmanship of Member (D&R), CWC for providing an overall perspective and guidance in technical scrutiny of research schemes being undertaken at CSMRS. The STAC is composed of 11 members drawn from various public sector institutions and is headed by Member (D& R), CWC. The 39th Standing Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) meeting of CSMRS was held on 25.10.2024

Other Seismic works:

Work related to technical evaluation and critical examination of web-based tool Seismic Hazard Assessment Information System (SHAISYS) being developed by IIT Roorkee and CWPRS Pune under DRIP is being carried out. A meeting is proposed on 18th December 2024 under the chairmanship of Member (D&R), CWC with the expert of IIT Roorkee at CWC, New Delhi regarding way forward for development of SHAISYS.

CWC Activities under National Hydrology Project (NHP):

Study on “Physical based Mathematical Modelling for estimation of Sediment Rate and Sediment Transport in Seven River Basin” has been completed.

Extended Hydrological Prediction (multi week forecast) for Yamuna, Narmada and Cauvery basins is in progress.

Reservoir Sedimentation Studies using Hydrographic survey for 32 reservoirs” under Phase-I has been completed. Works of Phase II: Consists of 87 reservoirs in 10 states (Rajasthan, Gujrat, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Telangana, and Odisha is under progress.
Supply, Installation, Testing & Commissioning (SITC) of 93 Nos. ADCP (14 + 29 + 50 in three phases) for the measurement of discharge at the HO sites of CWC has been completed. Further procurement of additional 46 no’s ADCP and 8 no’s Total station is in under progress.
Supply, Installation, Testing & Commissioning (SITC) of 32 velocity radar sensors for modernization of discharge observations has been completed.
7 no’s of Water Quality Equipment (ICP-MS and GC-MS) have been commissioned and installation & Commissioning of 3 more Water Quality Equipment (1 GC-MS and 2 ICP-MS) is under process.
Consultancy services for “Early Flood Warning System Including Inundation Forecast in Ganga Basin” is in progress.
Consultancy services for Development of Decision Support System near to real time for Integrated Reservoir Operation System of Ganga Basin” has been completed.
Real Time Data Acquisition System (RTDAS) for Narmada Control Authority (NCA) and Arunachal Pradesh comprising of network of 48 & 50 no’s hydro meteorological Stations respectively has been commissioned.
Reservoir Sedimentation Studies using Hydrographic survey for 32 reservoirs” under National Hydrology Project, Phase-I have been completed and reports published and under Phase II studies in respect of 87 reservoirs are taken up.

DAM REHABILITATION AND IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (DRIP) Phase-II and III

Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (DRIP) is an externally aided project with financial assistance from the World Bank, targeting rehabilitation of some of the selected dams of the Country along with accompanying institutional strengthening component.

Dam Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (Phase-II & III):

Based on the success of DRIP Phase- I, Ministry of Jal Shakti initiated another externally funded scheme, DRIP Phase-II and Phase-III. The Union Cabinet has approved the Scheme on October 29, 2020.

The scheme has provision for rehabilitation of 736 dams located in 19 States (Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, and three Central Agencies (Central Water Commission, Bhakra Beas Management Board, and Damodar Valley Corporation). It is a State Sector Scheme with Central component, with duration of 10 years, to be implemented in two Phases i.e. Phase- II and Phase-III, each of six years duration with an overlap of two years. The budget outlay is Rs 10,211 Cr (Phase II: Rs 5107 Cr; Phase III: Rs 5104 Cr) with rehabilitation provision of 736 dams. Out of this cost, Rs. 7,000 crore is an external loan and Rs. 3,211 crores would be borne by the respective participating States and the three Central agencies. The funding pattern of scheme is 80:20 (Special Category States), 70:30 (General Category States) and 50:50 (Central Agencies). The scheme also has provision of Central Grant of 90% of loan amount for special category States (Manipur, Meghalaya and Uttarakhand). The DRIP Phase-II and III Scheme is 10 years duration, proposed to be implemented in two Phases, each of six-year duration with two years overlapping. Each Phase has external assistance of US$ 500 M. The Phase-II of the scheme is being co-financed by World Bank and Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), with funding of US$ 250 million each. The loan agreement by World Bank was signed on August 04, 2021 with 10 States (Gujarat, Kerala, MP, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Chhattisgarh) and became effective from 12th October, 2021. In addition to 10 States, four States (Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Karnataka) have been notified by World Bank for inclusion under this scheme in June 2022 and their loan declared effective in January 2023.

The loan agreement by AIIB was signed on 19th May, 2022 with 10 States (Gujarat, Kerala, MP, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and Chhattisgarh) and declared effective on 29th December, 2022 by AIIB.

Inclusion of four States (Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Punjab, Telangana) and two Central Agencies (BBMB and DVC) is under process.

Important project achievements include approval of PSTs of 139 dams costing Rs 3715 Cr by the World Bank. The contract(s) amounting approximately Rs 2906 Cr have been awarded by various Implementing Agencies and an amount of Rs 1487 Cr spent as on 30.11.2024 on various project activities including dam rehabilitation, institutional strengthening and project management activities

A training on DRIP Ph-II &Ph-III was given to 40 officers of Punjab WRD on 12th June 2024 at Shahpur Kandi. Few topics were covered like Overview of DRIP Ph-II &Ph-III scheme; dam structural problems & their identification; Procurement procedures; Hydro-Mechanical structural problems; PST preparation; Financial Management of DRIP scheme etc.

A three days training on DFR organized during 8th to 10th July, 2024, in which 22 participants from seven (7) states and CWC participated.

The Management Information System (MIS-with 05 modules) was officially rolled out to SPMU on 14^th August 2024. In this regard a virtual MIS demonstration was organized on 14th August 2024 in which concerned officials of CPMU, SPMU, and EMC participated.

2^nd meeting of National Level Steering Committee (NLSC) on DRIP Phase-II and III chaired by Secretary, DoWR, RD and GR were held on 25.09.2024 at New Delhi to discuss the progress and issues of DRIP Scheme.

3^rd meeting of Technical Committee of DRIP Phase II and III was held on 18.10.2024 under the chairmanship of Member (D&R), CWC at Dehradun, Uttarakhand in which nodal officer and Project Director of DRIP IAs participated. Deliberations in respect of technical matters with regard to pertaining to implementation of the scheme were held during the meeting.

National Task Force for Integrated Water Resources Development and Management

National Task Force for Integrated Water Resources Development and Management (NTFIWRDM) has been set up by DoWR, RD & GR vide its OM dated 25.11.2024.

Sustainable development of water resources and its efficient management is the key to water security and economic growth. As a country, aspiring to be the world leader with the most powerful economy, challenges like increasing population, economic growth, industrialization and urbanization are bound to result in increased and conflicting demands for various purposes across the country. Moreover, the vagaries of climate change have already started to affect the water sector adversely. In the wake of ever-growing challenges in the water resources sector, it has become necessary to prospectively assess the projected water use for various purposes. In view of above, Department of Water Resources, RD & GR has set up a National Task Force for Integrated Water Resources Development and Management (NTFIWRDM) on 25.11.2024 under the chairmanship of Hon’ble Member, Niti Aayog with members from various Govt. Departments and experts from different organisations; thereby comprehensively covering various domains of water resources. Chief Engineer, BPMO, CWC is the Member Secretary of the NTFIWRDM. The NTFIWRDM – 2024 is expected to complete its work within 24 months, with interim reports submitted at yearly intervals.

(xxii) LIST OF IMPORTANT PUBLICATIONS OF CWC during 2024

Sl. No.	Publication	Released during
1	Water Sector at a Glance-2022	Aug-2024
2	Water & Related Statistics-2023	Sept-2024
3	Water Sector at a Glance-2023	Sept-2024
4	National Register of Major & Medium Irrigation Projects in India-2024	Sept-2024
5	Compendium on Sedimentation of Reservoirs in India	August 2024
6	Assessment of Area Affected Due to Floods in India	July 2024
7	Report on Flood Damage Statistics (1953-2022)	July 2024
8	Assessment of Area Affected Due to Floods in India [Part II: Assessment at Sub-District Level]	September 2024
9	Criteria for Risk Indexing of Glacial Lakes in Indian Himalayan Region	September 2024
10	Status Report on Coastal Area Management – An Indian Perspective, Regional Issues & Remedial Measures	September 2024

Central Ground Water Board (CGWB):

National Aquifer Mapping and Management Programme (NAQUIM)

Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) is implementing National Aquifer Mapping and Management program (NAQUIM), which envisages mapping of aquifers (water bearing formations), their characterization and development of Aquifer Management Plans to facilitate sustainable management of ground water resources. Out of 32 lakh sq km of the entire country, entire mappable area of 25 sq lakh km has been covered under this programme. NAQUIM outputs are shared with various stakeholders including the District Authorities. Building on the experiences of the NAQUIM, the NAQUIM 2.0 has been initiated from the year 2023-24 which emphasizes on detailed mapping and implementable management plans for identified priority areas. CGWB has completed 68 such studies (covering nearly 40,000 sq km) in year 2024.

In order to create infrastructure for data generation under NAQUIM, a Project has been approved by the Public Investment Board (PIB) with an outlay of Rs 805 Cr for implementation by CGWB during the period 2022-2026. As of now, tenders amounting approximately Rs. 550 Cr have been awarded.

One of the components of the project involves the construction of 7000 piezometers and the installation of Digital Water Level Recorders with telemetry devices for strengthening and automation of groundwater monitoring networks in the country. Construction of piezometers for strengthening groundwater monitoring has been initiated in 15 states (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, MadhyaPradesh, Chhattisgarh, UttarPradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, WestBengal, Odisha and Jammu&Kashmir). A total of 1796 piezometers have been constructed till 31st December 2024.

Another component of the project involves construction of 1135 Exploratory Wells (EW) and Observation Wells (OW) for completing the data gap in the NAQUIM project area for which work has been initiated under all awarded packages in 11 states (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Assam). A total of 319 EW/OWs have been constructed till 31st December 2024.

Ground Water Resources

The Ground Water Resource Assessment for the water year 2024 was carried out jointly by Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) and States/UTs, through the web-based automated application “INDIA-GROUNDWATER RESOURCE ESTIMATION SYSTEM (IN-GRES) for the entire country. The assessment provides the state wise ground water resource scenario and insights required to adopt an integrated and sustainable ground water management in the Country.

As per the assessment, the total annual groundwater recharge in the country has been assessed as 446.90 billion Cubic Meter (BCM). The annual extractable ground water resource has been assessed as 406.19 BCM. The annual groundwater extraction for all uses is 245.64 BCM. The average stage of groundwater extraction for the country stands at 60.47 %. Out of the total 6746 assessment units (Blocks/ Mandals/ Talukas) in the country, 4951 (73.4 %) assessment units are categorized as ‘Safe’. 711 (10.5 %) assessment units are categorized “Semi-critical’’, 206 (3.05 %) assessment units, have been categorized as ‘Critical’ and 751 (11.1%) assessment units have been categorized as ‘Over-exploited’. Apart from these, there are 127 (1.8%) assessment units, which have been categorized as ‘Saline’ as major part of the ground water in phreatic aquifers in these units is brackish or saline.

Key Highlights:

Total Annual GW Recharge has increased (15 BCM) substantially and Extraction has declined (3 BCM) in 2024 from 2017 assessment. There is slight reduction in recharge and increase in extraction in the present assessment year compared to the preceding year.
Recharge from Tanks, Ponds and WCS has shown a consistent increase in the last five assessments. In the year 2024, it has increased by 0.39 BCM w.r.t. 2023.
With respect to the year 2017, there is an increase of 11.36 BCM in recharge from Tanks, Ponds & WCS (from 13.98 BCM in 2017 to 25.34 BCM in 2024).
The percentage of Assessment Units under Safe Category have increased from 62.6% in 2017 to 73.4 % in 2024 (The percentage of Safe assessment units was 73.14 % in 2023).
The percentage of Over Exploited Assessment units have declined from 17.24 % in 2017 to 11.13 % in 2024 (The percentage of OE Assessment units was 11.23% in 2023)

The Union Minister for Jal Shakti released “National Compilation of Dynamic Ground Water Resources of India 2024” on 31^st December, 2024.

High resolution aquifer mapping and management in Arid areas of India

The Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) has undertaken high resolution aquifer mapping in the arid regions of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Haryana using advanced heliborne geophysical surveys. Under Phase I of the project, an area of 97,637 sq. km has been surveyed, covering 40,313-line km across 92 blocks in these states.
Based on the heliborne geophysical survey results, Gram Panchayat-level information of saturated/de-saturated, saline/fresh aquifers, groundwater potential zones, drilling sites, and managed aquifer recharge sites has been identified. Detailed reports have been prepared for 39 out of 92 blocks, comprising 20 blocks in Gujarat, 11 in Rajasthan, and 8 in Haryana.
A Coffee Table Book on the Summary of the findings of Heliborne Survey Phase I was released on 19.09.2024 in India Water Week-2024 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi by the Hon’ble Minister of State, Jal Shakti.

Artificial Recharge Activities

Groundwater augmentation through artificial recharge in identified water stressed areas of Rajasthan, comprising Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Alwar, Jhunjhunu & Sikar districts of Rajasthan has been taken up in three phases

Phase-1: Two large dams have been constructed:
- Zoned Earth Fill Dam with Clay Core, Indroka, Mandore, Jodhpur
- Concrete Gravity Dam, Bastawa Mata, Balesar, Jodhpur.
Phase-2: 82 WHS (Stone Masonary Check Dams (MCD), Anicuts, Concrete Check Dams (CCD & Recharge shafts) have been constructed in certain water stressed blocks of Jodhpur, Jaisalmer and Sikar district.
Phase-3: 39 WHS (Check Dam, Anicut, Model Talab) have been constructed certain water stressed blocks in Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Sikar, Jhunjhunu and Alwar districts of Rajasthan to know the concentrated effect of artificial recharge.

Regulation of Ground Water extraction

The primary role of Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) is to regulate groundwater resource exploitation in the country. The Authority has been regulating groundwater development and management by way of issuing ‘No Objection Certificates’ for groundwater extraction to industries, infrastructure projects, Mining Projects, registration of drilling rigs etc., and framed guidelines in this connection.

Development of a new portal for NoC issuance to ground water users i.e. BhuNeer APP, which is an advanced version of the application processing software of CGWA for issuing NOC to ground water users of Industries, Infrastructure & Mining projects and Bulk Water Supply. The motto of developing this portal is to provide users a smooth experience with new features and functionalities.

Rajiv Gandhi National Ground Water Training & Research Institute (RGNGWTRI)

It is the training wing of CGWB and functions as a `Centre of Excellence’ with the national role of capacity building of Officers and Officials of CGWB, other Central Govt. Depts., State Govt. Depts., Public Sector Undertakings, Non-Governmental Organizations, Academic institutions and other stake holders through three arms -Tier I (National Level), Tier II (State Level) and Tier III (Block level) trainings.

During the last 10 years, from 2012-13 to 2024-25(As on 24.12.2024) a total of 1711 training courses (Tier-I, Tier-II & Tier-III) were organized (Male 83,330 + Female 30,369 = 1,13,699 Participants) by RGNGWTRI, Raipur.
The institute has also conducted Four trainings for foreign nationals, during the last 10 years

Development of three Indigenous Softwares as part of Smart India Hackathon (SIH) 2022- a significant step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat

Smart India Hackathon (SIH), a nationwide initiative envisioned under the leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister is an important mega annual event among students to provide solutions through innovations for specific challenges identified by different organizations. It is an annual event organized by the Ministry of Education’s Innovation Cell, All India Council for Technical Education, along with partners. Based on problem statements shared by CGWB and under the mentorship of CGWB scientists, following three software applications were developed by engineering students as a part of Smart India Hackathon (SIH)

Hydra-Q: A Standalone desktop application for analysis, visualization and interpretation of hydrochemical data.
Aqua Probe: A Standalone desktop application for Pumping Test data analysis.
OASIS-G: Online application System for Stable Isotope Studies-Ground Water

The software applications can be accessed / downloaded from CGWB website (https://www.cgwb.gov.in/freewares-groundwater-data-analysis).

These freeware applications will be useful for students, researchers and groundwater professionals. So far, the software that are used for such kind of analysis are developed mostly in countries other than India. This is a significant step towards Atmanirbhar Bharat and is likely to reduce India’s dependence on foreign software.

Aquifer Management for Augmentation and Sustainability of Urban Water Supply- Faridabad

CGWB has taken up a study on augmentation of water supply to Faridabad city through sustainable ground water development in active Yamuna flood plain in 2024. CGWB has signed MoU with Faridabad Metropolitan Development Authority (FMDA)

Ground Water Quality Analysis

The comprehensive assessment of Ground Water Quality conducted by the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) provides valuable insights that can guide remedial actions and inform future planning by various stakeholders. Notably, this report on Ground Water Quality is the first to implement a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for groundwater quality monitoring, which ensures consistency in data collection, analysis, and interpretation. Additionally, the use of internationally recognized methods significantly bolsters the credibility and technical rigor of the findings. On December 31, 2024, Sh. CR Paatil, Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti, unveiled the Annual Groundwater Quality Report, 2024.

Key Highlights:

In terms of cation chemistry, calcium dominates the ion content, followed by sodium and potassium. For anions, bicarbonate is the most prevalent, followed by chloride and sulphate. This indicates that overall water in the country is of Calcium-Bicarbonate type.
Some regions face sporadic contamination of nitrates, fluoride, and arsenic.
Seasonal trends observed in parameters like Electrical Conductivity (EC) and fluoride provide evidence of positive monsoon recharge effects, which improve water quality.
From an agricultural perspective, the analysis of Sodium Adsorption Ration (SAR) and Residual Sodium Carbonate (RSC) reinforces the generally favorable suitability of groundwater for irrigation, with over 81% of samples meeting safe thresholds. However, localized issues of high sodium content and RSC values demand targeted interventions to prevent long-term soil degradation.
100% of ground water samples in North-Eastern States are in excellent category for irrigation.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for 2021-26 with an outlay of ₹93,068 Crore to benefit about 22 lakh farmers

Against a target of 34.63 Lakh Ha irrigation potential of 25.80Lakh Ha (approx.74.5%) created through AIBP works of the prioritized projects during 2016-17 to 2023-24
Nine (09) new MMI projects and two (02) new National projects have been further included under PMKSYAIBP.

Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY)- Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP):

The Government of India on 27.07.2016 approved funding of the 99 prioritized irrigation projects (and 7 phases) with an estimated balance cost of Rs. 77,595 Crore (Central share- Rs. 31,342 crores; State share- Rs. 46,253 crores) for completion in phases. The works include both the AIBP and CAD works. Funding arrangement for both Central Assistance (CA) and State Share made through NABARD under Long Term Irrigation Fund (LTIF). Targeted Irrigation Potential to be created under the scheme is 34.63 Lakh ha. An expenditure of Rs. 68891 crore (upto March 2024) has been reported to be incurred by the concerned State Governments on these projects since 2016-17. In January 2020, Ministry of Finance conveyed the continuation of ongoing centrally sponsored scheme up-to 31.03.2021.

Physical Progress: Against the target of 34.63 Lakh Ha. Irrigation Potential of about 25.80 Lakh ha. has been created through AIBP works of the prioritized projects during 2016-17 to 2023-24. The potential created during 2024-25 shall be available only after the end of cropping season.

Project Completed under PMKSY-AIBP: AIBP works of 62 prioritized projects out of identified 99 projects (and 7 phases) were reported to be completed till date.

The Government of India has approved implementation of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) for 2021-26 with an outlay of ₹93,068 Crore on date 15-Dec-2021 to benefit about 22 Lakh farmers. The Union Cabinet has approved central support of ₹37,454 Crore to States and ₹20,434.56 Crore of debt servicing for loan availed by Government of India for irrigation development during PMKSY 2016-21. Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme, ‘Har Khet Ko Paani’ and Watershed Development components have been approved for continuation during 2021-26. Total additional irrigation potential creation targeted during 2021-26 under AIBP is 13.88 Lakh hectare. Apart from focused completion of 60 ongoing projects including their 30.23 lakh hectare command area development, 9 additional projects have been taken up till date. Also, two national projects, namely Renukaji Dam Project (Himachal Pradesh) and Lakhwar Multipurpose Project (Uttarakhand) have also been included for central funding of 90% of works of water component under the scheme.

Inclusion of new Major/Medium Irrigation (MMI) projects as well as funding of National Projects under AIBP.

Financial progress requirement is dropped for inclusion of a project underAIBPand only physical progress of 50% to be considered.

Advanced stage (50% physical progress) criteria are relaxed for projects having command area of 50% or more in Drought Prone Area Programme (DPAP), tribal, Desert Development Programme (DDP), Flood prone, Tribal area, Flood prone area, left wing extremism affected area, Koraput, Balangir and Kalahandi (KBK) region of Odisha, Vidarbha& Marathwada regions of Maharashtra and Bundelkhand region of Madhya Pradesh & Uttar Pradesh, as also for Extension Renovation Modernization (ERM) projects and also for States with net irrigation below national average.

Reimbursement is allowed for due central assistance in subsequent year also.

Project completion permitted with physical progress of 90% or more.

Online Management Information System (MIS) has been developed for monitoring of the projects. A nodal officer for each of the 99 priority projects has been identified who updates the physical and financial progress of the project regularly in the MIS.

GIS based Application has been developed for geo-tagging of project components. Remote Sensing Techniques have been used for digitization of the canal network of the projects. Further, the Cropped Area estimation in the command of 99 priority projects is being carried out annually through remote sensing.

To resolve the issue of Land Acquisition (LA) and increase water conveyance efficiency, use of Underground Pipeline (UGPL) has been actively promoted. Guidelines for Planning and Design ofPiped Irrigation Network were released by this Ministry in July, 2017.

Pari-passu implementation of Command area development works in the commands of these projects is envisaged to ensure that the Irrigation Potential Created could be utilized by the farmers. New Guidelines bringing focus on Participatory Irrigation Management (PIM) have been brought out. Further, transfer of control and management of irrigation system to the Water Users’ Association (WUA) has been made necessary condition for the acceptance of CADWM completion.

The Financial Progress under PMKSY-AIBP is as follows:

Funds Released	2016-17 to 2023-24	2024-25 (so far)	Total
Central Assistance for AIBP projects including special and National Projects	18550.98	629.22	19180.20
State Share	33830.83	180.60	34011.4
Total	52,381.81	809.82	53191.6

Special Package for Maharashtra: A Special Package approved on 18.07.2018 which provides Central Assistance to complete 83 Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) projects and 8 Major / Medium Irrigation Projects in drought prone districts in Vidarbha and Marathwada and rest of Maharashtra in phases up to 2023-24 (extended till March-25). The overall balance cost of the said projects as on 1.4.2018 is estimated to be Rs.13651.61 Crore. Total CA is estimated to be Rs. 3831.41 Crore including reimbursement for expenditureduring 2017-18Balancepotentialof 3. 77 Lakh Ha would be created on completion of these schemes. CA of Rs. 2901.63 crores have been released under the scheme so far. Under the scheme, 53 SMI and 2 MMI projects have been reported to be completed by the State Government of Maharashtra. Overall irrigation potential of 1.66 Lakh ha. has been reported to be created through all these projects during 2018-19 to 2023-24. Further potential created during 2024-25 shall be available only after the end of cropping season.

Modernization of Command Area Development & Water Management (M-CADWM):

The Ministry of Jal Shakti is reviewing the CADWM programme to make it more relevant in the current context of water use efficiency and agricultural productivity. The proposed change is a proposed smart irrigation scheme which envisages transforming the existing command (whether rain fed or gravity based) to a Pressurized Piped Irrigation Command (PPIC) by providing pressurized irrigation water from Established source to Farm Gate below Minor (Tertiary) Level Network. This will make the entire command area micro-irrigation ready with robust back-end infrastructure using Surface Water. The farmers shall be empowered by creating a Water User Society, which will also be an “economic entity”.

The Scheme will develop suitable models for different Agro-Climatic zones, integrating various sources of water, and different levels of water availability, covering both areas of assured irrigation and protected irrigation. These models will pave the way for development of a National Plan for Modernization of water management in rural area in general and irrigation services in particular based on integrated, sustainable, efficient and inclusive water management.

Polavaram Irrigation Project: Polavaram Irrigation Project was declared as National Project under Section 90 of AP Reorganization Act, 2014, which came into force on 1^st March 2014. The project with 2467.50 m of earth-cum-rock fill dam and 1121.20 m long spillway aims at irrigating 2.91 Lakh ha in erstwhile East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, West Godavari and Krishna districts besides several other benefits envisaged by it. Central Government is funding 100% of the remaining cost of the irrigation component of the project, as on 01.04.2014. Government of Andhra Pradesh is executing the irrigation component of the project on behalf of Government of India. The approved cost of the Project as per Revised Cost Committee (RCC) is Rs 29,027.95 cr at 2013-14 PL and Rs 47,725.74 cr at 2017-18 PL up to FRL i.e. EL +45.72 m. After declaration as National Project, a sum of Rs. 15,605.96 cr has been released for execution of Polavaram Irrigation Project so far.

The Union Cabinet has approved the revised cost of the PIP in its meeting held on 28.08.2024, with water storage upto EL + 41.15 m at a cost of Rs. 30,436.95 cr with balance central grant for the project limited to Rs. 12,157.53 cr. Further, an amount of Rs. 2,348 cr has been released on 09.10.2024 as advance payment to GoAP on account of execution of Polavaram Irrigation Project in addition to the reimbursement of Rs 15,605.96 cr made to GoAP.

As reported by Water Resource Department, Government of Andhra Pradesh, an expenditure of Rs 18,348.84 cr has been incurred on the project works up to 30.11.2024, after declaration of Polavaram irrigation project (PIP) as National Project.

Atal Bhujal Yojana (Atal Jal)

Atal BhujalYojana (Atal Jal) is a Central Sector Scheme of Government of India with an outlay of Rs 6000 Crore, with focus on community participation and demand side interventions for sustainable ground water management in identified water stressed areas in 8203 water stressed Gram Panchayats of 229 administrative blocks/Talukas in 80 districts of seven States in the country viz. Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. The scheme, partly funded by the World Bank, is being implemented from 1.04.2020 for a period of 6 years.

This unique scheme aims at increasing the capacity of States to manage their ground water resources and for ensuring their long-term sustainability with active participation of the local communities through a mix of top-down and bottom-up approaches. It also envisages convergence of various ongoing schemes for implementation of interventions for improving ground water availability with emphasis on demand management and also to inculcate behavioral changes in the community to ensure optimal use of available water resources.

The launch of Atal Bhujal Yojana heralds a change in the Government policy for ground water management by emphasizing the importance of community participation in planning, execution, and monitoring of scheme activities; convergence of ongoing schemes for implementing interventions aimed at improving ground water availability; focus on demand side management through improving water use efficiency and incentivizing participating States for awareness creation among the masses on the importance of ground water.

Atal Bhujal Yojana also envisages improving the capacity of States for ground water governance through strengthening of institutions dealing with ground water management, improving ground water monitoring networks, creation of awareness among the public on the importance and criticality of ground water resources and building the capacity of the grass root level stakeholders to plan and utilize the available resources in a judicious manner. It also addresses the gender perspective by making it mandatory to include women in all activities of the scheme.

Atal Bhujal Yojana is expected to improve ground water conditions in the target areas and to contribute significantly to ensure ground water sustainability for interventions planned under the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM). It is also expected to contribute to the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s goal of doubling farmers’ income and to result in optimal use of ground water by the stakeholders in the long-run.

Further, to bridge the gap in the data availability at the GP level for better water management across India, Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation in collaboration with Ministry of Panchayati Raj has taken the initiative to expand water budgeting exercise to non-Atal Jal areas as well by their inclusion in the Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDPs).

Key achievements under Atal Bhujal Yojana are as follows:

Public disclosure of data in all the Atal Jal GPs through various modes of disclosure viz., central/state web portals, display board at each GP, social media, wall paintings, distribution of pamphlets/brochure, public meetings and Atal Jal Mobile application.
States have used innovative measures like Groundwater Data Information Dissemination Centers, QR codes, social media, etc., to disseminate the groundwater related data to public.
Community led Water Budget and WSPs prepared for all the 8203 GPs and updated on yearly basis.
Groundwater monitoring system has been strengthened at GP level by providing equipment like Digital Water Level Recorders, water level indicators, rain gauges, water quality testing kits, water flow meters etc. In addition, piezometers have been constructed in GPs for monitoring of water levels.
A total of 49 State level, 410 District level, 1152 Block level and 99,406 GP level trainings have been conducted so far.
Awareness and sensitization at GP level through innovative Information Education and Communication practices like narrowcasting in Haryana, folk dances/songs in Karnataka, Jal dindis in Maharashtra, Ratri Choupals in Rajasthan have been used to drive the message of sustainable groundwater management.
Investment of Rs. 4355 Crore towards implementation of interventions proposed under WSPs through convergence.
An area of around 6.7 lakh Hectares has been brought under efficient water use practices including Drip, Sprinkler, Mulching, Crop Diversification etc.
More than 70,000 wells are being monitored for water level at GP level and shared with community.
More than 90,000 existing Water Conservation and Artificial Recharge structures have been mapped.
813 GPs in 47 Blocks have shown improvement in ground water level.
A total of Rs.3420.57 Cr. has been disbursed to the States since the inception of the scheme. A total of Rs.2863.98 Cr. has been utilized by the States since the inception of the scheme.
Sixth meeting of National Level Steering Committee (NLSC) for implementation of Atal Bhujal Yojana was held on 07 June 2024.

Minor Irrigation Statistics: Progress under the scheme “Irrigation Census”:

Minor Irrigation Census conducted quinquennially in order to create a sound and reliable database on groundwater and surface water minor irrigation schemes in the country. The Minor Irrigation Census is conducted under the centrally sponsored scheme “Irrigation Census” with 100% central funding through which State Statistical Cells constituted under different States/UTs are also supported.

The sixth Minor Irrigation Census and the first Census of Water bodies covering all water bodies in the country, both rural and urban have been completed. All India and State-wise report on 6^th Minor Irrigation Census and First Census of Water Bodies has been published and are available at the Department website ‘https://jalshakti-dowr.gov.in’. Key results have been disseminated on Bhuvan portal and the state wise unit level data has also been disseminated on Open Government Data (OGD) platform.

During 2024, the following progress under the scheme “Irrigation Census” has been achieved:

7^th Minor Irrigation Census and 2^nd Census of Water Bodies are underway, along with two new censuses: the 1^st Census of Springs and the 1^st Census of Major and Medium Irrigation Projects, with reference year 2023-24.
An all-India Workshop on these Censuses was held in 2023, with participation from all States and Union Territories. NIC has developed a mobile/web application for these censuses, with pilot testing successfully conducted in Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Meghalaya in month of October, 2024.
Six regional workshops for training of trainers for upcoming censuses are being conducted at regional centers in Tripura, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and West Bengal from December, 2024 to January, 2025 to provide training to trainers at State level for further capacity building.
Grands-in-aid to States/UTs were released timely on receipt of proposals from eligible States/UTs.

Flood Management Wing (FM):

Flood Management and Border Areas Programme (FMBAP):

The “Flood Management Programme (FMP)” and “River Management Activities and Works related to Border Areas” (RMBA) under operation during XII Five Year Plan were merged as “Flood Management and Border Areas Programme” (FMBAP) for the period 2017-18 to 2019-20 and further extended up-to March, 2021. Cabinet further approved the continuation of FMBAP scheme during 2021-22 to 2025-26 with an outlay of Rs. 4100 Crore (FMP-Rs. 2940 Crore and RMBA – Rs. 1160 Crore).

Since the inception of FMBAP (till December 2024), Central Assistance of Rs. 7136 crores have been released to States/UTs under FMP component of Flood Management & Border Area Programme (FMBAP) scheme and Central Assistance of Rs. 1258.73 crores have been released to UTs/States under RMBA component of FMBAP scheme.

Completion of balance works of North Koel Reservoir Project: DoWR, RD & GR has taken up the long pending project for completion of balance works of North Koel Reservoir Project, Bihar and Jharkhand. In August, 2017 the Union Cabinet has approved the proposal for balance works of North Koel Reservoir Project at an estimated cost of Rs. 1622.27 crore during three financial years from the start of the project. Subsequently, at the request of both State Governments, certain other components were found necessary to be included in the project. Complete lining of Right Main Canal (RMC) and Left Main Canal (LMC) was also regarded essential from technical considerations to derive envisaged irrigation potential. Thus, the works of Gaya distribution system, lining of RMC and LMC, remodeling of enroute structures, construction of a few new structures and onetime Special Package for R&R of Project Affected Families (PAFs) were to be provided for in the updated cost estimate. Accordingly, Revised Cost Estimate of the project was prepared. Out of the cost of balance works of Rs. 2430.76 crore, the Central would provide Rs.1836.41 crore. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval to the proposal to complete the balance works of North Koel Reservoir Project at a revised Cost of Rs. 2,430.76 crore on 04.10.2023. Project will provide irrigation benefit to 114,021 hectares of land annually in drought prone areas of Aurangabad and Gaya districts of Bihar and Palamau and Garwa districts of Jharkhand. Project also has the provision for supply of 44 MCM water for drinking and industrial water supply. The execution of balance works of the project on turnkey basis by M/s WAPCOS Ltd., a CPSU under DoWR, RD & GR as Project Management Consultant (PMC). 10% works on dam & appurtenant, 100% of additional works of Mohammad Ganjbarrage, 86% works on left main canal and works on Right Main Canal in Jharkhand Portion & 18% works on Bihar portion have been completed.

India and Bangladesh Matters

A Treaty was signed by the Prime Ministers of India and Bangladesh on 12th December, 1996 for the sharing of Ganga/Ganges waters at Farakka during the lean season. As per the Treaty, the Ganga/Ganges waters is being shared at Farakka (which is the last control structure on river Ganga in India) during lean period, from 1^st January to 31^st May every year, on 10-daily basis as per the formula provided in the Treaty. The validity of Treaty is 30 years. The sharing of water as per the Treaty is being monitored by a Joint Committee headed by Members, JRC from both sides. The following India-Bangladesh Joint Committee Meetings have been convened.

The 83^rd meeting of the Joint Committee on sharing of the Ganga/Ganges waters at Farakka was held at Dhaka on 24^th January, 2024 after a visit to the joint observation site at Hardinge Bridge, on 24th January, 2024.
The 84^th meeting of the Joint Committee on sharing of the Ganga/Ganges Waters at Farakka was held at Kolkata on 7^th March, 2024 after visit to the joint observation sites at Farakka on 5^th March, 2024.
The 85^th meeting of the Joint Committee on sharing of the Ganga/ Ganges waters at Farakka was held at Dhaka (Bangladesh) on 14^th November, 2024 for the finalization of Annual Report of the lean/dry season of the year 2024.

During the 83^rd and 84^th Joint Committee meetings, the Indian delegation was led by Mr. Atul Jain, Commissioner (FM), Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Ministry of Jal Shakti. During the 85th Joint Committee meeting, the Indian delegation was led by Mr. Sharad Chandra, Commissioner (FM), Department of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of the Republic of India and Member, India-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission. The Bangladesh delegation was led by Dr. Mohammad Abul Hossen, Member, India-Bangladesh Joint Rivers Commission, Ministry of Water Resources, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

National River Conservation Directorate (NRCD)

Cleaning of river is a continuous process and Government of India is supplementing the efforts of the State Governments in addressing the challenges of pollution of rivers by providing financial and technical assistance. Assistance is provided to State Governments for abatement of pollution in identified stretches of various rivers (excluding river Ganga and its tributaries) under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of National River Conservation Plan (NRCP) on cost sharing basis between the Central & State Governments for taking up various pollution abatement works relating to interception & diversion of raw sewage, construction of sewerage systems, setting up of sewage treatment plants, low cost sanitation, river front/bathing ghat development, etc.

Project for ‘Pollution Abetment River Banganga at Katra’ in Jammu & Kashmir at a cost of Rs.92.10 crore was sanctioned.
Project for ‘Pollution Abetment and Conservation of river Mindhola at Surat’ in Gujarat at a cost of Rs.98.51 crore was sanctioned.
Project for ‘Interception & Diversion of Sewerage Water from Existing Drains to Nearest STP for Treatment Purposes in Jodhpur City for Pollution Abatement of River Jojari at Jodhpur’ in Rajasthan at a cost of Rs.13.10 crore was sanctioned.
Project for ‘Sewer rehabilitation of old and deteriorated pipes by Trenchless CIPP Technology for main trunk sewer lines heading towards Nandari and Salawas STPs for pollution abatement of Jojari River at Jodhpur’ in Rajasthan at a cost of Rs.51.99 crore was sanctioned.
Project for ‘Design of Complete Sewerage System and Proposal of Development of New STP for Jhalamand Area, Jodhpur for pollution abatement of river Jojari at Jodhpur’ in Rajasthan at a cost of Rs.53.63 crore was sanctioned.
Project for ‘Establishing and Commissioning of 30 MLD Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) at Nandari for pollution abatement of river Jojari at Jodhpur’ in Rajasthan at a cost of Rs.53.86 crore was sanctioned.
Project for ‘Rejuvenation of Imphal-Manipur River and Faecal Sludge and Septage Management at 27 ULBs’ in Manipur at a cost of Rs.92.39 crore was sanctioned.
Project for ‘Elamkulam sewerage project for rejuvenating Chitrapuzha River through restoration of natural streams/outfalls carrying sewage/pollutants-Construction of STP 17.5 MLD’ in Kerala at a cost of Rs.47.53 crore was sanctioned.
Project for ‘Perandoor Sewerage Project for Rejuvenating Periyar River through Restoration of Natural Streams/Outfalls Carrying Sewage/Pollutants—Construction of 19 MLD STP (Part 1)’ in Kerala at a cost of Rs.49.78 crore was sanctioned.
Project Management Consultant has been appointed for implementation the project of ‘Pollution abatement and conservation of River Nag at Nagpur, Maharashtra’ sanctioned at a cost of Rs.1,926.99 crore with Japan International Cooperation Assistance.
Project for pollution abatement of river Devika and Tawi at Udhampur, Jammu & Kashmir sanctioned for Rs.186.74 crore has been completed 3 sewage treatment plants (STPs) with total capacity of 13.06 mld constructed under NRCP.
Project for pollution abatement of river Tapi at Surat, Gujarat sanctioned for Rs. 971.25 crore has been completed 11 sewage treatment plants (STPs) with total capacity of 208.97 mld constructed under NRCP.
Central Assistance amounting to Rs. 425 crores released to various State Governments/Agencies for implementation of projects under NRCP.
Stakeholder Consultation Workshop on Guidelines for National River Conservation Plan and DPR Preparation held on 06th May, 2024 in the presence of Secretary, DoWR, RD & GR. The recommendation and suggestions of the stakeholders are under review and accordingly will be proposed in the revised guidelines of NRCP and DPR guidelines.
First meeting of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) was held on 31.05.2024 under the Chairpersonship of Secretary, DoWR, RD & GR at Nagpur under the project Condition Assessment and Management Plan of Six River Basins (Cauvery, Periyar, Narmada, Mahanadi, Godavari and Krishna).
The project “Assessment of ecological status of 7 rivers viz. Narmada, Mahanadi, Godavari, Cauvery, Periyar, Pamba and Barak for conservation planning” has been entrusted to Wild Life Institute of India (WII) at a sanctioned cost of Rs. 24.56 crore in September, 2020. The project broadly aims to spearhead river conservation in above seven Indian rivers for biodiversity conservation and maintenance of ecosystem services. Intensive ecological studies will be carried out in the seven prioritized river basins of India and ecological status will be assessed. Stake Holders workshops of NRCD- WII held at Bengaluru, Karnataka Cauvery River basin.

External Affairs & International Cooperation (EA&IC)

DoWR, RD & GR has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with different countries on cooperation in the field of water resources management and development. For effective implementation of activities under the various signed MoUs, to enhance the collaboration under the MoU, certain activities were undertaken including Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting, the details of which is as follows –

MoU with Denmark – The MoU between India and Denmark on Cooperation in the field of Water Resources Management was signed on 12.09.2022. Two projects namely “Centre of excellence on Smart Water Resources Management (CoESWaRM)” and “Smart Laboratories on Clean River (SLCR)” have been identified under the MoU. Indian side Joint Working Group was formed on 05.08.2024. First Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting under the MoU was held on 05^th December 2024. In the meeting, it has been agreed to have organizational division at PMU level into two sub-thematic areas under the existing Centre of Excellence (CoE).

MoU with European Union – The MoU between India and the European Union on Water Cooperation was signed on 01.10.2016. Three JWG meetings have been convened so far. Third Meeting of JWG was convened on 12.07.2023 virtually. The 6th EU-India Water Forum meeting was held on 18.09.2024 during the 8th India Water Week in New Delhi. The forum inter-alia explored trilateral collaboration between East Africa, India and the EU to address water challenges in regions like Lake Victoria and Lake Tanganyika.

MoU with Israel: The MoU between India and Israel on Water Resources Management and Development Cooperation was signed on 11.11.2016. A Joint Review Committee (JRC) (Now Steering Committee) has been formed on 20.02.2024 to assess the activities and progress of the projects identified for implementation under the MoU. 1^st meeting of the JRC was convened on 9th Oct 2024 recommending the proposal for the “Establishment of India-Israel Centre of Water Technology (CoWT)”.

MoC with Japan (Water Resources): The Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between India and Japan in the area of Water Resources was signed on 11.12.2019. Two meetings of Joint Working Group (JWG) have been convened so far. 2nd JWG meeting was held on 14.11.2024. In the meeting both sides agreed for extension of the MoU and to identifying additional areas for collaboration.

MoU with Morocco- The MoU between India and Morocco on cooperation in the field of Water Resources was signed on 14.12.2017. Four JWG meetings have been convened so far. Fourth JWG meeting was convened on 20.09.2024. It was agreed upon that both the countries will share their experiences, analysis, findings, policies and developments in the field of water resources in its next meeting of JWG.

Bilateral Meetings of Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti with the Ministers of Foreign Nations during India Water Week 2024 in New Delhi: –

Denmark: Mr. C.R. Paatil, Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti met with H.E. Mr. Morten Bødskov, Denmark’s Minister of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs. Denmark’s Minister reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment to sustainable water solutions and highlighted the expertise of Danish companies in water management. The Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti proposed collaborative initiatives to develop scalable technologies for water challenges, suggesting pilot projects at the district level.
Guyana: A significant meeting took place between Mr. C. R. Paatil, Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti and Mr. Collin D. Croal, Hon’ble Minister of Housing & Water, Guyana. It was agreed upon that both the countries will share their experiences, policies and developments in the field of water resources
Tanzania: Mr. C. R. Paatil, Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti, India met with Mr. Mathew Andrea Kundo, Deputy Minister of Water, Tanzania. The Tanzanian Minister proposed discussions on a new project to transport water from Lake Victoria, estimated at $600 million, to address water challenges in Tanzania. Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti assured that this proposal would be deliberated upon in the Ministry positively.
Zimbabwe: A productive meeting took place between Mr. C. R. Paatil, Hon’ble Minister of Jal Shakti and Mr. Vangelis Peter Haritatos, Hon’ble Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe’s Minister sought innovative financing options beyond traditional avenues such as EXIM etc. Hon’ble Minister for Jal Shakti assured that these matters would be deliberated upon positively, emphasizing that improvements in Zimbabwe’s irrigation sector would significantly enhance food security across Africa.

Barhmaputra & Barak (B&B) Wing

Expert Level Mechanism (ELM)

During the visit of the Hon’ble President of the People’s Republic of China to India on November 20-23, 2006, it was agreed to set up an Expert-Level Mechanism to discuss interaction and cooperation on provision of flood season hydrological data, emergency management and other issues regarding trans-border Rivers as agreed between them. Accordingly, the two sides have set up the Joint Expert Level Mechanism through a Joint Declaration by both the countries.

The ELM meetings are held alternately in India and China every year. Fifteen meetings of ELM have been held so far. The 15^th meeting of ELM was held at Beijing, China during 13^th-14^th August 2024. The GoI delegation was led by Shri S.K. Sinha, Commissioner (B&B), DoWR, RD & GR, Ministry of Jal Shakti and the Chinese delegation was led by Mr. Hao Zhao, Director General of the International Economic & Technical Cooperation and Exchange Centre, Ministry of Water Resources, People’s Republic of China. Representatives of Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Central Electricity Authority (CEA) and Central Water Commission (CWC) had also participated in the meeting.

(ii) INDIA-BHUTAN COOPERATION

Joint Group of Expert (JGE) on Flood Management:

A Joint Group of Expert (JGE) on Flood Management has been constituted between India and Bhutan to discuss and assess the probable causes and effects of the recurring floods and erosion in the southern foothills of Bhutan and adjoining plains in India and recommend to both Governments appropriate and mutually acceptable remedial measures. Ten meetings of JGE have been held so far. The 10^th meeting was held during 28^th-29^th February, 2024 at New Delhi, India. The GoI delegation was led by Shri S. K. Sinha, Commissioner (B&B), Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD& GR), Ministry of Jal Shakti, GoI and the RGoB delegation was led by Mr. Karma Dupchu, Director, National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM), RGoB.

Joint Technical Team (JTT) on Flood Management:

In accordance with the decision taken during the first meeting of JGE, a Joint Technical Team (JTT) on Flood Management between the two countries was constituted. The purpose of JTT is to assess the field situation and provide technical support to JGE on flood management. Eight meetings of JTT have been held so far. The 8^th meeting of JTT was held during 18^th–20^th November, 2024 at Chalsa, Jalpaigudi, West Bengal. The Indian delegation was led by Shri G.L. Bansal, Chief Engineer, Brahmaputra Basin Organisation (BBO), Central Water Commission, GoI and the Bhutanese delegation was led by Dr. SingayDorji, Chief of Meteorological Services Division (MSD), National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology, RGoB.

Joint Experts Team (JET) on Flood Forecasting:

A Joint Experts Team (JET) consisting of senior officials from the Government of India and Royal Government of Bhutan(RGoB) continuously reviews the progress and other requirements of a network of 36 hydro-meteorological sites located in the catchments of trans-border rivers Puthimari, Pagladiya, Sankosh, Manas, Raidak, Torsa, Aie and Jaldhaka. So far, JET has met 38 times alternately in India and Bhutan since its reconstitution in 1992 and the last JET meeting i.e. 38^th meeting was held at Mandarmani, West Bengal, India during 10^th-11^th December, 2024.

The Indian delegation was led by Shri Subhrangshu Biswas, Chief Engineer, Teesta&Bagarathi-Damodar Basin Organisation (T&BDBO), Central Water Commission, GoI and the Bhutanese delegation was led by Mr. Karma Dupchu, Director, National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology (NCHM), RGoB.

13. NERIWALM

The North Eastern Regional Institute of Water and Land Management (NERIWALM), under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, continued its vital contributions to water and land management across North East India in 2024. As the only institute of its kind in the region, it upheld its mandate of capacity building and skill enhancementfor efficient management of water and land resources for irrigation and agriculture.

During the year (January to December, 2024), the institute organized 76 training programmes, reaching 3,173 beneficiaries. Among these were induction-level courses for newly recruited engineers from the Irrigation and Agriculture Departments of Assam, as well as the Brahmaputra Board. A faculty development program on advancements in agriculture and water management was also conducted. NERIWALM collaborated with leading national institutions and agencies to host a two-day National Seminar on Advances in Irrigation Technologies and Management, fostering knowledge exchange and innovation.

In research and development, the institute undertook a diverse range of projects sponsored by state and central government departments. Key initiatives included the preparation of State-Specific Action Plans for 19 states, evaluations of PMKSY-AIBP and PMKSY-HKKP irrigation projects in Assam and Meghalaya, research project on farmer participation in irrigation management in Manipur, studies on good water management practices and study on the impact of climate change on dam-related hydro-geomorphic and social aspects in Arunachal Pradesh.

NERIWALM’s academic program also progressed with the enrollment of 15 students in the M.Tech course on Water Resource Management for the 2024-25 session. The institute further strengthened its credentials by developing e-learning modules on water resource management for the i-GOT platform. NERIWALM was accredited as “EXCELLENT” under the Capacity Building Commission’s National Standards, while its Soil and Water Laboratory achieved NABL accreditation.

14. NATIONAL HYDROLOGY PROJECT

National Hydrology Project (NHP), with support from the World Bank, envisages establishing a system for timely and reliable water resources data acquisition, storage, collation and management. It has pan-India coverage with 48 Implementing Agencies (IAs) {12 from Central Government (including 3 from River Basin Organisations) and 36 from States/ UTs}. It will also provide tools and systems for informed decision making for water resources assessment, planning and management. The National Hydrology Project has been approved with an outlay of Rs. 3,679.77 Crore as a Central Sector Scheme with 100% grant to State Governments and Central Implementing Agencies. The project originally had a duration of 8 years from 2016-17 to 2023-24. However, Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance has accorded approval for extension of project till Sept-2025 within the same allocation.

Broad objectives of NHP include: a) To improve the extent, quality, and accessibility of water resources information; b) To create decision support system for floods and basin level resource assessment/planning; and c) To strengthen the capacity of targeted water resources professionals and institutions in India.

Under the ongoing NHP, almost 22960 Real Time Data Acquisition System (RTDAS) surface water and ground water stations have already been installed in the country. Besides, 46 Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) packages have been commissioned; almost 5667 piezometers constructed; 134 stationary as well as mobile water quality labs have been developed/procured/maintained and put into operation;
high-resolution DEMs, CORS network as well as Geoid model have also been developed. Furthermore, Bathymetric surveys of 464 important reservoirs of the country covering 162 BCM have also been taken up under NHP of which 373 studies have already been completed. Further 36 State Data Centres / Regional data centres / knowledge centres, etc. have been completed under the ongoing NHP. The need for development & maintenance of appropriate institutional framework both at the Central as well as State level for water resources information system intended for collection, collation and dissemination of the database was given shape in the ongoing NHP. As envisaged in the Cabinet note, the National Water Resources Informatics Centre (NWIC) has been created in 2018 and is now functional. Additionally, the formation of the State Water Informatics Centres for development of respective State Water Resources Information Systems was expedited in the ongoing NHP. Till date almost 19 SWICs have already been formed with a few more under process. The information system covering hydro-meteorological, hydro-geological, sedimentation, morphological and water quality data is also important in the context of various studies being done under NHP which
include IT Applications, Digital Products, geospatial hydro products, etc.

15. Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) scheme

Under the Surface Minor Irrigation (SMI) scheme, since 12th plan onwards, 7282 schemes are ongoing with an estimated cost of ₹ 16113.560 crores. Central Assistance (CA) of Rs. 9009.169 crores have been released to states up-to March, 2024. Further, 4965 schemes have been reported to be completed up-to March, 2024. Target irrigation potential creation of these schemes is 11.58 L Ha and out of this, 8.59 L Ha is reported to be created till March, 2024.

16. Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies scheme

Under the Repair, Renovation and Restoration (RRR) of Water Bodies scheme, since 12th plan onwards, 3075schemes are ongoing with an estimated cost of Rs. 2834.692 crore. Central Assistance (CA) of Rs. 554.279Crore has been released to states up to March, 2024. Further, 2192 water bodies have been reported to be completed up to March, 2024. Target irrigation potential restoration of these schemes is 2.41 L Ha and out of this, 2.00 L Ha is reported to be restored till March, 2024

18. Mass Communication Internship programme

DoWR, RD & GR undertook internship programme in mass communication on during 2024. Students pursuing Degrees or are Research Scholars enrolled in recognized University/Institution in the field of Mass Communication in India are given opportunity to apply as “interns”. The Internship Programme provided short term exposure to “selected candidates” to be associated with the Department’s work related to media/social media activities. The objectives of the programme are to well acquaint the “Interns” with the working of the Department in field of media/social media related activities etc. and simultaneously the “interns” to supplement the process of mass publicity of this Department to create awareness about importance of development and management of water resources in holistic manner.

03 interns were selected for an initial period of 6 months under the program.

*****

Dhanya Sanal K

Director

(Release ID: 2096022) Visitor Counter : 29

MIL OSI Asia Pacific News –

January 26, 2025

MIL-OSI USA: Remarks by President Trump Before Air Force One Departure

US Senate News:

Source: The White House
class=”has-text-align-center”>Los Angeles International AirportLos Angeles, California (January 24, 2025)
6:41 P.M. PST THE PRESIDENT: So, thank you very much. We just heard that we have a great Secretary of Defense. We’re very happy about that, and we appreciate everybody’s vote. And very importantly, I think we had two fantastic meetings in North Carolina and also in Los Angeles, and we made a lot of progress. It’s – they’re tragic events, really tragic. And we appreciate your being here, and we’re going home. Q What did you promise the — the governor, Mr. President? Did he ask for federal dollars? Did he ask for your help? THE PRESIDENT: No, no, we just had a good talk. We’re on the same team. We want to get it fixed. So, we had a very good talk. With the governor, I had a very, very good talk. Q What do you think of Mitch McConnell voting against Hegseth’s nomination? THE PRESIDENT: I didn’t know that. I just know we won. I didn’t know that. Q Do you think the mayor got the message that she’s got to cut red tape and get (inaudible)? THE PRESIDENT: I hope the mayor got the message. Yeah. I don’t know. (Laughs.) I’m not sure, but I hope so. Now, look, I think she means well, but these people want to get about building their house. They’re not going to wait around 18 months, and they’re not going to wait around a long time. Q Mr. President, are you — THE PRESIDENT: So, we’re going to give an immediate permit. Q Are you concerned about any other nominations for confirmation in the Senate? THE PRESIDENT: No. No, I’m honored to have Pete. I think Pete is going to be a great Secretary of Defense — Pete Hegseth — and we’re honored to have him. Q I apologize. I couldn’t hear you. Did you say you were speaking to him on the phone? THE PRESIDENT: No, I did speak to Pete — yeah — in the plane, in the helicopter. I think Pete is going to be a great Secretary of Defense. Q Are you disappointed that McConnell voted no? THE PRESIDENT: No, I didn’t even know that. No, I don’t know that. I just heard that we won. Winning is what matters, right? So, thank you very much everybody. Are you going on the plane? Q Yes. THE PRESIDENT: Good. Maybe I’ll see you on the plane. Q That would be great. THE PRESIDENT: We’ll see you on the plane. Q Come back. Q Come back and say hello, okay? THE PRESIDENT: I will.
END 6:43 P.M. PST

MIL OSI USA News –

January 26, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: 31% of companies are not paying tax in Australia. How do they do it?

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Kerrie Sadiq, Professor of Taxation, QUT Business School, and ARC Future Fellow, Queensland University of Technology

Seb Zurcher/Unsplash

Large companies paid the Australian government a record A$100 billion in tax in the last year, a 17% increase on the previous year. But, over the same period, there were still 31% of large companies, operating here but not paying any tax.

The Australian Taxation Office’s annual corporate tax transparency report released last week includes data on nearly 4,000 of Australia’s largest corporations.

In its tenth year, the report is lauded by the government and ATO as a way to increase corporate accountability and reduce tax avoidance. But there is no detail on the tax practices of multinational entities, including how they interact with their offices around the world.

In particular, there is little information about how 1,200 companies paid no tax.

What the report tells us

The transparency report provides data on corporations with income of $100 million or more and businesses which pay the petroleum resource rent tax (PRRT). This includes Australian public and foreign-owned corporate tax entities, as well as Australian-owned resident private companies.

The report details the total income, taxable income, tax payable, and PRRT payable for all entities that meet the reporting threshold. Taxable income is simply assessable income minus deductions. Tax payable as a percentage of taxable income, can then be used to calculate an effective tax rate. The statutory corporate tax rate is 30%.

A variation between an effective tax rate and the statutory tax rate is not evidence of tax avoidance. However, questions need to be asked about how profitable companies reduce their tax liability to zero.

Zero liability can be achieved by deducting offsets and credits. For example, companies that conduct significant research and development are given tax breaks which reduce the amount of tax payable.

Where a company has accounting losses or a tax loss because it has incurred more expenses than income, tax will be zero. These are legitimate reasons for paying no tax.

But the limited information provided simply tells us how profitable a company is, the amount of tax deductions claimed against that profit, and the tax payable.

What the report doesn’t tell us

The transparency report reveals little about tax practices of multinational entities.

The question remains what deductions are being claimed by corporations and tax entities. The ATO has this information but can only publish what the law allows them, which is limited.

For multinationals, deductions will include dealings with overseas parts of the global entity, such as subsidiaries or the parent entity. These transactions create legitimate tax deductions.

Common transactions include payments to overseas subsidiaries for services, royalty payments for intellectual property, and interest on overseas borrowings.

In the case of petrol company Chevron, money was borrowed in the United States at around 1.2% and on lent to a related Australian entity at 9%.

After a long court battle, about 5% of interest was allowed as a deduction, an amount significantly above the original interest rate. This gave Chevron in Australia a large tax deduction.

It is through these types of transactions profits earned in Australia are shifted overseas. Current tax law allows this but requires the transaction, known as the transfer price, to be at arm’s length – that is, the price is agreed to between independent parties entering the same transaction.

What is transfer pricing?

Multinationals are global by nature and therefore logically maximise worldwide profits. Tax systems do not operate in the same way.

Tax comes under domestic law which means transactions between parts of a global entity are recognised for tax purposes.

If goods or services are sold by one part of the entity to another, an internal transaction occurs. For tax purposes the transaction is recognised as a deduction in one location and income in another. An Australian entity would pay a foreign party for things like marketing, and get a deduction for the expense.

In recent years the ATO has settled marketing disputes with large multinationals including Google, BHP, Apple, Rio Tinto, ResMed and Microsoft.

Where a deduction is allowed in a high tax jurisdiction, such as Australia, and income is included in the profits of a low tax jurisdiction, such as Singapore, the result is larger overall global profits.

The tax system recognises the incentive for multinational entities to shift profits this way and requires transactions to be at a commercial or negotiated price. Determining the price however can be fraught and has led to numerous court cases and tax disputes.

The tax transparency report reveals nothing about these types of transactions.

Taxing multinationals in Australia

In the last decade there have been moves to tax income in the location of the economic activity. The OECD has tried to stop profit shifting by companies, which erodes the tax base of high taxing jurisdictions, through its tax reform agenda.

Further complicating the issue of transfer pricing is the question of whether there is any real activity in the countries where different parts of a multinational are located.

Singapore is recognised for what are known as service hubs. These are places where various services such as sales negotiations are conducted and marketing occurs. Singapore also happens to have a headline corporate tax rate of 17%. This is often reduced to single digits after deals are entered into between taxpayers and the Singapore revenue authority.

Intellectual property poses similar problems.

These are increasingly valuable assets for multinational entities as they provide a unique edge in the market. We only need to think of Apple, Microsoft and Google to understand how valuable names, logos and designs are.

By its very nature intellectual property has no physical location and can be owned anywhere in the world. Often, intellectual property is held in low or no tax countries.

The transparency report includes no details about how much is transferred to these locations. This is where Australia’s proposed public country-by-country reporting may assist.

Is the ATO’s corporate tax transparency report worthwhile?

Australia should continue to strive to be a leader in corporate tax transparency.

A two-step approach is required to eliminate corporate tax avoidance. Information is valuable and public transparency measures are an important first step.

A second step, however, is to reform substantive tax laws to tax profits where they are genuinely being generated.

Kerrie Sadiq is the recipient of a four year Australian Research Council Future Fellowship Grant.

– ref. 31% of companies are not paying tax in Australia. How do they do it? – https://theconversation.com/31-of-companies-are-not-paying-tax-in-australia-how-do-they-do-it-242695

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: Commonwealth Scholarships celebrate 65 years of inspiring futures
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

Themed ‘Celebrating 65 Years of Commonwealth Scholarships – Inspiring Futures, Empowering Communities’, the milestone event recognised the significant impact that Commonwealth Scholarships have had on individuals and communities.
A group photo with Deputy High Commissioner Emma Davis and Director of SITESA Dr John Iromea.

The Solomon Islands Commonwealth Scholars and Alumni Association (SICSAA) celebrated 65 years of Commonwealth Scholarships in Solomon Islands over the weekend.

Themed ‘Celebrating 65 Years of Commonwealth Scholarships – Inspiring Futures, Empowering Communities’, this milestone event recognized the significant impact that Commonwealth Scholarships have had in individuals and communities, fostering education, leadership and development.

Last Friday’s celebration featured insightful presentations, discussions and networking opportunities with past and current scholars and stakeholders who have contributed to this esteemed program.

Reflections were also held on the programme’s achievements and to explore future opportunities for furthering educational growth in Solomon Islands.

Speaking at the official programme British Deputy High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, Emma Davis said:

As we have seen from the recent Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa, there was a reiteration of abiding belief in the value of the Commonwealth as a trusted forum where diverse voices of our member states, the large and the small, the young and the old, come together as one family.

At last month’s Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) heads of governments underscored the pivotal role of education in shaping cultural, societal and family values, beliefs and norms in promoting human rights, peace, economic, political and social development and environmental sustainability, and in fostering responsible global citizenship.

They also encouraged initiatives that provide social and emotional learning, scholarships, opportunities for lifelong learning, quality education and training that bridge digital divides, including the gender digital divide.

The announcement of The King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme, was inspired by His Majesty King Charles III, and his life’s work to create opportunity and to tackle contemporary challenges including climate change and inequality is an example.

In his keynote address on the significance and impact of the Commonwealth Scholarships, Director of the National Scholarship Division (NSD), Solomon Islands Tertiary Education and Skills Authority (SITESA), Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, Dr John Iromea said:

Scholarships are what is beautiful, and what is not attractive is not a scholarship. The beauty in appreciating your parents, the beauty in appreciating your teachers, the beauty in appreciating your fellow students, and the beauty in enjoying the Commonwealth Scholarships from the UK Government defines the ‘True’ and ‘Ideal’ partnership in building a strong foundation of a nation.

He said:

The 65th Anniversary celebration was also about a future of hope and destiny for our students, people and Solomon Islands and therefore, it is significant that students’ education and training are part of their life, and they ought to guard it well.

And it is up to you – the young people – to guide your education well by utilizing scholarships to empower you, your family, your tribe, your people, and your community. But, if you do not appreciate the importance of scholarships, your education and training will suffer and die.

The celebrations concluded with an afternoon interaction on how to write a scholarship application and preparing for scholarship interviews and the sharing of personal experiences under Commonwealth Scholarships by members of the Scholars and Alumni Association.

Share this page

The following links open in a new tab

Share on Facebook (opens in new tab)

Share on Twitter (opens in new tab)

Updates to this page

Published 4 November 2024
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China mulls revising arbitration law

Source: China State Council Information Office 2

Chinese lawmakers on Monday started deliberating a draft revision to the Arbitration Law, focusing on addressing prominent issues in the arbitration system and practice.
The draft revision was submitted to an ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, the national legislature, for the first reading.
This is the first major revision of the law since its promulgation in 1995.
The draft aims to refine the legal framework of arbitration with Chinese characteristics, make it more compatible with international rules, and enhance the credibility and international competitiveness of arbitration, thus fostering a world-class business environment that is market-oriented, law-based and internationalized.

MIL OSI China News –

January 26, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Jonathan Cook: Israel kills the journalists. Western media kills the truth of genocide in Gaza

Report by Dr David Robie – Café Pacific. –

Western publics are being subjected to a campaign of psychological warfare, where genocide is classed as ‘self-defence’ and opposition to it ‘terrorism’. Jonathan Cook reports as the world marked the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists at the weekend.

ANALYSIS: By Jonathan Cook

Israel knew that, if it could stop foreign correspondents from reporting directly from Gaza, those journalists would end up covering events in ways far more to its liking.

They would hedge every report of a new Israeli atrocity – if they covered them at all – with a “Hamas claims” or “Gaza family members allege”. Everything would be presented in terms of conflicting narratives rather than witnessed facts. Audiences would feel uncertain, hesitant, detached.

Israel could shroud its slaughter in a fog of confusion and disputation. The natural revulsion evoked by a genocide would be tempered and attenuated.

For a year, the networks’ most experienced war reporters have stayed put in their hotels in Israel, watching Gaza from afar. Their human-interest stories, always at the heart of war reporting, have focused on the far more limited suffering of Israelis than the vast catastrophe unfolding for Palestinians.

That is why Western audiences have been forced to relive a single day of horror for Israel, on October 7, 2023, as intensely as they have a year of greater horrors in Gaza — in what the World Court has judged to be a “plausible” genocide by Israel.

That is why the media have immersed their audiences in the agonies of the families of some 250 Israelis — civilians taken hostage and soldiers taken captive — as much as they have the agonies of 2.3 million Palestinians bombed and starved to death week after week, month after month.

That is why audiences have been subjected to gaslighting narratives that frame Gaza’s destruction as a “humanitarian crisis” rather than the canvas on which Israel is erasing all the known rules of war.

Western media’s human-interest stories, always at the heart of war reporting, have focused on the far more limited suffering of Israelis than the vast catastrophe unfolding for Palestinians. Image: www.jonathan-cook.net

While foreign correspondents sit obediently in their hotel rooms, Palestinian journalists have been picked off one by one — in the greatest massacre of journalists in history.

Israel is now repeating that process in Lebanon. On the night of October 24, it struck a residence in south Lebanon where three journalists were staying. All were killed.

In an indication of how deliberate and cynical Israel’s actions are, it put its military’s crosshairs on six Al Jazeera reporters last month, smearing them as “terrorists” working for Hamas and Islamic Jihad. They are reportedly the last surviving Palestinian journalists in northern Gaza, which Israel has sealed off while it carries out the so-called “General’s Plan”.

Israel wants no one reporting its final push to ethnically cleanse northern Gaza by starving out the 400,000 Palestinians still there and executing anyone who remains as a “terrorist”.

These six join a long list of professionals defamed by Israel in the interests of advancing its genocide — from doctors and aid workers to UN peacekeepers.

Sympathy for Israel
Perhaps the nadir of Israel’s domestication of foreign journalists was reached last month in a report by CNN. Back in February whistleblowing staff there revealed that the network’s executives have been actively obscuring Israeli atrocities to portray Israel in a more sympathetic light.

In a story whose framing should have been unthinkable — but sadly was all too predictable — CNN reported on the psychological trauma some Israeli soldiers are suffering from time spent in Gaza, in some cases leading to suicide.

Committing a genocide can be bad for your mental health, it seems. Or as CNN explained, its interviews “provide a window into the psychological burden that the war is casting on Israeli society”.

In its lengthy piece, titled “He got out of Gaza, but Gaza did not get out of him”, the atrocities the soldiers admit committing are little more than the backdrop as CNN finds yet another angle on Israeli suffering. Israeli soldiers are the real victims — even as they perpetrate a genocide on the Palestinian people.

One bulldozer driver, Guy Zaken, told CNN he could not sleep and had become vegetarian because of the “very, very difficult things” he had seen and had to do in Gaza.

What things? Zaken had earlier told a hearing of the Israeli Parliament that his unit’s job was to drive over many hundreds of Palestinians, some of them alive.

CNN reported: “Zaken says he can no longer eat meat, as it reminds him of the gruesome scenes he witnessed from his bulldozer in Gaza.”

Doubtless some Nazi concentration camp guards committed suicide in the 1940s after witnessing the horrors there — because they were responsible for them. Only in some weird parallel news universe, would their “psychological burden” be the story.

After a huge online backlash, CNN amended an editor’s note at the start of the article that originally read: “This story includes details about suicide that some readers may find upsetting.”

Readers, it was assumed, would find the suicide of Israeli soldiers upsetting, but apparently not the revelation that those soldiers were routinely driving over Palestinians so that, as Zaken explained, “everything squirts out”.

Banned from Gaza
Finally, a year into Israel’s genocidal war, now rapidly spreading into Lebanon, some voices are being raised very belatedly to demand the entry of foreign journalists into Gaza.

This week — in a move presumably designed, as November’s elections loom, to ingratiate themselves with voters angry at the party’s complicity in genocide — dozens of Democratic members of the US Congress wrote to President Joe Biden asking him to pressure Israel to give journalists “unimpeded access” to the enclave.

Don’t hold your breath.

Western media have done very little themselves to protest their exclusion from Gaza over the past year — for a number of reasons.

Given the utterly indiscriminate nature of Israel’s bombardment, major outlets have not wanted their journalists getting hit by a 2000lb bomb for being in the wrong place.

That may in part be out of concern for their welfare. But there are likely to be more cynical concerns.

Having foreign journalists in Gaza blown up or executed by snipers would drag media organisations into direct confrontation with Israel and its well-oiled lobby machine.

The response would be entirely predictable, insinuating that the journalists died because they were colluding with “the terrorists” or that they were being used as “human shields” — the excuse Israel has rolled out time and again to justify its targeting of doctors in Gaza and UN peacekeepers in Lebanon.

But there’s a bigger problem. The establishment media have not wanted to be in a position where their journalists are so close to the “action” that they are in danger of providing a clearer picture of Israel’s war crimes and its genocide.

The media’s current distance from the crime scene offers them plausible deniability as they both-sides every Israeli atrocity.

In previous conflicts, western reporters have served as witnesses, assisting in the prosecution of foreign leaders for war crimes. That happened in the wars that attended the break-up of Yugoslavia, and will doubtless happen once again if Russian President Valdimir Putin is ever delivered to The Hague.

But those journalistic testimonies were harnessed to put the West’s enemies behind bars, not its closest ally.

The media do not want their reporters to become chief witnesses for the prosecution in the future trials of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, at the International Criminal Court. The ICC’s Prosecutor, Karim Khan, is seeking arrest warrants for them both.

After all, any such testimony from journalists would not stop at Israel’s door. They would implicate Western capitals too, and put establishment media organisations on a collision course with their own governments.

The Western media does not see its job as holding power to account when the West is the one committing the crimes.

Censoring Palestinians
Journalist whistleblowers have gradually been coming forward to explain how establishment news organisations — including the BBC and the supposedly liberal Guardian — are sidelining Palestinian voices and minimising the genocide.

An investigation by Novara Media recently revealed mounting unhappiness in parts of The Guardian newsroom at its double standards on Israel and Palestine.

Its editors recently censored a commentary by preeminent Palestinian author Susan Abulhawa after she insisted on being allowed to refer to the slaughter in Gaza as “the holocaust of our times”.

Senior Guardian columnists such as Jonathan Freedland made much during Jeremy Corbyn’s tenure as leader of the Labour party that Jews, and Jews alone, had the right to define and name their own oppression.

That right, however, does not appear to extend to Palestinians.

As staff who spoke to Novara noted, The Guardian’s Sunday sister paper, The Observer, had no problem opening its pages to British Jewish writer Howard Jacobson to smear as a “blood libel” any reporting of the provable fact that Israel has killed many, many thousands of Palestinian children in Gaza.

One veteran journalist there said: “Is The Guardian more worried about the reaction to what is said about Israel than Palestine? Absolutely.”

Another staff member admitted it would be inconceivable for the paper to be seen censoring a Jewish writer. But censoring a Palestinian one is fine, it seems.

Other journalists report being under “suffocating control” from senior editors, and say this pressure exists “only if you’re publishing something critical of Israel”.

According to staff there, the word “genocide” is all but banned in the paper except in coverage of the International Court of Justice, whose judges ruled nine months ago that a “plausible” case had been made that Israel was committing genocide. Things have got far worse since.

Whistleblowing journalists
Similarly, “Sara”, a whistleblower who recently resigned from the BBC newsroom and spoke of her experiences to Al Jazeera’s Listening Post, said Palestinians and their supporters were routinely kept off air or subjected to humiliating and insensitive lines of questioning.

Some producers have reportedly grown increasingly reluctant to bring on air vulnerable Palestinians, some of whom have lost family members in Gaza, because of concerns about the effect on their mental health from the aggressive interrogations they were being subjected to from anchors.

According to Sara, BBC vetting of potential guests overwhelmingly targets Palestinians, as well as those sympathetic to their cause and human rights organisations. Background checks are rarely done of Israelis or Jewish guests.

She added that a search showing that a guest had used the word “Zionism” — Israel’s state ideology — in a social media post could be enough to get them disqualified from a programme.

Even officials from one of the biggest rights group in the world, the New York-based Human Rights Watch, became persona non grata at the BBC for their criticisms of Israel, even though the corporation had previously relied on their reports in covering Ukraine and other global conflicts.

Israeli guests, by contrast, “were given free rein to say whatever they wanted with very little pushback”, including lies about Hamas burning or beheading babies and committing mass rape.

An email cited by Al Jazeera from more than 20 BBC journalists sent last February to Tim Davie, the BBC’s director-general, warned that the corporation’s coverage risked “aiding and abetting genocide through story suppression”.

Upside-down values
These biases have been only too evident in the BBC’s coverage, first of Gaza and now, as media interest wanes in the genocide, of Lebanon.

Headlines — the mood music of journalism, and the only part of a story many of the audience read — have been uniformly dire.

For example, Netanyahu’s threats of a Gaza-style genocide against the Lebanese people last month if they did not overthrow their leaders were soft-soaped by the BBC headline: “Netanyahu’s appeal to Lebanese people falls on deaf ears in Beirut.”

Reasonable readers would have wrongly inferred both that Netanyahu was trying to do the Lebanese people a favour (by preparing to murder them), and that they were being ungrateful in not taking up his offer.

It has been the same story everywhere in the establishment media. In another extraordinary, revealing moment, Kay Burley of Sky News announced last month the deaths of four Israeli soldiers from a Hezbollah drone strike on a military base inside Israel.

With a solemnity usually reserved for the passing of a member of the British royal family, she slowly named the four soldiers, with a photo of each shown on screen. She stressed twice that all four were only 19 years old.

Sky News seemed not to understand that these were not British soldiers, and that there was no reason for a British audience to be especially disturbed by their deaths. Soldiers are killed in wars all the time — it is an occupational hazard.

And further, if Israel considered them old enough to fight in Gaza and Lebanon, then they were old enough to die too without their age being treated as particularly noteworthy.

But more significantly still, Israel’s Golani Brigade to which these soldiers belonged has been centrally involved in the slaughter of Palestinians over the past year. Its troops have been responsible for many of the tens of thousands of children killed and maimed in Gaza.

Each of the four soldiers was far, far less deserving of Burley’s sympathy and concern than the thousands of children who have been slaughtered at the hands of their brigade. Those children are almost never named and their pictures are rarely shown, not least because their injuries are usually too horrifying to be seen.

It was yet more evidence of the upside-down world the establishment media has been trying to normalise for its audiences.

It is why statistics from the United States, where the coverage of Gaza and Lebanon may be even more unhinged, show faith in the media is at rock bottom. Fewer than one in three respondents — 31 percent — said they still had a “great deal or fair amount of trust in mass media”.

Crushing dissent
Israel is the one dictating the coverage of its genocide. First by murdering the Palestinian journalists reporting it on the ground, and then by making sure house-trained foreign correspondents stay well clear of the slaughter, out of harm’s way in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

And as ever, Israel has been able to rely on the complicity of its Western patrons in crushing dissent at home.

Last week, a British investigative journalist, Asa Winstanley, an outspoken critic of Israel and its lobbyists in the UK, had his home in London raided at dawn by counter-terrorism police.

Though the police have not arrested or charged him — at least not yet — they snatched his electronic devices. He was warned that he is being investigated for “encouragement of terrorism” in his social media posts.

Police told Middle East Eye that his devices had been seized as part of an investigation into suspected terrorism offences of “support for a proscribed organisation” and “dissemination of terrorist documents”.

The police can act only because of Britain’s draconian, anti-speech Terrorism Act.

Section 12, for example, makes the expression of an opinion that could be interpreted as sympathetic to armed Palestinian resistance to Israel’s illegal occupation — a right enshrined in international law but sweepingly dismissed as “terrorism” in the West — itself a terrorism offence.

Those journalists who haven’t been house-trained in the establishment media, as well as solidarity activists, must now chart a treacherous path across intentionally ill-defined legal terrain when talking about Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

Winstanley is not the first journalist to be accused of falling foul of the Terrorism Act. In recent weeks, Richard Medhurst, a freelance journalist, was arrested at Heathrow airport on his return from a trip abroad. Another journalist-activist, Sarah Wilkinson, was briefly arrested after her home was ransacked by police.

Their electronic devices were seized too.

Meanwhile, Richard Barnard, co-founder of Palestine Action, which seeks to disrupt the UK’s supply of weapons to Israel’s genocide, has been charged over speeches he has made against the genocide.

It now appears that all these actions are part of a specific police campaign targeting journalists and Palestinian solidarity activists: “Operation Incessantness”.

The message this clumsy title is presumably supposed to convey is that the British state is coming after anyone who speaks out too loudly against the British government’s continuing arming and complicity in Israel’s genocide.

Notably, the establishment media have failed to cover this latest assault on journalism and the role of a free press — supposedly the very things they are there to protect.

The raid on Winstanley’s home and the arrests are intended to intimidate others, including independent journalists, into silence for fear of the consequences of speaking up.

This has nothing to do with terrorism. Rather, it is terrorism by the British state.

Once again the world is being turned upside down.

Echoes from history
The West is waging a campaign of psychological warfare on its populations: it is gaslighting and disorientating them, classing genocide as “self-defence” and opposition to it a form of “terrorism”.

This is an expansion of the persecution suffered by Julian Assange, the Wikileaks founder who spent years locked up in London’s Belmarsh high-security prison.

His unprecedented journalism — revealing the darkest secrets of Western states — was redefined as espionage. His “offence” was revealing that Britain and the US had committed systematic war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Now, on the back of that precedent, the British state is coming after journalists simply for embarrassing it.

Late last month I attended a meeting in Bristol against the genocide in Gaza at which the main speaker was physically absent after the British state failed to issue him an entry visa.

The missing guest — he had to join us by zoom — was Mandla Mandela, the grandson of Nelson Mandela, who was locked up for decades as a terrorist before becoming the first leader of post-apartheid South Africa and a feted, international statesman.

Mandla Mandela was until recently a member of the South African Parliament.

A Home Office spokesperson told Middle East Eye that the UK only issued visas “to those who we want to welcome to our country”.

Media reports suggest Britain was determined to exclude Mandela because, like his grandfather, he views the Palestinian struggle against Israeli apartheid as intimately linked to the earlier struggle against South Africa’s apartheid.

The echoes from history are apparently entirely lost on officials: the UK is once again associating the Mandela family with terrorism. Before it was to protect South Africa’s apartheid regime. Now it is to protect Israel’s even worse apartheid and genocidal regime.

The world is indeed turned on its head. And the West’s supposedly “free media” is playing a critical role in trying to make our upside-down world seem normal.

That can only be achieved by failing to report the Gaza genocide as a genocide. Instead, Western journalists are serving as little more than stenographers. Their job: to take dictation from Israel.

Jonathan Cook is an award-winning British journalist. He was based in Nazareth, Israel, for 20 years and returned to the UK in 2021. He is the author of three books on the Israel-Palestine conflict, including Disappearing Palestine: Israel’s Experiments in Human Despair (2008). In 2011, Cook was awarded the Martha Gellhorn Special Prize for Journalism for his work on Palestine and Israel. This article was first published in Middle East Eye and is republished with the author’s permission.

This article was first published on Café Pacific.

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

January 26, 2025
MIL-Evening Report: Crossbenchers cancel their membership of airlines’ elite lounges

Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra

Crossbench independents Allegra Spender, Helen Haines and Kate Chaney have declared they are pulling out of the elite lounges run by Qantas and Virgin, amid the ongoing spotlight on privileges politicians receive from the airlines.

Allegra Spender, the member for the Sydney seat of Wentworth, also said she’d write to ask Qantas and Virgin not to give free upgrades to parliamentarians. It was “time to end the upgrades”.

She said all sides of politics enjoyed the perks, and both major parties had blocked greater competition from Qatar Airways.

Airlines operated under government policy and ministerial decisions, she said. “The public is understandably losing trust in politicians to make those decisions impartially when they’re being given free upgrades from the companies they’re supposed to regulate.”

Spender urged a review of the ministerial code of conduct. Tighter rules were needed about what politicians could accept. The code should also be extended to shadow ministers. There should as well be much more transparency over the diaries of ministers, she said.

“This is the only way to deal with the perception – and potential reality – of decisions being influenced by perks.”

But Labor MP Luke Gosling, from the Darwin seat of Solomon, accused her of grandstanding. “It’s a bit rich from the people with harbour views who either drive or have less than a one-hour flight,” he told the ABC.

Haines, from the Victorian regional seat of Indi, said she was quitting the lounges because she wanted “to remove any possibility of an actual or perceived conflict of interest” in her work as an MP.

“The reality that airlines offer these kinds of perks because ultimately they want to get something in return does not sit well with me and I want to continue to contribute to creating a culture of transparency and accountability through my actions as well as my words.”

Haines said she wanted “to see more rigorous rules around MP disclosures of upgrades and I think a ban on soliciting free flight upgrades is more than reasonable”.

Chaney, who holds the Western Australian seat of Curtin, said with the media attention on the issue “we need to do everything we can to rebuild trust in politicians making decisions in the public interest”.

Another crossbencher, Monique Ryan, from the Melbourne seat of Kooyong, who dropped her Qantas chairman’s lounge membership last year on integrity grounds, said she welcomed the discussion about the impact of corporate largesse on MPs’ decision-making.

“I am deeply concerned about lobbying and its potential to impact government decision making. Free upgrades and airline hospitality are lobbying practices that we have taken for granted for a long time, and it is important that we re-examine them — especially given public concerns about conflicts of interest.”

Meanwhile there is no indication of when opposition transport spokeswoman Bridget McKenzie, who was leading the charge against the prime minister over his upgrades, will produce a list of her own. She has said she has written to three airlines to check what upgrades she has had.

Michelle Grattan 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. Crossbenchers cancel their membership of airlines’ elite lounges – https://theconversation.com/crossbenchers-cancel-their-membership-of-airlines-elite-lounges-242782

MIL OSI Analysis – EveningReport.nz –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI China: China creates 2.45 million jobs through work-relief programs

Source: China State Council Information Office 2

China has promoted the implementation of work-relief programs by local governments in key projects as well as agricultural and rural infrastructure projects to boost employment, the country’s top economic planning body said Monday.
In the first three quarters of 2024, these programs created a total of 2.45 million jobs for low-income workers, a year-on-year increase of 30.2 percent, and distributed 31 billion yuan (about 4.35 billion U.S. dollars) in wages, up 22.7 percent from a year earlier, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.
These work-relief programs are aimed at people in need of employment, especially rural residents who have been lifted out of poverty, vulnerable individuals prone to returning to poverty, and migrant workers who have gone back to their hometowns.
The commission will continue to give full play to the role of these programs in creating jobs for low-income workers and increasing their incomes, it said.

MIL OSI China News –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI United Kingdom: New tool to make it easier and faster for public to access essential government services online
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments

GOV.UK Forms, a new tool for faster, more accessible online government forms, will be rolled out nationwide after successful trials showed major time savings and improved efficiency.
GOV.UK Forms to be rolled out across government, making it faster and easier for the public to fill out forms such as applying for emergency travel documents

Tool has already helped over 20,000 armed forces personal apply for veteran badges and victims of the Horizon scandal apply for compensation

With 87 forms live and used by over 1,200 civil servants, GOV.UK Forms marks a key step in the UK government’s digital transformation

People across the country will be able to complete government forms online more quickly and easily, boosting efficiency and speeding up access to support.

The new tool, GOV.UK Forms, has already been used to speed up registration for redress for more than 300 sub-postmasters affected by the Horizon IT scandal by removing the need for lengthy paperwork, print-outs and administrative hurdles – with forms taking less than five minutes to complete.

It’s also been used by the public to register XL Bully dogs and recruit over 400 new volunteer coastguards, with the tool already saving an estimated two years in processing time.

GOV.UK Forms will transform how the public fill out applications and forms on GOV.UK by offering them an online platform to fill in their details instead – meaning they no longer have to rely on clunky PDFs or lengthy paperwork, which is inefficient and less accessible.

The tool will now be rolled out across all government departments after a successful trial and provide civil servants with a digital platform that allows them to create and manage secure, accessible forms online.

Harnessing the power of technology will be crucial to support the government in achieving its mission of making public services work for working people, grow the economy, and make everyone across the country better off.

Minister for AI and Digital Government Feryal Clark will unveil the full rollout of GOV.UK Forms at the Digital Nations Ministerial Summit in Copenhagen, Denmark today.

Speaking on the platform’s success, Minister Clark said:

We’re enabling citizens to access essential government services more easily and securely, whether it’s applying for long overdue compensation or to become a volunteer.

Not only will this modernise how the public interacts with us, but it allows departments to focus resources on improving public services – rather than administrative tasks.

This early success marks the start of our ongoing mission to refine digital tools, building trust and ensuring government works for everyone, everywhere.

Following successful private beta and early access phases, GOV.UK Forms will now enter a ‘public beta’ testing phase, which will mean it is applied more widely where citizens need to share information with the government.

To date, 87 forms have been published, with over 1,200 government users adopting the platform, saving more than two years in processing time.

Christine Bellamy, CEO of the Government Digital Service (GDS) said:

GOV.UK Forms enables people running government services to create online forms in minutes, without the need for coding or design skills.

By enabling teams to replace paper-based forms with digital alternatives that are quicker to process, more secure and more accessible, we’re helping to realise a more modern digital government that helps to give people their time back.

The platform complies with government standards on accessibility and cyber security, enabling all users, including those with access needs, to use the forms easily and securely. It also meets accessibility standards and regularly tests new features to keep the forms easy to use for everyone.

GOV.UK Forms is part of a wide range of initiatives in the government’s digital transformation, enhancing efficiency, security, and accessibility for citizens across the UK.

Minister Clark’s announcement at the summit will mark a pivotal step forward for GOV.UK Forms as it becomes an essential tool in modernising public engagement with government services.

DSIT media enquiries

Email press@dsit.gov.uk

Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 6pm 020 7215 300

Share this page

The following links open in a new tab

Share on Facebook (opens in new tab)

Share on Twitter (opens in new tab)

Updates to this page

Published 4 November 2024
MIL OSI United Kingdom –
January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI Economics: Asian Development Blog: Empowering Women with Disabilities: Key Actions for Inclusive Sports in the Pacific

Source: Asia Development Bank

Inclusive sports can empower women with disabilities, and foster accessibility, social integration, and gender equality in the Pacific. Recent Paralympic milestones and policy examples illustrate the ongoing need for supportive infrastructures and greater representation to create equitable opportunities in sports.

The importance of sport for women with disabilities cannot be overstated. It provides a platform for empowerment, fostering physical and mental well-being, and breaking societal barriers related to gender and disability. Participation in sports helps build confidence, resilience, and a sense of community.

The Paralympic Games have been instrumental in setting standards for inclusion, showcasing the incredible talents and achievements of athletes with disabilities on a global stage. By promoting gender equality and providing equal opportunities, the Paralympics inspire change and highlight the importance of accessibility and inclusivity in sports.

This year’s Paralympic Games in Paris marked a historic milestone with a record 1,983 women, or 45% of participants, across 549 medal events in 22 sports, making it the most gender-inclusive Paralympics ever. It was also a historic moment for the Pacific region, as it sent its largest contingent of athletes to the Paralympic Games.

Thirteen athletes, comprising seven women and six men, represented six countries to compete in para-athletics and para-taekwondo: Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Vanuatu. According to the Oceania Paralympic Committee, the Pacific athletes “not only represent their nations but also the aspirations of the entire Pacific region.”

Among the remarkable athletes was Tongan discus thrower Meleane Vasitai Leaaepeni Falemaka, known as Vasi, who competed in the Paralympic Games for the first time. She is making her mark on the global stage as Tonga’s sole representative in the Paralympic Games where she competed in the women’s F37 discus throw event. Prior to the Paralympics, Vasi achieved her personal best throw at the World Para Athletics Grand Prix April 2024 held in Marrakech, Morocco.

Women with disabilities outnumber men with disabilities in most Pacific countries, largely due to longer life expectancy and the increased likelihood of acquiring disabilities in old age. Persons with disabilities are overrepresented among the poorest of the poor across the region and face economic and social exclusion, violence, and accessibility challenges.

Despite this, women with disabilities often do not get to make decisions that affect them. Evidence from 19 countries shows that only 2.3% of women with disabilities held a position as a legislator, senior official, or manager. Only four out of 18 countries in the region had a “woman with disability” in parliament.

Sports provide a powerful platform for empowering women with disabilities, fostering inclusion, and challenging societal barriers.

The following actions are needed to increase the inclusion of women with disabilities in sports:

Enhance policy and financing for gender and disability inclusive sport. Governments must enact robust legislation to eliminate accessibility barriers in multiple areas such as transport, housing, services, education, and sport. For example, Brazil passed the “Inclusion of People with Disabilities Act” before the Rio 2016 Paralympics that aimed to enhance the lives of the nearly 50 million people with impairments in Brazil. This Act increased the amount allocated to para-sports from the gross revenues of the federal lotteries, from around $26 million to $49 million per year.

Promote accessibility and inclusivity of sport. The Paralympics have made strides in accommodating athletes with disabilities through modified rules and regular reassessments by classifiers. Classification varies across sports, for example, swimming has up to 10 eligible impairment types, and classifications depend on how much an impairment affects performance.

In wheelchair basketball, players are rated from 1.0 to 4.5 based on their disability level with a maximum point total allowed per team to ensure competitive balance. This approach enhances fairness and integrity in competitions, creating a more equitable environment for all Paralympic athletes.

Include women with disabilities in stakeholder consultations. This can be done through partnerships with local organizations and women’s groups where women with disabilities take on leadership and decision-making roles. Mapping stakeholders supporting people with disabilities is crucial in creating awareness among all stakeholders and policymakers in sport on the needs of women athletes with disabilities.

Ensuring that sports facilities are accessible and safe for women with disabilities. Sports facilities must be designed within the lens of gender and disability. This not only promotes physical health but also enhances social integration and economic opportunities for people with disabilities.

Governments and development partners’ financial commitments to accessibility improvements are essential. For instance, prior to the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China invested over $150 million to make 14,000 facilities accessible across the country. Similarly, for the Rio 2016 Games, nearly $1 million was allocated to enhance access to major tourist attractions and sports arenas.

Promoting media representation to change perceptions. Media coverage can significantly change societal perceptions. For example, UK’s Channel 4 won various awards for its coverage of the London 2012 Paralympics, which included presenters with disabilities.

The channel spent $1.2 million searching for, recruiting, training and developing the skills of media professionals to ensure that half of the on-screen talent during the Games consisted of persons with disabilities. The channel’s “Meet the Superhumans” commercial combined powerful imagery of athletes with their extraordinary stories creating a compelling narrative that resonated widely and likely changed attitudes towards Paralympic sports.

Encouraging women with disabilities to take up sports. Sport enables women with disabilities to develop social skills and independence. Families and carers can help foster the love for sport by initiating play and developing interest, which can also serve as a shared activity. Sport can also be a transformative tool for women to demonstrate their abilities, which can help reduce the longstanding negative perceptions and gender stereotypes associated with women with disabilities.

By addressing these issues, we can create an environment where athletes like Vasi can thrive, inspiring future generations and contributing to a more inclusive and equitable society in the Pacific.

MIL OSI Economics –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI China: Global forum celebrates Hehe Culture in historic city

Source: China State Council Information Office 2

The 2024 Global Forum on Hehe Culture is held in Taizhou, eastern China’s Zhejiang province, on Nov. 2, 2024. [Photo/China.org.cn]
The 2024 Global Forum on Hehe Culture convened Saturday in Taizhou, an eastern Chinese city in Zhejiang province, where this philosophy originated.
The forum, themed “Hehe Culture and New Model for Human Progress,” brought together participants from home and abroad, including politicians, think tank experts, and youth leaders.
The ancient Chinese concept of Hehe Culture represents dual meanings of harmony: The first “He” symbolizes peace and balance, while the second represents unity and cooperation, according to “Keywords to Understand Hehe Culture,” a book released at a previous session of the Global Forum on Hehe Culture.
Zhu Yongxin, vice chairperson of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and executive vice chairperson of the Central Committee of the China Association for Promoting Democracy, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the forum.
In his address, Zhu emphasized the importance of promoting Chinese culture while maintaining a people-centered approach. He called for strengthening cultural confidence, deepening cultural exchanges and promoting the progress of civilizations. He also advocated adhering to the philosophy of harmony and unity, and promoting the building of a global community of shared future.
Wang Wenxu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said in a speech that while Hehe Culture originates in China, it belongs to the world. Amid the ongoing transformations unseen in a century, Hehe should serve as an approach to addressing issues such as development imbalances, governance challenges, and geopolitical conflicts.
“We must look to Hehe as a philosophy facilitating inclusive cultural exchange, a way of pursuing mutual benefits for all countries and parties, and a solution to global security and governance challenges,” he highlighted.
Essam Sharaf, former prime minister of Egypt and winner of the inaugural Orchid Awards, delivered a speech at the forum. He expounded on the concept of a global community of shared future, saying that “[it] means all countries have equal sovereignty – none can intervene in the internal affairs of others; that countries should jointly manage global affairs democratically, rather than through the dictates of the most powerful states; that countries should engage in ‘win-win cooperation’ to ‘build a world of common prosperity.’”
“Hehe Culture can play an important role in guiding the efforts aiming at building a community of a shared future where everyone can enjoy a prosperous future,” he added.
Yu Tao, vice president of China International Communications Group (CICG), also shared his insights in a speech. He said Hehe Culture is one of the valuable assets of Chinese wisdom and a shared achievement of global civilization. With its enduring relevance, Hehe Culture has gained renewed vitality. It fosters strength for safeguarding peace and stability, advancing cooperation and promoting mutual learning among civilizations.
“Looking to the future, we should advocate peaceful coexistence to develop a new global security perspective grounded in mutual respect and dialogue, promote win-win cooperation to build open, inclusive, and universally beneficial dynamics for global development, and encourage diversity and harmony to create a vibrant, mutually enriching global civilization,” Yu said.
Li Yueqi, secretary of the CPC Taizhou Municipal Committee, echoed the idea that Hehe Culture is a brilliant gem within the tapestry of traditional Chinese culture. It is woven into the daily lives of Taizhou people and permeates all aspects of the city’s development, serving as an important foundation of its cultural identity.
In his speech, Li expressed hope that the forum would foster deeper and broader cooperation and exchange regarding Hehe Culture.
The event featured five parallel sessions that addressed sister city partnerships, Sinology studies, youth programs, academic research, and family traditions.
Forum organizers named new cultural ambassadors and launched an initiative to strengthen ties among sister cities. Officials also unveiled a new collection of poems titled “Cold Hill’s Poetry.”
In addition, participants toured local historic sites showcasing Hehe Culture heritage.
The forum, established in 2021, has emerged as a significant platform for international cultural dialogue.

MIL OSI China News –

January 26, 2025
MIL-OSI: 18th Global Citizenship Conference to be held in Singapore

Source: GlobeNewswire (MIL-OSI)

LONDON, Nov. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — More than 400 delegates from over 50 countries are expected to attend the 18^th annual Global Citizenship Conference, which takes place 27–29 November in Singapore.

Hosted by world-leading international citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners, this annual event has become the world’s largest and most significant conference on investment migration, bringing together presidents and prime ministers, other senior government ministers and officials, and leading academics, as well as top-tier private client advisors and wealth management professionals, and financial and business media.

The 2024 conference program features sophisticated content on the dynamics shaping the mobility options of wealthy families today. The conference will explore legal and economic developments and their implications, societal impacts relevant to global citizens, and trends in investment and wealth migration, along with regulatory and tax changes and the evolving concept of citizenship. Delegates will have the opportunity to engage with some of the world’s finest minds and latest ideas around global citizenship and interconnectivity and discover how to harness the power of global mobility.

Dr. Christian H. Kalin, Group Chairman of Henley & Partners, emphasizes the timely relevance of connecting across borders as global citizens. “The Great Wealth Migration, as we call it, reflects a global trend fueled by geopolitical instability, economic uncertainty, the climate crisis, and technological disruption. Wealthy individuals are increasingly recognizing that, in an interconnected world, relying solely on any one nation as a place of residence or citizenship — even a prosperous, democratic one — can be a risk they are no longer willing to take. As they consider their options, however, there is a crucial opportunity to reflect on the broader implications of their decisions. How can wealth be used not only for personal advantage but also to create positive social impact? Global citizenship, at its core, is the belief that we have responsibilities that extend beyond our own borders — to our communities and to the world as a whole. This conference seeks to broaden our perspectives through shared global learning, empowering us to drive meaningful change on both a local and a global scale.”

Notable key speakers at the conference include the Hon. Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada, and the Hon. Dr. Terrance Drew, Prime Minister of St. Kitts and Nevis. The Hon. Mohamed Nasheed, former President of the Maldives and current Secretary-General of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, will also share his insights along with senior government officials from Indonesia, Montenegro, and the South Pacific.

Legendary global investor and best-selling author, Jim Rogers, will offer his perspective on global financial trends. Other distinguished speakers include Dr. Parag Khanna, Founder and CEO of Climate Alpha, Prof. Mehari Taddele Maru of the European University Institute and John Hopkins University, Irene Mia, Senior Fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, and Balaji Srinivasan, American tech entrepreneur, investor, and author of The Network State.

A conference highlight will be the 2024 Global Citizen Award Dinner on 28 November, where a remarkable individual working to advance one of the global challenges affecting humanity today, will be honored. This year’s laureate will be announced at the gala event hosted in collaboration with the Swiss non-profit humanitarian organization Andan Foundation, which focuses on promoting the self-reliance of refugees through education, entrepreneurship, and employment, and to which the net proceeds of the evening will be donated.

For further information and media accreditation to attend the 18^th annual Global Residence and Citizenship Conference, please contact:

Sarah Nicklin
Group Head of Public Relations
sarah.nicklin@henleyglobal.com

The MIL Network –

January 26, 2025

Category: Politics

Share this page

Updates to this page

Notes to editors

Share this page

Updates to this page

Foreign Minister Lin visits jointly constructed neonatal building of San Juan de Dios Hospital and joins Guatemalan Foreign Minister Martínez in celebrating 90th anniversary of bilateral ties

Foreign Minister Lin leads delegation to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines as presidential envoy to attend 45th independence anniversary celebrations

What are large language models?

How does this work

Feedback processing

For the1st time three Govt. School Band Teams to perform in the Republic Day Parade 2025School bands from Jharkhand, Sikkim, and Karnataka to perform at the Republic Day Parade and Vijay Chowk

Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh to inaugurate Handloom Conclave ‘Manthan’ at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre Janpath, New Delhi on 28.01.2025.HMoT to launch Handloom weavers E- Pehchan Portal and Handloom Awards Online module.

(xxii) LIST OF IMPORTANT PUBLICATIONS OF CWC during 2024

Expert Level Mechanism (ELM)

What the report tells us

What the report doesn’t tell us

What is transfer pricing?

Taxing multinationals in Australia

Is the ATO’s corporate tax transparency report worthwhile?

Share this page

Updates to this page

Share this page

Updates to this page

For the1st time three Govt. School Band Teams to perform in the Republic Day Parade 2025

School bands from Jharkhand, Sikkim, and Karnataka to perform at the Republic Day Parade and Vijay Chowk

Union Minister of Textiles Shri Giriraj Singh to inaugurate Handloom Conclave ‘Manthan’ at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre Janpath, New Delhi on 28.01.2025.

HMoT to launch Handloom weavers E- Pehchan Portal and Handloom Awards Online module.